Build started in October – I will make several posts to get caught up.
We purchased a 2005 Stone White LJ with 73,000 miles in October. This is our first Jeep and the second one we looked at. What we bought it for and what I’m upgrading it to do have diverged quite a bit. We originally wanted something to drive on the beach (mostly Fort Fisher in NC, surf fishing), use as a convertible around town on nice days, and use for light off road use/hunting/fishing (my 2WD 2016 F150 Sport has clearance issues on the land we hunt on, so I have to be careful).
My initial plan was to just add hitch receivers to the front and back to hold surf fishing gear. This changed to a heavier rear hitch receiver as we realized we could also tow our 2200 GVWR boat once we settled on an LJ.
After realizing the braking on the LJ and the TJ we previously test drove were not so great with the 33s on our LJ and 35s on the TJ, a big brake kit was added to the list.
After comparing the regeared TJ on 35s we test drove (can’t remember what it was regeared to) to the 3.73 LJ, I added a regear to the list. Whatever the TJ was geared to was significantly better than our LJ.
I also wanted to upgrade the sound system.
So that was it – hitch receivers, gears, and sound system.
But that was not it. The build expanded quickly from there.
Here’s what we started with (Base plus PO upgrades)
- 4” RC Lift … NO BUMPSTOPS!
- BFG KO2s at 285/70R17 on 17" Wheels from a JL (hated the wheels at first, but they're growing on me)
- Bestop Trektop Slantback Soft Top
- Seat Covers
- No-name LED headlights
- No-name LED offroad lights (wired to fog on steering column)
- Tube doors with rather nice PO-made door cart
- Dome light override switch for when doors are off
- Bluetooth receiver
- Stubby AM/FM antenna
- OE Hard Top is missing (was on build sheet and is wired for it)
Here are some photos when we got it home:
We purchased a 2005 Stone White LJ with 73,000 miles in October. This is our first Jeep and the second one we looked at. What we bought it for and what I’m upgrading it to do have diverged quite a bit. We originally wanted something to drive on the beach (mostly Fort Fisher in NC, surf fishing), use as a convertible around town on nice days, and use for light off road use/hunting/fishing (my 2WD 2016 F150 Sport has clearance issues on the land we hunt on, so I have to be careful).
My initial plan was to just add hitch receivers to the front and back to hold surf fishing gear. This changed to a heavier rear hitch receiver as we realized we could also tow our 2200 GVWR boat once we settled on an LJ.
After realizing the braking on the LJ and the TJ we previously test drove were not so great with the 33s on our LJ and 35s on the TJ, a big brake kit was added to the list.
After comparing the regeared TJ on 35s we test drove (can’t remember what it was regeared to) to the 3.73 LJ, I added a regear to the list. Whatever the TJ was geared to was significantly better than our LJ.
I also wanted to upgrade the sound system.
So that was it – hitch receivers, gears, and sound system.
But that was not it. The build expanded quickly from there.
Here’s what we started with (Base plus PO upgrades)
- 4” RC Lift … NO BUMPSTOPS!
- BFG KO2s at 285/70R17 on 17" Wheels from a JL (hated the wheels at first, but they're growing on me)
- Bestop Trektop Slantback Soft Top
- Seat Covers
- No-name LED headlights
- No-name LED offroad lights (wired to fog on steering column)
- Tube doors with rather nice PO-made door cart
- Dome light override switch for when doors are off
- Bluetooth receiver
- Stubby AM/FM antenna
- OE Hard Top is missing (was on build sheet and is wired for it)
Here are some photos when we got it home:
Last edited: