3TV's 2-Door Toad Build

[dragoneggs]

Today I installed a Vector Offroad storage shelf. I like the way it mounts, and it feels super solid. It is made of aluminum and is very light weight.

Could you measure from the top of your mat to the bottom of your shelf? I’m wondering if I can get into my fridge?

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[3TV]

My Jeep is still on a hoist finishing up the rear 4.88 gears. I hope to see it back on its wheels tomorrow and can measure then. I'm getting excited to see what it is going to look like.

 

[telly9987]

Southwest Utah

Gotcha. Was hoping maybe a bit more south and a bit more west lol. Stoked to watch the build. Congrats

 

[3TV]

Could you measure from the top of your mat to the bottom of your shelf? I’m wondering if I can get into my fridge?

25 1/2"

 

[3TV]

Progress continues, and the steroids I have been feeding this 2-door are starting to work. This is the first I've seen it back on its own tires.

 

[3TV]

This last week has seen some big changes to my little 2-door, and It now has a Metalcloak 3 1/2" Gamechanger lift with Metalcloak Black shocks, and 4.88 gears in the axles.
Stance with 3 1/2" lift and 37s is good. I had thought about 38s, but the 37s and Method Beadgrip wheels were free takeoffs I already had, so why spend money on different tires and wheels. The 4.88 gears and 37" tires are a great combination on road and off road. After a few years driving a Jeep with a 2.72:1 T-case I had forgotten how good a 4:1 T-case is.

The Metalcloak Black shocks are fantastic in my opinion. I've used several brands of shocks over the years, and in the JL in particular. If I were to rate the shocks I have personally used, I would rank them:
King > Metalcloak Black > Fox DSC > Falcon. Both the King shocks and Fox DSC shocks were tuned by Accutune specifically for my vehicles weight, tire size, and driving style with intended use. The Metalcloak Black shocks are just off the shelf shocks direct from Metalcloak. The Kings are plusher, but the Blacks are a little more controlled. When driving my 2-door with Metalcloak Black shocks I think they are best. When driving my 4-door with King shocks I think they are best. To be honest I have not touched a clicker on the Black shocks. They feel really good, so I haven't changed them. The Fox DSC shocks required a lot of time trying to adjust them more to my liking, but they just never were as good as the King or Black shocks. Falcons are just too stiff.

I did some suspension flex and tire clearance testing today, and it is really working well. I have Metalcloak Durospring bumpstops that limit suspension compression by 1" relative to the stock jounce bumpers and have a more progressive and more cushioned feel when the bumpstops contact the axle. I also have two of the Metalcloak bumpstop extension pads on the front axle and two on the rear axle, all of which provides good clearance for 37s. In the pictures the bumpstops are about 1/4" away from the axle pad in front and 3/4" away from the axle pad in back.

 

[3TV]

For taillights I chose Motobilt High Clearance taillights. They are tucked in nice and tight and have great classic Jeep styling. The LED lights in the taillights have a classic pattern without all of the swoopy curved or angled patterns some of the aftermarket companies use in their taillights that are too busy looking and just distract from the appearance of the Jeep. The Motobilt lights have white LEDs in the bottom portion of their main light that are used for reverse lights but also include a very bright rear facing light from Baja Designs that I have wired to accessory switch #4.

 

[3TV]

For front lighting I am using a set of Baja Design LP6 lights in the middle, mounted on a Motobilt fairlead mount. These are flanked by a set of Baja Designs LP9 lights on the sides. I also use the stock LED fog lights in the Rugged Ridge XOR front bumper. Headlights are OEM LEDs.

I like the combination of lighting, XOR bumper, and Warn Zeon 10s winch. It is nice to see a plan come together. And I should be able to see where I am going in the dark.

 

[3TV]

For rock sliders and steps, I went with Rock-Slide Engineering Step Sliders. I am using the optional skid plates for the Step Sliders and the optional body armor.

 

[dragoneggs]

For front lighting I am using a set of Baja Design LP6 lights in the middle, mounted on a Motobilt fairlead mount. These are flanked by a set of Baja Designs LP9 lights on the sides. I also use the stock LED fog lights in the Rugged Ridge XOR front bumper. Headlights are OEM LEDs.

I like the combination of lighting, XOR bumper, and Warn Zeon 10s winch. It is nice to see a plan come together. And I should be able to see where I'm going in the dark.

View attachment 1007235

I pretty sure you will see in the dark with that setup!

 

[3TV]

I pretty sure you will see in the dark with that setup!

LOL. When I switch them all on it is like it is daylight again.

 

[3TV]

I now have 200 miles on the new suspension with daily offroad trips purposely trying to flex the suspension to its limits. I measured lift height when I brought it home and again this morning, and the measurements are the same. It hasn't settled at all. I measure from the bottom of the front upper spring cup to the top of the axle to determine actual lift height relative to a "stock" JL. See diagram below. The measurement I get is 15 1/2", so my JLR with a Metalcloak 3 1/2" lift has an actual lift height of 4 5/8". I'm actually happy with that. I still have Metalcloak Undercloak skids to add.

 

[BajaDesigns]

For front lighting I am using a set of Baja Design LP6 lights in the middle, mounted on a Motobilt fairlead mount. These are flanked by a set of Baja Designs LP9 lights on the sides. I also use the stock LED fog lights in the Rugged Ridge XOR front bumper. Headlights are OEM LEDs.

I like the combination of lighting, XOR bumper, and Warn Zeon 10s winch. It is nice to see a plan come together. And I should be able to see where I am going in the dark.

Great setup! We will be coming out with headlight replacement here shortly as well

Best,

Brahian Herrera | Forum Sales & Support
Email: [email protected] | Phone: (760) 560-2252 Ext 201

 

[3TV]

On board air is completed. I am using an ARB Twin air compressor mounted under the passenger seat with a Grimm mount.

 

[3TV]

For differential covers I chose Dana 44 advantek covers. They are beefy and help with cooling.

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