ZJ offroad dilema

[MikeAM37]

I just got a 1996 grand cherokee limited with the 5.2 and the quadra-trac. I want to use it for some medium duty offroading and I was wondering what i should do to it. I need the mods to pretty cheap and easy to do myself. Thanks a lot.

Mike

[TOOLman]

Hi Mike, and welcome to the forum!

First order of business: make her taller.
If you're not going to to serious hard-core 'froading, you should be OK with a BB (Budget Boost). In case you never heard of that, it means a set of spacers which are placed between the springs and the body.
My recommendation would be to e-mail Anthony (adefalco@mindspring.com) and order a set. He makes them himself, and they are very inexpensive. Installation is a do-it-yourself job if you're reasonably handy. Check my homepage (link in the sig) to see a small write-up on how it's done.

Once you have the BB, you can get some bigger tires. With a 2" BB you'll be able to fit 30x9.50 w/o any problems. I run 31x10.50 with just a teeny weeny bit of rubbing going in reverse at full turn.

If you still have any money left after these mods, let us know and we'll help you spend some more $$$$ :D:D

EDIT: I just noticed that there is no link in my sig - duh! :rolleyes:.
Anyway, it's http://toolmanjeep.homestead.com to the main page.

HTH /Tommy

[Howler]

I agree with what TOOLman said. I would add skid plates, Tranfercase, and gastank. If you are in a place that your rockers could get damage then also rocker protection.
I also do some mide froading and I was at stock. Now I have Anthony's BB, Tcase skid and nerf bars. Hope this helps.
Howler
Oh and TOOLman remeber how you said to remove the nerfs if I was going to GSE? Well I didn't and boy am I glad. My rockers would have taken a beating. Time for KevinF's rock sliders.

EDIT: I forgot the most important. Tow points. 2 front and 1 back.

[TOOLman]

Did I say that? I guess I must have.

Nerf bars are a compromise between rocker protection and decreased ground clearance. Naturally, there are times when they are needed, and times when they are in the way. I'm glad yours saved your Jeep from damage. You ought to know better than to listen to someone like me anyway! :)

Howler is absolutely right about the skid plates and tow hooks, of course. I typed my first reply very quickly when I had two minutes over at work, and I guess my mind wasn't 100% in gear.

[Howler]

TOOLman sometimes we forget the obvious;). Hence my edit. And I think your coment when I first posted pics was. "Nice to see another dirty ZJ other then mine. You might want to take the nerfs of if you go offroadni." Or something like that. You were right in a way. Anyway MikeAM37 the thing to remeber is ground clearence. And I think the right tire is also an importent choice. Make sure it matches your terrain. Have fun.
Howler

[Colorado 5.9]

This is what can happen to nurfs! At least aluminum ones.

[Howler]

Colorado that is similare to what happened to mine. The also are now set back about an inch. The good thing was that they did save my rockers big time and convinced my wife I need better protection. One of the guy ahead of my at GSE had KevinF's rock sliders. These were awsome as the could be used as a lever on a rock and swing the back of the ZJ around the obsticle. Just my two cents.
Howler

[J's Jeep]

I would say yes to all skids and tow points should be your first mods.

Lift depends on how much money you want to spend.

If you are not going to do any serious wheellin then go for performance mods.

If you would like to do lots of wheelin. which you most likely will once you get on the good trails then you might want more then a Budget boost.

Let us know how much money you want to spend...

[Dugan]

# 1 importance - skids and tow hooks, no doubt...
# 2 good agressive tires - BFG AT KO
# 3 JKS quicker disconnects
# 4 ARB air lockers
these all will come in more handy than the lift

[Dugan]

dont forget the rocker skids!!! i would do thost b4 the disco's and do the lockers b4 the lift!!