NEW GUY SEEKS ADVICE

[BDinTX]

Thanks for the info, but for clarification please confirm the hinge reinforcement I ordered from the factory has the ability to also relocate the spare? The website didn’t really explain it. In fact, I’ve ordered a lot of vehicles in my time and the Jeep website is probably the worst I have ever used. I’m sure the Wrangler can do fire roads as is, but I am also aiming for an aggressive, but not over the top look. Some on this forum said I don’t need a lift for 35’s, but others indicated I do need a lift. I prefer no lift and will have Les Schwab demonstrate the reason they say a 3” is needed. I also don’t get the reason Schwab told me “spring lift”, in fact, I don’t even know lift options. I’m just want to educate myself as much as possible before the X arrives. Many thanks!

The hinge gate reinforcement does NOT relocate the spare. Without relocating the tire up your rear parking assist sensors will alarm every time you put the Jeep in reverse.

There are several options but the Alpha HD from Teraflex is a popular choice. If you’ve already paid for the Mopar reinforcement this will work with it:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...ex-alpha-hd-adj-spare-mounting-kit-5x5-wheels

If you haven’t already gotten the Mopar reinforcement, the whole kit is better as it also replaces the puny factory hinges:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...ier-and-adjustable-spare-tire-mount-kit-5x5in

Sponsored

 

[Halxen]

Thanks for the info, but for clarification please confirm the hinge reinforcement I ordered from the factory has the ability to also relocate the spare? The website didn’t really explain it. In fact, I’ve ordered a lot of vehicles in my time and the Jeep website is probably the worst I have ever used. I’m sure the Wrangler can do fire roads as is, but I am also aiming for an aggressive, but not over the top look. Some on this forum said I don’t need a lift for 35’s, but others indicated I do need a lift. I prefer no lift and will have Les Schwab demonstrate the reason they say a 3” is needed. I also don’t get the reason Schwab told me “spring lift”, in fact, I don’t even know lift options. I’m just want to educate myself as much as possible before the X arrives. Many thanks!

Regarding the spare tire relocation kit, I'm not sure if you would have also needed to option that or if they will include it with the hinge-gate reinforcement. If I recall correctly it is a separate option code so you'd likely need to order it. I think you can get it from a mopar dealer like Allmoparparts if it doesn't come with yours.

Regarding the lift; you can definitely "fit" 35's on the stock Rubicon / Rubicon X without a lift but you'll likely have some rubbing on the inner fender liner at full turn. You definitely do not need a 3" lift to put 35s on it. The Rubicon X 4-door auto comes with the Xtreme 35 Tire package which includes the 1.5" Rubicon suspension lift; and the 35" tires fit fine without rubbing at full turn. I'm assuming they are saying "spring lift" meaning an actual suspension lift, rather than a body lift or a spring spacer.

A spacer essentially is inserted in the shock tower above the coil springs which "pushes the existing springs down".

A spring lift is a bigger/longer spring.

Your Rubicon X already has an aggressive look to it; If you just want a more aggressive looking tire then just buy some KO2 or KO3 33" ATs.

EDIT:

Here is the spare tire relocation kit

https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/82215355.html

And here is the Center high-mounted stop light (break light) adapter kit which your Rubicon X should come with the rear camera and CHMSL so you'd want both of these to put larger than 33" tire on as a spare.

https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/82215349ab.html

 

[Ratbert]

Do yourself a favor and avoid the big chains like Les Schwab for doing significant work on your rig. They're going to be clueless and will assign someone random to do the work.

Look for a local club and ask there. Ours does lots of greenhorn runs for people like you that are just getting started. It's a great way to meet people and to get a bit more trustworthy advice.

 

[Flip]

I agree with leaving stock as well. I believe your Rubicon will take you anywhere you want to go. I'm reasonable certain the Rubicon could handle a 34 inch tire if you're darn toot'en for a larger more aggressive tire for looks.

Best of luck and enjoy your new jeep my friend but most all, thank you for your service to our country & God bless!

 

[COMBAT DOG]

The hinge gate reinforcement does NOT relocate the spare. Without relocating the tire up your rear parking assist sensors will alarm every time you put the Jeep in reverse.

There are several options but the Alpha HD from Teraflex is a popular choice. If you’ve already paid for the Mopar reinforcement this will work with it:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...ex-alpha-hd-adj-spare-mounting-kit-5x5-wheels

If you haven’t already gotten the Mopar reinforcement, the whole kit is better as it also replaces the puny factory hinges:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...ier-and-adjustable-spare-tire-mount-kit-5x5in

Great information! I actually saw the video last night. I’m the type of person that would rather over buy than to under buy. I will just place the Mopar reinforcement on EBay. I’m sure the next question is stupid, but here goes. Are all JL two door body types identical?? If a product indicates it will fit a JL two door, does it matter Rubicon X, Willy, or Sport?

Do yourself a favor and avoid the big chains like Les Schwab for doing significant work on your rig. They're going to be clueless and will assign someone random to do the work.

Look for a local club and ask there. Ours does lots of greenhorn runs for people like you that are just getting started. It's a great way to meet people and to get a bit more trustworthy advice.

Do yourself a favor and avoid the big chains like Les Schwab for doing significant work on your rig. They're going to be clueless and will assign someone random to do the work.

Look for a local club and ask there. Ours does lots of greenhorn runs for people like you that are just getting started. It's a great way to meet people and to get a bit more trustworthy advice.

Prior to ordering the thing I saw Jeeps everywhere, now that I’m looking, I see few. However every time I have an opportunity I speak to the owner. Although I use to work in small groups, I’m not a club kinda person. Thanks!

 

[Halxen]

Great information! I actually saw the video last night. I’m the type of person that would rather over buy than to under buy. I will just place the Mopar reinforcement on EBay. I’m sure the next question is stupid, but here goes. Are all JL two door body types identical?? If a product indicates it will fit a JL two door, does it matter Rubicon X, Willy, or Sport?
...

The factory hinges are fine for 35" tires if you aren't also loading it down with other gear; and the hinge-gate reinforcement is to prevent the larger tire from twisting the hinge-gate. If you're going to go up to 37s or put some heavier gear on the tailgate then I'd concur with Brad's Northridge4x4 recommendation. But it certainly isn't needed for what you've described as your use case.

Regarding your last question; it will depend on the product. The different trims are not identical and depending on the specific product in question they may be something that is universal and will fit any JL; where as some products are not and will be specific to some trims based on those trims options.

Sites like ExtremeTerrain, Quadratec, etc. will have a vehicle filter so you can put in your vehicle and it will just show you the parts that they list as compatible. These are usually pretty reliable but they can be prone to human error so you'd verify fitment via the manufacture if possible.

 

[Whaler27]

Prior to the Afghanistan withdrawal, I was employed as a defense contractor. After I got old, my employer sent me to Europe to learn to train dogs. I also deployed and worked dogs In Iraq and Afghanistan. Both of my Malinois have numerous “squirter” apprehensions. It’s a rough life for a dog. Up and down, in and out,…..takes its toll. All of my vehicles, including the the Polaris SXS, have been modified at great expense to reduce physical and mental impact on my dogs. I will do the same with the Wrangler. I want my dogs to live a happy healthy life and I spare no expense. I have had a couple of Blanton’s, so bare me. I attached two pic’s, the first is behind the front seats of my 21 Raptor, the other is in the bed. Regardless, I am more than stoked about the Wrangler! I just want a vehicle that is easy to maneuver, comfortable, looks badass and makes me feel young again! TMI, but I dont care! Lastly, thank you Jeepers for all the information provided, I’m sure I will have more questions…….SORRY!

I love this. Dogs are better than people. Whether at work or play, they never let us down, so we can’t let them down.

I agree with driving it stock for a bit. The short wheelbase of the two-door makes it more capable in many offroad situations. Approach and departure angles are better. It’s less likely to get high-centered too. I ran my last TJ all over the place with 33s — but if you want to go to 35s that’s an easy jump, and you don’t have to change anything, including the wheels (depending on the tire you choose). As others have suggested, get a Tazer, so you can recalibrate your speedometer and shift-points when you swap tires. If this becomes an addiction for you, as it has for us, the tazer will come in handy many times in the future. It’s is simple plug-n-play device, and it allows you to disable irritations and customize many other settings. (Lots of YouTube videos on how to used the Tazer.)

