Myopik
Active Member
- First Name
- Cody
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2020
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 31
- Location
- Cincinnati, OH
- Website
- www.instagram.com
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
- Build Thread
- Link
- Occupation
- Personal Banker
- Thread starter
- #1
Introduction-
So just a little back story about me, my first vehicle was a white 1994 YJ with the 5-speed manual and 2.5L engine that I bought from someone that was going back into the military and he just wanted to sell it before he left. Since he was a family friend we got a really good deal on it and I've kind of loved Wranglers ever since. So this JL is the fourth Jeep Wrangler I've owned, and the second one I plan on building. I had a 2006 TJ Rubi that I built back in 2014-2016, but at the time I was doing a lot of highway driving. So while the 4.0 might be bulletproof, it was not very good at highway cruising once you got a lift and bigger tires on it. Unfortunately, I ended up selling the TJ and getting in to the import racing scene for a few years.
Fast foward to present day, where my wife and I just bought a house and my commute to work is fairly short, so I ended up selling my Evo IX and started looking at trading my daily in for a new Jeep.
Enter Jeep, Stage Right-
After a little searching, I ended up finding a dealership about an hour away that had a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon (2 Door) with almost everything I wanted. The only thing it was missing was the Blind-Spot Monitoring, and it wasn't a deal breaker for me since I don't even have the doors on the majority of the time. After some negotiation, I got the trade-in value I wanted for my daily driver and I also got the Jeep at invoice pricing, plus an additional $1750 off in rebates, so I pulled the trigger and left the dealership with my Wrangler.
Mods, Mods, Mods-
So, what is the point in buying a Wrangler if you aren't going to modify it? Within the first week of purchase I've already ordered a few things to get the ball rolling on the build. I reached out to @TTEChris and asked him about his previous JL build (he's a Gladiator owner now ) and he was a HUGE help letting me know what worked for him, what didn't, and also what brands he recommended for the JL platform. He also gave me a lot of general advice in regards to the JL, because I was completely clueless. So I just wanted to thank him again for that! Without further ado, here is what I ended up ordering:
Wheels and Tires-
Fuel Off-Road Zephyr Beadlocks (Model D100) in 17x9 with a -38 offset
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 in size LT37x12.5R17
Suspension-
Rough Country 2.5" Spacer Lift Kit
Bumpers-
Road Armor Stealth Front Bumper with Stinger Guard in a mid width
Road Armor Stealth Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier Hole in a mid width
Fenders-
Road Armor Stealth Front Fender Flare with switchback LED DRL
Road Armor Stealth Front Fender Liner
Road Armor Stealth Rear Fender Flare
Road Armor Stealth Rear Fender Liner
Misc-
Mopar Door Sill Guards
iDentity Aluminum Shackles in red
I went with this stuff because it covered almost everything I needed to get my build started, but also gave me room to grow without having to re-purchase expensive components. I don't plan to keep the RC lift on forever, but I'm currently undecided on what lift to go with, and don't want to do the suspension multiple times. I'm currently leaning towards a Rebel Off Road Recon Dual Shock System, but will have to save for a bit before I can afford it. The Rough Country lift is perfect at the price point for giving me the ride height I need so I can get my new 37" tires on without in issue. Plus, in combination with the Road Armor Fender setup I shouldn't have any issues off road either. I also forewent the Road Armor Tire Carrier Assembly. but got the rear bumper that has the hole already drilled so I can add it in the future. This was partially due due to budget reasons, however while the actual movement of their tire carrier is amazing, I do have a few issues with how the set up the rear license plate and the back-up camera is mounted so I'm hoping they address this in the future and make it compatible with current bumpers.
Future Plans-
So, besides getting a custom license plate, haha. I want to get a more suitable suspension system for my off road needs. I'd also like a suitable tire carrier, which will hopefully an updated Road Armor design. I also really need a winch and I'm leaning towards a Warn Zeon 10-S Platinum with a synthetic rope, but still haven't decided. Other than that, I'd like to get a Bestop Trektop before next Spring/Summer, because I tend to take the top off anytime I can - even if I had to put it back on the next day. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about the build, please feel free to post a reply I'll be sure to get an answer to you!
