Inexpensive (El-cheapo) TJ Mods

[Fire41fighter]

Being new to the TJ, and seeing some others that are new to the TJ world on here, I thought it might be good to start a thread on inexpensive TJ mods. As we all know, we can sink a lot of $ in these things to personalize them and improve their performance. Like many, I have more that one Jeep, a JKU, and between the two there can be a lot of cash going in to these things! But, there are some great mods and personalization that doesn't cost that much. So...what have some of you done to your TJ?

I've updated interior lighting to LED, added paracord grab handles, diamondplate rockers (to hide Por 15 rust repair), and some other things that didn't cost a small fortune.

Speak up! I'd like to hear...and see...what you did! Please add photos if you can! Thanx! Scott.

 

[dylansalrin]

before I got flatties, I trimmed the stock flares with a dremel and it made my 33s look WAY better. I also painted my headlight trim rings black, and put 3M black auto vinyl on the windshield frame AND upper door to make them look like half doors, may be a preference thing but I think it looks better (then again I like half doors). I also added grab handles to the rollbar for $20 for 4 of them off ebay. I am currently making a mount for my GoPro to attach to the footman's loop so when I go trail riding I can film. It is a small bracket and currently still being prototyped ha, I will 3d Print it when I am finished. Good luck, WF has a great forum like this that has TONS of pages of ideas

 

[IronCity]

Painted headlight Bezels, door handles. Bedlined the bumper and my fuel door. 5" vinyl sun strip across windshield. Grab handles inside. Sound system that has been laying in my garage for a while. Smoked license plate covers, led interior lights. Cheap Things to come...paint hinges and spare tire mount extender to mount my spare.


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[UpperMI]

Unbolt the milk jugs on the end of the front bumper. It's free and really improves the looks of your jeep (in my opinion). The back ones can be removed as well.

 

[Chris]

Removed the third brake light.

I know, people keep telling me it's illegal, but it's been almost 2 years and not one single cop has bothered me.

I just don't like the look of it.

 

[RaymondT]

Removed the third brake light.

I know, people keep telling me it's illegal, but it's been almost 2 years and not one single cop has bothered me.

I just don't like the look of it.

I dunno Chris. Where I live there's lots of (half-senile) seniors with bad eyesight and poor reaction times.

And that got me thinking. LED's in the high mount brake light might just save your ass. I checked the schematic and this Center-High-Mounted-Stop-Light is wired direct to the brake switch so resistive load is a non-issue. LED equivalent of a #921 bulb.

 

[Chris]

I dunno Chris. Where I live there's lots of (half-senile) seniors with bad eyesight and poor reaction times.

And that got me thinking. LED's in the high mount brake light might just save your ass. I checked the schematic and this Center-High-Mounted-Stop-Light is wired direct to the brake switch so resistive load is a non-issue. LED equivalent of a #921 bulb.

I'm running the LED taillights and they are bright as piss. I would say they are probably 4 times brighter than the stock tails, especially when hitting the brakes.

If it wasn't for those, I never would have removed my third brake light. I may put it back, but I've got to find a nice clean way to do it.

 

[fourpointzero]

Removed the third brake light.

I know, people keep telling me it's illegal, but it's been almost 2 years and not one single cop has bothered me.

I just don't like the look of it.

Did the same thing here, Chris. And I dig it. Maybe i'll add some type of 3rd indicator somewhere else. But for now, no spare or mount and I like the look!


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[Rob5589]

Third light mod, 5 bucks...

Daystar dash pod. Last year in Idaho we kept throwing our radios on the dash and it finally broke the defrost grill. Adds more usable storage for 21 bucks. I plastidipped the entire thing to keep rattles down...

 

[IronCity]

Third light mod, 5 bucks...
View attachment 8458

Daystar dash pod. Last year in Idaho we kept throwing our radios on the dash and it finally broke the defrost grill. Adds more usable storage for 21 bucks. I plastidipped the entire thing to keep rattles down...
View attachment 8459

You should post your third eye light in the how to section. I know I would like see how you did it. I like your storage try, I'm getting the same one with the phone mount.

 

[Rob5589]

Not much to the light. A 5 buck led from OReillys, and three holes drilled into the mount. Two for the retaining screws, one for the wire. It was a simple splice of the two wires.

 

[RaymondT]

Not much to the light. A 5 buck led from OReillys, and three holes drilled into the mount. Two for the retaining screws, one for the wire. It was a simple splice of the two wires.

That's a common 1" x 2" red market light likely with a flush mounted base. Get them at any HD truck dealership (Freightliner, KW, etc) cheap! They are available in LED or standard. Don't forget to pack the connection with dielectric grease.

 

[RaymondT]

I'm running the LED taillights and they are bright as piss. I would say they are probably 4 times brighter than the stock tails, especially when hitting the brakes.

If it wasn't for those, I never would have removed my third brake light. I may put it back, but I've got to find a nice clean way to do it.

Did you mean LED bulbs or complete assemblies?

 

[Chris]

Did you mean LED bulbs or complete assemblies?

Complete assemblies. These are the ones I am running:
Truck-Lite 7" LED Headlights

 

[Rob5589]

That light is a surface mount. I didn't have anything large enough to cut the hole for the flush mount style.

 

[dylansalrin]

I got a 2" led light from any auto store and drilled a hole in my center cap, ran the two wires down the stock weather proof harness that goes into the tailgate. Super easy and cool mod. The center cap is permanently mounted on the tire carrier which makes for easy swaps


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[dylansalrin]

With a few pointers from Chris, today I installed my new stereo (not so cheap) but also used a backup camera ($10) and wired it to a rocker switch and pointed it towards the front. Now I have an AMAZING rock cam to see the front suspension on a trail with a flip of a switch. Very fun and easy install, only set me back $14 total (relay and fuses).


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[Chris]

With a few pointers from Chris, today I installed my new stereo (not so cheap) but also used a backup camera ($10) and wired it to a rocker switch and pointed it towards the front. Now I have an AMAZING rock cam to see the front suspension on a trail with a flip of a switch. Very fun and easy install, only set me back $14 total (relay and fuses).


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That's rock cam is a good idea. I should definitely install one of those.

 

[Ryan Thomas]

Third light mod, 5 bucks...
View attachment 8458

Daystar dash pod. Last year in Idaho we kept throwing our radios on the dash and it finally broke the defrost grill. Adds more usable storage for 21 bucks. I plastidipped the entire thing to keep rattles down...
View attachment 8459

I've almost gotten that dash box several times now... I think I might have to do it. Just so much more secure than putting crap in the little factory divot!

 

[fourpointzero]

Is the flip-a-top after market sunrider kit considered an 'el cheapo' mod? It's about 60 bucks. To me, well worth it!

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