New KJ in hand!

[mindbomb]

Very excited! :ROFLJest:
I live in NorCal. I bought my first Jeep today!! Liberty KJ 03' Limited, 3.7L gas. Very clean, good mech condition, had all fluids/filters and radiator replaced recently.

Thing is it's all stock, never off-roaded. Now if I want to take it off-road - I need your advice + some noob explanations on what are the must-haves:

• parts to install (on a tight budget)
• equipment in the car
• other tips?

Now, here's the beauty:

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Thanks!

 

[tommudd]

Welcome, looks good
First thing is read read read and then start asking questions
If new to Jeeps etc, don't jump in without asking some who have been playing with these for several years.
For example lifts , you can waste a lot of money quick and have poor results.
As far as equipment, depends on where/ what you are doing.
Also never go out alone, find some knowledgeable folks and tag along.
Some great LOSTJEEPs ( another KJ forum ) folks out in the Cali area that do a lot of trail rides etc all the time

 

[Octaviakj]

I also just bought a jeep. A 02 with 162k miles one owner..love it. I live on the edge of the foothills in Denver, Co and it's so tempting to just go.

 

[dude1116]

That's a sport trim. Not a limited. Sounds like you got ripped off.

 

[CactusJacked]

That's a sport trim. Not a limited. Sounds like you got ripped off.

He must have meant it has limited options. :gr_grin:

 

[Dave]

Welcome and nice KJ.


Dave

 

[mindbomb]

That's a sport trim. Not a limited. Sounds like you got ripped off.

Nope, it got white tachometer, sunroof, alloy wheels. VIN checks out.
It's the limited alright. Bought from an honest person, no ripoffs.

Any tips on going off-road?

 

[CactusJacked]

If you're sure yours a limited alright, then someone stripped it apart and put it back together using sport model body parts. The limited model has body color painted front bumper, rear bumper, fender flares, and door side mouldings.

 

[CzarKJ]

Welcome I like the color and year! I do have to say... it has sport on the side.... but anyways for offroading. Armor, lift, tires. ARMOR. You will need it

 

[mindbomb]

If you're sure yours a limited alright, then someone stripped it apart and put it back together using sport model body parts. The limited model has body color painted front bumper, rear bumper, fender flares, and door side mouldings.

Donno then.. I liked the fact it has electric sunroof and tow hook. Maybe sunroof was an upgrade but I remember the white tachometer as a district feature of the limited, no idea.
What you said applies for 03' too? Any mechanical differences between sport/limited? (this is what counts)

 

[mindbomb]

Welcome I like the color and year! I do have to say... it has sport on the side.... but anyways for offroading. Armor, lift, tires. ARMOR. You will need it

Thank you! hehe why do you like the year? was there something special on the 03's over the 04'-07' ones?
(except lack of ESP and modified front grille, AFAIK)

Also - any specific product recommendations on bare bones armor/lift/tires for low budget noob will be greatly appreciated!

 

[tommudd]

Donno then.. I liked the fact it has electric sunroof and tow hook. Maybe sunroof was an upgrade but I remember the white tachometer as a district feature of the limited, no idea.
What you said applies for 03' too? Any mechanical differences between sport/limited? (this is what counts)

Mechanical no differences just trim basically like mentioned , Limiteds have body color flares etc
For example my 03 and 04 ( green and black ones ) are Sports, my red 05 is a Limited

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[tommudd]

Thank you! hehe why do you like the year? was there something special on the 03's over the 04'-07' ones?
(except lack of ESP and modified front grille, AFAIK)

Also - any specific product recommendations on bare bones armor/lift/tires for low budget noob will be greatly appreciated!

Part of the reason to like the earlier ones was the lack of all of the crazy electronics, 02-03 had a better ******, Plus the 02-04s look better IMO ! :icon_lol:
As far as skids etc, check junk yards, for sale section here and LOSTJEEPs etc

For lift, www.jeepinbyal.com OME lift 850 or so, best deal for the money

 

[CzarKJ]

Thank you! hehe why do you like the year? was there something special on the 03's over the 04'-07' ones?
(except lack of ESP and modified front grille, AFAIK)

Also - any specific product recommendations on bare bones armor/lift/tires for low budget noob will be greatly appreciated!

Same as mine haha. Less stuff to deal with. For off road. Armor, lift, tires. Not cheap though. If you go cheap you pay more in long run. Jeepin by al is your friend.

 

[mindbomb]

Part of the reason to like the earlier ones was the lack of all of the crazy electronics, 02-03 had a better ******, Plus the 02-04s look better IMO ! :icon_lol:
As far as skids etc, check junk yards, for sale section here and LOSTJEEPs etc

For lift, JeepinByAl OME lift 850 or so, best deal for the money

I agree on the looks! Great, happy to hear I made the right choice afterall, I was having buyer's remorse why I didn't wait for a deal on a 06' JK which would've cost me about the same as the 03'.

Is this the recommended lift kit you refer?
OME 1.50" lift kit KJ

Also what is the benefit of adding the A-arms (+400$) to the kit?

 

[tommudd]

I agree on the looks! Great, happy to hear I made the right choice afterall, I was having buyer's remorse why I didn't wait for a deal on a 06' JK which would've cost me about the same as the 03'.

Is this the recommended lift kit you refer?
OME 1.50" lift kit KJ

Also what is the benefit of adding the A-arms (+400$) to the kit?

06 JK or KJ ??
The OME will give you 2.5 inches of lift when using the 927, 948 spring combo. Stock UCAs work ok up to 3 inches, but they are a great upgrade at 2.5 even
The 03 I am building now only had 81,000 when I bought it last fall, but one of the UCAs was toast anyways so another reason to replace

 

[mindbomb]

06 JK or KJ ??
The OME will give you 2.5 inches of lift when using the 927, 948 spring combo. Stock UCAs work ok up to 3 inches, but they are a great upgrade at 2.5 even
The 03 I am building now only had 81,000 when I bought it last fall, but one of the UCAs was toast anyways so another reason to replace

Yea, I meant the 06' KJ. It has about 35k less miles on it and is the limited trim vs the sport but got no tow or sunroof like the 03'. I understood not ALL 03's has the preferred 45lre ****** though.

btw any idea why does the OME link states 1.5"?