The Mojave Money Pit... A Build Thread

[BourbonRunner]

Figuring I'm a week into ownership of the truck and purchases from Bezosmart and others are slowly arriving. Parking this thread for the future.

2022 JTM
Purchased with just under 30K miles in Orlando, FL and drove it nearly 1200 miles heading back home to Baltimore (yes, I took the scenic route.)

My goal with it is to be a hunting/camping/overlanding rig while retaining daily driving suitability. Generally speaking I prefer to go OEM+ on my vehicles as is and this will be no different.

Previous owner installed:

Rugged Ridge Winch
Rugged Ridge Arcus Bumper
Ironman 4x4 RAID sliders
Oracle Prerunner Lights ( I may relocate these to the hood scoop, I'm not thrilled with their current location)
Oracle aux backup bumper lights
Bestop Sunrider
Rugged Ridge hard tonneau
Spray in bedliner
Bezosmart storage cubbies/trays (some 86'ed)
Bezosmart orange aluminum knob trim rings
Orange bumper shackles (lol)

So far I'm adding today and over the next few as packages arrive:

Factor55 Ultrahook
HiLift Trail Rail mount with quick fists for an axe and shovel
Locking hood latches
Dog hammock and door guards with an arm rest cover to protect it from his nails
Bulletpoint Rubigrid with mounts for my phone and radar detector
K&N drop in filter
Front flip up bumper license plate bracket from "Sunpie" off AZN (stupid MD law requires a front plate).
USA Rope kinetic recovery line and soft shackles
Console vault center console safe
Dead pedal
Seat jackers with Molle panel
Winch rope protector sleeve

I have some recovery gear from my old Tacoma that will likely get thrown in a Packout case in the bed... or strapped to a molle panel

Future expansion:

Tazer
Steering stabilizer (really like the idea of the adjustable Fox but may just stick with AEV.)
Hinge covers
Onboard air
Sway disconnects (TBD but would like to retro the Rubicon disconnects if I can)
Rokbloks mudflaps
interior attic/overhead molle
XR fender extensions
ASFIR skids
AEV spacer lift
35" tires TBD but I really liked the Grabber's I had on my Tacoma.
RSI SmartCap
RTT TBD
Mopar brake controller
Snorkel
More lights
392 Swap

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[Neomonk21]

Nice! I look forward to following your progress. Hopefully I'll get some ideas for my Mojave!

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Good looking list!! Waiting on a small delivery today. I’m friggin excited and I am not a fan of waiting.

 

[ORACLElights]

Looks great! We're happy to help if you ever run into any questions on more lighting upgrades!

 

[BourbonRunner]

Nice! I look forward to following your progress. Hopefully I'll get some ideas for my Mojave!

Happy to share whatever I figure out as I attempt to not screw this truck up!

Good looking list!! Waiting on a small delivery today. I’m friggin excited and I am not a fan of waiting.

Maaaaaan..... me too. I have several packages outstanding that were supposed to be here today but that never materialized. Had the Rubigrid gotten here today Id have to take the dash apart to run some wire...

Looks great! We're happy to help if you ever run into any questions on more lighting upgrades!

Thanks!

Come to find out the pre runners are not yours far as I can tell, the plastic mounts have what looks like a Q. I checked Quadratec's site but looks like these are an older out of production design. But the backups are most certainly.

Which means I'll be ordering pre runner lights soon...

 

[BourbonRunner]

Far as pics or it didn't happen: All minor mods today- latches, plate bracket, trail rail hi lift mount. Most of what I was expecting didn't get here in time.

Chinesium locking latches from a company called SevenSparta off Bezosmart. Stupid easy install. I like that it came with 4 keys for when I lose the other 3. I was going to get the Rugged Ridge latches but these were cheaper- and not out of stock. They appear to be well built and I couldn't tell if there were any blemishes. They come with the allen wrenches needed, otherwise the hood catch is 2 10mm bolts and the body side is 1 17mm. Reuse the OEM hardware. They came with a small neoprene gasket for each part that touches paint. Nice tough IMO.

Factor55 Ultrahook. I love these things and yes they're expensive but they're the best recovery hook I think I've ever seen/used.

The only issue is the Chinesium plate bracket I bought doesn't quite lock into the place with the Ultrahook on. Not the end of the world since the hook has the rubber pads that the bracket rests on. But I do like that it doesn't flip up or down on a hinge creating a potential snag point for the rope like some I've seen. I do not like the Sunpie logo on it however. The powder coating seems well done. I was planning on the getting the rope cover for the hook but won't since the plate will cover it entirely... and it will stick out more. Time will tell if the hinge on it will hold up to road salt and trail carnage.

Up.

Down

I've had this HiLift for years and used the shit out of it (yes, I know how to use it properly and safely). It's been stored in my shed for a few since I got rid of my tacoma but now will live in the bed. Not thrilled with the axe mounted on the quick fists, I may just throw the shovel on there and find another home for the big choppy choppy but for now this an easy solution.

I found out the rope protector I bought wasn't big enough to get over the thimble on the winch line so back it will go until I can find another solution. I'm all ears if anyone knows of a stretchy type for the job.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I found out the rope protector I bought wasn't big enough to get over the thimble on the winch line so back it will go until I can find another solution. I'm all ears if anyone knows of a stretchy type for the job.

Have any friends that work in the fire service? I’ve gotten lengths of old fire hose in the past for this purpose.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Great idea- and yes. I'm all over that like a cheap suit.

