Where to Start?
11-21-2012, 07:17 PM
#11
JK Jedi
I would go with a budget boost with some good shocks i know off road wear house has a sale for 750 you get a 2.5 lift woth bilstein shocks thats a pretty good deal then i would go for some diff covers and the evo proteck system and maybe 35's dont 33's because you will regret it i know alot of people have. Then a cb is also a good thing to have there is just alot off stuff but you will be amazed what a stock rubi can do!(:
11-21-2012, 07:22 PM
#12
I would get some 18mm wrenchs and some zip ties so you can disconnect your sways. If you end up liking to wheel I would go lift and 35's asap... you have pretty good skids already and the bumpers won't add much offroad performance. I would wait till you dent your OEM ones before buy new ones.
11-21-2012, 07:24 PM
#13
JK Jedi
Originally Posted by hypeiv
I would get some 18mm wrenchs and some zip ties so you can disconnect your sways. If you end up liking to wheel I would go lift and 35's asap... you have pretty good skids already and the bumpers won't add much offroad performance. I would wait till you dent your OEM ones before buy new ones.
11-21-2012, 07:56 PM
#14
JK Junkie
So at the moment we have a Stock 13' JKUR. We just joined a local Jeep Club and look forward to wheeling. Our budget doesn't allow us to do everything we want to do all at once so I need to space the mods out. Here is a list of what we are planning. I would love some opinions on the order of importance you all think we should tackle them. The order I have them listed is what we are thinking... I will admit that I waiver on a few, thus the request for your opinion. Each phase will be in one year... So the last is three years from now 
First - I'm thinking of going with under-belly protection. Since wheeling will begin on stock susp. I am thinking of going with this: Skid Plates- Complete System (4 door JK)
Second - Bumpers, I want to go with LoD(s) Mid-Length Signature series front and Full rear, without tire carrier. Although I am am going to add the TeraFlex HD tire carrier when tires are up-sized. I want one action to open the gate and prefer the more stock look. I have this b4 the lift for the winch mount. (A winch would be done at the same time.)
Last - Lift and Tires. I am not looking for anything big here. Something between 2-3" I waiver on 33" or 35" tires. I like the looks of the 35's but we will be using our Jeep 90% on road, and my wife has to jump into it now... I do know I want a full suspension system, with control arms. I have spoken to my dealer and (in writing) "if I use a Mopar lift, and let them inspect my installation after it's on, they will cover everything in the Warranty". This is important because the dealer I purchased from has an unlimited power train warranty. We will NOT be trimming fenders. My wife and I both prefer the full fender look. We also like the new Rubi wheels (I know many of you don't). So, we will be using spacers and stock wheels.
So there it is... Wacha' think?
First - I'm thinking of going with under-belly protection. Since wheeling will begin on stock susp. I am thinking of going with this: Skid Plates- Complete System (4 door JK)
Second - Bumpers, I want to go with LoD(s) Mid-Length Signature series front and Full rear, without tire carrier. Although I am am going to add the TeraFlex HD tire carrier when tires are up-sized. I want one action to open the gate and prefer the more stock look. I have this b4 the lift for the winch mount. (A winch would be done at the same time.)
Last - Lift and Tires. I am not looking for anything big here. Something between 2-3" I waiver on 33" or 35" tires. I like the looks of the 35's but we will be using our Jeep 90% on road, and my wife has to jump into it now... I do know I want a full suspension system, with control arms. I have spoken to my dealer and (in writing) "if I use a Mopar lift, and let them inspect my installation after it's on, they will cover everything in the Warranty". This is important because the dealer I purchased from has an unlimited power train warranty. We will NOT be trimming fenders. My wife and I both prefer the full fender look. We also like the new Rubi wheels (I know many of you don't). So, we will be using spacers and stock wheels.
So there it is... Wacha' think?
11-22-2012, 01:30 AM
#15
JK Junkie
I would, and have gone with teraflex 2/1 leveling kit. Gives the jeep a great stance, allows running of 33" tires with room in the wells to not look like a quad, add some good shocks for control and a evap, and engine skid.
You can keep the stock bumpers and still run a slick winch setup. Search it here. I'm doing that instead of adding unnecessary weight to your ride. I use my rig as a daily driver, weekend warrior, tow vehicle etc. Has never let me down because of carefully added upgrades.
You can keep the stock bumpers and still run a slick winch setup. Search it here. I'm doing that instead of adding unnecessary weight to your ride. I use my rig as a daily driver, weekend warrior, tow vehicle etc. Has never let me down because of carefully added upgrades.
11-22-2012, 05:39 AM
#16
JK Freak
Thread Starter
Thanks for the replies. Seems like many of you only see the need for skids in the rocks. Here in the Ohio valley there aren't a lot of places to wheel so the trails end up very rutted. My last rig was a K5 Blazer with 37s. Even it got high centered on some heavily used trails. This said, there were stock jeeps in front and behind me that made it just fine.
I hadn't considered smaller mods like relocating the steering stabilizer. But they make since.
I have already done the 4H/2WD locker mod I found here!
Thanks again everyone and have a great Thanksgiving!
I hadn't considered smaller mods like relocating the steering stabilizer. But they make since.
I have already done the 4H/2WD locker mod I found here!
Thanks again everyone and have a great Thanksgiving!
11-22-2012, 01:26 PM
#17
Unless you're into rock crawling don't waste your money on skids. The chance of you seriously damaging things in your area of 4x4ing without having skids is fairly slim. That $ could be put to better use.
