Advice/Help on build Ideas

[SK9638]

So after about a year of searching, watching, and waiting I have finally bought my first jeep. I found a really good deal on a used one owner stock sahara that has pretty much every option except the full time 4wd, 50k miles for under 30 grand. While waiting to buy my first wrangler I was able to look at pictures, read about peoples builds, and just take in different things on this forum and others that I have found I want to do on mine. This is the first vehicle I will have had anything done to it. Every other vehicle has always stayed stock with no changes other than tires when needed. So I have no clue on doing customization, so forgive any ignorance on my part.

I got a firecracker red sahara, colored matched fender flares and hard top that will be my daily driver but wanting to be able to still do some light off roading maybe a few times a year and I live in Kansas City area so hard rain/snow happens as far as weather. This will also be my introduction to off roading as well. In my head the design I am wanting is a retro look I have seen some do along with the Jk chief edition. I want to do a white hard top, and I will either be going with the quadratec cj retro wheels in white or the kmc lobo in white. I was originally leaning towards the quadratec because I loved the retro cap stickers I saw people putting on them, though I prefer the look of the kmc it just doesn't look like I could end up putting a sticker or metal badge over that center kmc logo. I am wanting that retro/beach look as I grew up in California and seeing jeeps on the beach, cruising around is what I loved about them. I am also thinking of just doing a hard shell spare tire cover and getting a massive retro jeep sticker to go on that instead of each cap on the wheels. Hopefully pixie decals can do that big if I go that route.


Onto my questions though. I am leaning towards getting 33's for tires, going with Mickey Thompson baja boss A/T. My goal is to retain as much mpg/on road comfort as possible. I know those things suffer as tire sizes and lifts go up. With that in mind, and the slight possibility of going to 35's in 4-5 years, is there anything I should add? A better overall suspension and or lift package that works great with the possibility of going to 35's? Swapping to rubicon take off kits to go with the 33's I want? Taking long road trips, 700 plus miles, is something I do. So this is more about getting that nice wrangler stance/look but not going overboard when I know I will not be using it off road that much as I use it vastly more on road. What would you guys recommend? Any advice on looks, better tire options, build tips is appreciated. I am not wanting to go big on lifts either, 1.5-2 inch lift at most.

Also this being an 18, I checked and the TSB had not been done for the steering gear box. I have had no issues for the past 3 weeks since owning and driving on and off highway. I do notice some wandering, but I cant tell if it just part of the gear box or wind. I bought the wrangler out of state and had it shipped to me. Am I able to just take it to a local dealer and have them do the tsb on it?

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[Bulletbill]

My first mod ended up being steel bumpers after I knocked my plastic one askew on a drop that I didn’t pick a great line on. Taking it out on the trail will give you a better idea of where you want to go with your build if you don’t already have an idea of what you want to do.

That said, 33”s is a good place to start. You’ll see a stock Jeep is incredible capable especially with a good set of tires. Take your time and get used to the jeep and off-roading, then let that be your guide.

As a side note, you should invest in some basic recovery gear and look around for a jeep or off-road club in your area.

 

[TheBirdie72]

Take some time to get to know your Jeep stock. Even with no mods, it is still very capable. Joining a local Jeep club is also a good idea. Before modding your Jeep, do your homework; not all aftermarket parts are quality, and big changes don’t usually come cheap. And most importantly, have fun! ?

 

[Flip]

Sounds good bro, there's nothing wrong with your plans. I look forward to seeing your jeep when your build is finished.

the slight possibility of going to 35's in 4-5 years, is there anything I should add? Yes

If you're going to run 35" tires there are a few possibilities to at least consider; re-gearing, mid length or stubby front bumper if there is more clearance needed for approach angles. You want to retain as much mpg and drive 700-mile-long road trips. I'm not speaking on anyone's behalf but from what I've read generally, people don't install 35" tires to save on fuel. I watch a lot of overland videos, they run 33's tire for less weight = better fuel consumption, and less wear & tear. It sounds like a set of 33" pizza cutters would serve you well.

Disclosure: pizza cutters are generally not preferred aesthetically.

I agree with @TheBirdie72. A stock jeep with a set AT's might be all you need. Take your time, get to know your jeep and enjoy it.

Happy trails bro.

