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FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual

FunWagon

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THE PLAN

Picked up my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon from the dealer this weekend. Dual doors, soft top, manual transmission.

I already ordered the following. Tires arriving tomorrow. Rest on back order.

Clayton Off Road 3.5" OVERLAND+ Lift Kit

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 1FD0901D-129B-4152-9EBA-017AF910015D


FOX Performance Series 2.0 IFP Shocks (for JL with 3.5-4'' lift)

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 1BF73868-9D90-4993-BB8D-A68543CF3931


I was considering the following shocks:
  • Old Man Emu BP-51 Shocks for 2.5in - Front and Rear
  • Fox 2.5 Reservoir Shocks for 3.5-4” lift
Old Man Emu for its compression and rebound adjustability, but not made for 3.5” lift. Fox 2.5 with reservoir for longevity. Both too expensive cutting into budget of other things, so decided to go with what most people are going with, although no experience with them. I’ve been using Bilstein 5100 on previous Jeeps. I’m a bit worried Fox won’t last as long as Bilstein.

FOX 2.0 Performance Series IFP Steering Stabilizer

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual C735BCAF-BC12-43FB-8660-50F0DB9D96E8


Fifteen52 Analog HD Wheels

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 838EC308-CD9C-4850-B8E3-378A6B175747

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 7708C3E6-A1CA-4F89-A2C3-53545BEA7A15


BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 Tires (37x12.50R17)

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual BC1C502F-884E-4170-ADA8-9C63DDBFADE5


So just got the Jeep and all above ordered… ha ha.

Only other urgent thing I need to order is a front drive shaft. Trying to decide between Tom Woods and Adams. I want least maintenance (no greasing if possible). I remember Tom Woods needs measurements once lift kit is on Jeep before can order. I haven’t looked into it yet.
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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ABOUT THE JEEP

I believe my Jeep is going to be very light compared to most since it will have half doors on, is a manual transmission, has a soft top, and has plastic bumpers. I haven’t decided yet if to carry the spare on the Jeep or delete the tailgate tire carrier. All these things together will make for a very light Jeep, I believe.

The baby (before growing up):
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 6859F486-415A-4A67-A072-93D2346C1D42


The half doors (trust me):
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 8FFFE9C0-06D6-4576-B951-18226122F5D9


I wonder how the light-weightedness will affect the 3.5” lift.
 
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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HOW WILL I USE IT

Daily driver, occasional off roading blue trails, carry 5 bikes and/or 4 SUPs and kayaks via trailer probably, and maybe road trips if behaves on highway.

Summer:
  • Half doors
Winter:
  • Full doors
I like the visibility out back with no spare so considering a tailgate delete, replacing spare with 3rd break light and license plate (which I’ve done for over 10 years with my JK). But also considering a rear bumper with tire carrier which I’ve never done.
 

MSparks909

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gato

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For rear visibility, note that with the Taser you can keep the rear view camera on the whole time or set it up so it turns on for lane changes, etc. Also the JL rear visibility is great even with 37s compared to JK (the massive wiper box is now low. So try it with the spare on first, before you do the delete.

If I remember correctly the manual transmission is ˜10 lbs heavier or same weight as the auto. So, don't think your Jeep is going to be so much lighter as to affect the lift/ride quality. You can always adjust tire pressure to compensate.

Sounds like a solid build plan.
 

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FunWagon

FunWagon

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Nice build so far. Also going with Clayton 3.5” Overland on my eventual build. Any plans to re-gear? I think I’m going with the LOD full destroyer rear bumper/tire carrier whenever my 21’ shows up. Also, pot your lockers while your Jeep is still young...
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/locker-position-sensor-potting-dana-44.59581/
Awesome. If you sign up for email news from Clayton you get a code for 5% discount. Thanks for the reminder and link re potting locker. It’s helpful. I’ll check out the bumper/tire carrier... I thought I read people where having problems installing or quality. I wasn’t planning to regear. I didn’t regear my manual JK on 37s. We’ll see how the JL behaves. Unless it gets super sluggish then I will see down the road.

For rear visibility, note that with the Taser you can keep the rear view camera on the whole time or set it up so it turns on for lane changes, etc. Also the JL rear visibility is great even with 37s compared to JK (the massive wiper box is now low. So try it with the spare on first, before you do the delete.

If I remember correctly the manual transmission is ˜10 lbs heavier or same weight as the auto. So, don't think your Jeep is going to be so much lighter as to affect the lift/ride quality. You can always adjust tire pressure to compensate.

Sounds like a solid build plan.
Good info. Thanks.
 

TaZ_65

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Guess I have to start a build journal so we can have two half door 3.5" 37s builds! Looking forward to seeing yours.
 
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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HALF DOORS

A mod or not a mod? I swapped the full doors with the half doors. Here are some of the configurations:

Full doors:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 16DF988B-E56A-4706-B4E9-71C3EA2C744B


No doors:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual F8CAB2D3-405A-47CC-86E4-F8C98FD36754


Half doors with uppers:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual BA821343-97F7-4C96-B8E6-04FB5B5ECC22


Half doors with all sides removed:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 4E325CBF-A704-4259-99F2-651B632676AD


This is how all four half door uppers fit in the trunk:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual F03F6B7F-68B0-4173-BA31-C18F79712E6A


And with the soft sides/rear. Not as pretty. On the JK all this fit nicer in the trunk.
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual D74B4471-B685-4237-B64D-C1FEF1D3A929
 
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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THE TIRES

Two days after I bought the Jeep, the tires arrived. 37x12.50R17 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain KM3. I’ve been using 37” KM3s and KM2s for years on my JK. They look so much bigger off the Jeep though, in the garage, than on a Jeep. They didn’t seem so big on my JK, but in my garage they look crazy huge. And I get to appreciate how heavy they are now.

