Love seeing the Aussie take on the XJ platform. Great ideas. I've been an XJ nerd for a long time and it's nice to see the Australian perspective on a vehicle I'm well versed in. Excellent video.
Thanks Morgan, we appreciate your support! You will find that most XJ's in Aus are relatively tame like ours compared to the big mods over in the States. There are some exceptions, but they are far and few between. Thanks for watching mate!
@@LongshotVentures I went from the large rock crawler build to a more modest touring style build. Still fun in the rocks but fewer modifications required for 31" tires vs. 35s.
The 4.0 Jeep motor was designed to run at 210 degrees (98.8 Celsius) due to emissions in the states. It’s tough to keep those temps down. I agree with the owner. Poor fuel economy, but the old 4.0 is old school and just keeps going. Very dependable and nicely set-up.
Indeed, they run very close to boiling! I have managed to keep temps around 88 celsius even in the summer around town. She'll get to 105 celsius if I am on the beach giving her some berries. Other then that, the ZJ fan and a well operating cooling system has worked great. Thanks for the comment.
The biggest issue is that they weren’t initially designed to have the 4.0 in them, they originally had a much smaller V6 before it was ditched for the 4.0 I6. It was because of this that the radiator is a little undersized, and the 4.0 takes up more room under the bonnet so it doesn’t allow as much air flow. I run a stock sized radiator, stock cap, thermostat and fans (including an XJ viscous) but a high flow water pump (from Rock Auto) and the same bonnet vents as this fella and have no overheating issues at all here in Brissy, even loaded up with a hell of a lot of camping gear going up Cunningham’s Gap etc.
I recently got a 98 Cherokee Laredo 4.0....2.5 inch lift and new bfg AT 31×10.5 tires....just hit 85,000 miles looking to put rooftop tent on soon or just get all new lift
@@LongshotVentures Hi, I enjoyed the video heaps. I've owned about a dozen XJ's and building another one, this time for touring instead of Hardcore. I've been using Lunchbox Auto Lokka's front and rear for the last 17yrs plus 33's so they're unstoppable. Love your build 😍😁😉 Stay safe and keep touring 😉😁
so good to see .. a young couple have bought a ( relatively ) cheap jeep & modded it to suit their needs .. now out exploring Australia without a huge debt
Been watching these modified videos for ages and this is by far the best one. Real people making it happen and love you passing on all your store tips. Would love to see more of these types 👌🏻
I am happy to see this Jeep XJ living a good life in Australia. I have owned a few 4.0L engines in a variety of Jeeps and it will live for a long while. Good video. Sending love from PA in United States.
Jordan and Dani what absolute legends of off grid travel. The use of space has inspired meto have a look at my own rig. Loved the facts sprouted by Jordan he obviously knows his rig. The best bit is Jordans shirt. Love the rig. "Over and out" grrr.
What an excellent XJ! I used to own a 94 XJ and living in AZ one of the biggest issues was overheating, which warped the head on my 4.0 HO engine. I was able to source a 3-row copper radiator from a custom fab shop in the Phoenix area, installed dual electric fans from a Ford Taurus, and added those same hood vents - had no issues on the trails after the engine rebuild. Since then, I've been working on my Gen 2.5 Montero with center and rear diff locks - both amazing rides.
What a great couple. The love they share for their jeepy is beautiful. I hope you guys have many years in her and grow a family to pass it down too so the adventures carry on. Get yourself a hand winch the least buddy. If you only use it once it’s saved you. Cheers.
I'm from Brazil, I'm making the first modifications to my XJ and I believe that my thinking and my project for using it are very similar to those of this couple. They and their Cherokee are where I'm going. Congratulations and thank you very much for this inspiring video.
G'day Julio! Thanks for the comment and feedback mate, I appreciate it. If you want to see more of our Jeep to help give you some ideas, just let me know. We also have some more videos online about the car now. Cheers mate
I really enjoyed seeing this "non-Wrangler" Jeep "overlander-style vehicle" on Ronny's show. The two young people are very talented and quite enterprising. It's clear they are really enjoying their old Cherokee with the straight 6 gas engine. I live in Michigan (US), which is Jeep and full-size pickup truck (or, "Utes," as I think is what you guys call them) country. Most of us are not overlanding, but many of us are doing some pretty serious 4-wheeling. I use mine -- currently a 2015 WK2 Grand Cherokee 3.0 Diesel w/ many off-road upgrades and air suspension, all the usual recovery gear, chain saw, roof rack for my canoe, etc. -- primarily to get back to hunting and fishing spots, traveling from and back to my cabin which is situated on a remote river in the woods. However, if I was going to drive the distances in the very vast and remote country where you live, then I would gladly sacrifice some "capability" for rock-solid reliability and parts availability. So, Toyota wins that argument every time (at least in Australia, so far as I can tell). Proper tool for the job, as they say. Yeah, I know, Toyotas can be built to be very capable, but here in "Merica, out of the box the Toyotas over here are just not as capable as Jeeps, and (in my humble opinion) the Toyotas require a little more tweaking/$$ to get them there. Love these modified episodes, Ronny! Keep them coming!
Thank you for your support and comments mate. The little red Cherokee has done Dani and I amazing! I never want to get rid of her. Its interesting to hear your perspective from America, its certainly a little different here. I look forward to the opportunity of going off road in the states one day! Thanks for watching 🙂
*Ah wonderful XJ, nice episode Ronny* 👍 *100% agree about the servicing, too many people just drive a vehicle and then sell it off when it starts needing attention.*
Cool rig, Love xjs and i love mine. Well spoken bloke that knows a decent amount! few things i noticed though.. it looks as if the jeep has a crack in the chassis (unibody) around the sway bar mount area, can see if in the suspension shots. may not be though could just be my sceptical eyes. its a common issue on the steering box side.
@@LongshotVentures I have a photo of the specific spot, but unsure how to give it to you Passenger side in front of the sway bar mount before the bull bar mounts.
Had a 94 XJ Country on 33" tires, ~4.5" thrown together lift, a rear lunchbox locker and full skids, that thing went everywhere. Sold it with about 350k kms on it, still ran like a top. Keep and eye on your steering box mounts, a Dodge Dakota steering box is a great upgrade.
