Alaska 2021 JLU 4XE Rubicon

[BigMaCro]

It's about time I start a build thread to track the work on my 2021 Granite Crystal Metallic 4xe Rubicon.

So far, I've installed Hyline front bumper, Zeon 10-S, and LoD Destroyer rear bumper and tire carrier, amongst many interior upgrades. But I've now ordered a lift, so now the fun is really beginning!


Index:

Completed:
Hyline Front Bumper/Zeon 10-s winch
Rigid Radiance Plus 20" light bar removed
LoD rear bumper / tire carrier
4xe rear seat delete / platform
Uniden CB and B-Tech GMRS radios
Armorlite Floor
Hot Heads headliner / Sound Assassin
RokBlokz mudflaps
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT 37x12.50R17 tires
Method Racing 701 17x9 -12 wheels in Bahia Blue
Metalcloak Game Changer 3.5 lift
Bilstein B8 5160 shocks
Motobilt Crusher Rocker Guards
MetalCloak UnderCloak Integrated Armor System
VisionX CR7 Spot lights on bumper bar
KC Hilites Flex Era 3 fog lights in bumper skid
Rhino Rack Backbone & Pioneer Platform
Rigid 40" Radiance light bar
KC Hilites rear Chase light bar
Hella flood side lights on Rhino Rack
Rear cargo area power distribution and switching
EZFlate MOAB compressor installed in rear cargo compartment

Future plans:
Bestop Sunrider for hardtop
Lights, more lights

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[BigMaCro]

I have installed 37x12.5 MT Baja Boss ATs on Method 701s 17x9 -12 in Bahia Blue.

This is stock Rubicon suspension. I'll be installing a MetalCloak GC 3.5 lift with Bilstein 5160s soon!

 

[Whaler27]

Looks great!

I’m curious to hear how the 4xe performs in sustained extreme cold.

 

[BigMaCro]

Looks great!

I’m curious to hear how the 4xe performs in sustained extreme cold.

It's been a real booger of a winter, but it has been really good so far!

I've got a whole thread covering this:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rigid-cold-snowy-alaska-my-experience.104923/

 

[BigMaCro]

Started the Metal Cloak Game Changer 3.5 lift this weekend. I got the front end put together.

I'm also using the MC Prolignment Drop Brackets, and Bilstein B8 5160 shocks.

 

[BigMaCro]

The lift is "done"! A reminder this is a MetalCloak Game Changer 3.5 with front & rear drop brackets, and Bilstein 5160 shocks, on Method 701 17x9's with Mickey Thompson 37x12.5 Baja Boss AT's.

I've had it on for a couple weeks, but haven't had time to finish it up until today. Got the arms adjusted well enough for now, front driveshaft replaced, and went for a test drive. No problems, tracks well.

Here's the Metalcloak front drop bracket:

The factory skid bar & plates bolt over the top of the bracket just fine. Hope to replace this with a real skid plate before long.

The rear drop brackets:

 

[Tredsdert]

The lift is "done"! A reminder this is a MetalCloak Game Changer 3.5 with front & rear drop brackets, and Bilstein 5160 shocks, on Method 701 17x9's with Mickey Thompson 37x12.5 Baja Boss AT's.

I've had it on for a couple weeks, but haven't had time to finish it up until today. Got the arms adjusted well enough for now, front driveshaft replaced, and went for a test drive. No problems, tracks well.

Here's the Metalcloak front drop bracket:

The factory skid bar & plates bolt over the top of the bracket just fine. Hope to replace this with a real skid plate before long.

The rear drop brackets:

Oh man, so sleek!

 

[APiratesLife4Me]

The lift is "done"! A reminder this is a MetalCloak Game Changer 3.5 with front & rear drop brackets, and Bilstein 5160 shocks, on Method 701 17x9's with Mickey Thompson 37x12.5 Baja Boss AT's.

Here's the Metalcloak front drop bracket:

The factory skid bar & plates bolt over the top of the bracket just fine. Hope to replace this with a real skid plate before long.

First, that looks great! You're going to love the flex!

Are you running wheel spacers with the 701's? I have the same lift and wheels, but really, really want to ditch my wheel spacers.

Which "wheel backspacing" option did you choose when you ordered the lift?

And thank you for those drop bracket photos. Yours are probably the best I've seen to help me decide if I can still run my frame-mounted sliders or not .... and I'm still not sure ha ha!

 

[BigMaCro]

First, that looks great! You're going to love the flex!

Are you running wheel spacers with the 701's? I have the same lift and wheels, but really, really want to ditch my wheel spacers.

Which "wheel backspacing" option did you choose when you ordered the lift?

And thank you for those drop bracket photos. Yours are probably the best I've seen to help me decide if I can still run my frame-mounted sliders or not .... and I'm still not sure ha ha!

The wheels have minus 12 offset which is 4.375 or something like that. I've got plenty of room to clear the shock brackets. I probably didn't even need to go that much with a Rubicon axle.

I know what you mean about the drop brackets using that forward frame rail bolt hole. It wasn't difficult to attach the skid plate over that drop bracket hole, but something that requires more alignment like rock rails might be a problem. That's one reason I'm considering metal cloak or similar rails that just mount on the body or the body mounts.

 

[APiratesLife4Me]

The wheels have minus 12 offset which is 4.375 or something like that. I've got plenty of room to clear the shock brackets. I probably didn't even need to go that much with a Rubicon axle.

I know what you mean about the drop brackets using that forward frame rail bolt hole. It wasn't difficult to attach the skid plate over that drop bracket hole, but something that requires more alignment like rock rails might be a problem. That's one reason I'm considering metal cloak or similar rails that just mount on the body or the body mounts.

Ahhhhhhh! That's what I missed. When I ordered, there was only the 17x8.5 with 4.75" backspacing. I would definitely have gone 17x9 if that was available. And I think you're right about the Rubi axles. THANK YOU!

I still think there is room to ditch the wheel spacers, but I need to flex and measure more. Onward.

Killer Jeep! I'm jealous of that torque.

 

[BigMaCro]

Installed Motobilt Crusher rocker guards.

Man, these things are stout 3/16" steel throughout.

I finished them with Steel-It rattlecan, and put some 3m anti-skid tape on the step.

 

[BigMaCro]

Before installing my snorkel, I installed a winch disconnect solenoid. I bought a Cole Hersee 200A unit instead of the unlabled mystery one Warn sells.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005K2429I?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

I wired it to Aux 4, so I only have one Aux left!

I made a bracket from some 90 angles, supported on the bottom by a battery tray bolt.

 

[JLUR Farout]

I run mine straight off the battery. The winch that is. All of my Aux switches now have a purpose.

 

[MauiSteve]

I really like the rear bumper, I have the LOD front stubby, it looks great.
Good move on the winch solenoid, I did the same.

 

[BigMaCro]

I was finally able to install the Metalcloak UnderCloak skid plates on the 4xe. It went on pretty well - I was able to do it in my garage with just a floor jack to help. It sure is stout!

The skids are notched to fit around the Metalcloak DB3 rear drop brackets - this is one reason I chose products from the same vendor!

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