"Bruce" the 2014 Jeep JKUR Build Thread

[KlausVanWinkle]

On the verge of sounding like a broken record, the Rugged Ridge Hi-Lift mount is junk. I've learned my lesson. Only AEV, ARB, Evo, FrontRunner and LabRak equipment will be going on my Jeep in the future. Bad equipment that also damages the factory finish (ruining the paint on the oem bolts and hinges) really pisses me off.

For anyone interested, this is what's wrong with the RR mount.

It requires spacers between the actual hi-lift holder and the mounting brackets. Beside causing even more leverage on the hinges, RR doesn't provide a longer top left bolt to accommodate the spacer. I started to tighten the said bolt and realized that it was only contacting on one thread. It started to strip the OEM captured nut and I gave up.

Also, the 3 bolts that require the spacers don't line up correctly.

For the mounting brackets to clear the hinges, the mount uses 4 cylindrical spacers on the 4 mounting bolts. This doesn't seem like a great design. A solid bar spacer would work better. I'm also not a fan of crinkle finish. Luckily, I didn't paint it before test installing.

I talked to Shane at LabRak today. Maybe he'll be able to a quality version. It seems like a decent way to mount a jack, especially if the mount was one solid piece of aluminum. It might even add some rigidity to the tailgate.

 

[LL247]

I purchased the RR hi-lift mount for my last JKU...when I swapped over all my equipment to the Rubi, it didn't make the cut. Poor design, terrible hardware, actually went to the hardware store and put together better parts for it. Not a fan!

 

[kojackJKU]

Rugged Ridge makes crap products. My dash mount vibrates even with just my cell phone on it. the ball was listed the wrong size as well.

 

[Beamer pilot]

I mounted my Hi Lift to the back of the Kargomaster safari rack just above the rear window with muffler clamps and I am very happy with that. The RTT is up there too with no issues as to movement or CG, of course you have to watch the inclinometer while traversing hills but that's a given. I will add a rear bumper above the spare rack this spring. The weight of cargo inside the Jeep balances the higher load on the roof to a certain extent.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

No new mods, other than an old LabRak LED flood light I wired up as cargo area light triggered by the overhead lights.

But I did complete most of Mojave Road this weekend. We met the man that retraced the road, and made it to 17 mile point. I was the only person with a camera on the trip, so I didn't get a lot of good pictures. I did get to drive my friend's JKUR with the AEV 2.5" lift. It confirmed my suspicions and solidified my suspension plans.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Looks like another great trip with some great pictures! :beer:
Did you meet Dennis Casebier?
I'll be there the first week in April, hoping there will still be some bloom left. But looking forward to it no matter what.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Looks like another great trip with some great pictures! :beer:
Did you meet Dennis Casebier?
I'll be there the first week in April, hoping there will still be some bloom left. But looking forward to it no matter what.

We did meet Dennis. No one told me who he was until afterward though. We're hoping to go back again soon.

Check out the rest of the album here: Mojave Road Album

 

[Comanche Scott]

Man, that shot is awesome! Checked out the rest of them, and some great photography! :beer:
Definitely looking forward to going this spring.

 

[Lord Al Sorna]

Looking good, and like you had some nice weather out there!

 

[GetOutThere]

I have the RR mount on my Jeep, and I agree. It's crap.

Looking forward to the day I get a tire carrier to hold the weight properly.

 

[kojackJKU]

I have to get mine sorted too. I want to mount a full size spare and wheel, some extra gas, and recovery equipment on my tailgate. We have a cool trip coming up this summer and I want my Jeep built to take the extras we need.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Looking good, and like you had some nice weather out there!

A bit cold at night and super windy. My new REI tent didn't make the cut. But my frontrunner flip pop was awesome in the wind, or so my friend reported. And I figured out how to sleep in the jeep.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I have to get mine sorted too. I want to mount a full size spare and wheel, some extra gas, and recovery equipment on my tailgate. We have a cool trip coming up this summer and I want my Jeep built to take the extras we need.

I had a whole plan formulated. I returned the bedmat flooring my wife got me for Christmas. And I was about to buy the TF carrier when our land lord emailed that he was going to sell our condo. So now I either have to buy it from him if I can get the numbers to work out or move. So spending on the Jeep has ceased. I did get a little wiring done this weekend. Still work in progress.

I'm also happy to report that I got the suspension sagging under control by putting the stock springs back in and leaving the hi lift at home.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Bummed to read about the landlord deal, but this might work out to your benefit if you can figure a way to buy.
I've been reading about guys using an air mattress in the back. I've got a Coleman version I'm going to try (before I need to).
Glad to see your "pre-runner look" days are over. :beer:

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Bummed to read about the landlord deal, but this might work out to your benefit if you can figure a way to buy.
I've been reading about guys using an air mattress in the back. I've got a Coleman version I'm going to try (before I need to).
Glad to see your "pre-runner look" days are over. :beer:

It's definitely more level when loaded now. The progressive rate on the rear coils must work better than the TF springs linear spring rate. But I think the whole thing is a little low in the front from the new skid plates.

Buying a condo in Santa Monica for under market price would be great. He just gave us no notice. I don't think normal people keep 20% down payments in their checking accounts. And lenders want to see that you've had the funds for awhile before applying for the mortgage.

Counting the days until the AEV lift goes in.