2012 JKU Rubicon build

[comac90]

Starting with AEV 3.5" SC lift including the high-steer kit, AEV front Milspec with Rugged Ridge jate rings/recovery rings, AEV front skid plate, AEV rear bumper/tire carrier with CHMSL, stainless steel brake lines, Spidertrax wheel spacers, 35" BFG MT KM2s, and Warn XD9000i.

...Still need a front driveshaft and some skid plates. I'm also planning on-board air of some kind, but haven't started looking yet, and roof-rack/camping setup.

The vehicle will be used primarily for family camping, occasional weekend trail runs, and a run out west every couple of years back to my old stomping grounds of CO/UT.

Few pics from the past couple days ...









T

 

[huskyfargo]

Gobi rack is the best! I had Yakima (good and cheap), and Kargo Master (not so cheap, noisy, awkward), but I finally settled on Gobi and it was awesome in every way. Then, I sold my JK and bought a Rover.

 

[comac90]

Gobi rack is the best! I had Yakima (good and cheap), and Kargo Master (not so cheap, noisy, awkward), but I finally settled on Gobi and it was awesome in every way. Then, I sold my JK and bought a Rover.

Thanks ... I'll take a look at those. Pics? I kinda like ARB I've seen pics of, too.

I'm going the other way on trucks. LOL I've had several Rovers ... I'm the co-founder and former co-owner of RoverTracks with Keith Kreutzer, but then I moved back east ~5 yrs ago. Rovers are great trucks. It was a hard decision going JKU vs. Defender. Tough to go wrong ... but, the VVT pushed me over the edge.

T

 

[TXJeepers]

Very nice! If you happen to weigh your rig once it's built, would you mind posting what the weight is? I'm planning a similar build and will be flat towing it some and would love to know how heavy it becomes with the front and rear bumpers, winch, skid plates, 35" tires, etc.

Thanks.

 

[huskyfargo]

These are the best I have with the Gobi rack.

 

[JPK]

AEV is coming out with their own roof rack. 3/4 length, sleeker than most other options, doesn't get in the way of the Freedom Top front panels. Also worth looking at is the Front Runner roof rack, full length and 3/4 length available. Both the AEV and the Front Runner racks instal on the hard top.

There are issues with the Gobi Rack and the AEV rear bumper which can be overcome by mounting the rear legs to the tub. But some abhor the idea of drilling into new sheet metal. Maybe Gobi has figured out a better way by now.

Also, do you know of AEV's forthcoming 10.2 gal tire carrier mounted fuel tank? Pretty ingenious, imo. They are also soon to be out with a tire carrier mount for a Pul Pal an Hi Lift. (And the tire carrier already accomodates a shovel.)

As for armor, I have to strongly recommend aluminum instead of steel to keep the weight down. I have a complete aluminum skid system system from River Raiders Off Road, in PA, and I'm very pleased with it. The skids have withstood some Moab pounding without issue. But other aluminum options exst too.

You will love the AEV suspension!

Congrats on the new Jeep and the nice build,

JPK

 

[comac90]

AEV is coming out with their own roof rack. 3/4 length, sleeker than most other options, doesn't get in the way of the Freedom Top front panels. Also worth looking at is the Front Runner roof rack, full length and 3/4 length available. Both the AEV and the Front Runner racks instal on the hard top.

There are issues with the Gobi Rack and the AEV rear bumper which can be overcome by mounting the rear legs to the tub. But some abhor the idea of drilling into new sheet metal. Maybe Gobi has figured out a better way by now.

Also, do you know of AEV's forthcoming 10.2 gal tire carrier mounted fuel tank? Pretty ingenious, imo. They are also soon to be out with a tire carrier mount for a Pul Pal an Hi Lift. (And the tire carrier already accomodates a shovel.)

As for armor, I have to strongly recommend aluminum instead of steel to keep the weight down. I have a complete aluminum skid system system from River Raiders Off Road, in PA, and I'm very pleased with it. The skids have withstood some Moab pounding without issue. But other aluminum options exst too.

You will love the AEV suspension!

Congrats on the new Jeep and the nice build,

JPK

Thanks - its no Defender 90 (that's not necessarily bad thing - lol - this thing is soooo much more live-able).

I've seen the AEV rack ... I really like the mounting system on that one a lot. And, the fuel cell for the tire carrier was the reason I decided to buy their rear bumper/tire carrier - pretty slick.

As for skids, I'm a bit overwhelmed coming from Defenders how much is going to need to be skid-plated underneath the JK. Aluminum is going to be the only option as I see it from a weight standpoint. I'll check out river raiders. Thx-

T

 

[comac90]

These are the best I have with the Gobi rack.