Great input there mate, I appreciate it. I am currently looking at getting an after market steering box brace and some beefier steering components. They are find for the moment, but preventative maintenance is key! Thanks for watching mate :)
Such a great video and I love the whole community mindset. It's so nice hearing about how everyone helped build a certain aspect of the car and I love how you guys cherish it
I love the way this looks. I run KO2s on my TJ and love them. I need rims to replace my honecomb XJ (Country version), and I may look for those. They look sharp.
Thanks for the positive comment Mark. We really like the K02s, they have performed well in the mud, snow, road and sand as an all rounder. The 'Icon' rims are my favourite Jeep rim of that era. Best of luck finding some!
Nice to see a Jeep build. If you come across a WK2 Grand Cherokee kitted out for touring, I'd be keen to hear their story as we are looking to do the same with ours. Cheers
The WK2 is an interesting beast that's for sure. I don't see too many of them kitted out for the tracks. It would be nice to see! Thanks for watching mate.
Good set up guys. You seem like a lovely couple and it's great you're enjoying it together. Here in the UK, the XJ is rated for towing 3.3 tonnes. Having personally towed that many times, I can say it does handle the weight well, just need to be careful with payload distribution and be gentle. On cooling, you can get a 165ºF thermo and a high flow capacity housing, both worth getting. Couple that with a more powerful water pump and that will be all your cooling issues sorted. Incidentally, if doing this you'll want to slightly increase the frequency of changing your coolant. Keep up the fight against the rust too, regularly flood every cavity with the best preservative you can get. Failing that throw some used engine oil in from time to time, particularly the sills. Keep it up and hope to see more from you in the future. All the best.
These were the best vehicles ever made. That's not a matter of opinion. I had one when I was younger. It never had any oil pressure in it. Never. We actually put a few different oil pressure gauges in it, thinking the gauges were bad, but nope, it just ran with no oil pressure. It also burned oil, and since I was young and dumb, I never paid any attention to it. Whenever it completely ran out of oil it would start shaking a little bit going down the road. I got into the habit of using the shaking to tell me that it was time to add some more oil, and sometimes I would just run it without any oil for a week or two until payday. I've done that for years and it never gave me any issues. I also used it to tow things that were a hell of a lot heavier than what it was rated for. Despite not having a transmission cooler, it pulled everything fine, and the transmission worked like new the entire time I had it. You just can't kill these things.
They certainly are built tough are they not? Considering how affordable they were new and how affordable they are still, they make a great first car! Thanks for watching mate.
Very underrated As for heating issues in Aus - easy fix. I live in Qld and have a ‘95 and a 2000. Had a 2013 GU patrol but not nearly as much fun. Great Power to weight and solid axles make these a very capable wagon.
That is a fair point Malcolm. I think when it gets time to get a more family friendly car, you might be right. We will probably get swags! Thanks for watching mate.
Brave running Dana 35, first thing I did was swap for dana 44. Miss my xj so much. Coil converted 6 inch lift twin locked on 37s, thing went everywhere
Beautiful XJ! ❤️ I'm not fan of big lift kits and wheels and this one looks awesome! I have turbo diesel XJ with 3 inch lift kit and 31s and I go everywhere where big boys go. My favorite 4x4 vehicle!
Maybe reminds me of what a young Ronny might have been like? Keep on trekking and you could end up getting some sponsors and end up with some rigs like Ronny one day. Very good start.
Brilliant setup, it's all about making memories and having fun, I think the term budget build is only used by the poncy bolt on queen's. All the best to you.
hahaha thanks Roy! She is a great little car. We did a 10,000km trip across some pretty harsh country in WA and she kept up just fine with the big rigs. Thanks for watching and thanks for your support!
At 386,000km that engine is just barely broken in. One recommendation if they have not already done it: add a transmission cooler up front to improve the longevity of the AW4. The factory heat-exchanger running through the radiator is insufficient when hauling loads and an aftermarket cooler is relatively cheap for big cooling gains. I've been beating on my '87 for over 25 years, it's nice to see a later model that is in such great shape. Cheers from USA!
Thanks for the advice mate! Our XJ came with a transmission cooler in front of the radiator from factory. I think it may have been an export option? I'll upgrade the old one if she carks it. Thanks for watching!
I love how you edited the tow rope out to make it look like this Jeep ran and drove under it's own power lol. Just joking guys, you have built an awesome little memory making machine well done!
Hahaha! I did have to tow the car home once when the fuel pump died. But that's it. She's been a good car to us! A few extra pony's would not go astray though. Thanks for watching mate!
Hi guys, hope ya jeep still going strong, Thanks for the hood vent tip ended getting some . Ya mention you have a OBD reader for your jeep. can you let me know which one you are using. Hope to see ya on the road cheers. Brute
Message to all XJ guys, please replace your fan clutch, they are always broken, even if it feels ok they are always the cause of your cooling issues and they only cost like $60
Very clean. Loved my XX, one of the first in wa with a big lift. 6” RE, Tom woods sye, bushwackers, 33s and it went anywhere. Also had the ac fan on a switch too. Only vehicle issues were an engine mount and a drum issue, converted to ford ea rear disks.
Clever idea mate. I have considered some Ford rear disks. I make a conscious effort to keep the rear drums in tolerance to make sure we can stop safely. Thanks for watching!
Woohoo! Finally, a Jeep on the channel! I love my XJ and it’s set up almost exactly the same! I’d be happy to show you around Tassie if you make it here!
@@LongshotVentures I just subbed to your channel, I hope you are going to post more of your adventures! One thing you might want to consider for you car is to replace those rear windows with aluminium panels. It adds a lot of privacy inside but also offers a good mounting point for things like fire extinguishers etc.
