Thought I'd get a proper thread started for my '06 Wrangler TJ Renegade. They're not common in the UK so getting parts and modifying it is a challenge but it makes it all the more fun. We're about to enter our 3 month of the National Lockdown here in the UK so this forum has been keeping me sane!
This isn’t going to be your typical TJ build. My plan is to use the TJ as cross between an overlander/Grand Tourer. I do loads of road trips across the UK and Europe. Last year, with the TJ pretty much stock, we did Wales twice, France, Spain and Italy. It did well for the most parts being reliable both on road and off road. We don’t have much crazy off road terrain here so I don’t need to do too much to get the off road capability where I want. My plan is to build it to a place where I’m getting the maximum level of comfort on the road (for those long boring French highways) while maximising the off road capability that I need. I really want to try and push the comfort levels to see if I can make the TJ into a proper Grand Tourer. Also, most of the TJ I’ve seen in the UK are just nasty. Really poorly maintained. So I really want to keep this as clean as possible and also roll back some of the shitty work done by previous owners.
I bought it last Summer after wanting one since I was a kid (classic). I grew up in California you either wanted a Mustang or a Wrangler. I got very lucky and found the right Jeep at the right time. It was the first TJ I found and fell in love instantly. Far better than anyone I viewed after it. I paid £9,300 ($13,000) and it only had 43,000 miles on it. I've been doing a lot of travelling with it since I bought so only just now getting the time to properly work on it. I drove it across Europe to Barcelona, then to Menorca and even Sardinia in Italy. It's been solid the whole time and bags of fun. TJs are even more rare in Europe so it turned heads everywhere I went. I even had people coming up to me asking if they can take a photo with it! Here's a few shots of it as I bought it before I list the work I want to do with it.
Pretty much came bone stock. On the UK Reg it's listed as a TJ Renegade Soft Top. After doing loads of research, it turns out the Renegade is a UK and Australia specific edition. It was mainly for the '06 TJ to help shift it before the JK came out.
- Terrafirma shocks with no lift - Never heard of them, did some digging and found they are mainly used for Land Rovers. The ride is shocking and it's sagging all over the place. One of the first things I'm changing.
- They added in Corbeau Moab seats. They look nice but so damn uncomfortable. Way too narrow IMO.
- Had a pretty tidy rust proofing underneath with limited surface rust elsewhere. There is some diamond plating on the fenders that is likely covering rust.
Inevitably this list is going to increase as I get going.
Planned Modifications:
- Upgrade lighting to LED Halo Lights - Done
- Install Bestop Supertop NX Twill - Done
- Rancho 5000x Shocks with H&R 1.5in Lift Springs
- Smoked indicator light kit
- Restore the original decals (It came with some a Native American 'Renegade' decal)
- Brushed Stainless steel grille inserts (my radiator is getting pummelled by the motorway debris here)
- All new rubber seals
- Billet fuel cap
- New fuel cap bezel
- New seat mounts (previous owner installed fixed mounts)
- Double Din Head Unit (Sony AX 5550d)
- Matching black twill spare wheel cover
- Refurbish door handles and plastic trim
- Reupholster seats in leather
- Leather wrap roll bar cover to match seats
- New speakers
- Rugged Ridge AT Fender Flare
- Forged aluminium rims (Looking at MTs, Pro Comp, or Mammoth - any opinions?)
This isn’t going to be your typical TJ build. My plan is to use the TJ as cross between an overlander/Grand Tourer. I do loads of road trips across the UK and Europe. Last year, with the TJ pretty much stock, we did Wales twice, France, Spain and Italy. It did well for the most parts being reliable both on road and off road. We don’t have much crazy off road terrain here so I don’t need to do too much to get the off road capability where I want. My plan is to build it to a place where I’m getting the maximum level of comfort on the road (for those long boring French highways) while maximising the off road capability that I need. I really want to try and push the comfort levels to see if I can make the TJ into a proper Grand Tourer. Also, most of the TJ I’ve seen in the UK are just nasty. Really poorly maintained. So I really want to keep this as clean as possible and also roll back some of the shitty work done by previous owners.
I bought it last Summer after wanting one since I was a kid (classic). I grew up in California you either wanted a Mustang or a Wrangler. I got very lucky and found the right Jeep at the right time. It was the first TJ I found and fell in love instantly. Far better than anyone I viewed after it. I paid £9,300 ($13,000) and it only had 43,000 miles on it. I've been doing a lot of travelling with it since I bought so only just now getting the time to properly work on it. I drove it across Europe to Barcelona, then to Menorca and even Sardinia in Italy. It's been solid the whole time and bags of fun. TJs are even more rare in Europe so it turned heads everywhere I went. I even had people coming up to me asking if they can take a photo with it! Here's a few shots of it as I bought it before I list the work I want to do with it.
Pretty much came bone stock. On the UK Reg it's listed as a TJ Renegade Soft Top. After doing loads of research, it turns out the Renegade is a UK and Australia specific edition. It was mainly for the '06 TJ to help shift it before the JK came out.
- Terrafirma shocks with no lift - Never heard of them, did some digging and found they are mainly used for Land Rovers. The ride is shocking and it's sagging all over the place. One of the first things I'm changing.
- They added in Corbeau Moab seats. They look nice but so damn uncomfortable. Way too narrow IMO.
- Had a pretty tidy rust proofing underneath with limited surface rust elsewhere. There is some diamond plating on the fenders that is likely covering rust.
Inevitably this list is going to increase as I get going.
Planned Modifications:
- Upgrade lighting to LED Halo Lights - Done
- Install Bestop Supertop NX Twill - Done
- Rancho 5000x Shocks with H&R 1.5in Lift Springs
- Smoked indicator light kit
- Restore the original decals (It came with some a Native American 'Renegade' decal)
- Brushed Stainless steel grille inserts (my radiator is getting pummelled by the motorway debris here)
- All new rubber seals
- Billet fuel cap
- New fuel cap bezel
- New seat mounts (previous owner installed fixed mounts)
- Double Din Head Unit (Sony AX 5550d)
- Matching black twill spare wheel cover
- Refurbish door handles and plastic trim
- Reupholster seats in leather
- Leather wrap roll bar cover to match seats
- New speakers
- Rugged Ridge AT Fender Flare
- Forged aluminium rims (Looking at MTs, Pro Comp, or Mammoth - any opinions?)
Last edited:
