2010 patriot soft roader build.
- Thread starter jhill15
- Start date
WagoneerSX4
Adventurer
That was probably the best thread I've read all week. Just goes to show you how some people have NO idea the R&D that go into race prep'd off road vehicles. "changed my CVT fluid and got my general lee graphics on, now I'm certaintly ready for the baja 1000!"
Definitely a situation where you're not sure whether to laugh or cry....
Sorry to get off track OP. Pat is sure coming along. I'm the first one to support uncommon soft road vehicles, so I'm for exploring the limits of your vehicle!
have a look at this.
This review made me a believer and I ordered one when I was looking for a compact capable rig. They can do a lot for a small rig.
http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/reviews/patriot/index.htm
After reading this, I ordered a 2010 FDII limited with every option. Soon after ordering, I had to wait 2 months to get my rig, I found RRO. After taking my patriot and driving it for a while, I ordered the lift. Made another good difference putting some air under the little rig. Once this was done, you have exactly 1 more inch under the rig than a wrangler at its lowest point. great for general adventuring etc.
I added the sportrack basket and 4 HID hella 500s on the roof for moose avoidance on the highways here.
Jhill, YOu have a very capable rig there. If you need anything let me know I know the in's and out's of the little beast. If you don't have them, the skids and tow hooks from the FDII bolt right on. Also, If I were you, I would find FDII shocks, springs and alternator. The FDII springs get you an extra inch of lift so with the RRO kit you have over an inch more lift than with the stus coils, the shocks are more robust than FD1 shocks and the alternator is more powerful for more accessories. One good thing is where the rig is so light, you can run a smaller winch like they do on the subarus.
This review made me a believer and I ordered one when I was looking for a compact capable rig. They can do a lot for a small rig.
http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipment/reviews/patriot/index.htm
After reading this, I ordered a 2010 FDII limited with every option. Soon after ordering, I had to wait 2 months to get my rig, I found RRO. After taking my patriot and driving it for a while, I ordered the lift. Made another good difference putting some air under the little rig. Once this was done, you have exactly 1 more inch under the rig than a wrangler at its lowest point. great for general adventuring etc.
I added the sportrack basket and 4 HID hella 500s on the roof for moose avoidance on the highways here.
Jhill, YOu have a very capable rig there. If you need anything let me know I know the in's and out's of the little beast. If you don't have them, the skids and tow hooks from the FDII bolt right on. Also, If I were you, I would find FDII shocks, springs and alternator. The FDII springs get you an extra inch of lift so with the RRO kit you have over an inch more lift than with the stus coils, the shocks are more robust than FD1 shocks and the alternator is more powerful for more accessories. One good thing is where the rig is so light, you can run a smaller winch like they do on the subarus.
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jhill15
Explorer
That was a good article! I wish I had the fdii package, I wasn't really educated on these until after I bought it, which was bad on my part cause I would've searched out a trail rated patriot instead. None the less I think its great for what we intend to use it for.
Something thats kind of a hot topic over on the patriot forum is swapping out 2007-2010 coil springs for moog constant rate springs for 2011+ lattitude x. Which will give you 2 inches of lift for only $150 from rock auto. This is pretty new mod so I think I will wait and see how it pans out first, but it looks pretty promising. I think may only concern would be with my current shocks/struts. I don't know if I could use the oem ones that are on my rig now or if I would have to get longer travel ones.
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jhill15
Explorer
Those things i always wonder when lifting. Do i need a longer travel shock...I guess to achieve more flex they would help, but with this little rig I will just keep the stuts and shocks that are on there, mainly cause they look brand new.
For the price of $146 shipped to my door, it looks like this is the cheapest way to gain 2 inches, throw in an alignment and It would be up 2 inches for under $250 which would be pretty awesome.
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Yep, Then you can put the RRO kit on after for the extra space. There is no extra flex to be had really. that's the design of the suspension I used to air out the wheels a lot, but with the traction system, you could just motor on. I am not sure if the FD1 has the brake lock diffs or not.
jhill15
Explorer
Sweet! So with those moog springs and the rro lift I would be sitting 5 inches higher than I am now. I don't believe the fd1 has brake lock diffs...i could be wrong though.
I started hearing a crunching sound I my front driver side tire yesterday, not all the time but when I role over a dip the road and sometimes when I turn, I hope its not a wheel bearing or something worse cause that gonna take all my fun money.
Last i was testing out my flex on a small incline in my yard and I heard this gut wrenching creek. ..it sounded as if the strut or spring had never been stretched that far and it was saying ouch lol. It did it ever time when I flexed and compressed the driver side...
Im gonna have to get it checked out tomorrow or thursday because my 60/40 warranty is gonna run out soon and I really don't wanna have to pay that 40% the dealership is gonna cover.
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jhill15
Explorer
Im gonna take it on thursday, so hopefully its nothing major. I really wanna get this thing lifted asap.
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jhill15
Explorer
What Kojack! Thats awesome!!!! When are you getting it?
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Within 2 months. it's ordered, and in transit to a dealer that is close to us. My local dealer who I have bought numerous vehicles from before is going to get it transferred to their system once it arrives.
We had planned on doing this last year but we held off. but it's back on. Its a better deal than the renegade, and there is more aftermarket for it. We are going to put the RRO lift, roof rack, front bumper setup with winch, sliders and 16" rims and tires. Add some mounting for our gps tablet and we are good to go. Going to either make it a trailhawk or arctic "clone"...I do powder coating as my job so I am going to take the tow hooks and front skid plate and powder coat them red or blue, get the black hood decal, and the badging from the real version and go from there.
We had planned on doing this last year but we held off. but it's back on. Its a better deal than the renegade, and there is more aftermarket for it. We are going to put the RRO lift, roof rack, front bumper setup with winch, sliders and 16" rims and tires. Add some mounting for our gps tablet and we are good to go. Going to either make it a trailhawk or arctic "clone"...I do powder coating as my job so I am going to take the tow hooks and front skid plate and powder coat them red or blue, get the black hood decal, and the badging from the real version and go from there.
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jhill15
Explorer
Man thats freakin exciting! Is the one ordered a trail rated with the offroad mode? I wish I had got that, I kick myself everytime I think about it lol.
It makes it a little easier since this will be your sencond one that you owned, you know exactly what you wanna do to it, with the advantage of already knowing the vehicle. I think everything that you mentioned will make it a sweet rig!
Thats pretty awesome that your job is powder coating! I wish had an awesome job like that.
I'm stoked for you man!
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