West_Coasters 2018 JLUR build thread

[West_Coaster]

Hi folks, I'm starting this thread to chronicle my journey with a new to me 2018 JLUR. I bought this a week or so ago for $30K, it has about 70K miles on it. Here's what it has on it so far, in random order:

Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform RoofRack
Rock Slide Engineering Step Slides
Poison Spyder Front Bumper
Rebel Off Road Rear Bumper
CMM Spod Screen Mount
Vector Offroad Front Dash Mounting Rail
KC Gravity Pro 6 Light Bar
KC G34 Fog Lights Front Bumper
KC G34 Fog Lights Rear Bumper
KC Cyclone Rock Lights / Entry lights
SPOD - Bantam and LED Switch Screen
Genesis Dual Battery System
Cascade Designs Solar Main-Battery Charger
Rugged GMRS Radio and Speaker
SB 10K Winch w/ Wireless remote
King 2.5 Adjustable Dampening Coil Over Shocks
Terraflex IR Long Arms F/R
Yeti HD Front Track bar
Yeti HD Drag Link
Falcon Adjustable Steering Dampener
Synergy HD Reinforced Steering Box Bracket
KMC Tank Bead-lock Wheels 4+1
Revolution Gearing 4.88:1 Diff Gears
JE Reel HD F/R Drive Shafts
37” NItto Ridge Graplers (60%) remaning
Terraflex HD Rear Tire Carrier
AAL Rear Cargo Shelf

This is what she looks like now.

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[West_Coaster]

Before I go too far, my general reason for getting a Jeep is a little complicated. I had a nice mid travel Manx we use primarily in Ocotillo and Anza Borrego, but the desert is getting a bit beat up from SXS's, and we want to slow down a little bit (OK, a lot) and start seeing the scenery. Going from race mode to observation mode. Plus, fixing a transaxle every few years for $4-5K sucks. I've had a '90 Wrangler before, but never modified it. Mostly daily drove it because I could take all the doors off, thought it was cool at the time. We are also bored of the local riding areas. We started watching videos of Moab, and some other places in Utah, Big bear, Mammoth, Tahoe, Johnson Valey, and realized there's a ton of really beautiful trails to see. Lots of stuff in upper California too. So after we stopped salivating, we made the choice to get a Jeep again. So we will be doing a mix of fast prerunning trail riding through the desert, Fire trails for scenery, and some very light rock crawling, like under level 5 stuff. This Jeep is gonna see a lot of use, and I plan on breaking it from time to time. I know my way around a tool box so who knows what might come down the pipe.

I live in San Diego, so I took her out yesterday for a ride through Lake Morena, Corral Canyon, Banner, and then through some trails out near Ocotillo, couple of hundred miles all together. Was a long day. I had not used the transfer case or any off road stuff on this Jeep yet, and my buddy was with me in his JK which is also kinda new to him. We wanted to test the Jeeps out and make sure everything worked well, and get an idea of how the suspensions worked. Luckily, we found everything working, no problems, the transfer case shifted between ranges smoothly and easily. Sway bar disconnect worked good. Along the ride we made a list of things we need to do/get to better prepare us and make things easier for us going forward. Here's what my wife and I recorded:

Steering: I don't have any steering mods other than a strengthening bracket. The Jeep is fine on road, but when I put it in 4 low and locked both axles, it was like someone shut off the power steering. It took all I had to move the wheels, and if I was in big rocks, I'd be screwed. When I went back to 4H or 2H the steering was normal again. My buddy's jeep has a PSC steering ram, and he really likes it, but for $3-4K there has to be a cheaper option. Maybe something from Apex?

Air Compressor: I only aired down from 30 to 20, I have a Viair 88 from when I had a dune buggy. I think it will melt before it brings 4 tires from 8-10 psi to 30-35. My buddy has a Warn winch with the air compressor on top and it took a 37" tire from 20 to 30 in 1 minute. I want something that fast, but I don't want to spend $1K for an air compressor. Sitting for 15 minutes while tires inflate is not a big deal. Will be looking around for something reasonable and small enough to stow away easily.

Scissor Jack: I don't have a jack. I have a high lift, but its huge and I don't want to mount it on the Jeep. I want to find a scissor jack I can put under the flat tire axle and lift the tire high enough to change it. Hydraulic will work too, but I think that's too much of a range of motion. Have to read up on what people are using.

Navigation Tool: My buddy uses a big Garmin, so I might get something like that, I can also use it in the motorhome when we are on a trip to help navigate. I'm checking out ONX on my android phone now.

Tools, bags: I'm going to chuck my last tool setup I had in the last dune buggy, all HF junk that lets me down every time I really need it. Think I want several tool bags this time, one with hand tools, a tire fix bag, and a bag with bolts, fuses, etc. Gonna get organized this time. (Famous last words)

Pic of toy Jeep is replacing. This is powered by a Turbo Subaru STI motor (~300 hp).

