Project: Take it easy (08 Rubicon Unlimited)

[ColinJ]

Good day, wanted to introduce myself I've been reading and dreaming on this site for years but have never posted much.

I've owned to date:
84 CJ - Never made it out of the garage due to rust and being young
88 YJ - Ran on 33s and 2.5 Rubicon Express Lift (Nicknamed the kidney killer)
98 Tj - Owned for 9 years and had many configurations. In the end it was a rock crawler on 36 iroks, front and rear automatic lockers, and 5 inches of lift.
05 Tj Rubicon - My first overload attempt. Just not big enough and sold it last week.

See details of the Rubicon build here: http://jeeping.net/home/2011/09/21/ultimate-weekend-warrior-weekly-commuter/

I'm from New Brunswick Canada and while I always dream about overlanding all over the place the truth is some of the bests areas are in my back yard. The goal is NewFoundLand and Labrador for 2-3 weeks in the spring. (Before sailing season really kicks up)

This thread will be about my build of my newly purchased 2008 Jeep JK Rubicon Unlimited. The Jeep already has a 2 inch spacer kit but my plans are to return it back to stock then tear it all apart again.

I'll post in a few days my plans for phase one.
Parts are already on their way.

Take it easy
Colin

 

[ColinJ]

Here is the Jeep in stock form

Has either 1.5 or 2 inch spaces on the front/rear and a nice factory lean to the front.

 

[ColinJ]

I've come up with the first phase of the project and broken it down into 3 ordering steps. The goal of the first phase is it install a road friendly suspension lift to run 35s and have the self recovery option of a front winch.

Phase 1 - Lift kit and Tires
- Remove 2 inch spacer lift
- Purchased - AEV 3.5 Dual Sport SC Kit
- Purchased - 315x70x17 Micky Thompson MTZ (35s)
- Purchased - 1.5 inch spacers (running temporary)

Phase 2 - Bumper and Winch
- Purchased - Warn 9.5ti
- Planning - Front Winch Bumper - AEV or Poison Spyder

Phase 3 - Rims (optional)
- Planning - AEV Pintler 17x8.5" wheels (and spare)


Phase 1 - should be installed and dialed in my the end of November. I'll post up the install details as they happen (need to wait until sailing seasons is over).

 

[NOCIBUR]

Sounds like a good plan to me. You'll love the AEV suspension and the quality and workmanship of their bumpers. Best on the market in my opinion. I've got MTZ's on my TJ. I've been very happy with their off-road and on road performance.

 

[ColinJ]

Orders have taken much longer than expected.

Suspension just showed up on Friday. If the rain holds up I'll be doing the install this weekend and picking up the rims (I hope) on Wednesday down in Calais. Bumper is still another 2-3 weeks away..

Phase 1, 2 and 3 have all grouped into one big phase now.
AEV 3.5 Dual Sport
AEV High Steer kit
315x70x17 Micky Thompson MTZ (35s)
AEV Pintler 17x8.5" wheels
AEV Snorkel
ARB Front Bumper
Warn 9.5Ti
Synthetic Cable

 

[The Swiss]

What's your plan on gearing?

 

[ColinJ]

I'm running a 6 speed so the plan for now is to just run 4.11 gears.

Plan down the road would be 5.13s perhaps in the spring but want to see what life is like with the 4.11s first.

 

[The Swiss]

I'm running a 6 speed so the plan for now is to just run 4.11 gears.

Plan down the road would be 5.13s perhaps in the spring but want to see what life is like with the 4.11s first.

Sounds like a sensitive approach

 

[JPK]

Sounds great.

Looking forward to progress reports and photos.

JPK

 

[nwoods]

I have two of those MTZ's in that size just sitting around. They have about 800 miles on them, on my trailer:

If you want them, I'm happy to work out a deal with you. Shipping would be from zip code 92886

 

[ColinJ]

Wow I completely slacked off and forgot about this thread. Lots has happened and lots hasn't happened since I originally started this build.

Here is what I've accomplished to date.. I ended up doing it all in one big phase.

Phase 1 - Lift kit and Tires
- Remove 2 inch spacer lift
- Installed - AEV 3.5 Dual Sport SC Kit
- Installed - 315x70x17 Micky Thompson MTZ (35s)
- Installed - Warn 9.5ti
- Installed - Front Winch Bumper - ARB
- Installed - AEV Pintler 17x8.5" wheels
- Installed - AEV Snorkel
- Installed - 2m radio
- Installed - IPF Lights (came free with the ARB bumper!!)



What I still have on the list:
- Rear bumper
- Full size spare (I know!)
- EVAP skid (coming soon)
- Rocker Rails

Figure out camping setup..
- Building a removable sleeping platform in side
or
- Roof rack with roof tent
or
- Modify trailer for roof tent

Mods are pretty much on hold until next summer. Getting married and renting a 4wd camper in Tasmania for a month!!

 

[huskyfargo]

You might want to consider re-locating the evap canister. Once it's moved you can re-locate your muffler, then put in an enlarged tub in the rear. You get about 3x the space. Good looking JK.

 

[ColinJ]

I am considering that.. I'd like move the muffler down the road

Thanks

 

[p1michaud]

snip ...

Figure out camping setup..

snip
- Roof rack with roof tent

Might need to have a chat in December. Might know someone who has a near new Eezi Awn Series 3 1400 model sitting in a basement in Saint John, NB collecting dust...

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I'm kinda partial to '08 JKUR mods, mine is highly modified and I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have if you're interested-

Although I don't do writeups or provide full disclosures and I'm sure we have different goals for our jeeps-

There are 52 mods to my '08JKUR-

Good luck

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO