'22 JLR 2.0T build progress/wheeling thread

[Remorseless]

Yeah, that was a serious pain in the ass for me. Finally got everything to settle with the nipple in place, but damn! Then you pull this "No way" idea. Noted for next time if I must do it again. ??

So get some miles in. I want to swap notes. I still haven't any real trails under the belt, but Spring is coming.. maybe.

Love your build. ?

Spent a good while fiddling with the steering wheel getting it straight, so I've got ~60 miles on the lift currently, good mix of interstate (70+), rural 55+, and in-town. For on road stuff, definitely feels like you've got more shock given the settings I'm running (Front - 5 LSC and 5 HSC, Rear - 5 LSC and 6 HSC) - but it's firm and not harsh. Felt like the stock shocks were harsher, even though these are firmer. Little more body sway from the softer springs and taller height, but not too bad, LSC compensates well. I like the way it drives better now than I did stock.

I am tracking down a noise in the back - groan or a pop. Not sure if it's the tailgate with the new carrier and heavier tire, or some bushing noise or something just yet. Leaning towards it being body-related though, don't really feel anything with it in the chassis, just hear it.

For trails, looking at a trip mid-April. Local FS trail system opens this upcoming weekend. Trying to get off work around my birthday to go do some weekday wheeling and avoid the crowds.

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[GATORB8]

I need to get a dry erase board.

Is there a story behind the reminder to release the compressor?

 

[Remorseless]

I need to get a dry erase board.

Is there a story behind the reminder to release the compressor?

Once left it full for a few months. Came in and went to use it for something or other and it was full, spit out a bunch of condensation from the line. It's just a little Dewalt jobsite thing - 4.5 gallon tank, 225 PSI, 5 SCFM - so it should really be emptied after each use, especially with how intermittently it gets used.

 

[GATORB8]

Once left it full for a few months. Came in and went to use it for something or other and it was full, spit out a bunch of condensation from the line. It's just a little Dewalt jobsite thing - 4.5 gallon tank, 225 PSI, 5 SCFM - so it should really be emptied after each use, especially with how intermittently it gets used.

Reminds me, I should probably drain mine after using if for a bunch of stuff on the trailer this winter.

I was worried you were gonna say you had one explode, thinking of my big harbor freight special sitting full in the garage right now.

 

[Remorseless]

Reminds me, I should probably drain mine after using if for a bunch of stuff on the trailer this winter.

I was worried you were gonna say you had one explode, thinking of my big harbor freight special sitting full in the garage right now.

Nah, no explosions - did drop it on my foot once (in flip flops) while pulling the passenger seat out of the JK to replace the cushions, but that's it. That shit sucked.

 

[Remorseless]

Well, got the Jeep out for wheeling yesterday. Ran great, no issues, suspension felt great. Only minor things to chase down - I have an annoying groan/pop from the rear of the body (sounding like tailgate/tailgate reinforcement/tire carrier) that I need to figure out and my passenger rear tire was getting into the fender closeout panel pretty aggressively, so that needs to get massaged or something. May replace the closeout panel with a flat piece of ABS and flatten out the bump in the fender liner with a heat gun. Gonna stare at it some more and think on it.

Either way, Jeep performed great and felt great on the road home afterwards as well. We ran all the D trails basically (Dutch John, Dickey Bell [twice], and Daniel). Still need to crawl under it to check everything out, but fairly pleased. Random pics and vids below:

Daniel:

GoPro view of the ledge:



Dickey Bell:

 

[GATORB8]

Well, got the Jeep out for wheeling yesterday. Ran great, no issues, suspension felt great. Only minor things to chase down - I have an annoying groan/pop from the rear of the body (sounding like tailgate/tailgate reinforcement/tire carrier) that I need to figure out and my passenger rear tire was getting into the fender closeout panel pretty aggressively, so that needs to get massaged or something. May replace the closeout panel with a flat piece of ABS and flatten out the bump in the fender liner with a heat gun. Gonna stare at it some more and think on it.

Either way, Jeep performed great and felt great on the road home afterwards as well. We ran all the D trails basically (Dutch John, Dickey Bell [twice], and Daniel). Still need to crawl under it to check everything out, but fairly pleased. Random pics and vids below:

Daniel:

GoPro view of the ledge:



Dickey Bell:

Makes me want to get back out to URE soon.

 

[Remorseless]

Makes me want to get back out to URE soon.

It was gorgeous out there yesterday once it warmed up a bit. Dead quiet too, had the place to ourselves basically. A lot more charming when there's nobody around lol

 

[Remorseless]

Took care of the 2 door frame stud recall yesterday. 45 minutes of screwing around with the MORE gas tank skid and less than 5 minutes with a hammer and chisel to knock the stud off the frame. Laying on my back taking that skid on and off though is enough to make me consider some aluminum skids if I keep staying out of them at Uwharrie. 90% of my wheeling will be there, and it's easy enough/the Jeep's tall enough that I'm not anticipating getting into the skids often at this height (only things I caught last trip were the muffler, rear LCA frame skid, and diff skids). Trips to Windrock/Gulches/Rausch/etc will probably get into the belly skids, but those are going to be fairly infrequent trips just due to how busy life is, so I'm really wondering if I can get away with the weaker but lighter aluminum. Might be just enough...

Also, since Shrockworks up and went out of business, I've been looking at alternate rock rails and have landed on the Metalcloak overline rails as my likely set: JL Wrangler 2-Door Overline Rocker Rails (metalcloak.com). I've been pretty unimpressed with the amount of flex present in even the frame mounted rails for the JL (which I assume is probably related to the thinness of the JL frame material) and so I'm just sticking to body mounted. It'll probably flex about the same, but at least I'll keep the ground clearance. They seem plenty strong enough for how little I'll probably use them.

