North Carolina Roll Call

[TheBigBadWolf]

I feel ya, buddy. My mom died when I was 24. Losing a parent at a young age sucks. I’ve tried really hard to keep my kiddos involved in things I’m interested in - especially, all things Jeep. Kids scream when they see jeeps in the parking lot. They always ask if I waved when we pass a Jeep. My oldest wants my Jeep when she turns 16. There’s something about making memories. Any way you can. Fortunately for me, it’s been with the Jeep.

Moments are fleeting. Hold on to every one you can.

This 100%

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[chevymitchell]

Here's the link to the Jeep Doodles post I made. @ThirtyOne Lawerence did such an awesome job with this.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/jeepdoodles-drawing-of-honey-badger.65353/

 

[chevymitchell]

Ok ladies and gentlemen, with JLUR on order, the part accumulation begins. My post here are slightly different than the usual noob “first Jeep what about this 14” rough country lift I can get for $47 installed?“ I would like perspective from those who live and wheel around me for local ”bests”

ACE Rock Sliders already ordered. Considering a jump on the Armorlite floor system that they now have a 10% coupon for (I’d jump for sure at 20% off...)

I like the idea of feeling out the suspension, assuring all is well before lift, but of course a small lift is on the consideration table as well. What is consensus for the NC trails (I’m piedmont)?

Dynatrack, mopar, teraflex... Any experiential suggestions ?

Someone here has quite a bit of experience in lifts and gears......

What's your name? I didn't see it on your profile.

For any build, start with tire size. This will dictate just about every aspect of the build from fenders, to lift, to gear ratio, wheels, etc...

I would consider Windrock, Uwharrie, and Gulches local to us. They're all about 4-5 hours away. Even BearWallow is only 4 hours from me here in Kernersville (Which I'm going to next weekend.) So, you can get into some good wheeling. If you're looking for a mild, daily driver build with reliability and longevity in mind (Ball joint life, u-joint life, keep stock driveshafts, and stock gearing), then stay with a 35" tire and keep the Jeep as low as possible.

A standard 2-2.5" spring lift would allow you to keep all your stock components and give you the look you want, but also accomplish every trail at Uwharrie with ease.

What tire size are you focused on?

I'm doing gears today, but I can be free tomorrow if you want to cruise by the house or give me a ring. My number is 336-442-9463 or 1-900-HOT-JEEPS.

 

[chevymitchell]

Gear day for Carrie! Like she said last night... twinsies! Lol.

Don and Carrie both have badass JL's, I'm just partial to Carrie's for obvious reasons.

Sorry Don. Lol. @GhostDivers

Side note - Don, Carrie, and I talked briefly last night about the difference in the appearance of the tires on our Jeeps. This is the difference between running an 8.5" wheel and a 9" wheel. It makes a bigger difference than you would think when it comes to contact patch and sidewall poke. We're both running 37x12.50R17 KM3's in these pictures.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

What's your name? I didn't see it on your profile.

For any build, start with tire size. This will dictate just about every aspect of the build from fenders, to lift, to gear ratio, wheels, etc...

I would consider Windrock, Uwharrie, and Gulches local to us. They're all about 4-5 hours away. Even BearWallow is only 4 hours from me here in Kernersville (Which I'm going to need weekend.) So, you can get into some good wheeling. If you're looking for a mild, daily driver build with reliability and longevity in mind (Ball joint life, u-joint life, keep stock driveshafts, and stock gearing), then stay with a 35" tire and keep the Jeep as low as possible.

A standard 2-2.5" spring lift would allow you to keep all your stock components and give you the look you want, but also accomplish every trail at Uwharrie with ease.

What tire size are you focused on?

I'm doing gears today, but I can be free tomorrow if you want to cruise by the house or give me a ring. My number is 336-442-9463 or 1-900-HOT-JEEPS.

Chad
This Jeep will be 99.9% daily driver, top down fun machine for me and the family.

With friends that like to wheel, I will likely be doing some mild things, but admittedly will actively avoid a lot that could cause real damage as I like to keep the new ones in great shape for a while.

Sounds like 35s are the ticket.

Any specific 2-2.5” spring lift you prefer? Even though I will keep it stock (for at least a LITTLE while) but I would start looking for a deal to have it ready to go.

 

[eck]

Chad
This Jeep will be 99.9% daily driver, top down fun machine for me and the family.

