"Bruce" the 2014 Jeep JKUR Build Thread

[kojackJKU]

I would suggest the teraflex 2" leveling kit over the AEV. The teraflex comes with front swaybar links and its a little cheaper. I am running it and my jeep is not level with all spacers installed. my rear is still a little higher. I have had it installed for 4 years now with no issues. The early version like I have had swaybar link issues, but the new ones have updated links which I also have now and they are fine. I have no issue with any teraflex product. I use and will continue to use a lot of what they make. Their customer service is awesome to boot. I ordered a few things last week, mentioned to them the shipping cost was out of wack for what I had, They went and got a price from another shipping carrier ( I am in Canada) and dropped the price in half. They could have told me to hit the road, the cost is the cost, but they went and made me a happy customer, AGAIN.

I would not hesitate to buy anything teraflex makes. In fact, I am upgrading my suspension later this year with their 2.5" lift, fixed arms, speed bumps and resi fox shocks from them as well.

 

[iluv83vettes]

I'm not totally sold on trucklites. I live in a city so trips are the only time I even use my lame high beams. A lightbar might cut it.

Im actually getting some off brand maxtrax for $110 that have better reviews than maxtrax. That was why I was getting that first. Also they work in the desert where there isn't a free to winch off of. I also don't think the oem front suspension can handle a winch. So I want to do that close to the AEV 3.5 lift.

If you are talking about the amazon ones, they are ~$150 now.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I would suggest the teraflex 2" leveling kit over the AEV. The teraflex comes with front swaybar links and its a little cheaper. I am running it and my jeep is not level with all spacers installed. my rear is still a little higher. I have had it installed for 4 years now with no issues. The early version like I have had swaybar link issues, but the new ones have updated links which I also have now and they are fine. I have no issue with any teraflex product. I use and will continue to use a lot of what they make. Their customer service is awesome to boot. I ordered a few things last week, mentioned to them the shipping cost was out of wack for what I had, They went and got a price from another shipping carrier ( I am in Canada) and dropped the price in half. They could have told me to hit the road, the cost is the cost, but they went and made me a happy customer, AGAIN.

I would not hesitate to buy anything teraflex makes. In fact, I am upgrading my suspension later this year with their 2.5" lift, fixed arms, speed bumps and resi fox shocks from them as well.

I talked to them last year about the 1.5" coils. Ordered. Installed. They were terrible. The rear end sagged like crazy. On coming drivers kept flashing their highbeams at me thinking I had my highs on. But the rear end just sagged so much that the lights were pointed up. When I followed up with them and Northridge Teraflex claimed I'd mismatched their prodcuts or something until I sent them the email of their customer service rep's recommendation.

The AEV kid comes with shock relocators. that's why I'm leaning that way. In reality, the synergy shock relocation brackets and 1.75" pucks would be good. The other option is to just install the AEV 2.5" kit now and see how much lift I net and how I like it. But it's a bit more of a gamble than spending $200 on a used spacer lift.

If you are talking about the amazon ones, they are ~$150 now.

Yeah I saw that. $40 change since last week. They also used to be prime. I think the Prime supplier is just out of stock. But have you read about those? No negative reviews on amazon. That's rare. Neither the TJM or Maxtrax have reviews like that.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Nice "battle" plan

Looks good Klaus! :beer:

I'd probably want to move the winch up to #2 and add a sand anchor as well, but totally understand where you are coming from.
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I think your choice of KMs is a good one. I've had 3 different vehicles now with the KMs, and really like them on the rocks, in the sand, and even on the street.
I've had two sets of KOs, and the only place I liked them better was light snow and ice (going over the passes in the winter).
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Something to *consider* since you have a 4 door, is your rear bumper. For about $600 less than the AEV, you can get a fully optioned LoD rear bumper, then sell your stock rear bumper to recoup another $50 or so.
The advantage is the rear rack.
The disadvantage is the loss of an additional 4.3 gallons of water storage.
I say "consider", because I don't have first hand knowledge of this bumper yet. But I have one on order.
Spent a lot of time debating between the AEV, and the LoD. There are a lot of little things to both bumpers. In the end that added storage space and $600 in savings pushed me to buy one.

