Headbarcode
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Mike
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2018
- Threads
- 26
- Messages
- 7,782
- Reaction score
- 17,834
- Location
- LI, New York
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 JLUR Stingray 2.0 turbo
- Vehicle Showcase
- 1
- Thread starter
- #1
On the eve of my 3 year membership here, I'm just getting around to formally introducing myself. Hello everyone, my name is Mike.
I'd like to start off by thanking all the usual suspects around here, including those who have fallen inactive. I was lurking in the shadows for months, reading and learning, before finally joining. I credit you all for providing myself and countless others with vast knowledge, friendly banter, lots of Jeep porn, and a captive audience that never tires of JL talk. That last one is very much appreciated by some of my friends and family. Hahaha! Thank you so very much!
My 2019 JLUR was factory ordered with the 2.0/8-speed and fully loaded. It's my first Jeep and the only personal vehicle I've ever lifted or modded to this extent. My goal with it is building it up for crawling obstacles and being able to carry some speed through the trails in between, while still using it as my daily driver. But first I wanted to drive it stock, so I have it about 10k shakedown miles.
Being a noob caused me to underestimate what could be done to the JL, without turning it into a dog. That lead to my original plan of not going bigger than 315/70-17 BFG KO2's. Not wanting more 1fender clearance than what's needed to clear full stuff, brought me to the Dynatrac Endurosport true 2" kit. The Mopar starter kit, by comparison, seemed to dwarf 35's. Not at all agreeing that geometry would remain intact and wanting to beef things up to handle the increased leverage forces that come with larger lift and tires, i decided to fill in what was missing. I went with SteerSmarts for the front track bar, drag link, tie rod, front sway links, and relocation brackets for a Fox TS stabilizer. And Synergy for all 8 CA's, rear track bar, reinforcement brackets for both ends of the track bar, and the front track bar reinforcement/sector shaft brace (never installed and being replaced with SteerSmarts). All installed by myself, and it drove and handled spectacularly.
Here's the rub. What I had thought would be an acceptable amount of loss in the giddy up, was practically non existent. The seed of regret, to not having gone bigger, was planted. Long before racking about 15k miles on that setup, the hedge had grown higher than the Jeep itself. That's when I started revisiting the kit that I had drooled over and read many great things, back when my Rubi was a factory newborn. The Metalcloak's 3.5" Gamechanger 6-pack edition. While researching what I did or didn't need I was able to score a 20% off deal, through an off road association I joined, for a full set of 38x13.50 Milestar Pat's. I paired them with a set of KMC XD138 Brutes 17x9x4.53 b.s -12mm offset, which would play well with the Gamechanger.
I didn't need the full kit because steering, track bars, and control arms were already taken care of. I ordered the 6-packs, 3.5" dual rate coils, front upper/lower and rear lower shock relocation brackets, front coil pads, front drive shaft, and rear sway links. I chose to go with the Rock Krawler No Limits front sway links, thanks to a recommendation from Roky
, so as to avoid any possible bind from the flex that Metalcloak's known for providing.
Finally, it's about damn time, I get to some pics. They are pretty close direct comparisons of stock, stock with 35's, 2" lift and 35's with chopped front fenders, 2" lift and 38's with chopped f&r fenders, and 3.5" lift and 38's with chopped f&r fenders. I only have one sun glared side shot of 2" lift and 35's with full fenders that I'll add.
I'd like to start off by thanking all the usual suspects around here, including those who have fallen inactive. I was lurking in the shadows for months, reading and learning, before finally joining. I credit you all for providing myself and countless others with vast knowledge, friendly banter, lots of Jeep porn, and a captive audience that never tires of JL talk. That last one is very much appreciated by some of my friends and family. Hahaha! Thank you so very much!
My 2019 JLUR was factory ordered with the 2.0/8-speed and fully loaded. It's my first Jeep and the only personal vehicle I've ever lifted or modded to this extent. My goal with it is building it up for crawling obstacles and being able to carry some speed through the trails in between, while still using it as my daily driver. But first I wanted to drive it stock, so I have it about 10k shakedown miles.
Being a noob caused me to underestimate what could be done to the JL, without turning it into a dog. That lead to my original plan of not going bigger than 315/70-17 BFG KO2's. Not wanting more 1fender clearance than what's needed to clear full stuff, brought me to the Dynatrac Endurosport true 2" kit. The Mopar starter kit, by comparison, seemed to dwarf 35's. Not at all agreeing that geometry would remain intact and wanting to beef things up to handle the increased leverage forces that come with larger lift and tires, i decided to fill in what was missing. I went with SteerSmarts for the front track bar, drag link, tie rod, front sway links, and relocation brackets for a Fox TS stabilizer. And Synergy for all 8 CA's, rear track bar, reinforcement brackets for both ends of the track bar, and the front track bar reinforcement/sector shaft brace (never installed and being replaced with SteerSmarts). All installed by myself, and it drove and handled spectacularly.
Here's the rub. What I had thought would be an acceptable amount of loss in the giddy up, was practically non existent. The seed of regret, to not having gone bigger, was planted. Long before racking about 15k miles on that setup, the hedge had grown higher than the Jeep itself. That's when I started revisiting the kit that I had drooled over and read many great things, back when my Rubi was a factory newborn. The Metalcloak's 3.5" Gamechanger 6-pack edition. While researching what I did or didn't need I was able to score a 20% off deal, through an off road association I joined, for a full set of 38x13.50 Milestar Pat's. I paired them with a set of KMC XD138 Brutes 17x9x4.53 b.s -12mm offset, which would play well with the Gamechanger.
I didn't need the full kit because steering, track bars, and control arms were already taken care of. I ordered the 6-packs, 3.5" dual rate coils, front upper/lower and rear lower shock relocation brackets, front coil pads, front drive shaft, and rear sway links. I chose to go with the Rock Krawler No Limits front sway links, thanks to a recommendation from Roky
, so as to avoid any possible bind from the flex that Metalcloak's known for providing.Finally, it's about damn time, I get to some pics. They are pretty close direct comparisons of stock, stock with 35's, 2" lift and 35's with chopped front fenders, 2" lift and 38's with chopped f&r fenders, and 3.5" lift and 38's with chopped f&r fenders. I only have one sun glared side shot of 2" lift and 35's with full fenders that I'll add.
Sponsored
Last edited:
Haha! Maybe this thread will hit page 2 and set a personal record. 
