My new 2009 JK X is a barebone. All it has is 4x4, manual transmission
3.73 axle ratio and limited slip rear differential and stock P255 75 R16 tire.
It does not even have tow hook.

My plan of upgrade is

1. add a tow hook while keeping stock bumper to be qualified for a local jeep club.
2. install a decent after market bumper with winch mount (front and rear)
3. add winch to it (I prefer a manual winch, not sure if it is suitable. I live in Florida, so most time I am dealing with Mud instead of Rock)
4. install a decent Long Arm Lift
5. Adjust wheel alighment
6. Change axle gear ratio
7. Upgrade transfer case/transmission
6. upgrade wheel and tire to be decent MUD tire with 35 inches
7. add misc stuff such as CB radio

Is this plan reasonable, or you would recommend some priority reordering?

 

what modification are you planning on for your tranny and/or t-case? you'll likely want to go for the wheels and tires immediately after the lift. oh, and how much lift are you planning on?

 

Forget 1

Do:
2. (which 'should' have attachment points already)
7. (assuming tow straps/recovery gear are included in the misc stuff?)

Get it on the trails, then decide on lift/tires/gears

Drive it with new gears before deciding on a new transfer case. (I assume you're talking about upgrading to the Rubi Tcase?)

Since you're going out with a club, wait to see how much 'you' need a winch before you try to prioritize the purchase.

 

If you have the means:

1. Lift
2. Tires
3. Alignment
4. Gears
5. Winch

These will enable you to drive more difficult trails, which will make the order of the other stuff obvious.

 

I agree with spinlock. I am saving for step 4 now. I have been winched once, but it was only to avoid some cosmetic damage. Save things like the bumpers and winch for last.

 

1. Tires
2. Lift 2.5" min (Lift first if necessary for tires)
3. Rear Tow hook. If you have 3.73's you have the tow package. Go to Harbor Freight or such and buy a hook/D-ring that fits in your hitch. It's like $10. Mine worked fine on the jamboree pulling people out.
4. Quick disconnects
5. Rock Rails

You can now run mid-level trails with a Jeep Club/friend just fine.

6. Skid Plates
7. Front bumper w/ winch mount
8. Winch

Everything beyond that is just replacing what you have already and going to the next level for more dificult trails.

 

I had a bone stock '08, and went:
1. Tires -$900
2. Front bumper/winch -$700 (FOR MUD!!)
3. Rear security -$200 + home fab box -~$100
4. KC lights (windshield mount) -$180
5. Mirror relocation -$30
6. Rock sliders -$200
7. Teraflex levelling kit -$130
8. Rear bumper (post collision/insurance check) $450

Odds and Ends, mostly cheap mods.
Need gears next, since mine are 3.21...but with your 3.73's, running 33" tires is no problem.
my $.02

 

the aread I offroad is mostly mud. Just wonder will 33 inch tire be good enough?

Also, for 33 inch tire is 10% bigger than stock tire (30inch), do I need to raise
the axle gear ratio form current 3.73 to 4.10 to make the "EFFECTIVE RATIO" the
same as stock?

 

No no no no no !!!

Way too much money to go up a single gear ratio. With a manual, moving to 33's shouldn't be all that noticeable. I'd wait until you move up to 35's before regearing.

 

I thought upgrade axle gear ratio is quite affordable because
Jeep dealer only asked extra 50 dollars to add 3.73 axle gear ratio on my JK.


Am I wrong?

The reason I wanted to upgrade the gear ratio is because if tire size
increases, the gear ratio need increase at the same rate to keep the
"Effective Gear Ratio" the same or as close as to the stock one.

If I do not change my 3.73 ratio, and upgrade my tire from 30 to 33 inches,
I believe I will suffer at least in first and secodn gear when I start moving
my jeep. This is because bigger tire (assume the only change) will apply
less force (10% less) to the ground due to its bigger size (increased by 10%)

Besides the gear ratio, do I need to upgrade the axle itself? At least the front axle (DANA 33 currently)?