Note: I know I'm sorely lacking pictures right now, however I plan to take some as soon as I get these parts delivered and the weather cooperates with me!
So just a little back story about me, my first vehicle was a white 1994 YJ with the 5-speed manual and 2.5L engine that I bought from someone that was going back into the military and he just wanted to sell it before he left. Since he was a family friend we got a really good deal on it and I've kind of loved Wranglers ever since. So this JL is the fourth Jeep Wrangler I've owned, and the second one I plan on building. I had a 2006 TJ Rubi that I built back in 2014-2016, but at the time I was doing a lot of highway driving. So while the 4.0 might be bulletproof, it was not very good at highway cruising once you got a lift and bigger tires on it. Unfortunately, I ended up selling the TJ and getting in to the import racing scene for a few years.
Fast foward to present day, where my wife and I just bought a house and my commute to work is fairly short, so I ended up selling my Evo IX and started looking at trading my daily in for a new Jeep.
Enter Jeep, Stage Right-
After a little searching, I ended up finding a dealership about an hour away that had a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon (2 Door) with almost everything I wanted. The only thing it was missing was the Blind-Spot Monitoring, and it wasn't a deal breaker for me since I don't even have the doors on the majority of the time. After some negotiation, I got the trade-in value I wanted for my daily driver and I also got the Jeep at invoice pricing, plus an additional $1750 off in rebates, so I pulled the trigger and left the dealership with my Wrangler.
Mods, Mods, Mods-
So, what is the point in buying a Wrangler if you aren't going to modify it? Within the first week of purchase I've already ordered a few things to get the ball rolling on the build. I reached out to @TTEChris and asked him about his previous JL build (he's a Gladiator owner now ) and he was a HUGE help letting me know what worked for him, what didn't, and also what brands he recommended for the JL platform. He also gave me a lot of general advice in regards to the JL, because I was completely clueless. So I just wanted to thank him again for that! Without further ado, here is what I ended up ordering:
Wheels and Tires-
Fuel Off-Road Zephyr Beadlocks (Model D100) in 17x9 with a -38 offset
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 in size LT37x12.5R17
Suspension-
Rough Country 2.5" Spacer Lift Kit
Bumpers-
Road Armor Stealth Front Bumper with Stinger Guard in a mid width
Road Armor Stealth Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier Hole in a mid width
Fenders-
Road Armor Stealth Front Fender Flare with switchback LED DRL
Road Armor Stealth Front Fender Liner
Road Armor Stealth Rear Fender Flare
Road Armor Stealth Rear Fender Liner
Misc-
Mopar Door Sill Guards
iDentity Aluminum Shackles in red
I went with this stuff because it covered almost everything I needed to get my build started, but also gave me room to grow without having to re-purchase expensive components. I don't plan to keep the RC lift on forever, but I'm currently undecided on what lift to go with, and don't want to do the suspension multiple times. I'm currently leaning towards a Rebel Off Road Recon Dual Shock System, but will have to save for a bit before I can afford it. The Rough Country lift is perfect at the price point for giving me the ride height I need so I can get my new 37" tires on without in issue. Plus, in combination with the Road Armor Fender setup I shouldn't have any issues off road either. I also forewent the Road Armor Tire Carrier Assembly. but got the rear bumper that has the hole already drilled so I can add it in the future. This was partially due due to budget reasons, however while the actual movement of their tire carrier is amazing, I do have a few issues with how the set up the rear license plate and the back-up camera is mounted so I'm hoping they address this in the future and make it compatible with current bumpers.
Future Plans-
So, besides getting a custom license plate, haha. I want to get a more suitable suspension system for my off road needs. I'd also like a suitable tire carrier, which will hopefully an updated Road Armor design. I also really need a winch and I'm leaning towards a Warn Zeon 10-S Platinum with a synthetic rope, but still haven't decided. Other than that, I'd like to get a Bestop Trektop before next Spring/Summer, because I tend to take the top off anytime I can - even if I had to put it back on the next day. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about the build, please feel free to post a reply I'll be sure to get an answer to you!
Note: I know I'm sorely lacking pictures right now, however I plan to take some as soon as I get these parts delivered and the weather cooperates with me!
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