German Overland build to explore Europe - EcoDiesel

[SimonH]

Man if I were gonna be here longer, I’d offer to help you out with that but we leave back to the states 3 weeks

Trip looks beautiful indeed. Though I’m quite partial to Bavaria myself haha

Last year we went all the way down to Marseille, FR for the Summer Olympics and Jesus was that a long damn drive. And it was so hot. I never thought of the south of France being very Italian/Mediterranean… guess that was my American naïveté lol we went in our Tuscadero (pink) JLU Willys and had fun. No overlanding, but freedom panels out, windows down daily kind of driving.

Hey,
Southern France is very nice, even Marseilles is a bit rugged place in terms of crime and such.

Well, you could still help me out then.
Order it in US (as AEV does not ship outside US) and then I get a pickup by UPS organized from your place.

What ever, we like the setup overall and already plan a 2 weeks trip to Portugal end of summer, and yes, it will be long drive, around 1650km/1000 miles just to get there…
So lots of highway tolls and long boring driving for 2 days to it, 2 days back…

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[SimonH]

Does your Gladiator have the auxiliary switches? Why not just get a locker instead of the full modification of the axles? Definitely look into the MetalCloak rear sway bar upgrade brackets. As well as the Hellwig rear sway bar. Take a look into Apex Autolynx disconnects as well. That helps smooth out the front axle on trails as well. Planning on lifting it? If you do swap out the axles make sure they are from a Rubicon diesel not a gas motor version.
Also if you want to save some money look into T-Nutz they also make the aluminum extrusion etc. Good luck looking forward to the build.
Edit: I did see you went to a 2.5 inch lift. Not sure if the Overland trim has the aux switches in the EU.

Just doing some updates on suspension:

As I am missing front flex a lot vs rear I ordered the Apex Autolynx… will install them today.

We did some trip to French Alps recently and will be in Portugal later this this summer.

Installed the Metalcloak rear sway bar relocation bracket as well.

There are waiting Bilstein 8100XP tuned for the High capacity AEV springs as well…

On attached pictures, when passenger front is on the stump you can see other wheel is in air, don’t hit limiters in front.
I will go to this stump again once Apex parts are in…

 

[SimonH]

Ah and btw, the pic of rear wheel well, there is easily space for 37s with low fenders…

Hmmm

 

[SimonH]

Same tree stump, now it’s better…

 

[SimonH]

Jeeping in Germany- how cool!

I lived in Mein Sondheim, near Kitzengen, and flew out of Gibelstadt for years. I am so fond of Barvaria. I wheeled a Chevy K5 Blazer there in the forests, but I do not really like off-roading here in the States.

I do recall the strict (oppressive) government regulations regarding modifications. Good luck with that. I wonder how it is driving something like a JT on those crazy Autobahns.

I know of a nearby shop that may be able to find/ship Rubicon axle assemblies to you. They do Dana 60 swaps now and again and may have used assemblies lying around.

Hey!
Did you have the chance to speak to the shop doing axle swaps if they have Rubicon axles from a petroleum engines with 4.10s „available“?

 

[Flyin6]

Hey!
Did you have the chance to speak to the shop doing axle swaps if they have Rubicon axles from a petroleum engines with 4.10s „available“?

No, haven't been up there since then, my apologies. Here's a link to their shop:
highliftoffroad.com

 

[SimonH]

so ;-)

its still alive, we had some nice trip to Spain earlier the year, around easter time.

summer is not yet planned, potentially again Pyrenees or eastern europe in some way.

37s are on the car meanwhile, KO2's with winter sign....

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