AggieOE
Trying to escape the city
As she sits today:
Modifications List:
Suspension:
Jeep's 'Major' Trips:
Back Story:
Well I've seen enough "build" threads to decide to start my own. Maybe "our" own should be the proper way of saying that as this is my wife's and my first "family" vehicle purchase.
First off, we don't have kids and aren't planning to anytime soon but it was time to grow up and get something a little more "family practical" for us and our two dogs. Plus, we wanted something that could go anywhere, do anything, and still be reliable and comfortable.
Now most people wouldn't consider a Wrangler comfortable but I come from a sports car background where the stiffer suspension, the better.
Our first purchase as a married couple was my '12 Boss 302 Mustang. Well it was fun and all until the AC went out on me 4,000 miles out of warranty, then the differential began having issues, next something in the front suspension started popping, and the transmission was never aligned perfectly as it would lock you out of a gear every so often. Basically, I was getting annoyed with my fun daily driver. Add 62,000 miles to the mix and I needed to get out of her while I could still profit a high mileage Boss 302.
Anyways, we purchased our new '16 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon on 6/30/16. I know the date because that was the only reason I purchased it then. It was the last day of the month, the quarter, and the half of the year. I called around and asked who needed to make a deal as I was not in a hurry. Long story short, we got a great deal on the new Jeep and on my trade-in and we left the dealer without 444-horsepower but with a real lockable 4x4 4-door convertible "practical" vehicle.
She's your generic Rubicon with all the usual features but with optional 4.10s, Navigation, Alpine 9-speaker audio system, and Freedom top.
Since we've had her I've only added a Rugger Ridge hitch receiver with wiring harness and Wild Boar grab bars as well as a tow strap and shackles.
Below is her first real "Jeep" outing with the Houston Jeep People club at Hidden Falls off-road park outside Austin, TX.
We aren't going to be into the whole rock-crawling crowd but wanted to learn how the vehicle works in it's basic stock form before adding anything to it.
Besides leaving there with a few brush scratches, she got her first scar (dented up the exhaust tip), and plenty of belly sliding evidence underneath.
It was a blast and we learned a whole lot about what she will and will not do.
Btw, a hammock strung up inside between roll bars makes for an awesome 1-person camping set-up.
Anywho, stay tuned for one of the slowest and probably most boring builds ever!
Modifications List:
Suspension:
- AEV 2.5" Lift with Geometry Correction Brackets
- BFG KO2 285/75/17 (34") tires
- SpiderTrax 1.5" Wheel Spacers
- ARB Full Width Bull Bar Bumper
- AEV Rear Bumper without water tanks
- Warn M8000 Winch
- Hella 500 Driving Lights (the cheap ones)
Jeep's 'Major' Trips:
- 2016: Moab, Canyonlands, Arches NP
- 2018: Moab, Canyonlands, Arches NP (again)
- 2022: Big Bend NP - Black Gap Road & River Road
- 2022: Colorado - Ouray, Imogene Pass, Ophir Pass, Telluride, Animas Forks, Silverton, Durango, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, Chaco NM, Mesa Verde
- 2023: Overland Expo West in Flagstaff
Back Story:
Well I've seen enough "build" threads to decide to start my own. Maybe "our" own should be the proper way of saying that as this is my wife's and my first "family" vehicle purchase.
First off, we don't have kids and aren't planning to anytime soon but it was time to grow up and get something a little more "family practical" for us and our two dogs. Plus, we wanted something that could go anywhere, do anything, and still be reliable and comfortable.
Now most people wouldn't consider a Wrangler comfortable but I come from a sports car background where the stiffer suspension, the better.
Our first purchase as a married couple was my '12 Boss 302 Mustang. Well it was fun and all until the AC went out on me 4,000 miles out of warranty, then the differential began having issues, next something in the front suspension started popping, and the transmission was never aligned perfectly as it would lock you out of a gear every so often. Basically, I was getting annoyed with my fun daily driver. Add 62,000 miles to the mix and I needed to get out of her while I could still profit a high mileage Boss 302.
Anyways, we purchased our new '16 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon on 6/30/16. I know the date because that was the only reason I purchased it then. It was the last day of the month, the quarter, and the half of the year. I called around and asked who needed to make a deal as I was not in a hurry. Long story short, we got a great deal on the new Jeep and on my trade-in and we left the dealer without 444-horsepower but with a real lockable 4x4 4-door convertible "practical" vehicle.
She's your generic Rubicon with all the usual features but with optional 4.10s, Navigation, Alpine 9-speaker audio system, and Freedom top.
Since we've had her I've only added a Rugger Ridge hitch receiver with wiring harness and Wild Boar grab bars as well as a tow strap and shackles.
Below is her first real "Jeep" outing with the Houston Jeep People club at Hidden Falls off-road park outside Austin, TX.
We aren't going to be into the whole rock-crawling crowd but wanted to learn how the vehicle works in it's basic stock form before adding anything to it.
Besides leaving there with a few brush scratches, she got her first scar (dented up the exhaust tip), and plenty of belly sliding evidence underneath.
It was a blast and we learned a whole lot about what she will and will not do.
Btw, a hammock strung up inside between roll bars makes for an awesome 1-person camping set-up.
Anywho, stay tuned for one of the slowest and probably most boring builds ever!
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