Priority of accesories/upgrades for newbies

[ShadowsPapa]

Also, I don't think you need extra lighting for anything. I've gone on crazy trails in the dark with just normal head/fog lights. In the Marines, we did crazy stuff at night in Humvees with just these tiny orange fog-like lights to keep from tipping the bad guys that we were coming. I might be a villain for saying this, but the extra 4x4 lights are for show.

Naw, I think you are usually pretty level-headed, at least, IMO.

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[MarineHawk]

Naw, I think you are usually pretty level-headed, at least, IMO.

Tell that to my soon-to-be-ex-wife.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Tell that to my soon-to-be-ex-wife.

Probably best if I stay out of it LOL.

 

[uplandgunner]

Well two things off the bat. Do the rock rails first and some under armor as it becomes more available ( I'm still waiting for that). Your way off on the cost of adding a winch. Watch for sales and you can replace that plastic bumper with the Smitty XRC and add a Smitty winch with syn line for about $900.00 like I did. I got both on sale at Quadratech.

A to the rest on your list like wheels and tires. Use what you have and decide if you need bigger. Same for regearing , get bigger tires and see how they effect to drivability. If your no happy then go for it.

You really need to upgrade piece by piece when you find yourself getting beyond what you bought's ability. You do this by experience and not by reading what everyone says on these forums.

So protection first and recovery next, and recovery doesn't even mean a winch but some straps, shovels and a hi-lift jack. Add on as you need not because of what you read.

 

[Factoid]

None of the above. Go drive it for awhile and then reprioritize your accessories. Your current thinking will change.

 

[PyrPatriot]

None of the above. Go drive it for awhile and then reprioritize your accessories. Your current thinking will change.

I am 5500 miles in and 2 off roading rides. My list is based on that. I am open to suggestions and comments.

 

[Moe_Fugga]

I’m going the slow, cheap, and more functional “truck” route first. Plus a few small interior things here and there. Whatever makes life easier and more organized, like interior parts. First off is this:

• Weathertech floor mats
• Bed liner
• Tonneau cover
• Step rails for the family
• Brighter headlights and fog lights (Night driving safety)

Next I go for the more expensive and off-road oriented parts such as lift kit plus wheels and tires. I’m not much for anything else, but maybe bumpers after that. I like to keep it simple and not hurt my wallet all at once.

 

[PyrPatriot]

I’m going the slow, cheap, and more functional “truck” route first. Plus a few small interior things here and there. Whatever makes life easier and more organized, like interior parts. First off is this:

• Weathertech floor mats
• Bed liner
• Tonneau cover
• Step rails for the family
• Brighter headlights and fog lights (Night driving safety)

Next I go for the more expensive and off-road oriented parts such as lift kit plus wheels and tires. I’m not much for anything else, but maybe bumpers after that. I like to keep it simple and not hurt my wallet all at once.

Bed covers! I completely forgot. Yes of course. Right up there with a mat for the bed. Part of protecting the truck

 

[Moe_Fugga]

Bed covers! I completely forgot. Yes of course. Right up there with a mat for the bed. Part of protecting the truck

I’ll be using mine on road trips and what not to keep miles off of my wife’s SUV. Gotta have weather proof storage!

 

[Roklok]

I had dealer put on Bridgestone A/T tires before delivery. They charged me their cost and they payed mounting. White outline looks good. Haven't had a chance to try them yet. Also put hard tonneau cover on to take advantage of locking tailgate, already has spray bed liner. Take my time on further adds.

 

[Trippin01]

• Rails/steps.........................................................Rock rails, not Nerf-what-ever's
• Bed mat.............................................................OEM spray paint, You can do the spray in Bed liner when you go to sell it, it'll look nicer then.
• Tires (better tread).............................................Better do a lift 1st
• Slush mats and seat covers..............................You can always yank the carpet out, then it will dry faster when you Ford rivers, or when you hose it out
• Trailer winch setup............................................?
• Bed liners and cargo management....................I don't know what you are hauling, I haul off road toys, they have rubber tires & the stock/corner tie downs are awesome.
  
• Larger tires........................................................Tires twice?
• Lift,.....................................................................Yes, to match your tire size and needs
• Steel Bumper and winch.....................................Pick your poison, lots out there
  
• Extra lighting......................................................Get the "AUX Switches from the Factory, lots of regrets here for not doing this.
• Re-gear..............................................................To Match your tires
• Dana 60/80 axles...............................................Match your needs.

Look, here's what I've learned from this site, and all that post here. Great smart JT owners, invaluable info here. If your going to spend $60 on a JT just to have a "fix'r upper" I'm thoroughly impressed, and look forward to following your build page, and I want to get into your line of work. The engineers at Jeep spent a lot of time eliminating all the weak points on the JT from Horse power down to the wheel size, and I'm Impressed. So when you speak of upgrading your axles, in my head I hear; Dana 60's, which leads to 40" tires, then bigger brakes, heavy drive lines, beefier transmission, V8, & on and on. I get it, It's awesome to dream, and in the end I hope you have the baddest JT in the nation. So please keep us up dated, and get some pictures on here to admire. Looking forward to following your project and learning from your success.

 

[Beowulf]

Honestly, the thing I like the most about my current jeep, is 32gallons of gas between the frame rails. Next would be a winch. Then it would be diff covers, followed by the lift and KM3s.

 

[Flexin]

If you can, test drive someone who has a similar setup. I was fortunate that ACE engineering allowed me to test drive one of their trucks with the lift and tires size I wanted. So I had no surprises. Plus I have 4.10 and I was happy with the drive of 3.73 on 37” 13.5. Since my fenders are higher on the rubicon, they measured and tested which resulted in me running 38”s. No rubbing with the Mopar lift, also at their recommendation.

How you sit in 8th gear depends on the speed limit. Here, it’s 70 and most peoplr Drive close to 80 on the highway, so pushing that I can see 8th here and there. At lower speeds I can get into 8th but now I have a habit of popping it into manual and going to 8th. It immediately gets better gas mileage, of course. I think you can use a Tazer to adjust shift points without re-gearing but I’m still researching. I did recalibrate the Speedo though. And don’t forget to adjust those headlights

 

[Racer_X]

Don't forget the right sort of balance. One of the minor benefits of getting the JT is my ability to launch a gift registry site. Everyone complains I'm hard to buy for because I'm demanding. So with Jeep parts/accessories ranging from $11 (Center console organizer) to $1200 (ceramic paint protection), there's plenty of stuff on the low/middle/high end for people to buy for birthdays, anniversaries, christmas, Arbor Day, whatever.

Gives me an opportunity to throw stuff on there in the "neat, but I'd never BUY that" category. And my total investment is hovering around $7k atm, so even that's reasonable.

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