What should I do to my JL that I didn’t know I should do?

[smw89]

LED lights all around, dead pedal, gas door are some easy ones to start. I also don't like the 7" head unit so you could look for an upgrade there.

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[Par-T-Rex]

It's ironic that the JK's aesthetic actually looks like something we'd see in the Caribbean Islands.

Did the JL's prior owner tow it frequently? If so, hopefully they did it properly.

They only had it for 11 months and put 3500 miles on it, so I think they didn’t do too much damage.

 

[Par-T-Rex]

LED lights all around, dead pedal, gas door are some easy ones to start. I also don't like the 7" head unit so you could look for an upgrade there.

I like everything you’re saying.

 

[Par-T-Rex]

This might sound odd but it will eventually make a lot of sense. Do nothing.

Just drive it and use it. Keep in mind that it is almost infinitely modifiable. At some point you'll find something that isn't working for you, could be better, or will fill a rather unique quirky need that you have. Then change that to what suits you best.

Don't try to "keep up with the Joneses". It will get expensive, not really necessary and it will eventually impede something that you will find necessary. Trust me, you'll find something. Everyone does.

I’ve had my previous Jeep and made it just the way I wanted it, Jones be damned. I could list 11 dumb things the JK needed fixed/adjusted that took me years to figure out. So I was thinking of advice along those lines that aren’t always obvious. An example on my JK would be cutting the pin on the back row door surrounds so the two pieces can be easily separated. That way you can drive with no D pillar breaking up the lines, but keep the top rail in place to hold the soft top in place. Not obvious, but super simple and I wish someone had told me in 2008 instead of figuring it out myself in 2013. Any way, that’s a long winded way on my part to say, “Give me your knowledge so I don’t have to earn it!”
Ha.

 

[Heimkehr]

“Give me your knowledge so I don’t have to earn it!”

Ok. If you've the 2.0T in that little white Jeep, read this thread for the deep dive, and this one for the TL/DR.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Most definitely on the LEDs, at least the headlights and fog lights.

I don't mind the Isalnder font, but I'd have to peel the little tiki voodoo doll off. That's just my opinion though.

 

[Opus]

...but I'd have to peel the little tiki voodoo doll off. That's just my opinion though.

And invoke the curse??? Did you learn nothing from The Brady Bunch???

 

[Tncdrew]

And invoke the curse??? Did you learn nothing from the Brady Bunch???

HILARIOUS!!!!

 

[Shibadog]

This might sound odd but it will eventually make a lot of sense. Do nothing.

Just drive it and use it. Keep in mind that it is almost infinitely modifiable. At some point you'll find something that isn't working for you, could be better, or will fill a rather unique quirky need that you have. Then change that to what suits you best.

Don't try to "keep up with the Joneses". It will get expensive, not really necessary and it will eventually impede something that you will find necessary. Trust me, you'll find something. Everyone does.

This-drive the darn thing and don’t spend your time/money worrying about modifications. There will always be somebody with a Jeep with more mods than yours, regardless of how much you spend. Enjoy what you have. If it goes where YOU want to go that’s all that’s needed. You do not have to be one of the “cool kids” with a “hey look at me” Jeep’ to have fun. It cracks me up to see kids put monster lifts and tires on new Jeeps and then loudly proclaim you have to do the same to use a Jeep off road. (Trying to justify “why?). It’s your money but do yourself a huge favor and actually DRIVE the way you normally will before you do anything else. You may surprise yourself. I’ve been fooling with off road for almost 50 years, I’ve never yet needed a “lift” or monster tires to get back to a good fishing hole or hunting spot. Knock wood I’ve not been “hung up” in a long long time. I Have pulled a few lifted, big tired Jeeps outta the mud though…you CAN get stuck in anything if that’s your goal. The best off road equipment you can have is the one between your ears, IF you use it.

 

[Mikeoso]

This-drive the darn thing and don’t spend your time/money worrying about modifications. There will always be somebody with a Jeep with more mods than yours, regardless of how much you spend. Enjoy what you have. If it goes where YOU want to go that’s all that’s needed. You do not have to be one of the “cool kids” with a “hey look at me” Jeep’ to have fun. It cracks me up to see kids put monster lifts and tires on new Jeeps and then loudly proclaim you have to do the same to use a Jeep off road. (Trying to justify “why?). It’s your money but do yourself a huge favor and actually DRIVE the way you normally will before you do anything else. You may surprise yourself. I’ve been fooling with off road for almost 50 years, I’ve never yet needed a “lift” or monster tires to get back to a good fishing hole or hunting spot. Knock wood I’ve not been “hung up” in a long long time. I Have pulled a few lifted, big tired Jeeps outta the mud though…you CAN get stuck in anything if that’s your goal. The best off road equipment you can have is the one between your ears, IF you use it.

Yup! What the Distinguished Dog said. Add what you need for what you do.

After you remove the rear seat and hide it, get a cargo mat with raised edges and no holes. That way you can carry sloppy stuff without messing the carpet.

I like this one from Rugged Ridge.

You'll want mudflaps all around. I got Weathertechs. Install took 45 minutes. Some folks pull them for froading.

 

[Par-T-Rex]

This-drive the darn thing and don’t spend your time/money worrying about modifications. There will always be somebody with a Jeep with more mods than yours, regardless of how much you spend. Enjoy what you have. If it goes where YOU want to go that’s all that’s needed. You do not have to be one of the “cool kids” with a “hey look at me” Jeep’ to have fun. It cracks me up to see kids put monster lifts and tires on new Jeeps and then loudly proclaim you have to do the same to use a Jeep off road. (Trying to justify “why?). It’s your money but do yourself a huge favor and actually DRIVE the way you normally will before you do anything else. You may surprise yourself. I’ve been fooling with off road for almost 50 years, I’ve never yet needed a “lift” or monster tires to get back to a good fishing hole or hunting spot. Knock wood I’ve not been “hung up” in a long long time. I Have pulled a few lifted, big tired Jeeps outta the mud though…you CAN get stuck in anything if that’s your goal. The best off road equipment you can have is the one between your ears, IF you use it.

Yes, my question wasn’t geared toward lifts/tires per my original post. Over 14 years I built up my previous Jeep to make it as I liked. Here, I’m looking for small practical things that might be overlooked to someone new. Like on my JK, some zip ties and a small block of strategically placed wood killed the hood flutter. Only experience can tell you something like that and I shared that with newbies.
I only plan on keeping up with my imagination and fixing what Jeep got wrong!
Thanks!

 

[68jcode]

Here it is next to the DirtBus it’s replacing. I think white wheels is the way to go, but it came with the soft top, not the hard top. Yeah, those bumper ends need to go for sure. Thanks!

Instead of removing and tossing those aero bumper ends, do this simple mod which keeps the fog light electrical shielded. made this video when we did this on my daughters new Sport.

 

[Deleted member 74991]

I just got a 2Dr JL yesterday. I also have a 2008 4Dr JK that I modified in dozens of little ways to make everyday life better. Beyond the obvious lift tires, etc, what are the little things done to your JL to make life better?

Drive it.

 

[rohdawg]

THESE! You want these!

TACCOM Sun Visor clips (2) compatible for Jeep 2018 and newer JK, JL, JT Gladiator and Wrangler

https://a.co/d/glibS9B

 

[Par-T-Rex]

Drive it.

Yup!

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