Here is the problem I want to buy something for my jeep my budget is 450 - 500$ I want whatever I find to be functional and provide me some use other than just looking good. I'm new at jeepin and don't really know where to go next.

I have 33's on stock rims. An supermarket front bumper a winch all the lights I need poison spider rock rails or fab tire carrier 2.5 in lift. Evap skid plate. Hi lift. Cb and antenna. Hypertech programmer kn drop in filter. And throttle body spacer. All in a 6 speed with 3.21 and a soft top.

What I don't want is Cai because I go into a good amount of water but I don't think deep enough for a Snorkel

Thinking either
On board air
3.5 rubicon express lift and reuse my shocks from my 2.5 lift worried about my drive shaft though
Fender flares either bw or smittybilt
Or save for my regear
Or a new back bumper
Or rims.

Open to all suggestions

 

gears.....

 

I'm running 3.21's and 35's... the last thing I'm worried about is my gears. Sure my Jeep is sluggish, but I'm building for rock crawling. He's running 33's so it can't be as bad (not knocking the 33's)...

As for the OP, if you've got $400-$500 to spend, I'd go with the fenders on your list. Either that or spend that money on "get-home gear" like tow straps, snatch blocks, d-rings... I hear ARB has a good setup you can buy for about half of your budget, leaving you more money for a hi-lift and other much needed trail tools.

 

As your rig gets more capable, so does your confidence level and the risk for more damage. What about diff covers, always a good investment.

If you can't think of a useful need, save it towards future upgrade.

IMO if you plan to go bigger, research and plan it out well so you don't get caught nickle and diming yourself fixing issues with a mix of entry level parts.

Some vendors use the same components to allow you to progress your lift, others you have to get rid of what you have to upgrade. I hate to throw $$$ away on poor quality or getting in a situation where I'm spending to fix issues when I could have had the better parts for a few hundred more.... Shocks that work in one application may not work in another, extension may not work with taller lift. Read the posts of issues - lack of adjustable control arms seems to be a common thread as you go taller...

if it's just really burning a hole in your pocket, send it my way - I know what my Jeep needs next

 

I would save for gears...

 

Here's my 2¢:

As far as plastic fenders go, the stock ones are by far the easiest to put back on if they pop off, and they usually come off in one piece too. Trim them if you want a different look, but don't go too thin or you'll get spray everywhere even from the smallest puddles (gets old quick, ask me how I know!).

Same thing with the rear bumper and tire carrier. If it ain't broke don't fix it. The rear tire carrier can carry anything up to 35" with no problem. A used rear bumper with D-rings or tow hooks could be useful though. A tow hook mount could also serve the same purpose for less money.

Your set up might look a bit goofy with a 3.5" lift and 33" tires. A 1-2" budget boost is certainly affordable and gives you a nice bit of clearance. If you do go 3.5, plan on getting a set of adjustable control arms and trackbar relocation mount or replacing your rear driveshaft eventually especially if you have a shorter 2 door.

Replace your rims when/if you upgrade your tires or if you can find a good deal on some used ones. (I'm a big fan of hand-me-downs!)

Performance wise, your best bet would be to regear (4:10 would be nice, but I'm not sure your front D30 could carry them). Convenience wise, tire deflators and portable air is useful every time you go off-road. Onboard air might be overkill though. I got a good compressor from 4WD for about $80 and it will fill each of my 35" tires in a couple minutes each.

 

Gears, don't drop the cash on fenders.. just cut 'em.

 

Short term: recovery gear like tow strap, shackles, hi-lift, winch, snatch block, tree strap, gloves, essential skids like evap skid (or relo kit), oil pan skid, diff covers, rocker protection. Reinforce the "C's" with gussets (prone to bending), add axle sleeves while you're at it.

Long term: gears, lockers (save on install fee and do gears and lockers at the same time) quality lift, front/rear bumper with tire carrier, etc.

 

Reconsider the snorkel. There are quite a few folks who go into what they describe as less than a "good amount of water" who have ended up hydrolocking their Jeeps. Besides, rumor has it that there's plenty of water around your part of the country right now!

 

I would save for gears....