Hi guys. I have a stock 95 Cherokee that pretty much only gets driven on the weekends now, and it needs a new bumper (my wife did a little...eh...body work) and new tires. I figured it would be a decent time to make this truck somewhat more offroadable.
I'd like a bumper that won't bend in a 3 mph impact when hit on the outside edge like the stock one did. (this impact also damaged the fender, so I need to replace it too before new slightly larger tires will fit- clearance now is paper thin when the wheels are turned, and my tires are bald). I'd also like tow points. Do you recommend hooks, or tow point integrated into the bumper? I don't want to spend a ton of money either. I really like the BPI bumper with tow points, but I don't think it looks worth almost $400.
So...any suggestions?
I also need tire suggestions. I live near Santa Barbara, California. This Jeep will take me on rough, loose, unimproved rocky roads, maybe up to Mammoth for skiing in the winter, and I may also encounter some sandy terrain. Mud is unlikely here. I also will probably be takin this car on a multi-thousand mile trip all the way to Canada and back next summer, so on-road performance is important too. Currently I'm thinking of getting the Goodyear Wrangler AT-S, or something comprable. Any recomendations? What is the bigest size i can mount without ANY rubbing, on a stock-height vehicle?
I was also considering getting an externally mounted full-size spare. I don't want to mount the tire to the roof because...
1) It hurts gas mileage
2) I plan on getting a large yakima Platinum Pro 16S roof box, so there won't be any room up there
So can anybody recomend an affordably priced, reliable rear mount swing-away tire carrier?
Oh yeah...has anybody ever painted a fender? Has anybody ever used aftermarket fenders? How'd it turn out? I have 145,000 miles, but it has lived most of its life in a garage and under a coat of wax, so it still looks pretty good for its age, other than the bumper and fender of course.
Thanks in advance for all your advice!
-Adam
I'd like a bumper that won't bend in a 3 mph impact when hit on the outside edge like the stock one did. (this impact also damaged the fender, so I need to replace it too before new slightly larger tires will fit- clearance now is paper thin when the wheels are turned, and my tires are bald). I'd also like tow points. Do you recommend hooks, or tow point integrated into the bumper? I don't want to spend a ton of money either. I really like the BPI bumper with tow points, but I don't think it looks worth almost $400.
So...any suggestions?
I also need tire suggestions. I live near Santa Barbara, California. This Jeep will take me on rough, loose, unimproved rocky roads, maybe up to Mammoth for skiing in the winter, and I may also encounter some sandy terrain. Mud is unlikely here. I also will probably be takin this car on a multi-thousand mile trip all the way to Canada and back next summer, so on-road performance is important too. Currently I'm thinking of getting the Goodyear Wrangler AT-S, or something comprable. Any recomendations? What is the bigest size i can mount without ANY rubbing, on a stock-height vehicle?
I was also considering getting an externally mounted full-size spare. I don't want to mount the tire to the roof because...
1) It hurts gas mileage
2) I plan on getting a large yakima Platinum Pro 16S roof box, so there won't be any room up there
So can anybody recomend an affordably priced, reliable rear mount swing-away tire carrier?
Oh yeah...has anybody ever painted a fender? Has anybody ever used aftermarket fenders? How'd it turn out? I have 145,000 miles, but it has lived most of its life in a garage and under a coat of wax, so it still looks pretty good for its age, other than the bumper and fender of course.
Thanks in advance for all your advice!
-Adam