what to do with the money

[TJer]

Ok Im trying to figure out what to do with $5,000.:laugh2: I want to upgrade my jeep the most I can within that budget, I have been thinking about buying the AEV Highline kit but the more I see the jeeps on here the more I want to just lift my jeep. If I lift it I want long arms and a 3 or 4 link kit I want the most bang for my buck it will be a daily driver and I plan on moderate trails minimal body damage I plan on duing mostly trails sometimes rocks, any little suggestions help thanks guys.

So I might just cut my fenders,I wouldnt have to lift my Jeep and I could do 35"s like this http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=17870 and then I will have $5,000 for gears and everything else!:) I think thats what Im going to do! I add it up and this is the most bang for my buck setup:) so this Saturday Im going to desertrat and see what they price me at and maybe start cutting
My jeep will be 95% DD 4% lite dirt trails 1% hardly ever rocks

[mingoglia]

You probably should post what you're looking to get out of the Jeep and what on-road tradeoffs you're willing to deal with. I'm all for spending money in the Jeep in the right place.

[Andrew F]

I would check with Absolute Offroad on the Rock Krawler long arm kit. Seems to be the best bang for the buck out there.

[Cronoh]

I run the 5.5" Long Arm RK Kit as my daily driver, it drives excellent. It was a bit pricey, at just over 2k for the kit alone, but defniently love it. It performs great offroad ofcourse.

[mingoglia]

Okay guys. I'm all for pimping Joe's shop... but you have to understand what he's trying to do before automatically pimping RK's stuff. You're not doing anyone a service here.

[neZZr]

I wouldn't do the AEV highline kit... for $5k you could have someone fab you some highline-style tube fenders that wont crumple like the stock/AEV ones will, and still have enough cash left over for a long-arm kit and tires.

[TJer]

with the lift it says it requires a SYE and CV driveshaft how much does that cost?

[mingoglia]

Going completely from memory here you're probably looking at roughly $250 for the SYE and about $300 for the driveshaft... plus the install (SYE requires taking the back half of the transfer case apart). These numbers are from memory but should be in the ballpark.

Mike

[xjstocker]

like mike said: knowing what you are after would be a great help. are you wanting to point and shoot rock crawler or a trail/forest rd runner? big difference in sugestions between the two. i like crawling so i would do the RK x factor 5.5 kit it comes with a belly up and then locate a atlas 4.3 and have tom woods build a couple of shafts for it. this is if you can do the work yourself. if not the lift a SYE and then a new cv shaft for the rear. all this is contingent on finding some used rubber for it in the 35" range.
good luck

[AZXJ]

If you need any help with information, I'm a phone call away! 480-288-4213

[terron gregg]

do your research you can find everything used. I only spend 1500 bucks for a 5.5 long arm kit including the drive shaft and sye there are pros and cons about every lift i have the rubicon express cause its mainly a bolt in and i didnt have the money for the rk lift but i am more than happy with it figure out what you want to do with your jeep whither it will be for the future or now it will make it a whole lot easier choosing

[Andrew F]

Okay guys. I'm all for pimping Joe's shop... but you have to understand what he's trying to do before automatically pimping RK's stuff. You're not doing anyone a service here.

Looking around at all of his options are a good thing, but he wanted to know what I thought was his best choices. He mentioned bang for the buck and a long arm kit. All of the checking I have done shows that the RK kit is probably the one to choose. My understanding is that the center skid is designed better for servicing than most others, it appears to be very reliable (this is from online sources and talking to many people that have run them), and the control arms are bent to provide increased clearance. I'm sure there are other good features about it that I don't know. If not choosing the RK, I would probably go Rubicon Express LA, (which is what I wanted for a long time); but after seeing both in person, and on the trail, and reading the reviews, and looking at the prices, seems that RK is the best way to go. I almost jumped on the RK kit a while ago after finding out about the price, but then remembered I couldn't afford tires big enough to justify it.

[Lifes A Jeep]

What kind of axles are under your jeep? 30/35? If you have a D35 in the rear, you might want to consider upgrading it to a D44.

[Xiled1]

I think that you need to look at your axles/gearing before considering a lift. Like 'Lifes A Jeep' said, if you have a D35 in the rear, it needs to be upgraded. Either a 44 or an 8.8 would be a nice upgrade. At the same time, you'll want to regear. The gearing will depend on the size tire you plan on running. 4.56's are nice for 33's and still work pretty well with 35's. Since you are in there you might as well go for a locker, you will later anyway. Something selectable for the rear and lockright or Aussie for the front is a good setup on a budget. Since you already have a 3" lift, you could fit 33's, 1" bodylift may get you to 35's, with minor trimming. If there is money left over, I'd get the SYE and CV driveshaft.

I guess, if I were in your shoes, the lift would be low on my priority list. If you do the lift first, then you won't have the equipment to run the bigger tires that lift can accomodate.

[arczech]

After my future Stepfatherinlaw is doing, He sounds like you, My ? to him was (what do you want to do?) and how much will you pay.
He has been everywhere and heard so many options and took out a 20K loan to put in his rig .
What he is doing I do not know, We have a DD and are very happy with what we have been doing to it.So I guess my ? to you is (what do you want)
Do the resaerch and go on trails and see what others are doing before you make a decision.
See you on the trails.

[Horned Owl]

Screw all that lift stuff! Go get that Ken Bell Supercharger and a stroker motor!

[Horned Owl]

Screw all that lift stuff! Go get that Ken Bell Supercharger and a stroker motor!

Any obstacle is easy if you hit it with enough speed!!!


:laugh2:

[lancetkenyon]

With $5K on a DD, that sees little rocks, here is what I would do.....

3 1/2" RK or RE SA lift
33"-35" BFG MTs or GY MTRs and 15x8 aluminums
4.56 or 4.88 gears and a rear selectable locker
Rock sliders

This will probably eat up just about all of your $5K, but it will be a nice ride, and a pretty capable trail rig. Decent milage still, and plenty of power.

Now if I had $5K to throw into MY Jeep........a built D60, 9" or 14 bolt rear axle. Or a set off of Pirate F/R.

[Billy 4 hp]

With $5K on a DD, that sees little rocks, here is what I would do.....

3 1/2" RK or RE SA lift
33"-35" BFG MTs or GY MTRs and 15x8 aluminums Save some money and get some black steelie rock crawler wheels and maybe look at other tires (ProComp, etc)
4.56 or 4.88 gears and a rear selectable locker Only if it's a Dana 44 rear axle, otherwise budget some money for a Dana 44 or 8.8 swap
Rock sliders



X2 Basically :D