Ratbert's AEV JL370 JLURD Build Thread

[Ratbert]

I'm in COS too. I'm a complete newb at off-roading. The Jeep will be the Wench's (wife) daily, so I can't modify it too much.....

From what I can tell you have to do specific things to cause it to derate. Lots of weight on steep grades at speed seems to be the combo to avoid.

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[Ratbert]

John

I am running a diesel also, I have a high mounted winch on my front bumper. What is your temps offroad? I am finding my jeep is running a little hot because of little to no air flow because of low speeds. Next week I have a 300 mile trip to big trees and the temps will be 100’s outside. I been offroad all around my area in this heat and she is running warm to hot on some trails. My rig is very over weight right now with all the mods I have done. I can not imagine pulling a trailer in this heat what the temps will be.

Sorry, I just got it and have only taken it on relatively minor trails so far.

We'll probably/hopefully do a 7/10 near Breckenridge this weekend that goes from 11k ti 12k feet, but it won't be hot at that elevation.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

When you get an AEV build do you order it that way from dealer or do 2 deals one for the Jeep and one for the AEV work?

 

[Ratbert]

Around lunchtime I started loading up the crapload of boxes into the Jeep so I could take it all to the shop to be installed next week. I got a few in, then started to realize that I was in way over my head.

Two of the boxes against the wall were eight feet long. For some reason none of us realized that eight feet long doesn't work well with any of our vehicles or out five foot trailer.

Fortunately a good friend that I've known since junior high in Florida was available to help with his Tundra. We filled that plus the Jeep with everything but one big box of aluminum skid plates and got it dropped off at the shop.

That load was heavy. I'll find out next week if I should have gone with the heavier duty springs. We'll see!

 

[Ratbert]

When you get an AEV build do you order it that way from dealer or do 2 deals one for the Jeep and one for the AEV work?

You order it all through an AEV-certified dealer and they do the AEV stuff for you on your behalf. One deal / financing / etc.

Dan Cummins in Paris KY is the only AEV-certified dealership that I'm aware of that does under invoice pricing. Lindsey screwed up too many things to warrant a recommendation. I'd recommend Martin, their AEV liaison.

An alternative is to join Tread Lightly for $100 and find a more local certified dealership that honors the 1% under invoice affiliate pricing. You still need work out an approach to get the Jeep from Michigan though.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Nice saves a lot of hassle I would think getting it all in one deal.

 

[Ratbert]

Nice saves a lot of hassle I would think getting it all in one deal.

Absolutely. Plus it's all covered by a 3 year warranty. Just be aware that coverage for the AEV side of it requires a visit to a certified dealership.

 

[BijanF]

Thanks for all the valuable information! My 392 has just been built and is getting ready to get shipped to AEV! I’m going to be picking up, like you, and driving it back to Bozeman, MT.

Good advice about the temp tag! When you showed up to AEV what was the experience like? Was your vehicle outside? I’m so excited!!!

 

[Ratbert]

Thanks for all the valuable information! My 392 has just been built and is getting ready to get shipped to AEV! I’m going to be picking up, like you, and driving it back to Bozeman, MT.

Good advice about the temp tag! When you showed up to AEV what was the experience like? Was your vehicle outside? I’m so excited!!!

Yep, it was on display outside of their facility. A guy (Joseph) came out and walked me through everything and answered my questions. Really relaxing / chill experience.

He then took me on a tour of the facility and did the tiny bit of paperwork.

Hopefully they'll have your temp tag!

 

[ghstlogic]

Ok, it's time for me to start trying to keep track of it all!

My starting point is my 2022 JLURD that was upfitted by AEV into a JL370. AEV JL370 JLURD just flows off the tongue, right?

It started as a relatively well-equipped Granite Crystal Metallic JLURD from the Toledo factory:

• Rubicon
• 3.0L EcoDiesel
• Sky One-Touch
• Safety Group
• Advanced Safety Group
• Cold Weather Package
• Towing Package
• LED Lighting Group
• Body-Color Fenders
• Front trail camera

When it was finally built (5 months) Jeep put it on a truck to Wixom Michigan where AEV took possession and started upgrading:

