Slow Build: 2013 JK

[Gear]

Have you thought about replacing the front Jeep Logo to match the new black side ones. Jeep looks good.

Side note on the external speaker. I stashed mine(2m) right about the drivers left ear. Peel back the roll bar padding in the corner. You can cut the foam easily and just slip a speaker in there. Although I would not want a CB speaker in that location due to the static/squelch being so loud.

 

[apalmer]

The black emblem is in the mail as of yesterday...I found a dealer on amazon that sells OEM for $7 each. I was expecting junk, so I only bought two at first. Showed up in MOPAR wrapping. Super nice!

On the speaker-I was thinking of adding it to the sound bar...I need to find a nice one first, and work around that. So much junk out there.

 

[apalmer]

Put this on today:



Seems like a good spot to set beers and riding gear.

You can also kind of see the CB antenna in the back. I got a rugged ridge spare tire antenna mount, but I might send it back. It mounts crooked, and the antenna is at a slight angle. I'm planning on installing the CB this week, I just need to find a place to calibrate it.

 

[WKexpedition]

Rig is looking good. Cant wait to see more!!

 

[Gear]

I like the Jeep logo. Good Job!

 

[apalmer]

Thanks!

Just got my 911 out and ready for the summer, so now (hopefully) I'll have some more time to work on the Jeep. All the CB stuff is here, so I'm going to get started on that this week.

I also ordered this to calibrate the CB:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JT02IQ/ref=pe_309540_26725410_item

For $20 (+$8 for the jumper cable) it seems like a good deal. A couple of my friends will be getting/have CB's already, so I figure it will get some use.

 

[apalmer]

We took our first little off-road trip this weekend in Western Wisconsin:

Minor water crossing:


My friend in his Land Rover:


We went to a small bar, and hung out with some locals:

They sold camo can coozies with the bar logo on them for $3, so we all bought some with our food.


I had about 100 of these at the campsite.

Some of the scenery on the trail:

It was nice to see such vibrant wetlands like this, there was a ton of wildlife.

All in all, I'm very happy with the Jeep. The minor quibbles I do have are addressed by the ample aftermarket. Once I get my basic off-road supplies dialed in, I'll focus on the "big" stuff, like the Gobi Rack, and roof top tent.

 

[WKexpedition]

looks like a fun time!!

 

[apalmer]

Yeah, it was. We are already planning another trip to north central MN for more of the same.

Also, I finally got my antenna cable run today. I did the mount a little differently than most. I'm not a huge fan of the handset mounts that go behind the grab handle on the dash. Something about a chunk of metal sticking out of the dash right there weirds me out a little bit. Plus this is my DD, and I don't really like any electronics showing when I'm parked in the city.

Stowed:

Hook:

How it rides:


When the radio is taken down, you still have full use of the vent, and you can just flip it around to hide the handset clip. When the radio is on, there is still air directed at the passenger as well!


I'll run power in the next few days, and then bust out my $20 SRM meter to calibrate the antenna. I think I'll need to run a ground for the antenna as well, I'll do that at the same time as the power leads.

 

[apalmer]

Sitting at 6k miles now. Still love it. It's been my DD (mostly) It's hauled bikes (4 att he same time...inside), dogs, beer, camping gear, 10 folding tables, mulch, tree debris, and all the other crap that I drag around.

That said, I am in the planning phase of a 2 week driving trip for next summer, and I'm going to start outfitting it, for that; and to that end, I bought my first actual couple of "expo mods"

-2D maglite
-quick fists--strapped the Maglight to the drivers seat--sufficiently intrigued with those now, need to see what else I can use them for--an extinguisher seems like a good idea.
-Rugged Ridge XHD snorkel--ok, now, I have NO NEED for a snorkel (so far) and will fully admit to buying it because it looks cool. BUT, at the same time, I would like to plan a trip next summer that I would like to think that I would MAYBE need something like that. Consider it an "aspirational" piece for now, and will run it in the "low pro" setting 90% of the time. Either way, it shows up the 16th or so.

On track to order a GOBI stealth rack next week, and after a 5 week wait (ugh) I'll be able to install it, then hang some bikes off it, so they can stop thrashing the inside of the vehicle. Then, over the winter, RTT shopping.

 

[dstock]

On track to order a GOBI stealth rack next week, and after a 5 week wait (ugh) I'll be able to install it, then hang some bikes off it, so they can stop thrashing the inside of the vehicle. Then, over the winter, RTT shopping.

More like 6-7 week wait...or it will be 7 if it in fact ships next Tuesday as I have been told.

 

[apalmer]

Oh, super.

 

[apalmer]

Well, that was fast:



Somewhat impressed with the quality, and the directions look fantastic.

 

[apalmer]

Couple small updates:

Installed:

Got a rear tire rack from work for a low, low, low price, so I stuck it on.

I remember now why I hate these things. The bikes sit crooked, they stick out to one side even with it being offset like it is now, and the bike paint gets messed up by the straps. Road bikes with level top tubes are about all these are good for. It's nice to see the bikes out the back window though.

 

[apalmer]

Finally ordered my Gobi Stealth today! Only a few months later than I would like. Oh well.

I have a plan for mounting my bikes too. I would like them vertical, and on either side of the spare tire.

Enter the Kuat Dirtbag:

It allows you to mount a bicycle fork basically anywhere you like. I'm planning on welding a couple of these onto the rack, and spacing them out over the end of the hardtop corner. I currently have a spare tire hitch that I hate, and I don't want to lose the departure angle out back if I put a two bike hitch mount on the back.