What should I do with my $2000

[OhioCruiser]

Originally Posted by clarkrw3

Put it in the stock market.........o wait...

That is exactly what i'm doing right now

[btcox]

Thanks everybody, the intended use is semi DD, ( I alternate between it and my 01 tahoe) I go trail riding quite often just want to be able to do a little more I don't want a monster lift right now just a moderate 2.5 or 3". I think since almost everyone is telling me sliders there is a reason, so that will def. be one of the first mods, I'm going to get a guy in the shop at work to help me fab up some and see how they look and work, if anybody has some specs on sliders they have built that they want to send me that would be awesome. Also I really need a rear drawer system since my set up consists of 6 cardboard boxes organized with the shit I need/want with me at all times and I need something that works better. Specs on the rear drawer would be great also if you have built one and want to give up the plans. So to sum it up, The rig is a semi DD that ventures off road every weekend and I just want it to do a little more

[Cj80cruiser]

Originally Posted by btcox

Thanks everybody, the intended use is semi DD, ( I alternate between it and my 01 tahoe) I go trail riding quite often just want to be able to do a little more I don't want a monster lift right now just a moderate 2.5 or 3". I think since almost everyone is telling me sliders there is a reason, so that will def. be one of the first mods, I'm going to get a guy in the shop at work to help me fab up some and see how they look and work, if anybody has some specs on sliders they have built that they want to send me that would be awesome. Also I really need a rear drawer system since my set up consists of 6 cardboard boxes organized with the shit I need/want with me at all times and I need something that works better. Specs on the rear drawer would be great also if you have built one and want to give up the plans. So to sum it up, The rig is a semi DD that ventures off road every weekend and I just want it to do a little more

The FAQ's have a section set up just for members ideas on sliders and has pics of vendor sliders. This should give you and idea on how to make them and what you need. Might be a section on drawers too but I'm not sure. PM me if you want some measurements for your sliders. I have some current measurements cause I'm about to build mine with help from a friend.

[Firedog]

Sliders
GOOD Recovery kit / recovery points
Basic tool kit with tire plug kit
Basic first aid kit
a spare tire same size as the others (I know, should be a "no brainer" but...)
High lift jack
good flashlight
(Recovery, fix truck, fix self)

Figure out how much you have left and start with a lift, front bumper/winch then rear bumper, tires.... as money allows.

[fjfar80]

Hmmm...put the $2,000 in an S&P 500 Tracking fund...let it sit for 12 months...then pull out the proceeds...hopefully you will have made some money. The take the cash and buy sliders first, then an OME lift, and then work on your bumpers (front first and then rear). When you knock those suckers out work on the dual batteries, rear storage, lights, winch, etc.

I am assuming that your truck is working fine...make sure you're PM is up-to-date. Also, you definitely need a Hi-lift...you can probably pick one up on Craigslist or eBay for some cost savings.

Cheers.

- Mark

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Leave it stock. I've wheeled the piss out of my 80 on 33s with stock suspension and it does fine. I'm getting ready to do a bunch of work on mine, but mostly out of boredom

Sliders eat up ground clearance. If you add a 2" lift and 2" of metal under the rockers you're right back where you started. People always use the body shop argument, but that's assuming you're gonna fix the crunched rocker. I'm thinking about just cutting them off After many moderate trails including a few trips to Uwharrie hitting everything it has to offer, I've only slightly crunched one rocker and it was while cresting a snow bank.

I'd say protect the belly and put bumpers on it and see how you like it. $2000 is not that much money if you have to buy all the stuff. It will go a lot further if you can build stuff though.

[latinoguy]

Originally Posted by btcox

I think since almost everyone is telling me sliders there is a reason, so that will def. be one of the first mods, I'm going to get a guy in the shop at work to help me fab up some and see how they look and work, if anybody has some specs on sliders they have built that they want to send me that would be awesome. Also I really need a rear drawer system since my set up consists of 6 cardboard boxes organized with the **** I need/want with me at all times and I need something that works better. Specs on the rear drawer would be great also if you have built one and want to give up the plans.

Search for low cost storage on storage ideas...You can make a set up for about $200.00

Instead of paying a local fabricator to build your sliders, you may consider Adam @ 4xinnovations... Add George Scolaro's bracket designs for bolt on option and you are about $600 invested on sliders. SROR can make you a set for close to that amount.

[sandcruiser]

for about $50 you can add some 1" spring spacers (might be $50/axle, I don't remember).

If you get taller springs, you can always resell the spacers for at least 1/2 what you spent.

Building storage drawers is pretty easy. Buying a plastic storage box from Target is even easier. Depends on how custom vs. ghetto vs. booty fab that you want to go.

I still figure that if you are asking "what mod should I do" then you shouldn't do any mods.

Wait till you *know*, then do 'em.

[cruiser-poor]

Originally Posted by Arya Ebrahimi

Sliders eat up ground clearance. If you add a 2" lift and 2" of metal under the rockers you're right back where you started. People always use the body shop argument, but that's assuming you're gonna fix the crunched rocker. I'm thinking about just cutting them off After many moderate trails including a few trips to Uwharrie hitting everything it has to offer, I've only slightly crunched one rocker and it was while cresting a snow bank.

Touché Arya. There are always pros and cons to everything. I guess that philosophy works fine as long as you don't care what your rockers look like and you don't ever get a bad enough crunch to jam the door.

A couple of weeks ago I was on a shake-down trip after adding some basic off-road mods to my 80. On one of the rougher sections of Engineer Pass road in Colorado we were amazed to come upon a couple driving a bone stock 1st-generation RAV4! I could tell the trail was rougher than they'd anticipated but he was getting through it. So, with careful driving, your stock Cruiser can probably do more than people think!

On the other hand, I was later to christen my right slider on a rock on another trail and it only cost a bit of paint off the slider. So the sliders kind of paid for themselves right there. IMHO.