Great video. I can't believe I just sat thru an hour long video. I'll definitely be ordering a kit. I want my xj to look exactly like the silver one. So sweet!
You have "forced" me to move up from 31" tires with stock body trim to 33" and 3M Trim and wider stance with 3.5 lift. Very thorough, easy-to-understand instructional video. Thank you...
Been wrenching on xj's for a while now and this guy gets it. Clear information given in an excellent tone. Couldn't be closer to the truth. Best "how to" vid out there.
😇 I'm not sure why, but I'm more reluctant to cut into my rust-free '94 2-door XJ than any 4X4 I've ever owned! I honestly wish I could just get over it. I'd love to be Rollin on 40's again! I'm currently on 32s with factory flares. I think the only reason I bought it and overpaid for it was because it is a "survivor"? I could easily fit 33's, but the 😈 side of me wants to go big!
I’ve watched about 6 vids on trimming the fenders and this is the only one that sold me on the idea. A lot a solid information that actually makes sense. Thank you.
I just did mine today and your right. He does a thorough job of explaining why you should and under what circumstances and the finished product looked great. Aside from expensive aftermarket flares, his method is the only one that looks good compared to the other hack jobs I have seen. Thanks Dirk!
This was meant to be a more complete and exhaustive video on XJ fender trimming. The first 26 minutes is discussing principles, myths, misunderstandings, tire size fitment and tools needed for XJ trimming. Lot's of good info there. Skip to 26:40 if you want to get to the hands on part...
@@tjdesignzable Thanks! Some don't care for the commentary, but I think it's very important info. Lot's of misinformation out there regarding fender trimming, so I really wanted to address that first.
I appreciate the commentary. Now I want to see how much that back tire tucks. I am going 4.5" with 33s. Trying to determine if I'll need to fold or if this will work.
@@caseyfenton90 make sure to watch not only your tire clearance, but how far you are compressing your leaf springs. I'd rather add enough bumpstop if needed than to overcompress the leafs and cause them to wear/fail prematurely.
@@dpgoff-road1737 I actually really enjoyed the commentary. It helps hearing your decades of experience! I come from 14 years of driving Wranglers to now owning an XJ.
This was an awesome video! Very informative, very thorough, very easy to understand for someone whose never done this. I love the way your process takes that boring jeep to the right balance between aggressive and still practical. You made it look professional too. Not like some back yard hack job. Very cool. Thank you!
Sounds great! We have some excellent low COG Hybrid suspension packages as well if you're interested. Link: dpgoffroad.com/xj-cherokee-suspension-kits/old-man-emu-ome-hybrids/
There are actually 2 XJs from 96! I own both of them the 96 and the 96 & 1/2! Some of the differences are, the wiring harness’, lightbulbs, wheel well size, placement of wiring harness’ are in different places or had been changed from the 96 to the 96 1/2! Thanks for the video!
XJ is probably the best bang for your buck for offroad capability. Throw some 33-35" tires, 4-6" lift and some lunchbox lockers in it and it'll go where any new jeep will (& often where they won't) at a fraction of the cost. Nice video.
Damn, that was a good video. I have a 2004 Grand Cherokee that Im trying to get 33's on without it looking like crap, this video helped a lot for the confidence
Just bought a '91 XJ last week and am looking to do a lift and wheels/tires. This is the best information I've found on the subject. Your philosophy of keeping the vehicles center of gravity as low as possible and using fender trimming to gain clearance is very well thought out and makes perfect sense to me. Above all else I want a safe and reliable on-road suspension as that is where my XJ will spend most of its time. Could you recommend a lift that will have the road manners I'm looking for but be capable of moderate off road use. Thanks.
Of course! Our OME based Hybrid packages are easily our most popular suspension kits. Check out or 2.5" and 3.5" Ultimate and Super Ultimate kits here: dpgoffroad.com/xj-cherokee-suspension-kits/old-man-emu-ome-hybrids/
I had a 4 door 96 XJ with no lift that slightly rubbed 30x9.5R15 BFG AT KO in the rear during suspension compression/articulation offroad. Stock swaybars connected. It was a very slight rub that only happened occasionally. So I ignored it for years with no problems. I had a 4 door 99 XJ with no lift that did NOT rub 30x9.5R15 General Grabber AT3 in the rear during suspension compression/articulation offroad. Stock swaybars connected. The Grabbers were slightly taller and wider than BFG KO, but the Grabbers never rubbed. Somehow my stock 99 XJ have more clearance than my stock 96 XJ. Maybe that was because the 99 had stock tow package springs.
There are multiple factors at work in these situations that can cause this to vary, but my main point is that the wheel well opening size is larger on the '96 and older models, so tire diameter clearance at the flare is better on the older models.
The ZJ is similar, but different. Personally, I wouldn't lift a ZJ 4.5", but everyone has different ideas on that. I'd stay under 4"- especially if running that factory AWD t-case. I believe there are some other videos online about trimming the ZJ.
Thanks for the video. Good job explaining common misconceptions. Very accurate with the info where a lot videos are giving bad info. Although, there is definitely a difference in the leverage of wheel spacers vs the same backspacing off just the rim, but its more related to where on the rim the center mounts. That being said, it is minimal and probably wont be a difference as far as reliability. The biggest difference with running wheel spacers are people not taking the care to install them properly or using ones with cheap studs in them.
Great video and information. Taking the fender liners out and leaving the wheel well exposed, what about us up in the rust belt with all the salt on the roads all winter long?
You can do the pool noodle thing in front and you could also consider having the fenderwells bedlined....or just keep them clean and repaint the wells periodically as needed to keep rust at bay.
