Swapped my 80 for a JK....

[KE5QVT]

So, i have spent the last 3 years building my overland 80. I had it almost done and a lot of sweat and blood in all of the mods. Then I rolled 200k on the ODO and she started showing her age and getting tired. So instead of spending more money and rebuilding the engine or just nursing all of her ailments I decided to go to the (dark side) for a 80 owner and get a 4dr Rubicon Unlimited. So here it is and I start ALL over again building and getting in trouble with the CFO (wife).

Now for the immediate plans;

*Flat fender flares*
stubby front bumper with winch
cb and 2m installation
hand grips
laptop mount (work related)
underseat lock box
rear trunk box

****Looking for ideas on how and where to install****

my radios
antennas (cb,2m)
roof side seal fix (mine leaks apparently pretty bad as of today)
dual batteries???
overhead console?? ideas, thoughtsTom Clutts

 

[Timgco]

Nice rig!!!

Some things to consider if you are going to go offroad.

1st two things to address: evap canister/ rear mounted spare on gate.

The evap will get torn off. You can relocate it above the rear axle very easily. it cost me like $30 or $40 to do this. LMK if you want more info on it.

The rear gate ont the JK's is very thin/ not enough support to run a 35" tire back there. At some point you will pop the spot welds on the gate and/ or the hinges. I ran a 35" PCXMT on their for a few months, and the hinges were starting to show. If I had hooked/ bottomed out that tire on a ledge, that gate would have been done!

At a minimum, I would add the MBRP reinforce kit for the rear gate. Or as funds allow (as the CFO allows) take a look at the Expedition One and AEV rear bumpers with tire mount. they both swing with the door, however all the weight/ impact goes straight to the spindle...unless you back into a tree or wall that is.

Dual batt. kit: Benchmark has a nice setup. Add an S POD for your switch panel and their "Source" for your relay box under the hood. Makes like easy!!!

Bushwacker Flats: I had these on my last JK and they did well. I did have a set where the rubber gasket between the truck and flare did not stick well. however, they sent me a new set of gaskets at N/C. 2.5" kit with 35's and bushwackers allowed for complete flex without rub. Plan on a Sat afternoon. I would also look for a Rivnut tool to do the job. The one they send with the flares isn't all that great.

Antenna Mount for CB: Teraflex makes one for the factory rear tire mount. no drill application and is easy enough to run your cable under the back door and down teh pssd to teh front.


...hope that helps some. LMK if you want to see pics/ ideas from my last JK build.

congrats on the new ride. Good luck with the CFO.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Good luck, looks like a decent rig, hope you aren't disappointed.

 

[ChuckB]

Congrats on the new ride!! As a LC person in between 4x4s right now, I'm interested in your thoughts on the 80 vs. JK. I'm debating a JK vs 80/100 for some of the same reasons you mentioned.

 

[Hannibal USA]

nice you will love it! I have 90,000 miles on mine and love it!!!!

 

[Bigjerm]

I say save the money and cut your stock flares to make them flat. Why spend a few hundred when you can just do a little cutting?

Several companies make stubby bumpers. I am a bit of a minimalist on bumpers so when I had a JK I was looking at the basic bumper from Expedition 1 http://www.expeditionone.biz/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=90&Itemid=76

 

[Go4Lo]

Nice ride and color as well. I look forward to the build up and your reflections on the JK vs the 80. I assume you were daily driving the 80 and as such the JK? If so let us know how the seat time compares after a few thousand miles.

 

[Brigitta]

As for your radio's, Tuffy makes a nice overhead console if you use the the larger radios http://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-188-142-jk-single-compartment-overhead-console.aspx

If you're considering adding a front sport cage they have 2 front streamer bars that you could modify to accept radio mounts.

As for antenna mount, most swing away tire carriers have a tab for the antenna. As Timgco mentioned you'll want to get the 35" tire off the tailgate before it starts to do some damage. Even without the extra weight of the 35" tire, the overall design isn't safe. Take it from someone who was rear ended at a stoplight 2x's last year, if you get rear ended by something taller than a sedan, they'll due some major damage to the rear of the JK.

Lucky for me I have a swing away carrier that saved me. The Tundra that hit me was totaled, and I only had a scratch on my Powertank (which is mounted to my spare) The Suburban that hit me pretty much destroyed the front end and I had no damage

X2 on Benchmark dual battery setup

 

[Frank]

The worst part about being a Jeep owner, all of the products out there for them. You want a bumper...you can find 50 different models in 5 min with a quick google search. haha.

 

[DoMiNiC1]

Post a pic of the 80! Welcome t the dark side. =)

Just Empty Every Pocket.

 

[taggart_lumpy]

nice and welcome to the jeep community

 

[Frank]

agreed. would like to see the 80

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Welcome to the club--

Goto google and type in JKU Rubi-mods, you'll see hundreds of ideas and might even see my JKUR !!

By the way you have a JKUR, notta JK !!

Good luck, if you have any power trouble-we can talk aboutit

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[jeep-N-montero]

:sombrero: Welcome to the club--

Goto google and type in JKU Rubi-mods, you'll see hundreds of ideas and might even see my JKUR !!

By the way you have a JKUR, notta JK !!

Good luck, if you have any power trouble-we can talk aboutit

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

Are you saying the JK is a gutless wonder and he should have waited a year?:bike_rider:

 

[Hilldweller]

Cooltech makes an antenna mount and mike mount that they sell in kit form to work with the little all-in-one Cobra. The CB also has weather band. I paired this with an aux speaker and used it for years.

Smittbilt rock rails worked for me, Rugged Ridge stubby, Rugged Ridge rear bumper.

For a lift, I like Rock Krawler's stuff; great warranty that you probably won't need.
Bushwacker flat flares won't break but you can't stand on them...

The H13 headlights are crap. A full-on Cibie Conversion with good bulbs can more than double your headlight power. Seriously.
Get it from Daniel Stern Lighting. Tell him I sent you and he might give you a sympathy discount...
Read more than you really want to know about Jeep headlights in this thread.

Jeepforum is a great place to get info. Don't rely on JK Forum; it has a bias block that runs deep.

Congrats.

My old girl: