2005 Rubicon LJ

[jscusmcvet]

My rear bumper/tire swingout is up for sale in the for sale section:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...LJ-Rear-Bumper-tire-carrier-Big-Daddy-Offroac

Changing gears a bit with my build and don't need the beefiness of this bumper/swingout.

John

 

[mike3081]

My half doors are one of the best mods I've made.

 

[Lacy Hershey]

My half doors are one of the best mods I've made.

Completely agree. I probably paid more money than I should have for mine (shipping drove mine up pretty good). But they color matched inside and out, came with new uppers and frames. Plus finding Solar Yellow parts is not easy. Lol!

 

[Singlespeed92]

LOVING the yellow

 

[jscusmcvet]

My half doors are one of the best mods I've made.

Yes. Whole new vehicle. Feel at home again.

Mine also came with new upper skins, and the guy is likely making money from me, but he is a young guy, a Marine, just starting out in civilian life, honest, hard worker and salt of the earth and so I hope he does do well. Paint needs to be updated or redone, but that will be for another time. I'd really like to take the whole jeep to a satin green or tan. I certainly cannot do it, so that will have to wait.

 

[mike3081]

Yes. Whole new vehicle. Feel at home again.


Mine also came with new upper skins, and the guy is likely making money from me, but he is a young guy, a Marine, just starting out in civilian life, honest, hard worker and salt of the earth and so I hope he does do well. Paint needs to be updated or redone, but that will be for another time. I'd really like to take the whole jeep to a satin green or tan. I certainly cannot do it, so that will have to wait.

Good on ya. Mine were yellow originally, so I had a shop prep and paint. I painted the interior myself with color matched rattle can. Very pleased with the result. The uppers I found on graigs didn't match but they are rarely on unless I'm towing it.

Before.


After.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Good on ya. Mine were yellow originally, so I had a shop prep and paint. I painted the interior myself with color matched rattle can. Very pleased with the result. The uppers I found on graigs didn't match but they are rarely on unless I'm towing it.

Before.


After.

Nice. Really came out well. I will get to that on mine, just for touch up at some point. On another good note, my wife has commented repeatedly about the half doors and how much she likes them. Today she also bought into my someday plan of repainting the jeep a satin or flat green or dark tan... never thought she'd go for it. It is gonna have to wait for a few years probably, but I have cataloged the "OK"

 

[Lacy Hershey]

Always helps when the spouse agrees. My husband is just now coming around (he's a bronco fan not jeep). Pulled up next to a yellow tj last weekend. I had the hardtop off the so did the tj. My husband looks at the tj then the back of the lj and says "I guess it does have a lot more room. Glad you got this one." I count that as a small win in my book.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Always helps when the spouse agrees. My husband is just now coming around (he's a bronco fan not jeep). Pulled up next to a yellow tj last weekend. I had the hardtop off the so did the tj. My husband looks at the tj then the back of the lj and says "I guess it does have a lot more room. Glad you got this one." I count that as a small win in my book.

LJ for the win Overall a much more usable vehicle. I tow a lot and this is much better at it that the TJ I passed on to my son. Pretty sure his TJ is a better trail machine, but such as it is...

 

[BushHead]

It was nice to finally run into you today, I'm totally jealous of your jeep!!

 

[jscusmcvet]

It was nice to finally run into you today, I'm totally jealous of your jeep!!

Yep good to meet you too. Looks like we are around most of the summer and I have most evenings off, so just let me know when you have time. We love the pig.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Quick update or two. Have really been enjoying the BFG AT's I picked up used. Went from 33x12.50 MT's back to 245's (31's) that were stock size on this jeep. Just a realization of how I am using the jeep these days. Lots of road miles, work around the farm, but limited trail duty. Also loving the half doors I picked up. We have been seriously devoid of rain here in NC (at least in my area) over the last few weeks, but weather has been great for top down, half door goodness.

Replaced the right rear brake caliper again. Thankfully under warranty from autozone. they made it easy too. I have had more brake problems on this jeep than any other vehicle I have ever had.

Been spending time on another hobby lately, rebuilding a skiff Jonah and I built 11 years ago. Had some rot in the bottom and on one side from when I had to store it outside. All complete now and relaunched yesterday. Had a great afternoon with little Joe and Ann, enjoying our local lake with Joe spinning tales of adventure on "Seal Island". Good times that are hard to beat.

 

[heehawhardy]

Looks like a great family adventure

 

[jscusmcvet]

So not much going on in my jeep world as of late... return to stock size tires, jeep ride great, hitting 15.5 mpg... quiet ride from the bfg AT's...

Little Joe (4 years old) and I are sitting on the porch over the weekend, he is playing, I am reading... I say to him, "Joe that's a nice jeep isn't it". His reply?

"Yeah, but it's supposed to be bigger than that".

Damn. I love this kid.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Latest update, Metal Cloak front sway bar disco's to replace my JKS. (will be putting up for sale) Easy install... typical well designed and built product. Besides the springs this completes my "all Metal Cloak" front end. Drove nice to day, I am happy.

I am working on a bit of a long term build plan for this rig to culminate NLT this fall. I attended the American Adventurist Appalachian Rondevous, luckily for me in my backyard at Uwharrie. Saw lots of cool rigs and camping set ups and frankly had a great time on that short trip going solo. This led to me thinking that it would be cool to set up my jeep a little better for camping at the same time "reinvigorated" my desire to continue to build and work on the jeep. I would like a touch more capability and better "campability" at the same time. I have ideas of copying Haggis's platform (Grey Mouser) for sleeping and coming up with a screen system to replace the sides of the soft top for when we are in camp... just thoughts rolling at this point....

Here is an idea of the mods I am looking at:

1/2" Body Lift - Rokmen - already have just need to install- this is to get the xfer case skid up to frame level and to provide a hair more tire clearance under full stuff
33x10.50 (metric equivalent?) tires... skinny is where I am at. If I could find just one more 33x9.50x15 in an AT pattern I would be set...
Replace Winch - Bought this superwinch used and it is showing it's age. Will be looking in a few months for something solid, not sure what yet.
Different Engine skid. I have a Skid Row that is up for sale at the moment... Very good protection, but heavy, considering a smaller skid that just covers the oil pan.
Drop Down Tailgate - Usable space in camp
Frameless soft top - HATE the LJ soft top bow system, but love a soft top... softtopper or rampage...
Chromo front axle shafts - want, not sure if I need but nice insurance
Awning set up to extend from the rear of the jeep - this will probably be "custom" - Read as "Ann Made it". Basically a covered area to work at the tailgate, and sit and have a beer.

Open to thoughts and discussion... that's what this is all about right?

John