Other than that, started prepping the Jeep for winch plate/winch install:

Gonna pick at that in the evenings over the next little while.

 

[Krondor]

Took care of the 2 door frame stud recall yesterday. 45 minutes of screwing around with the MORE gas tank skid and less than 5 minutes with a hammer and chisel to knock the stud off the frame. Laying on my back taking that skid on and off though is enough to make me consider some aluminum skids if I keep staying out of them at Uwharrie. 90% of my wheeling will be there, and it's easy enough/the Jeep's tall enough that I'm not anticipating getting into the skids often at this height (only things I caught last trip were the muffler, rear LCA frame skid, and diff skids. Trips to Windrock/Gulches/Rausch/etc will probably get into the belly skids, but those are going to be fairly infrequent trips just due to how busy life is, so I'm really wondering if I can get away with the weaker but lighter aluminum. Might be just enough...

Also, since Shrockworks up and went out of business, I've been looking at alternate rock rails and have landed on the Metalcloak overline rails as my likely set: JL Wrangler 2-Door Overline Rocker Rails (metalcloak.com). I've been pretty unimpressed with the amount of flex present in even the frame mounted rails for the JL (which I assume is probably related to the thinness of the JL frame material) and so I'm just sticking to body mounted. It'll probably flex about the same, but at least I'll keep the ground clearance. They seem plenty strong enough for how little I'll probably use them.

Other than that, started prepping the Jeep for winch plate/winch install:

Gonna pick at that in the evenings over the next little while.

I tried to go aluminum but had no takers for the steel bits.

I think you will like the sliders.

Adding a winch finally?

Looking awesome man! ?

 

[Remorseless]

I tried to go aluminum but had no takers for the steel bits.

I think you will like the sliders.

Adding a winch finally?

Looking awesome man! ?

Yeah, I'm liking the looks of the sliders a lot. Also liking the price point for the quality. And yes, finally getting the winch on. Been sitting on my bench for a month or two and it has to go on to consider a Windrock trip.

 

[Roky]

Took care of the 2 door frame stud recall yesterday. 45 minutes of screwing around with the MORE gas tank skid and less than 5 minutes with a hammer and chisel to knock the stud off the frame. Laying on my back taking that skid on and off though is enough to make me consider some aluminum skids if I keep staying out of them at Uwharrie. 90% of my wheeling will be there, and it's easy enough/the Jeep's tall enough that I'm not anticipating getting into the skids often at this height (only things I caught last trip were the muffler, rear LCA frame skid, and diff skids). Trips to Windrock/Gulches/Rausch/etc will probably get into the belly skids, but those are going to be fairly infrequent trips just due to how busy life is, so I'm really wondering if I can get away with the weaker but lighter aluminum. Might be just enough...

Also, since Shrockworks up and went out of business, I've been looking at alternate rock rails and have landed on the Metalcloak overline rails as my likely set: JL Wrangler 2-Door Overline Rocker Rails (metalcloak.com). I've been pretty unimpressed with the amount of flex present in even the frame mounted rails for the JL (which I assume is probably related to the thinness of the JL frame material) and so I'm just sticking to body mounted. It'll probably flex about the same, but at least I'll keep the ground clearance. They seem plenty strong enough for how little I'll probably use them.

Other than that, started prepping the Jeep for winch plate/winch install:

Gonna pick at that in the evenings over the next little while.

Not that anybody cares… ? …,but I’m gonna go with aluminum skids, likely Artec….I’m already packing too much weight, just one lower control arm weighs 32 pounds…….?

 

[Remorseless]

Not that anybody cares… ? …,but I’m gonna go with aluminum skids, likely Artec….I’m already packing too much weight, just one lower control arm weighs 32 pounds…….?

It adds up quick man, plus - I dunno about you - but that anti-aging cream they shill on TV doesn't seem to be getting my back into the shape it was in my 20s like I'd hoped lol. Just takes one weird twist hauling that gas tank skid around to sideline me for a while laying on the garage floor waiting to be able to stand up straight again.

Artec makes a good belly system from what I can see. They finally have a 2 door kit, but I'm not sure I'm digging the price. 6061 T6 is a good alloy for aluminum, which is definitely better than the 5052 H32 most places use - but she ain't cheap.

 

[Roky]

It adds up quick man, plus - I dunno about you - but that anti-aging cream they shill on TV doesn't seem to be getting my back into the shape it was in my 20s like I'd hoped lol. Just takes one weird twist hauling that gas tank skid around to sideline me for a while laying on the garage floor waiting to be able to stand up straight again.

Artec makes a good belly system from what I can see. They finally have a 2 door kit, but I'm not sure I'm digging the price. 6061 T6 is a good alloy for aluminum, which is definitely better than the 5052 H32 most places use - but she ain't cheap.

Yeah, I guess I don’t look at the price of stuff like I should…lol. I took a 3 year hiatus from Jeep, knowing the JL was coming out. In that time I saved all my OT, side work, and wrenching money, put in separate account so when 2018 got here I had a LOT of mod money saved up…… ?

 

[Remorseless]

Yeah, I guess I don’t look at the price of stuff like I should…lol. I took a 3 year hiatus from Jeep, knowing the JL was coming out. In that time I saved all my OT, side work, and wrenching money, put in separate account so when 2018 got here I had a LOT of mod money saved up…… ?

That's pretty much what I did as well when I decided the JK was at the end of its build and I wanted a fresh start. Unfortunately for the JL (but fortunately for us) we found out we got a kiddo on the way and so the purse strings are tightening back up this year till the off season. Plenty of time to fill up a spreadsheet with parts I want lol

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