 

[Stan H]

Far as pics or it didn't happen: All minor mods today- latches, plate bracket, trail rail hi lift mount. Most of what I was expecting didn't get here in time.

Chinesium locking latches from a company called SevenSparta off Bezosmart. Stupid easy install. I like that it came with 4 keys for when I lose the other 3. I was going to get the Rugged Ridge latches but these were cheaper- and not out of stock. They appear to be well built and I couldn't tell if there were any blemishes. They come with the allen wrenches needed, otherwise the hood catch is 2 10mm bolts and the body side is 1 17mm. Reuse the OEM hardware. They came with a small neoprene gasket for each part that touches paint. Nice tough IMO.

Factor55 Ultrahook. I love these things and yes they're expensive but they're the best recovery hook I think I've ever seen/used.

The only issue is the Chinesium plate bracket I bought doesn't quite lock into the place with the Ultrahook on. Not the end of the world since the hook has the rubber pads that the bracket rests on. But I do like that it doesn't flip up or down on a hinge creating a potential snag point for the rope like some I've seen. I do not like the Sunpie logo on it however. The powder coating seems well done. I was planning on the getting the rope cover for the hook but won't since the plate will cover it entirely... and it will stick out more. Time will tell if the hinge on it will hold up to road salt and trail carnage.

Up.

Down

I've had this HiLift for years and used the shit out of it (yes, I know how to use it properly and safely). It's been stored in my shed for a few since I got rid of my tacoma but now will live in the bed. Not thrilled with the axe mounted on the quick fists, I may just throw the shovel on there and find another home for the big choppy choppy but for now this an easy solution.

I found out the rope protector I bought wasn't big enough to get over the thimble on the winch line so back it will go until I can find another solution. I'm all ears if anyone knows of a stretchy type for the job.

Its not a money put when your having fun

 

[BourbonRunner]

Its not a money put when your having fun

I'll be sure to say that to Ms BourbonRunner right after I explain to her that going to Napa Valley isn't doable at the moment because the Jeep and BMW were... needy.

 

[Neomonk21]

I have been looking at those Ultrahooks. Is there any concern with someone stealing it since they are expensive? Or are they pretty hard to remove?

 

[BourbonRunner]

I have been looking at those Ultrahooks. Is there any concern with someone stealing it since they are expensive? Or are they pretty hard to remove?

None on this end. If anything they're a little tougher to steal because they use a snap ring instead of a cotter pin to hold the thimble. The rope cover they sell protects the thimble from road debris but it wouldn't fit with the plate bracket so I saved $50.

Since the DPRMD requires a front plate I had to either drill it into the bumper or find a bracket. Upshot of the bracket is it completely protects the hook and thimble.

 

[Stan H]

I'll be sure to say that to Ms BourbonRunner right after I explain to her that going to Napa Valley isn't doable at the moment because the Jeep and BMW were... needy.

Exactly , I always tell my wife ..Dont you care about my happiness, she will say of course I do, then I will say , then I'm buying more Mods thanks Honey for everything your the greatest.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Exactly , I always tell my wife ..Dont you care about my happiness, she will say of course I do, then I will say , then I'm buying more Mods thanks Honey for everything your the greatest.

That's a good woman you've got there. Here's mine:

Her: "The sun is too bright to ride with the sunrider open." (that's why it's called... never mind)

Me: "Not a problem, they make a screen to fix that."

Her "Oh. Why don't you have that?"

Later that night: "Why do you have your credit card out? What are you buying now?"

Me: "Sunrider screen. For you."

Her: "I'd prefer roses."

 

[BourbonRunner]

Today's add ons:

1. Bulletpoint Rubigrid. If I had to do it again, I'd have ordered another company's setup. After all said and done it didn't line up with the top grid piece once on the dash. It took a little creativity with a track clamp and blue tape to pull it in to get the screws to seat.

If I add another device I'm afraid the neighbor's kids will get a refresher on language you shouldn't ever repeat. Word of advice: They are not returnable if you open the packaging. I routed the media cable from the base of the dash up into a small hole in the tray. Im using a 90 USB C on the panel. I'm not sure given the PITA the grid was that I want to go down the road of the completely hidden version I've seen quite yet. I do like the fuzz buster mount- very low profile. I chose to keep that on the cigarette adapter for now because reasons.

And yes, the Buc-ee's duck stays.

2. Chinesium floating dead pedal from Bezosmart. Pretty straight forward install but the bracket/2-bolt thingee they provided should have been about 1/4" longer to get a flat and lock washer plus the nut on. The back one is virtually impossible to seat and in the process the bolt and washers fell off behind the kick panel. I really don't care to pull that apart to find them so I'll be getting a wing nut to secure the back one later today.

3. ConsoleVault Pew Pew box. Stupid easy to install and still has enough room for some odds and ends like my winch remote or a bag of jelly beans.

4. DDI Seat Jackers and their molle panel. Little bit of manhandling the seat to get the bolt holes on the transmission side to line up but overall not bad. I plan on putting an Element e100 on there, a multi tool and a light. I opted for their vertical piece in case I want to put a banana holder or something else on there. Can't have too much molle I suppose.

Later this weekend the Sunrider shade and some more Quick Fists will arrive.

Also in the works: fixing the steering shimmy in the front end. Installing Steer Smarts drag link, track bar, LCA and a Falcon adjustable stabilizer.

...Operation Just Empty Every Pocket marches on.

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