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Upgrade Ideas

732 views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  StanF 
#1 ·
Hey all!
I am new to this forum but have had my 92 Islander for about two years now. It is my daily driver and my weekend warrior but it is completely stock. I'm looking to lift it a little and maybe down the road do a lot more upgrades to it but for right now I just want something a little sturdier than the stock setup. The trails I go on are for the most part just dirt (lots of mud after rain and snow in the winter) but there are a lot of branching trails I want to explore with rougher terrain such as tons of rocks the size of basketballs and the random small log or two. The stock set up does not feel sturdy and I'd feel better with a little more clearance. As I said it is my daily driver but I want a setup that will allow me to conquer the trail without the trail conquering my jeep so I need ideas that accommodate both. I have shopped around and tried to study up on my own but I'm going into this blind. I'm not looking to break the bank but I'm looking for better than bare minimums. Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
#2 ·
There isn't hardly anything that you can do (if done correctly) that isn't going to break the bank.

A lift kit and taller tires is how you get more ground clearance, but if its done correctly, you also need a gear change to make up for the taller tires. Now your $750 lift kit and your $1000 tires and the $1000 gear change is breaking the bank.

A winch is a nice item to have if you are out playing in the woods, but not a necessity, a friend with another vehicle always works better. Or, joining an off-road club so you can have lots of friends laugh at you when you get stuck...lol.

I'm not trying to deter you from upgrading your YJ, but a 20 something year old machine will keep a budgeted owner busy with just maintenance costs. Specially if it is being used as a daily driver. Most of us use the YJ as a pleasure vehicle, not a daily driver. Although it can be used as a double duty machine. Just takes time and a lot of upgrades that will cost you a bank-breaking amount.

What I am getting at is, nothing is cheap when it comes to making major upgrades on a YJ. I purchased mine 5 years ago, for $2500, and in the last 5 years I have put well over $15K into it. And that is just on upgrades not everyday maintenance.
 
#3 ·
I dd a 95 YJ along with off-roading about twice a month. I am running stock height heavy duty springs from General Spring in Kansas with 31s and have occasional rubbing on the fender flares, but nothing too bad. As previously mentioned it can get very costly very quickly, which is why I went the cheap route and just got bigger tires. I've been through rocks bigger than basketballs and had no issues with clearance. Try getting in the dirt dirt and see what your machine can do before you get hot and heavy into modding.
 
#4 ·
0III0forlife gave you some great advice.

Can you confirm what tire size you have now? 29"?

You could probably go to 31" tires without a regear. A 1" body lift would probably give you enough tire clearance.

You may also want to install some swaybar quick disconnects. JKS, RE, and many other companies make them. They will help your Jeep articulate better over obstacles.

Also, air down your tires on the trail - somewhere from 12 to 15 psi would probably be right. But then you may want to carry a compressor with you to air them back up for the drive home. (search for "jeep on board air" - lots of choices)
 
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