Help me understand how to Jeep

[ShadowsPapa]

Recovery gear…you decide what gear based on where you plan to go. Down here, we can go from dry hard pack to slick clay in minutes. Where you are presents a whole different set of possibilities.

Heck that's helpful even in Iowa.
I got a big IH 4x4 stuck on one of my sidehills one spring. Huge log chains and our next biggest tractor (a 2 wheel drive with duals) couldn't budge it until things dried up a bit. Soil is LOOSE in the spring here as the winter breaks up the pack.
Then in the fall it's really weird and defies logic - at least for me - as the fall rains make the top inches of the soil slicker than snot on a door knob, slicker than puppy poop on the kitchen floor.
That's why during harvest you may see huge tired-wagons with their own power (hydraulic drive) behind 4x4 tractors to take the grain out of the field to the waiting trucks. Don't even think about taking a truck out there.

Yeah, even where it's not like a mountain park, you can get stuck in our wet muck.
And the rains aren't always predicted.

So if you are a hunter in our state - please keep something in your truck to help get you unstuck.

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[HjStrater]

Run stock, find a local Jeep group on FB and go to a meet up or join for a trail ride. See how other people have done theirs up in person, see what you don’t like about your rig by using it.

Weak points your bound to find but will be based on how you use it. I know my halogen headlights are terrible, but since I don’t really drive or wheel at night, a bumper and winch is more important to me so i can feel more confident taking my family out without another rig. It’s all going to be about personal needs. Have fun!

 

[869 KPH]

I've seen lots of complaints about light bars making too much noise. If you want them up high, maybe get the kind that mounts inside behind the windshield?

 

[jeepers29]

Seeing as it’s a Mojave that your getting, pay attention to weight. I’ve never owned a truck that is so weight conscious. Unless you plan on seriously wheeling the thing, look for a lightweight bumper. I went with the Rugged Ridge Arcus. It wasn’t my favorite but it’s fairly tough and lightweight. Fogs work with it as well. Other than that the Mojave doesn’t need much.

That bumper and a winch are the only planned mods for our Mojave. Once factory tires are done, I will go to 35's and be done. Also, will be getting a hitch skid. LOL

 

[NotmyJt]

Everyone has there own style and what they think looks cool. Some people only want purely functional things on their jeep, others are in to the look. I think the only thing that gets general consensus is never do angry eyes, just say no to the angry eyes or else we will all laugh at you.

We dropped my son off at college couple weeks ago and seen a JL in the student parking lot. I told my son if he ever sees the kid getting in it to wave him down and tell him it looks stupid ?

 

[Challenger85]

Here’s a novel idea. Why not just drive the thing as is and over time you’ll know exactly what you need and don’t need. If you’re really not into it to impress anyone else, what’s the rush?

Your post is completely illogical. How am I supposed to pass the time obsessing over my new Jeep if I’m not obsessing over all the parts I might want or need to add to it in the next 10 years? ?

 

[HorneyBadger]

Never saw a need for light bars unless if you are a hunter and going out in the middle of the night in the boonies. Otherwise, why are you running trails at night? Bumper/winch? are you going somewhere that you may get in trouble? Are you going with a buddy in another vehicle? Are there trees around big enough to act as a hardpoint? Could you get a couple of tow straps instead of a wench? Spend money on the right things. If you find yourself out and start to get into harder trails then spring for the extras... Good luck in your choices.

 

[Challenger85]

Bumpers are all over the map. Some choose to save weight, some choose short bumpers, some like the full width, some like mid-width, some like the stock steel Rubicon bumper, some don't, some want them for looks, some want them for strength. Again, it's all over the map,
Choose a bumper based on what YOU will use YOUR Jeep for, or the look you are going after. There are multiple threads here on bumpers - front and rear.
There's a lot of bumpers members here have installed I really like and were close "2nds" for me, and a small number that I don't care for at all. That shouldn't matter to them as long as they like them and it serves their purpose.

Do you need a winch? Do you want one? Are you going off-road? Lots of questions may help find you the bumper for you.

Just the first part you said already brought up so much. I didn’t even realize there were different size bumpers or the advantages of each. I like the steel for strength and looks so a bit of both. I liked the practicality of having a light bar down there for looks or for lighting up camping spots at night. Believe me though, I’ve read through a ton of the threads. I read through the instructions on installing them but they weren’t very clear on if the bash plate got deleted. Or if the OEM fogs could be reused. They state “can’t be used” and the instructions say, “if you’re using the OEM fogs do this.”

I hadn’t seen anyone say if the harness for the fogs working on other bumpers. But as far as the winch, I plan to get off road eventually once I figure it all out. But that was my question, do I need one? Or is it a showpiece unless you’re rock crawling?

I have a 2020 Rubicon and after adding the bumper, winch, skid plate, Winch pan and brackets I found there was NO difference n rake, steering, braking, or overall drive-ability. Don't even know its there.

Thanks! Love your setup, good looking rig.

