Hey all - I'm really enjoying my VX and have done a couple of off-road adventures. I'm hoping to make it to Moab so I'm starting some preperations now and I've got a couple of questions. This thread is probably going to go all over the place but I'll try to keep it centered. Please bear in mind, that because my VX is so rare I don't want to do anything to it cosmetic or structural to negatively affect the value. However, to me, it would be a tragedy to lock her up in the garage and never take her out where she was created to be. So here are the questions...

1) There's a 99 Trooper near me that is being parted. Keeping in mind that I don't want to change anything from the stock VX, what parts do they share that you recommend I get for spares? (i.e. halfshafts, switches, etc.).

2) Are the stock wheels from the trooper the same size & offset as the early VX's? Mine is a 2001 but I want to run smaller wheels (15") so I can put larger rubber on them and use them for off-roading so I don't tear up my stock wheels. I've read that the ideal would be 15x7's with a 29" tire?

3) Armour - I've already built a custom skid plate for the diff and I'm either going to build sliders or buy some. Other than that, is there any other armour that is critical for off-roading (no significant rock climbing)? It looks like nobody sells skid plate kits for our VX's anymore.

4) I've heard rumours of people using their handbrake as an "offset" brake to tension the left rear wheel when they have LSD. The result is that it supposedly acts like a rear locker? Anybody else know anything about this and if so, can this be done on the VX?

5) I already own a lot of standard off-roading accessories (CB, Straps, Slings, Shackles). Is there anything else that could be unique to the VX that I need to put in the kit?

Thanks for all your input. I've attached a couple of pics from this last weekends activities in Hungry Valley. I was the only VX in a sea of Jeeps (17) and 4Runners (2). These are the typical trails that are in my area. (If any of you SoCal people ever want to try this just let me know. There's lots of good trails just north of LA).