I have 3” wheel spacers on my Xj and I haven’t had problems, however at 167,000 the bearings are finally going. I also try not to go above 65mph when I have spacers on just for safety.
I ran a wheel and spacer combo years ago that gave me a net backspacing of 2.5". Really stable in off camber situations, but harder on ball joints. Steering/scrub radius isn't ideal at that point either. We've never had any issues with good wheel spacers over the years though. Thanks!
Mostly the same. I would cut & fold that lower rear quarter panel for 35's and a little bit more on the front & rear lower portions of the front fenders and that's it. Flatten the inner fenderwell seam inside the front upper fenders too.
@@toddellis5197 for 35's, I prefer 3.25" to 3.5" backspacing. I am running 35's on my own XJ with the 3.5" kit. It's all about proper trimming and bumpstop tuning.
I'm curious. You said you wouldn't do the cut and fold on the rear quarters because they could hold things to cause rust. What if I did the cut and fold and used something like flex seal or some type of rubberized undercoating to spray inside the quarters? Would that keep mud and moisture out?
It could, but the more slits you make and have folded steel, the more opportunity for rust. If I really wanted that little extra room in back, I would probably cut that higher, reform and reweld it instead of doing the slit and fold. Just my opinion though...
The body style is a little different in the '96 and older models. You don't have to trim the plastic end cap/ flare pieces, as they don't extend back to the flares. I also like to cut the lower front fender straight across like the newer style XJ's come with. Everything else is pretty much the same.
What size are those tires now? That’s the exact look and operation I’m going for. Never wanted exaggerated lift. That lift is very classy. Thanks for the video and well done....
i’ve already done the cut and fold that you said isn’t recommended lol...but do you think i could still use the band molding on the rear since i cut & folded it? i’m worried since it isn’t as flat and smooth as the cut you made in the video that it won’t lay down. if someone could let me know if it would work or another solution to cover up the cut & fold in the rear that would be awesome. thanks
It might work, but really depends on what kind of edge you have left. Results vary, depending on how you did it. Would still work great in front, so probably worth a shot as the trim isn't that expensive.
Thanks! Removing the spot welds separates the unibody in that area. If it were mine, I'd reweld that section again. May have to fab/add some metal, but it's doable...
Thank you for the awesome information! My XJ is the same color as yours and a limited. Just a baby version 🤣 We are going to take your advice on trimming ours. Also we will be ordering the body molding from your website. You should have a bunch more subscribers! Stay tuned for my trimming video!! I have to admit I am very nervous 😬.
We've been running 33" and 35" tires on XJ's (and TJ/LJ's) for the better part of 20 years now. The only front wheel bearing failures we've seen have been on jeeps that have been submerged in water/mud for longer periods. Otherwise, we just don't see issues on bearings until the jeeps see much higher mileages.
Yrs ago autozone sold door molding for the edge. The chrome stuff Mexicans cover ther cars with. Anyway u can get it in black or chrome and extra wide. It would go on the whole edge inside and out glue that on and it forsure never coming off. U don't have to tho it also has double stick tape
I got those from Venum via Amazon. wheeladaptersusa.com might be another source. This type of spcers bolts to the existing studs and has a full set of it's own studs to bolt the wheel too, so it's not just a donut. The bold patterns between the 2 wheels weren't the same, so extending the existing studs wouldn't work anyway.
when I cut out my rear fenders, I did the slit and fold. However, before I folded, I shot it with some rust preventative primer and then paint, folded and painted again. Then I fiber glassed over all that. Unless you're running them on the beaches here in Australia. you're not going to get much rust. pretty dry country
There's more than one right way to do things. If I was running tires bigger than 35's, I would cut farther up and reweld. I'd be running stronger and wider axles at that point though, and everything starts to snowball at that point. Cheers!
Very well said, & executed Dirk! 🙂 And the end result is Outstanding! to say the least,🤤👍👍 Extremely impressive my friend,🥇🏆 I have a 01 XJ Limited,with a Rancho 3in short arm lift, with some Duratrac's that are just shy of 31's, mounted on the stock 16in aluminum 5 star's,😕 I've owned the Jeep for around 3 year's now, and it has around 166,000 miles on it, "Mi Jeep" it was well taken care of, but she's definitely got some rust in the usual places,🤔 I've been wanting to do the fender trimming for awhile now, But was Seriously on the fence about the whole deal, especially when my Jeep is a daily driver, and Mi uses salt on the roads in the winter, I live in northern Mi so the winter is a little longer than most places,🙄 And getting rust in new places,was a big concern for me,with doing the trimming on the fenders,🤔 Like I said though, I've been wanting to trim them for awhile, and was thinking that I might eventually go to a 33in tire in the future,🤔 And your Video was the tipping point, You absolutely sold me on it,😁👍 Although I would be lying if I said that I wasn't still ah bit nervous about it doing it,😕 I do have all the required tools, and general know-how for fixing & fabricating, but it's one hell of a Commitment once you get started,🙄 I might do it this weekend between doing my own TH-cam channel stuff,🤔 Very much appreciated once again Dirk, for doing such an amazing job, and also for sharing your thoughts, Many many thanks Brother.🙂😎👊👊
