The YJ is the often-overlooked middle child of the Wrangler lineage β not as old-school as the CJ, not as polished as the TJ. But that's exactly why it's perfect. It's honest, straightforward, and genuinely not precious about getting dirty.
This one came in factory Flame Red, has lived through several previous owners, and is currently in the middle of a slowly-progressing build toward trail-capable overlanding rig.
| Year | 1990 |
| Model | Jeep Wrangler YJ |
| Engine | 4.2L AMC 258 I6 |
| Trans | AX-15 5-Speed Manual |
| Transfer Case | Dana 300 |
| Front Axle | Dana 30 |
| Rear Axle | AMC 20 |
| Status | Build In Progress |
3.5" TeraFlex lift kit with extended shackles. Improved articulation and clearance for trail work without destroying on-road manners.
BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrains, 31x10.5R15. A proven trail tire that still behaves reasonably on pavement and in the rain.
Front Hi-Lift mount, recovery boards, kinetic rope, and a full rigging kit. If you don't plan for getting stuck, you're not going far enough.
Transfer case, gas tank, and belly pan protection. The AMC 20 rear axle housing already doubles as a skid plate by accident.
Replacing the factory sealed beams with a dual LED headlight setup. Also adding a light bar to the windshield frame for trail use.
Custom rear bumper with integrated tire carrier and receiver hitch. Moving the spare off the tailgate to reduce door stress.
Swapping the factory 15-gallon tank for a 20-gallon skid-plate-protected unit. Range is the limiting factor on longer trips.
Rugged Radio mount and Garmin InReach integration. Cell coverage is a city luxury. Plan accordingly.
Washington State is full of forest service roads that technically require nothing but most people avoid. That's where the interesting terrain is.
PNWThe goal is to stop paying campground fees and start actually going somewhere. Dispersed sites require more planning but less company.
UpcomingGaia GPS, OnX Offroad, and a paper topo map as a backup. Digital tools fail at inopportune moments. Paper never needs a charge.
Process