Mod regrets? Have you ever over built?

[Terrymo]

I liked his vidoes when he worked for CJ Pony Parts and did actual mechanical things. I think their videos have slowly gone from dirt road cred to look at all the expensive stuff we can put on our Jeeps. Ok I’m jealous…just a little though.

Sponsored

 

[Twisted10]

 

[stretch-bsn]

First jeep and I have the bug. Got a bumper and winch and 315’s and XR shocks and springs and I’ll be putting in stock rubicon axles this weekend. Besides maybe some skid plates for the diffs I think I’m going to be good for a while (famous last words lol) just wheel it and maintain it….however I have looked at a bigger Uconnect screen and some rubicon fenders…dammit! I’m already make another parts list! Lol

 

[Midwestjeepguy]

Most of my regrets came from my sold 97 TJ Sahara. I had wanted a Wrangler forever but waited until I was making good money because I knew I would want to build it up right away.

• I went way too fast in the purchase process as well as starting upgrades. I bought it used and wished I had done more research on the common rust areas on the TJ frame (rear end where frame turns up to go over the axle). I missed the rust rot in those corners and only looked for body rust. First repair was to get those corners cut and welded with new material - fun surprise expense.
• Bought cheap powder coated bumpers because they looked cool (powder coating failed quickly and rust showed immediately).
• Added cheap, large amazon LED lights to the front bumper that I rarely used.
• Went with a cheap 2.5" lift kit that rode like crap.
• List went on with other accessories and a completely new audio system with subwoofer, etc.
• After I replaced the 31" ties with stock rubicon rims and 33" tires the gearing was badly struggling to keep up with all the added weight. So I regeared my Dana 30 and 35 axles. Had no idea good used Dana 44s were not much more to just swap out the stock axles vs regearing them.
• When I sold it a few years ago I'm ashamed to admit how much I lost in the deal. Didn't expect to make money on it, but I wayyyy overspent on mods I didn't need.

For my current 2018 JLUR my only regret is the Skyjacker 2.5" lift I installed fairly quickly after buying the Jeep. My long-term plan for the JLUR is to camp/overland solo or with my kids. Not interested in rock crawling so I knew I didn't want 40s and a huge lift, etc. But after adding my roof top rack and RRT it was immediately evident the Skyjacker lift is far too soft to handle the weight up top. The roll during turns is crazy. I'll be replacing the lift in the near future with one that better handles the added top weight. I'm now committed to the buy once cry once motto and not afraid to spend more where I need to.

 

[azjl#3]

I am on wrangler #5 I have had 4 JK's and my present JL. I have done lifts on all of them and skid plates but I have also kept them on the mild side of lifts ie 2.5-3.5" and have kept the tires at 35's. I have done most of the iconic trails ie Rubicon, Dusy Ershim all the san juan trails and most of the Moab trails and knock on wood have not broken anything to date..I have never modded the engines (all 3.6's) because there really is nothing to mod on a 3.6 that would get you anything worth while. I did try an aFe exhaust on one of my JK's but one trip to colorado was enough with that and returned to stock when I got home.

Also on my 5th. This Jeep gets just a spacer lift, 35s, annnnnnd that’s it. Not even side bars. First was way over with 3.5 metal cloak parts, skid plate, it was a tank, beautiful but never needed. Next three had nothing done because didn’t need it and one was a lemon. I need to winch out of a ditch with snow, mud. We all fall into the trap of I have to add this and that. Even as simple as I keep this one, my last one, I have far to many thousands above window sticker added. It’s my hobby.

 

[3TV]

Over the decades I seem to have always had a case of 2"-itis. 2"-itis is when you have a Jeep on 31s, so you lift it and do mods for 33s. Then you change the lift and mods for 35s. Then you change the lift and mods for 37s, and so on. This has been my problem with CJs, YJs, TJs, JKs, and JLs. You would think I would learn by now.

I always try to be conservative to start with, but as I get bolder with each new Jeep I find it is more fun not being conservative. Even my current Jeep, a 2022 392 XR has been this way. I told my wife I was leaving this one stock. But we all know that stock just means the engine isn't coming out. So, the process began with a 2 1/2" lift and 37s. Two years and 18,000 miles later that grew to a 4 1/2" lift and 40s. Who knew that it would drive sooooo good on 40s. It is definitely the most fun and best driving Jeep I've ever owned.

Just for the record, I don't recommend developing 2"-itis, it gets expensive.

[Edit] There have been a few mods I have regretted over the years, but not due to being "over built". There is no such thing as over built if it is done right. An example of a mod I regret would be the wheels on my 392 when I did the first lift and 37s. They were 17x10 non-beadlock wheels. The 10" wide width made it too prone to losing a bead at low pressure. Sure enough, I lost a bead when running at 9 psi on the Rubicon Trail. The new wheels for the 40s are 17x9 Method Bead Grip wheels. So, not "over built", just not built right the first time. I should have known better.

 

[Ol’ Timey Manual SWB Guy]

Over the decades I seem to have always had a case of 2"-itis. 2"-itis is when you have a Jeep on 31s, so you lift it and do mods for 33s... 35s… 37s…

Somebody has a boat, it seems?

. . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[chain]

If you want a short summary, read below. If you really feel like doing some reading, seeing pictures, and getting the full story, check out my old thread discussing this very issue.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/my-jeep-story-and-lessons-learned.25110/

We have a new 2dr Rubicon on the way, hoping to have it in the garage by this time next week. This will be our 5th Jeep. Have had an '83 Wagoneer, '08 Rubicon, a tube buggy built off of a TJ, a '19 Rubicon, and the new '25 on the way.

