"Budget" Builds: 3 Jeep Cherokees, 3 VERY Different Price Tags

Building a Jeep for off-road adventures always starts with one innocent question: “How much could it really cost?” The answer depends entirely on what you mean by “done” - because spoiler alert, a Jeep build is never truly finished.

Cherokee Ronnie from Leggett’s Garage knows this reality all too well. His budget Cherokee project started at $3,500 to get trail-ready, but by the time he tallied everything up, he had nearly $10,000 wrapped up in what still looks like a pretty basic XJ from the outside.

The sticker shock makes more sense when you peek underneath. Ronnie didn’t mess around with cosmetics - every dollar went toward capability. One-ton steering, front-end gussets, a rebuilt front end with a locker, lower control arms, and a fully built-up rear axle with disc brake conversion. The 8.25" rear got the full treatment because he knew exactly what would break first.

“I put the money where it counts,” Ronnie explains, and that philosophy shows. While the Cherokee still rocks a broken corner light, the drivetrain underneath could handle serious trail abuse. He bought everything new instead of hunting for used parts, which drove costs up but eliminated the guesswork about reliability.

The reality check hits different when you realize this represents two distinct build phases. The initial $3,500 got the Cherokee lifted with tires and wheels - enough to hit mild trails and drive to work. But phase two transformed it into something genuinely capable, and that’s where the real money disappeared.

VehicleTribe faced a similar awakening with their XJ project. Starting with a $1,030 purchase price for what seemed like a steal - an 18-year-old Cherokee with working AC and no major issues - the modifications quickly snowballed past $6,000.

The VehicleTribe build followed a more traditional path with visible upgrades. JCR Vanguard winch bumper, Fox 2.0 performance shocks, fender flares, new headlights, and a complete lift kit with wheels and tires. Each modification made sense individually, but the cumulative cost told a different story.

What makes these builds interesting is how the owners approached value differently. VehicleTribe focused on a mix of capability and appearance, while Ronnie went pure function over form. Both strategies work, but they appeal to different types of wheelers.

The budget-conscious approach shows up in OFF ROAD NATION606’s simple Cherokee build. Starting with a $500 XJ and adding a $500 Rough Country lift kit plus $263 Vision wheels, the total stayed under $1,300. Free tires from a family connection helped keep costs down, proving that deals exist if you’re patient and flexible.

This bare-bones approach gets you wheeling without breaking the bank. I mean, this is really a simple setup - just a lift and tires, plus the XJ.

The common thread across all three builds is that initial estimates never survive contact with reality. Parts availability, shipping costs, and the inevitable “while we’re in there” upgrades all conspire against your original budget. Modern pricing doesn’t help either - what cost $400 for a steering kit a few years ago might run $600 today.

Labor costs add another variable. Ronnie built everything in his backyard to prove it could be done with basic tools, but not everyone has the time, space, or patience for that approach. Professional installation can easily double your parts costs, especially for complex jobs like axle work or suspension swaps.

Cherokee XJs occupy a unique sweet spot in the off-road world. They’re simple enough for backyard builds, tough enough for serious trails, and cheap enough that you won’t cry when they get battle scars. The aftermarket support rivals anything short of a Wrangler, and parts availability remains strong despite the last XJ rolling off the line in 2001.

Whether you’re planning a $1,300 budget build or a $10,000 trail weapon, the Cherokee platform delivers. Just don’t fool yourself about the final cost - and maybe hide the receipts from your significant other.