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[DavidH]

I'm wanting to do a bit more that drive round the lawn in my XJ.
Not planning of going up everest but would like to play properly on pay and play days at local tracks -Devils pit etc.
Car is currently standard (2.5ltr petrol) so I'm guessing
Lift kit
Protection
Recovery points
Tyres
Suspension mods
Snorkel

But what and in what order.  Mods are going to have to be done over period of time as still have 5 four leg 1 horse power money eaters to keep.

Appreciate any help here. Car is only used for fun now, not main car so on road performance can be compromised a bit but has to still be road legal.

[Bishops Finger]

Reckon you asked this question on mud club as well

Start with recovery points and tyres 235 x 75 R15 Mud terrains...then get used to the 4 potter off road and take it from there..

[scrw]

If it was Stew asking I'd say snorkle first 

[Nosebolt]

Recovery points
Tyres
Lift kit
Bigger Tyres
Protection
Suspension mods
Even Bigger Tyres
Clean Pants
Snorkel

[PtP]

I'd start with a set of 31/10.50X15 mud tyres and fit a set of disconnects. This will give you the maximum amount of traction for £ spent.

As and when you get used to it off-road, you can than consider what suspension mods to go for.

Disconnects


http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=QRDISC&Store_Code=JKS01&Category_Code=Swaybar_Disconnects

[Nosebolt]

on a serious note a lot of pay and plays wont let you on without recovery points fitted, and tyres are a must

[Mick O]

Start with recovery points and tyres 235 x 75 R15 Mud terrains...then get used to the 4 potter off road and take it from there..

This is good advice from the Bishop.

Once you've learnt how to drive it, and how it performs offroad, then you can start throwing money at it.

You will be surprised what a stock XJ with mud's on can do.


  

[gazjeep]

Durassic O & the Bishop speak a lot of sense  .

[Dave69]

the std front tow hoop is not that strong and will bend if pulled at the wrong angle. so stronger recovery points like everyone has said.

tyres 31's or 235's in a AT pattern or muds if you can get then cheap

front anti roll bar disconects, buy or make your own (search google)

the xj in std form will go through quite alot and TBH will belly out first.

then you will start to think on what lift you might need, at this point the options start to increase in price.

[JamesH]

How much offroad driving have you done in the past?

Devil's pit is a hideously slippery clay site that needs mud terrains as a minimum to get around.

I would suggest proper, strong recovery points front and rear as mandatory before going offroad because anything less will get ripped off and cause damage when you get stuck and some bearded ejit in a landrover snatch-recovers you 

The middle and side steps of a cherokee bottom out and can be damaged quite easily - transfer-case and sills. a stock transfer-case skid plate and a some aftermarket rockrails will be a good investment.

Anti-sway (anti-roll) bar disconnects let your front suspension travel unrestricted and are excellent value for their cost.

I benefitted a lot from driving my XJ stock with all-terrains tyres. It makes you learn a lot about getting stuck and finding grip and when you need momentum and when slow ans steady is best. However, mud terrain tyres (235/75/15 for stock suspension) will make a massive difference in how easily you can drive around, especially on a site like Devil's Pit.


I'd say a suspension lift is something to wait a bi for , after driving for a bit you might know better if you want a 2, 3, 4, 6" etc lift.

[greggmo]

yup. disconects, mudy boots and go have a play. be aware that most pay n play days contain dangerous people who wont give a shit for you or your motor. try to make it to a club event and be in a group of folk who value their motor but aint scare to use it. us and j33p and some other clubs do their own events and are better for the newbie to the game of off roadin. just get some mud tyres and have a go.

[Green Jeep]

Yep, 235/75 Muds and take it from there, I've run a Cherokee with 34" Swampers for punch hunts and mad sticky sites, but for the lanes I've used 235/75 (29" approx) and only recently up to 31x10.5 tyres, keeps the jeep lower and smaller, yeah I get stuck in some of the mad ruts, but thats half the fun and you will be a better driver for it.

I have disconnects for my YJ and they make a good difference, but the Cherokees are for laning, so haven't fitted them. I presume you've binned the rear anti roll bar? I also ditch the mirrors and fit Toyota Surf ones as they fold flat...

Lockers are great, fitted an Aussie Locker to the front of the YJ, made a massive difference and cost less than £150, hope this helps, happy days.

[DavidH]

  Thats for all the advice but I now have some follow on questions    Will start a new thread for them.
To answer the how much experience question - Not a lot.  I did take an old landy (LWB deisel) to devils pit a few times.  Got round all areas except black runs without getting stuck or wrecking it.  Guess learning to drive on tractors very young then running old bangers round the farm helped.

[DavidH]

I presume you've binned the rear anti roll bar?

Erm not yet.  Will removing it a) affect on road handling significantly and b) is it required for MOT?

[Dave69]

not realy needed as all lift kits recommend it to be removed. As long as all the relevant fittings and bar is removed it is not a requirement for the MOT, as for road handling then you will get a slight bit of rear body roll but nothing more

[JamesH]

re: rear anti-roll bar - the diesel XJs didn't have one fitted from the factory but they had uprated springs. I would take it off when fitting new springs or a lift kit because the new springs are normally harder, providing extra stability.

[Green Jeep]

That's interesting info that the Diesels had uprated springs, are they just firmer or do they offer any lift?

Removing the rear bar makes almost no difference to handling, it's one of the first pieces of advice in the XJ book (one on left) well worth buying this book, tells you lots of stuff and how if you do one thing it will affect another part...



MOT, not needed, but the official rules are that if the bracket for the anti roll bar is present then a bar must be fitted, the brackets can be removed easily, but to be honest you'd have a real jobs worth if they fail you on it.

Any more questions, just post or pm, plenty of help on this site... Cheers Maf

PS Found a pic of my old Cherokee with the 34" Swampers on... sadly on its last day (after recovering a Disco) the front diff failed...