[PillowPants]

So I bought this 98 xj limited on here for 4k last august. It was with 95k on the clock and had a sunroof (sweet).

After driving it home from Iowa I started dreaming of what to do. I of course wanted bigger tires and the such but did not have the thousands to make it happen.

Started with bigger tires on the stock setup and went to 235 75 15 in a bfg AT. those were nice but still had to go bigger. After a few camping trips I realized that I was the damn taxi since all my friends drove compacts and would never make it to the good spots. When I popped a tire shuttling people back and fourth from the sites I decided it was time to buy a rack to cut down on the back and fourth crap.

Found a good one for 250 on craigslist with 4 hellas two were flood and two were spot beams. after 50 bucks in switches and wires and 65 for the mounts that fit my jeep I had a nice rack!

later had a 2in lift kit from CL for 75 bucks. Installed that and spent 100 on used 31s after trimming fenders, but the tires wore down. then I wanted the big lift but started accumulating parts. bought a 3 in lift for 400 which had rear leafs, front fixed LCAs, brake lines, and front springs, bought another kit that had 3 in springs, but rustys lower adjustable arms, shocks and spacers for 225. sold the spacers for 25, springs for 100. and fixed lcas for 65. bought 4 70% tread left dunlop 33x12.5 15 MTs for 200 and needed a SYE and trackbar.

Buddy had a rebuilt 242 with a sye and tom woods laying around that I got for 300 (score) and spent 267 for the RE hd trackbar. After using the friends lift at his farm, I had it all done and love it. Just waiting for the aussie 8.25 to come out and will hunt for a front bumper and winch in january.

price break down

jeep 4,000

235/75/15s 75
31's 100
33's 200
soft 8's 70
surco rack and lights installed 300
budget boost 70
lift #1 400
lift #2 225
Re trackbar 267
new tie rods 60
new pads 35
rotors free (rotor recall)
rebuilt 242 with sye and tw DS 300
1.5/2in shackle 40 on ebay
$6142.00~

sold items
old 242 -300 (Broke even thanks CL)
lca -65
spacers -20
springs -100
old 2.5 rear spring packs -50

total spent $5607

I would say take your time and research all the possibilities and reviews of stuff you look at. I wanted to buy just parts of the 3in lift, but the guy wouldn't take so I just decided to buy both lifts and sell the parts I did not need.

stock fixing the flat


31's and the rack


and now


See ya on the trails!

[Mtb Jak]

love it!

what are you going to do about gearing?

[xjfever]

Looks good, way to go on the budget build (doesn't look budget at all)

[SeansXJ]

nice nice looks perfect

[PillowPants]

never really thought I needed gears till I tried to climb a tall curb in reverse and heard a weird rattle and it took some pedal. I am thinking when I go locker it will get geared... only seems right.