I have a quick question about the front fender trimming,if you don't mind that is ? Question; is the bottom of the windshield washer fluid container exposed,after removing all the innards & trimming the fender itself ? And is there any way that you could post a picture in the community Area of your channel, of what the inside of the fender should look like after everything is Complete ? We actually have 3 qty 01 XJ's at my house, my parents have a bone stock "Silver" limited, they are the original owners with 165,000 miles, I have a "Gun metal Pearl" limited, with full power leather heated seats,fake wood trim, a "3" inch rancho short arm lift, and 166,000 miles, "Not the original owner" and the Lift was on it before I purchased the vehicle,😕 "Which is the vehicle in Question for fender trimming" And my Brother has a 01 XJ Sport, he recently purchased it, and unfortunately someone trimmed the fenders on there own, without doing any research before hand, And sadly, it's kind of a nightmare scenario fender trim job, 😧😵 and I can totally see the windshield washer fluid container underneath the fender, it's exposed quite a bit, about ah inch and a half wide strip,from one end to the other, including the windshield squirter motors, All completely exposed! 🤔 I live in northern Mi, we use large quantities of salt on the roads in the winter, and I don't necessarily like the idea of having anything unnecessarily exposed under the fender,🤔 As for wheeling, and how much,or what type of wheeling that I generally do; I live far back in the woods, about a mile and a half from the main Rd, And I go off-road a little bit every day, some days more than others, but I generally drive down a long section of ruff power line trail, and then down a mile or so long "two track" Trail that winds through some hilly woods, taking the back way into my property,🤔 that's everyday! And then on other days I may put my Jeep through some rougher terrain, Like orv & snowmobile trails, while searching for areas to film, for my RC Crawler channel,😕 and some of those trails can get pretty rough, not "down south rock crawling through the mountains rough", but Baja 1,000 kinda rough,🤔 with the occasional want for a snorkel, but not necessarily needed,😕 I have plans to run 33 inch tires in the near future, so the fender trimming idea is very tangible,🤤 Currently, my decision on trimming the fenders is basically hanging on what the underside of the fender is supposed to look like after everything is completed,😕
@@R.C.A.D. the washer bottle is not exposed from a side view the way I cut them. It is open if you look up under there. It's plastic though, so it doesn't hurt anything to leave it as is. It's still mounted the same as before. I guess you could fab up some sort of plate or cover, but we've never seen any need for that.
@@dpgoff-road1737 Right on! That's exactly what I was wondering about,🤔 it doesn't bother me about the plastic being exposed, But the squirter motors, and wire connector's being exposed, definitely causes me some concern, especially living in northern Mi,"road salt" & winter lasts 6 months around here,😕 I suppose I could weld in a thin plate,or possibly go the easiest route, and use some "big" wire shrink wrap tubes, to Incase the windshield squirter motors in shrink wrap,🤔 maybe! 😄 Lol Definitely not afraid to do some Rigging! 😂👍 I'm all good,As long as everything looks clean after I'm done,😊👍👍 Thanks for your reply my friend, it's very much appreciated Brother.😎👊👊👍😧
Lol I'm currently balls deep into the project, the rust was worse then I had previously thought,🙄 ultimately, I'm gonna have to do the Comp cut on the backside of the Jeep, she was looking rough under the back bumper'et's 😬 esh! Bad news! Anyways the project is in full swing, I'll let you know how she turns out.😊 Thanks again for your great work,and help my friend.😎👍👍
On a '97 or newer XJ with no trimming, you won't get much flex with a 31.5" tire. If you disconnect the swaybar and hit a trail, you'll knock the flares off pretty quickly.
Great video man, thanks for sharing and explaining those spot welds..... also for recommending the protect-o-trim.... I was trying to save money, nice addition to the video.
We're in a suburb of Wichita Kansas. I don't do as much in the shop as I have in the past, as I'm getting old and my time is tight. My time to spend an entire day in the shop doing custom fab work is probably more than most would want to pay. That's why I did the video!
@@blakebelton2085 , I like to cut the lower front fender portion on the '96 and older models to look like the '97 and newer models. Otherwise, it's basically the same thing...
There are several options out there, but I used these from Venum: www.amazon.com/Complete-Centric-Conversion-Adapters-5x114-3mm/dp/B01N94KLVD/ref=sr_1_6?gclid=CjwKCAiAlO7uBRANEiwA_vXQ-2VRL_tqMmw6pv88EMchb67fP6-ipUS1my6jdgVMkYPM_Dlfypuv3xoCkV0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=384327382549&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9024218&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=18184924750979875074&hvtargid=kwd-547820310861&hydadcr=28962_11382049&keywords=jeep+wrangler+spacers+3+inch&qid=1574723877&sr=8-6
There are several options out there, but I used these from Venum: www.amazon.com/Complete-Centric-Conversion-Adapters-5x114-3mm/dp/B01N94KLVD/ref=sr_1_6?gclid=CjwKCAiAlO7uBRANEiwA_vXQ-2VRL_tqMmw6pv88EMchb67fP6-ipUS1my6jdgVMkYPM_Dlfypuv3xoCkV0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=384327382549&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9024218&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=18184924750979875074&hvtargid=kwd-547820310861&hydadcr=28962_11382049&keywords=jeep+wrangler+spacers+3+inch&qid=1574723877&sr=8-6
That would work. For me, the extra steps aren't worth the very slight increase in clearance. That's still a lot of individual cuts and not easy to seal completely. I've seen some use RTV or other sealer there too. I think if I wanted a little more room in back and didn't mind the extra work, I might opt to cut and reweld that area to avoid all the slits and the extra cavity above. Several options there...
The XJ we trimmed on this video is running JK wrangler wheels. The bolt pattern and backspacing are not the same, so it is running 3" wheel spacers all around. My grey XJ on 35's is running 15x8 rims with a 3.5" backspacing all around. I don't ever want my front tires to have less backspacing (wider stance) than the rears.
