Billet_JLU
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- #1
I thought I would start a build thread for my jeep as it has grown up a little bit and will continue to grow in the future. Also I hope I can help any other sport owners as I go.
This is right after I brought it home from the dealership. This was the most exciting day ever. The Jeep is a billet silver sport s with the Uconnect 7" display, convenience group, mopar floor mats, and my favorite part a 6 speed manual. I learned billet silver is the least photogenic color but I think it looks great in person.
Of course immediately I had to get the top and doors off. Last time I was in a jeep topless and doorless was in my dads when I was a little kid.
First thing was to put on the 285/70/17 ko2's. At the time I thought this was a great idea but doing it over I would skip them and go to 35's. I also removed the aerodynamic piece on the bumper somewhere along the way.
I thought that this size tire would be fine leaving the suspension stock but honestly I think the tires looked a stuffed in the wheel wells and then I wanted it lifted up a little bit more.
That lead to rubicon takeoff springs and shocks as well as the rubicon rails.
Along with this went the synergy 1 5/8 wheel spacers. I thought since I was going up might as well go a little wider.
With the rubicon rails on I felt good enough to go offroad so I wouldn't smash the pinch seam.
I still had the sway bar connected and left the tires at 36psi. With this setup the rear tires just barely rubbed the rear fender. Nothing that would cause damage. Looking back at this I'll disconnect the sway bar every time I'm out I didn't need to be leaning this far and I'd prefer to let the front suspension work without the sway bar holding it up.
I wasn't intending on getting muddy but the jeep fell through the ice and right into the mud. I tested the water fording first time out unintentionally.
At this point work said I had to go to Cheraw South Carolina from January 2nd to June 28th. I had to pack up everything I could fit into the jeep for the drive from Ohio to South Carolina. I left the girlfriend and family at home and headed down.
Even though I am away from home it is hard to complain about having the top off for 3 days in February.
This is what I will consider "phase 1" of my jeep. My plan was not to make any more changes since I wouldn't be able to pack any parts I take off in the jeep for the trip back to Ohio since it is so full to begin with. But really, who honestly can leave their jeep alone.
Next thing was replacing the rubicon rails with some LoD signature series rock sliders. I wanted a little more protection and plus the little thing they call a step on top will help my case for a lift and tires when I tell the girlfriend it has a step for her.
I met some people at work and we ended up planning a weekend trip to Uwharrie OHV park an hour north in North Carolina. This place is a blast and I would recommend going if it's a reasonable drive for you. I went with a Toyota 4Runner lifted 3 inches with 285/70/17 ridge grapplers and a 2010 bone stock jku on highway tires. Luckily the 4Runner had a warn winch and I had a tow strap and D rings so we figured we would be alright and we wouldn't be on any trails to hard anyways.
Since I was going on this trip I finally made some big purchases I've wanted to do forever and I ordered the Dirty Life DT-1 9303 wheels in 17x9 -12 offset in the matte gunmetal color. Along with this I wanted a stubby bumper so I wouldn't tear up the factory plastic bumper and have better angles to get on rocks which would help a lot with the size of my jeep. Of course the wheels were back ordered and the bumper took to long to make so I had to go on my trip with the jeep as is.
It was blast getting on the rocks! On this trip I disconnected the front sway bar and dropped the tires to 20psi.
We were all new to this and I think this guy spotting me thought I should stay off the rocks. Looking back at this I think maybe if my front right wheel was on the rock to the right I wouldn't have dropped the frame and sliders on the rocks as much going across this. It was a learning experience and we know what to do next time and no damage was done.
It had rained a lot leading up to this trip so I think it may have been more muddy than usual and clean up was a pain getting all the red clay and mud out from under the skid plates but a Sunday afternoon with a friends power washer took care of that.
That trip was on a Saturday and two days later on Monday the bumper showed up. I ordered an LoD signature series shorty bumper with bull bar. I actually liked the looks of the destroyer bumper better but I liked that the winch was integrated with this one and that was more important to me. This is what I will consider as the beginning of "phase 2".
This bumper was easy to install for the most part. The fog lights were tricky but if you know someone with small fingers they could get the bolts in with ease. I actually got them in fairy fast considering I was racing the rain.
Following this, the wheels came in on Wednesday.
I am really happy with the way the jeep looks and everything is a functional mod. The wheels have the normal ring installed now but if I tear them up too bad I can switch the wheels over to the beadlock ring. I really want to get some better pictures with the jeep cleaned up and in the sunlight. This is the current state of the jeep. I have ordered a smittybilt x20 10k winch with synthetic line that I am waiting on.
Work has now told me from July 3rd to December 31st I'll have to be working in Puebla Mexico so I am not sure where I'll keep the jeep in Ohio for that time. Since adding the wheels and bumper and I'm keeping the stock parts I'll need to rent a Uhaul trailer to get home.
For my time remaining here in South Carolina I am really itching to get back to Uwharrie on the weekends. Let me know what you think of my Jeep!
