[Mhkirbs]

I am new to the Jeep TJ community and so far extremely happy. I recently purchased a 98 TJ Sport. I am asking all you guys to give me advice on what the most beneficial first mods to make are.

One thing that I want to do is lift it to accommodate 33 inch tires. What model/brand of lift, tires and wheels do you recommend?

This TJ is my second vehicle but will be driven on the road frequently. However, I want to make sure it is reliable when using it off-road. I will use it when finding a camp site and driving on the beach etc… but don’t expect to be crawling any major rocks. I don’t think my budget will allow for me to build something that intense yet. Any advice will be appreciated, I’m looking forward to getting my Jeep customized. Thanks in advance.

[hscrugby]

Well, to do it "cheap" 2" budget boost, and 1-1.25" body lift/mml
then probably new rims, tires and your set.

To do it "better" a 3-4" suspension lift, with decent shocks. If you have the money, go with the RE 4.5" kit, and swap it for the 3.5" springs. (You get ALL the bits you might need that way)

Once you have it lifted and bigger tires, you'll eventually need a way to deal with the spare tire. The gate will hold it for a temporary fix, but eventually you'll need a "proper" tire carrier, usually mounted to a bumper.

Also once you've done a 3-4" lift, you'll either be stuck with a tcase drop, or you'll need to do a slip yoke eliminator and new rear driveshaft.

As for which tires, I'd recommend an AT for what you describe. BFG Ats are the "common" choice. (good tire too)

But whatever you do, I'd read here and on a local forum for a while before making any decisions. You'll see what people are happy with, see what mistakes we made at first, and then had to repurchase stuff going forward etc.
This forum is great, but a local forum is also helpful for meeting people to go wheeling with, etc.

So in summary, drive it for a little bit, maybe meet up with some people and do some wheeling with it in stock form to see what you want to do first. You might change your mind and decide you want armor/protection first.
(I recommend rocker protection, but others will chime in with other things needed first.)

Good luck and welcome.

[Eclipse This]

Tow points

[happymudder10]

X2 on what hscrugby said: drive it around and wheel it the way it is now, then decide what lift, and tires, and other mods that you need.

My example: I originally was giong to lift my jeep 4 inches and put 33's, but after wheeling it stock (well, I do have 31" mudders on it) I decided that I don't need that much lift on it for where I live and wheel, so now I'm saving up for the OME 2.5" lift and I will keep my 31's.

[BlackBellamy]

IMO first mods should be small - just to get you into a modding frame of mind.

Worry about things like do you have enough recovery points (in the back especially), do you have a snatch strap, fire extinguisher and mount, good jack, set of emergency tools, tire puncture kit, shovel maybe, flares, flashlights (plural), things like that.

Next I would do some comfort items, because if you're not comfortable you'll hate your ride. Are your seats tall enough? Too tall? Not enough legroom? Would grab handles make it easier to get in and out? Do you need seat covers? Arm rests? Do you need to protect your carpeting with mats or rip the carpet out and herculine?

After you've been in and out of the thing and done some minor modding work you'll be in a better position to appreciate what you're capable of or what is necessary.

Biggest mistake you can make is make major mods right off the bat - you'll change your mind three to six months down the line and you'll have the hassle of selling used mods on ebay.

As for lift to accommodate 33s - if you're on a budget for now you can get any cheap 2" budget boost and 1" body lift and you should be able to accommodate 33s for your needs.

And the actual tires themselves, I run BFG MTs and they're great for those North Jersey mud/forest trails, but they are kinda loud on the road. The ATs might be a better choice depending on whether you like classical music or hip-hop. Because Vivaldi and Bach will not drown out tire noise Also, tires are a major purchase because you want quality and you pay for quality, so do a lot of research before you commit (try to bum rides from Joes with tires you want).

And for wheels, research backspacing because the wrong amount can screw you up.

[RKCRWLR]

Tow Points and a winch. I wheel alone... often 50 miles from the nearest help. A winch is a must for me.

[djt283]

If you're not going to do any serious wheeling, you can fit 33's with a 2" BB and a 1" BL. I have 32's, but could fit 33's no problem for street driving and light wheeling.

The cheapest way to get 33's and a little lift is:

1) 2" Budget Boost about $250 with shocks and 2" spring spacers
2) 1" Body Lift between $80 and $100
3) New wheels with proper backspacing (Crager Soft 8's are about $35 each)
4) Tires...take your pick...I have BFG AT's and love them. Probably about $150 each mounted if you shop around.

Total price to get 33's is about $1100 without tax/shipping. Add another $200 if you want to have a matching spare (which you should because a 30" spare isn't good with 33's).

Or you could buy things used or on ebay and save a few bucks.

[IslandTJ]

Originally Posted by Eclipse This

Tow points

x2, especially for the rear recovery points!
This was the first mod I did because it was the cheapest! Little did I know, I used them so much during my first week of wheelin (new Jeep syndrome).

I still use them practically on every excursion.

[Unlimited04]

Originally Posted by Mhkirbs

I am new to the Jeep TJ community and so far extremely happy. I recently purchased a 98 TJ Sport. I am asking all you guys to give me advice on what the most beneficial first mods to make are.

One thing that I want to do is lift it to accommodate 33 inch tires. What model/brand of lift, tires and wheels do you recommend?

This TJ is my second vehicle but will be driven on the road frequently. However, I want to make sure it is reliable when using it off-road. I will use it when finding a camp site and driving on the beach etc… but don’t expect to be crawling any major rocks. I don’t think my budget will allow for me to build something that intense yet. Any advice will be appreciated, I’m looking forward to getting my Jeep customized. Thanks in advance.

mod in this order:

1. Armor
2. Tires
3. Roll cage
4. Lockers
5. Lift & gears
6. Winch

Why?
1. You're new to wheeling. You're going to break something if you don't put some steel between you and the world.
2. Tires will help get grip off-road, making you a little more adventurous and let you tackle more terrain.
3. Roll cage - could save your life - nuff said.
4. Lockers will enable you to get more adventurous and let you tackle all sorts of new terrain
5. Now that you know how to drive off road with lockers & good tires, time to get a lift and see what the jeep is really capable of.
6. Now that you're testing the limits of the jeep, you've probably gotten stuck a few times. A winch will help you get out when no other rigs in your group can get to you.