Fungshui's Overland Build

[Fungshui]

Been busy with work but now am able to update the thread.

Field Tested : Mojave Road 12/29/22-1/1/23

Summary:

Overall the Mojave trip was a resounding success! I was able to double my speed across the board while being 400 lbs heavier. We instantly felt a difference with the washboard roads. The ride was exceptional as girlfriend and I looked at each other and smiled. SDi was set to off road mode with the rear load to 0% to soften up the rear.

The trip was cut short due to my girlfriend feeling ill and an incoming storm on New Year's eve. However, she still wanted to complete the trail. I definitely pushed the suspension hard to see what it was capable through the woops and wash board roads. On the stock suspension, the whole vehicle would shake and rattle enough that I thought the car would shake itself apart.

Notable Points:

• Sustained 15 MPH during the woops leading up to Camp Mojave
• Comfortably travel on wash board section of Cedar Canyon Drive at the "speed limit"
• Averaged around 16 MPG over 1000 miles

Future consideration:

• Regearing
  • Off-roading, I felt the transmission always choose 1 gear higher than it should. My solution was to set it to manual mode and shift myself or turn on Offroad +
  • On the highway, the Gladiator stays in 7th sometimes dips into 6th if facing headwind.

Gladiator Setup:

Total Weight: 7200 lbs

Camping Setup

• Alu-Cab Canopy Camper
  • Molle Corner Plates
  • Shadow Awning
  • Load Bar
  • Mozzie Screen
  • Propane Mount
  • 40L Water tank
• Goose Gear
  • Alu-cab Double Drawer Module
  • Alu-cab Front Utility Module
• Bed Setup (Good to 29F):
  • Exped MegaMat Duo 10 Sleeping Pad (Replaces Alu-cab mattress pad)
  • Northface Dolomite Duo Sleeping Bag
  • Bedsure Comforter Set, Reversible Warm & Cooling Comforter
  • Fleece Blanket
  • Nemo Luxury Pillow
  • NEMO Fillo Elite Luxury Pillow
• Cooking
  • Tembo Tusk Skottle
  • Off brand micro stove (boiling water)
  • Dometic CFX55IM
  • Misc cookware and towels
• Lifesaver Jerry can 18.5 liters
• (2x) Nemo Stargazer Chairs
• GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Table
• (2x) 5 Gallon Waivan Jerry Can
• Tools
  • Mechanic tool set
  • Tire repair kit
  • Viair 300p Air Compressor
• Recovery Gear
  • 2x MaxTrax Gen2 Recovery Boards

Trip Rundown:

Day 1: 546 miles Completed
My girlfriend and I left the house at 6:30AM. We stopped by Bakersfield for gas and arrived at Bullhead City around 3:30 PM. I topped off the tank with diesel and fill 2x 5 gallon jerry cans.

I wanted to get to camp before dark and took Laughlin Hwy to Balancing rock instead of starting at the wash. By the time we got on the Old Government Road it was starting to get dark. I stopped to air down but wasn't able to find my air deflators. So I had to let the air out on each tire manually.

By the time we arrived at Balancing Rock it was pitch black. We quickly had dinner and settled in for the night. Upon waking up, we greeted by a fantastic sunrise.

Day 2: ~60 miles Completed

The first stop of the day was Fort Piute.

Around this time, the wash boards were a little rough so I set the rear load on SDi from 10% to 0% which smoothed out the ride in the rear. Did I mention I love the SDi setup? Unfortunately, my girlfriend started to feel sick but wanted to complete the trail so I hauled ass through the rest of the trail.

Under normal circumstances I would have taken a video going through the woops section to Mojave camp to how well the suspension handled the undulations. I was able to sustain 15 MPH with ease.

Mojave Camp

We ended up staying at Marl Springs and had enough time to enjoy the amazing red sunset as we ate dinner.

Day 2 : 470 miles completed

In the morning, it wasn't too cold and were greeted by great desert sun rise. By this time, she was feeling a bit better but we were concerned about the rain arriving in the evening and wanted to cross the Soda Lake before it got too muddy.

Frog Shrine

Mailbox

Lava Tubes Parking

Lava Tubes - The original hole eroded away to a much larger hole.

Aiken Mine Rd

Didn't realize how slow 10 MPH looks. I guess I shouldn't quit my day job to be a Youtuber. ?


Travelers Monument- A little muddy but no big deal

Spooky Canyon

Water Crossing:

Last picture before the drive home.