When you shop wheel and tire combinations pay attention to offset and combined weight. Offset determines whether the tires are sucked in or poked outside of the wheel wells, which effects clearance/rub, appearance, rock-chipping, and legality. Also, Rotating weight has a MUcH bigger impact on performance and braking than carried weight. (Think about it this way: if you had to do a ten hour hump into the hills, would you rather have six pounds added to your pack, or three pounds added to each boot?) Wrangler brakes are just okay. Marginal, really, and nothing like your Raptor, though much better than old JK, TJ, CJ brakes. They get noticeably worse as vehicle weight and tire size increase. There are fixes for that too, but the best fixes are expensive.

Les Schwab is a quality outfit, and their warranty service is great, but they are always more/most expensive, and they push hard to sell their tire brands, which are seldom top tier — because their margin is much higher on those tires. They will never be competitive on most major brands, like BFG, Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, etc. (They sold the heck out of Toyo until other large retailers started selling Toyo. Now Toyo is barely visible in most Schwab stores, though they will get and sell you whatever you want.)

My family bought a lot of stuff from Schwabs over the last sixty years, but we buy much less now. As to 4x4 advice, that depends on the particular Schwab store. The Roseburg, OR Les Schwab brakes and alignment shop became a 4-Wheel drive accessory shop in the early 90s. Robert, the lead mechanic there, built jeeps and trucks in his spare time. He was brilliant and his expertise was worth the cost of their work and then some, but Roseburg was a 4x4 mecca and that particular guy happened to be a fabricator and hobbyist who built all kinds of 4x4 stuff . The Springfield, OR store was good too, but not as good. Others, not so much. Check with your local jeep club. The more seasoned/serious wheelers there will know where the expertise is in your community.

I've learned a lot from the people here. You'll find agreement on many topics, maybe even most, but there are some, like ideal gearing for 37" tires for example, where you'll find respected people on both sides of a fence. On those topics you won't go far wrong with either option.

Welcome aboard.

 

[AZJeepGuy]

I just ordered a 2 door Rubicon X, my first Jeep. I live in Boise Idaho and went to a local (Bucks) 4x4 shop that specializes in Wranglers. They advised me to switch to 35” tires and change the suspension, amongst other things. Bucks told me it could ride on the street like a Cadillac. I’m old and spent much of my time in the Middle East, so I like comforts. I’m not going to rock crawl, but I intend to hit fire trails. I plan to remove the rear seat for my two Malinois. I took delivery of the attached today, nets will not work for Malinois. To the question, basically I want it to look cool, drive well and be dog friendly. Bucks told me it will take about $12k and I’m good with it, but I don’t want to take it in the shorts as well. Can the Wrangler ride like a Tahoe? Will 35’s make it more prone to roll? What are some specific upgrades I can have installed to achieve my goal. I don’t know how to turn a wrench, so please be kind! Many thanks!

https://www.travall.com/travallr-tailgate-jeep-wrangler-jl-2018.html

My Wrangler Rubicon rode great straight from the factory. Leave it alone. It comes with All Terrains, lockers front and rear, and is very capable just like that. So why change? I just went to 35" Muds, and change the shocks to Fox 2.0 and it was much better doing some serious stuff yesterday. But on the highway it drive more like a truck compared to stock.

 

[COMBAT DOG]

Regarding the spare tire relocation kit, I'm not sure if you would have also needed to option that or if they will include it with the hinge-gate reinforcement. If I recall correctly it is a separate option code so you'd likely need to order it. I think you can get it from a mopar dealer like Allmoparparts if it doesn't come with yours.

Regarding the lift; you can definitely "fit" 35's on the stock Rubicon / Rubicon X without a lift but you'll likely have some rubbing on the inner fender liner at full turn. You definitely do not need a 3" lift to put 35s on it. The Rubicon X 4-door auto comes with the Xtreme 35 Tire package which includes the 1.5" Rubicon suspension lift; and the 35" tires fit fine without rubbing at full turn. I'm assuming they are saying "spring lift" meaning an actual suspension lift, rather than a body lift or a spring spacer.