 

[CMac]

Cool and looks are in the eye of the beholder. YOU have to like it, NO ONE ELSE. For everyone who likes a certain thing, there will be those who do not and say as much.
IF yo don't love it, why bother?
IF you build it for others and not yourself, is it really YOUR Jeep?
Building to impress, is in my opinion "so high school"
I know fakebook and instacrap promote it all by focusing on "likes", very few people are actually themselves any more.
Build your Jeep YOUR way.

This entire response....is all anyone ever needs to realize, regardless of whatever it is you're talking about, be it a Rembrandt, a Jeep, a can of soup or a Subic Bay hooker.

 

[Challenger85]

I've seen lots of complaints about light bars making too much noise. If you want them up high, maybe get the kind that mounts inside behind the windshield?

This is useful news, thanks.

 

[spectre6000]

As a nearby resident (I noticed you mentioned Bandimere elsewhere; I live back up behind it and south a ways), I Nth the suggestion to wait to see what you actually need. From the OP, it sounds like you're into a similar degree that I am (get to where I'm camping, do some work, not extreme rock crawling). You'll be surprised how little you can get away with. My rule of thumb is biggest tires that bolt on with little or no lift, life proof (i.e. seat covers for toddler spills, whatever is needed for my trailer, tool storage for the things I carry regularly, etc.), then wait and see what it tells you it wants.

Up here, we get a full set of five studded Nokian Hakkapeliittas and wheels to mount them on for all our vehicles. If you live in the flats, you can probably stick with regular snows.

If you spend a lot of time driving up in the mountains at night (no lights, and the topography/vegetation often blocks moonlight), lights may seem like a good idea, but they're typically illegal to run on the road. On some vehicles, the stock headlights suck and might need some upgrading, but these seem decent enough. I wouldn't bother unless you're doing a lot of night wheeling.

 

[HorneyBadger]

This entire response....is all anyone ever needs to realize, regardless of whatever it is you're talking about, be it a Rembrandt, a Jeep, a can of soup or a Subic Bay hooker.

At Marilyns???? Smiles anyone!

 

[Challenger85]

As a nearby resident (I noticed you mentioned Bandimere elsewhere; I live back up behind it and south a ways), I Nth the suggestion to wait to see what you actually need. From the OP, it sounds like you're into a similar degree that I am (get to where I'm camping, do some work, not extreme rock crawling). You'll be surprised how little you can get away with. My rule of thumb is biggest tires that bolt on with little or no lift, life proof (i.e. seat covers for toddler spills, whatever is needed for my trailer, tool storage for the things I carry regularly, etc.), then wait and see what it tells you it wants.

Up here, we get a full set of five studded Nokian Hakkapeliittas and wheels to mount them on for all our vehicles. If you live in the flats, you can probably stick with regular snows.

If you spend a lot of time driving up in the mountains at night (no lights, and the topography/vegetation often blocks moonlight), lights may seem like a good idea, but they're typically illegal to run on the road. On some vehicles, the stock headlights suck and might need some upgrading, but these seem decent enough. I wouldn't bother unless you're doing a lot of night wheeling.

Good to know thanks. Interesting comment on the tires, I know Colorado is a good off road destination but having never experienced it, it’s hard to gauge. I’ll have to really take it easy and see at first and see what it looks like.

I did get the LED package because nothing beats an LED in brightness. I just wondered what everyone’s use case was for lights. It’s hard to find a Jeep without some sort of light attached outside of sport mall crawlers in Colorado. It’s good to know they’re illegal I just thought they might come in handy if I’m off road at night or I’m camping and wanted lights. I do like how they look too..

 

[Longleaf]

With the LED package you won't need forward facing lights unless you want to run ambers or something. They are VERY good. I agree with everyone else- start with basic recovery gear and then drive it and see what you want to change. IF you want to kill time- watch the Forum classifieds and Facebook marketplace. I've saved THOUSANDS of dollars by picking up used parts

 

[BAT]

Hey everyone so sounds like my build is progressing through the ranks and should be here hopefully soon! As someone who loves to work on stuff and builds things with my hands I’m ecstatic at the opportunity to buy something where the aftermarket is so deep.

That’s where I get confused. I’m definitely a poser because I’m new so I can fully admit that. Do I need extra lights? Are roof light bars douchey? What are no no’s? I’m definitely not adding angry eyes, ever lol.

Is this bumper bad?

https://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-f...K-C8iIpK4RO5Lt2ySH6Vxmi8dNimbHsEaAoQ_EALw_wcB

I’m also confused on if the bumper weight is bad for the Mojave front end? Or rear? I looked and it says the factory LED fogs don’t fit but their instructions completely contradict themselves. Do I lose the stock metal plate if I do this?

I like the idea of the light bars instead of lights on the hood. Pros? Cons?

Winch? Necessary for Colorado if you’re only planning mild off roading just to camp?


I want my Jeep to look cool and functional but I don’t want it to be obscenely over the top like some I’ve seen. The more I look the more I have no idea what to choose, what’s functional, what’s a waste of time etc.

Brands? I know of Baja and Diode but most of the rest are new to me.

Don't do anything at first. Drive it a bit and figure out what you will use it for then start to dig into and see what you actually need to change. Otherwise you will spend a lot of money on stuff you don't need or made knee jerk reaction on and then don't like what you bought.

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