The Jeep YJ, the first-generation Wrangler, holds a special place in the hearts of off-roading enthusiasts. Built between 1987 and 1995, it offers a solid platform for modifications to enhance its performance and aesthetics. Here are some top modification ideas to take your Jeep YJ to the next level:
1. Suspension Lift Kits
You want to lift your YJ to increase ground clearance and accommodate larger tires.
There are 3 different types of lift kits to choose from.
- Body lift: You can add 1-3 inches by lifting the body off the frame.
- Suspension Lift: With this type of lift kit, you can add 2–6 inches by upgrading your springs and shocks.
- Leveling kits: With this one, you will only get 1-2 inches in the front of your rig.
To learn more about lift kits, check out our article, “The 3 Types of Lift Kits“
Popular Brands:
Skyjacker
Rough Country.
2. Upgraded Tires and Wheels
When you upgrade your tires it improves traction and durability on rough terrains.
We recommend 3 different types of tires for off-roading.
- 1. All-Terrain are what we call the mild of the 3, they are good off-road and will last if you do a lot of highway traveling.
- 2. Mud-Terrain: We call these medium-grade off-road tires because they are quite a bit more aggressive in their tread design; they are also referred to as snow tires. Although they are good for off-road, they won’t last as long as an all-terrain tire on the highways.
- 3. Last but not least, you have the Rock Crawler. These have an extremely aggressive tread design, they are great for extreme off-roading but we do not recommend them for use on the highway.
Recommended Tire Sizes
There are a lot of different size tires and to have the right one depends on what you use your Jeep YJ for. Our recommended tire size for most off-road adventures is 31” to 35” tires. They will provide good clearance and they are also highway user friendly.
Popular Brands:
BFGoodrich
Goodyear
Mickey Thompson
Milestar
Heavy-Duty Bumpers
With heavy-duty bumpers come a lot of benefits; they will protect your Jeep YJ and provide mounting points for a wide range of off-road accessories. We also recommend upgrading both your front and rear bumpers. This will give you the optimal ability for protection and upgrades to the front and rear of your Jeep YJ.
Featured accessories:
The accessories that we highly recommend are winch mounts, D-ring shackles, and intargrated fog lights.
Popular Brands:
Warn 105785 Bumper
Hooke Road
Rough County
Winch System
Wenches are one of the most essential pieces of equipment for self-recovery in challenging off-road situations. But don’t forget the recovery gear our your winch could be a bit useless.
Capacity:
The rule of thumb for the right winch capacity is 3 times the vehicle’s weight that the winch is going on. But depending on the gear and accessories you have that can differ a lot. So we recommend at least 8,000 lbs, ideally around 12,000 lbs.
Popular Brands:
Warn
Smittybilt
Superwinch
Badland
Off-Road Lighting
If you do any off-roading at night or plan on doing any we highly recommend getting some good off-road fighting to enhance your visibility during night drives or in low-light conditions.
Types Of Off-Road Lights
There are a wide assortment of off-road light you can choose from and here are a few examples LED light bars, fog lights, rock lights.
Popular Brands:
KC HiLiTES
Rigid Industries
Baja Designs
To learn mor about the different typs of off-road lights see our article: “The Three Main Types Off-Road Lights“
Skid Plates and Rock Sliders
For maximum protection for your Jeep’s undercarriage from rocks and debris, we recommend getting some good quality skid plates and rock sliders.
Materials:
There are a couple of different types of materials used for skid plates and rock sliders, the more popular is of cores steel, but with the technology we have today aluminum is becoming as popular, but just remember that aluminum is a shifter metal than steel.
Popular Brands:
ARB
Fishbone
Locking Differentials
Installing differential lockers will Improve traction by locking the wheels together. This will give you the ability to get up those steep rocky hills, through the deep snow, and the muddy swamps. A quick note, if you get stuck with your lockers engaged you better have a winch or a buddy to yank you out.
Different Types of Lockers
You have 3 different types of lockers to choose from,1. Is mechanical also known as automatic lockers ( Detroit Locker). The other 2. are selectable lockers which include air or electric ( ARB Air Locker) ( Eaton E-Lockers). To learn more about differential lockers check out our article, “The Importance of Differential Lockers“
Keynote: Make sure you know what differentials you have before ordering you lockers.
Popular Brands:
ARB
Eaton
Yukon Gear.
Snorkel Kits
When you are out in the backcountry and you might encounter water crossings you will want a good snorkel because it will Enable the vehicle to wade through deep water without damaging the engine.
Installation:
When you install a snorkel it will require cutting a hole in the fender. This way it can be mounted securely to the A piler to ensure it does not move or separate at the seams.
Popular Brand:
ARB Safari
Performance Exhaust System
You want to get the most out of your off-road rig, by adding a performance exhaust symptom will improve engine efficiency and horsepower.
Materials:
You want to get exhaust made from 304 Stainless steel for durability. The chart below shows the differences in materials and their longevity.
Popular Brands:
Flowmaster
MagnaFlow
Interior Upgrades
When you are out in the wilderness you want to be comfortable when you are bouncing around alot. Below are some options to take into consideration.
Options:
Aftermarket Off-Road Seats
Heavy-Duty Flormats
Secure Storage Salusions
Additional Tips for Modifications
Research and Planning:
When you modify your vehicle you want to make sure you understand the compatibility and impact of each modification.
Professional Installation:
Some upgrades, especially those involving the suspension and drivetrain, might require professional help. So if you are not convertible with tackling these kinds of up grades you want to make sure you use a good qualified technician.
Budget Considerations:
Plan your modifications based on your budget and prioritize essential upgrades first. Don’t think you need all the upgrades and mods listed in this article. You could definitely enjoy yourself with just some of the basics.
Maintenance:
Regularly maintain your modified Jeep to ensure reliability and performance on the trails. So whatever mods you choose make sure you understand how to properly mantainit first.
By following these modification ideas, you can transform your Jeep YJ into a formidable off-road machine capable of tackling the toughest terrains with confidence. Happy Trails!