Our family Adventure WJ "Dinosaur"

[Ben Holeton]

Your Frasier Fir mod hurts the gas mileage because you put it on backwards. Pointed end goes up front

 

[Comanche Scott]

One big air freshner!

I did the Nine Foot Frasier Fir Mod this morning. It greatly reduces gas mileage but is totally worth it!

:Wow1:

I can totally relate to needing an air freshner for the car after several days in the outback, but that is seriously pushing the envelope!

Nice Mod! :ylsmoke:

 

[Skeptic]

Very nicely done so far - looking forward to more posts. I just acquired my 2003 WJ and see I have a lot to look forward to doing.

One question - my WJ came with a 2" BB already installed but I'm interested in the OME lift you used; the ARB site lists the OME lift as a 2" lift, but I think you mentioned you got 2.5 to 3" out of yours? I wanted the extra margin available to accommodate any drop after I install a bumper and winch, as I already have marginal clearance running 265/70-17's.

Thanks -

 

[Bretthn]

Very nicely done so far - looking forward to more posts. I just acquired my 2003 WJ and see I have a lot to look forward to doing.

One question - my WJ came with a 2" BB already installed but I'm interested in the OME lift you used; the ARB site lists the OME lift as a 2" lift, but I think you mentioned you got 2.5 to 3" out of yours? I wanted the extra margin available to accommodate any drop after I install a bumper and winch, as I already have marginal clearance running 265/75-17's.


Thanks -

Thank you. Congrats on aquiring your WJ, I know it will make you happy.
Do not quote me on this, but I have heard that Australian law prohibits any lift more than 2 inches, so ARB rates there lifts as being 2 inches, (if you are running a full steal bullbar bumper, as most are in the outback and carrying a heavy payload.) Without load, you are looking at 2.25-3 inches. Old Man Emu has tow lift options for the WJ: the heavy duty, which is what I have, and the medium duty. I believe the medium duty is intended for vehicles without the additional weight and will net closer to 2 inches or less. I can tell you that I have not read a single review on someone running the medium duty kit.
Also if you are considering these springs, shocks, or anything else for your Jeep, I would contact Nick at Kolak Performance and Offroad. I got all of my suspension parts from him and the savings on the springs alone was close to 50% of any other price I could find on the net. He also spent more than an hour on the phone with me answering all my questions and sharing his knowledge of Jeeps with me. PM me for contact information as I do not want to get myself in trouble for sharing publicly.

Please share some pictures of your Jeep as I would love to see how it fits with your current tire size. I would like to go bigger but do not want to risk rubbing. I have heard of people running 265 65r17 without rubbing or trimming the bumpers or fenders at 2" of lift but 265 75r17 would be tight I believe even with 3".
You made a great choice in vehicle and make sure to share your progress as it comes along.

 

[Skeptic]

Please share some pictures of your Jeep as I would love to see how it fits with your current tire size. I would like to go bigger but do not want to risk rubbing. I have heard of people running 265 65r17 without rubbing or trimming the bumpers or fenders at 2" of lift but 265 75r17 would be tight I believe even with 3".

Sorry - mis-posted the tire size - should have read 265/70-17, not 265/75-17. Here is how it looks with the 2" lift. I have a slight rubbing when backing up and turning left, but otherwise no problems. It also hasn't been offroad in any meaningful way to determine how any articulation affects clearances. The previous owner removed the inner liner of the wheelwell in front of each of the front tires, so that obviously rubbed for him. This, I think, is the maximum tire size I'd be comfortable with given keeping with a 2-3" lift, and still being usable as a daily driver.

Thanks for letting me hijack your thread momentarily, and I'll send you a PM about Nick's contact information.

 

[Bretthn]

That is a very sharp looking Jeep. How do you like the performance of the Terra Grapplers?
I think that the extra lift the HD springs would give you over your current setup would help with the rubbing in reverse.

 

[Skeptic]

I have only run the tires on the road, and in a little bit of sand down in Florida recently. I don't have any time on them off road to make a determination. I have been a die-hard BFG fan, but these came with the Jeep and I'll probably run them out before switching unless they prove unacceptable in the dirt and mud.

I can say they are much quieter than the BFG AT's I have on my 2005 WK. I'd like to hit a trail over the Christmas holiday and see how they shape up.

 

[Luckychase5]

Great build! I have the exact suspension setup from Kolak and love it as well. I was wondering what the bolt setup you used was and how long they were. I an looking to do the same but potentially with a HiLift and an Axe instead. THanks for the info! Cheers

I got to work on the Jeep some more this morning and added some quick fist mounts to the hatch. Also out of the "attach to jeep" box
View attachment 104858
I attached them into the hatch structural support rather than to the shin plastic cover using some bits of hardware.
View attachment 104859
View attachment 104860
You can see that the hardware sits flush against the plastic which took a measuring and readjusting.
View attachment 104861
I am actually surprised at how strong this setup turned out. I don't think my axe and shovel are going anywhere.
View attachment 104862
View attachment 104863
View attachment 104864

 

[Rbertalotto]

GREAT color.........And a nice build. Did you lose much performance with the bigger tires?

 

[Bretthn]

Great build! I have the exact suspension setup from Kolak and love it as well. I was wondering what the bolt setup you used was and how long they were. I an looking to do the same but potentially with a HiLift and an Axe instead. THanks for the info! Cheers

Thank you. I am extremely pleased with the suspension setup. Glad to see another WJer on here, there are a few of us already and our numbers are growing.

From the sheet metal to the plastic trim panel, it is 1 1/4 inches in the spots I used. Carefully measure. mark, and drill your holes in the trim panel. Before removing the trim panel again, make sure to carefully mark the hole alignment on the sheet metal. Remove the trim panel and drill your holes where you marked previously.
The two fender washers you see above are used to sandwich the sheet metal when securing the first bolt. Then you use a jam nut to hold the coupler nut in place at exactly 1 1/4 inches. I am trying to post larger pictures so you can get a better idea of how it is set up.

Then put the trim panel back in and if you measure well, the coupler nut will be lined up with the holes in the trim panel. You can see it if you look closely in this picture.

Put your bolt through the quickfist, through the trim panel, and thread it into the coupler nut.

I will tell you that I have a light ax and shovel and am pushing the limit of the brand new hatch struts I put on. I am not sure that they will be able to lift a hilift jack. I am hoping to find some stronger struts that will fit. If you or anyone else has any recommendations, please let me know.
Good luck with yours and make sure to post some pictures when you finish.

 

[Bretthn]

GREAT color.........And a nice build. Did you lose much performance with the bigger tires?

Thanks. I honestly have never had any issues with power, even when passing through the mountains in Boone, NC while pulling a trailer. I guess that is what is great about the V8. The tires I have are not that much larger than stock though.

 

[Logcabin]

Just got an 04 WJ and really like it. Love the V8. Looking at your same suspension set up and doing that shelf mod in the back. I'm going for a nice DD and weekend camping rig.
I really like your overall setup. I like the stock look. Keep it up and thanks for the ideas.

 

[Bretthn]

Well, though I love the Jeep, it is time to move on.. It has been an awesome vehicle but will no longer feasibly fit our needs. We should have a rtt on the way this year and i just don't see this thing fitting that bill. Thanks for all the support fellow Jeepers we will still be around. The search begins for the perfect 100 series Land Cruiser :wings:

 

[Bretthn]

The Jeep is gone but I still have the storage platform out of the back. First person that wants to pick it up in person can have it. I live in Greensboro, NC.