Project XJ

[JustinG]

LOL, Scotty you are to much. Goodspeed, I wanted to thank you for another great little "inspirational picture." Really made my day. We learned yesterday that we can no longer get the Jeep into the garage. The tire only clears by like .5in and hits the weather stipping.

The real problem is why is ur jeep still low enough to fit in the garage......6 more inches should do the trick!

[Jeff]

I cant tell because of the paint - but is that a steel bumper? How did you get it for free? I have a dent in mine where the PO tagged something, and it made like a 2" impression, which has had the paint chip off and rust.

Yes, it is a stock steel bumper. I got them off NOVA Jeeper's forum. Guy just put some badass JRC offroad bumpers on hits 99 XJ and just wanted the stock bumpers out of his shed. I got a front and rear one. Didn't get the plastic pieces for the rear, he gave them to a friend. I would post up on Jeepforum.com or a local Jeeper forum to where you live (trust me, there is one) and say you are looking for a free or cheap stock bumper for a 97+ XJ.

[Mike]

leave it black. looks good. i kinda want an xj now

[Jeff]

READ THEN VOTE!

So I think I want a D-ring for my front hitch. Prices off ebay seem the best. Local shitty one at tractor supply is $35...might as well get a nice one for $40ish. Here are a few options, what do you guys think? I am really only talking about aesthetics because they all have around the same weight rating...all way over my hitch's rating anyway.


I like this one because it is the same ring that I have on my rear hitch. Exactly the same. So, you might ask, "Why not just build one?" The rings cost me $8-9 at tractor supply. So that leaves $27 to cover the shipping and other parts/labor. A foot of 2x2 would cost me lie $4.50 plus my time to go there and get it in Broadway. I might be able to get a scrap for the front piece for free or cheap, but then I have to cut it. Only tool I have for that is a cutoff wheel. So by now I have spend $13ish. Weld it up drill a hole and I am done. For all the cutting drilling and welding...$22 might just be worth it. $35.00


I will call this one "Big Red" I like it because it is a clevis D right that unscrews but it is not as small as some of the others. I like a bigger ring with a sexy red screw. Seeing as it is centrally mounted on my bumper I think it looks better broad. Both BR and the standard clevis below can be unscrewed. While this makes them both prone to theft...it also makes them somewhat handy. It gives you a few extra hook up options in a pinch. $44.95


This is a standard clevis d ring setup. I like this, it works, its classic. It is also the cheapest option. My issues with it are the clevis is smaller then big red, also both it and big red are prone to theft as they can be unscrewed. $32.65

Other Options


We call this the "BFH" Big F***in' Hook. Its just a big hook. Not sure I dig it...but it is kinda badass. $20 +S/H


Forged Eye...$18.95 +S/H

[ViPER1313]

I voted for big red - it appears to be the strongest / best engineered design, and it adds a little bling, all for under $50.... why not?

[Mike]

big red for sure... but my real vote goes to a sword of some sort.

[Jeff]

Way more expensive...but impressive looking is a Pintle.

$69.95 +S/H

[Evan]

the red clashes with your blue truck. For me its a tossup between the matching and the silver

[JustinG]

Big red, cause that how I like my tow points.

[Dave]

I feel like the BFH is just a nasty lawsuit waiting to happen.

I know it isn't so blingy, but if you're worried about theft, leave the clevis and hook in your glovebox or something and then you can throw it on whenever you actually need it, instead of needing it and discovering that somebody has relieved you of it.

[Ryan T]

I bought a BFH from Harbor Freight for $10 and a nice hitch lock from lowes for $10 and that worked great for me. Never had a problem accessing it and the open top made it even easier to get a chain or strap around it.

[ScottyB]

red rocket fo sho.

[Mike]

the red clashes with your blue truck. For me its a tossup between the matching and the silver

maybe paint the red part black?

[Jeff]

48in hi-lift in the roof basket is red...there will be some red around

[PDenbigh]

I suggest one of the versions that is one piece. Anything with pivots, movable rings, etc, will rattle and jingle as you go down the road.

...Also, consider what type of tow straps you'll be using - whether they have a hook on them (in which case a loop anchor is good) or if they have a loop on them (in which case the hook is nice).

[Jeff]

Jeep is a rattle trap. Not so much worried about that noises. I am using straps with fabric loops on the end. I just worry that a hook might loose the strap when it goes loose. Most folks have gotten away from hooks in favor of clevis rings.

[LC619FR]

Jeeps are gay...you need to build one of these...

to one of these....

[Jeff]

Good first post. Everyone this is my buddy Zach. He is a pro firefighter in NOVA so you know he is a dick head. :lol: Anyway. Just got a steal of a deal on the internetz!

48in Hi-lift jack
2x20ft recovery strap
3/4in Clevis D-ring hitch point (similar to "big red" without the red bolt, just black for Evan)

$115 shipped to my door. Hell the jacks by themselves are normally like $90

[LC619FR]

Good first post. Everyone this is my buddy Zach. He is a pro firefighter in NOVA so you know he is a dick head. :lol: Anyway. Just got a steal of a deal on the internetz!

48in Hi-lift jack
2x20ft recovery strap
3/4in Clevis D-ring hitch point (similar to "big red" without the red bolt, just black for Evan)

$115 shipped to my door. Hell the jacks by themselves are normally like $90

But you still love me FWIW I think the roof rack looks good we'll f*ck with it tomorrow, and maybe i'll be nice enough and dig out those highlift mounts :bootyshake:

[Jeff]

Word. We'll see how the day plays out. Give me a call in the afternoon.