New Member Jeep Commander

[getlost4x4]

Jeep Commander Expo Build

SOME OF MY PICTURES HAVE MOVED AND BEEN CHANGED. SO I'LL REDO THIS INTRO AND PICTURES.

OWNER: Ross H
LOCATION: North Western Wyoming
YEAR: 2006
MAKE: Jeep Commander
MODEL: Limited

ENGINE: 4.7lt. V8
TRANSMISSION: 5-Speed automatic
DRIVETRAIN: QT2

SUSPENSION:
Removed all sway bars
FRONT: OME HD Springs, 1/2 Suspension Spacer ~3" lift in front, Custom UCAs with 1" uniball
REAR: Bilstien 255/75 valved 5150 Shocks. 12" travel, Custom Rear Springs

TIRES: 255/75/17 BFG Mud KM
WHEELS: Jeep Rubicon 5 Spoke 17"
BRAKES: Stock for now

ELECTRICAL:
Garmin GPS 60CSX
Cobra 29 SX WXT CB radio
Firestik CB antenna mounts and coax

RECOVERY:
48" Hi-Lift mounted to spare tire carrier
20k lb tow line
T-MAX EW-90000W winch
T-Max Winch Recovery Kit

OTHER:
Custom Rear Storage Compartments
Rear Tire carrier with Jerry Can mounts
Custom Front Bumper and Skid Plate
Hella 6.5" Fog Lights
Industrial Fire Extinguisher
Optima Yellow Top Battery
On Board Air
Custom Tube Slider Rocker Protection

FUTURE MODS:
Snorkel
Front Solid Axle Conversion (3 Link set-up, JK D44 front Axle)
3 Link Rear conversion
ARB Rear Locker
4.10 Rear Axle Gears
Engine Power Programmer
Defender Roof Rack
33x10.5x17 Pizza Cutter tires
Flowmaster 50 Series SUV muffler
LED Tail Lamps
HID Headlamps


I guess since i'm the only one on here right now i'll start some discussions and get my post count up!

We bought our commander in 2007 used with 21K miles. We have almost had it 2 years now. It will be paid off in 3 more years! Whoo Hooo!

Here it is after we got it!

 

[getlost4x4]

After getting stuck a few times I started looking for a way to get a winch on this thing. no one was producing a bumper for the commander. i knew i wanted a bumper and winch.

I bought a T-Max 9000# winch and went from there.

I built this bumper 3 times before i was really happy with the design. Building a strong mounting system was crucial. I didn't want the bumper to rip off the unibody frame.

[img ]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/miniyota/chief%20pics/bumper%20fabrication/02003.jpg[/img]

after a lot of work we got it finished.

 

[getlost4x4]

this is the first prototype finished. we beat on this bumper for a few months, did a few revisions and finally had a bumper we could sell.

this is the production version we were selling up until a few months ago.

i think in the next few months i am going to redesign my bumper again. i really want more ground clearance and i want to be able to make it look different then any other commander out there.

Next it was time to tackle the tires and suspension. We started out with a spacer lift. i knew i wouldn't like it, but i didn't want to spend $2500 for a 4" superlift lift kit.

We also purchased a set of BFG Mud KM2's, in 255 / 75/ 17.

I have been trying out several different suspension set-ups trying to get the commander to handle the way i want to.

Stage 1: Spacer lift + bilstien 5150 12" shocks + Stock Wheels 1.5" wheel spacers.

it worked alright, but the stock springs did not appreciate the extra weight of a bumper and camping equipment.

Stage2:

OME springs up front + Remove rear Sway Bar

Better suspension flex, the front end rides great off-road. The rear end was still sagging.

We also tried to leave the front spacers in. but the angle on the CV joints was not good.

 

[Fergie]

rear tire carrier

Very nice vehicle, and welcome to the Portal.

How are you keeping the hitch portion of the tire carrier snug in the receiver?

 

[getlost4x4]

i offset the pin hole a little so its a very tight fit.

i'm planning on building a real rear bumper to replace the plastic.

Very nice vehicle, and welcome to the Portal.

How are you keeping the hitch portion of the tire carrier snug in the receiver?

 

[Jeffb79]

Very nice!
I've been following your build over on pirate, pretty impressive so far.

 

[preacherman]

welcome. Always glad to meet new members. Great looking rig. It looks really well thought out. Glad to have you with us.

