Saying goodbye to our JK! Patriot is now our expo rig!

[Comanche Scott]

Great idea on both vehicles.
The Patriot air ride would be similar to the multi-function air ride on the new G.C., only without the "top out" issues.

 

[Darkrider]

Great idea on both vehicles.
The Patriot air ride would be similar to the multi-function air ride on the new G.C., only without the "top out" issues.

Here i was thinking it would be a lot like the Air ride suspension on the new Rams. Forgot the GC has it as well and the irony being is a close buddy of mine has a GC with it lol. I was actually wondering how you were making out with your Patriot as your cohort with one went the way of Toyota. I recently test drove a FWD with the manual trans and i wish i could have gotten it but alas fate did not allow for it. So i will probably search for a used one at some point.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Wouldn't work for me but it will work for some...

 

[kojackJKU]

Nice pat dan. Why would that not work for you? The clearance issues with the pat and tire size are against the strut more than the body. I am not running huge tires anyways. Darkrider, He left because of his cvt failure. Yet another one. I won't be going anywhere with mine. I have the 6sp automatic/NON CVT. Solid ride. If you get one...walk....no.....RUN AWAY from a CVT equipped one. Even The expo's own Patriot is developing trans whine. Terrible system that should never had been put into the patriot. Since I only thought of this over the weekend, I never had a chance to call Airlift performance to see if they can get the bags and system to work in this way. More on this, this week once I call them. As a bonus compared to the systems in vehicles now, I will have control over the front and rear separately. I hope they can do something. We will see what happens anyways. The winch mount, lights, rhino rack etc are all being installed this spring...around may or june. The rhino rack will be only mounted when traveling....most times it will be cross bars for our bikes and snowboards.

 

[Darkrider]

Nice pat dan. Why would that not work for you? The clearance issues with the pat and tire size are against the strut more than the body. I am not running huge tires anyways. Darkrider, He left because of his cvt failure. Yet another one. I won't be going anywhere with mine. I have the 6sp automatic/NON CVT. Solid ride. If you get one...walk....no.....RUN AWAY from a CVT equipped one. Even The expo's own Patriot is developing trans whine. Terrible system that should never had been put into the patriot. Since I only thought of this over the weekend, I never had a chance to call Airlift performance to see if they can get the bags and system to work in this way. More on this, this week once I call them. As a bonus compared to the systems in vehicles now, I will have control over the front and rear separately. I hope they can do something. We will see what happens anyways. The winch mount, lights, rhino rack etc are all being installed this spring...around may or june. The rhino rack will be only mounted when traveling....most times it will be cross bars for our bikes and snowboards.

I remember you mentioning the CVT problem before. More then likely as i will be mostly soft road exploring with one if i do end up with one. I suspect a manual transmission fwd one will serve my needs well.

 

[kojackJKU]

Yeah. Manual or 2014 newer automatic is the way to go. All the suspension is the same so you can get the new springs and install the RRO lift kit as well to get extra clearance.

 

[kojackJKU]

Well, I have been talking to air lift. They said, Obviously they don't have anything. But, their universal build kit "SHOULD" work. I have to look into it further. I think its going to work since All I am essentially doing is replacing the strut/spring with strut airbag combo. Height would be dependant on air pressure. So. I need one that on "normal" ride settings, it's stock Patriot lift height since 235's can fit without lift, then add air as weight or lift need dictates. Hmmm...what could go wrong..ha ha ha! Maybe a new cool suspension for the patriot will come from this. Breakout my welder, and fire up the powder coater. Air suspension is going in!1,

Edit, I am installing the 3H/3P system. It has 3 height settings, and 3 pressure settings. All controlled by my iPhone. fire up the jeep it will be on setting 2 as normal. that's going to be set at stock height and "spring rate" . It will drive and ride like the stock pat. Hit the up switch and it will raise the jeep 2 inches. Keeping close to the stock spring rate, add in the extra pressure of the rear when more weight is added automatically keeping the jeep leveled as it should be. on setting 1, the pat will lower 1" I hope....or maybe 2. But I have to set it so I think I can drop it 1 inch. so highway driving will result in better milage. I think this is getting interesting! ha ha. I will keep up to date on the progress when I get stuff ordered and working on the install in my fabrication shop.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Looking forward to seeing how this all works out for you.

 

[kojackJKU]

Thanks scott. going to be interesting. I am getting on the horn to them again this week. Need to get some more information about the system. If I can get away without using a tank it would be awesome.

 

[kojackJKU]

Been researching LOADS this week. I am not going with a heavy off road wheel. Not needed on a light vehicle like the patriot. I am going to install a strong lightweight (rally type) wheel on it and Kumho at51s. P series tires and lightweight wheels will make the rig drive as intended and keep milage up! I noticed a lot of land rover builds and Cherokee/grands using this type of wheel on their rigs with success! I like the look of certain ones and I think I may put the same wheels on my micra too. ha ha...low build using the same style as the lifted jeep build. ha ha.