AEV 2.5" lift install

[monkeyplunger]

I also installed the bestop underseat safe. I had it in my 2010 and installed in about 15 min. The 2013 took over an hour. The 2013 now has heated seats and side mounted airbag which now puts electrical connectors under the seat which were not there in my 2010. This required me to remove the oem bracket and mount the airbag and heater connectors directly to the safe.

OEM underseat bracket. It is bolted to the drivers side slide rail and is easily removed.



I copied the hole pattern to the side of the safe and checked to see if the fir trees would clear the drawer. there is about 1/2 to 3/4 clearance between the drawer and outer shell.



Here is the safe installed under the seat with the airbag and heater connectors mounted to the side.





Asides from the two connectors this one is easy.

 

[monkeyplunger]

Also installed the boom mat to the full headliner. Again a very easy install. Just needed help removing the hardtop, flipping over, and then reinstalling. Here is a view of the front freedom panel installed.



Spacers installed



boom mat installed



It really helps with the noise and heat. I am very happy with how it turned out. Almost identical to my 2010 with the soundcoat.

 

[monkeyplunger]

Next step is to show the spod after install pics.

I am 90% set on AEV front and rear bumpers.

50% on the black AEV Savegre wheels with 33 or 35" tires. (correction, i will not be going with the Savegre wheels as they are made in china. I guess i will use stock rims which are made in the usa and use a wheel spacer kit. Anyone have recommendations on USA made black wheels?)

Winch is up in the air. (open to suggestions, but leaning towards synthetic line to save weight).

HID lights for front bumper up in the air

Searching for compact LED lights I can mount under the rear bumper to light up the rear of the jeep.

(I feel like and AEV dork) I wish there were other high quality options.

 

[brianjwilson]

Check out expedition one bumpers for a quality option that looks good, and isn't on every other jeep you'll pass on the road.

Their website had an ad for free shipping before Easter, I called the other day and asked if they would still ship for free and they did, trail series front bumper on the way. The rear bumper is very nice and looks much better than the AEV IMO.

 

[crawler#976]

Unless something changed on the wheels from '12, the factory rims are made in China as well. The dot peen markings were quite clear on ours.

Centerline, US Wheel, Eagle Alloy are US made.

That said, I'd still recommend getting the AEV's. They are designed specifically for the JK, and after experiencing a set of aftermarket wheels that were supposed to fit, but caused all kinds of balance and vibration problems, I ended up spending the money on the AEV's.

The SmittyBilt XCR8 with synthetic is a reasonably priced option. I don't know what you plan to do with your Jeep, but with as many miles of trail as we put on our two vehicles, an '09 Power Wagon and the '12 JKUR, we don't pull cable much more than once or twice a year. And of the few times we do, most of it is for recovering another vehicle. The other thing we seem to use them for is removing downed trees from trails.

 

[slvyj]

Plus they posted a few weeks ago on facebook that they are developing aluminum bumpers, should be ready this summer.

Check out expedition one bumpers for a quality option that looks good, and isn't on every other jeep you'll pass on the road.

Their website had an ad for free shipping before Easter, I called the other day and asked if they would still ship for free and they did, trail series front bumper on the way. The rear bumper is very nice and looks much better than the AEV IMO.

 

[brianjwilson]

Plus they posted a few weeks ago on facebook that they are developing aluminum bumpers, should be ready this summer.

Crap! I meant to ask if they had interest to build anything in aluminum and I forgot, ordered a steel bumper already....

 

[monkeyplunger]

I really like the aev wheels but not happy to find out the are made in china especially for the price. I have no clue what i will do yet for wbeels. As for bumpers i am going with aev. Just need to find time to pick them up. The jeep dealer has them for the same price found just about anywhere online, but you obviously dont pay shipping. I like the ARB but just not quite sold on them. Really wish aluminess would make bumpers for the JK. They will do custom, and the one i had seen online looked wierd for some reason.

 

[monkeyplunger]

Today I loosened up the rear end, removed lower shock bolts, lower track bar bolt and sway bar end links. All this to drop the rear axle enough to clock the rear springs per AEV online instructions. (my copy failed to include the diagram). I cannot tell the difference by look or ride, but at least I know it's right. It was bothering me.

 

[Idahoan]

Unless something changed on the wheels from '12, the factory rims are made in China as well. The dot peen markings were quite clear on ours.

Centerline, US Wheel, Eagle Alloy are US made.

That said, I'd still recommend getting the AEV's. They are designed specifically for the JK, and after experiencing a set of aftermarket wheels that were supposed to fit, but caused all kinds of balance and vibration problems, I ended up spending the money on the AEV's.

The SmittyBilt XCR8 with synthetic is a reasonably priced option. I don't know what you plan to do with your Jeep, but with as many miles of trail as we put on our two vehicles, an '09 Power Wagon and the '12 JKUR, we don't pull cable much more than once or twice a year. And of the few times we do, most of it is for recovering another vehicle. The other thing we seem to use them for is removing downed trees from trails.

I'm with you guys, I try not to buy anything that isn't US made. That said I did buy the Savegre wheels because of the excellent fit. I really wanted the rims to be hub centric and didn't want to use hub adapters. AND I hated the look of my stock Rubi wheels!

When you get to winches lean towards Warn. Made in Oregon.