Harrison’s Mojave Build Journal

[HarrisonK]

Yep, that'll work!! Gonna look damn good.
The rendering looks like it has the more "complete" lift you mention.

Thank you! Good eye. The rendering made me add a lift in order to fit the 37” tires even though it should fit with just the leveling kit on the Gladiator!

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[Splenda]

It sounds like you've got a game plan. It looks great so far. Just know that the Mojave does not have much rake from the factory, so raising the front to level it could result in the front being higher than the rear. I ran into this with a 3.5" lift and had to add 2.25" of spacers in the rear to make it what I feel is level. Of course, it could be the weight of the bed rack that made it sag a little too.

 

[Tuggernuts]

Sounds like a great plan. You mentioned new steering "stabilizers" plural. You mean just a new single stabilizer right?

 

[HarrisonK]

Sounds like a great plan. You mentioned new steering "stabilizers" plural. You mean just a new single stabilizer right?

Correct. It’s just the Fox adjustable steering stabilizer.

 

[KTMojave]

With the help of my shop, I’ve made some changes. I’m now doing 17” Fuel Vector wheels wrapped in 37” Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires. I’m doing full Oracle lighting (heads, tails, fenders). I’m doing a leveling kit (for the time being) and a steering stabilizer. I have a quote to re-gear to 5.13 but that’ll come later. I may do a more complete lift when I re-gear.

Here is the rendering. Real pictures to come on Friday when I pick it up.

Very Nice! Gotta post the pics when you pick her up!

 

[HarrisonK]

Small update. I was supposed to pick up the car Friday but at 5:00pm the shop calls to tell me they dont have hubcentric rings and need until Monday to get a set in stock. Hoping to (finally) pick up the Jeep on Monday and will share pictures then.

A slightly updated build list:
17” Fuel Vector wheels
37x12.5x17 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires
Oracle headlights
Oracle taillights
Morimoto fender lights
Oracle fog lights
1.5” leveling kit
Fox adjustable steering stabilizer
Tazer
Gladiator tail gate emblem

I also have a quote with another local shop to re-gear. They’re recommending Dana 5.13. I may also do a 2.5” lift with them when I re-gear (TBD). I’m in NJ and we dont have many hills or technical trails so I’m comfortable with the leveling kit for the time being, but I’d like to take the Jeep out west at some point and do some real off-roading. For that, I’ll need at least a 2.5” lift.

Quick note on Oracle lighting:
My shop has been building Jeeps since the 80s and they are comfortable using—and offering a warranty—the Oracle lights despite some people sharing bad experiences here. If the lights give me trouble, I’ll be moving to full Morimoto.

Open to any and all suggestions!

 

[Tuggernuts]

I just installed the Oracle bumper reverse lights. They really light up when in reverse. Good mod.

 

[KTMojave]

Small update. I was supposed to pick up the car Friday but at 5:00pm the shop calls to tell me they dont have hubcentric rings and need until Monday to get a set in stock. Hoping to (finally) pick up the Jeep on Monday and will share pictures then.

A slightly updated build list:
17” Fuel Vector wheels
37x12.5x17 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T tires
Oracle headlights
Oracle taillights
Morimoto fender lights
Oracle fog lights
1.5” leveling kit
Fox adjustable steering stabilizer
Tazer
Gladiator tail gate emblem

I also have a quote with another local shop to re-gear. They’re recommending Dana 5.13. I may also do a 2.5” lift with them when I re-gear (TBD). I’m in NJ and we dont have many hills or technical trails so I’m comfortable with the leveling kit for the time being, but I’d like to take the Jeep out west at some point and do some real off-roading. For that, I’ll need at least a 2.5” lift.

Quick note on Oracle lighting:
My shop has been building Jeeps since the 80s and they are comfortable using—and offering a warranty—the Oracle lights despite some people sharing bad experiences here. If the lights give me trouble, I’ll be moving to full Morimoto.

Open to any and all suggestions!

 

[KTMojave]

Would you be using Ok4WheelDrive in NJ for your build?

 

[HarrisonK]

Would you be using Ok4WheelDrive in NJ for your build?

No. Urban Jeep Outfitters is doing my current build but they dont do re-gearing. I’ll be using Globex for my re-gearing.

 

[KTMojave]

good to know. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Splenda]

I've never considered having a shop put modifications on my Gladiator. Everything, including my lift and even mounting my tires on my rims was done by me alone in my garage. I can't imagine how much it costs to install a lift, but you guys must have deep pockets.

 

[Tuggernuts]

I've never considered having a shop put modifications on my Gladiator. Everything, including my lift and even mounting my tires on my rims was done by me alone in my garage. I can't imagine how much it costs to install a lift, but you guys must have deep pockets.

It costs a lot but so does time and tools. Plus some people don't have the knowledge to install a lift kit correctly. No harm in paying someone to do it right.

 

[Splenda]

It costs a lot but so does time and tools. Plus some people don't have the knowledge to install a lift kit correctly. No harm in paying someone to do it right.

Plenty of people who got a lift installed at a shop and didn't do a good job. I honestly don't trust anyone to change my oil properly. I had some warranty work done at my local Jeep dealership, and they had to remove my fenders to replace the O2 sensors. When I got it back, half of the plastic rivets were missing, and the plastic fenders were scratched where they removed the rivets. Nobody cares about my vehicle like I do.

 

[Tuggernuts]

Plenty of people who got a lift installed at a shop and didn't do a good job. I honestly don't trust anyone to change my oil properly. I had some warranty work done at my local Jeep dealership, and they had to remove my fenders to replace the O2 sensors. When I got it back, half of the plastic rivets were missing, and the plastic fenders were scratched where they removed the rivets. Nobody cares about my vehicle like I do.

Ok.

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