2020 JLURD in Middle America

[ExpeditionBuilds]

DIY plate system and 40% delete for the pup. Maple 1/2 inch primed plywood. 1/4 inch carpet padding and black outdoor carpet. Original hardware was used to secure it to the floor. Cubby to reach under storage (twin ARB compressor later this spring). Amazon rear passenger side storage container retrofitted with same plywood/carpet lid for rocker switch/ARB Fridge Outlet. One of the switches is wired to a rear glass light (remote velcro’d in place), with the other Four switches open for future projects. Ohh, and one of those trailgater things

Really nice work!


-Steven

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[j_stew762]

Cabfab Tire Carrier Installed today after getting it painted by my brother in law. Wish it would’ve came with instructions, and shims, even though I didnt need any washers. Latch side is about 1/16th high and I anticipate it settling a bit. Moving from 35inch ko3’s to 37incb Baja AT’s in a few weeks so that should help.

License plate bracket/camera/brake light came out nicely. It would probably take about the same amount of time to remove the spare (after taking off the license plate) as it would to patch a tire. No way around it that I can see.

 

[j_stew762]

As most experience, the plastics on these JL’s fade from UV rays.

My brother in law, who's painted cars for a GM dealership for 20* years, suggested SEM trim black in a rattle can with a good primer.

Time will tell…

 

[j_stew762]

Installed Mc GC 2.5 today. Full round of control arms, shocks, springs, a front drive shaft, and trying out their hd steering set-up.

 

[j_stew762]

Finally getting around to uploading some of my recent projects.

Added an IceCo VL45ProS fridge to the rear. I waited to order a slide because I wasn't sure if I wanted one.......I do. So here shortly I'll be adding IceCo's fridge slide, and a cover for the fridge, to clean this up a bit and protect my investment.

 

[j_stew762]

Originally I wanted to run a twin ARB compressor in the rear cubby, but I learned through this process I love the rear cubby for storage. I now want to use that cubby to add an additional battery for the fridge. I also wanted to be able to air up and down other rigs.

So I set out looking into the Napa air inflator....couldn't find it in stock anywhere. Then located this Desert Armor air inflator, which is basically the same part, minus their twist on it. I liked the Anderson connectors it came with, but wanted to put my spin on it. I cut off the 50 amp Anderson connectors, and jumped to the 120amp connectors, a bit bigger in size. Jumped to 4ga wire instead of the 7ga it came with, and wire loomed everything.

I ran 4ga wire (in wire loom) from the battery along the pass side frame rail to the rear bumper. I located a 120amp Anderson trailer hitch mount, and with the help of some self tappers I fastened it to the rear crossmember. Now I can tap in there for power when airing up and down. I still have the alligator clips so if I want to pass it off to another rig I can. All they need to do it tie into their battery, and connect the two 120amp connections together.

The Desert Armor, paired with Speedflate’s 4 way system, works great. 4 minutes to air down from 32psi to 10psi. 5 minutes to air back up from 10psi to 32psi.

 

[j_stew762]

Searched through the forums to help me narrow my search for a mesh top while summer cruising.....landed on JtopsUSA. Very pleased with the quality of this product. Don't think I'll ever need to purchase another for one for the life of the Jeep.

 

[j_stew762]

Took the boom mat headliner installed by the previous owner out. With some denatured alcohol and a scuff pad I got the hardtop back to factory specs and prepped for the Lizard Skin application (Sound deadener, then Ceramic insulator).

The lizard skin came out great. Its water based so cleanup is easy. The sound deadener is heavier, likely a more dense compound than the ceramic insulator.

After the lizard skin I “attempted” to instal a set of Hotheads Headliners. The initial problem was after the thickness of the lizard skin was applied, the headliner panels didn't fit as they otherwise would. Also, the thin strips of 3m (1/2inch wide) werent near enough to keep the panels held in place (upside down) on a rubber finish like the lizard skin.

So I removed the hothead headliner mounting strips on the back of then panels. I then took some 1/8 corrugated yard signs and cut wider strips /doubled their thickness to get my new 1 inch wide 3m vhb tape closer to the hardtop (had a gap/void due to the panels not fitting flush). Prepped the lizard skin with some denatured alcohol and put my headliner panels in place. I used a heat gun and placed some 10lb and 25lb plates on the panels after instal to aid in the 3m tape adhering to the lizard skin.

We’re 48hrs post instal and on day to of 90+ degrees here in St Louis, MO. So far so good

 

[j_stew762]

I had a problem running 37” Mickey Baja AT’s and just a 2.5” Metalclaok Game Changer lift when I got either front tire up in the air. The back tires, bumper side, would rub on the plastic wheel liner that protects a pinch weld from the cab. Sooo…..for the fix.