 

[shagles]

The jeeps looking good! That's the kind of build I'm hoping to eventually get to.

 

[West_Coaster]

Did some research, watched some videos and decided the Apex steering boost kit is worth a try, bought it from Northridge4x4. Will post some installation pics and will delete the swearing I will probably do.

 

[West_Coaster]

What are some good choices for a jack, I don't want to carry a high lift. Looking for a capable scissor or something. Needs to get under the axle with a flat tire and lift high enough to get a 37 back on. I'm thinking 10 ton bottle type jack?

 

[Roky]

What are some good choices for a jack, I don't want to carry a high lift. Looking for a capable scissor or something. Needs to get under the axle with a flat tire and lift high enough to get a 37 back on.

I use the factory scissor, I bought a hi lift jack base that i put under it….. it lifts my 37s a few inches which is all I need to change the tire….i also use my M18 impact to turn the crank… jacks it up in seconds…

 

[kah.mun.rah]

When I saw that you paid $30K for a 2018 I was like, "oh no."
When I saw what is included, it changed to

 

[Maverick909]

Hi folks, I'm starting this thread to chronicle my journey with a new to me 2018 JLUR. I bought this a week or so ago for $30K, it has about 70K miles on it. Here's what it has on it so far, in random order:

Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform RoofRack
Rock Slide Engineering Step Slides
Poison Spyder Front Bumper
Rebel Off Road Rear Bumper
CMM Spod Screen Mount
Vector Offroad Front Dash Mounting Rail
KC Gravity Pro 6 Light Bar
KC G34 Fog Lights Front Bumper
KC G34 Fog Lights Rear Bumper
KC Cyclone Rock Lights / Entry lights
SPOD - Bantam and LED Switch Screen
Genesis Dual Battery System
Cascade Designs Solar Main-Battery Charger
Rugged GMRS Radio and Speaker
SB 10K Winch w/ Wireless remote
King 2.5 Adjustable Dampening Coil Over Shocks
Terraflex IR Long Arms F/R
Yeti HD Front Track bar
Yeti HD Drag Link
Falcon Adjustable Steering Dampener
Synergy HD Reinforced Steering Box Bracket
KMC Tank Bead-lock Wheels 4+1
Revolution Gearing 4.88:1 Diff Gears
JE Reel HD F/R Drive Shafts
37” NItto Ridge Graplers (60%) remaning
Terraflex HD Rear Tire Carrier
AAL Rear Cargo Shelf

This is what she looks like now.

What a steal of a deal!

 

[West_Coaster]

@Roky - I like it, but my Jeep's jack is gone. Probably cheap to find a replacement one. I will be carrying an impact like yours, never know what you'll need out there.

 

[Northridge4x4]

What are some good choices for a jack, I don't want to carry a high lift. Looking for a capable scissor or something. Needs to get under the axle with a flat tire and lift high enough to get a 37 back on. I'm thinking 10 ton bottle type jack?

This one has been super popular - Bulldog Tallboy Bottle Jack



https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/jacks/50015-bulldog-winch-15pc-tallboy-off-road-jack

 

[West_Coaster]

Where's a good place to get a shackle with a 1" pin. Assuming I need a 1" pin since the hole for the D ring in my bumper has a 1" hole?

 

[West_Coaster]

Been a busy boy working on the Jeep. I rewired most of the circuits on the Spod, installed a race radio and got it ready to tow behind the motorhome, also got a brake buddy.

Last time out the steering was an issue in 4L with both lockers on, so I bought the Apex steering boost kit with cooler and installed that yesterday. I didn't remove the front grill or winch, or the fresh air duct, none of that seemed in the way. I did remove the sway bar, and that made the cooler installation and the hoses really easy. Took me about 3.5 hours, will be testing it next weekend in the desert.

Still can't find a decent D ring with a 1" screw pin, with a 1" wide opening.

 

[West_Coaster]

Tested out the Apex the other day, did some trails in Anza Borrego and in 4 lo with both lockers I can turn the wheel now, its not perfect, but much better.

Seems like I'm talking to myself, so probably gonna kill this thread.

 

[Roky]

Tested out the Apex the other day, did some trails in Anza Borrego and in 4 lo with both lockers I can turn the wheel now, its not perfect, but much better.

Seems like I'm talking to myself, so probably gonna kill this thread.

For me, Pics help, I’m not a big conversationalist, but when there’s something to look at, it’s seems to entice conversations a little more….. A lot of times a conversation pops up on an unrelated topic about your rig… …….. just food for thought, hate to see ya close up shop…..

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