How much money have you put into your TJ build?

Chris

Chris

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I decided to sit down today and add up all the money I've spend on mods for my TJ thus far. This is the number I came up with:

$17,286

Keep in mind the prices that I used to get this number are the absolute lowest prices I could find on all of the parts I bought, literally. Many of those prices included discount codes as well as lots of comparing prices on different sites (Amazon usually being the cheapest).

I'm also not factoring in shipping costs, which on some of the items were very expensive. Case in point, the shipping alone on the Vanco big brake kit was $100, and the shipping for the Rokmen skid plates was another $100. I speculate I've spend at least $1500 or more in shipping alone! Oh, and let's not forget the $1000 to install new gears!

The point I'm trying to make here is that building a capable Jeep with quality parts IS NOT cheap. Could I have done it for cheaper? Of course I could have. However, I'm using the best-of-the-best in terms of parts.

What gets me even more is that I've probably got at least another $5000 to dump into it.

Man... these things really are money pits!

Okay, so how much do you guys and gals think you've dumped into your TJ? I'm talking about mods, not maintenance or labor costs.
 
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I’m up to about $2,000 so far. I have an exact number on a spreadsheet at home (including the mileage when the Part was installed). but it’s close to within a couple hundred dollars. Biggest expense was $700 for new Duratracs 2 years ago.
 
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To damn much.

I have saved a lot of money on used parts though. Both ARB lockers, my built up Dana 30, rubi 44, antirock, currie steering were picked up second hand thru craigslist.
 
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I just bought a 99 TJ for $9k and to the best of what I can tell it has about $10k-11k worth of mods and a newly rebuilt trans for $2k all by previous owners over a period of the past 5 years in which two different owners worked on it and put 15k miles on it. That does NOT count the wheels since I have no idea of brand or cost, nor the Duratec 33’s which have about 70% left. I’ve spent about $500 on it to swap the shocks, add a cat to it, change the coolant/hoses/thermostate, and add a working ebrake back to it.

Moral of the story? Don’t sell your modded Jeep. LOL
 
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Chris said:
This is true... at least not once you're this deep into it.
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All my old rx7 buddies used to keep all their stock stuff so if they ever needed to sell they could strip it down back to somewhat stock and sell it as a stock car and the mods separate. Honestly I’m surprised the previous owner of my Jeep didn’t do that...especially for easy stuff like the Gobi roof rack and winch where you don’t even need the stock stuff to replace it. BUT I’m so glad he didn’t! :)
 
Xposure said:
All my old rx7 buddies used to keep all their stock stuff so if they ever needed to sell they could strip it down back to somewhat stock and sell it as a stock car and the mods separate. Honestly I’m surprised the previous owner of my Jeep didn’t do that...especially for easy stuff like the Gobi roof rack and winch where you don’t even need the stock stuff to replace it. BUT I’m so glad he didn’t! :)
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Oh man... I am too lazy to return it to stock, haha. The tummy tuck, the gas tank skid, the bumpers, winch, lift... It would be so much work and labor I don't even think I could bring myself to do it.

At this point I've just insured the vehicle for the extra money I've put into it, that way I'm covered no matter what. I figure one day when I die, one of my three kids can inherit it. I figure by that time it will be pretty damn cool to be rolling around in.
 
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Chris said:
Oh man... I am too lazy to return it to stock, haha. The tummy tuck, the gas tank skid, the bumpers, winch, lift... It would be so much work and labor I don't even think I could bring myself to do it.

At this point I've just insured the vehicle for the extra money I've put into it, that way I'm covered no matter what. I figure one day when I die, one of my three kids can inherit it. I figure by that time it will be pretty damn cool to be rolling around in.
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It’s pretty damn cool to roll around in today!
 
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Xposure said:
I just bought a 99 TJ for $9k and to the best of what I can tell it has about $10k-11k worth of mods and a newly rebuilt trans for $2k all by previous owners over a period of the past 5 years in which two different owners worked on it and put 15k miles on it. That does NOT count the wheels since I have no idea of brand or cost, nor the Duratec 33’s which have about 70% left. I’ve spent about $500 on it to swap the shocks, add a cat to it, change the coolant/hoses/thermostate, and add a working ebrake back to it.

Moral of the story? Don’t sell your modded Jeep. LOL
Click to expand...

There is for sure some good deals on modded jeeps out there. I've seen some jeeps with more money in them than the asking price (like yours). I'm probably going to look at a Jeep with mods on it soon although I prefer unmolested, and while I am very cautious to inherit someone else's problems, I am curious as if it's high quality parts, it might honestly save me 10k+ long run.

Like if Chris sold his he'd get realistically less than 30, which he has way more than that in it.. just finding those quality parts can be interesting.
 
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About 2,600 NZD (2,000.00USD ) However with new shocks, springs and tyres ,plus bedrug on the way on the next 8 months you can add another 3k to that)

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tomtaylz said:
There is for sure some good deals on modded jeeps out there. I've seen some jeeps with more money in them than the asking price (like yours). I'm probably going to look at a Jeep with mods on it soon although I prefer unmolested, and while I am very cautious to inherit someone else's problems, I am curious as if it's high quality parts, it might honestly save me 10k+ long run.

Like if Chris sold his he'd get realistically less than 30, which he has way more than that in it.. just finding those quality parts can be interesting.
Click to expand...

Yea I went through mine pretty well and felt like everything was done well. I didn’t like the cheap lift kit on it but with new $200 shocks I can live with the rest of the kit. I felt like it was a good enough deal that if I had to do some things and spend a little money making adjustments it wouldn’t be a big deal.
 
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