 

[jeepmedic46]

Welcome to the forum. Nice job on the vehicle.

 

[getlost4x4]

thanks. i've spent a lot of time on this thing.

this week i'll be building a storage compartment that replaces the 3rd row of seats. i need a place to haul all my recovery gear, survival crap, and make a nice platform to sleep on.

Stage 3:

Now it was time to do something about the rear. The stock springs just were not cutting it. When we were loaded down with camping and 4 wheeling equipment the rear springs just could not handle it. Not only would the rear springs fall out if the suspension flexed enough, but the bump stops were also too short. So we did a little fabrication to correct the problem.

These were the stock springs we were using with the suspension spacer lift.

This is the stock rear bump stop. Its pretty short and let the springs fall out all the time.

We modified it by lengthening it with some round tubing.

I had been out to the junkyard and picked up a set of Ford F150 lift coils. I think they are made by Fabtech, but I am not sure. They ride pretty good. I cut them down to size and installed them with the new bump-stop.

Stage 4:

HD Front Upper Contol Arms w/ 1" Uniballs, 1/2" lift spacer, Sway Bar Removed

I will not be doing anything else to the front stock IFS. When it breaks its going in the garbage to be replaced with a JK D44 with locker. I will keep the rear 8.25" full floater rear axle and upgrade the gears to 4.10 and an ARB air locker.

Here is the old stuff. When i pulled them out the ball joint almost fell out. Perfect timing as far as replacement goes.

some pictures showing the difference between the old ones and the new ones.

New HD UCA's Installed

These arms work pretty good. they are much stronger then stock, but they do make a lot of noise. the front end is pretty much dead anyway. i'd like to add some beef and better suspension travel.

 

[ox4mag]

Awesome! Keep us posted on your build as this is very cool and definitely up all over our alley here at ExPo. Welcome and congrats!

 

[getlost4x4]

just learning more and more about EXPO. i love it.

i just need a roof-top tent, larger gas tank, and a cargo rack!

Next up was figuring out how to carry a full sized spare tire. I added weight of a bumper was not really desired. and trying to get something that would hide all the emissions junk behind the stock bumper was not going to be easy. so i took some measurements and started working with those in AutoCAD. It came out pretty nice, i can carry 10 gallons of fuel on the back, a full sized spare, highlift jack, and shovel.

 

[The Swiss]

just learning more and more about EXPO. i love it.

i just need a roof-top tent, larger gas tank, and a cargo rack!

LOL, I had a Commander with the 4.7 V8, 2" lift and 245/75-17 tires for 1 1/2 years. I liked the vehicle, but hated the gas milage; I was getting 15.3 mpg on average. Now with my JK 4 door Rubi, I am averaging 18.5 mpg, and I still do the same commute and drive the same route. Only that the Commander is a good bit heavier ...

Welcome aboard!

 

[getlost4x4]

i've test drove the rubi's they are not for me. i really like the idea of the rubi, but its too small, under-powered for me! i would get one for rock crawling though, swap in a 4.7V8 and be really happy!

i don't care about gas mileage. as long as i'm getting over 10mpg.

you can't beat the capability of the commander. i love the room, the V8, and its pretty tough. i have beat the crap out of mine, and it keeps asking for more!

LOL, I had a Commander with the 4.7 V8, 2" lift and 245/75-17 tires for 1 1/2 years. I liked the vehicle, but hated the gas milage; I was getting 15.3 mpg on average. Now with my JK 4 door Rubi, I am averaging 18.5 mpg, and I still do the same commute and drive the same route. Only that the Commander is a good bit heavier ...

Welcome aboard!

more CB INSTALL: PICTURES SUCK, BUT CB WORKS AWESOME

 

[getlost4x4]

I wanted some rocker protection, i didn't like what was on the market, and i have a tube bender and notcher. I built a simple design and welded them into the "frame rails". I used 1.75" x.120 round tubing, i sleeved the tubes coming off the frame with 1.5"x.120 so they are effectively .25" wall thickness on the tubes. The rockers weigh about 50 lbs total. I also plated the frame with .25" where the rockers attach to help strengthen the frame and keep the rocker guards from being ripped off.

 

[slooowr6]

rear tire carrier

Would you mind share which tire carrier is this? Thanks!