@@LongshotVentures yes, it’s a really easy thing to do and made a big difference to my living space and storage options. I have attached a couple of Rotopax fuel containers to the outside of mine. I’m not sure I like the idea of carrying so much fuel on the roof. That’s a lot of extra weight up there :/
Great episode. Almost as good as the Pajero ones but not quite lmfao. As a Pajero Owner though I can relate to his story of people under rating the vehicle. I don't mind the older Jeeps and thing they have done a great job decking it out. DIY is the best and cheapest way to go and makes things so much more practical for the owner. Ive spent about 10K to purchase and deck out my Pajero, no including repairs (Just under 20k I would say with repairs) and it is great to have a budget build that works so damn well for you. Like them I can park up basically anywhere for a sleep. They have done a great job. Having things built and repaired yourself I think gives you a deeper appreciation for the vehicle as well. I know it has with mine.
@@LongshotVentures NO I have a 2002 NM, First of the Gen 3 style. Still less electronics than the newer but Independent all around. I would love an NL being the last of the Gen 2 but Im very happy with what I have.
Car&Body is in amazing shape. That would be considered a survivor in the US, especially compared to the state you see most of them in. I guess Australian climate is amazing for preserving cars
@@ElisPalace which coast though? East coast Australia perhaps a bit wetter than Perth, but even still. The biggest thing in the US is road salt- cars don't last a decade in areas that are heavy users, and most of the US will see at least some use of road salt.
@@chir0pter This car has been all over Aus. It spent a fair few years on the East, even up in the tropics! I spend a lot of timing cleaning and painting the underneath to keep it rust free!
Good stuff. I looked at a 2003 Grand Cherokee when I was shopping around. Nearly bought it but let other people's opinions steer me way from it. I ended up buying a 2003 Mitsubishi Challenger which has been doing us well. Still working on accessorising it. Rebuilding the drawer system after deciding that I could build it better. I do like the older Jeeps though.
My father owned a WJ Grand Cherokee with the V8. A great car and plenty of power. It used a fair bit more fuel then the 4.0. If you are going to get one, be prepared to work on it yourself to save some coin and you should be set.
@@LongshotVentures Well it's brilliant to see 🙏. There are so many people who act like (or live in) a sort of state of denial, regardless of what's actually happening, and proceed to act all cocky. It's almost become a trope these days. So it was really refreshing to see the opposite of that from the two of you 👍
@@LongshotVentures we have almost the same set up in our paj all the way over here in England! Definitely jealous of that nice bar and departure angle! We have the departure angle of a brick! Well you definitely have a new subscriber! Keen to check out your vids ASAP
Sick simple setup, my one concern is cooling, cooling of the compressor and the electronics as they are tucked in so tight behind everything, no ventilation.
They stay at a good temp. There is nothing in front of the battery and there open space behind it. Also we take the bags out of the back and put them on the bed when we use the compressor :)
I think so too! Dani and I have started recording some Jeep stuff on our channel. It certainly is not up to spec with Ronny, but it has an XJ in it! haha
Damn they're tiny, fair play! I had an xj now have a wj... even that is really small compared to my old 100 series LC but still much bigger than an xj.
I loved my XJ 2000 classic, it would go almost anywhere. I shouldn't have sold it. I see they've removed the rear seat to gain storage length and volume. I always found it a little short to sleep in otherwise. More Jeeps.
I have the ARB with winch. Very well hidden and tucked up tight. Two cables run to the battery. Not complicated. Wheeling alone without a winch is not wise.
Just curious I know the xj was used here in the United States as a rural Postal vehicle and Postal vehicles in the USA are right hand drive. I wonder if this one came RHD from the factory in the U.S. or was converted in Australia?
What's with the easter eggs @ 1:31? Great episode though. I've worked a jeep Cherokee like this in the mines back here and it was reliable but very thirsty.
Are you referring to my shirt? I cannot see any Easter eggs :) They can be thirsty I suppose. But we have experienced an average of 16L/100km which is pretty reasonable for an old petrol I think. Thanks for watching!
The LED's do not self level. I have aimed them mostly at the ground in order to comply with regulations. You can adjust them manually on the Jeep. It weighs 1,500kg empty and about 2,000kg loaded. The total payload is 2260kg odd.
@@LongshotVentures if it’s GVM is 2260 and it’s tare is 1500, the payload is 760. In QLD at least they have to be self levelling which I think is an ADR not just a Qld thing. I know because I took a truck for a COI at Qld Trpt recently and someone had fitted LED’s to it and they picked it up and defected it during the inspection.
Which part Alex? She's been pretty good to us :) If you do the work yourself and with mates, you'll do alright. Especially if you shop around for parts!
What are the laws there regarding lift suspension tire size? Here in the states I've got a five and a half inch lift on my XJ and 35 inch tires nobody pays any attention to it
It varies within the states of Australia. If you get the vehicle engineered and certified, you can modify it well beyond stock. The laws are very strict here in Australia though. The car would be defected very quick for 35 inch tires in Aus. Thanks for watching
Love that at least one Oz TH-cam has an xj and was not just slamming them great job guys iv had mine for about 15 yes great rig had cruisers can't compete like everything all depends on what you want and I rather a lighter rig that floats on top and yes thay are a tad thirsty but try running the 4.2 petrol cruisers and patrols the Jeeps are cheap parts arnt much different in price just not as readily available as the others but love not dragging that wait around and on the kid thing yes thay don't have space put you work with it that's what I've done had trips with wife two kids just everything has its place and don't bring the house that my two bob worth hope you have a great time and you don't need bells to get out and about keep it simple
Looks like the perfect tourer for a couple. No doubt the Cherokee is capable. Yes you do have to self reliant in Australia if you own a Jeep. Jeep owners are just more confident in their own ability to keep the wheels turning. I have met other tourers that don’t even know how to change a tyre, whilst Jeep owners know ever bolt on their tourer. The Fortuner is a great option to replace the Jeep, as they have mainly done their crawling in the mall, which make them an excellent second hand choice and they’re a very capable tourer if you can’t afford a Prado.
I could not agree with you more Dan. Once our family grows we will probably get the Fortuner. For the meantime, the Jeep is the best mechanical apprenticeship I have ever had haha!
I'd challenge anyone in America to find a cheaper, more dependable, more capable off road rig than a Cherokee. I've had 5 over the years. Bang for the buck Champion !! My last one cost $2500 and lasted 14 years and 400,000 miles ! Not kilometers, miles, how real men measure distance !
