2 DOOR JL build/order discussions master thread

[IMBlu]

T

OK, I think I have a worse Jeep addiction than I realized...

Exhibit A: I’m going to a friend’s wedding this weekend. I decided 2 months ago that the smart choice to be rested and relaxed would be a short 50 minute flight each way rather than spending 8 to 10 hours fighting traffic over a 48-hour weekend. Makes perfect sense, right? But that was before I got my JL! This week I very seriously considered canceling my flight just to spend more quality time in that sweet, sweet Rubicon cabin.

Exhibit B: I found a lame excuse (having maybe forgotten something) just to go check on my JLR this evening. I think I just missed it... and it looked so darn good! It was really cool actually, because the crew at the parking lot apparently like it too: they had surrounded it with orange cones to make sure it wouldn’t get scratched while brand new! Anyone who’s ever tried parking in NYC knows that this kind of TLC is not that common.

Anyway, now you know: I’m clearly infatuated!

That is hallarious! And I know exactly how you feel. I want to drive from Georgia to Portland Oregon to visit son and grandson, and am dying to make the time! ANY excuse to drive! It’s not the destination, but time spent in my Jeep!

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[SteadyC]

Thanks, Gary, that DOES make me feel better. And I don’t really need a fancy soft top, just something to keep rain out if I’m caught on the trail.

Left hard top on, removed front panels. used red Alien Shield over front. With your new seat covers, a red Alien Shield will look great!

 

[CatskillsAlex]

T

That is hallarious! And I know exactly how you feel. I want to drive from Georgia to Portland Oregon to visit son and grandson, and am dying to make the time! ANY excuse to drive! It’s not the destination, but time spent in my Jeep!

I knew you’d understand, Cristina!

I actually thought about you the other day: didn’t you post a comment immediately after getting your RubiBlu saying that you were parking at the end of the row when going to the supermarket, to avoid someone accidentally dinging your beautiful new JL? Well, I caught myself doing the exact same thing wherever I go*!

* Unless I’m parallel parking - thank you, steel bumpers...

 

[SteadyC]

OK, I think I have a worse Jeep addiction than I realized...

Exhibit A: I’m going to a friend’s wedding this weekend. I decided 2 months ago that the smart choice to be rested and relaxed would be a short 50 minute flight each way rather than spending 8 to 10 hours fighting traffic over a 48-hour weekend. Makes perfect sense, right? But that was before I got my JL! This week I very seriously considered canceling my flight just to spend more quality time in that sweet, sweet Rubicon cabin.

Exhibit B: I found a lame excuse (having maybe forgotten something) just to go check on my JLR this evening. I think I just missed it... and it looked so darn good! It was really cool actually, because the crew at the parking lot apparently like it too: they had surrounded it with orange cones to make sure it wouldn’t get scratched while brand new! Anyone who’s ever tried parking in NYC knows that this kind of TLC is not that common.

Anyway, now you know: I’m clearly infatuated!

1. Your Rubi is very sweet.
2. I work from home, and hate driving to customers, used to
3. I can’t wait to,drive to Moab in April

I totally understand how you feel, and my Jeep is no where as cool as yours.

 

[CatskillsAlex]

1. Your Rubi is very sweet.
2. I work from home, and hate driving to customers, used to
3. I can’t wait to,drive to Moab in April

I totally understand how you feel, and my Jeep is no where as cool as yours.

Chad - thank you for the kind words. We seem to agree on a lot of things, but I’ll have to disagree with your last statement... Of course your Jeep is just as cool! First of all it’s a 2-door, and that’s its own level of mega coolness. But I also sincerely believe there is something very pure about Sport/Sport S Jeeps. There is something to be said for simplicity, and IMO a Jeep doesn’t need bells and whistles to be great. Plus Moab = massive street cred, obviously.

 

[IMBlu]

Left hard top on, removed front panels. used red Alien Shield over front. With your new seat covers, a red Alien Shield will look great!

I DO have a red shield!

 

[IMBlu]

I knew you’d understand, Cristina!

I actually thought about you the other day: didn’t you post a comment immediately after getting your RubiBlu saying that you were parking at the end of the row when going to the supermarket, to avoid someone accidentally dinging your beautiful new JL? Well, I caught myself doing the exact same thing wherever I go*!

* Unless I’m parallel parking - thank you, steel bumpers...

That’s right! And Lydia is doing the same thing!

 

[IMBlu]

Anyway, about driving... I do hope we will keep this thread goin. I have not been able to get enough vacation for Moab at Easter. We do make a point to go once a year, but it won’t be at the 2019 Easter jamboree. Will have to wait til 2020, unfortunately.
BUT on a brighter note, I will apply for a permit to drive the White Rim. Don’t know if it has changed, but they only allow 5 vehicles a day I think, and it takes months to get it. That would be amazing; my husband wants to bike it while I drive it. Will let everyone know how the application process works.

