Ultimate expedition xj??

OK so for my next xj project I will be building it for expedition/exploration use. No hardcore wheelin, just lots of back country exploring/camping. I am curious to see how others would build an xj for this purpose....Here is my list of goodies...Lets see yours!!!

RE 3.5" super flex kit w/ 1" spacer up front.
32" Cooper discoverer STT's
JCR front winch bumper w/Mile Marker SE9500 winch
JCR rear bumper w/tire carrier
4.10 gears
Auburn ected lockers front/rear
Belly pan/gas tank skid
AJ's rock rails
SYE/Tom woods shaft
Ham radio
CB radio
Surco roof rack

my ulimimate expedition xj?

in short....

3.5 superride full leaf pack, get super ride uppers, with 5150's
tnt trackbar and 1 inch boomerang shackles,
aj's bumpers,
aj's hd tie rod
aj's rails
the new warn powepack winch,
TNT's stiffeners and belly skid
some really good brakes.
arb's front and rear, and 410's
SYE that uses stock front shaft
all the neccessry radios and gps stuff.
stick with the biggest surco i can find.
and gotta love those coopers too....
dual optima's and a hd charging system, to support a few lights and winch.
a good hard wired inverter
good brakes


my main reason for picking some stuff like aj's tie rod, and the super ride over the superflex is for the availability of parts. Thats just my short quick list for now....take it for what its worth, not much!!1


Mike

My list would look much the same as the above, with a mean green alternator and an onboard tank/compressor

there was an article a while back where 2 guys preped an XJ for a long term expedition, it wasent over done but just about right, if I can dig it up Ill post a link. Thats my intentions with my newly aquired project XJ. I need it to do 500 mile days be able to provide shelter if needed in snow and tow a small boat while doing some light stuff in places like Death Valley, and some of the trails in the out here in the Sierras. Much of my fishing/camping trips are solo with the exception of one of my old dogs due to my screwy work schedule so Bullet proofness and reliability is a major issue. I dont wanna end up playing Survivorman. One locker for the D44, mild lift, mudders, rebuild or replace every possible and probably failed part and carry spares when possible, winch, survival and recovery gear. Sure be cool to do a 4bt Cummins conversion to get 30 mpg like my Brother in laws FJ40.

Expedition/Exploration use to me implies best ride quality you can get. That means either drop brackets or long arms. So that sets your lift height at around 4" as a minimum to make it worth the effort with those lift types. Alternatively you could do a really mild OME style lift and re-radius the fenders for a largish tire.

33" tires is likely where I'd start, maybe run 35s depending on where you want to set the limits on the Jeep. Regardless, 4.56 gears.

Armour the hell out of it.

The rest is bling, add to taste.

RE 5.5" coils, full rear leaf packs, custom CarlPlus(don't ask if you don't know) longarm
33" BF Goodrich All Terrains
Rigid Co front winch bumper w/Warn 9.5ti
Some rear bumper w/tire carrier
4.56 gears, possibly 4.88s
ARB front locker, Detroit rear
Gas tank skid
TNT frame stiffners
SYE/Tom woods shaft
CB radio
Surco roof rack
Plastic 5 gallon fuel cans to go on roof rack
GPS
Laptop
Add more 12v outlets in rear of vehicle.
Upgraded steering, 1 ton style
High Lift
Shovel
Upgraded cooling system
Upgraded electrical (alternator)

And lots more I am sure

Optima yellow top, rear winch... dunno about the At's i'd probably go with some MT's

I like this for a start. It was on Ebay some time ago.





Needs a rear hitch, rear bumper with a spare carrier and retrieval points.

you can see the current expedition XJ I a using in the Adventure Forum.....it's still a work in progress, though

Fish'nCarz said:

I like this for a start. It was on Ebay some time ago.

Needs a rear hitch, rear bumper with a spare carrier and retrieval points.

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Huh, first XJ other than mine that I've seen with those wheels :looney:

Parts availability is a good point for a long-term expedition that will resupply in towns.

For pure backcountry use I think that function takes prime importance rather than parts availability. I'll pick heavily modded with spares over available at any auto shop. Not really important for leaf springs though, I'm sure both packs work great.