With friends that like to wheel, I will likely be doing some mild things, but admittedly will actively avoid a lot that could cause real damage as I like to keep the new ones in great shape for a while.

Sounds like 35s are the ticket.

Any specific 2-2.5” spring lift you prefer? Even though I will keep it stock (for at least a LITTLE while) but I would start looking for a deal to have it ready to go.

This is pretty much me. Daily driver, top down with the family. Beach trips to Ft. Fisher. I've done everything at Uwharrie except the front side of Daniel. I don't really have any desire to push it much more than that. I would rather buy an old beater Jeep and build it up instead of destroying a 50k vehicle.

I have the Dynatrac lift with 35s. It's more than capable off-road (especially if you disconnect the sway bar) and it handles great on the road.

 

[David P.]

Exactly. No kid is going to remember all the fun times riding in an Accord or Prius, pickup, etc.

My first vehicle was an 84’ CJ7 that I had for about 6 years before it just kept breaking down. I had an absolute blast as a teenager/young adult in that thing in high school and college. Incredible time.

I’d been wanting, waiting and saving for a Jeep for years ever since then and finally pulled the trigger in Sept. I took the family for a test ride about two years ago and my daughter has wanted us to get one ever since.

We had a blast this fall riding around with the top and doors off, even though with the soccer schedule we never got to take it out wheeling yet.

Long story short, my daughter and her friends love riding around with the tops and doors off, singing at the top of their lungs. It’s been a blast and one of the few adage activities with Covid.

So I’ve been saving and about to get stupid with a 2.5” lift, 37s, new steering and gears this spring/summer. Probably do a fender chop.

Any recommendations on the ride quality between a RK 2.5” No Limits with Fox 2.0 shocks compared to a MC 2.5” with Rocksport shocks?

I feel ya, buddy. My mom died when I was 24. Losing a parent at a young age sucks. I’ve tried really hard to keep my kiddos involved in things I’m interested in - especially, all things Jeep. Kids scream when they see jeeps in the parking lot. They always ask if I waved when we pass a Jeep. My oldest wants my Jeep when she turns 16. There’s something about making memories. Any way you can. Fortunately for me, it’s been with the Jeep.

Moments are fleeting. Hold on to every one you can.

 

[Cowboy]

This is pretty much me. Daily driver, top down with the family. Beach trips to Ft. Fisher. I've done everything at Uwharrie except the front side of Daniel. I don't really have any desire to push it much more than that. I would rather buy an old beater Jeep and build it up instead of destroying a 50k vehicle.

I have the Dynatrac lift with 35s. It's more than capable off-road (especially if you disconnect the sway bar) and it handles great on the road.

I also have the Dynatrac lift on 35s but my steering went from nice to sketchy on my JLUS. Measured my caster and its a little more than 4 degrees off. Ordered MC LCAs which are in the mail. From what I’ve read that should get it right again. Other than that I also like the lift kit.

 

[chevymitchell]

Gear day for Carrie! Like she said last night... twinsies! Lol.

Don and Carrie both have badass JL's, I'm just partial to Carrie's for obvious reasons.

Sorry Don. Lol. @GhostDivers

Side note - Don, Carrie, and I talked briefly last night about the difference in the appearance of the tires on our Jeeps. This is the difference between running an 8.5" wheel and a 9" wheel. It makes a bigger difference than you would think when it comes to contact patch and sidewall poke. We're both running 37x12.50R17 KM3's in these pictures.

Gear day was a success. Got it knocked out pretty quick. Here are some pics. I haven’t shared any from a gear swap in a long while. This one got RCV shafts, axle tube seals, and rear chromoly’s, as well.

Don and Carrie did the same upgrades to each of their Jeeps. I did Don’s last weekend.

 

[GhostDivers]

Gear day for Carrie! Like she said last night... twinsies! Lol.

Don and Carrie both have badass JL's, I'm just partial to Carrie's for obvious reasons.

Sorry Don. Lol. @GhostDivers

Side note - Don, Carrie, and I talked briefly last night about the difference in the appearance of the tires on our Jeeps. This is the difference between running an 8.5" wheel and a 9" wheel. It makes a bigger difference than you would think when it comes to contact patch and sidewall poke. We're both running 37x12.50R17 KM3's in these pictures.

