Suggested upgrades for new Jeeper?

[lomax0990]

Hi all as the title says I'm new to Jeeps and bought a 2003 TJ a few months back. It only has 70,000 miles and is mostly rust free. I've already fixed a heat problem thanks to suggestions on my first thread.

The Jeep won't be our daily driver so I wanted to see what I could get into this winter. I'm not an expert, but like to learn new things.

So my question is this. What upgrades/modifications would you guys suggest? I don't plan on doing any heavy trails. Mostly just light stuff and the occasional mud hole with the family.

It currently has a lift and 35's, Rancho shocks and steering stabilizer, and a front bumper with a winch mounting plate. Everything else is pretty well stock except.

Things already on my list:
- Spray bed liner in the interior. (Doing my truck so I just bought a little extra)
-Upgraded speakers and head unit (haven't decided on components yet)
-Winch

 

[pagrey]

Get a fire extinguisher, some basic recovery gear and something to air up your tires if you go in the dirt. It's easy to overlook the basics but they are really important.

 

[Chris]

A winch and recovery gear would be number one on my list, as well as replacing the horrid stock headlights with something with much more usable light output (see this thread for more on that: Jeep Wrangler TJ LED Headlight Upgrade Options)

 

[T_Hase89]

Change all the fluids/ check condition of current installed parts (make sure nuts are torqued, bushings tights etc.. as you didn’t install it) get the recovery gear mentioned above and wheel it for a year. See what you like and don’t like. Learn your limitations and eventually the jeeps limitations and upgrade based on what you want to do but can’t.

 

[billiebob]

Lockers before a winch, and the correct gearing since this is not a daily driver, altho with mud don't gear too low, mud loves wheel speed, not crawl speed.

And obviously different tires before that first mud pit.

 

[Goatman]

Fluids. Accessory belt, check steering and suspension bushings.
MOST IMPORTANTLY
Any rust. Get the rust inside and out. It is easier said than done. Get it now. It will only get worse!

 

[Bofa-Deez]

I did the spray in bed liner on my last TJ and hated it. Some people love it, but mine was a daily driver in the South and the noise was so bad, it was hard to have a phone conversation at any speed over 50 mph. And the heat transfer through the floor was awful. My current ride has the carpet and will stay that way.

I will never do the bed liner interior again unless it's a rig I plan on frequently getting wet inside the tub.

Your rig looks fine for what you want to do with it. Like said before, if you really want to throw money at it, make sure your gearing is correct for your tire size, have recovery gear, then get lockers. Once you start wheeling, the jeep will let you know what it needs.

 

[lowranger]

I did the bed liner in my first Suzuki Samurai. Never again on another vehicle. Hard to clean. I have BedTred in my Jeep now, and it's great. Cleaner, seems to be less noise and warmer in the winter.

 

[Bofa-Deez]

I did the bed liner in my first Suzuki Samurai. Never again on another vehicle. Hard to clean. I have BedTred in my Jeep now, and it's great. Cleaner, seems to be less noise and warmer in the winter.

Oh, yeah. Forgot that part about it looking dirty and being hard to clean after a year or so.

 

[Plumber1]

Later on you may change out your fender flares I see a lot of those that break and the mounting screws. You my also change out the side rock slider/steps for something that does not rib you of ground clearance. But both of these are things down the road. I would do what has been suggest above first.

 

[AndyG]

Get a tape measure first . I’m having a hard time believing those are 35’s unless it’s got a 6” lift .

Those tires will drive good, but Offroad will get stuck on a banana peel.

First cheap mod - blind spot mirrors.

The TJ looks cool, we are going to give it an initial forum score of 86. It was going to go 84 but the red letters against the black helped.

See Plumbers up there? That baby is a 99 for reference .


We like the term “mostly rust free” ...good one . Like saying , “She’s barely got the crabs . “

 

[hamrickac]

Since 2 people already voted against the Bedlined interior I’ll go ahead and say it’s horrible. Heat and noise is insane. Any road noise and engine noise just drone in the cab. I just replaced my factory carpet with bedtred and if I had to do again I’d just get a good Essex carpet. For what you pay it should be much more substantial than what it is. The fitment was horrible and took me a day of cutting and scooting around to get in.

 

[lomax0990]

Get a tape measure first . I’m having a hard time believing those are 35’s unless it’s got a 6” lift .

- You are right they are 33's. My mistake.

The TJ looks cool, we are going to give it an initial forum score of 86. It was going to go 84 but the red letters against the black helped.

- Not sure if 86 is good or bad but I'll take it!

Since 2 people already voted against the Bedliner interior I’ll go ahead and say it’s horrible.

