Soon after I bought my TJ I started taking it off the beaten path. I quickly learned that keeping all wheels on the ground helps keep you moving. As flexy as the TJ is "out of the box", I wasn't happy. So the first major modification I made was a Teraflex 3ST Plus lift. It had everything I needed to keep wheels on the ground - flexy control arms, taller springs and shocks. I kept the stock wheels with 30" BFG All Terrains until I could afford to regear.

Conquering a fallen tree

Big ditch crossing

Boulder crawling

My mind has changed many times while I've built my Jeep. I decided I didn't want to regear the stock Dana 35c so I ordered a Dana 44 with 4.56 gears and an ARB. I was going to regear the front to match. Around the same time, I got a set of 33x12.5" BFG Mud Terrains on Mickey Thompson Challenger wheels. They had 4.5" of backspacing and tended to rub when the suspension was flexed. I also added 1" spring spacers, a 1" body lift and a 1" motor lift.

Bigger ditch crossing

I started trying obstacles that pushed limits

I had to get used to the taller/tippier feeling

When it came right down to it, I wasn't about to spend a dime on the stock Dana 30 front axle. Instead, I ordered a Dana 44 to match the rear. With the new bolt pattern came new wheels - I chose the AR 767s in black. Still 15x8", but with a 4" backspacing. Even with the 35" BFG Mud Terrains, they didn't rub anything.

It was with this combination that the wheel lift became more noticeable - I couldn't keep the driver's side front tire on the ground. My Jeep was becoming scary to drive - on road and off.

Old Sluice on the Rubicon

Simple obstacles became harder

I could lift a tire just about anwhere

Lots of theories were floating around on the 'net about what causes the wheel lift problem. I was convinced it was the short control arms at a steep angle. I had planned on a custom set up when I heard Rubicon Express was coming out with a new kit. I had to have it - check out my review for more information. I also now sport a set of 36x12" Super Swamper TSLs - those things grip everything!

The Jeep is no longer my chief limitation

I like my Jeep!

Body damage has become the norm

So what next? For starters, I need to stop breaking something every time I go out to play. I've ripped off shocks, broken a front axle, lost the clutch and had lots of body damage. I'm constantly fixing all that.

Other projects include beadlocks and a V8. I don't know about the transmission though.... auto or manual...? At any rate, those are long-term problems - I really like my Jeep right now. Doesn't mean I'm not changing anything though...

Update: I wrote everything above in 2002. A year later I re-entered school and I've been out of the 'wheeling world since then. I've made many changes to the Jeep, but haven't had much chance to test them out. In no particular order, I upgraded to 38" tires, cut the body more and rebuilt the cage, and last summer upgraded to a 2005 4.0L/auto. The increased power and control is awesome even though I'm still working out some quirks before getting a CA SMOG Ref inspection. Now that I've graduated I hope to spend more time on the trail again.

I cut up the rocker panels...

...built a new cage...

...and put in a bigger engine.

The updated "what's next" is simple: work out the kinks and get out and wheel.