2 DOOR JL build/order discussions master thread

[jlopes68]

I got it as insurance, much like the winch and recovery gear. I’ll feel better about exploring but don’t intend to seek out tests.

aw come on, what fun is that? besides we would all love to see you turtled on a boulder. lol

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[Krondor]

aw come on, what fun is that? besides we would all love to see you turtled on a boulder. lol

I usually avoid the turtling but now watch it happen because I'll be all "I have a skid!"

Moab and Ouray are early on my list of musts, so we will see what happens. I'll need to get up on a trail today and flex a bit to see how much bump I will need. Without a lift I'm sure I'll stuff the tires into the well liners.

My wheeling buddy doesn't get out anymore. Had plans to sell his LJ and get a truck. I'll have to keep trying to coax him back onto the trails.

 

[Krondor]

awfully clean under there lol

There are some rubs under there, but nothing like the Rubicon would add. Think more Mt Antero and a bunch of loose rock and tight turns.

The stock skid weighs in at 7.1lbs. I added 34.5lbs. Even with the jumbo warn on front it doesn't seem to have settled more than 3/4" to maybe an inch up front.

 

[xTITANx]

HELLO JEEPLES!
I just put a downpayment on a build order :D Black 2 door rubi with a premium soft top. Can't wait to drive it home in a few weeks!

 

[Fred]

HELLO JEEPLES!
I just put a downpayment on a build order :D Black 2 door rubi with a premium soft top. Can't wait to drive it home in a few weeks!

You won't see it in two weeks. I would guess 4 - 6 weeks would be more realistic. Don't forget to post pictures when you do get it.

 

[xTITANx]

You won't see it in two weeks. I would guess 4 - 6 weeks would be more realistic. Don't forget to post pictures when you do get it.

ya i know. they told me 5-7. I'm guessing early to mid June at the earliest. I know the 2door aren't as much of a priority so it may take longer than a 4door would have. Will post pics as soon as I see it in person :D

 

[PavementWarrior]

I’ll be half way there July 1st!

another 50 years to go?

 

[IMBlu]

another 50 years to go?

No way! 2-3 years

 

[IMBlu]

ya i know. they told me 5-7. I'm guessing early to mid June at the earliest. I know the 2door aren't as much of a priority so it may take longer than a 4door would have. Will post pics as soon as I see it in person :D

Welcome to the 2 door forum Tomas! Glad to have you join in! Yours will be here before you know it.

 

[xTITANx]

Welcome to the 2 door forum Tomas! Glad to have you join in! Yours will be here before you know it.

Thanks! When I knew I was going to get a Jeep this year I read this whole thread. Reading your early build wait times makes me happy mine is only a few weeks away

 

[BostonBilly]

Well made it home and sadly to work today. Jeep Beach was a blast and I am already thinking about what I want to do next year for a large event/vaca.

 

[Varilux]

I managed to get the hardtop off and my Bestop NX Twill Top installed this weekend! I cranked the hardtop up and down 4 or 5 times getting it just right (let's just say I'll be very unhappy if it falls). I hope those exterior screws have good tensile strength (I spent the whole first night hearing every little sound and thinking "Was that the top falling?!?" ;^).

Nevertheless, after getting the hardtop stowed, it was time to follow the 19 steps found in the Bestop instructions. Let me recommend you read step 11 several times... I had to install and remove bolts at least 4 times because I wasn't thinking and didn't read carefully!

I'm actually very happy with the top. Once it is installed (let me say that again, once it is installed), it's great. Getting it installed is a bit of a PITA, however. My point of comparison is the Bestop NX I installed on my '04 TJ... I have to admit this is a much nicer finished installation, but- truth be told- I prefer the design of the NX for the TJ. The NX for the JL is nicer in that the top profile goes above the speaker pods/sport bar- so there is no bulge. However, to accomplish this, Bestop added 4 (count 'em, FOUR) bows to the NX- and IMO this was a mistake for the following reasons.
1. I am likely to never take this top back off. It is such a pain to rig up all the bows, I cannot see me ever wanting to go through the process again. I'm not even sure how I would store the top once it is removed with all the components that come with this thing. My NX for the TJ was a fairly straightforward piece of kit- and I removed it every winter to use the hardtop. As it is, I will probably hold out for a few months before listing my hardtop for sale (assuming there is another two-door owner in the area that is looking for one). In this regard, more is less IMO. That said, the appearance is a lot nicer with the JL vs the TJ NX top- so I do appreciate that (in fact, I think the Jeep looks a lot sharper with the sloped back of the Bestop than it did with the square factory hardtop).
2. The extra doo-dads extend to the side and back windows. This part isn't as bad, but the windows are definitely more complicated than the TJ version of the NX top. I used to be able to rip off my windows in about 5 minutes (and install them in less than 10). Maybe after a few cycles I'll get that proficient with the JL version, but I doubt it. Fortunately, once the rainy month is done in Dallas, I usually just take the windows off and store them under the bed in the guest room...
3. Of course, since Rampage (which is also owned by Bestop) has seen fit to continually delay launch of their tonneau cover (which I kinda doubt will work with the NX anyway- since the door jamb surrounds extend the whole way back over the front mounting points of the hardtop), I'm going to have to fabricate a rigid tonneau for my cargo area. I have a pretty good idea of how I'm going to build it (the black fabric I'll be using to cover it arrived over the weekend :^), but it just annoys me that- a year and a half after the intro of the JL- manufacturers still can't deliver a part they've been promoting through distributors for at least 6 months now (sorry, rant over).
4. Oh, and one very OCD complaint... Step two of the instructions involves installing 12 little screws to affix the Bestop logo to the door jamb surrounds. I get that every manufacturer seems to think it's okay to plaster their logo on aftermarket parts, but if they want to put the Bestop logo on the door jamb, how about paying someone at the factory to install the 12 tiny screws instead of making me do it for you. Also, I could do without the "BESTOP" lettering that appears right above the center of the rear window. I paid you $1,000 for your part- I think I should get to decide if I want to advertise for you or not. (Yes, I am a cranky old man :^).

End assessment, this will probably be the top that stays on my Jeep for years. The quality of the twill is really, really nice- my drive to the airport this morning was pretty quiet (I'd have to say within a few decibels of the hardtop), the sunrider feature seems to work very nicely, they've added some storage compartments above the driver and passenger's heads, and the top has been really well designed. My only beef is it may have been over-designed.

 

[cmb]

Nice surprise my wheels showed up today, didn't even know they shipped as no shipping info was ever sent. Now to find the time to get them installed.

 

[Fred]

Well made it home and sadly to work today. Jeep Beach was a blast and I am already thinking about what I want to do next year for a large event/vaca.

Welcome back! Hope I can make it next year!

 

[keda69]

I heard something the other day, i haven't heard in 6 months . My cooling fan staying on after the engine is turned off. I forgot how loud it is.!

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