 

[SK9638]

My first mod ended up being steel bumpers after I knocked my plastic one askew on a drop that I didn’t pick a great line on. Taking it out on the trail will give you a better idea of where you want to go with your build if you don’t already have an idea of what you want to do.

That said, 33”s is a good place to start. You’ll see a stock Jeep is incredible capable especially with a good set of tires. Take your time and get used to the jeep and off-roading, then let that be your guide.

As a side note, you should invest in some basic recovery gear and look around for a jeep or off-road club in your area.

This is something I thought of after the post. What tools and recovery gear should I get to leave in my Jeep? I am joining a local Jeep club as coworkers have pointed me towards one.

 

[SK9638]

Sounds good bro, there's nothing wrong with your plans. I look forward to seeing your jeep when your build is finished.

the slight possibility of going to 35's in 4-5 years, is there anything I should add? Yes

If you're going to run 35" tires there are a few possibilities to at least consider; re-gearing, mid length or stubby front bumper if there is more clearance needed for approach angles. You want to retain as much mpg and drive 700-mile-long road trips. I'm not speaking on anyone's behalf but from what I've read generally, people don't install 35" tires to save on fuel. I watch a lot of overland videos, they run 33's tire for less weight = better fuel consumption, and less wear & tear. It sounds like a set of 33" pizza cutters would serve you well.

Disclosure: pizza cutters are generally not preferred aesthetically.

I agree with @TheBirdie72. A stock jeep with a set AT's might be all you need. Take your time, get to know your jeep and enjoy it.

Happy trails bro.

That is the exact Jeep that started my love for what I want to do. Red is my favorite color, though I was very close to buying a chief blue chief edition.

My build is more aesthetic. The way I want it to look, I just don’t want it to be just that though. I want the parts and build to function well, not just be pretty to look at. I do plan on a stubby bumper, either the OEM steel one since I really like it or the AEV RX. I enjoy my jeep as it is now. I just want to make sure what I plan to do I end up doing it right and understand it. Mpgs aren’t a concern, I’m getting just over 19 mpg doing my daily city miles commute. Which is better than I thought. Going to 33s is for the look and to get me started to try off-roading, nothing too serious.

 

[Flip]

That is the exact Jeep that started my love for what I want to do. Red is my favorite color, though I was very close to buying a chief blue chief edition.

My build is more aesthetic. The way I want it to look, I just don’t want it to be just that though. I want the parts and build to function well, not just be pretty to look at. I do plan on a stubby bumper, either the OEM steel one since I really like it or the AEV RX. I enjoy my jeep as it is now. I just want to make sure what I plan to do I end up doing it right and understand it. Mpgs aren’t a concern, I’m getting just over 19 mpg doing my daily city miles commute. Which is better than I thought. Going to 33s is for the look and to get me started to try off-roading, nothing too serious.

That jeep is sexy! I think you would be a healthy candidate for the @Opus Sexy jeep contest next year.

 

[TheBirdie72]

This is something I thought of after the post. What tools and recovery gear should I get to leave in my Jeep? I am joining a local Jeep club as coworkers have pointed me towards one.

As far as tools and recovery gear to leave in your Jeep, that is going to depend on the degree to which you intend to off-road. You can carry as much or as little gear as you want to be prepared, but you also shouldn’t off-road alone. Having a buddy is important for safety and recovery reasons, and would allow you to share tools and resources as needed. Anything you can do to reduce weight is a good thing, and there is no point in both of you carrying the same heavy full wrench set (for example) if you don’t have to, right? Just making the point of cooperation, coordination, pre-planning with others is all.

But to more specifically answer your question, here are some points to consider:
- Pretty much everything mechanically on a Jeep can be handled with a couple of sockets, torx bits, and a torque wrench. So many things are just bolt-on-bolt-off to create simplicity. That, and maybe a small rubber mallet, and a couple of cheap plastic trim tools are really 99% of it in my experience.
- Automotive stores and places like Harbor Freight sell recovery gear “packages” that come with good stuff to get you started. It is important to know the weight of your vehicle and keep cost in mind when building a recovery gear set for your individual Jeep.

Below are some more specific items you might need depending on your application:
- shovel and gloves
- recovery points (shackles / receiver hitch)
- recovery/snatch strap/tow strap
- winch and any needed straps
- tree saver strap?
- snatch block
- hi-lift or appropriate jack
- traction mats
- tire repair kit

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