Can't really find one all that cheap that's not clapped out anymore. They definitely where the best bang for your buck though. We used to pick them up for like 1000bucks in the early 2000s
G'day mate, thanks for watching. Those screws are stainless and they actually come with the Napier hood vents. I do agree that nuts and bolts would be better though so I will look into it!
Love seeing the Aussie take on the XJ platform. Great ideas. I've been an XJ nerd for a long time and it's nice to see the Australian perspective on a vehicle I'm well versed in. Excellent video.
Thanks Morgan, we appreciate your support!
You will find that most XJ's in Aus are relatively tame like ours compared to the big mods over in the States. There are some exceptions, but they are far and few between.
Thanks for watching mate!
@@LongshotVentures I went from the large rock crawler build to a more modest touring style build. Still fun in the rocks but fewer modifications required for 31" tires vs. 35s.
Enjoyed watching this so much...What an amazing achievement from this amazing couple...
Who just happen to be my son and daughter in law...xxx
The 4.0 Jeep motor was designed to run at 210 degrees (98.8 Celsius) due to emissions in the states. It’s tough to keep those temps down. I agree with the owner. Poor fuel economy, but the old 4.0 is old school and just keeps going. Very dependable and nicely set-up.
Indeed, they run very close to boiling! I have managed to keep temps around 88 celsius even in the summer around town. She'll get to 105 celsius if I am on the beach giving her some berries. Other then that, the ZJ fan and a well operating cooling system has worked great. Thanks for the comment.
High operating temps are good for engine wear and life
Their tiny radiators don’t help any
The biggest issue is that they weren’t initially designed to have the 4.0 in them, they originally had a much smaller V6 before it was ditched for the 4.0 I6.
It was because of this that the radiator is a little undersized, and the 4.0 takes up more room under the bonnet so it doesn’t allow as much air flow.
I run a stock sized radiator, stock cap, thermostat and fans (including an XJ viscous) but a high flow water pump (from Rock Auto) and the same bonnet vents as this fella and have no overheating issues at all here in Brissy, even loaded up with a hell of a lot of camping gear going up Cunningham’s Gap etc.
I recently got a 98 Cherokee Laredo 4.0....2.5 inch lift and new bfg AT 31×10.5 tires....just hit 85,000 miles looking to put rooftop tent on soon or just get all new lift
Us Americans are so use to seeing these things absolutely clapped out. Really cool to see one so nice
Thanks mate, I appreciate you thinking so. She's an old Jeep but we do our best to keep her in running order!
Cheers for watching!
My favourite episode on modified, really good to see content different from the usual big $$$ build.
Thanks Liam, I am glad you liked it. We tried to keep the budget tight. Cheers for watching mate.
@@LongshotVentures Hi, I enjoyed the video heaps.
I've owned about a dozen XJ's and building another one, this time for touring instead of Hardcore.
I've been using Lunchbox Auto Lokka's front and rear for the last 17yrs plus 33's so they're unstoppable.
Love your build 😍😁😉
Stay safe and keep touring 😉😁
so good to see .. a young couple have bought a ( relatively ) cheap jeep & modded it to suit their needs .. now out exploring Australia without a huge debt
Thanks John, we appreciate your kind words.
We all have to start somewhere right? It gets us where we want to be!
Thanks for watching mate :)
A well spoken lad with a sweet rig. Great episode.
Very much appreciated, thank you.
Actually bought parts from Jordy for my XJ limited over a year ago. He's a gem of a bloke! Thanks for the pre-update dash and the window switches.
Great to see a young couple doing it themselves way better than any credit card build
Thanks Alex, we really appreciate your kind words.
We put a lot of effort into the build. Thanks for watching.
Been watching these modified videos for ages and this is by far the best one. Real people making it happen and love you passing on all your store tips. Would love to see more of these types 👌🏻
I am glad you liked the build. Thank you for your support 🤙
I've owned 4 XJ's and a JK... sold a JK Rubicon and went back to an old XJ. Great video on a fantastic platform.
Thanks Tim, I completely agree. Dani and I absolutely love our Jeep 🙂 thanks for watching
This is without doubt my favourite rig on modified ever! Sorry ronny.
Wonderful couple, wonderful build. Many happy adventures in the future!
Thanks mate! I am glad you liked our Jeep!
I am happy to see this Jeep XJ living a good life in Australia. I have owned a few 4.0L engines in a variety of Jeeps and it will live for a long while. Good video. Sending love from PA in United States.
Thanks Jason, we love our 4.0 too! Stay well mate
Jordan and Dani what absolute legends of off grid travel. The use of space has inspired meto have a look at my own rig. Loved the facts sprouted by Jordan he obviously knows his rig. The best bit is Jordans shirt. Love the rig. "Over and out" grrr.
Thanks mate! I appreciate the kind words. We certainly love the old girl.
Yeah, the 'over and out' was a bit silly of me! Its one or the other haha!
What an excellent XJ! I used to own a 94 XJ and living in AZ one of the biggest issues was overheating, which warped the head on my 4.0 HO engine. I was able to source a 3-row copper radiator from a custom fab shop in the Phoenix area, installed dual electric fans from a Ford Taurus, and added those same hood vents - had no issues on the trails after the engine rebuild. Since then, I've been working on my Gen 2.5 Montero with center and rear diff locks - both amazing rides.
That is some good insight, I am glad that combo worked for you. Thanks for watching Daniel!
What a great couple. The love they share for their jeepy is beautiful. I hope you guys have many years in her and grow a family to pass it down too so the adventures carry on. Get yourself a hand winch the least buddy. If you only use it once it’s saved you. Cheers.
We hope to get a warn winch on the front very soon :) Thanks Mario, we do treasure her!
I'm from Brazil, I'm making the first modifications to my XJ and I believe that my thinking and my project for using it are very similar to those of this couple. They and their Cherokee are where I'm going. Congratulations and thank you very much for this inspiring video.
G'day Julio! Thanks for the comment and feedback mate, I appreciate it. If you want to see more of our Jeep to help give you some ideas, just let me know. We also have some more videos online about the car now. Cheers mate
@@LongshotVentures Thanks so much for your kind answer. I'd really like to see more videos of your jeep, are they available on YT?
