moparmansfield
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Portland
My goal for this thread is compile ideas and document the upgrades/changes needed for the Jeep XJ platform to compete with more modern 4x4 options.
Here's my "why" - feel free to jump to the good stuff(once it is there):
Long story short - Financially, I can afford a new Jeep JL/Gladiator - and oh man do I want one. But - I already own a 99 XJ with some decent upgrades, and an old Jeepster project. Owning both of these rigs costs me around $55 a month, not including maintenance/gas. A new Gladiator with 10k down will have a ~$700/month payment for 72 months(!) and Insurance cost of $100+/month.
$10k + $800/month vs $55/month.
The opportunity cost here is huge. Instead, if were to invest 10k into both of my rigs, they would be much better drivers and provide a lot of enjoyment, and I wouldn't have to shell out an extra ~$750 a month.
Yes - I could sell the XJ/Jeepster and use that to increase the down payment - but I'd rather keep them at this point for many reasons.
Modern rig positive benefits over the XJ:
Better on-road manners
All the tech (screens/cameras/buttons/electric sway disconnects -etc)
Nice to look at
Power/fuel efficiency
Reliability
Creature Comforts
Ergonomics
Fit/Finish (overall product quality)
The goal here is to figure out what I can do to my XJ with ~$5k to make it feel like a more modern rig.
Already has ~4.5" lift on 33x12.5's with 4.10s/ax-15. Looks decent from 50ft away. Interior is a 6 out of 10. Suspension is decent offroad, not great on-road. Technically it doesn't need anything - everything works - but I would really like for it to have some of those modern rig benefits.
Ideas so far:
Double din radio with new speakers
Back-up/approach cameras
Heated seats/seat upgrade
Heated steering wheel
Better LED headlights
Swap a JK electronic sway bar on-to the XJ (if possible) or go anti-rock.
Frame stiffening
4.56 gear swap (slight power/mpg increase) or drop to 32's.
Swap radius arm long arms for 3-4 link and tune well.
Tunable shocks.
4 link the rear or find a better riding set of leaves.
Doing all this for $5K might be a stretch, but I would wait for sales to pop up or buy used, and install myself. I enjoy working on the Jeep, so I don't count that as a cost. The biggest factor to me is the on-road manners, so I'm comfortable spending more here.
Let me know your thoughts or what you have done to your rig to make it compete with more modern rigs!
Here's my "why" - feel free to jump to the good stuff(once it is there):
Long story short - Financially, I can afford a new Jeep JL/Gladiator - and oh man do I want one. But - I already own a 99 XJ with some decent upgrades, and an old Jeepster project. Owning both of these rigs costs me around $55 a month, not including maintenance/gas. A new Gladiator with 10k down will have a ~$700/month payment for 72 months(!) and Insurance cost of $100+/month.
$10k + $800/month vs $55/month.
The opportunity cost here is huge. Instead, if were to invest 10k into both of my rigs, they would be much better drivers and provide a lot of enjoyment, and I wouldn't have to shell out an extra ~$750 a month.
Yes - I could sell the XJ/Jeepster and use that to increase the down payment - but I'd rather keep them at this point for many reasons.
Modern rig positive benefits over the XJ:
Better on-road manners
All the tech (screens/cameras/buttons/electric sway disconnects -etc)
Nice to look at
Power/fuel efficiency
Reliability
Creature Comforts
Ergonomics
Fit/Finish (overall product quality)
The goal here is to figure out what I can do to my XJ with ~$5k to make it feel like a more modern rig.
Already has ~4.5" lift on 33x12.5's with 4.10s/ax-15. Looks decent from 50ft away. Interior is a 6 out of 10. Suspension is decent offroad, not great on-road. Technically it doesn't need anything - everything works - but I would really like for it to have some of those modern rig benefits.
Ideas so far:
Double din radio with new speakers
Back-up/approach cameras
Heated seats/seat upgrade
Heated steering wheel
Better LED headlights
Swap a JK electronic sway bar on-to the XJ (if possible) or go anti-rock.
Frame stiffening
4.56 gear swap (slight power/mpg increase) or drop to 32's.
Swap radius arm long arms for 3-4 link and tune well.
Tunable shocks.
4 link the rear or find a better riding set of leaves.
Doing all this for $5K might be a stretch, but I would wait for sales to pop up or buy used, and install myself. I enjoy working on the Jeep, so I don't count that as a cost. The biggest factor to me is the on-road manners, so I'm comfortable spending more here.
Let me know your thoughts or what you have done to your rig to make it compete with more modern rigs!