These Are the 5 Best First Mods for Your Jeep Wrangler - Stephen to the Rescue!

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[FFTW]

My favorite mods are as follows.
1. 20x12" wheels with 33" tires
2. 33" extreme mud terrain tires
3. Neon lights underneath
4. Minimum 200" of light bars
5. 4"-6" lift

This allows me to not only identify small to medium sized puddles at the Wal-Mart parking lot but to also fully attack and conquer them with extreme confidence👍🏻

[willb]

Stephen videos are always useful and his enthusiasm just adds to them all. This is the latest example.

[josephwhiskeybeale]

I would definitely get a rear locker way before I attached a winch.

[stormtrooper_jeep_zj]

I agree with most of your mods. However, the very first mod I would do is replace those crappy headlights on the TJ. The older Jeeps are known to have some of the worst lighting out there. If you can't see well at night, your Jeep becomes useless.

My list would go as follows:
1. Headlights and possibly a good set of lights for off-road use.
2. A lift and bigger tires. (Make sure you extend your brake lines)
3. Upgraded steering.
4. Skid plates.
5. Adjustable upper and lower control arms.

[garym]

Awesome video!
On a TJ, you must do a 4” lift for 33” tires. Trust me, if you go with 2.5” lift, you will rub even with wheels that have excellent offset and you will regret it. Also, you MUST do alignment after the lift and finally plan on regearing with 33” tires. If you don’t regear, I can tell you that you should forget about using your 5th gear unless you go over 80mph. These mods should be your primary goal to run 33” tires effectively. Congratulations and have fun!

[thatonedude]

2020 Rubicon 2 door...17x9 rims, 35x12.5 ATs, bushwacker fenders, oracle LED halos, axle back exhaust to hide up more for offroading purposes. That was my 5.

[kkarma]

I think a simple mod, especially while the suspension is apart is a sway bar disconnect. Cheap and super easy way to get a lot of extra travel.

[Offshore]

That clean TJ needs to stay stock. Most I would do is the same TFL did on theirs TJ including tires and call it a day.
By the way. You list was perfect.

[broncobros]

I had one of those. An easy way to get more clearance for those 33”s is a polyurethaning 1” body lift. I’m sure the 20 year old rubber ones are bad anyway. Also the first thing that happened after 33”s was a broken axle. If your Jeep came with a tow package you have a Dana 44 rear with 3.73 gears. If you don’t have the tow package find that axle from a salvage yard and matching front gears. Cheap upgrades

[abqcrutch]

I just sold my '99 TJ last year. It had Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs in 285/75R/16s on 15x8 Black Steelies. Originally went with 4" lift, but quickly changed to 2.5". The 4" Rough Country springs were way too stiff. The 2.5" RC springs were ideal.



On your #5 as best 5 mods for your jeep: I'd definitely go with a rear locker or a TrueTrac over a winch. Just my two $0.02.



Love the channel and the new TFL Studios. Keep up the fun work!


Crutch

[indybowtie]

Stephen, Awesome job on the video and I really appreciate all the viewer comments! I will post images of the upcoming mods as they happen. Thanks again for the advice and all the suggestions!

[dmwil]

I agree. Tires first. They make the biggest and most useful difference of any mod. Great advice here...Get a tire that fits the kind of off-roading you will be doing. I also agree with the lift next, then winch, then locker. As for skid plates, it depends on what you are doing. If rock crawling, of course. But for most midwest off-roading, the factory skid plating is pretty good and covers just enough of the vital bits. The stock skids on my YJ, JK and JL have covered everything I've hit over the years, except for exhuast tips or approach/departure bumps/bruises. You are right about the winch! I've only used the winches on my Jeeps a few times, but they were a real blessing when I did. Like a gun for self defense: Better to have one and never need it than to need it and not have one.

[lanceripplinger]

I'd also recommend getting good lighting. Makes a big difference.

[anthonyfritz]

I think those are all good! Only thing I would be adding to sort of go against your recs would be at least a rear locker, even if its just a lunchbox. It has amazed me over the last 10 years of owning SUVs and trucks as to how randomly often that rear locker comes in handy, but again, not something that needs to be done tomorrow.

[wesbarcus]

How much experience a driver has is more important than some early mods.
1. Gas can carryer. Nothing worse than breathing gas fumes inside your jeep caused by leaky cans in the back seat.
2.heavy duty spare tire carrier.
3. Now start looking at tires, lift.
4. Get rid of plastic bumper parts, they explode on contact.
A high lift jack. No winch, no problem, a couple of recovery straps, 2 or 3 "d" rings, and a high lift jack can pull you out of a jam.
6. Roll bar grab handles, keep your hands inside the ride at all times.
7. A CB radio. 40 channel plus weather stations.
8. If you are new to jeeping, learn how to wave. It's called the jeep wave. Use it often. Remember, you are now a member of the off road world. The last person you waved at just might become your next best friend. Be safe and have fun.

[roygalloway]

I agree, if you are not going rock crawling there is no need to add front and rear lockers. I updated my gearing from 3.07 to 4.10 gears. If you do this to a TJ make sure to change your speedometer gear. Running 33" tall tires on a 2 1/2" lift. 2002 Sahara has been a year long project and still going.

[richardmiller]

My truck had lockers to start with. May have been a previous owner upgrade. It was stock otherwise. Can't tell you how much that has helped in the super soft sand here in FL. Lockers may be a good first mod depending on terrain and cost.

[donlavigne]

Hurray! I have all 5! Then I added a new Tereflex (that’s what my 2 & 1/2 inch lift is too) steering damper! Also got aux side mirrors for when I go naked :)

[jeffh]

I agree about the lockers. They are awesome, but a newbie wheeler should learn to run without them at first. New wranglers are so good now, you'd have to get into a pretty hairy spot before needing lockers.

[gungfuriceboy]

glad you're from Ontario Canada Stephen! Great TIPS!!....Cheers!