For a deep backcountry trip I'd add:

4.5" of lift
trimmed fenders
33 m/ts(2 spares)
SYE w/front shaft to share spares
lotsa skids/rockers tied to frame to allow use as jack points
replace common parts/spare up/lube everything and prep for water (relocate breathers, treat electrical connections cowl induction or snorkel, a pelican case or some other dry-box for emergency stuff)
OBA
Bumpers front and rear, recievers in each, hitch mount winch plate, swing away spare carrier
invertor wired to outlets in back
1/4 ton trailer (depending on length of trip or if you can make basecamp and drop the trailer)
roof rack
A-D pillar hammock
comprehensive first aid kit and WFA at least
GPS
Whiskey
Pull the bench seat from the rear and address storage/sleep issues
Big roof rack w/swing away ladder that rests on rear bumper.
Hi-lift or inflatible jack for questionable terrain
Tire chains
4.56 or 4.88 gears dream build has some currie axles or something like that...
Selectable lockers
WJ brakes
Good Shovel, Axe, Shotgun or Rifle if legal in destination
Fix all leaks, kit for spills or fluids drained during repairs.

I know there's more, but that's all I'm coming up with now.

And maybe some sort of screen on the windows to keep the bugs out at night and still let in fresh air.
Have fun guys ,good ideas.

Fish'nCarz said:

I like this for a start. It was on Ebay some time ago.

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im diggin that bumper !

yeah that bumper looks like a ARB knockoff but i like it better

Suspension:
Deaver 4" Progressive Coils
JKS ACOS
Deaver 4" Rear Packs
Rubicon 1.25" Shackles
TnT 1" U-bolt Eliminators
TnT Y-Link w/Soft Joints
Bilstein 5150s

Steering:
Currie HD
Kevin's Offroad Trac Bar
JKS Quick Disconnects

Drivetrain:
Rubicon 44 Front
XJ 44 Rear
Precision Gear 4.88s
Eaton E-Lockers
Alloy USA Front Alloys w/Yukon Super Joints
Alloy USA Rear Alloys
Rubicon NVG241OR Transfercase
High Angle Driveline HD Driveshafts
Rubicon Stainless Brake Lines
Walker Evans Racing Fully Polished Beadlocks
LT295/70R17 Toyo Open Country MTs

Armor/Recovery:
TnT Front Winch Bumper
Warn Powerplant Dual Force Hp Winch
TnT Frame Stiffeners
TnT Tubular Sliders
DPG Offroad Gas Tank Skid
Custom Rear Winch Bumper
Warn XD9000 Winch

Engine/Performance:
Rock-it Air Intake
Mean Green Alternator
Mean Green Starter
Mean Green Dual Battery Kit
Optima Red Top
Optima Yellow Top
Jeepers And Creepers HD Battery Cables w/Quick Disconnects
Derale Dual Electric Fans
Ron Davis Racing All Aluminum Radiator

Interior Electrical:
Cobra 75WXST Compact/Remote Mount CB Radio
4' Firestik II
Pioneer AVIC-Z2 In-dash GPS Navigation
Globalstar GSP-1700 Satellite Phone w/SPK-1410 Portable Docking Kit
Soft Mount Panasonic Toughbook 19 Laptop

Does anyone want to add all of that up? Didn't think so...............

Oh yeah, base vehicle: 2000 XJ Limited, Sienna Pearl, Heated Seats, Non-ABS

chrslefty said:

im diggin that bumper !

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Not certain, but I think that's a Warn bumper.

Fish'nCarz said:

Not certain, but I think that's a Warn bumper.

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AJ has one like it at probably half the cost.

Hey we joined at the same time!

Fish'nCarz said:

Not certain, but I think that's a Warn bumper.

Click to expand...

Bullet Proof

As far as the strength/parts availability issue goes, I tried to get the best of both. I'm running a full-width HP44 in the front of mine. It gives me the strengths of the HP44, but I can still find parts at any auto parts store or junk yard.

For an expedition rig 4:1 low range seems a little low, the stock gearing in a np231 is fine for most of the wheeling an expedition rig will encounter.

Prepmech said:

For an expedition rig 4:1 low range seems a little low, the stock gearing in a np231 is fine for most of the wheeling an expedition rig will encounter.

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Then just run 4 hi, got the low if ya need it...........:dunno: