How-To Armor Your Jeep Cherokee

By now we all know “lockers before light bars” right? But what about rock sliders before rock lights? Or body armor before subwoofers? No? Well here are 3 great reasons you should armor up some key areas of your rig before hitting more technical trails with obstacles that may otherwise “artistically” alter the look and functionality of your vehicle. I’m installing some quality armor from Ares Fab as well as refreshing some of the armor I’ve been running for years.
Aries Fab: Enter Code “BLEEPINJEEP” at checkout for 10% OFF
More Discounts: bleepinjeep.com...
Door armor: aresfabrication...
Quarter armor: aresfabrication...
Lower quarter armor: aresfabrication...
Rock sliders: aresfabrication...
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This product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Your mileage may vary. Do not try this at home. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. For off-road use only. Slippery when wet. Batteries not included. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle, heavy equipment, cherokee XJ, wrangler TJ, wrangler JK, or any Jeep vehicle, especially the newer Fiat ones. How-to videos may be too intense for some viewers and children under 30 years of age. Please remain seated until the 4x4 ride has come to a complete stop. Studies have shown viewing these videos causes increased cancer risks in laboratory test people. I am not a professional, I have no training, I'm not even particularly good at horse whispering. Don't believe everything that you know. Please keep your hands in the vehicle at all times. Do not tap on glass. Do not eat anything that has been on the floor for more than 3 days. Keep your hands to yourself. Not to be taken internally. Reproduction strictly prohibited. Driver does not carry cash. Objects in Bleepinjeep mirrors may be farther than they appear.

[@Shagggdude3]

I really enjoyed your slow paced, thorough explanations. Hope to see more vids with you specifically.

[@DirtRoadTherapy]

Thanks!

[@zeke7142003]

Good advice. Too many people go with 20" wheels and tires with little to practically no sidewall, no back spacing and a huge lift, especially here in the South.

[@WvlfDarkfire]

Yea I'm trying NOT to make that mistake...it's hard though! Why not a 12" lift and super swampers? Lol

[@EvanMoon]

Very good video with some useful tips. I’m really intrigued by your tire carrier, I have an XJ and problems with my carrier. That would be a very good video in my opinion

[@DRTJon]

Not sure I can do a video on it since it is already built but if I can work it into a related episode I will! It was a slow build starting with an XJ bumper that didn’t really fit right so I modified it, made stronger tie ins for it, and built the carrier using a trailer spindle kit like what RuffStuff sells. I had a local shop CNC cut the carrier frame pieces for me. It handles the weight well but I’m pretty sure I’d have to reinforce some things to bump up in tire size on it

[@RJLR252U]

It was nice to meet you at all breeds Jeep , Carlisle Pa . Enjoy your videos i am new to Jeeping and wheeling Jeep’s and building .

[@DRTJon]

great meeting you too Robert

[@tonyb2086]

That was a good show👍 I was on a fence about the vinyl, but thats a good idea after thinking about it. I would of gone clear though😊

[@jamesvanhoose3132]

Wow. Great job. I really like how your Jeep is coming out. Love the yellow!

[@DRTJon]

Thanks James!

[@robertpc100]

i would like the rails at the bottom but all the rest would leave you with all the extra holes from screws and its gonna dent metal under that aluminium although it woul keep scratches and deep gouges but you still gotta paint it all.now if they are cheap sure but just my opinion and it lokks good but idk about all the money to just have to fix top metal and the under lying metal.i do love the rocker rails though.good video too.

[@ninjascout468]

Excellent clear coating my front bumper right now lol from affordable off-road bumpers I like the raw steel look waiting on the back too ship . Next is rock sliders

[@danhambrick6331]

So is the vinyl just there to protect the paint??

[@DRTJon]

I’m not really concerned about it protecting the paint for the sake of keeping the paint pristine if I removed the armor, but to add an extra barrier between the layers as a rust inhibitor

[@brittanyd2252]

Glad to see my recovery at All Breeds is actually being used for great info! If you happen to have that video of the entire recovery from the outside, can you send it to me? From the inside it really wasn’t as cool looking.

[@DRTJon]

Yes I will!

[@WvlfDarkfire]

Absolutely beautiful. I'd love to do something like this to mine

[@granitesand78]

I ordered my ares panel armor 2 weeks ago oh well lol. Are you worried about water ingress through the holes in the armor? I was thinking of RTVing around the outer perimeter or each hole.

[@Bleepincolt]

Plus side is that code is good for everything in their store👍 just incase you need some other goodies. Good call on the RTV. I think I'd do the same.

[@DRTJon]

I haven’t observed any water coming in through the holes and I’ve been keeping an eye out for it. RTV on the holes would be the right approach, I would not recommend sealing around the armor edges as it will just trap moisture.

[@stevenhinckle7597]

if you decide to do the out perimeter, I would consider leaving the bottom without rtv. So if moisture does find it's way in it will still breathe and drip out the bottom.

[@susu-mi7kx]

I recently put in a new radiator. 2001 grand cherokee laredo 4.0 6 cyl. I also put in new steel lines on the radiator, but I don't know which skinny rubber hose they connect back to . does it matter ( seems to me it does) so would the upper radiator line connect with the upper skinny hose on transmission line and lower line with lower? The trans oil cooler lines that are held in place much like a brake line that then has 2 skinny rubber hoses. Please reply Help a girl out

[@ProjectXJ]

Did you use silicone to seal around the edges so that water doesn't get in the holes?

[@DRTJon]

I did not, with the vinyl I used the fit is very tight and I have not observed any water infiltration inside the body

[@officialWWM]

Wait, if the panel is going to get dented, I doubt a bit of aluminium sheet is going to provide much protection.

[@terranovnicek1567]

Aluminum is pretty stiff and will bounce back a little better than steel would instead of denting to a certain point. They raise the level of denting so smaller impacts don't dent the body

[@officialWWM]

@@terranovnicek1567 thanks for that. I guess, once installed, it effectively doubles the thickness of the panel too. I imagine it’s just for small impacts anyway.

[@Bleepincolt]

I've seen a flopped jeep LJ with the entire weight if the jeep sitting on an aluminum tube fender. I think it's strength comes from the mass now applying pressure accross the panel instead of being applied into one direct point. Also the fender on the LJ looked just about perfect minus some scuffing from the rock after we got it upright.

[@officialWWM]

@@Bleepincolt wow. Sounds like they are worth getting.

[@DRTJon]

It is 3/16” plate not some thin sheet, effectively quadrupling the thickness of the door panel. it also has a near 45° bend in it which raises the stiffness significantly. And as others have said the rebounding effect of aluminum is better than steel. I have no idea how but I came back with a nasty gash in one after this weekends wheeling and no doubt whatever did that would have punctured the door skin.

[@Ace88Sama]

Do they make armor for two door models?

[@DRTJon]

Sure do

[@batmansprotege1569]

Sick Jeep, miss my XJ

[@mwalker9401]

Same, 2001 fern green metallic pearlcoat with sunroof and Wagoneer 44s. I miss it bad.

[@Jeffs40K]

Only question, why didnt you get Yellow Vinyl Wrap to go behind the armor to not show so bad ?

[@DRTJon]

No doubt the yellow would not be the same shade. I chose a beige vinyl to coordinate with the wheel color.

[@christandinewmachinesaerze9818]

is this the TDI xj? I lost it

[@Codyspitzer420]

Where can I find armor for a 05 WK ???????? 😥

[@xmo552]

Wait a minute .. I thought this was the Yellow Banana! 😂 Can you tell I've been cheating? Damn that's how people get caught.

[@OwensGarage]

Hey I just saw this jeep the other day! Didn’t know there was someone from bleepin jeep right here in Pennsylvania!

[@DRTJon]

Busted! Where did you see me? I’m all over the place but I do live in PA

[@OwensGarage]

@@DRTJon saw you once at the 3way stop at main st, cross keys rd, and grange rd in leesport, and another time I think was on 61 near the leesport diner. edit- saw you again headed north on 222 towards 183 today😀

[@Skiridr22]

Could you use nuts inserts for the body armor

[@DRTJon]

The door armor comes with but inserts. I would not recommend it for the rear, and all of those are easy to reach inside

[@thesameeffect]

This might be a stupid question but would anyone here drive an EV truck for off roading? Like the Rivian, Bronco or hummer EV?

[@TaylorFeist206]

Great project! Digging the roll on liner, if you did it again would you apply the vinyl deal to the armor rather than just for a more flush fitment?

[@DRTJon]

Do you mean would I apply it to the back of the armor instead of to the body? That wouldn’t be a bad way to do it if you had a friend to hold the pieces firmly while you applied the vinyl. I wanted the look of the vinyl outlining the armor as an accent

[@rickmarquart3277]

You do nice work! Love the XJ. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@DRTJon]

Thank you Rick!

[@Skiridr22]

Great advice 👍🏾👍🏾

[@15farcry]

It's not the paint chips that cause the rust rot. Its water and moisture seeping to the bottom of the door in between the outer and inner door skin. The pinch weld if you will. Only way to prevent rust is to let oil or any oil based product soak on the bottom.

[@mwalker9401]

Truth. And NEVER use undercoating on anything, all it does is trap moisture and dirt and accelerate rot. Cold galvanizing spray is best and wax is good too underneath.

[@alantownsend5468]

+1 for cavity wax or lanolin (Fluid Film)

[@tonyb2086]

@@alantownsend5468 +1 on the Fluid Film that's good stuff. Undercoating has an place if it's good quality and applied properly.

[@edwardsimmons3721]

Great tips

[@TheTreadLife_]

This was interesting. Why spend all the time painting the armor just to have it on top of white vinyl. It just made it stick out even more. They do make yellow vinyl as well...

[@DRTJon]

It’s beige vinyl which matches the wheels. But you’re suggesting it looks tacky I suppose?

[@TheTreadLife_]

@@DRTJon I’m all for function over form. Just thought it made it look unfinished.

[@OneTonTahoe]

So the rock sliders link is password protected?

[@DRTJon]

Checking with Ares to find out why that is

[@DRTJon]

It’s fixed now 👍🏼

[@OneTonTahoe]

@@DRTJon thank you!

[@GDLutz]

What front bumper is that?

[@DRTJon]

One I built myself from scratch

[@Wootangtw]

Thanks buddy

[@Glory_inthe_3rd77]

How about three reasons why you should not treat your vehicle this way?

[@sergvegas5446]

A School bus off roading? Whaaat....! 🥴

[@Glory_inthe_3rd77]

Why armor something you're going to destroy anyway?

[@erichughes9098]

😎👍

[@mwalker9401]

Boring, but good.

[@keepinitr33l]

Mall crawler junk.

[@terranovnicek1567]

Why do you say that? Trying to keep your shit somewhat nice when you bash it doesn't make you a mall crawler

[@orionoutdoorsandworkshop5617]

by the video i dont see any mall crawling. its not your jeep why are you complaining?

[@DRTJon]

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