First Wrangler! General questions

[Mike08]

Happy to have ordered my first Jeep ever; a 2D manual Rubi! It's primarily going to be an off-roader.

I'm hoping for delivery before February and am wondering if there are any groups in the Denver area that want to get me started with 4x4ing.

While I've been waiting, to satisfy my impatience, I've looked into mods to start off with and am wondering what people's opinions are on the following and any other recommendations. In order

- led headlight for halogen replacement
- aluminum front bumper (barricade)
- winch (barricade)
- recovery kit
- air compressor
- mud/splash guards
- wheels + 35s (probably far into the future)
- (not too interested in a lift but I'll probably be convinced otherwise)

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[Dyolfknip74]

Happy to have ordered my first Jeep ever; a 2D manual Rubi! It's primarily going to be an off-roader.

I'm hoping for delivery before February and am wondering if there are any groups in the Denver area that want to get me started with 4x4ing.

While I've been waiting, to satisfy my impatience, I've looked into mods to start off with and am wondering what people's opinions are on the following and any other recommendations. In order

- led headlight for halogen replacement
- aluminum front bumper (barricade)
- winch (barricade)
- recovery kit
- air compressor
- mud/splash guards
- wheels + 35s (probably far into the future)
- (not too interested in a lift but I'll probably be convinced otherwise)

Your whole list has been covered extensively here.
Best bet to search forum is using Google.
Enter into Google, for instance : "air compressor JLWranglerforum" and you'll get a lot of hits.

Congrats on new Jeep!

 

[Heimkehr]

@Mike08

Congrats on the pending delivery of your new Jeep.

One quick comment, and then it's off to the Search page for you.

Living in Colorado as you do, you might experience snow accumulating on and around the headlight lenses after changing the halogens to LEDs. The latter don't generate enough heat to melt snow, whereas the former usually does (subject to ambient temps and the consistency of the snow). Voice of experience here.

Heated LED headlights are available, so have a look at them if the foregoing interests you.

 

[DaltonGang]

If you havent ordered the LED from the factory first, try to get it changed. Less of a headache to have it from the factory.
if you cannot change your order, dont worry, and dont go aftermarket LED. Too many headaches and issues.
i went with aftermarket Halogens. I believe Phillips, which make much more powerful bulbs, for next to nothing prices. Zero issues, after 3 years of use, and very bright.

 

[El Zilcho]

If you havent ordered the LED from the factory first, try to get it changed. Less of a headache to have it from the factory.
if you cannot change your order, dont worry, and dont go aftermarket LED. Too many headaches and issues.
i went with aftermarket Halogens. I believe Phillips, which make much more powerful bulbs, for next to nothing prices. Zero issues, after 3 years of use, and very bright.

And I have zero issues with my aftermarket KIWI MASTER LEDs after 2 years I really think that it was one of my best mods.

 

[Mike08]

Your whole list has been covered extensively here.
Best bet to search forum is using Google.
Enter into Google, for instance : "air compressor JLWranglerforum" and you'll get a lot of hits.

Congrats on new Jeep!

Hey! Gotcha but I wasn't asking for specific items, I am more so asking about the priority in which I'm getting them and if there's anything I'm missing.

@Mike08

Congrats on the pending delivery of your new Jeep.

One quick comment, and then it's off to the Search page for you.

Living in Colorado as you do, you might experience snow accumulating on and around the headlight lenses after changing the halogens to LEDs. The latter don't generate enough heat to melt snow, whereas the former usually does (subject to ambient temps and the consistency of the snow). Voice of experience here.

Heated LED headlights are available, so have a look at them if the foregoing interests you.

I didn't even think of that nor know that was a problem (luckily had halogens when living out in Buffalo NY). Really appreciate you mentioning that and now time for more research!

 

[Mike08]

If you havent ordered the LED from the factory first, try to get it changed. Less of a headache to have it from the factory.
if you cannot change your order, dont worry, and dont go aftermarket LED. Too many headaches and issues.
i went with aftermarket Halogens. I believe Phillips, which make much more powerful bulbs, for next to nothing prices. Zero issues, after 3 years of use, and very bright.

I didn't factory order them because the $1,700 or so that they wanted seemed a bit crazy to me. I figured I would go aftermarket bubs for ~$200 which would be a quick replacement and get the taillights used whenever I come across a cheap pair.

 

[lalalofsky]

I didn't factory order them because the $1,700 or so that they wanted seemed a bit crazy to me. I figured I would go aftermarket bubs for ~$200 which would be a quick replacement and get the taillights used whenever I come across a cheap pair.

I just ordered a set of the Oracle Bi LED heated lights, if you ever look into steering linkage components or beefier track bars i would look at Steersmarts. They are a michigan brand, excellent customer support and they really stiffened up my steering As my dealer would not fix my gearbox. Steersmarts is the best investment ive made in my Jeep.

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

I didn't factory order them because the $1,700 or so that they wanted seemed a bit crazy to me. I figured I would go aftermarket bubs for ~$200 which would be a quick replacement and get the taillights used whenever I come across a cheap pair.

That's because it is insane to pay $1700 for led headlights, fogs, and marker/turns. You can get heated Oracle LEDs for a better deal and you'll lose the marker/turns when you fender chop .

 

[Mike08]

I just ordered a set of the Oracle Bi LED heated lights, if you ever look into steering linkage components or beefier track bars i would look at Steersmarts. They are a michigan brand, excellent customer support and they really stiffened up my steering As my dealer would not fix my gearbox. Steersmarts is the best investment ive made in my Jeep.

Nice! I was looking into oracle's as well. They seem to have a good track record based on some of the posts I've gone through.

 

[Left Field]

Just got my new Rubi, and same as you had a list of 'Day 1' items, then prioritized after that. Some of my higher priority items were actually not off-road specific but rather for protection and damage mitigation from first day.

- All weather floor mats
- All weather cargo tray
- Mopar Uconnect screen protector
- Door hinge rock ding protection (two major chips within first 100 miles)
- Seat covers
- Breaker bar, extension and 22mm socket (to avoid risk of marginal factory lug wrench)
- Hood lock
- Phone mount
- Two way radio
- Tazer JL Mini or OBD J-scan (to adjust for tire size, TPMS, winch mode, etc.)

Off-road items you might want to add:
- Skid plate protection
- Rock slider upgrade

 

[El Zilcho]

Just my opinion, but for off roading I would get good compressor as a first priority, then recovery kit and then everything else. Or recovery kit, compressor and then everything else. Also I think LED headlight were my very first mod because halogens are just awful.

 

[RKB]

That's because it is insane to pay $1700 for led headlights, fogs, and marker/turns. You can get heated Oracle LEDs for a better deal and you'll lose the marker/turns when you fender chop .

The price is crazy on these from factory. I am looking at ordering a 2022 and get 4% below invoice so that puts this option just under $1300. I know $1300 is still crazy.

 

[Chupacabra]

I changed my halogens to LED, no issues last winter. We get so little snow anymore in the Denver area that I just don't worry about it.

 

[Mgg253]

Welcome! Always happy to see another Denver area jeeper. There are a couple groups around but being new to all this myself I’ve only had a chance to link up to a couple. Let’s hit a trail up when you get your new toy!

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