A spacer essentially is inserted in the shock tower above the coil springs which "pushes the existing springs down".

A spring lift is a bigger/longer spring.

Your Rubicon X already has an aggressive look to it; If you just want a more aggressive looking tire then just buy some KO2 or KO3 33" ATs.

EDIT:

Here is the spare tire relocation kit

https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/82215355.html

And here is the Center high-mounted stop light (break light) adapter kit which your Rubicon X should come with the rear camera and CHMSL so you'd want both of these to put larger than 33" tire on as a spare.

https://www.allmoparparts.com/sku/82215349ab.html

I didn’t even think about changing the tire but not the size! I’m guessing I could probably get a wider tire and keep the same height?

 

[COMBAT DOG]

I love this. Dogs are better than people. Whether at work or play, they never let us down, so we can’t let them down.

I agree with driving it stock for a bit. The short wheelbase of the two-door makes it more capable in many offroad situations. Approach and departure angles are better. It’s less likely to get high-centered too. I ran my last TJ all over the place with 33s — but if you want to go to 35s that’s an easy jump, and you don’t have to change anything, including the wheels (depending on the tire you choose). As others have suggested, get a Tazer, so you can recalibrate your speedometer and shift-points when you swap tires. If this becomes an addiction for you, as it has for us, the tazer will come in handy many times in the future. It’s is simple plug-n-play device, and it allows you to disable irritations and customize many other settings. (Lots of YouTube videos on how to used the Tazer.)

When you shop wheel and tire combinations pay attention to offset and combined weight. Offset determines whether the tires are sucked in or poked outside of the wheel wells, which effects clearance/rub, appearance, rock-chipping, and legality. Also, Rotating weight has a MUcH bigger impact on performance and braking than carried weight. (Think about it this way: if you had to do a ten hour hump into the hills, would you rather have six pounds added to your pack, or three pounds added to each boot?) Wrangler brakes are just okay. Marginal, really, and nothing like your Raptor, though much better than old JK, TJ, CJ brakes. They get noticeably worse as vehicle weight and tire size increase. There are fixes for that too, but the best fixes are expensive.

Les Schwab is a quality outfit, and their warranty service is great, but they are always more/most expensive, and they push hard to sell their tire brands, which are seldom top tier — because their margin is much higher on those tires. They will never be competitive on most major brands, like BFG, Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, etc. (They sold the heck out of Toyo until other large retailers started selling Toyo. Now Toyo is barely visible in most Schwab stores, though they will get and sell you whatever you want.)

My family bought a lot of stuff from Schwabs over the last sixty years, but we buy much less now. As to 4x4 advice, that depends on the particular Schwab store. The Roseburg, OR Les Schwab brakes and alignment shop became a 4-Wheel drive accessory shop in the early 90s. Robert, the lead mechanic there, built jeeps and trucks in his spare time. He was brilliant and his expertise was worth the cost of their work and then some, but Roseburg was a 4x4 mecca and that particular guy happened to be a fabricator and hobbyist who built all kinds of 4x4 stuff . The Springfield, OR store was good too, but not as good. Others, not so much. Check with your local jeep club. The more seasoned/serious wheelers there will know where the expertise is in your community.

I've learned a lot from the people here. You'll find agreement on many topics, maybe even most, but there are some, like ideal gearing for 37" tires for example, where you'll find respected people on both sides of a fence. On those topics you won't go far wrong with either option.

Welcome aboard.

I think I read your post about 10 times and I know I’ll probably read It again, so I took a screenshot of it! Your example of rotation weight vs carried weight and the analogy you provided is perfect! Schwab told me a 35 will not affect performance at all and some here said the same as well. However according to google a 35 will add approximately 25 pounds to each tire, not counting a new wheel. That’s a ton of weight, especially during a hump…I’m not rich, but the cost doesn’t really bother me and the Schwab guy I spoke with showed me at least 100 photographs of Wranglers he modified. After speaking with him, it made Buck’s, the local Jeep expert, look shady! Although I just YouTubed Tazer, but have not watched it, messing with shift points is probably well over my head. I will watch the videos. On an another note, my wife refuses to drive my Raptors, she tolerates the Lariat, she loved the test drive of the Wrangler. Because the Raptor cannot tow worth poop, I need the Lariat to tow the SXS, which I may sell if I like the Wrangler. Regardless, I may also get rid of the Raptors for another Wrangler. Other than tactics and shooting, I know a bit about investing and money. The car market IMO, is at the beginning of a crash and I believe it is possible we will see some huge discounts on Wrangler by years end. Anyway, I may pick up another Wrangler. Thank you for your post!

