Phil Howell's 2022 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Xtreme Recon Build

[ArmyRN]

Right on time with those measurements, I am considering a spring lift just 2” to get up off these bump stops some.

Here's one option:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-install-and-impressions.166126/#post-3413340

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[TrustWonUSA]

Here's one option:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-install-and-impressions.166126/#post-3413340

I am actually looking something simular, the JKS ACOS. Gives an adjustable lift spacer with an adjustable hydro bump.

 

[ArmyRN]

I am actually looking something simular, the JKS ACOS. Gives an adjustable lift spacer with an adjustable hydro bump.

I looked at that before going with the hydraulic bumpstop. It gives you a required at a minimum of one inch spacer lift (goes up from there). And to a point you can adjust the height of the bumpstop. But I think the bumpstop itself is just a fixed rubber piece ("durathane" they call it), not a hydro bump design.

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[3TV]

Phil,
I have a full set of ACOS spacer/hydraulic bumps, new, still in the box. Let me know if you are interested.

Phil.

 

[Phil Howell]

Phil,
I have a full set of ACOS spacer/hydraulic bumps, new, still in the box. Let me know if you are interested.

Phil.

Thanks, but I'm okay for now. Get up here to visit soon!

 

[Phil Howell]

I had a driveline vibration/thrumming above 55mph. With the FAD, the front driveshaft isn't turning at speed, so it had to be the rear driveshaft. Classic Motors, the Jeep dealership in Richfield, Utah, sent me a new rear driveshaft. The new shaft came with OEM bolts, but Region Offroad has sets of socket head 12.9 bolts with tie brackets that I acquired. I'm sick of lying on the floor of my garage under the Jeep, as I'm old and getting weak (oh, how I wish I had a hoist). So, I took the Jeep to Best Offroad in Orem, Utah, where Ryan quickly removed the old shaft and installed the new one. Success! All vibration is gone at all speeds.

You may wonder why I didn't get a quality driveshaft from Tom Wood's Custom Driveshafts or J.E. Reel and replace the somewhat weaker OEM shaft. The Rzeppa joints work well at angles that regular CV joints don't. I don't have the adjustable rear control arms that I would need to set the driveline angle to prevent vibrations. So, until (or if) it self-destructs, the stock driveshaft works for me.

 

[Medsker]

Best Offroad in Orem, Utah

I love these guys! They have done all the work on mine.

 

[WillysMeow]

Thanks! Sure I know Willie Worthy. He's a great guy.

@Phil Howell Welcome, used to love reading those mags back when!

Willie Worthy, didn't he have the one page rant/discussion/article every month? If so he was a great read and made me laugh too!

 

[Phil Howell]

@Phil Howell Welcome, used to love reading those mags back when!

Willie Worthy, didn't he have the one page rant/discussion/article every month? If so he was a great read and made me laugh too!

Thanks!

Yes, Willie is great. He wrote for Four Wheeler Magazine.

 

[Phil Howell]

My Wrangler Unlimited didn't come with the factory hardtop insulation. In my past JLs and JKs, the insulation made a difference in both summer and winter extremes.

Researching what was available showed me that the Mopar insulation and some other brands were too expensive for my budget. I found the Husky Guardian Comfort Headliner Kit (formerly BedRug) to be cost-effective and looked good. I've used BedRug products in truck projects in the past and the quality is outstanding.

The Headliner Kit uses premium waterproof polypropylene foam that will not curl, tear, stain, or stink in the cold or the heat. The panels are cut to fit perfectly on the JL's hardtop, use quality 3M adhesive, and are very lightweight, so they won't fall off in a few months. The panels are easy to install. They claim the top doesn't have to be removed, but to properly install the large center panels, I lifted the front of the top and propped it with a 2x4 on its side so the panels could be pressed on with some force. The headliner kit is backed with a three-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship from the date of purchase.

I'm pleased with the Husky Guardian Comfort Headliner Kit. As you can see from the photos, there's a big difference in temperatures with the panels installed. My Mopar top insulation panels didn't deaden sound, but these Husky panels do make a difference.

The Husky Guardian Comfort Headliner Kit comes with pre-cut panels that fit the JL Wrangler Unlimited's top perfectly. The 1/2" polyurethane foam is waterproof and covered with BedRug carpeting. They have quality 3M adhesive strips on the backing to ensure the panels stay affixed.

The temperature of the top without the headliner kit was 136.5 degrees! No wonder the Wrangler's interior gets so hot on sunny days.

After headliner installation (and letting it sit in the sun for a while), the temperature of the top was 91 degrees. This headliner works. In winter, I'm confident it will keep the interior warmer, too.

The headliner looks great installed. I know it will last a long time.

 

[Jtimbrook]

Hey Phil, out of curiosity, why a '22? Follow up, what was your list of must have's when you were shopping for your Jeep and what future modifications were you already planning that affected your purchase?
It's interesting to see how different folks come about these things especially when it's from the industry.

 

[Phil Howell]

Hey Phil, out of curiosity, why a '22? Follow up, what was your list of must have's when you were shopping for your Jeep and what future modifications were you already planning that affected your purchase?
It's interesting to see how different folks come about these things especially when it's from the industry.

