"Here We Go" first jeep build

[arosen1997]

Alright everyone,
This is my first jeep and by extension first jeep build. We have our starting reference point here:

And here's the plans in theoretically chronological order:

• 1.5" Teraflex front leveling kit - Installed Removed
• Front air dams trimmed - Completed
• 35x12.5r17 Yokohama X-ATs - Installed
• 37x13.5r17 Yokohama Geolandar X-ATs - Installed
• TPMS sensors - Installed
• Quadratec Hard Rock 17" wheels - Installed
• Funny window graphic - Installed broke that glass
• 3.5" JKS JSpec lift with HD springs, and quicker disconnects - Installed
• Replace factory sub with something better - I'll need to tear everything open and see just how much space is available, I'd love to cram an Infinity Kappa 1200w back there but I don't know if there's enough space.
• Rugged Ridge Arcus stubby front bumper - Installed
• Smittybuilt X02 12k synthetic winch - Installed
• Rock Sliders - Installed
• Bed rock sliders - On the Idea Board, open to suggestions
• 4.56 gears - Installed
• ARB air lockers - Installed
• 4 tire inflation and on board air system - Installed
• Bedliner - Planned™, not essential - back burner
• Cargo rack - Eventually
• Roof top tent for cargo rack - Eventually

Everything above this point will probably get done in the lifetime of this jeep, no promises on how quickly or often updates will come but they will come I promise.
Also just to nip it in the bud now: why do I want a 17000# winch? Because 99% of my recovery experience is with a 15000# winch and 30000# winch. While I'm recovering vehicles about 6x as heavy with those two, I just think it'll be nice to have the same capability I'm used to. Also Fite me.
Everything below this point is hypothetical and should not be considered a reasonable expectation to actually happen, but dreams are fun to have right?

Spoiler: These are bad ideas, don't look here

• Figure out how to slap a Cat C7.1 in there - Why? F@&% you that's why ;D
• Definitely gonna need a bigger lift, with much stronger springs to offset the weight of a C7 tbh
• Dyna prorock 80s - needed for the next ridiculous plan
• Michelin 325x85R16 XML - Ever see a tire with 14 pieces of beef jerky in the sidewall chalk up 1000km offroad driving without losing any air pressure? I have.
• Some kinda 16" rims to fit the above

Yeah so that's everything on my mind right now. Like I said, I'll update as time goes on, new plans come to fruition or old plans get amended.
What I'm planning to use it for is to have fun in places offroad, the parks, trails and whatnot, but I'd like to start getting into some overlanding as well. Some of the stuff I've seen in Trail Recon's videos seems to be just my cup of tea tbh.
Feel free to leave feedback, or hate on it and call me an idiot, won't hurt my feelings.
Let me know what y'all think!

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[BajaDrifter]

Alright everyone........
Feel free to leave feedback, or hate on it and call me an idiot, won't hurt my feelings.
Let me know what y'all think!

I'll be following. Good luck and have fun. Like you, it's all new to me as well. Mine is still on order, waiting with my list as well.

 

[arosen1997]

Okay! Wheels and tires installed. Honestly from what I'd read on here I thought I'd notice WAYYYY bigger of a difference between the stock tires and these running 3.73s. Maybe it's just how flat the area is. Anyway, Firestone mounted the tires for me, only charged $120 for all 4, which seems like a fair price. My one complaint is that they filled the damn things to almost 50 PSI cold. I have no clue what they were thinking, but whatever easy fix. Sitting at 35 right now and rides great.

 

[Wayne]

Looks good, shouldn’t be defensive about it. One person’s cup of tea is another’s watered down coffee!

 

[arosen1997]

Of course I head to the beach to let the T-Case use something other than 2hi and the driving area is closed. Still got a nice picture though.

 

[Factoid]

Love it, keep at it, don’t hold back!

 

[HTXGladiator]

Some kinda 16" rims to fit the above

Rumor has it, you'll have to trim your calipers to fit 16s

 

[Marx]

Of course I head to the beach to let the T-Case use something other than 2hi and the driving area is closed. Still got a nice picture though.

Which beach is closed?

 

[arosen1997]

Just the driving area of the recreational area here on base

 

[arosen1997]

Lift kit in the mail!

 

[arosen1997]

Got the JKS lift kit installed yesterday, even though the instructions I got were totally fubar, everything went smooth for the most part.
So far driving it feels way better cornering compared to the stock suspension

 

[Wayne]

Looks good. Think you have same wheels I bought for mine. Well, close anyway.

 

[Moe_Fugga]

Got the JKS lift kit installed yesterday, even though the instructions I got were totally fubar, everything went smooth for the most part.
So far driving it feels way better cornering compared to the stock suspension

I like it
Did you go with JSpec shocks or the Fox upgrade? Any rake left in the Jeep?

 

[arosen1997]

I like it
Did you go with JSpec shocks or the Fox upgrade? Any rake left in the Jeep?

I went with the JSpec shocks, they're much stiffer than the factory ones, which I happen to like a stiffer ride in a truck. Grew up driving a 97 F250 Heavy Duty which was stiffer than anything until you put at least 1500 pounds of payload In it. It also helps in the corners as well which is nice, not nearly as much lean.
It appears to have less than half an inch of rake left, which is fine for my purposes I'll never be towing anything excessively heavy.

 

[arosen1997]

We have an update! (Finally)
Got some rock rails today, traded my sidesteps for them with another forum member @usc4duke so huge shout out to him for the trade.

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