@chevymitchell , I agree with you…I’m partial to both of yours as well! Carrie’s looks like a little Tonka truck to me and yours is like a Dakar Race Rally vehicle with the gold beadlocks and the wicked awesome mud flaps.

I’ve let the dealer do warranty work (though I’ve regretted that a few times), but otherwise we’ve done all the work on our Jeep's until now. @chevymitchell level of expertise, understanding, attention to detail, etc. is unbelievable. I’m at best a shade tree mechanic in comparison… @chevymitchell I’ll be hitting you up to do more to our Jeep's in the future – you just can’t beat the feeling of knowing something is done right.

Plus, he’s just a really good guy that is loads of fun to talk with and is like an encyclopedia of knowledge (not just Jeeps)! Between @chevymitchell and @mgroeger …who needs TV!

 

[conFUcius]

Got the bumper (@Motobilt) and winch on, shoutout to @jdubya421 for the assistance/guidance!

Now, just need to cut that damn hook off...

 

[Sean L]

Props to all you dads spending time with your kids. Unfortunately, I lost mine at 23 years-old three months after I graduated pharmacy school. Thankfully, I was mature enough (and the healthcare studies helped) to realize how much time he would have left so I spent a lot of time with him the last two years.

Honestly, he hated Jeeps because of their reliability rating (lived by Consumer Reports because he was very frugal) and probably would roll his eyes at me for leasing and now buying Grand Cherokees and Wranglers. He always joked about going test driving with me when I graduated so we could test drive BMWs, Audis, and other brands he couldn’t afford while raising us so he could drive them and then the dealers would harass me with phone calls not him . Never worked out but I guess we had a blast playing Wii Mario Kart every weekend with my baby brother (he tricked my mom into getting a Wii because he showed her Wii Fit)!

Really wish my brother would get into Jeeps but he’s a sports car person. His fondest memories will likely be bitching/cursing under his breath when I conscript him into helping me install shit (he’s the engineer of the siblings ).

Right in the feels...

I've been able to work on the Jeep a little with Dad, and take him off road. He's enjoyed it thoroughly, even though its never been his preferred hobby.

 

[Dinga]

I have a few items for sale in the Apex/Fuquay-Varina area....

Teraflex Alpha HD

Rubicon takeoff shocks and front LCAs

 

[chevymitchell]

Bearwallow

Lawrence (@ThirtyOne), my brother Dominic, his GF Mariah, and myself drove up to Bearwallow this past weekend to enjoy some trail time.

I will say that most of Bearwallow are very easy, muddy, and mountain trails. We completed about 30% of the trail system, which about an hour and half was spent trying to haul my butt up Trail 73. Trail 73 was the hardest thing we came across. The green, blue, and even black trails seemed like 1-3 rated trails. Very easy, almost roads. The other end of that was like the trails skipped difficulties from black to double black and went to a 6-7 rated trail. I'm sure there are harder things to do out there, but we just didn't have the daylight to keep going.

I came across Trail 73 and really didn't want to not try it. I drove all that way to try something. Lol.

I ended up scratching my Top in 3 places, and both rear fenders received some personality, as well. I got into a position against a tree that was not ideal. I ended up winching 3 times to get through this climb, but either way, the Jeep did really well and took the beating with a smile. Here are some pics:

 

[ThirtyOne]

Bearwallow

Lawrence (@ThirtyOne), my brother Dominic, his GF Mariah, and myself drove up to Bearwallow this past weekend to enjoy some trail time.

I will say that most of Bearwallow are very easy, muddy, and mountain trails. We completed about 30% of the trail system, which about an hour and half was spent trying to haul my butt up Trail 73. Trail 73 was the hardest thing we came across. The green, blue, and even black trails seemed like 1-3 rated trails. Very easy, almost roads. The other end of that was like the trails skipped difficulties from black to double black and went to a 6-7 rated trail. I'm sure there are harder things to do out there, but we just didn't have the daylight to keep going.

I came across Trail 73 and really didn't want to not try it. I drove all that way to try something. Lol.

I ended up scratching my Top in 3 places, and both rear fenders received some personality, as well. I got into a position against a tree that was not ideal. I ended up winching 3 times to get through this climb, but either way, the Jeep did really well and took the beating with a smile. Here are some pics:

Cool trip. Glad I was with Shawn to watch/assist him getting up 73 because there was not much else that was interesting on the trails.

I'm not sure pictures do it justice. That was a gnarly trail! No way to get up it without winching.

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