Well, assuming I'd actually have the cash laying around to get a JK-I'd pinch the pennies till they screamed-I'd pick up a four-door Rubicon model. I'm with Christian, in that the lifetime warranty is something I'd really not like to mess with. I'd get the soft-top, steel-half-door version just because of my aversion to full-steel doors on a canvas-topped Jeep. I'd really want to lift it and put on bigger tires, but there would go the budget. So the lift and tires would end up coming in piecemeal, and I'd bolt-on-accessorize the snot out of it, with many of the things I purchased focusing on securing that soft-top, soft-door, occasionally doorless and topless Jeep.
| Raingler net set (to keep the bulldog in): | $219 |
| Rugged Ridge mirror relocation brackets: | $50 |
| Xenon flat-flare kit (painted to match): | $520 |
| Tuffy Security rear storage cubby: | $128 |
| Tuffy Security console insert: | $170 |
| Tuffy Security glovebox : | $125 |
| Pure Jeep front winch bumper: | $430 |
| Pure Jeep rear bumper w/o tire carrier: | $490 |
| Custom-fit Superman cape: | $51 |
I'd prefer to start with a regular ol' shorty Wrangler TJ Sport, but my list of tax-return mods would work on most '97-'06 Wranglers. Once again, my first mod would be the rocker guards. I cannot stress enough how useful they are in attacking and pivoting around obstacles while protecting your Jeep. I'd opt for the plate-style rockers that bolt directly to the body and body mounts. They should also have an added round, tubular slider bar along the length of the rocker for even more protection. In the past I put a lot of miles on the Rancho 21/2-inch standard Rockcrawler lift and was really happy with the completeness and performance. The only bummer was the goofy-looking bridge-like control arms. If you can't get past that then there are other lift kits that will work almost as well. Next, I'd slap five 32x11.50R15 mud tires on the factory aluminum TJ Sport wheels, toss on a replacement synthetic-media air filter, and call my tax-return spending done, knowing I'd be able to drive this Jeep daily and traverse even famous trails like the Rubicon with no problem.
| Rocker guards: | $399 |
| 21/2-inch Rancho Rockcrawler lift: | $1,008 |
| Five 32x11.50R15 mud tires: | $732 |
| AEM Dryflow filter: | $44 |
It's gotta be a '98-'99 4.0L Wrangler TJ with a manual five-speed. I'm not making the mistake of going with an auto in a TJ again. My stock Jeep would be just that-stock. I wouldn't touch any of the drivetrain for the time being. Instead, I'd focus my efforts on fitting 33s to the stock 15x8 aluminum rims and making the suspension flex. You can do quite a bit in a TJ without lockers. I'd eventually regear the front axle, add a Truetrac, and replace the Dana 35 rear with something more substantial. But for this tax season, that's how I'd go from stocker to a fun weekend rig. Sure, it would be a little frustrating on the street with 33s and stock gearing, but if I lucked into a 3.73-geared TJ, I probably wouldn't even regear the axles. I'd just wait until the rear broke and upgrade then.