 

[SteadyC]

Chad - thank you for the kind words. We seem to agree on a lot of things, but I’ll have to disagree with your last statement... Of course your Jeep is just as cool! First of all it’s a 2-door, and that’s its own level of mega coolness. But I also sincerely believe there is something very pure about Sport/Sport S Jeeps. There is something to be said for simplicity, and IMO a Jeep doesn’t need bells and whistles to be great. Plus Moab = massive street cred, obviously.

What could be better, Thursday night football, my favorite adult beverages, and talking with the coolest Jeep peeps around.

Well thanks, and I really enjoy putting on all my own custom stuff. But... Stingray gray, Rubi, Turbo, you removed the rear seat for your sporting gear, doesn’t get much better than that.

 

[CatskillsAlex]

What could be better, Thursday night football, my favorite adult beverages, and talking with the coolest Jeep peeps around.

Well thanks, and I really enjoy putting on all my own custom stuff. But... Stingray gray, Rubi, Turbo, you removed the rear seat for your sporting gear, doesn’t get much better than that.

 

[CatskillsAlex]

That’s right! And Lydia is doing the same thing!

The irony is that I think it’s perfectly OK - even cool and rugged - for a Jeep to have a few battle scars! I didn’t baby my previous Jeep at all, and I’ll probably get over that phase soon. But in the meantime... I’ll happily walk a few more feet to keep it safe

 

[Fred]

Fred, the wheels are Quadratec Rubicon Xtreme in Gun Metal finish (17x9). If I recall correctly, the stock lug nuts were too large in diameter to fit into the pockets of the wheel. I picked up a set of black locking Gorillas off of Amazon (part # 71644NBC). This is a set of 24, so I even have them on the spare. They were around $60 but if you didn't want to spend that, a set of non-locking could be had for at least half that.

As far as the 315's, I too have seen a lot of folks mounting them on the stock wheels and haven't heard of any issues. I think the warnings are mainly because the tire manufacturers set the min. limit at 8". That minimum rating is probably somehow mandated by our illustrious leaders in Washington, but I seriously can't see how .5" will make or break it. I have gone through this same issue on my Hellcat and it's stock wheels. I have been successfully running an "out-of-spec" drag radial on the stock rear wheels for a couple of years with no issues.

The exhaust is the black ceramic coated Magnaflow axle back and other than the connection pipe going to the stock system not being swedged quite enough, it was a breeze to install. From what I've read, this is a common problem but not anything a buddy at his shop couldn't solve in a couple of minutes for me. Overall, I am VERY happy with it! Almost sounds stock at idle and then begins a pleasant deep growl once I head down the road. Most importantly, there is zero drone in the cabin while driving around.

Thanks for the info @cmb
After airing down a bit with the 315's and stock rims and not getting full tire to ground contact I have ordered a set of Xtremes in black with matching lug nuts. The new wheels will also put the inside of the tire out of the wheel well a bit more. Did they mount up OK to the spare carrier rubber stops?

 

[PhotoGuy]

Thanks, Gary, that DOES make me feel better. And I don’t really need a fancy soft top, just something to keep rain out if I’m caught on the trail.

Funny! All I have is the soft top and in my way of thinking it's the hard top that's fancy! Lol!
My soft top isn't "clunky" at all when it's all the way down. In fact, with my bungee trick, it's very tight and compact. Not once since I've had my baby have I ever wished I had a hard top nor have I ever regretted getting a soft top. My dad tried to originally talk me into getting a hard top. He said it would be quieter and an all-around better ride. But my soft top is super quiet! In fact, I'd say it is as quiet or even more so than my Fiat was.
I am soooo happy I got the soft top and would do so again if I had to do it all over.

 

[McBeeve]

Thanks for the info @cmb
After airing down a bit with the 315's and stock rims and not getting full tire to ground contact I have ordered a set of Xtremes in black with matching lug nuts. The new wheels will also put the inside of the tire out of the wheel well a bit more. Did they mount up OK to the spare carrier rubber stops?

Well Fred, I originally had the stock 33" KO2's mounted on these wheels and I did need to modify the stock bump stops in order to support the tire properly. It's a very easy mod and here's a good thread with several great ideas. I personally used some scrap 1 1/4" PVC pipe and purchased a couple rubber leg tips from my local hardware. I determined the length of pipe needed, cut it, and then spray painted it black to match. After drying, I pushed the leg tips onto the pipe and then inserted them into the stock bumpers.
Now that I have gone to the 35's I haven't changed the spare....yet. Therefore I can not speak to how a 35" on the Xtreme wheel will mate up on the carrier but fabricating extensions should be just as easy. My main reason for not mounting the taller and heavier tire is I would be exceeding the rating on the carrier by 10-11lbs (for my combo anyway). It would probably be okay, but I plan to install aftermarket bumpers in the near future and will go with a bumper mounted spare carrier at that time.
As for the backup camera, yes the added width and backspacing did alter the view but nothing to the extent of being detrimental. I can get you a picture next after work today if you'd like?

 

[CatskillsAlex]

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