Ok so I think I've been talked out of the bedliner. I was never sold, but like I said should have extra left over after doing my truck.

I do have a question about the lockers. Should I do the lockers even if this will be more street driven than trail driven? Mostly it will just be used for running around town, and then the occasional trail or two when we aren't doing the kids activities. So considering that, I'm just wondering if it's still the way to go? Also, what brands do people recommend? Want to get a jump start on research regardless.

Also, what do you guys think about the Rough Country disconnects? I know that JKS seems to be the best, but at half the price I'm wondering what you think about the Rough Country ones?

 

[LONGJP2]

Wheel it as is.
I would hold off on major upgrades till you know more about what you actually need. The type and/or frequency of wheeling will dictate what's more important.

 

[L J]

Determine the model of Rancho shocks: 5000? If so, consider replacing them with the Rancho 5000X shocks. There is quite a bit of favorable feedback from experienced members as to the improved ride quality.

 

[hamrickac]

- You are right they are 33's. My mistake.

- Not sure if 86 is good or bad but I'll take it!

Ok so I think I've been talked out of the bedliner. I was never sold, but like I said should have extra left over after doing my truck.

I do have a question about the lockers. Should I do the lockers even if this will be more street driven than trail driven? Mostly it will just be used for running around town, and then the occasional trail or two when we aren't doing the kids activities. So considering that, I'm just wondering if it's still the way to go? Also, what brands do people recommend? Want to get a jump start on research regardless.

Also, what do you guys think about the Rough Country disconnects? I know that JKS seems to be the best, but at half the price I'm wondering what you think about the Rough Country ones?

Open diffs are actually capable of doing most things people consider wheeling with a capable driver.

limited slip would probably be the best compromise between open and full time lockers and as long as you don’t completely lift a wheel off the ground you’re in good shape

Full time lockers are sturdy but outright dangerous in snow and rain. The road handling will suffer greatly and is hard on a vehicle.,If it is a dedicated wheeling rig these the the way to go but not for street use.

Selectable lockers are the best for your situation but while you’re in there you may as well regear and are looking at 3-5k just depending on whether you do it yourself or have a mechanic do it and reputable regear/locker installation isn’t cheap. I’m presuming you have a 44 rear. If you don’t you’d have to do a super35 upgrade with 30 spline axel shafts and that will add another 600-1000.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Many people dislike, or actually hate, bedliner. Not me.

What I hated was my carpet that would only dry if removed and hung out to dry. That's not a problem if it never rains with your doors and/or roof off, or maybe they are never removed to begin with.

Before I bedlined I drove with nothing on my floors for several months. I never really noticed unbearable noise and the wife never complained when she would drive or ride in it. I'm now a year into the bedliner and still no complaints from her.

As for washing it, I've had no trouble with that either. Yes the bedlined grill, bumpers, and fender flares are easier to clean than the interior but even that isn't hard except on the rear floor where I stupidly added some grit to stop stuff from sliding around. Also, at least on what I used, changing the amount of pressure from your compressor will change how rough or smooth the bedliner ends up.

It looks like LONGJP2 had most of the best answer, I just changed it a little bit:

Drive it as is.
I would hold off on major upgrades till you know more about what you actually need. The type and/or frequency of where you drive it, and who rides with you, will dictate what's more important.

 

[Plumber1]

Many people dislike, or actually hate, bedliner. Not me.

What I hated was my carpet that would only dry if removed and hung out to dry. That's not a problem if it never rains with your doors and/or roof off, or maybe they are never removed to begin with.

Before I bedlined I drove with nothing on my floors for several months. I never really noticed unbearable noise and the wife never complained when she would drive or ride in it. I'm now a year into the bedliner and still no complaints from her.

As for washing it, I've had no trouble with that either. Yes the bedlined grill, bumpers, and fender flares are easier to clean than the interior but even that isn't hard except on the rear floor where I stupidly added some grit to stop stuff from sliding around. Also, at least on what I used, changing the amount of pressure from your compressor will change how rough or smooth the bedliner ends up.

It looks like LONGJP2 had most of the best answer, I just changed it a little bit:

You didn't mention the heat w/o carpeting the floors in mine get so hot you can't drive barefooted

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

You didn't mention the heat w/o carpeting the floors in mine get so hot you can't drive barefooted

You're probably right about that. I never even thought about it but that's probably because I haven't driven anything barefoot in about 25 years.

 

[AndyG]

On lockers , look at plumbers avatar . Look what he is driving up. That is what lockers are for...they give you surgical control in very technical terrain.

Are they must? Pretty much in stuff like that . Elsewhere a stock Jeep will get it done.