The Heart Behind the Build
Ask Steven Watkins why he sinks spare time—and most spare cash—into a 24-year-old Jeep and he’ll shrug, smile, and point to his family. “Every dent on the body has a story, and usually one of the boys was riding shotgun,” says Steven. His wife Kelly was so proud of the rig she secretly submitted the build for this Customer Spotlight.
From Grocery Getter to Trail Getter
When Steven bought the Cherokee on it was showroom stock. A simple budget lift and 33-inch tires arrived first, but the Watkins clan quickly outgrew “mild.” Over the next decade, they:
- Stretched the wheelbase by 7 inches in the rear
- Cut fenders and rockers to clear 40-inch Yokohama X-MTs
- Added a safari rack for camping gear—then removed it when rock ledges demanded lower roofline
Drivetrain & Axle Deep-Dive
Power is courtesy of a 5.3-liter LS matched to a 4L60E. But the real heroes are the ECGS-built axles:
| Component | Spec |
|---|---|
| Front Axle | Dana 60 | ECGS 5.38 gears | Spool |
| Rear Axle | Ford 10.5 Sterling | ECGS 5.38 gears | Spool |
| Driveshafts | 1310 front / 1350 rear CV shafts |
Swapping to “tons and 40s” was transformative: on the first test-run after the axle swap, Steven finally conquered Windrock’s Trail 15 without a winch pull.
Suspension, Cage & Safety
With kids in the back seat, safety mattered. Steven enlisted a local fabricator to bend up a hybrid internal cage that ties A-, B-, and C-pillars into frame stiffeners.
The front end rides on a custom 3-link while the rear still runs leafs—for now. “Next step is a 4-link and coil-overs or ORIs,” Steven says with a grin. Flex tests on the RTI ramp prove there’s plenty of travel in the current setup, but more never hurts:
Trail Tales & Hard-Won Lessons
Windrock – Trail 15. Three attempts, two broken shafts, and one sheared wheel stud later, victory tasted sweet.
Uwharrie National Forest. The only time “Big Girl” went belly-up the whole family piled out laughing, thankful for the cage they’d spent months building.
“Talk to people, do your research, and never rush a mod just to hit the trail next weekend.”
What’s Next for “Big Girl”
The Watkins crew is eyeing:
- Rear 4-link conversion
- 4-corner coil-overs / ORI struts
- Refresh of body armor (rocker replacements took a beating on the last trip)
- A fresh map of out-of-state parks—Moab lies on the horizon
Full Photo Gallery
What’s Your Story?
We love championing builds that go beyond horsepower and gear ratios. “Big Girl” shows that—with the right parts and a lot of driveway grit—you can craft a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Think your project deserves a spotlight? Send photos and the scoop to [email protected] and you could be featured next.
Ready to Tackle Your Own Project?
Whether you’re chasing big horsepower, bigger tires, or simply bigger memories with the family, East Coast Gear Supply has the parts, expertise, and passion to help. Let’s gear up and build something remarkable—together.