@@dpgoff-road1737 o ok. hmmm. is it me or does it look like the front stick out more than the rear? I ask because it looks like the rear Is narrower and the front wider
@@ky0611 The smallest spacer you can get that still covers the studs is 1.25". That would give you a net effective backspacing of 2.78". While side stability would be excellent, the steering will suffer and your ball joints and wheel bearing will be under too much stress. I'd leave it salone unless you want to change wheels. I recommend a backspacing in the 3.25" to 3.75" range, so at 4.03" with 33's, you're close enough.
@@dpgoff-road1737 Awesome Thanks! I want to say that my lower control arm is barely contacting the tire on full lock out left or right. Then I heard you talking about 2.5 to 3.5 spacers and so I wasn't sure what size spacer I might need and if it's safe going that big of a spacer especially off road
First car is going to be an XJ as I can afford to pay cash for one. Going for the low COG with big tires, but it’ll be a progressive build as parts aren’t cheap.
This is by far the best video period,for trimming XJ fenders.....
Thanks!
For real, great information and a clean job.
@@corywilson3724 Thanks!
Agreed
Great video. I can't believe I just sat thru an hour long video. I'll definitely be ordering a kit. I want my xj to look exactly like the silver one. So sweet!
Thank you for taking the time to do this.
You have "forced" me to move up from 31" tires with stock body trim to 33" and 3M Trim and wider stance with 3.5 lift. Very thorough, easy-to-understand instructional video. Thank you...
Sounds great! Thanks!
Been wrenching on xj's for a while now and this guy gets it. Clear information given in an excellent tone. Couldn't be closer to the truth. Best "how to" vid out there.
Thank you!
Great demo and awesome job explaining! Extremely thorough!👌
Dirk, one of the nicest most sincere people in the industry.
Wow-Thanks!
I watched the entire hour! There’s too much back and forth and different opinions out there, and you set it all straight! Thanks!!
Thanks!
😇 I'm not sure why, but I'm more reluctant to cut into my rust-free '94 2-door XJ than any 4X4 I've ever owned! I honestly wish I could just get over it. I'd love to be Rollin on 40's again! I'm currently on 32s with factory flares. I think the only reason I bought it and overpaid for it was because it is a "survivor"? I could easily fit 33's, but the 😈 side of me wants to go big!
Are y’all still selling lift kits ?
Absolutely!
I’ve watched about 6 vids on trimming the fenders and this is the only one that sold me on the idea. A lot a solid information that actually makes sense. Thank you.
Thanks Cory!
I just did mine today and your right. He does a thorough job of explaining why you should and under what circumstances and the finished product looked great. Aside from expensive aftermarket flares, his method is the only one that looks good compared to the other hack jobs I have seen. Thanks Dirk!
@@mwallace021 Thank you!
what about the gearing going to a bigger tire ?
I don't mind stock gears up to 31" tires. After that, I'd prefer to regear. Running 4.56 gears in mine with 35's.
This was meant to be a more complete and exhaustive video on XJ fender trimming. The first 26 minutes is discussing principles, myths, misunderstandings, tire size fitment and tools needed for XJ trimming. Lot's of good info there. Skip to 26:40 if you want to get to the hands on part...
I just got some 33s and I gotta tell ya those first 26 minutes probably just saved my build.great video man
@@tjdesignzable Thanks! Some don't care for the commentary, but I think it's very important info. Lot's of misinformation out there regarding fender trimming, so I really wanted to address that first.
I appreciate the commentary. Now I want to see how much that back tire tucks. I am going 4.5" with 33s. Trying to determine if I'll need to fold or if this will work.
@@caseyfenton90 make sure to watch not only your tire clearance, but how far you are compressing your leaf springs. I'd rather add enough bumpstop if needed than to overcompress the leafs and cause them to wear/fail prematurely.
@@dpgoff-road1737 I actually really enjoyed the commentary. It helps hearing your decades of experience! I come from 14 years of driving Wranglers to now owning an XJ.
Best fender trimming video I have seen yet! Hats off to Dirk at DPG!
Thanks!
Did i just spen an hour watching this? What day is it? Worth every second. Thank you for the information.
When do you need to do a cut and fold on the lower rear quarter panels? I see people doing it a lot.
I consider a rear lower quarter panel cut & fold mandatory at 35" tires. Some do it to get rid of rust and others just because they want to...
Great video
This was an awesome video! Very informative, very thorough, very easy to understand for someone whose never done this. I love the way your process takes that boring jeep to the right balance between aggressive and still practical. You made it look professional too. Not like some back yard hack job. Very cool. Thank you!
Thank YOU!
Used this process this weekend to trim my '94 XJ country. Worked great, and love the results. Thanks for the tutorial!
Sounds great!
Legendary, Thanks Dirk! Never before have I sat and watched over an hour long TH-cam video until now! Great info and tips!
Wow- Thanks!
Thank you! Ive gad a 98 XJ for almost 10 years stock. But this video has given me the bug to lift and cut. :)
Sounds great! We have some excellent low COG Hybrid suspension packages as well if you're interested. Link: dpgoffroad.com/xj-cherokee-suspension-kits/old-man-emu-ome-hybrids/
Thanks for this video. You literally answered ever question I had for my 97 XJ build!!!!!
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
There are actually 2 XJs from 96! I own both of them the 96 and the 96 & 1/2! Some of the differences are, the wiring harness’, lightbulbs, wheel well size, placement of wiring harness’ are in different places or had been changed from the 96 to the 96 1/2!
Thanks for the video!
I love these Xjs...My 1999 Xj has almost 400,000 Mile's and is just like New...A Real Beast
I hear ya! Hard to beat an XJ for a solid, fun vehicle!
Thanks for the rear bumpstop plates!!
I have a 97 2-door XJ that I plan on cutting and doing the fenders like yours and I definitely want to go wider so it’s more stable.👍
What type of cutting disc is that?