You ever rub trees, etc with that rack while driving on a side tilt or anything? How'd it fair?

T

 

[huskyfargo]

^^^
Nope...never rubbed, but I'm sure it would have held up just fine. I only had the rack on for about 6 months before I sold the jeep. It was super sturdy, and had no problem holding lots of weight.
I had to take off the rear bumper to install it, but it wasn't too difficult to do. When I put the bumper back on it corrected some of the rattles I had been previously experiencing.
If I ever get another JK, the gobi will be my first choice. I'm waiting for them to release their rack for the LR3, and I'm pretty sure I'll go with theirs.

 

[Dan Grec]

There are issues with the Gobi Rack and the AEV rear bumper which can be overcome by mounting the rear legs to the tub. But some abhor the idea of drilling into new sheet metal. Maybe Gobi has figured out a better way by now.

A better way now exists:
http://forum.aev-conversions.com/showthread.php?t=1855&page=4

-Dan

 

[JPK]

Thanks - its no Defender 90 (that's not necessarily bad thing - lol - this thing is soooo much more live-able).

I've seen the AEV rack ... I really like the mounting system on that one a lot. And, the fuel cell for the tire carrier was the reason I decided to buy their rear bumper/tire carrier - pretty slick.

As for skids, I'm a bit overwhelmed coming from Defenders how much is going to need to be skid-plated underneath the JK. Aluminum is going to be the only option as I see it from a weight standpoint. I'll check out river raiders. Thx-

T

I've spent some time in Series and Defender Rovers in Africa. They ride better than Toyota 5/4 ton PU's - that's not saying much - but they are for short contortionists who are mechanics. Give me my Jeep JKU any day (for here in NA!)

Now for some LR/RR fun:
You know that the LR discovered Africa, but the Toyota conquered it!
90% of LR's are still on the road... , the rest made it to their destinations.

I'm sure you have heard hundreds more, LOL.

I have seen photos of the undersides of a 2012 and I don't think any current front to rear skid package will work out of the box, so you may need to wait until RROR or others come out with a 2012 specific package or figure out how to modify their existing packages.

Here's what I think needs protection - engine oil pan, transmission pan, the exhaust loop. Maybe the transfer case too, the photos I saw didn't give a good look at the oem skid for the case. Jeep provides a charcoal canister skid for the '12's, they didn't on previous models.

The '12's transmission pan looks awfully vulnerable, similar to the pan on my Hemi converted '10. The RROR skid over the tranny pan on mine has already paid for itself and the entire skid package and it did it in one instance in Moab...

The exhaust loop looks very vulnerable too, and ought not to be cut out or modified since it was intended to make the right and left bank exhaust runs the same length before they merge.

The engine oil pan is higher, but a blow there can be fatal to what is no doubt an expensive engine.

AEV's rear differential skid/slider is relatively cheap insurance as well.

BTW, did you know that GenRight and Long Ranger make auxilliary fuel tanks? The Long Ranger is bolt in for the '11's and prior, with just the canister moved, but the resonator or whater that first muffler is on the '12's would have to go.

JPK

 

[alexfm]

T

Must be nice working on a rig that looks like that underneath.

 

[comac90]

Must be nice working on a rig that looks like that underneath.

Yep! Spent enough years doing it after the fact. LOL

T

 

[comac90]

Everything on ... still gotta work out the front DS issue tagging the exhaust.



T

 

[Timgco]

Everything on ... still gotta work out the front DS issue tagging the exhaust.



T

Your rig looks great! I have the same truck waiting to get lifted.

To answer some questions.
AEV/ GOBI combo works great now. You just need to specify AEV brackets when ordering the GOBI. If you already have a rack and want the add the AEV rear bumper, you can buy those brackets seperate.

The rack holds up well to branches, tree, slickrock walls. LOL However, if you think you will be in this type of situations at some point, put the AEV corner guards on. It will keep your factory pannel from denting. I have witnessed first hand a JKU Rubicon on Escalator in Moab. He rested the back of the truck into the wall. it held up great.
You need to make sure you have the dual isolator kits and HD isolators. the older racks only had one isolator on each side. 2 makes the difference along with the addition of the HD wear plates OR AEV corner guards.


I looked into the lift today with the drop brackets AND talked with AEV on this. you have to move that crossover pipe forward to give you enough clearance on the drive shaft. It will only hit when the drsd droops all the way.

I compared this on a 4" short arm ProComp lift today. This 2012 Auto JKU Rubicon had about 1" of clearance when the swaybar was disco'd. And only came close when the drsd was at full droop.

The "loop de loop" on that exhaust is my bigger concern though. I have to figure that out soon.