RubiTuan - Anvil 2dr JKR Build

[sdsviet]

So for a few years I've been just wanting to do more outdoors stuff, living in the Midwest especially in Chicago is pretty limiting. I hated driving my dads car which was a 2003 Acura TL. There was just something about it that I just didn't like. It just never felt right driving it. And then the last 2-3 years or so I kept having to fix it. I went thru 3 sets of pads and rotors. Then a full set of calipers and 2 sets of tires as well. Multiple hid ballast replacements and then the straw that broke the camels back was a random check engine right after a new set of tires. I was done with that car.

For awhile I was looking into just a big enough vehicle to haul camping gear and easy to clean and something I really didn't need to baby. I looked at Honda Elements and some hatchbacks like the Audi A3 and Subaru STI. I wanted 4wd since Chicago winters have been rough.

While looking around for 4wd vehicles, I randomly found Wrangler Forum and saw the TJ and JK and then I had an epiphany. This is the perfect car for my needs. It gives me the ability to have 4wd and customize it however I need it to be. Immediately ideas on how and what to do with it kept running thru my brain nonstop.

Enough with the rambling, I picked up my 2nd ever car with my name on it. The first was a 1992 civic si hatch with a busted front end for $400. Had it rebuilt with motor and everything and loved it.

This one now is a used 2014 2dr JKR with 8k miles on it. It was only 6 months old when I got it from Carmax. I bought it last August and since then have already put 22k miles on it.

2014 Jeep Wrangler 2dr Rubicon (Anvil)
6-Speed Manual
Premium Soft Top
Front and Rear Lockers
4.10 Gears
EVIC (non-premium)

[August 2014]

The first I did was going to the jeep dealer and picking up a hood lock and locking gas cap so that they could be keyed to my ignition key. I also picked up some mcgrady gunmetal wheel locks (no pics). Needed to just secure the jeep a little.

[September 2014]

The thing I did was adding ACE Rock Sliders to the jeep. About a month in I did notice of lot of my shorter passengers struggling to get into my jeep and it was definitely something I wanted since at the time I was planning to do a little crawling before I actually discover the term overland. I picked the Ace rock sliders because it's looks very oem and it also lets me just bolt on over the rubi rock sliders that were already there.

Next was getting Grabars to compliment the Ace sliders. I actually use the Grabars most of the time when I'm getting in. I'd purchased the front and rear Grabars and they took a little bit to install, especially the front ones.

The next thing I needed to do was to find a way to hold my iPhone and my iPad. I started with a Daystar console mount. I got rid of the phone holder part and frankensteined it with a iOttie Easy One Touch 2 mount.

 

[sdsviet]

[October 2014]

Now onto the stance. Winter was coming and I just got tires siped but wanted a little bit wider stance just to see if it made a difference. I purchased 1.5" Spidertrax wheel spacers and put them in. It more than likely didn't make any difference but it did make the ride feel a little better. It felt like there was just better maneuverability in the wider stance and also it looked better since the tires doesn't look all tucked in behind the fenders.

I also installed a Fumoto Valve which made oil changes a million times easier because now I don't even have to lift the jeep at all. I've been thru 2ft of mud at Overland Expo and had no issues with it.

These three all kinda were done in the same thing me frame. I need a way to secure some stuff in the back since I had a soft top. I also needed some safety and recovery gear so I picked up a tuffy security deck, a fire extinguisher, and a hi-lift jack extreme. I still need the rear seats so I just got the smaller tuffy security deck. The hi-lift jack uses Quadratec sport cage jack mount. The fire extinguisher uses the Quadratec nylon strap holder.

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[redcj3a]

RubiTuan,

I will be watching your project. I recently bought a 2 door Rubicon and am wanting to outfit it for camping. It is good to know that the Ace sliders work in conjunction with the OEM Rubicon rub rails.

Go Cubs.

I am from Middletown, Oh. Home of Cubs' #12, Kyle Schwarber. If you are a Cubs fan, we have two common interests.

John

 

[sdsviet]

I am all for the Cubs or any Chicago team really. But yes I have more to post. Just had to go out for a bit but I do have a decent amount to post.


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[sdsviet]

[January 2015]

Got mud flaps. No reason for it really. Just wanted them. Actually I got tired of seeing splattered crap (generally salt) across my doors.