Factory plastic liners in the rear came out, and I began to address the aforementioned pinch weld. Up from the bottom I went to the third spot weld (those little dots/impressions along the pinch weld). Just below the third one, I started sketching out my radius with an attempt to cut out about 1” - 1.25” at the bottom. Once I got it cut and removed, I sanded down the edges with an angle grinder to smooth them out, just incase a tire still hits them they aren’t razor blades. Taped off the new edge and hit it with primer (look closely in the picture and you can see the paint change to primer). New Cavfab Inner Fenders went in like a dream and look amazing. Great color pop with the billet silver.

The front factory liners also came out. But before I just started cutting I read owners would have issues with rocks and debris hitting the factory (and most aftermarket) light housings/wires etc. causing damage and issues. So I left a portion of the factory liner, still held in by two 10mm bolts, a screw, two plastic rivets and a few push retainer clips. It’s stout in their and not going anywhere.

Love the design, fit, and finish of these inner fenders by Cavfab. Aluminum, light weight, and rust free for years to come. Also American made and Manufactured!

Will be testing them out in a few days on a long awaited Colorado trip!

 

[SouthCo]

Thanks, it’s actually the Billet Silver. My wife had a Grand Cherokee in this color and I loved it.

That hydro blue looks good. I dont think I could ever pull the trigger to get anything other than silver or black .

Getting a diesel was a requirement for me. I knew I’d go straight to 37s, be adding weight and need the low end torque.

Billet Silver is a beautiful color! Jeep needs to offer it again soon...

 

[j_stew762]

Finally got around to installing the IceCo VL45 fridge slide. I mounted it to a previous DIY decking system I made. Installed some threaded nuts to the underneath side for my mounting bolt to thread into. Turned out perfect. Love the new two piece design to the cover.

 

[Jaeth]

Super slick build. I love how it looks like it came that way. I've been thinking very similarly and I stumbled across yours. Maybe go 60% delete of rear seats for right now. I was looking at installing a fridge and decided that's the perfect spot for the air compressor, and then what you have is almost exactly like what I'm looking to do. Desert armor looks good, too.

On your rear deck that you installed the fridge on, what did you do with the current flip top cover? Did you just cut it out, or is there a way to remove it I am missing.


Edit; After looking around more specifically for that question, I think it looks like that whole rear panel is removable when you remove the 6 bolts. I could remove that panel and then make a new double door for either side of the rear floor tray, depending on what I had installed. Fridge slide / Drawer slide. Goal is to be able to return it to stock with minimal evidence that I messed with anything.

 

[j_stew762]

Super slick build. I love how it looks like it came that way. I've been thinking very similarly and I stumbled across yours. Maybe go 60% delete of rear seats for right now. I was looking at installing a fridge and decided that's the perfect spot for the air compressor, and then what you have is almost exactly like what I'm looking to do. Desert armor looks good, too.

On your rear deck that you installed the fridge on, what did you do with the current flip top cover? Did you just cut it out, or is there a way to remove it I am missing.


Edit; After looking around more specifically for that question, I think it looks like that whole rear panel is removable when you remove the 6 bolts. I could remove that panel and then make a new double door for either side of the rear floor tray, depending on what I had installed. Fridge slide / Drawer slide. Goal is to be able to return it to stock with minimal evidence that I messed with anything.

Correct, the OEM flip up is basically carpeted cardboard and is removed with little effort. There are two side panels secured by 3 bolts each. I kept everything and stored it in my basement. I chose to put the fridge behind the 60% side because thats where my kid will sit with all of his stuff and our Lab sits on the 40% side where she can stretch and lay down.

The larger side of the rear floor cubby for me is on the driver side, since I have a diesel. The lid to the cubby allows me to still store things in there all the way over to the passenger side. Very easy to get to, I store things in there under the fridge that I hope I never need (collapsible shovel, tire repair kit etc).

 

[Jaeth]

Correct, the OEM flip up is basically carpeted cardboard and is removed with little effort. There are two side panels secured by 3 bolts each. I kept everything and stored it in my basement. I chose to put the fridge behind the 60% side because thats where my kid will sit with all of his stuff and our Lab sits on the 40% side where she can stretch and lay down.

The larger side of the rear floor cubby for me is on the driver side, since I have a diesel. The lid to the cubby allows me to still store things in there all the way over to the passenger side. Very easy to get to, I store things in there under the fridge that I hope I never need (collapsible shovel, tire repair kit etc).

Thank you! This helps tremendously.

 

[j_stew762]

On a side note, my Desert Armor compressor quit working after I got back from Colorado. I pulled the black plastic cover off (near where the handle is) to see if a wire came loose because I knew the power supply to the unit was good. I couldnt find a wire but the circuit board looked like it might have overheated. I took a picture of it and sent it to Desert Armor.

Their reply

“We understand that you've taken the compressor apart to inspect it. However, we kindly remind you that taking apart the product does void the warranty, as mentioned in our product warranty terms.”

Take it for what its worth. I’ll be looking at constructing a portable dual ARB set up in the future.

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