I have had 32's, 34's, 35's, 37's, and 42's. My 2008 Rubicon went from 32's to 35's to 37's. I got the most enjoyment out of my mild build and running 35's. I spent a bit of money and put in a bit of work doing everything going up to 37's. What I found is I was a little more capable off road but it was nowhere near as enjoyable on road. I ended up wishing I had stuck with the mild build. I have found that where I have wheeled, I was always able to follow people bigger than me anyways because I was running full skids and wasn't afraid to hurt my Jeep.

With our 2019 JL Rubicon, I went mild and we rode on 35's. Had fun with it and will do the same with the new one. Note I have always had 2 doors. I have a feeling I'd want 37's if I had a 4 door but I don't believe that is in my future.

 

[Catiajockey]

On my JK I knew nothing and ruined the ride and wasted money. Spacer lift with no control arms, then it need ball joints because of death wobble, cheap wheels, dumb interior trinkets, so many little things.
On my JL I was focused, drove it to almost 100K (2018 2.0) before lifting it. Then I did a @Metalcloak 3.5 inch long arm kit with their rear DBR drop brackets and rocksport shocks. I knew that I wanted a smooth ride that would be capable and I only wanted to do it once. It was an expensive choice but worth waiting to do.

Personally, I have to think that roof top tents and the worst thing to put on a wrangler.

 

[phageghost]

Not so far. But mostly because I spent a few years thinking about it, reading and watching everything I could about jeeps and off-roading before I bought the thing, including lurking this site and reading any thread that seemed relevant. Then started detailed planning with spreadsheets. By the time I picked up the Jeep I knew pretty much exactly what I wanted to achieve, how to get there and what "phases" to implement in which order, as budget allowed. There have been a few deviations from the initial plan along the way but not many (main ones were ditching initial plans for a RTT and going with Motobilt welded sliders instead of RSE, but those choices didn't have any side-effects), and I haven't had to do any backtracking <knocks on wood>.

 

[Gorilla57]

My JL is way overbuilt for what I'm using it for now. I built it to go through some tough trails here in AZ and I got into the hardcore wheeling crowd. So, the JL is now the camping/hiking/exploring rig. The buggy is for wheeling.......

 

[Gio]

On current jeep? Nope.
Everything was planned.
Only 1 more thing exterior, roofrack, just need to find the motivation to put it on. It's actually sitting on that bench in the picture.
The final mods are ball joints, tie rod drag link, and regear. Wife wants me to get step sliders and a winch, not that I need them, she does haha!

I learned from my 1st jeep.
Buy once, cry once.
More upgrades, less accessories.

Off topic first question.

Korean Jindo dogs? If not, what are they other than good looking pups?

On topic.

Minimal mods and zero regrets. The 2021 Willys and the current Willys (2024 XR) both got a Mopar lift. It's not the ultimate lift but for what we will do it will be just fine. We wanted it delivered from the dealership ready to go.

I always get ceramic tint on all of the vehicles here. 4 vehicles and all have added tint.

The current Willys recently got some Apex AutoLynx.

I'm not sure if I'll add a front locker or not but if I do that will be about it unless I add some additional amber lighting up front and a winch.

Fun thread as I enjoy seeing what everybody else has done.

 

[JINO]

Off topic first question.

Korean Jindo dogs? If not, what are they other than good looking pups?

On topic.

Minimal mods and zero regrets. The 2021 Willys and the current Willys (2024 XR) both got a Mopar lift. It's not the ultimate lift but for what we will do it will be just fine. We wanted it delivered from the dealership ready to go.

I always get ceramic tint on all of the vehicles here. 4 vehicles and all have added tint.

The current Willys recently got some Apex AutoLynx.

I'm not sure if I'll add a front locker or not but if I do that will be about it unless I add some additional amber lighting up front and a winch.

Fun thread as I enjoy seeing what everybody else has done.

Good eye! It's rare someone can id my dogs off the bat, most will say Shiba or Akita. Jindos are rumored to be the ancestors of both Japanese spitz from when the mongols held korea as a vassal state and ambassadors brought to Japan, before the failed attemps of invasion.

I have ceramic as well, really love it for the windshield.

Nice looking jeep btw.

 

[Gio]

Good eye! It's rare someone can id my dogs off the bat, most will say Shiba or Akita. Jindos are rumored to be the ancestors of both Japanese spitz from when the mongols held korea as a vassal state and ambassadors brought to Japan, before the failed attemps of invasion.

I have ceramic as well, really love it for the windshield.

Nice looking jeep btw.

Beautiful dogs.
I thought I was right on that. Beautiful and fairly rare animals. They look great by your rig.

We have always had Presa Canario dogs and American pit bull terriers. We used to compete in protection with the Presas back in the early 2000's.

Down to one dog now.

Female APBT Old Family Red Nose.

To add to the topic again; I tend to be somewhat conservative with modifications.

I won't do anything to the motor as I think the 2.0T is probably where it needs to be for our rig.

Maybe I could look into the exhaust down the road but I would not aim to make anything louder, just more refined.

 

[Gangplank]

Good eye! It's rare someone can id my dogs off the bat, most will say Shiba or Akita. Jindos are rumored to be the ancestors of both Japanese spitz from when the mongols held korea as a vassal state and ambassadors brought to Japan, before the failed attemps of invasion.

I have ceramic as well, really love it for the windshield.

Nice looking jeep btw.

Good looking pups. I miss my pal
Bruin. He was a mix and everyone always guessed Shiba or Akita and Chow but not sure.

On topic…. Keeping the rig to mild mods. I’ve modded cars and bikes that were good but sometimes not better in the way I’d hoped.

For the JL it’s the Mopar 2” lift that’s more like 3”. Front MP Cocepts alum bumper & Warn rear. Happy so far.

Sponsored