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[Fungshui]

Truck looks great! Gotta love the Alu-Cab!

Thanks! Your rig looks awesome with the color scheme.

I second the Dalton highway. I'd go! What part of Cali are you from?

SF Bay Area

 

[813 Fabrication & Design]

Thanks! Your rig looks awesome with the color scheme.


SF Bay Area

Thanks!

 

[Bjeepz]

How do you like the JKS Flex Connect system? I've been considering it for my Mojave.

 

[CrazyCooter]

How do you like the JKS Flex Connect system? I've been considering it for my Mojave.

I can answer this one......I LOVE it!

Especially with the live shock valving E-Clik shocks offer, the front sway bar is in my opinion too firm and being able to tune the initial vs the final rate improves ride quality in the chop and reduces the chassis's want to "snap back" after an event. Rebound damping in turn can be reduced so the suspension has less tendency to pack on things like washboard.

I also find that I like to leave the front bar connected on fast gravel roads for stability. The Flex Connect allows a little independent movement in the front wheels that allows for a more compliant comfortable ride without requiring the rigid ride of the standard connected bar.

I have been incorporating the Flex Connect into every build that has been done in the shop because it just flat works.

 

[Bjeepz]

I can answer this one......I LOVE it!

Especially with the live shock valving E-Clik shocks offer, the front sway bar is in my opinion too firm and being able to tune the initial vs the final rate improves ride quality in the chop and reduces the chassis's want to "snap back" after an event. Rebound damping in turn can be reduced so the suspension has less tendency to pack on things like washboard.

I also find that I like to leave the front bar connected on fast gravel roads for stability. The Flex Connect allows a little independent movement in the front wheels that allows for a more compliant comfortable ride without requiring the rigid ride of the standard connected bar.

I have been incorporating the Flex Connect into every build that has been done in the shop because it just flat works.

Which of the three springs do you like to run? Initial assumption says the middle of the three (forget which colour they are) is likely the sweet spot?

Thanks!

 

[CrazyCooter]

Which of the three springs do you like to run? Initial assumption says the middle of the three (forget which colour they are) is likely the sweet spot?

Thanks!

It really depends on your shock valving and spring rate. If you feel almost no body roll now, you could go down a link spring rate or two. I would expect you might like them as shipped (Silver) or maybe the next softest spring (red). I've never driven a Mojave, so can't tell you for sure.

 

[Bjeepz]

It really depends on your shock valving and spring rate. If you feel almost no body roll now, you could go down a link spring rate or two. I would expect you might like them as shipped (Silver) or maybe the next softest spring (red). I've never driven a Mojave, so can't tell you for sure.

The Mojave handling is an interesting thing. Going slow putting around town it can be rough yet too soft at the same time, but overall very very good for a basically stock Jeep. At speed it performs even better.

My Diesel ZR2 is the benchmark for stock trucks now. The Mojave is by far the best handling stock Jeep I've experienced, but the ZR2... well it was simply better.

I'm running 1 inch front spacers, will add an extra 0.5 soon with a 1 inch bump stop extension.

My feeling is I would like a little more flex, less of the side to side head bobble while not using the expensive shocks as a travel limiter.

 

[AustinKalb]

Very similar build. 2023 Diesel AEV 370 plus Alucabin with all the fixins. Almost done (for now ). Waiting for a couple more parts. Hopefully will start shakedown trips in a week or so.

I’m in SoCal. If all goes well it’s Washington State for some Dungeness Crabs and then on to Dawson and points beyond. Gonna be a fun summer!

 

[Free2roam]

Very similar build. 2023 Diesel AEV 370 plus Alucabin with all the fixins. Almost done (for now ). Waiting for a couple more parts. Hopefully will start shakedown trips in a week or so.

I’m in SoCal. If all goes well it’s Washington State for some Dungeness Crabs and then on to Dawson and points beyond. Gonna be a fun summer!

How are you liking the AEV lift?

 

[AustinKalb]

How are you liking the AEV lift?

It’s our first Jeep in over 35 years. Little to compare it to.

It’s TALL. And we’re vertically challenged. It drives great sans a little steering wander.

Off-road the Gladiator Rubicon AEV is way more capable than I am. That’s a good thing. I’ll have fun catching up.

 

[AustinKalb]

How’s that MegaMat working out? It’s a couple inches wider than the factory bed…

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