DemCoconuts
New member
It`s a new year - time for a build thread!
A little back story.
I`ve been a half ton guy all my life. Never had a big lifted one, but my relatively stock 08 Silverado has never failed to take me where I wanted. From rocks to water, snow and more. It was only this past year that I started looking hard at wheeling a larger 4 wheel vehicle often, and wanting to push it with that vehicle. As much as I love the Silverado, I`m not a big IFS fan, and after replacing a couple hub bearings, CV axles, e-fan/etc, I decided it was time for a second vehicle, that way I'll always have one running.
That brings me to getting this Jeep. After watching my buddy in his 2013 2 door rip around so easily, I knew that that was what I wanted. I took a look at YJ's, TJ's and JK's. All sorts of project ideas floated through my head, but in the end I decided on a couple things I wanted: a 2 door, auto, and something that I wouldn't need to put a lot of work into immediately, especially since winter was on it's way and I don't have a heated garage. Apparently Jeeps are made of gold here, however, so after missing a couple TJ's I found a JK that fit my budget, and the requirements I had. Just a quick note before we go any further - between my hobbies and saving for a house, my budget isn't the best right now, but that just means I get to be more creative!
Enter Clara. A 2009 Jeep Wrangler X 2 door. Very basic - nothing power (locks/windows/etc) or fancy, just a hard top and an auto transmission. Found her at a dealer. New windshield, front bumper and 4x Duratracs. Having had great experience with Duratracs on the truck, I was stoked to have them on the Jeep. Fast forward to now, and I'm not so much! More on that later.
At the dealer;
![FB_IMG_1450997535588.jpg FB_IMG_1450997535588.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155845-f071eaf1fc3bd84efb1a00da797510fd.jpg)
Home with the Silverado!
![FB_IMG_1450997540278.jpg FB_IMG_1450997540278.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155855-c366d74a50bb4b25e4c10618ac31cc2a.jpg)
The first big problem: no recovery points. I have a fun little wheeling area 15 minutes from my place, but I wasn't going to break one of the commandments of wheeling so quickly, so off to 4 Wheel Parts I was!
Came home with a Hi-Lift, hood brackets and a Smittybilt hitch receiver.
![FB_IMG_1450997550402.jpg FB_IMG_1450997550402.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155863-78d0a1a2428b7d6a43c06b2d7ec0314a.jpg)
![P_20151008_135119.jpg P_20151008_135119.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155871-d7fc1d421c597817d415b9515f2eef40.jpg)
Got those attached, and off to the local trails to see just how different this 2 door was from the truck!
![FB_IMG_1450997555021.jpg FB_IMG_1450997555021.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155880-b2061bff3afcd0f0ce2eb2fb471f35c1.jpg)
![FB_IMG_1450997563326.jpg FB_IMG_1450997563326.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155889-e9aac4e650df9dac71bb174e173e5e47.jpg)
The Jeep has a way different feel to it - but boy is it nice to be able to take the top off!
A little back story.
I`ve been a half ton guy all my life. Never had a big lifted one, but my relatively stock 08 Silverado has never failed to take me where I wanted. From rocks to water, snow and more. It was only this past year that I started looking hard at wheeling a larger 4 wheel vehicle often, and wanting to push it with that vehicle. As much as I love the Silverado, I`m not a big IFS fan, and after replacing a couple hub bearings, CV axles, e-fan/etc, I decided it was time for a second vehicle, that way I'll always have one running.
That brings me to getting this Jeep. After watching my buddy in his 2013 2 door rip around so easily, I knew that that was what I wanted. I took a look at YJ's, TJ's and JK's. All sorts of project ideas floated through my head, but in the end I decided on a couple things I wanted: a 2 door, auto, and something that I wouldn't need to put a lot of work into immediately, especially since winter was on it's way and I don't have a heated garage. Apparently Jeeps are made of gold here, however, so after missing a couple TJ's I found a JK that fit my budget, and the requirements I had. Just a quick note before we go any further - between my hobbies and saving for a house, my budget isn't the best right now, but that just means I get to be more creative!
Enter Clara. A 2009 Jeep Wrangler X 2 door. Very basic - nothing power (locks/windows/etc) or fancy, just a hard top and an auto transmission. Found her at a dealer. New windshield, front bumper and 4x Duratracs. Having had great experience with Duratracs on the truck, I was stoked to have them on the Jeep. Fast forward to now, and I'm not so much! More on that later.
At the dealer;
![FB_IMG_1450997535588.jpg FB_IMG_1450997535588.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155845-f071eaf1fc3bd84efb1a00da797510fd.jpg)
Home with the Silverado!
![FB_IMG_1450997540278.jpg FB_IMG_1450997540278.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155855-c366d74a50bb4b25e4c10618ac31cc2a.jpg)
The first big problem: no recovery points. I have a fun little wheeling area 15 minutes from my place, but I wasn't going to break one of the commandments of wheeling so quickly, so off to 4 Wheel Parts I was!
Came home with a Hi-Lift, hood brackets and a Smittybilt hitch receiver.
![FB_IMG_1450997550402.jpg FB_IMG_1450997550402.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155863-78d0a1a2428b7d6a43c06b2d7ec0314a.jpg)
![P_20151008_135119.jpg P_20151008_135119.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155871-d7fc1d421c597817d415b9515f2eef40.jpg)
Got those attached, and off to the local trails to see just how different this 2 door was from the truck!
![FB_IMG_1450997555021.jpg FB_IMG_1450997555021.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155880-b2061bff3afcd0f0ce2eb2fb471f35c1.jpg)
![FB_IMG_1450997563326.jpg FB_IMG_1450997563326.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/155/155889-e9aac4e650df9dac71bb174e173e5e47.jpg)
The Jeep has a way different feel to it - but boy is it nice to be able to take the top off!