2021 Gecko Rubicon build

[jeramie964]

Hey! I figured I'd join in the fun and start a build thread with my '21 Gecko Rubicon that I purchased last year. I've been in love with the Gecko green color ever since Jeep introduced it on the '12-'13 JK. I found a fully loaded Gecko Rubicon in West Palm Beach, FL last year on Auto Trader with only 16,000+ miles. They were advertising it for $38k and it's window sticker brand new was $62k. So I jumped on a plane here in Denver where I live and flew to Florida to buy it.

The previous owner installed the AEV 2" Spacer Lift on it (without the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets). He also added the Mopar OEM Trailer Brake Controller. Not sure if I'll ever use the Brake Controller, but perhaps you all might have some suggestions on what type of trailers it's meant to help pull.

Current build plans include adding the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets instead of going with a whole different 2 to 2.5" lift like I originally envisioned of doing when I finally traded up to the JT. Plus new tire and wheels, adding my Rough Country PRO Series 9,500 lb winch that was on my old JK, plus some other goodies.

My new JT:

My old 2015 JK that I ordered brand new from the factory that I finally parted ways with. It was hard to say goodbye to, except for the Manuel Transmission. I loved owning a Manuel, but after 10 years I was ready to move on to an automatic again.

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[Stan H]

Hey! I figured I'd join in the fun and start a build thread with my '21 Gecko Rubicon that I purchased last year. I've been in love with the Gecko green color ever since Jeep introduced it on the '12-'13 JK. I found a fully loaded Gecko Rubicon in West Palm Beach, FL last year on Auto Trader with only 16,000+ miles. They were advertising it for $38k and it's window sticker brand new was $62k. So I jumped on a plane here in Denver where I live and flew to Florida to buy it.

The previous owner installed the AEV 2" Spacer Lift on it (without the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets). He also added the Mopar OEM Trailer Brake Controller. Not sure if I'll ever use the Brake Controller, but perhaps you all might have some suggestions on what type of trailers it's meant to help pull.

Current build plans include adding the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets instead of going with a whole different 2 to 2.5" lift like I originally envisioned of doing when I finally traded up to the JT. Plus new tire and wheels, adding my Rough Country PRO Series 9,500 lb winch that was on my old JK, plus some other goodies.

My new JT:

My old 2015 JK that I ordered brand new from the factory that I finally parted ways with. It was hard to say goodbye to, except for the Manuel Transmission. I loved owning a Manuel, but after 10 years I was ready to move on to an automatic again.

Box trailers with electric brakes. Flat bed trailers of reasonable size with electric brakes.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

It was hard to say goodbye to, except for the Manuel Transmission. I loved owning a Manuel, but after 10 years I was ready to move on to an automatic again.

Man ICE is gettin EVERYBODY!!!!

 

[ChrisNLA]

Hey! I figured I'd join in the fun and start a build thread with my '21 Gecko Rubicon that I purchased last year. I've been in love with the Gecko green color ever since Jeep introduced it on the '12-'13 JK. I found a fully loaded Gecko Rubicon in West Palm Beach, FL last year on Auto Trader with only 16,000+ miles. They were advertising it for $38k and it's window sticker brand new was $62k. So I jumped on a plane here in Denver where I live and flew to Florida to buy it.

The previous owner installed the AEV 2" Spacer Lift on it (without the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets). He also added the Mopar OEM Trailer Brake Controller. Not sure if I'll ever use the Brake Controller, but perhaps you all might have some suggestions on what type of trailers it's meant to help pull.

Current build plans include adding the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets instead of going with a whole different 2 to 2.5" lift like I originally envisioned of doing when I finally traded up to the JT. Plus new tire and wheels, adding my Rough Country PRO Series 9,500 lb winch that was on my old JK, plus some other goodies.

My new JT:

My old 2015 JK that I ordered brand new from the factory that I finally parted ways with. It was hard to say goodbye to, except for the Manuel Transmission. I loved owning a Manuel, but after 10 years I was ready to move on to an automatic again.

Nice JT.

I also switched from a two door JK to a Gladiator. My JK was not a manual, though. It was blue however.