I picked up a couple of orange colored plastic fantastic sand ramps from Amazon (can't remember the name). They had good reviews, and weren't too expensive.
Made in Taiwan . Pretty nice quality overall, and worked awesome to add a bit of "safety orange" color to the back of the Jeep. Don't know how they'd work for their intended purpose, because it's pretty darned hard to bury the JK. :beer:
.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Looks good Klaus! :beer:

I'd probably want to move the winch up to #2 and add a sand anchor as well, but totally understand where you are coming from.
.
I think your choice of KMs is a good one. I've had 3 different vehicles now with the KMs, and really like them on the rocks, in the sand, and even on the street.
I've had two sets of KOs, and the only place I liked them better was light snow and ice (going over the passes in the winter).
.
Something to *consider* since you have a 4 door, is your rear bumper. For about $600 less than the AEV, you can get a fully optioned LoD rear bumper, then sell your stock rear bumper to recoup another $50 or so.
The advantage is the rear rack.
The disadvantage is the loss of an additional 4.3 gallons of water storage.
I say "consider", because I don't have first hand knowledge of this bumper yet. But I have one on order.
Spent a lot of time debating between the AEV, and the LoD. There are a lot of little things to both bumpers. In the end that added storage space and $600 in savings pushed me to buy one.

I picked up a couple of orange colored plastic fantastic sand ramps from Amazon (can't remember the name). They had good reviews, and weren't too expensive.
Made in Taiwan . Pretty nice quality overall, and worked awesome to add a bit of "safety orange" color to the back of the Jeep. Don't know how they'd work for their intended purpose, because it's pretty darned hard to bury the JK. :beer:
.
View attachment 289531

Thanks for the ideas Scott. I've buried the rear axle in death valley once. Highcentered and tried locking and reversing out. Didn't work. Those are the traction boards I had in mind. My main reasoning against a rear bumper is just the weight. On Land Cruisers there was no option to retain the stock bumper and have a tire carrier. Also it's butt stuck out a lot and scraped on everything. On the JK, you can make a nice, light, minimalist bumper for cheap should I do the Rubicon or Moab's harder trails.

I had a winch on my last truck and never used it (knock on wood). That's why it's in the #3 Phase. But after talking to my buddy with a similar build to me and the 2.5" lift, there's a chance I'll shuffle things around and get the 2.5" lift instead of the spacers and see how I like it. In that situation I could add a winch a lot sooner.

 

[Comanche Scott]

I've used the winch on this Jeep four times in a year. None of which was self extraction or while off road, so I totally get where you are coming from on the winch thing.
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I'm *thinking* these ramps are decent enough. Wouldn't want to spin the tires for fear of melting the nubs. They aren't brittle, and the plastic seems pretty tough and resilient.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I've used the winch on this Jeep four times in a year. None of which was self extraction or while off road, so I totally get where you are coming from on the winch thing.
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I'm *thinking* these ramps are decent enough. Wouldn't want to spin the tires for fear of melting the nubs. They aren't brittle, and the plastic seems pretty tough and resilient.

All of them melt with tire spin. The first time we tried to use a set of Maxtrax they shattered. So I decided they weren't worth $300. Ha.

 

[Comanche Scott]

I had them bent around the spare a bit to keep them tight, and they came right back to straight, so the plastic seems pretty decent.
If I get a chance this evening, I'll stack them on top of some 4x4s and see how they do as a bridge. Do you want a picture of that?
It will give me a chance to play with the Hi-Lift and the tire lifting attachment...Got to love toys... lol
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Really that's the only thing I'm not sure of. I'd be willing to bet they'll work great to get out of the sand.

 

[kojackJKU]

Hey Guys, can you post up a link to the new maxtrax style treads your talking about. Thanks!

 

[Comanche Scott]

Hey Guys, can you post up a link to the new maxtrax style treads your talking about. Thanks!

here you go:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AV2HONS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

Looks like they are back down to $108. But only 8 pair left in stock...

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Looks like one of you bought one.

 

[kojackJKU]

Nice. Thanks. Hopfully they have more in stock soon. I have to wait a few weeks. I have just spent a ******** load of money. My leveling kit gave me a caster right at the edge of spec so I ordered some lower front and rear control arms, wheels, rear hinges, front bumper corners etc. My jeep got lots of love this past week and everything is working awesome on it. Today she's getting her air bags and bumper corners installed.

 

[Comanche Scott]

OK, so using these ramps to bridge, is only good for light weight people... lol
They started bending as soon as the tire touched down, and just kept right on bending.
That said, no stress marks in the plastic, and they came right back to straight after letting the pressure off.

 

[kojackJKU]

I guess you can use them to supplement your bridge building with rocks and stuff.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I guess you can use them to supplement your bridge building with rocks and stuff.

I wouldn't. That's how the maxtrax shattered. Kind of. I don't think these are meant for bridging.