Joe's First Jeep

[jcruse64]

Got the LOD Armor Lites on it today.I really like the look. My wife tried both sides out, and was able to get in much easier, so we're definitely pleased with them. Remains to be seen how tough they are on the trail, but it will be a while before getting that test. I also ordered two of the little drop steps for both passenger doors, to help even more,but they just got them back in stock and shipped out last week.

Not a terrible install, but was glad that Northridge 4x4 had put up a video on install on their YouTube channel, as LOD's paper instruction manual didn't make it with the delivery, although it's on their website. They're not the world's best, but, neither am I. I DO have an issue with the rear driver's side frame mount, and need to follow up with them. The lower, single-bolt backup plate is sticking out a little on the driver's side. You can see the silver plate in my pictures, but you shouldn't be able to. Didn't catch it when finishing up, but on the rear frame, the single hole for attaching the slider to this mount should be on the front side of the mount; it IS there on my passenger side. But on the driver side mount, that hole is on the rear tire side of that mount, so when bolted up, the backup plate is starting to stick out of the mounting slot, with the sliders centered on the vehicle and matching with the passenger side. There's no other way to turn the rear driver's mount, and it's on the correct side. The passenger side is very much correct, and wouldn't be, if I had them swapped wrong.

On a plus side, the Armor Lites set up perfectly to obstruct the pinch seam from view, so I'm not going to worry about covering them up, at least for now.

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[jcruse64]

I forgot; I also ordered some of those plastic 5/8" plugs to try to alter the flow of air from the front defrost vent. Not sure how much of a change it actually made. Didn't really feel like I'd increased the flow on the outside openings,and I plugged a bunch of the middle ones.

 

[InVinoVeritasty]

Congrats on the new wheels. If you use your sun visors, consider this cheap but effective mod now before you have issues. https://www.amazon.com/BoomBa-Steel...=sr_1_2?keywords=BoomBa&qid=1672524172&sr=8-2

 

[jcruse64]

The add-on steps arrived this morning.

 

[Pobaw]

did you have any issues installing on the passenger side? I was looking on buying either these or the non-lite versions and didn't know if it was still possible with the new crash reinforcement on the passenger area.

 

[jcruse64]

None at all. I wondered about that as well, after I got them in and started looking under the Jeep. Didn't realize I had that brace. The front brace mount is well away from that piece, so no worries.

My only issue I found after completely assembling, and I've emailed LOD to see about it. The Rear mount brace on the driver side had me attaching the driver side slider with the install bar at the very edge of the inner slot, leaving the slat on the bottom a little exposed. Appears they put the bolt hole for this attachment point on the wrong side of the rear mount brace. I think it will be fine, ut want to hear from them first. But it fully supports my weight back in the back, and both sides are solid. The add-on steps also appear to be quite solid, and are very easy to put on and take off, in less than a minute. I bought those for the passenger side, for anyone like my wife, who has some mobility issues.

 

[jcruse64]

Ordered a few, small items over the last few weeks, and put them on today. Forgot to take a bumper shot of the new Diode Dynamics backup light pod for the hitch. It should have been a few minutes to do, and is easier to lower the 7-pin plug to get it apart from the rear, but it took a bit, once back in place, to tuck everything away from the muffler, and needed bigger zip ties to secure it all safely.

So far, looks pretty nice. Love the Redline hood struts!!! The Taccom visor fix was an easy add-on. Glad I did this, as I hadn't noticed how loose the visor assembly was on the driver's side, and the factory screws had blue Loc-tite on them.

 

[jcruse64]

Also added Desert Does It seat jacker set to the driver seat, the Shorty ones. Will see this afternoon if I like it or not.

 

[Austin23]

Welcome to the Jeep community! Your journey is just beginning and it's awesome.

 

[jcruse64]

Have driven just a few times since adding the DDI seat jackers. Not enough to say if I really love it but don't hate it. Did have to adjust seat forward one notch though. Will take a longer drive to see for sure.


LOD got me a replacement rear driver's side mount for my Armor Lite rails. Got time this morning to swap out. Should have left one bolt in; took a straight shot to the face, lol. Otherwise, very easy to get swapped, and now everything is correct and looking good. The one that came with the rails had a bolt hole on the wrong side of that rear mount, for some reason. I sent them a picture, and they responded the very next day, and told me I was correct, apologized, and sent a replacement as soon as they got one fabbed up. VERY good customer service, and I would not hesitate to do business with them again.

 

[jcruse64]

First oil change yesterday, @ about 3900 miles.

I used one of the three Wave program free oil changes, and at the dealer I purchased the ride from, David Taylor in Murray, KY. In and out pretty quick. I did drive out and to the back yard, stopped, and check my oil level before leaving the property. No issues on this one. I'll use up all 3, and then change it myself afterwards.

 

[jcruse64]

Forgot to follow up on the Seat Jackers. Been over a month, have been on at least one, short road trip, and have DD'd it the last 3 weeks, and I am VERY satisfied with this. I DO have to move the seat forward a little closer to make use of the dead pedal, but that is not a problem at all for driving, just need to slow it up a bit when dismounting the Jeep. I'd buy it again. Need to get my wife to drive this some, to see if she likes it and would want it on the passenger side.

 

[jcruse64]

Just ordered LOD's Signature shorty bumper, and got the skidplate to complement the install. Seems like their bumpers are getting pretty good reviews; I really like my Armor Lite sliders, though they have yet to be tested, and their products are made in USA. I really appreciate being able to research so many Jeep owners purchases and use on this site, to help make up my mind on add-ons. I ended up purchasing from @Northridge4x4 on this, which is who I got the sliders from. Curios that both they and Quadratec ended up being about $200 better on pricing than going through LOD's site itself though.

Will pick up a winch and install both at the same time, to make it easier on winch install. Probably picking up a Badlands with synthetic rope for this. I actually DO have a Warn already. I bought a '73 crew cab 4dr Power Wagon several years ago, and the guy I bought it off of was a machinist by trade, and he bought this truck in the mid-70's and made his own Holmes-style wrecker boom and installed it in this short bed, and powered it with a Warn winch. It is BIG; I don't think it will fit in this bumper without cutting a LOT of bumper, lol.

Pictures to come when the bumper arrives.

 

[jcruse64]

Added a few items noted on another thread that came in this week. All little items for the interior. I'd already bought a $9 sunglasses pouch, but the visor cover is going to be much better. The little tray that hangs in front of the armrest is perfect to hold a cell phone, but one tab has already cracked. The tray that fits in at the rear, right behind the back roll bar post is a great idea, and I'll probably get one for the driver's side.


The LOD signature bumper arrived this week, along with the front skid plate. I got a 25% off anything coupon from HF today, and along with two gift cards, I picked up the HF Apex 12,000 lbs winch at a really nice discount. Hope to get this stuff on very soon. The winch is pretty heavy.

 

[jcruse64]

Soaked the interior pretty good today. Went for a ride and the projected rain for this afternoon/evening arrived about an hour early, and it came down good. I took the freedom panels out for the ride, and couldn't take them along. Luckily, I leave a big blanket in back for the dog, and we pulled it up over the dash and my wife, but it was a heavy rain, and got a lot of water in it. It's in my shop now, all doors open, toweled out, and a fan running. It was hilarious!

Even funnier, I pulled the trigger on a Sunrider top last Wednesday. On our way to get ice cream before going home (this stop is what caught me in the rain), I get an email that FedEx has delivered my new top. Timing is everything in life, lol. Hope to install it net week.

Reading up on the roof rack posts. I was going to get a basket carrier for our trailer hitch, but am thinking of a non-drill roof-top rack. Haven't decided yet.

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