First ideas...

[88GWSteve]

Well, this is my first ever post in the off-road tech area and I'm starting to get intrest in going to one of these trail rides that everyone love to rant and rave about.

What do you think are some good, simple, cheap, effective ways to upgrade the jeep for a light/medium duty trail ride?

Thanks as always.

[Desert Beast]

air down your tires.

[Tad]

air down your tires.
Yep, that helps.
Also, accumulate a small assortment of belts, hoses, spare fuel pump.
Just the small stuff the big stuff, well, folks will help you out with that.
Point is, get in, get back, try not to have to spend $$ on towing.

[Stuka]

Get some all terrain tires. You can wheel with street or all-season tires, but a more agressive tread helps. You can go a lot of places in a stock wag. I took my cherokee all over the place when it as stock. Just keep your tires on the high spots so you dont drag bottom, and you should be good for most mild trails.

[billyrb]

What kind of trails are you going to be riding on? mostly flat with some mud areas? hilly with rocks? rough terrain with just dirt? Each of those have specific things that will help determine the first few mods to do to your rig. As Stuka says, there are quite a few places you can go in a stock rig with good tires and knowing your rigs capabilities / limits.