I don't remember the brand. It's a diamond carbide metal cutting disc. More expensive than typical cut-off wheels, but holds up longer.
XJ is probably the best bang for your buck for offroad capability. Throw some 33-35" tires, 4-6" lift and some lunchbox lockers in it and it'll go where any new jeep will (& often where they won't) at a fraction of the cost. Nice video.
Thanks! I agree- an XJ is hard to beat for the money.
Did you have to modify that seam in the backside of the front wheel wells?
I didn't on that build, but it is certainly an option depending on tire diameter and wheel backspacing.
Excellent explanation. There is no video like this on you tube. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks!
Now I know what I’m going to do . Great video thanks Doug!
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
If I have a 17x9 with 4.5 backspacing. Should I be okay with 1.25spacer adapter? That should put me at 3.25 backspacing right?
That is correct.
Damn, that was a good video. I have a 2004 Grand Cherokee that Im trying to get 33's on without it looking like crap, this video helped a lot for the confidence
Hi Mike, trimming a WJ is a different process, although some of this applies. There are some decent videos out there for trimming the WJ too. Thanks!
very good video im going 4.5 inchs and 33 and this will be perfect
Thanks!
Just bought a '91 XJ last week and am looking to do a lift and wheels/tires. This is the best information I've found on the subject. Your philosophy of keeping the vehicles center of gravity as low as possible and using fender trimming to gain clearance is very well thought out and makes perfect sense to me. Above all else I want a safe and reliable on-road suspension as that is where my XJ will spend most of its time.
Could you recommend a lift that will have the road manners I'm looking for but be capable of moderate off road use. Thanks.
Of course! Our OME based Hybrid packages are easily our most popular suspension kits. Check out or 2.5" and 3.5" Ultimate and Super Ultimate kits here: dpgoffroad.com/xj-cherokee-suspension-kits/old-man-emu-ome-hybrids/
I had a 4 door 96 XJ with no lift that slightly rubbed 30x9.5R15 BFG AT KO in the rear during suspension compression/articulation offroad. Stock swaybars connected. It was a very slight rub that only happened occasionally. So I ignored it for years with no problems.
I had a 4 door 99 XJ with no lift that did NOT rub 30x9.5R15 General Grabber AT3 in the rear during suspension compression/articulation offroad. Stock swaybars connected. The Grabbers were slightly taller and wider than BFG KO, but the Grabbers never rubbed.
Somehow my stock 99 XJ have more clearance than my stock 96 XJ. Maybe that was because the 99 had stock tow package springs.
There are multiple factors at work in these situations that can cause this to vary, but my main point is that the wheel well opening size is larger on the '96 and older models, so tire diameter clearance at the flare is better on the older models.
Some of this knowledge can be applied to the ZJ bodystyle as well I imagine? Should I keep it 4.5 Short Arm and trim like this for my 32s?
The ZJ is similar, but different. Personally, I wouldn't lift a ZJ 4.5", but everyone has different ideas on that. I'd stay under 4"- especially if running that factory AWD t-case. I believe there are some other videos online about trimming the ZJ.
what is that trim called cant find it anywhere
Here you go: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
This is a awesome video, need to cut my fenders some because my tires don’t have To much up travel, new subscriber here 😁🇨🇦
Thank you! Feel free to share!
@@dpgoff-road1737 no problem!
Does the fender liner fot back in?
No. We leave those out.
Thanks for the video. Good job explaining common misconceptions. Very accurate with the info where a lot videos are giving bad info. Although, there is definitely a difference in the leverage of wheel spacers vs the same backspacing off just the rim, but its more related to where on the rim the center mounts. That being said, it is minimal and probably wont be a difference as far as reliability. The biggest difference with running wheel spacers are people not taking the care to install them properly or using ones with cheap studs in them.
Thanks!
29:00
Did you suggest a 1.25 inch adapter then a 2 inch spacer on each wheel?
No. The wheels in the video have a 6.25" backspacing. I ran 3" spacers with those wheels.
I miss my Comanche. Great little truck.
Getting hard to find a nice MJ these days...
Great video and information. Taking the fender liners out and leaving the wheel well exposed, what about us up in the rust belt with all the salt on the roads all winter long?
You can do the pool noodle thing in front and you could also consider having the fenderwells bedlined....or just keep them clean and repaint the wells periodically as needed to keep rust at bay.
Did you put any spacers on the back wheels?
This particular build has 3" wide spacers on all 4 wheels, since we used the JK wheels.
I have 3” wheel spacers on my Xj and I haven’t had problems, however at 167,000 the bearings are finally going. I also try not to go above 65mph when I have spacers on just for safety.
I ran a wheel and spacer combo years ago that gave me a net backspacing of 2.5". Really stable in off camber situations, but harder on ball joints. Steering/scrub radius isn't ideal at that point either. We've never had any issues with good wheel spacers over the years though. Thanks!
Where do you sell the hybrid kit you speak of?
XJ Hybrid kits here: dpgoffroad.com/xj-cherokee-suspension-kits/old-man-emu-ome-hybrids/
Do you have a video on how to trim to fit 35 inch tires?
Mostly the same. I would cut & fold that lower rear quarter panel for 35's and a little bit more on the front & rear lower portions of the front fenders and that's it. Flatten the inner fenderwell seam inside the front upper fenders too.
@@dpgoff-road1737 Would you recommend the same backspacing? 3.25-4inch?
And the 35" can be done on the 3.5 inch lift?
@@toddellis5197 for 35's, I prefer 3.25" to 3.5" backspacing. I am running 35's on my own XJ with the 3.5" kit. It's all about proper trimming and bumpstop tuning.