@@juliomoraes8165 Thanks Julio, yeah we have some more videos of the Jeep on our account 'LongshotVentures'. I hope you enjoy them.
@@LongshotVentures thank you. I'm sure I'll appreciate.
I miss my XJ. Enjoy your Jeep they are way better than most are aware
I really enjoyed seeing this "non-Wrangler" Jeep "overlander-style vehicle" on Ronny's show. The two young people are very talented and quite enterprising. It's clear they are really enjoying their old Cherokee with the straight 6 gas engine. I live in Michigan (US), which is Jeep and full-size pickup truck (or, "Utes," as I think is what you guys call them) country. Most of us are not overlanding, but many of us are doing some pretty serious 4-wheeling. I use mine -- currently a 2015 WK2 Grand Cherokee 3.0 Diesel w/ many off-road upgrades and air suspension, all the usual recovery gear, chain saw, roof rack for my canoe, etc. -- primarily to get back to hunting and fishing spots, traveling from and back to my cabin which is situated on a remote river in the woods. However, if I was going to drive the distances in the very vast and remote country where you live, then I would gladly sacrifice some "capability" for rock-solid reliability and parts availability. So, Toyota wins that argument every time (at least in Australia, so far as I can tell). Proper tool for the job, as they say. Yeah, I know, Toyotas can be built to be very capable, but here in "Merica, out of the box the Toyotas over here are just not as capable as Jeeps, and (in my humble opinion) the Toyotas require a little more tweaking/$$ to get them there. Love these modified episodes, Ronny! Keep them coming!
Thank you for your support and comments mate. The little red Cherokee has done Dani and I amazing! I never want to get rid of her.
Its interesting to hear your perspective from America, its certainly a little different here. I look forward to the opportunity of going off road in the states one day!
Thanks for watching 🙂
That is possibly the most well thought out use of space I’ve ever saw.
Ha ha ha
I’ve ever sawn
@@lastknownlocation8760 Hey to be fair, I did use a hand saw to make it!
Oh its very tightly packed haha
Ronny, you should do a Jeep Commander episode
*Ah wonderful XJ, nice episode Ronny* 👍
*100% agree about the servicing, too many people just drive a vehicle and then sell it off when it starts needing attention.*
We are glad that you enjoyed the video mate!
Servicing is the key! I think so anyways.
Thank you for watching.
Cool rig, Love xjs and i love mine. Well spoken bloke that knows a decent amount!
few things i noticed though..
it looks as if the jeep has a crack in the chassis (unibody) around the sway bar mount area, can see if in the suspension shots. may not be though could just be my sceptical eyes.
its a common issue on the steering box side.
I will check it out. Thanks mate
@@LongshotVentures I have a photo of the specific spot, but unsure how to give it to you
Passenger side in front of the sway bar mount before the bull bar mounts.
Had a 94 XJ Country on 33" tires, ~4.5" thrown together lift, a rear lunchbox locker and full skids, that thing went everywhere. Sold it with about 350k kms on it, still ran like a top. Keep and eye on your steering box mounts, a Dodge Dakota steering box is a great upgrade.
Great input there mate, I appreciate it. I am currently looking at getting an after market steering box brace and some beefier steering components. They are find for the moment, but preventative maintenance is key! Thanks for watching mate :)
Such a great video and I love the whole community mindset. It's so nice hearing about how everyone helped build a certain aspect of the car and I love how you guys cherish it
Thank you Sam, I am glad that you enjoyed the video.
It did take a community to build, we are very lucky to have been supported.
I love the way this looks. I run KO2s on my TJ and love them. I need rims to replace my honecomb XJ (Country version), and I may look for those. They look sharp.
Thanks for the positive comment Mark. We really like the K02s, they have performed well in the mud, snow, road and sand as an all rounder. The 'Icon' rims are my favourite Jeep rim of that era. Best of luck finding some!
Nice to see a Jeep build. If you come across a WK2 Grand Cherokee kitted out for touring, I'd be keen to hear their story as we are looking to do the same with ours. Cheers
The WK2 is an interesting beast that's for sure. I don't see too many of them kitted out for the tracks. It would be nice to see!
Thanks for watching mate.
Good set up guys. You seem like a lovely couple and it's great you're enjoying it together. Here in the UK, the XJ is rated for towing 3.3 tonnes. Having personally towed that many times, I can say it does handle the weight well, just need to be careful with payload distribution and be gentle.
On cooling, you can get a 165ºF thermo and a high flow capacity housing, both worth getting. Couple that with a more powerful water pump and that will be all your cooling issues sorted. Incidentally, if doing this you'll want to slightly increase the frequency of changing your coolant. Keep up the fight against the rust too, regularly flood every cavity with the best preservative you can get. Failing that throw some used engine oil in from time to time, particularly the sills.
Keep it up and hope to see more from you in the future.
All the best.
Thanks for the advice mate, I really appreciate it. I'll be sure to keep the old girl flushed! I hope you enjoyed the video!
Yeah the 4L!
I got an 02 Jeep TJ and always love the thought of having an XJ as well!
Super rad build guys!
🤙
Thanks mate, TJs are cool too! We love our XJ. I hope you enjoyed the video!
These were the best vehicles ever made. That's not a matter of opinion.
I had one when I was younger. It never had any oil pressure in it. Never. We actually put a few different oil pressure gauges in it, thinking the gauges were bad, but nope, it just ran with no oil pressure. It also burned oil, and since I was young and dumb, I never paid any attention to it. Whenever it completely ran out of oil it would start shaking a little bit going down the road. I got into the habit of using the shaking to tell me that it was time to add some more oil, and sometimes I would just run it without any oil for a week or two until payday. I've done that for years and it never gave me any issues. I also used it to tow things that were a hell of a lot heavier than what it was rated for. Despite not having a transmission cooler, it pulled everything fine, and the transmission worked like new the entire time I had it. You just can't kill these things.
They certainly are built tough are they not? Considering how affordable they were new and how affordable they are still, they make a great first car! Thanks for watching mate.
Super cool couple and that is one outstanding Jeep. Gave me a ton of ideas for my xj. Thanks for another awesome post Ronny!