 

[garykk]

I almost spit my coffee out when I read that it will ride like a Cadillac.
my Rubicon 4 dr is stock with the usual K2 tires. I don’t rock climb or do rough trails. I usually stick to forest roads, fire roads etc. I’ve never had a problem.
A 2 dr will ride a little rougher than a 4 dr because of the shorter wheelbase.
as others have said, stick to stock for awhile, check with local Jeep clubs……enjoy.

 

[Ratbert]

However according to google a 35 will add approximately 25 pounds to each tire, not counting a new wheel.

Did the Les Schwab sales guy Wrangler expert convince you that you needed new wheels too?

 

[COMBAT DOG]

Did the Les Schwab sales guy Wrangler expert convince you that you needed new wheels too?

No he did not! He actually said 35’s can be mounted on the stock wheels, but I get your point.

 

[Jeep4Win]

I just ordered a 2 door Rubicon X, my first Jeep. I live in Boise Idaho and went to a local (Bucks) 4x4 shop that specializes in Wranglers. They advised me to switch to 35” tires and change the suspension, amongst other things. Bucks told me it could ride on the street like a Cadillac. I’m old and spent much of my time in the Middle East, so I like comforts. I’m not going to rock crawl, but I intend to hit fire trails. I plan to remove the rear seat for my two Malinois. I took delivery of the attached today, nets will not work for Malinois. To the question, basically I want it to look cool, drive well and be dog friendly. Bucks told me it will take about $12k and I’m good with it, but I don’t want to take it in the shorts as well. Can the Wrangler ride like a Tahoe? Will 35’s make it more prone to roll? What are some specific upgrades I can have installed to achieve my goal. I don’t know how to turn a wrench, so please be kind! Many thanks!

https://www.travall.com/travallr-tailgate-jeep-wrangler-jl-2018.html

Run it stock until you need to change tires. Then contemplate lift, tires, etc. We did numerous trails in Utah and Arizona no issue. We went with a two inch lift and 35s so we could tackle some 7 and higher trails. The thing is an absolute beast from the factory.

 

[Whaler27]

I think I read your post about 10 times and I know I’ll probably read It again, so I took a screenshot of it! Your example of rotation weight vs carried weight and the analogy you provided is perfect! Schwab told me a 35 will not affect performance at all and some here said the same as well. However according to google a 35 will add approximately 25 pounds to each tire, not counting a new wheel. That’s a ton of weight, especially during a hump…I’m not rich, but the cost doesn’t really bother me and the Schwab guy I spoke with showed me at least 100 photographs of Wranglers he modified. After speaking with him, it made Buck’s, the local Jeep expert, look shady! Although I just YouTubed Tazer, but have not watched it, messing with shift points is probably well over my head. I will watch the videos. On an another note, my wife refuses to drive my Raptors, she tolerates the Lariat, she loved the test drive of the Wrangler. Because the Raptor cannot tow worth poop, I need the Lariat to tow the SXS, which I may sell if I like the Wrangler. Regardless, I may also get rid of the Raptors for another Wrangler. Other than tactics and shooting, I know a bit about investing and money. The car market IMO, is at the beginning of a crash and I believe it is possible we will see some huge discounts on Wrangler by years end. Anyway, I may pick up another Wrangler. Thank you for your post!

Happy to help!

There is a wide range of tire weights, even across 35s. It’s quire possible to end up with a good 35” tire that’s close to, or maybe even lighter than, some 33s. And there are definitely some 33s that are heavier than 35” BFG KO2s. Lots of variance in wheel weight too. The big retailers like Tire Rack will list that information so you can compare.

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