• AEV JL370 standard stuff
  • 37" BFG KO2s
  • 2.5" lift
  • 4.63 gears (supply constraints on the 4.56s)
  • Steering stabilizer
  • 7" LEDs
  • Hot stamped boron steel bumpers
  • Hot stamped boron steel front skid plate
  • Swing-out tire carrier
  • Borah wheels - satin
• AEV JL370 upgrades
  • DualSport XP suspension with Bilstein XP8100 reservoir shocks
  • Warn Zeon 10s winch
  • Front and rear differential covers
  • 20" amber LED light bar below the front bumper
  • LED light in the rear bumper
  • Expedition recovery kit
  • 10.2 gallon fuel caddy (between the spare and rear window)
  • Front trail camera mount

AEV finished it three weeks after it arrived at a local dealership in Michigan. I flew to Michigan to pick it up at AEV, drove it to meet my wife and friends for a vacation in Missouri, then drove it back to Colorado a week and a half later.

Note: make damn sure that your dealership has a temporary tag waiting for you at AEV. Lindsey at Dan Cummins in Paris KY did not. I'd recommend going through Martin (their AEV specialist) instead. It was stupidly painful to get a temporary tag on it.

To get a baseline I took it to the nearest CAT scale and it weighed in at 5,660 pounds with a full tank. My GVWR is just 6,100 pounds. That's quite a portly starting point, but oh well.

I haven't upgraded anything yet other than the ludicrous gangly antenna. Fortunately my wife was smart enough to take the stubby off of our old / totaled JLUR back in October, so replacing that was simple.

Here's what's waiting in the garage. Yes, it's a mess due to having our To Extreme trailer taking up a bunch of space, but every cardboard box in the foreground and background in this picture is something for the Jeep. This picture was taken before some of the later gear arrived.

Here's a rundown of what's waiting to be installed:

• Next Venture Motorsports Alum skids w/UHMW
• Rock Slide Engineering sliders w/guards
• MetalCloak / Adventure Rack Systems roof rack w/Kat Walk
• Overland Vehicle Systems Awning 270
• EPIC Kraken Tire Inflation System (ordered)
• Goose Gear w/40% seat delete (ordered, but won't have it in time for the Rubicon Trail trip)
• Midland MXT275VP4 GMRS radio
• Power Tank propane mount
• Dometic CoolMatic CD 30 (transfer from JLUR)
• Tazer JL Mini (transfer from JLUR)
• 67 Designs Phone Mount (transfer from JLUR)
• ARB Dual Air Compressor (transfer from JLUR)
• Max Coupler hitch (transfer from JLUR)
• iKamper xCover (transfer from JLUR / To Extreme trailer)

I have an appointment to have the RSE sliders, NVM aluminum skid plates, and MetalCloak roof rack installed in a couple weeks. The rest will be installed as I find time.

It looks like I've got an awesome "starting" point for this beast. We'll see how it goes.

Yours is where I want mine…in 5 years ?

 

[Ratbert]

Yours is where I want mine…in 5 years ?

Great looking Jeep!

 

[Ratbert]

If you get a Tazer JL Mini I highly recommend getting their extension cable. Trying to get your hands up in there is still a pain in the ass, but nothing compared to dealing with those connections without that extension.

To remove the panel under the steering wheel just use your hands and slowly / gently pry from the top. The six clips will eventually start popping free.

There's a push tab on the back of the SOB connectors for the Tazer. Use your right hand to push one of those while tugging with your left. Keep trying until it pops out.

Connect the extension between the Tazer and those plugs. Tuck it in somewhere and put the panel cover back on.

Yes, the rubber floor mats in my new Jeep look like they might not be new. That's because my wife pulled those out of our totaled 2020 JLUR so we didn't have to buy them again. Those are also something that will force your Jeep to go to the build vendor (AKA JB hell) after it's built.

 

[Ratbert]

While I had that panel off I mounted the Midland MXT275 up top using industrial strength Velcro (Amazon: https://a.co/d/be8NVnX).

I didn't have time to run the power or antenna as I want, so right now it's just plugged into the 12v adapter and I'm using the tiny antenna.

I'll need to figure out if I'll need to use the mic extender or not. We'll see.

 

[OldBlue]

Nice install. I have the MXT115 so I had to mount it where I can see it, but with the controls on the mic, that's a great place to mount it.

 

[Jreycnc]

Some members invited us to join them to a "not available to the general group" run up Holy Cross. That's a 9/10, which is a bit intimidating.

When is this? I'm going up there on the 31st with a small group. I plan on being in the back and just bypassing/bailing on obstacles if it's sketchy

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