I am glad the like the Jeep mate, thank you. Dani goes alright too.
Very underrated
As for heating issues in Aus - easy fix. I live in Qld and have a ‘95 and a 2000. Had a 2013 GU patrol but not nearly as much fun. Great Power to weight and solid axles make these a very capable wagon.
I couldn't agree more mate. It's all about the power to weight!
Enjoyed this one. Thanks Ronny. So a Fortuner with kids you'd still need either tent swags or camper trailer.
That is a fair point Malcolm. I think when it gets time to get a more family friendly car, you might be right. We will probably get swags! Thanks for watching mate.
That lady just watching his man talking is incredible 😆 true love right there
Nah, the true love is sharing that tiny sleep compartment... either that or he never farts.
@@markelliott6105 HAHAHA yeah I am pretty lucky mate. Its a tiny sleeping compartment. Good thing we are small too :)
Dude speaks well, and really knows his ride.
Thanks mate, I appreciate that. I hope you liked our Jeep.
@@LongshotVentures Loved it. Was amazed by how much of the work you did yourself.
Brave running Dana 35, first thing I did was swap for dana 44. Miss my xj so much. Coil converted 6 inch lift twin locked on 37s, thing went everywhere
Nice one Luke. I'd certainly consider it but the Dana 44 is pretty rare in Aus and it comes with a pretty price tag! Thanks for watching mate!
Beautiful XJ! ❤️ I'm not fan of big lift kits and wheels and this one looks awesome! I have turbo diesel XJ with 3 inch lift kit and 31s and I go everywhere where big boys go. My favorite 4x4 vehicle!
Nice! Dani and I recently picked up a turbo diesel XJ for something to tinker on. Good fun! Thanks for watching
Maybe reminds me of what a young Ronny might have been like? Keep on trekking and you could end up getting some sponsors and end up with some rigs like Ronny one day. Very good start.
Thank you for the kind words mate! Dani and I have our own channel where we are doing our best! Enjoy 🙂
Love the Russell Coight handshake...
Thanks Peter! It was Ronny's idea, a clever man indeed. Thanks for watching!
Brilliant setup, it's all about making memories and having fun, I think the term budget build is only used by the poncy bolt on queen's. All the best to you.
hahaha thanks Roy! She is a great little car. We did a 10,000km trip across some pretty harsh country in WA and she kept up just fine with the big rigs. Thanks for watching and thanks for your support!
At 386,000km that engine is just barely broken in. One recommendation if they have not already done it: add a transmission cooler up front to improve the longevity of the AW4. The factory heat-exchanger running through the radiator is insufficient when hauling loads and an aftermarket cooler is relatively cheap for big cooling gains. I've been beating on my '87 for over 25 years, it's nice to see a later model that is in such great shape. Cheers from USA!
Thanks for the advice mate! Our XJ came with a transmission cooler in front of the radiator from factory. I think it may have been an export option? I'll upgrade the old one if she carks it. Thanks for watching!
Wow. That thing looks brand new. Well done!
Thanks Gary, we have tried hard to keep her in good condition, certainly far from new though!. Thanks for watching mate.
got a WH grand Cherokee limited with 5.7lt Hemi 2005, love it its a beast
Man id love that kind of power! Thanks for watching mate 🙂
@@LongshotVentures that hemi roar when that throttle body opens up is something else to behold, and no problem
I love how you edited the tow rope out to make it look like this Jeep ran and drove under it's own power lol. Just joking guys, you have built an awesome little memory making machine well done!
Hahaha! I did have to tow the car home once when the fuel pump died. But that's it. She's been a good car to us!
A few extra pony's would not go astray though.
Thanks for watching mate!
Hi guys, hope ya jeep still going strong, Thanks for the hood vent tip ended getting some . Ya mention you have a OBD reader for your jeep. can you let me know which one you are using. Hope to see ya on the road cheers. Brute
Love watching these Modifieds great seeing other peoples set up's and hearing there story :)
Thanks Chief, I appreciate your kind words. We had a great time telling it! Thanks for watching :)
Message to all XJ guys, please replace your fan clutch, they are always broken, even if it feels ok they are always the cause of your cooling issues and they only cost like $60
Well said mate! We had no issues once we replaced our old XJ one with a new ZJ one. Thanks for watching!
You had me at the curtains that Nonna helped you make.
🤣 I know right? She is very proud of them too.
Thanks for watching mate!
Yes! Finally an XJ modified episode
I am glad you liked it mate! We were very lucky to have this opportunity to speak on Ronny's channel. Thanks for watching!
Great build!! If Ronny ever comes back to the States it would be cool to show him our XJ!
Indeed! I was thinking that too. I know Ronny has the intention of getting over to the states again. Time will tell. Thanks for your support mate!
Very clean. Loved my XX, one of the first in wa with a big lift. 6” RE, Tom woods sye, bushwackers, 33s and it went anywhere. Also had the ac fan on a switch too. Only vehicle issues were an engine mount and a drum issue, converted to ford ea rear disks.
Clever idea mate. I have considered some Ford rear disks. I make a conscious effort to keep the rear drums in tolerance to make sure we can stop safely. Thanks for watching!
Love this XJ! simple tire size! Clean! Great vid! New subscriber!👍🏽
Dani and I are really glad you liked it mate. We are very fond of our little XJ, she does us well. Thanks for watching!
Woohoo! Finally, a Jeep on the channel! I love my XJ and it’s set up almost exactly the same! I’d be happy to show you around Tassie if you make it here!
Sounds good to me mate! We are aiming to be there at the end of 2023!
Thank god for a Jeep, it’s a great buildup
@@LongshotVentures I just subbed to your channel, I hope you are going to post more of your adventures! One thing you might want to consider for you car is to replace those rear windows with aluminium panels. It adds a lot of privacy inside but also offers a good mounting point for things like fire extinguishers etc.
@@officialWWM Great idea mate!
We sure will, episodes are uploading now!
