USMC Wrangler
New member
After being a pickup truck guy for many years, I decided to look at a Jeep. After test driving some friend's Jeeps and some new one's, I decided I would dive in.
My '99 F150 I traded in
The new Jeep on July 9, 2013 and yes, the salesman made me practice my wave before leaving the lot!
I knew I wanted to make the Jeep more capable off road, but decided to drive it for awhile to see what I really needed first. I did mostly visual mods like plastidip and paracord grab handles then I found some Rubi rails and some Rubi 18 springs for very cheap. I already had the 59's in the back. I swapped out my front springs then found some 1" spacers for the front and 3/4" spacers for the rear.
No Rubi springs or spacers...
With Rubi springs, spacers and third row seat
Last summer the family and I took a spin after some rain. Oh those wonderful SRA's turned into racing slicks. I knew it was time to start saving up for tires.
My set of BFG KM2's in 255/80R17's arrived from Discount Tire Direct and I had them mounted on Thursday. I went with this size because I knew if I did a lift, gears, etc I would have to buy cheap crap on my budget. The Flashcal to Flashpaq purchase was also made in conjunction with the tires. It dialed in the speedo on the dot confirmed by two GPS's at 32" with 40 PSI for the road.
I was worried about my darling wife hating the road noise. (BTW, I think these KM2's are pretty darn quiet considering the aggressive tread!) When she heard them, she said it's what she thought a Jeep should sound like! Then we saw another Jeep with a stubby bumper and winch. She looked at me and told me I need that for my Jeep too! All I could say was, "I love you!" Anyway...
Even though I probably didn't need to trim the rails it did concern me. So out came the chop saw to take 2" off the back of each rail...
Before the trim...
...and after
I still have the Rock Hard 4x4 3rd Row Accessory Bar sitting in the garage. I just need time to pull the top, even though I know it can be done with the top on. I have a build thread for the tube/trail doors I am still working on. I hope to have those done in the next few weeks. Next on my wish list will be to DIY front and rear bumpers and pick up a good winch. I also plan on gusseting the D30 C's in the near future and then drive it til I break it. I will probably go with the EVO Leveling kit when I get the front bumper and winch.
Time will tell what will or won't be added next. At it's current stage and my current budget, I don't regret making the leap from pickups to my Jeep! I know it's not some badass monster build, but it's been a fun ride and look forward to learning/enjoying more.
My '99 F150 I traded in
![Photo Nov 20, 19 54 36.jpg Photo Nov 20, 19 54 36.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112452-44c5e83465d08e2edb99711114a5a102.jpg)
The new Jeep on July 9, 2013 and yes, the salesman made me practice my wave before leaving the lot!
![Photo Nov 20, 19 46 01.jpg Photo Nov 20, 19 46 01.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112462-d933f7653f36b242754c1b62f2f7768c.jpg)
I knew I wanted to make the Jeep more capable off road, but decided to drive it for awhile to see what I really needed first. I did mostly visual mods like plastidip and paracord grab handles then I found some Rubi rails and some Rubi 18 springs for very cheap. I already had the 59's in the back. I swapped out my front springs then found some 1" spacers for the front and 3/4" spacers for the rear.
No Rubi springs or spacers...
![Photo Nov 20, 19 44 10.jpg Photo Nov 20, 19 44 10.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112492-89192be168ffb91892962519c61a5da1.jpg)
![Photo Nov 20, 19 44 13.jpg Photo Nov 20, 19 44 13.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112500-684bdb4e3ee7b01e0723def20456c24d.jpg)
![Photo Nov 20, 19 44 33.jpg Photo Nov 20, 19 44 33.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112509-433e045ab761c2f4eed09f91196d8e95.jpg)
With Rubi springs, spacers and third row seat
![IMG_2697.jpg IMG_2697.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112531-67318390c499431e3f41d070d658e710.jpg)
![IMG_4791.jpg IMG_4791.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112542-eb850d9414771562af80bbb190825c4a.jpg)
Last summer the family and I took a spin after some rain. Oh those wonderful SRA's turned into racing slicks. I knew it was time to start saving up for tires.
![IMG_3350.jpg IMG_3350.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112585-f42ee81780a706e748747169f191d927.jpg)
![IMG_3353.jpg IMG_3353.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112593-40ba6061da8d9bca826e47e092cfbb3a.jpg)
![IMG_3363.jpg IMG_3363.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112599-673cfe4b693783b230838c9350900b02.jpg)
My set of BFG KM2's in 255/80R17's arrived from Discount Tire Direct and I had them mounted on Thursday. I went with this size because I knew if I did a lift, gears, etc I would have to buy cheap crap on my budget. The Flashcal to Flashpaq purchase was also made in conjunction with the tires. It dialed in the speedo on the dot confirmed by two GPS's at 32" with 40 PSI for the road.
![100_0991.jpg 100_0991.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112545-31c634d646eac682306b508bd56f9f25.jpg)
![100_0992.jpg 100_0992.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112552-791a4185b9b1bdfb30f5da6387061e2d.jpg)
![100_0993.jpg 100_0993.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112561-5afc1252ac94763c5556d9065cdd0ab1.jpg)
![100_0994.jpg 100_0994.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112571-b015434532c79a6d096924ff5eba901c.jpg)
![100_0995.jpg 100_0995.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112582-bd5a310bc22f35d68bb62c8dfb661de2.jpg)
I was worried about my darling wife hating the road noise. (BTW, I think these KM2's are pretty darn quiet considering the aggressive tread!) When she heard them, she said it's what she thought a Jeep should sound like! Then we saw another Jeep with a stubby bumper and winch. She looked at me and told me I need that for my Jeep too! All I could say was, "I love you!" Anyway...
Even though I probably didn't need to trim the rails it did concern me. So out came the chop saw to take 2" off the back of each rail...
Before the trim...
![100_0986.jpg 100_0986.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112642-5fcd2f3ac6afee2fe9fe6b5c87b32833.jpg)
...and after
![100_0989.jpg 100_0989.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112667-aa6506505f5ca5fa1d949bf5cda2902f.jpg)
![100_0990.jpg 100_0990.jpg](https://www.wayalife.com/data/attachments/112/112682-8021092b83c6d6d4720996422f4672bd.jpg)
I still have the Rock Hard 4x4 3rd Row Accessory Bar sitting in the garage. I just need time to pull the top, even though I know it can be done with the top on. I have a build thread for the tube/trail doors I am still working on. I hope to have those done in the next few weeks. Next on my wish list will be to DIY front and rear bumpers and pick up a good winch. I also plan on gusseting the D30 C's in the near future and then drive it til I break it. I will probably go with the EVO Leveling kit when I get the front bumper and winch.
Time will tell what will or won't be added next. At it's current stage and my current budget, I don't regret making the leap from pickups to my Jeep! I know it's not some badass monster build, but it's been a fun ride and look forward to learning/enjoying more.
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