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 71C9DCC5-E465-48CE-8E34-7F634ECDE8B6
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual DCE40FD5-633A-4D70-8FDB-C2670A80C0B6
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual FE4EE597-BE47-4960-A8D3-375FF8962EC9
 
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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STUPID DAMAGE

I had the Jeep less than a week and already did a little damage to underbody… for nothing. I hope it is not major. Stupid me. Really! I was showing off to neighbors going over a big tree stump in the evening. I was so used to my JK on 37s that it didn’t seem unreasonable. Well it didn’t sound good. The scratches on gas tank skids I don’t mind, but what are all these very low hanging exhaust pipes? I think I bent one bit. The JK didn’t have these pipes SOOO exposed and low.

I wonder if the drop on this horizontal pipe also affected where it is welded/bolted to the next section. It was too dark to look closer.

Does it look bad to you or not a big deal?

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 691E7278-7ACF-4BC5-B7CA-B7F68AE5D0D3


Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 574187D6-D81B-40AE-ABCF-A2B6C96F980D


Where the pipe further up connects to another section of pipe.
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 17FFE9BD-1D50-49F0-A8E3-4AC345779207


I guess I should be looking at skid plates too. But I’m not sure even a complete skid package covers all these exhaust pipes.

Oh boy.
 

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FunWagon

FunWagon

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INTERIOR STORAGE

While waiting for the back ordered wheels and lift kit to arrive, I invested a little in minor interior storage solutions in the front. I think I may have gone a little overboard.

Driver side bin:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 4B6B11F3-4598-4A7C-8E53-41ED602C03EF


Passenger side bin (part of above):
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 16ECD388-C85B-43CE-A22C-719FAC4E96AF


Bin hanging off center console. And pocket insert in gap between passenger seat and cup holders.
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 6FA6EA97-3896-4448-8EAA-15EC5C22BE69


Inset for passenger handle creating tray style narrow bins.
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual B68B9E76-E7FD-40B5-B5EF-E9B1179D44E3
 
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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In a few weeks the following is going on my Jeep... finally... can't wait...

37" BFG KM3s:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual BFGoodrich-Mud-Terrain-TA-KM3-Tire


Body Guard Spare Tire Delete (reuses 3rd brake light, rear camera, adds license plate light)
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual bodyguard-spare-delete_LI


Clayton Off Road 3.5" complete lift system:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual clayton-lift


Clayton Off Road steering stabilizer relocation bracket:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual clayton-steering-stabilizer-relocation-bracket


Fifteen52 Analog wheels in black:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual fifteen52-analog-3


Fox shocks:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual fox-shocks


Fox steering stabilizer:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual fox-steering-stabilizer


Magnets for front doors:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual Ordered-Magnet


Custom license plate for use on spare tire delete bracket:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual Ordered-LicensePlate


Front 1350 Adams drive shaft:
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual adams-1350-drive=shaft-front


First time I am "naming" my Jeep. We'll see if it looks cool or silly. I'm using magnets and license plate so its all removable.

I'm going for a slight vintage look with the wheels and "name" font.
 
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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Today, finally, I got my 3.5” lift and 37” tires installed. Here are some pictures before it got dark. I’ll post more soon.

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 09E0CDC6-8C44-4953-AAA5-CE2B65BA456E
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 57E59EDC-F22D-441B-B3E2-EA3A96185585
 

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STUPID DAMAGE

I had the Jeep less than a week and already did a little damage to underbody… for nothing. I hope it is not major. Stupid me. Really! I was showing off to neighbors going over a big tree stump in the evening. I was so used to my JK on 37s that it didn’t seem unreasonable. Well it didn’t sound good. The scratches on gas tank skids I don’t mind, but what are all these very low hanging exhaust pipes? I think I bent one bit. The JK didn’t have these pipes SOOO exposed and low.

I wonder if the drop on this horizontal pipe also affected where it is welded/bolted to the next section. It was too dark to look closer.

Does it look bad to you or not a big deal?

Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 57E59EDC-F22D-441B-B3E2-EA3A96185585


Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 57E59EDC-F22D-441B-B3E2-EA3A96185585


Where the pipe further up connects to another section of pipe.
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 57E59EDC-F22D-441B-B3E2-EA3A96185585


I guess I should be looking at skid plates too. But I’m not sure even a complete skid package covers all these exhaust pipes.

Oh boy.
My tailpipe has that dent. i think thats normal.
 
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FunWagon

FunWagon

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Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual DE84A15D-1DBE-42DF-987A-5E6A9774ABA6
Jeep Wrangler JL FunWagon - 37” tires, 3.5” lift, half doors, manual 077371B9-21FB-4BCE-A307-0ED90FD22F90
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