Almost Rubicon - Family camper, weekend overlander, TJ tower

[B34c0n]

Here's a breakdown of my lift setup. It's a bit of work to piecemeal it. But that's what I ended up doing

• Iron rock off-road 2 inch spacer with Bilstein 5100
  • https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/Gladiator-2-lift-kit.html
• Synergy 2 inch front lift springs
  • https://www.extremeterrain.com/synergy-jeep-gladiator-jt-2-inch-front-lift-springs-8863-20.html
• Mopar 2 inch lift control arms to correct caster
  • Mopar 68322798AA
• Mopar end links rear for 2 inch lift
  • Mopar 68436812AA
• Mopar end links front for 2 inch lift
  • 18-23 68306981AB
  • Mid year 23+ 68640455AA
• Your favorite flavor of bump stop extensions

It's definitely cheaper and easier to go with a kit if you're just doing a spacer. And at least easier to go with a kit if you're doing more than spacers. I kept the rear max tow springs and put in the synergy springs in the front.

The front end links are different on newer sway bars. Measure the diameter of the bolt going through the sway bar. The newer ones are M14 vs older M12 ones.

Now the disclaimer. I have yet to tow with it since I lifted it. But it rides mostly the same. So I'm assuming it will tow the same.

This was mostly copied from my response in
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/lift-for-towing.84508/post-1368380

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[AustyPosty]

Curious how you plan on towing your TJ, flat tow it or on a trailer? I have been toying with the idea of towing my 2 door JK so I was just curious!

 

[B34c0n]

Curious how you plan on towing your TJ, flat tow it or on a trailer? I have been toying with the idea of towing my 2 door JK so I was just curious!

I'm am planning to use this on the TJ for flat towing for now. I don't have space to store a trailer. But if something really breaks I can always use a uhaul trailer.

https://nsarvproducts.com/products/rv-tow-bar-ready-brute-elite-ii

 

[AustyPosty]

I'm am planning to use this on the TJ for flat towing for now. I don't have space to store a trailer. But if something really breaks I can always use a uhaul trailer.

https://nsarvproducts.com/products/rv-tow-bar-ready-brute-elite-ii

I was also thinking of flat towing mine, and taking both on the trail, my wife driving the 2 door. The 2 door doesn't do so hot for long highway drives and my wife doesn't drive on the freeway.

 

[B34c0n]

I was also thinking of flat towing mine, and taking both on the trail, my wife driving the 2 door. The 2 door doesn't do so hot for long highway drives and my wife doesn't drive on the freeway.

The only real concern is wear on bearings and such. And any case you make the 2 door undrivable while off-road. But you can always rent a dolly or trailer in that case.

I did a 3k mile trip in my TJ with my wife and that's enough long road trips in the old jeep for a lifetime. so anywhere really far we will tow it.

The plan for me is to use the gladiator as Basecamp with a RTT and tow the old jeep for the fun trails.

 

[B34c0n]

Got some new tires in. Toyo AT3 285/75 R17 on the factory black gloss alloy wheels. 2 inch lift with this tire size is pretty perfect in my option.

Photo featuring the front driver tire of my TJ

 

[B34c0n]

Tested out the lift and tires on a Lost Coast trip a few weeks back. I also helped lift my friends 4runner and welded up his tire carrier.

 

[B34c0n]

Installed an auxbeam fuse box/panel today. The panel isn't mounted yet since I don't really want to drill a hole in my dash. So I'll figure it out eventually.

I'm not sure if this is common, but my truck doesn't have the big plastic V6 cover I see on a lot of jeeps. But that meant I had a big gap to place the fuse box.

I can't really put it on the fender nearby since my snorkel tube is there. The price I pay for not having a giant external snorkel I guess.

Then I just ran the cab side wires along the cowl area and in the plug for the clutch hole. Don't be sorry it's all tied down after an ace run.

Now working on the bed aux plug. Using this style so I can easily adapt to anything.

 

[B34c0n]

Now the actual fun project I have been working on! I previously made my truck bed cover work with the jcr off-road adventure rack. Buuut. I went with the flush hard trifold cover and it just barely catches on the cooler and other items in the bed.

So I have decided to build a foam based hard shell using "poor mans fiberglass". Which is using cotton dropcloth as the glass weave and wood glue as the epoxy. Then outdoor paint to waterproof it. All in with the glue, dropcloth, foam, paint and wood I'm currently only in $180. I'll update here after I "glass" it and then again after paint.

This it roughly fitted in place. The rack for the roof top tent will go around it.

It's just made from XPS pink foam and using great stuff expanding foam as glue and filler.

I added a bit of wood around where I plan to put the gate part.

 

[B34c0n]

Canvas went on today!

 

[B34c0n]

Camper shell done! Just in time for one and a half inches of rain tomorrow!

 

[B34c0n]

My camper shell is complete! 25lb and just about $250 for peace of mind when our camping or getting last minute groceries on the way to camping.

 

[B34c0n]

Got the Anvil Overland bar in.

Then got to modeling and 3d printing a mount for my auxbeam panel.

Also modeled a mount for my weboost antenna. I'll post a link up to the models when I upload them

 

[B34c0n]

Putting the max tow package to work on the way to EJS

 

[B34c0n]

Latest adventure video is complete. Explored the Mojave with some friends

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