[April 2015]

The iPad mini mount came a little later in the build. I needed a way to mount it to the passenger side front grab bar that was the least intrusive when I'm not using it. The funny thing is that after I mounted it, I actually never really took it off. This one took a week to plan and do because I just couldn't find the right components for the build. I went to Lowes multiple times and bought tons of parts but ended up having to order online and wait for the parts to come in. You can find out about the whole build here.

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/diy-ram-ball-mount-on-stock-jk-grab-bar-1216433.html

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[sdsviet]

[June 2015]

I drove down to Mississippi o pick up the Gobi Stealth. It was used but I got it for almost half off and it was in great condition. I had to actually put it on while down there so I brought a couple of friends along to help out. This photo was taken after since somehow I don't have a single photo during the his part of the build.

[July 2015]

Next was the Tool box by Lundy. Since I was limited on space and now I have a full rack on my jeep, I now have a way to store stuff outside. I scoured the Internet looking for the right size locking box to fit on top of my rack and found the Lundy Tool Box. This would hold all of my recovery gear from hitch locks to straps and any other bulky items. I spent a good few hours figuring out the right drill pattern, drilling the holes and then bolting the tool box with u-bolts to the rack and then while at the end of the install, I realized I did it backwards. It was a really hot day and I was really tired so I just left it. It was backwards because the opening of the lid was facing the front and I preferred it facing the back. The locking mechanism didn't seem as sturdy as I hoped and I didn't want the thing to pop open in the wind and swing back and damaging something. Didn't need all my recovery gear flying out. A week later, I took it down and redriled the new holes. I also glued some rubber backing to the bottom of the box so that it wouldn't scuff up the rack if it were coming loose. It also dampened the friction from the metal on metal contact.

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[sdsviet]

[August 2015]

So a year went by and I've put 18k miles on this baby and I still love driving it. I decided it was time for the rear seats to go since I really needed more secured space. Since I still had a soft top, I found a good deal on the Tuffy Deck Enclosure. Due to the hi-lift jack mounted on top I can't pop the lid up but I realized I weren't doing that in the first place. It also keeps any would be thief attempting to pry the lid up when my top is down. I did test it and because in the 2dr there's only 2 screws bolted on the top for the deck enclosure mount, you can somewhat pry up the lid.

To prep for Overland Expo East this year I picked up a pair of black MaxTrax, a Locking Pin set for the Maxtrax and a black Trasharoo. I looked around for a few days on mounting the Maxtrax but everything online cost almost as much the Maxtrax themselves. So I went to the forums and ask for help. Didn't find too much so I headed out to Lowes to rummage thru their isles. This is what I came back with. Only cost me $25 in parts.

I knew I was gonna need a way to pack back out trash when I went to Overland Expo so I picked up a Trasharoo for the jeep. It was definitely a pain to put it on. I also went ahead and put in a 50gal trash bag and held it down with binder clips to keep it from falling in. Worked really well too.

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[BCobe]

Any plans to lift it? How are you liking the Gobi?

 

[sdsviet]

Love the Gobi. I put the quick disconnects on there so it squeaks a little when I go thru bumps but that's it. I will hope for a 2-3 inch lift at most. Nothing too crazy.


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[Topo.Ranger]

Thats a good looking setup you have there! How are you liking the roof rack so far? Thats the rack I am planning on getting in the near future.

 

[IndyRubicon]

Nice Jeep! Good idea with the Fumoto Valve...might do that myself. The rack is great too. Although, I think you negated the mud flaps when you put spacers on to get your tires to stick out past the fender flares.

 

[sdsviet]

Nice Jeep! Good idea with the Fumoto Valve...might do that myself. The rack is great too. Although, I think you negated the mud flaps when you put spacers on to get your tires to stick out past the fender flares.

Somewhat true. It's only 1.5" out so the mudflats still does most of its job. Haha. The rest also flings on others nearby. Hehe. The Gobi gives me so many more options that I didn't have before.


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[IndyRubicon]

I was thinking of adding mud flaps since I recently moved up north and want as less salt on my Jeep as possible during the winter months. My only concern is paying for them then ripping them off when off-roading. I'll have to think it over some more.

 

[sdsviet]

I was thinking of adding mud flaps since I recently moved up north and want as less salt on my Jeep as possible during the winter months. My only concern is paying for them then ripping them off when off-roading. I'll have to think it over some more.

That is true on having to rip them off. Maybe you can create a quick snap disconnect system to make them easily come on and off?


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[IndyRubicon]

I was thinking more along the lines of a rock ripping them off for me. Hahaha! But making them easy-on, easy-off would be much better.