@@LongshotVentures yes, it’s a really easy thing to do and made a big difference to my living space and storage options. I have attached a couple of Rotopax fuel containers to the outside of mine. I’m not sure I like the idea of carrying so much fuel on the roof. That’s a lot of extra weight up there :/
Great episode. Almost as good as the Pajero ones but not quite lmfao. As a Pajero Owner though I can relate to his story of people under rating the vehicle. I don't mind the older Jeeps and thing they have done a great job decking it out. DIY is the best and cheapest way to go and makes things so much more practical for the owner. Ive spent about 10K to purchase and deck out my Pajero, no including repairs (Just under 20k I would say with repairs) and it is great to have a budget build that works so damn well for you. Like them I can park up basically anywhere for a sleep. They have done a great job. Having things built and repaired yourself I think gives you a deeper appreciation for the vehicle as well. I know it has with mine.
I concur with you 100%. I assume you have a 90's Paj? They are the golden years!
@@LongshotVentures NO I have a 2002 NM, First of the Gen 3 style. Still less electronics than the newer but Independent all around. I would love an NL being the last of the Gen 2 but Im very happy with what I have.
My gen 3 was a headache. Never a mitso again
@@coast2coast950 that's a shame. Yes I've had issues but for a 20 year old vehicle I expected a few. The biggest issue was my own mistake.
@@OnCountryWithMick new genuine cvs cost a fortune!! As well as a genuine transfer chain
Beautiful rig and thanks for the video. Had 2 of these XJ's and loved them. One had the identical ARB bar and 3" lift.
Inspired me! Im working on my 96 Xj - John USA
Thanks John! Best of luck with the build!
Nice one. You forgot to mention a nice quiet and vibration free ride due to smooth 6 cylinder petrol engine.
I do like the motor, she is pretty smooth in my opinion, but I am biased! Thanks for watching mate!
love the XJ, always wanted one
Its never too late! Thanks for watching 🙂
Haha, paying homage to Sir Russel Coight there with the handshakes I see!
I am glad you picked it up mate! Thanks for watching :)
Car&Body is in amazing shape. That would be considered a survivor in the US, especially compared to the state you see most of them in. I guess Australian climate is amazing for preserving cars
@@ElisPalace which coast though? East coast Australia perhaps a bit wetter than Perth, but even still. The biggest thing in the US is road salt- cars don't last a decade in areas that are heavy users, and most of the US will see at least some use of road salt.
Oh yeah 100%. No salt on the roads over here mate! This Jeep goes alright. Thanks for the comment!
@@chir0pter This car has been all over Aus. It spent a fair few years on the East, even up in the tropics! I spend a lot of timing cleaning and painting the underneath to keep it rust free!
@@ElisPalace True. I suppose it depends how close you live to the ocean. In WA, I find its pretty good. :)
Good stuff. I looked at a 2003 Grand Cherokee when I was shopping around. Nearly bought it but let other people's opinions steer me way from it. I ended up buying a 2003 Mitsubishi Challenger which has been doing us well. Still working on accessorising it. Rebuilding the drawer system after deciding that I could build it better. I do like the older Jeeps though.
My father owned a WJ Grand Cherokee with the V8. A great car and plenty of power. It used a fair bit more fuel then the 4.0. If you are going to get one, be prepared to work on it yourself to save some coin and you should be set.
Excellent video and what Modified is all about. Lovely couple and wish them the best on their travels.
Thanks Daniel, we appreciate it.
The russel coight handshake was so good
Love the XJs, I had 3 of them and regret selling the last one.
Certainly a great set of wheels! If Dani would let me, I would have more then one too! Thanks for watching mate.
Humble and honest, got to love that 👍
We try our best. Making a lot of mechanical mistakes will make you humble!
@@LongshotVentures Well it's brilliant to see 🙏.
There are so many people who act like (or live in) a sort of state of denial, regardless of what's actually happening, and proceed to act all cocky. It's almost become a trope these days.
So it was really refreshing to see the opposite of that from the two of you 👍
Russell Coight welding glove 🤣🤣🤣
I love it😊
The legend lives on! Thanks for watching Matthew :)
Great episode, dont need $200k rig to get out there
I completely agree! You just need to be willing to spend some hours to get to know the rig. Lucky for us, the Jeep is simple.
Love this car! Exactly the sort of real world overland adventure rig I want! Gunna nick some of this for my paj!
That is great to hear mate. Thank you for your support and good luck with the Paj!
@@LongshotVentures we have almost the same set up in our paj all the way over here in England! Definitely jealous of that nice bar and departure angle! We have the departure angle of a brick! Well you definitely have a new subscriber! Keen to check out your vids ASAP
Great to see , we can’t all aford big dollar rigs
Certainly not Keith, we do need to start somewhere. Thanks for the comment mate.
Sick simple setup, my one concern is cooling, cooling of the compressor and the electronics as they are tucked in so tight behind everything, no ventilation.
They stay at a good temp. There is nothing in front of the battery and there open space behind it. Also we take the bags out of the back and put them on the bed when we use the compressor :)
I put 1” spacer on the xj hinge so hot air vents on my Cherokee xj so good is slanted at 1” angles
Awesome build and great episode 👏
Thanks Clayton, we appreciate your support!
Nice build, “Frank” was good too.
Hahaha, yeah Frank goes alright :)
More Jeep content 😁😁
I think so too! Dani and I have started recording some Jeep stuff on our channel. It certainly is not up to spec with Ronny, but it has an XJ in it! haha
+1 to this 👆🏻. Love my WK2, very capable off road. Jeep’s get such a bad wrap.
Damn they're tiny, fair play! I had an xj now have a wj... even that is really small compared to my old 100 series LC but still much bigger than an xj.
G'day Ben, yeah they sure are mate.
We have found the XJ to be a good compromise and we make do with the space that we have.
Thanks for watching mate!
Love the Jeep XJs
Xj was our first 4x4. Loved it and wish we never sold it.
Get one back...todays market xj is pretty cheap tbh
@@dolguldur4706 that’s the plan. Getting one for the young bloke when he gets his licence👍
I loved my XJ 2000 classic, it would go almost anywhere. I shouldn't have sold it. I see they've removed the rear seat to gain storage length and volume. I always found it a little short to sleep in otherwise. More Jeeps.