I wanted a low-mileage JL Rubicon, hopefully with the Xtreme Recon package and at a price I could afford. I found this used 2022 and bought it. The year wasn't as important as the miles and options. I wanted the 3.6 V6 and an automatic. This year came configured with the etorque system. That gave me pause, but after talking with my friend who owns a Jeep dealership (and REALLY doesn't like the 4xe because of warranty and service returns), I bought it. He said they've had no issues with either Ram or Wrangler etorques and that they have proven to be reliable. The etorque has a lot of torque off the line, and I'm impressed.

I wasn't planning on overbuilding this Jeep and planned on going no larger than 35" tires, as I mainly do backcountry exploring. The Xtreme Recon package comes with 315s and 4.56 gears - perfect for me. I planned on adding a Warn winch, better shocks, longer lower front control arms, and 315 or 35" tires, as the BFG KO2s that were on it were fairly worn. I added roof insulation to make it more comfortable inside and plan to add a Rugged Radios or Midland GMRS radio, as I already have the FCC license. I may add a couple of LED light pods up front. The Mopar tailgate reinforcement for the spare isn't as good as the Teraflex Alpha system, so I may add that. I also may replace the tie rod, drag link, and track bar. OMF has sent real beadlock rings for the Mopar wheels. I plan to mount the lightweight A/T Pro tires on a set of SCS K5 wheels for a lightweight combo, then mount other tires on the Mopar beadlocks. That's pretty much it.

 

[Phil Howell]

I like the quality and look of the Mopar beadlock-ready wheels that came on the Xtreme Recon package. They're heavy, though. In the past, on other projects, I used Stealth Custom Series (SCS) wheels and was impressed by their quality and light weight. I had a set of old project vehicle SCS K5 wheels stacked in my garage and couldn't stop thinking about mounting the light Patagonia A/T Pro tires on them. On my bathroom scale, the SCS wheels weighed 17 pounds less than the Mopar wheels.

Stealth Custom Series wheels are manufactured in the same factory that builds Toyota OE wheels. The K5 weighs 25 pounds and is both strong and lightweight. The 17x8.5" Jeep K5s feature a 5x5 (5x127) bolt pattern and a 71.5 center bore, so they are hub-centric. They have a 4.30/-10 backspace/offset.

The 25-pound SCS K5 wheels paired with the 60-pound 35x12.50R17 E Patagonia A/T Pro tires are an 85-pound package. That's lightweight compared to most other wheel/tire combos we mount on our Jeeps.

The Stealth Custom Series K5 is a lightweight, quality wheel that looks great on the Jeep.

One thing I had to address was the tailgate spare tire bumpstops. The Xtreme Recon OEM bumpstops were too short with the stock setup, even after I had removed the 1/4" spacers on the carrier. I had a set of old Daystar JK tailgate bunpstops that were longer. They were supposed to fit both JKs and JLs. They didn't. The mounting nubs were too thick for the holes in the JL tailgate, so I filed them down to fit. The longer bumptops help stabilize the spare, even with it mounted on the SCS wheel with a 4.30" backspace.

 

[gek]

I like the quality and look of the Mopar beadlock-ready wheels that came on the Xtreme Recon package. They're heavy, though. In the past, on other projects, I used Stealth Custom Series (SCS) wheels and was impressed by their quality and light weight. I had a set of old project vehicle SCS K5 wheels stacked in my garage and couldn't stop thinking about mounting the light Patagonia A/T Pro tires on them. On my bathroom scale, the SCS wheels weighed 17 pounds less than the Mopar wheels.

Stealth Custom Series wheels are manufactured in the same factory that builds Toyota OE wheels. The K5 weighs 25 pounds and is both strong and lightweight. The 17x8.5" Jeep K5s feature a 5x5 (5x127) bolt pattern and a 71.5 center bore, so they are hub-centric. They have a 4.30/-10 backspace/offset.

The 25-pound SCS K5 wheels paired with the 60-pound 35x12.50R17 E Patagonia A/T Pro tires are an 85-pound package. That's lightweight compared to most other wheel/tire combos we mount on our Jeeps.

The Stealth Custom Series K5 is a lightweight, quality wheel that looks great on the Jeep.

One thing I had to address was the tailgate spare tire bumpstops. The Xtreme Recon OEM bumpstops were too short with the stock setup, even after I had removed the 1/4" spacers on the carrier. I had a set of old Daystar JK tailgate bunpstops that were longer. They were supposed to fit both JKs and JLs. They didn't. The mounting nubs were too thick for the holes in the JL tailgate, so I filed them down to fit. The longer bumptops help stabilize the spare, even with it mounted on the SCS wheel with a 4.30" backspace.

I went with Method 703s and 37" Mickey Thompson BBATs and they weigh almost the exact same as the factory XR wheels and 315/70R17 KO2s. Both come in around 110 lbs

Methods and 37" BBATs

Factory and KO2s

 

[Phil Howell]

I went with Method 703s and 37" Mickey Thompson BBATs and they weigh almost the exact same as the factory XR wheels and 315/70R17 KO2s. Both come in around 110 lbs

I really like those Method Bead Grip wheels.

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