Updated February 6, 2007
Not much new is going on with the Jeep plans at the moment. I've been spending most of my Jeep fund on fixing small problems with the WJ; new belt, needs new hood supports, fixed the parking brake cable, etc, etc... it all adds up fast! I did take the big rubber bumpers off of the ARB and I think the new lines fit the Jeep better - especially until I can lift it more. Here's a current pic:

(September 18, 2006)
Been a while since I updated this thing. Here we go... I got the ARB Bull Bar on a while back (early June) and the thing is awesome. If you're not familiar with ARB's products, there is plenty of info out there that I don't need to go into detail. Here are some pictures:

(March 29, 2006)
I was recently involved in an accident (not my fault) where the front driver's side of my bumper was destroyed.

That sucks of course, but the good news is that the insurance payment is enough to cover the cost of an ARB Bull Bar. The Jeep is at the body shop right now, and when it gets back I'll post some pictures of the new bumper.

I also recently installed a CB radio in the Jeep with a 3' Firestik antenna mounted on the rear above the driver's side tail light.

(December, 9 '05)
Just finished installing Aussie Locker's brand new locker for the Alumminum D44 in the rear of the WJ. I am VERY pleased with the locker so far, and I can't wait to get some trail time with it. Details of the installation on page 3.

(November, 17 2005) I busted my first axle shaft this past weekend. Now that I've actually broken something while wheeling, I can count myself as a real Jeep enthusiast. Replacing a broken shaft isn't difficult, but I ran into a problem when I found out I had also snapped the pins of my lockright in half. I haven't had the chance to replace them yet, so I've been driving around with the equivalent of a spool in the front. Squealin' tires are the bomb!

I'm going to be testing and reviewing the new Aussie locker for the D44A as soon as it comes in the mail, so check back for my first impressions on how it handles in a WJ.

(June 25, 2005) Got the rockrails put on finally. Details on Page 3.

(June 19, 2005) Last Sunday a buddy and I installed a Lock-Right in the front diff of the Jeep- haven't had a chance to get it out on the trail yet, because I'm waiting until I get the rock rails on. The rails were actually delivered last week, but Rocky Road shipped me rails for a ZJ, so I'm having to wait another 2+ weeks to get the right ones. That's how it goes sometimes I guess. A short write-up on the Lock-Right install is on Page 3.

This is my 2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo project - 4.7L V8, 4x4 Selec-Trac, Leather, options out the wazoo, and I've had it since January '04. I'm in the process of building it up for more serious hard-core off-road use. I've done, and plan to continue doing as much of the work myself as I can, learning as I go.

Current Specs:
D44a Aussie Locker
D30 Lock-Right
Old Man Emu Steering Stabilizer
Rocky Road Rockrails
2" budget boost
31" BFG AT's
Sway bar Quick Disconnects
Full skid plates
Front tow hooks
Garvin Wilderness Rack with 4 Hella 500s

The plan is to drive the WJ more or less in it's current form for about two years with only minor mods being done. I'm planning to wheel as much and as hard as I can until I really hit my limits with the current settup (although, I find I'm doing this a lot faster than I originally anticipated). Future plans include steel bumpers front and rear, on-board air, a winch up front, 4-6" of lift on Clayton's long arms, and of course larger tires. My ultimate plan is to build the WJ up to be a hard-core off roader while still being usefull as a daily driver. In addition to hitting major wheeling spots around the country (Moab, etc) I'd like to take a cross-country, off-road trip when I finish the build... it's very early in the planning stages at this point, so I'll try to keep this updated as things progress.

In the meantime, I'd appreciate your comments along with any suggestions you might have. Be sure to sign the guest book on your way out.

This is the junk box I have strapped down in the back. It's got most of the gear I might need when wheeling... tow rope, power supply, bungee cords, spot light, tools, parts, etc. I recently mounted my fire extingusher in the indention you see to the left of the cargo area. It's really convenient and keeps it up out of the way.

Page 1 - Home Page
Page 2 - Off-Road Pictures and Video
Page 3 - Modifications
Page 4 - Pre-Lift Pictures