Great video.my only complaint is using the cutting disc.asking for a kick back left of center
Been running a cut-off wheel for 20 years now, so it's my go to. Definitely not the only option though. Thanks!
are wheel spacers generally safe? any issues with them detaching, deforming etc...?
Wheel spacers are "generally" safe if installed and maintained correctly, but a person should check the laws of their own state to determine legality.
Do you guys sell that spacer of have a company name I can buy it ? For some reason I can't source one.
The wheel spacers I used in this video were made by Venum. You might also try wheeladaptersusa.com
I'm curious. You said you wouldn't do the cut and fold on the rear quarters because they could hold things to cause rust. What if I did the cut and fold and used something like flex seal or some type of rubberized undercoating to spray inside the quarters? Would that keep mud and moisture out?
It could, but the more slits you make and have folded steel, the more opportunity for rust. If I really wanted that little extra room in back, I would probably cut that higher, reform and reweld it instead of doing the slit and fold. Just my opinion though...
I like how that truck sits.. what size lift is that and tire size and width of tires.. 👍🏽
You answered my question in video ... Cool
@@jaderamos46 Thanks!
Wowser... this is a lecture on fender. Thanks you for sharing, sir. Awesome..
Thank you!
I have a 1989 XJ is the trimming basicaly the same or are their other things to watch out for??
The body style is a little different in the '96 and older models. You don't have to trim the plastic end cap/ flare pieces, as they don't extend back to the flares. I also like to cut the lower front fender straight across like the newer style XJ's come with. Everything else is pretty much the same.
What size are those tires now? That’s the exact look and operation I’m going for. Never wanted exaggerated lift. That lift is very classy. Thanks for the video and well done....
Thanks! My grey XJ is running 35's. The gold XJ that I trimmed in the video is running a 32" tire.
how much trim do you need for all 4 wheel wells
1 roll is 30 feet long and will do a whole XJ with a couple of fenders left over if you mess up. Link: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
i’ve already done the cut and fold that you said isn’t recommended lol...but do you think i could still use the band molding on the rear since i cut & folded it? i’m worried since it isn’t as flat and smooth as the cut you made in the video that it won’t lay down. if someone could let me know if it would work or another solution to cover up the cut & fold in the rear that would be awesome. thanks
It might work, but really depends on what kind of edge you have left. Results vary, depending on how you did it. Would still work great in front, so probably worth a shot as the trim isn't that expensive.
Great video! What grit flap disk did you use to smooth out the sheet metal?
Thanks! I use a 36 grit for initial shaping and maybe a 60 to 80 grit for finishing...
Where do you get that rubber trim?? I can’t find it ?
Here you go: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
Great video. I wish I watched before making the mistake of cutting into the spot welds in the rear fenders. What's the best fix for this mistake??
Thanks! Removing the spot welds separates the unibody in that area. If it were mine, I'd reweld that section again. May have to fab/add some metal, but it's doable...
Great video... Now to order some Protekto trim....
We have it in stock and ready to ship. Thanks!
Thank you for the awesome information! My XJ is the same color as yours and a limited. Just a baby version 🤣 We are going to take your advice on trimming ours. Also we will be ordering the body molding from your website. You should have a bunch more subscribers! Stay tuned for my trimming video!! I have to admit I am very nervous 😬.
What about bearing wear? I would like to hear the input on this.
We've been running 33" and 35" tires on XJ's (and TJ/LJ's) for the better part of 20 years now. The only front wheel bearing failures we've seen have been on jeeps that have been submerged in water/mud for longer periods. Otherwise, we just don't see issues on bearings until the jeeps see much higher mileages.
Amazing video! Going to follow your instructions step by step...thank you for passing on all of your knowledge to us!
New favorite channel ❤️
Thanks! Should be back to making some new videos soon...
Wow great video!! Do you have the link for that 3M trim tape? Looks good!
Here you go: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
Appreciate the in depth video.
Thanks!
Yrs ago autozone sold door molding for the edge. The chrome stuff Mexicans cover ther cars with. Anyway u can get it in black or chrome and extra wide. It would go on the whole edge inside and out glue that on and it forsure never coming off. U don't have to tho it also has double stick tape
I also have a 1993 Cherokee, over 300,000 miles, and get this, the air conditioner still works.
They are just great vehicles!
What kind of wheel spacers did you use? Did you have to install extended wheel studs?
I got those from Venum via Amazon. wheeladaptersusa.com might be another source. This type of spcers bolts to the existing studs and has a full set of it's own studs to bolt the wheel too, so it's not just a donut. The bold patterns between the 2 wheels weren't the same, so extending the existing studs wouldn't work anyway.
I know he probably said, but I can't find it. If you trim a stock XJ, what size tires will fit?
Depends on how much trimming and how you want to use it, you could fit 30-31" tires.
@@dpgoff-road1737 thanks! Trimmed them the way you showed. It came out great, looking for that trim now. Thanks for the video and the response
@@jamieoneal7120 Trim here: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
were can i buy the trim molding at ?
Right here: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
when I cut out my rear fenders, I did the slit and fold. However, before I folded, I shot it with some rust preventative primer and then paint, folded and painted again. Then I fiber glassed over all that. Unless you're running them on the beaches here in Australia. you're not going to get much rust. pretty dry country
There's more than one right way to do things. If I was running tires bigger than 35's, I would cut farther up and reweld. I'd be running stronger and wider axles at that point though, and everything starts to snowball at that point. Cheers!
Excellent presentation! Thank you.
Thanks!
How wide is that trim mounding? 1/2” 3:4”
5/8" wide.
Awesome video what’s the brand of the fender edge trim you used? I’m having a hard time finding it
Sorry! Here's a link: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
DPG Off-Road thank you very much sir!