If you're just going to 33s, you don't need a full arm lift. That's just overkill. You can get away with a budget boost/spacer kit and fit 33s and it'll look great with a 1-2" lift. Any higher and you'll want 35s to fill the wheel wells. 33s end up looking tiny on lifts over 2". And a full arm $2000 lift when you don't require it since you'll not hardcore wheeling is just wasted $ again. You can get almost the same use out of a $200 spacer kit that you can get out of a full arm kit.
33s or 35s, really depends on what you like. Obviously the bigger you go the more gas you waste and the worse it's onroad manners become but that's how 4x4ing works
My fiance is 5' tall on a good day and she's got 35s and 5" of lift on her JK with no steps lol Funny watching her get in and out everyday but she wanted it that way. Unless your wife is into 4x4s and if she's short she'll hate it.
If you want to go out by yourself 4x4ing though, I'd invest the $$ is recovery gear, winch, bumper and then get out there and use the Jeep on your local trails. Get other locals to show you around and after awhile you'll see what's really important to have in your area. Every area is different so you have to base what you buy on the terrain. Some people need 35+ tires to wheels, others can use 31-33s all day long. Test it out with the stock KM2s first and see how they handle and if you scrap the belly lots. If you find you're too low, then go buy a lift based on the terrain. We love moutain 4x4ing and rock crawling, so I bought her the 4" Rancho sport lift (gave us 5" at least) and this Dec or Jan we'll probably build her custom long arms. She wanted a beast Jeep and we need the height for our forests/mountains up here so a 5" lift with 37+ is what she'll get lol And it's her DD too.
If you're just going to 33s, you don't need a full arm lift. That's just overkill. You can get away with a budget boost/spacer kit and fit 33s and it'll look great with a 1-2" lift. Any higher and you'll want 35s to fill the wheel wells. 33s end up looking tiny on lifts over 2". And a full arm $2000 lift when you don't require it since you'll not hardcore wheeling is just wasted $ again. You can get almost the same use out of a $200 spacer kit that you can get out of a full arm kit.
33s or 35s, really depends on what you like. Obviously the bigger you go the more gas you waste and the worse it's onroad manners become but that's how 4x4ing works
My fiance is 5' tall on a good day and she's got 35s and 5" of lift on her JK with no steps lol Funny watching her get in and out everyday but she wanted it that way. Unless your wife is into 4x4s and if she's short she'll hate it.
If you want to go out by yourself 4x4ing though, I'd invest the $$ is recovery gear, winch, bumper and then get out there and use the Jeep on your local trails. Get other locals to show you around and after awhile you'll see what's really important to have in your area. Every area is different so you have to base what you buy on the terrain. Some people need 35+ tires to wheels, others can use 31-33s all day long. Test it out with the stock KM2s first and see how they handle and if you scrap the belly lots. If you find you're too low, then go buy a lift based on the terrain. We love moutain 4x4ing and rock crawling, so I bought her the 4" Rancho sport lift (gave us 5" at least) and this Dec or Jan we'll probably build her custom long arms. She wanted a beast Jeep and we need the height for our forests/mountains up here so a 5" lift with 37+ is what she'll get lol And it's her DD too.
11-22-2012, 03:29 PM
#18
JK Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2008
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This is one of the reasons I put the skid plate system first. While the bumpers and lift and tires offer advantages that I may not need. The skids are kind of a preemptive strike. By the time I know there is a limitation with out them I have likely ripped a hole in something! 
The dealer I purchased from offers unlimited lifetime powertain warranties to the original purchaser with all of their vehicles. It is basically an insurance policy that they have. It was at no charge to me. It is simply something they offer. (And before the "You paid for it" remarks fly). I ordered my Rubi and paid $600 below invoice. If I paid for it, it wasn't much and I would've anyway. I do have to keep proof of my scheduled maintenance, but I do that anyway. That's it. If 20 years from now and with 500k miles on the engine it lets go, I get a new one at no cost. They report the service to their insurance company and get reimbursed for the service to me from them. To my knowledge they are the only dealership offering this deal in the OH/KY/IN tri-state. And they offered the best price on my order! I suppose there is actually a low risk with most people selling or swapping cars every 3-4 years.
Thanks for your reply!
The dealer I purchased from offers unlimited lifetime powertain warranties to the original purchaser with all of their vehicles. It is basically an insurance policy that they have. It was at no charge to me. It is simply something they offer. (And before the "You paid for it" remarks fly). I ordered my Rubi and paid $600 below invoice. If I paid for it, it wasn't much and I would've anyway. I do have to keep proof of my scheduled maintenance, but I do that anyway. That's it. If 20 years from now and with 500k miles on the engine it lets go, I get a new one at no cost. They report the service to their insurance company and get reimbursed for the service to me from them. To my knowledge they are the only dealership offering this deal in the OH/KY/IN tri-state. And they offered the best price on my order! I suppose there is actually a low risk with most people selling or swapping cars every 3-4 years.
Thanks for your reply!
11-22-2012, 03:44 PM
#19
JK Freak
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by pcc999
I hate to ask... but what happens to the warranty if you lift/mod your Jeep? Once you mod, warranties can be hit or miss.
This is why I am not considering a budget lift. I know many feel control arms are not necessary on smaller lifts but they keep the geometry correct and that is very important to me. I work as an Automation Specialist for a Siemen's Automation distributor. Siemens Automation is spec'd at the Jeep plant in Toledo. I had a pretty long conversation with one of the engineers there that sold me on the need. In the end... It works out because both the 2 and 3 inch Mopar lifts include them.