AZnative24
Member
- First Name
- Caleb
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2024
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 79
- Location
- Tucson, AZ
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 JT Sport S
- Build Thread
- Link
- Occupation
- Firefighter
- Thread starter
- #1
Let’s be honest with ourselves; our Jeeps can do much of what we ask of them from the factory. Explore on a stock platform and you’ll surely find limitations, but overall, they’re pretty good right out of the box. This build was to be strategic in its objective: keep it relatively simple, save money wherever possible, only modify things I have a need for. In June of 2024 I chose a Max Tow for its added benefits (better cooling, 240 Amp alternator, wider axles, rear limited-slip, 4.10 gears). While it’s no Rubicon, the value is hard to beat. The previous owner had installed some Amazon side steps, a cheap tonneau cover, amber lights in the grill and wheels from a JK Wrangler Smoky Mountain edition. First thing I did was remove the side steps and install some Rubicon sliders followed by a pair of Auxbeam 5” side shooters.
That November I searched for and luckily found a new Alucab Contour Canopy at a local dealer as well as a used AEV JK Premium front bumper on FB Marketplace for $100. AEV wanted $800 for their “Con Box” (ironic name) that had all the missing parts, like recovery points and bolts. My solution was to cut off the crush cans and run bolts through frame-mounted recovery points. Less about form, more about function.
The following spring I purchased a Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform as a way to mount lights and carry longer loads (check their website as they often steeply discount old inventory.) It was at this time I also added all the lighting that I found useful over the years: interior lighting for the camper, small ditch lights, left and right scene lights off the camper, and flush mounted reverse lights. Except for the interior camper lights (controlled in the bed) all electronics are managed by a controller mounted above the rearview mirror. I also built a custom 40% side seat-delete around this time.
The Jeep saw a full year of adventures with fancy 18” wheels and street tires, scraping the belly many times and kissing the steering on occasion. The limited-slip in combination with Jeep’s “Brake-Lok” differential system is incredibly capable and likely suits the traction needs of 90% of Jeep owners.
After a while I located some factory Sport wheels, mounted 255/85R17 Baja Boss ATs, and drove it around for a month on stock suspension with absolutely zero rubbing. The profile on these tires is narrow and tucks inside the fenders nicely with factory backspacing.
For a random mod, I picked up some Quadratec tube doors, which I find to be some of the best looking. Unhappy with all things as they come, I fabbed up some partial skins, welded them onto the lower portion of the door, filled the seams with bondo, primed and painted them. The result is a quarter door/tube door hybrid. Open feeling, increased visibility, but some protection from objects coming in or things falling out.
The next two photos show factory suspension with the recently added 255/85R17 (35") tires.
Just this weekend I installed an AEV Dual Sport RT lift with a SteerSmarts front track bar and a Metalcloak sector shaft brace. Total gain for the lift before settling comes in at 4”. I suspect the added weight of the camper, rack, 35” spare, sliders, and steel bumper challenged the stock suspension.
A word of caution: if your Jeep has some mileage on it like mine (75k) then be prepared to replace steering components if you add a lift. My steering was horribly noisy after lifting as it is now being used at angles it had not originally worn into. As of today, SteerSmarts drag link and tie rod are on order. This is how the Jeep sits today.
There are still a few mods left on the list like a winch, oil pan skid and SAE fog pattern lights, but overall, I can comfortably say the build is basically done. The goal with this vehicle was to increase its capability without significantly compromising its drivability. Before any changes, I was seeing about 20 mpg around town (hand calculated, conservative driving). Now it’s closer to 16 mpg. I’ll update HWY mileage once the steering is sorted out. From my perspective, it’s a necessary trade-off to mitigate the shortcomings of this platform.
Armor
That November I searched for and luckily found a new Alucab Contour Canopy at a local dealer as well as a used AEV JK Premium front bumper on FB Marketplace for $100. AEV wanted $800 for their “Con Box” (ironic name) that had all the missing parts, like recovery points and bolts. My solution was to cut off the crush cans and run bolts through frame-mounted recovery points. Less about form, more about function.
The following spring I purchased a Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform as a way to mount lights and carry longer loads (check their website as they often steeply discount old inventory.) It was at this time I also added all the lighting that I found useful over the years: interior lighting for the camper, small ditch lights, left and right scene lights off the camper, and flush mounted reverse lights. Except for the interior camper lights (controlled in the bed) all electronics are managed by a controller mounted above the rearview mirror. I also built a custom 40% side seat-delete around this time.
The Jeep saw a full year of adventures with fancy 18” wheels and street tires, scraping the belly many times and kissing the steering on occasion. The limited-slip in combination with Jeep’s “Brake-Lok” differential system is incredibly capable and likely suits the traction needs of 90% of Jeep owners.
After a while I located some factory Sport wheels, mounted 255/85R17 Baja Boss ATs, and drove it around for a month on stock suspension with absolutely zero rubbing. The profile on these tires is narrow and tucks inside the fenders nicely with factory backspacing.
For a random mod, I picked up some Quadratec tube doors, which I find to be some of the best looking. Unhappy with all things as they come, I fabbed up some partial skins, welded them onto the lower portion of the door, filled the seams with bondo, primed and painted them. The result is a quarter door/tube door hybrid. Open feeling, increased visibility, but some protection from objects coming in or things falling out.
The next two photos show factory suspension with the recently added 255/85R17 (35") tires.
Just this weekend I installed an AEV Dual Sport RT lift with a SteerSmarts front track bar and a Metalcloak sector shaft brace. Total gain for the lift before settling comes in at 4”. I suspect the added weight of the camper, rack, 35” spare, sliders, and steel bumper challenged the stock suspension.
A word of caution: if your Jeep has some mileage on it like mine (75k) then be prepared to replace steering components if you add a lift. My steering was horribly noisy after lifting as it is now being used at angles it had not originally worn into. As of today, SteerSmarts drag link and tie rod are on order. This is how the Jeep sits today.
There are still a few mods left on the list like a winch, oil pan skid and SAE fog pattern lights, but overall, I can comfortably say the build is basically done. The goal with this vehicle was to increase its capability without significantly compromising its drivability. Before any changes, I was seeing about 20 mpg around town (hand calculated, conservative driving). Now it’s closer to 16 mpg. I’ll update HWY mileage once the steering is sorted out. From my perspective, it’s a necessary trade-off to mitigate the shortcomings of this platform.
Armor
- AEV Premium JK Front Bumper
- Mopar Rubicon Sliders
- Rough Country Front Diff Skid
- AEV Dual Sport RT 2.5” Lift
- SteerSmarts Front Track Bar
- SteerSmarts Drag Link
- SteerSmarts Tie Rod
- Factory Sport Alloy Wheels
- Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT 255/85R17
- Auxbeam 5” Side Shooters
- Diode Dynamics SSC2 Combo (ditch lights)
- Diode Dynamics SSC2 Flood (reverse lights)
- Hardkorr Hyperflood (L/R scene lights)
- Hardkorr LED Interior Lights
- Amazon 8-Gang Switch
- SV.4 LED Headlights (specifically designed for reflector housings)
- Taser JL Lite
- Alucab Contour Canopy
- Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform
- OVS 4’ Awning
- 67 Designs Phone Mount
- WeatherTech Floor Mats
- DIY 40% Seat Delete.
- Quadratec Tube Doors
Sponsored
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