@@Jetworks1 . sure thing!
Very well said, & executed Dirk! 🙂 And the end result is Outstanding! to say the least,🤤👍👍 Extremely impressive my friend,🥇🏆
I have a 01 XJ Limited,with a Rancho 3in short arm lift,
with some Duratrac's that are just shy of 31's, mounted on the stock 16in aluminum 5 star's,😕 I've owned the Jeep for around 3 year's now, and it has around 166,000 miles on it,
"Mi Jeep" it was well taken care of, but she's definitely got some rust in the usual places,🤔 I've been wanting to do the fender trimming for awhile now, But was Seriously on the fence about the whole deal, especially when my Jeep is a daily driver, and Mi uses salt on the roads in the winter, I live in northern Mi so the winter is a little longer than most places,🙄
And getting rust in new places,was a big concern for me,with doing the trimming on the fenders,🤔
Like I said though, I've been wanting to trim them for awhile, and was thinking that I might eventually go to a 33in tire in the future,🤔
And your Video was the tipping point, You absolutely sold me on it,😁👍
Although I would be lying if I said that I wasn't still ah bit nervous about it doing it,😕
I do have all the required tools, and general know-how for fixing & fabricating, but it's one hell of a Commitment once you get started,🙄 I might do it this weekend between doing my own TH-cam channel stuff,🤔
Very much appreciated once again Dirk, for doing such an amazing job, and also for sharing your thoughts, Many many thanks Brother.🙂😎👊👊
P.S. I also subscribed, and tapped the Bell 😁👍
I have a quick question about the front fender trimming,if you don't mind that is ?
Question; is the bottom of the windshield washer fluid container exposed,after removing all the innards & trimming the fender itself ?
And is there any way that you could post a picture in the community Area of your channel, of what the inside of the fender should look like after everything is Complete ?
We actually have 3 qty 01 XJ's at my house, my parents have a bone stock "Silver" limited, they are the original owners with 165,000 miles, I have a "Gun metal Pearl" limited, with full power leather heated seats,fake wood trim, a "3" inch rancho short arm lift, and 166,000 miles,
"Not the original owner" and the Lift was on it before I purchased the vehicle,😕
"Which is the vehicle in Question for fender trimming"
And my Brother has a 01 XJ Sport, he recently purchased it, and unfortunately someone trimmed the fenders on there own, without doing any research before hand,
And sadly, it's kind of a nightmare scenario fender trim job, 😧😵 and I can totally see the windshield washer fluid container underneath the fender, it's exposed quite a bit, about ah inch and a half wide strip,from one end to the other, including the windshield squirter motors, All completely exposed! 🤔
I live in northern Mi, we use large quantities of salt on the roads in the winter, and I don't necessarily like the idea of having anything unnecessarily exposed under the fender,🤔
As for wheeling, and how much,or what type of wheeling that I generally do;
I live far back in the woods, about a mile and a half from the main Rd, And I go off-road a little bit every day, some days more than others, but I generally drive down a long section of ruff power line trail, and then down a mile or so long "two track" Trail that winds through some hilly woods, taking the back way into my property,🤔 that's everyday!
And then on other days I may put my Jeep through some rougher terrain, Like orv & snowmobile trails, while searching for areas to film, for my RC Crawler channel,😕 and some of those trails can get pretty rough, not "down south rock crawling through the mountains rough", but Baja 1,000 kinda rough,🤔 with the occasional want for a snorkel, but not necessarily needed,😕
I have plans to run 33 inch tires in the near future, so the fender trimming idea is very tangible,🤤 Currently, my decision on trimming the fenders is basically hanging on what the underside of the fender is supposed to look like after everything is completed,😕
@@R.C.A.D. the washer bottle is not exposed from a side view the way I cut them. It is open if you look up under there. It's plastic though, so it doesn't hurt anything to leave it as is. It's still mounted the same as before. I guess you could fab up some sort of plate or cover, but we've never seen any need for that.
@@dpgoff-road1737 Right on!
That's exactly what I was wondering about,🤔 it doesn't bother me about the plastic being exposed, But the squirter motors, and wire connector's being exposed, definitely causes me some concern, especially living in northern Mi,"road salt" & winter lasts 6 months around here,😕
I suppose I could weld in a thin plate,or possibly go the easiest route, and use some "big" wire shrink wrap tubes, to Incase the windshield squirter motors in shrink wrap,🤔 maybe! 😄 Lol
Definitely not afraid to do some Rigging! 😂👍 I'm all good,As long as everything looks clean after I'm done,😊👍👍
Thanks for your reply my friend, it's very much appreciated Brother.😎👊👊👍😧
Lol I'm currently balls deep into the project, the rust was worse then I had previously thought,🙄 ultimately, I'm gonna have to do the Comp cut on the backside of the Jeep, she was looking rough under the back bumper'et's 😬 esh! Bad news! Anyways the project is in full swing, I'll let you know how she turns out.😊
Thanks again for your great work,and help my friend.😎👍👍
I am running this exact setup with 31.5" tires. and uncut fenders. how much flex do you get?
On a '97 or newer XJ with no trimming, you won't get much flex with a 31.5" tire. If you disconnect the swaybar and hit a trail, you'll knock the flares off pretty quickly.
Great video man, thanks for sharing and explaining those spot welds..... also for recommending the protect-o-trim.... I was trying to save money, nice addition to the video.
Thanks!
I have a 95 xj 2door that needs a lift. What is the combo lift kit you mentioned in your video?
Just did a product review and "How to choose" video on this suspension. I believe it will post Thursday...
