Back on the trails

[indirocz28]

Throw on a short arm kit, 33s, and trim the fenders. Your Cherokee will be awesome almost anywhere.

Also you're going to want to stiffen that unibody. Cherokee's flex like a mother. Both suspension and the body. After a few good twists in supported you will have to fight the doors to get them open.

[JTM]

Congrats on the new rig.
I've never had the door issue, but I can tell you that it is so much easier to add frame stiffeners before the body and frame get tweeked wheeling. Cleaning and preping is also much easier if you don't have years of baked on red dirt coating everything.

[Blue Angel]

Give me some ideas how to stiffen the unibody "frame".

[indirocz28]

There are companies that make weld on frame stiffeners for the XJ's, Also cutting out the rockers and welding in some beams help, or mini boat sides if you are really serious. But I would just do some rocker rails, and get the weld on stiffeners.

Here is a link to the RuffStuff stiffeners
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/XJRAIL.html

There area few other companies that make them as well, so you may find different prices. Either one you go with, its worth spending the $ and doing the work if you want to keep that XJ drivable after serious trail use.

One of the other companies is called T&T Customs and here is their website as well:
http://www.tntcustoms.com/xj.aspx

I really recommend a short arm kit and extended stainless steel brake lines. The brake lines were such an improvement over stock once I put the 32" tires and steel bumpers on.

[Blue Angel]

Hey! Really appreciate the links for the stiffeners. Already running the short arm kit and extended braided lines as well as quality sliders. I can see where those stiffners will be needed. The Ruffstuff looks like the way to go. Thanks again.

[JTM]

If you get the RuffStuff stiffeners, be prepared to do a little cutting; at a minimun you will need to cut a few extra holes to weld the stiffener to the frame. Its a good product that I would definately buy again if I got another XJ.

TnT Customs also has their own stiffener set that when you buy both sections (front & rear) covers a bit more of the frame. They also have other products, that will help as well. Personally, I think their Axle Trusses make a Dana 44 swap feel like a bolt in upgrade as far as ease and simplicity.