This is right after I brought it home from the dealership. This was the most exciting day ever. The Jeep is a billet silver sport s with the Uconnect 7" display, convenience group, mopar floor mats, and my favorite part a 6 speed manual. I learned billet silver is the least photogenic color but I think it looks great in person.
Of course immediately I had to get the top and doors off. Last time I was in a jeep topless and doorless was in my dads when I was a little kid.
First thing was to put on the 285/70/17 ko2's. At the time I thought this was a great idea but doing it over I would skip them and go to 35's. I also removed the aerodynamic piece on the bumper somewhere along the way.
I thought that this size tire would be fine leaving the suspension stock but honestly I think the tires looked a stuffed in the wheel wells and then I wanted it lifted up a little bit more.
That lead to rubicon takeoff springs and shocks as well as the rubicon rails.
Along with this went the synergy 1 5/8 wheel spacers. I thought since I was going up might as well go a little wider.
With the rubicon rails on I felt good enough to go offroad so I wouldn't smash the pinch seam.
I still had the sway bar connected and left the tires at 36psi. With this setup the rear tires just barely rubbed the rear fender. Nothing that would cause damage. Looking back at this I'll disconnect the sway bar every time I'm out I didn't need to be leaning this far and I'd prefer to let the front suspension work without the sway bar holding it up.
I wasn't intending on getting muddy but the jeep fell through the ice and right into the mud. I tested the water fording first time out unintentionally.
At this point work said I had to go to Cheraw South Carolina from January 2nd to June 28th. I had to pack up everything I could fit into the jeep for the drive from Ohio to South Carolina. I left the girlfriend and family at home and headed down.
Even though I am away from home it is hard to complain about having the top off for 3 days in February.
This is what I will consider "phase 1" of my jeep. My plan was not to make any more changes since I wouldn't be able to pack any parts I take off in the jeep for the trip back to Ohio since it is so full to begin with. But really, who honestly can leave their jeep alone.
Next thing was replacing the rubicon rails with some LoD signature series rock sliders. I wanted a little more protection and plus the little thing they call a step on top will help my case for a lift and tires when I tell the girlfriend it has a step for her.
I met some people at work and we ended up planning a weekend trip to Uwharrie OHV park an hour north in North Carolina. This place is a blast and I would recommend going if it's a reasonable drive for you. I went with a Toyota 4Runner lifted 3 inches with 285/70/17 ridge grapplers and a 2010 bone stock jku on highway tires. Luckily the 4Runner had a warn winch and I had a tow strap and D rings so we figured we would be alright and we wouldn't be on any trails to hard anyways.
Since I was going on this trip I finally made some big purchases I've wanted to do forever and I ordered the Dirty Life DT-1 9303 wheels in 17x9 -12 offset in the matte gunmetal color. Along with this I wanted a stubby bumper so I wouldn't tear up the factory plastic bumper and have better angles to get on rocks which would help a lot with the size of my jeep. Of course the wheels were back ordered and the bumper took to long to make so I had to go on my trip with the jeep as is.
It was blast getting on the rocks! On this trip I disconnected the front sway bar and dropped the tires to 20psi.
We were all new to this and I think this guy spotting me thought I should stay off the rocks. Looking back at this I think maybe if my front right wheel was on the rock to the right I wouldn't have dropped the frame and sliders on the rocks as much going across this. It was a learning experience and we know what to do next time and no damage was done.
It had rained a lot leading up to this trip so I think it may have been more muddy than usual and clean up was a pain getting all the red clay and mud out from under the skid plates but a Sunday afternoon with a friends power washer took care of that.
That trip was on a Saturday and two days later on Monday the bumper showed up. I ordered an LoD signature series shorty bumper with bull bar. I actually liked the looks of the destroyer bumper better but I liked that the winch was integrated with this one and that was more important to me. This is what I will consider as the beginning of "phase 2".
This bumper was easy to install for the most part. The fog lights were tricky but if you know someone with small fingers they could get the bolts in with ease. I actually got them in fairy fast considering I was racing the rain.
Following this, the wheels came in on Wednesday.
I am really happy with the way the jeep looks and everything is a functional mod. The wheels have the normal ring installed now but if I tear them up too bad I can switch the wheels over to the beadlock ring. I really want to get some better pictures with the jeep cleaned up and in the sunlight. This is the current state of the jeep. I have ordered a smittybilt x20 10k winch with synthetic line that I am waiting on.
Work has now told me from July 3rd to December 31st I'll have to be working in Puebla Mexico so I am not sure where I'll keep the jeep in Ohio for that time. Since adding the wheels and bumper and I'm keeping the stock parts I'll need to rent a Uhaul trailer to get home.
For my time remaining here in South Carolina I am really itching to get back to Uwharrie on the weekends. Let me know what you think of my Jeep!
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a set of quick disconnect sway bar links are always an option too. I would have ordered a set already but I haven’t made my mind up on lift size yet so I’m waiting to match the links according. For now I’ll just undo two bolts.
