If the current 4×4 prices have you chuckling, rest assured that there are ways to own a capable off-roader without spending a large amount of your hard-earned cash. For example, Tyson Jumper bought and modified his 1992 Jeep Cherokee for approximately $5,000, and the budget-built rig has conquered the infamous Rubicon Trail.

It Began With A $1,000 Cherokee XJ

The story of Tyson’s XJ began over ten years ago, when he purchased the rig from a Craigslist seller for just $1,000. Since then, Tyson—an automotive technician by trade—has been modifying the vehicle to transform it into an above-average off-roader using a low-buck approach.

Stock Engine With 330,000 Miles

The XJ is powered by the stock 4.0-liter I6 engine, which has logged over 330,000 miles. Tyson rerouted the engine’s air intake through the SUV’s firewall, and air is drawn through a K&N cone-style air filter. A byproduct of this modification is that it allowed him to remove the factory airbox, which provided ample room for an auxiliary battery. The battery powers camping accessories, including a power inverter and a fridge. The rig’s batteries are fed by a 160-amp Dodge Durango alternator. “A significant amount of material had to be removed from the factory alternator bracket to get the larger alternator housing to fit properly,” Tyson says.

Engine power is sent to the stock AX15 five-speed manual transmission, which has been upgraded with a LuK clutch. Mated to the transmission is the factory NP231 transfer case with a budget-friendly Core 4×4 Hack ‘n Tap Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit.

Used Axles, Front Springs, And Tires

The XJ’s front axle is a Dana 30 pirated from a Jeep Wrangler TJ. Tyson got it for free, and it came equipped with chromoly axleshafts and Sierra Gear & Axle 4.88:1 gears. He added a USA Standard Gear Spartan Locker. The rear 1988 Cherokee Dana 44 axle was also free. He fitted the axle with Sierra Gear & Axle chromoly axleshafts, 4.88:1 gears, and a Spartan Locker.

The rig’s front suspension includes Bilstein 5100 shocks and continues Tyson’s cost-conscious build strategy with “secondhand” 4-inch-lift coil springs and “cheap” adjustable control arms sourced from eBay. The rear suspension includes Ironman 4×4 leaf springs with polyurethane bushings, Rough Country lift shackles, and Bilstein 5100 shocks.

Thanks in part to the lifted suspension, there’s ample room for the 35×12.50R15 Mastercraft Courser MXT tires. These were another low-buck deal, purchased from Facebook Marketplace for $200. They’re mounted on factory 7-inch-wide Jeep wheels with 1-inch wheel spacers. Helping Tyson point the 35s is a Dodge Durango-sourced steering box and pump. The rig’s steering linkage came from a Grand Cherokee WJ, and the track bar is an adjustable unit from Freedom Off-Road.

Homebuilt Rock Sliders And Rear Bumper

Exterior modifications are a combination of homebuilt and used components. Tyson fabbed the rock sliders from 2×6-inch, 0.125-inch-wall rectangular tubing, replacing the factory rocker panels. He also made the rear bumper and swing-out tire carrier from 2×4- and 2×6-inch, 0.1875-inch-wall rectangular tubing. Additionally, the front bumper was lifted from a $200 parts Jeep that Tyson procured. It is fitted with a Warn VR EVO 8-S winch.

Driven To And From The Rubicon Trail

Tyson uses his XJ regularly off-road, and recently he drove it over the challenging Rubicon Trail. Notably, he drove the rig to the trail from his home in Oregon and then drove it back—a round-trip distance of over 900 miles. His rig is a combination of low-budget, capable, and reliable. It proves that with a bit of planning and creativity, a low-buck wheeling rig is very achievable.