Here's a link to the product review on this kit and some more XJ suspension info: th-cam.com/video/L16QHcIEmjw/w-d-xo.html
Where are you located? And what would you charge to trim my 00 xj front and rear ?
We're in a suburb of Wichita Kansas. I don't do as much in the shop as I have in the past, as I'm getting old and my time is tight. My time to spend an entire day in the shop doing custom fab work is probably more than most would want to pay. That's why I did the video!
so is the 99' fenders the same as 00'?
Yes, they are. '97 to '01 are the same.
DPG Off-Road thanks! My xj boutta be ballin
@@kareemlord2297 sounds great!
that lift kit looks like the same as my jeep has. been meaning to call to figure out what OME springs to order
Sure thing Tanner. We have multiple spring height and rate options for these kits from Old man Emu. Thanks!
So on a 1996 xj the fenderwells are wider? So could you run a 4.5 with 33s without cutting.
'96 fenderwells are slightly larger than '97+ models, but there are still limits. If I wanted full flex/stuff with 33's, I'd still trim.
@@dpgoff-road1737 thanks you. Anything else I should know about the 96 xj. Kinda knew to all this.
@@blakebelton2085 , I like to cut the lower front fender portion on the '96 and older models to look like the '97 and newer models. Otherwise, it's basically the same thing...
@@dpgoff-road1737 awesome. Thank you for the info
@@blakebelton2085 Sure thing!
Where can i get that 3m trim? Model #?
Here you go: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
Great information great tutorial certainly appreciate your time and valued efforts. Btw did you put spacers on the rear as well as the front
Thanks! Yes- same wheel spacers all the way around.
Do you have a link to the wheel adapter you used? All of the ones I found are 1.25
There are several options out there, but I used these from Venum: www.amazon.com/Complete-Centric-Conversion-Adapters-5x114-3mm/dp/B01N94KLVD/ref=sr_1_6?gclid=CjwKCAiAlO7uBRANEiwA_vXQ-2VRL_tqMmw6pv88EMchb67fP6-ipUS1my6jdgVMkYPM_Dlfypuv3xoCkV0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=384327382549&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9024218&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=18184924750979875074&hvtargid=kwd-547820310861&hydadcr=28962_11382049&keywords=jeep+wrangler+spacers+3+inch&qid=1574723877&sr=8-6
Where can I get those 3" wheel adapters?
There are several options out there, but I used these from Venum: www.amazon.com/Complete-Centric-Conversion-Adapters-5x114-3mm/dp/B01N94KLVD/ref=sr_1_6?gclid=CjwKCAiAlO7uBRANEiwA_vXQ-2VRL_tqMmw6pv88EMchb67fP6-ipUS1my6jdgVMkYPM_Dlfypuv3xoCkV0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=384327382549&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9024218&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=18184924750979875074&hvtargid=kwd-547820310861&hydadcr=28962_11382049&keywords=jeep+wrangler+spacers+3+inch&qid=1574723877&sr=8-6
Cut and fold in the rear works best if you fold it all the way up and then fiberglass the cuts into the upper liner... No rust, stronger and as clean.
That would work. For me, the extra steps aren't worth the very slight increase in clearance. That's still a lot of individual cuts and not easy to seal completely. I've seen some use RTV or other sealer there too. I think if I wanted a little more room in back and didn't mind the extra work, I might opt to cut and reweld that area to avoid all the slits and the extra cavity above. Several options there...
Derk knows his XJ'S
Thanks!
Do the front wheels stick out more than the rear?
The XJ we trimmed on this video is running JK wrangler wheels. The bolt pattern and backspacing are not the same, so it is running 3" wheel spacers all around. My grey XJ on 35's is running 15x8 rims with a 3.5" backspacing all around. I don't ever want my front tires to have less backspacing (wider stance) than the rears.
@@dpgoff-road1737 o ok. hmmm. is it me or does it look like the front stick out more than the rear? I ask because it looks like the rear Is narrower and the front wider
@@ky0611 Just you I think. Same wheels and spacers all around.
@@dpgoff-road1737 maybe to me it looks like that because the back fender wasnt cut as high as the front? Idk🤷♂️
Does anyone knows what is he using when he put that on his fender’s
Here you go: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
Do you run wheel spacers? Or ur tires are just wide?
Wheel spacers on the video project with JK wheels. No spacers on my personal XJ on 35's.
@@dpgoff-road1737 I have a 99 xj with 4.5 in lift running
33/12.5r15 on AR steelies with 4.03 backspace what size spacer do you think I should run?
@@ky0611 The smallest spacer you can get that still covers the studs is 1.25". That would give you a net effective backspacing of 2.78". While side stability would be excellent, the steering will suffer and your ball joints and wheel bearing will be under too much stress. I'd leave it salone unless you want to change wheels. I recommend a backspacing in the 3.25" to 3.75" range, so at 4.03" with 33's, you're close enough.
@@dpgoff-road1737 Awesome Thanks! I want to say that my lower control arm is barely contacting the tire on full lock out left or right. Then I heard you talking about 2.5 to 3.5 spacers and so I wasn't sure what size spacer I might need and if it's safe going that big of a spacer especially off road
Best video ever , thank you
Thanks!
Your about to get ashout out on Instagram! I finished my XJ fender trim today. Amazing!
Where do I get that band molding from ?
Here you go: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
The lagend cars offroad in the world🏋️💪💯💯
Here's a link to the Protekto-Trim we use to finish all of our XJ fender trim projects: dpgoffroad.com/product/protekto-trim/
First car is going to be an XJ as I can afford to pay cash for one. Going for the low COG with big tires, but it’ll be a progressive build as parts aren’t cheap.
Excellent video👍
Thanks!