My last tear drop trailer only weighed 1,200 pounds and had electric brakes - so there is no telling what they might have pulled with it, but I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[spanishmack]

Welcome, fellow Gecko brother.

 

[jeramie964]

The 2015 18-inch JK Sahara wheels have always been one of my favorite stock wheels that Jeep has made. Since I had bought my new JT before I sold my old JK, I went ahead and just swapped out the wheels and tires. I've never been a fan of the JT stock wheels, plus I wanted to stay with 18" wheels moving forward.

I initially just swapped the tires and wheels myself between the two vehicles but found out quickly that neither vehicle could read the other's TPMS. It turns out Jeep redesigned the TPMS module and sensors and made the change mid-way through the 2021 model year. All JT and JKs built before June 2021 have the same TPMS and can be swapped out. My JT was built in September of 2021.

I took both my 15' JK and 21' Gladiator over to Discount Tire and just had them swap the TPMS sensors over to the original vehicle. Once the sensors were swapped in the wheels, I drove both Jeeps for maybe 5 miles each on the highway and both vehicles began reading their original sensors. I haven't had any issues since so it falls in line with what the service bulletin says (see attached Service Bulletin).

I'm going to eventually upgrade my wheels, but I didn't want to have to buy new tires and wheels at the same time in order to stay with 18"'s had I kept my original 17" wheels.

 

[jeramie964]

Installed the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets yesterday. I’ve been running with just the AEV 2" Spacer Lift only for the past year since I bought it used with the spacer kit already installed by the previous owner. I can notice the front end was raised a little. It drives very well on the highway.

Right now I just have my old JK Sahara wheels with 33.3” tires on it. The tires only have maybe another 5k to 8k miles left on them, then I plan to bump up to some 35” tires.

 

[Stan H]

Installed the AEV Geometry Correction Brackets yesterday. I’ve been running with just the AEV 2" Spacer Lift only for the past year since I bought it used with the spacer kit already installed by the previous owner. I can notice the front end was raised a little. It drives very well on the highway.

Right now I just have my old JK Sahara wheels with 33.3” tires on it. The tires only have maybe another 5k to 8k miles left on them, then I plan to bump up to some 35” tires.

Does it change colors when you go off roading ??

 

[jeramie964]

Does it change colors when you go off roading ??

Of course it does! It’s all in the name!

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Of course it does! It’s all in the name!

But just the seat cushions right?

 

[jeramie964]

Added a couple of Mopar accessories. I ditched the Rubicon Rock Rails and replaced them with the Mopar Heavy-Duty Rock Slider with Step Assist. You can't add them on a Rubicon from the factory, but you can on the Mojave, Willys and Sport S models. I spend most of the summer with the hard top completely removed, so the additional step it provides is perfect when I'm trying to put the nylon weather-resistant Cab Cover on.

I also added the Single Hoop Grille Guard by Mopar. The height of it perfectly aligns with the winch for protection.

 

[agoldxj]

Looks good, best color out there!

 

[jeramie964]

I took my Rough Country PRO Series 9,500 lb. Winch with Synthetic Rope off my old JK and installed it on my JT using the Rough Country Winch Mounting Plate. The mounting plate and winch fit perfectly on the Mopar steel bumper.

I then purchased the DV8 Offroad Fairlead Mounted Flip-Up License Plate Bracket. I know a lot of people just skip putting the license plate on here in Colorado even though it's required by law. I think it looks great and it hides the fairlead and hook for nice all around look. It's not too bulky like I was trying to avoid.

Also took off the tacky looking stock antenna for an aftermarket KSaAuto 13-Inch stubby antenna. A total must!

 

[jeramie964]

I was at the local 4x4 shop the other day and found a set of Rugged Ridge XHD Aluminum Hood Catches on sale. I had these on my JK Wrangler because they were a must to eliminate hood fluttering when driving on the interstate that the factory rubber hood catches couldn't eliminate. I haven't noticed any hood fluttering going on with my JT's stock hood catches, but I always loved the look of these Rugged Ridge hood catches, so I bought the set for my JT.

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