Money Pit

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Leased this Sport S New from Sansone in Avenel, NJ on 2-13-20. Looks pretty bla now, but I’ve got some much needed upgrades in mind.

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Window tint was done the first day after ownership and on 3-2-20 AEV introduced their new 2” spacer lift that I ordered on 3-4, arrived on 3-7 and had installed on 3-10.

 

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Before and after pics of the AEV 2” Spacer Lift with the OEM wheels on. AEV Servage II wheels are on order and I’m debating between adding 35’s or 37’s.

 

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The wheels arrived on 3-13-20 and I had 37x12.5-17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers installed at a local shop. I don’t think I ever really considered running 35’s, but after installation I could turn the wheels lock to lock with no interference however, while under load and in motion I get rub on the lower control arms. It’s annoying to me so I’ll probably be either ordering spacers or maybe even a new set of wheels in the near future. If you run this combo on a non max tow or non Rubicon JT they will probably rub as well. AEV says I should have run BFG’s cause they run smaller, but I don’t think it really would have made much of a difference considering the fact the axels are 3/4” narrower when compared to a max tow or Rubicon.

 

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Installed 7” LED headlights and fogs that I got from eBay for about $135 with all the pigtails and adapters included. They’re bright and inexpensive and a cheap alternative until 9” units become more readily available for hopefully a lot less than the $600-700 they currently cost. The fogs fit great and the headlights have a slight gap between them and the grill, but it’s a consistent gap that probably won’t be picked up by the untrained eye and definitely gets the job done If your look to get rid of the big chrome OEM units.

 

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I think this is definitely a must change item for all Jeeps. A new black, low profile 13” antenna is probably the best $16.99 you could spend on Amazon for your JT. FM reception doesn’t really appear to be affected, but then again I’m less than 20 miles from NYC so your results may vary and I rarely listen to anything other than XM or Bluetooth on my radio anyway.

 

[Gren71]

Nice build. Loving the look of that aev kit

 

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Nice build. Loving the look of that aev kit

I yielded about 2 1/2”s of lift and feel no difference when driving between the lift and no lift when I had the OEM wheels on. At 40 psi with the new wheels and tires I think it rides just as well too.

 

[Factoid]

Looks great!

Out of curiosity, when your lease is up will you buy it out, return it with all the new stuff, or return it to stock and then return it?

I guess it's nice to have options.

 

[graydiator]

Looks great!

Out of curiosity, when your lease is up will you buy it out, return it with all the new stuff, or return it to stock and then return it?

I guess it's nice to have options.

I’ll probably keep the lift on it and take the tires off like I’ve done with other leases vehicles in the past and was one of the major reasons I went with thi$ type of lift. Most lease return companies won’t even notice as long as the tires have meat in them and scratches are minimum.

A few vehicles ago I actually found someone willing to buy my ride a few months before the lease was over with everything still on it and I think it was a win win for both of us.

 

[Factoid]

I’ll probably keep the lift on it and take the tires off like I’ve done with other leases vehicles in the past and was one of the major reasons I went with thi$ type of lift. Most lease return companies won’t even notice as long as the tires have meat in them and scratches are minimum.

A few vehicles ago I actually found someone willing to buy my ride a few months before the lease was over with everything still on it and I think it was a win win for both of us.

Great outcome!

 

[Gren71]

I yielded about 2 1/2”s of lift and feel no difference when driving between the lift and no lift when I had the OEM wheels on. At 40 psi with the new wheels and tires I think it rides just as well too.

Nice! Yea I have 1.5in in front and 0.75 in rear. Really hoping for a more level kit to come out say 2in front / 1.5in rear or something. But ill probably end up with this or another 2in front/rear lift since I intend to pull a trailer and will want the extra travel in the rear for bed sag w/weight.

 

[PapaChop83]

Looks good! Link to the eBay lights?

 

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Looks good! Link to the eBay lights?

My bad. They were $150. #donttellmywife

https://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Black-LE...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

[PapaChop83]

My bad. They were $150. #donttellmywife

https://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Black-LED-Headlights-4-Fog-Lights-Brackets-for-2018-2019-Jeep-Wrangler-JL/332996411451?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

That's still not bad.

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