@@doggit5362 good one mate...for under 3k for an XJ..cant go wrong..good luck 🤘🏻
@@k.whiking4372 maybe try rtt next time to solve sleeping area issue 👍🏼🤘🏻
I have the ARB with winch. Very well hidden and tucked up tight. Two cables run to the battery. Not complicated. Wheeling alone without a winch is not wise.
Just curious I know the xj was used here in the United States as a rural Postal vehicle and Postal vehicles in the USA are right hand drive. I wonder if this one came RHD from the factory in the U.S. or was converted in Australia?
Produced in RHD for overseas markets. The vehicle was not converted in Australia. Thanks for commenting Scott!
The postal service is the reason we got the XJ in Australia from 94 onward. 👍👍
LOVE this build, cool couple, great modified episode!
Thanks mate, glad you liked it :)
Really nice seeing something that’s not a Toyota ✌️just shows you don’t have to spend a fortune.
Jeeps are garbage
Thanks Alan. We are quite fond of the Jeep. It certainly gets some looks out on the tracks! Especially remote ones!
Would be cool if a 255/85r16 MT and a 255/80r17 AT were common tyre sizes in Austrialia.
Not that common in the states either. I did order some 255/80r17 toyos and they're pretty expensive compared to a 285
Skinny tyres for the win! They work well on our Jeep and it keeps it looking stock :)
Love my 255/85r16 KM2 on my r51 Pathfinder
what an amazing young couple and an awesome jeep 👍🏻
Thanks Toddy, much appreciated.
Please review a 2009-2014 mitsubishi challenger Ronny
The most underrated vehicle. They have sort of become the easily modified basher vehicle in the US
Not underrated by me, I love ‘em!
Certainly underrated. Thanks for the comment mate.
What's with the easter eggs @ 1:31?
Great episode though. I've worked a jeep Cherokee like this in the mines back here and it was reliable but very thirsty.
Are you referring to my shirt? I cannot see any Easter eggs :)
They can be thirsty I suppose. But we have experienced an average of 16L/100km which is pretty reasonable for an old petrol I think.
Thanks for watching!
Hell of a build
Are the LED headlights self levelling? I’m pretty sure they have to be to comply to ADRs. How much does it weigh? What payload do you have?
The LED's do not self level. I have aimed them mostly at the ground in order to comply with regulations. You can adjust them manually on the Jeep. It weighs 1,500kg empty and about 2,000kg loaded. The total payload is 2260kg odd.
@@LongshotVentures if it’s GVM is 2260 and it’s tare is 1500, the payload is 760.
In QLD at least they have to be self levelling which I think is an ADR not just a Qld thing. I know because I took a truck for a COI at Qld Trpt recently and someone had fitted LED’s to it and they picked it up and defected it during the inspection.
Love the XJ, not sure if he was being frank with us or not though
Which part Alex? She's been pretty good to us :) If you do the work yourself and with mates, you'll do alright. Especially if you shop around for parts!
What are the laws there regarding lift suspension tire size? Here in the states I've got a five and a half inch lift on my XJ and 35 inch tires nobody pays any attention to it
It varies within the states of Australia. If you get the vehicle engineered and certified, you can modify it well beyond stock. The laws are very strict here in Australia though. The car would be defected very quick for 35 inch tires in Aus. Thanks for watching
Love that at least one Oz TH-cam has an xj and was not just slamming them great job guys iv had mine for about 15 yes great rig had cruisers can't compete like everything all depends on what you want and I rather a lighter rig that floats on top and yes thay are a tad thirsty but try running the 4.2 petrol cruisers and patrols the Jeeps are cheap parts arnt much different in price just not as readily available as the others but love not dragging that wait around and on the kid thing yes thay don't have space put you work with it that's what I've done had trips with wife two kids just everything has its place and don't bring the house that my two bob worth hope you have a great time and you don't need bells to get out and about keep it simple
That is absolutely spot on advice! Thanks for watching mate, I hope you enjoyed our Jeep 🙂
the car is very good and the layout is clever congratulations for the couple 👍😎👏
Thanks dude, we spent a lot of time thinking it over. Cheers
Looks like the perfect tourer for a couple. No doubt the Cherokee is capable. Yes you do have to self reliant in Australia if you own a Jeep. Jeep owners are just more confident in their own ability to keep the wheels turning. I have met other tourers that don’t even know how to change a tyre, whilst Jeep owners know ever bolt on their tourer. The Fortuner is a great option to replace the Jeep, as they have mainly done their crawling in the mall, which make them an excellent second hand choice and they’re a very capable tourer if you can’t afford a Prado.
I could not agree with you more Dan.
Once our family grows we will probably get the Fortuner. For the meantime, the Jeep is the best mechanical apprenticeship I have ever had haha!
"Jeep owners are just more confident in their own ability to keep the wheels turning."
It's because of all the practice we get.
@@Sepulchrave88 haha 100% right there Stephen! We certainly learnt through doing!
What's with the welding glove @ 1:30?
Just for laughs :) Thanks for watching David!
I'd challenge anyone in America to find a cheaper, more dependable, more capable off road rig than a Cherokee. I've had 5 over the years. Bang for the buck Champion !! My last one cost $2500 and lasted 14 years and 400,000 miles !
Not kilometers, miles, how real men measure distance !
Can't really find one all that cheap that's not clapped out anymore. They definitely where the best bang for your buck though. We used to pick them up for like 1000bucks in the early 2000s
They certainly are good motors. Thanks for watching mate.
Do you have friction with your control arms or something else?
It does only just touch, but you can adjust the turn but screwing the bolt out a little on the stopper near the wheel. Thanks for watching!
replace those hood vent screws with nut and bolts please!
G'day mate, thanks for watching.
Those screws are stainless and they actually come with the Napier hood vents. I do agree that nuts and bolts would be better though so I will look into it!
@@LongshotVentures yeah i recognized them right away, installed them on mine then took them out after realizing the danger.
I'll be frank with ya, those some short shorts there guy.
They show off those pins haha! Thanks for watching Ryan.
Isn't there rules and regulations about homemade roofracks, bullbars and suchlike in Oz?
I do like a well built XJ ✌️
Thanks mate, I appreciate it.