I'm working on a budget right now to hopefully begin adding some mods to my X. I'm just curious as to what fellow X owners considered top priorities for modifications. Armor first? Lift kit? etc. etc. Performance enhancements like intake and exhaust will be replaced on a "need to be fixed/replaced" basis (if it isn't broke don't fix it as they say). My definite mods will be fully armored belly and bumpers. 2" body lift. PML or suspension lift. Rear locker. 15" softies with aggressive tires (keeping my 17's for daily driving).

So what do you guys think I should slap on my X first?

Tires are the first mod I ever did and one of the best IMO that you can do. Sliders after that.

Then wheel it and see what you like to do and figure out where to go from there.

x2 on the TIRES

I would suggest doing a PML before sliders based on cost. Get sliders if you wheel a lot of rocks. A PML and/or body lift will get the rocker panels up out of the way quite a bit.

Depending on what size tire you want to run, get the BL first, so that you can fit larger tires, then get sliders and bumpers to match the BL.

Right, first you gotta figure out the tire size that you wanna run. If it's a 33 (especially since you are going for aftermarket rims) you need to get a BL and at least a PML first and then the tires. Sliders should come next, as rockers are volnurable once you start wheelin' Then I would go for other armor like skid plates and finish off with a front bumper.

Once you get some wheelin' exerience then you can proceed with the locker, when you feel that lack of a locking diff is limiting you at that point.

The first and best mod only costs beer

Make sure you have friends with 4x4s that you can go wheeling with.
Next is recovery gear, like tow straps, and a shovel or spade. Don't forget the first aid kit.

Right on. Seems like a pretty unanimous choice here... get some new shoes! On a very limited budget so I can't upgrade my tire size just yet. I'm guessing I only have about 10 - 15K left on my tires now so I will stick with my 265's on 17's and go with a BL first. Then definitely drop the side rails and go with sliders. Oh yeah and disco's definitely. Those may be my next purchase actually.

Not new to wheelin' though. Just new to the X's. The more I read, the more I'm amazed at the range of abilities and mods you can do with the X. Even my die-hard jeep buddies were very surprised. They always saw them as a glorified grocery-getter/fashion statement. Now one of them is thinking of ditching his XJ for an Xterra.

And you say "only costs beer" like that's cheap or something. You obviously don't know my buddies

Bah.....

Run em till their dead.

Get a rear locker and Tcase gears. No they are not cheap but they offer the most improvement offroad.

If you are in rocks alot then Sliders should be high on the list.