New toad-Jeep JKU

[JDCrow]

I Mentioned starting a new build. We have our truck set up to tow. It’s heavy, but we have towed with no issues. 
 

The truck has some electrical hiccups, so we picked up this 2015 JKU with 60k on the odometer. 

It is a base sport, but has the Willy’s package which gives me 3:71 gearing, a bonus for bigger tires. I’ll post pics as I do upgrades on it.

 

It came with Amp power steps, which we didn’t like. They were to close to the ground. But our first project was a 3.5 JKS lift. 

I found some pro comp 17x9 rims for a smoking deal off eBay. I’m running out some older BFG 315 off the Raptor. I’ll get a month or 2 then a new set of Cooper Maxx

[JDCrow]

Up with the coach, wife sleeping in, so brought a few things to do. 
 

New taillights and a locking fuel door. I also brought a remote start kit. I’ll tear into it next. Was going to some mud flaps, but wife moved flaps to 2 box and a set of hardware didn’t make the trip. 

[Ivan K]

The locking fuel door looks good and I considered it too but I am hearing more about fuel thieves just punching a hole in the tank when they can't simply suck it empty and that would be a much more damage than the missing fuel in a relatively small tank. Double edge sword. Maybe I'd just leave a piece of hose hanging out of there so it looks like someone beat them to it 🤣

[JDCrow]

4 minutes ago, Ivan K said:

The locking fuel door looks good and I considered it too but I am hearing more about fuel thieves just punching a hole in the tank when they can't simply suck it empty and that would be a much more damage than the missing fuel in a relatively small tank. Double edge sword. Maybe I'd just leave a piece of hose hanging out of there so it looks like someone beat them to it 🤣

I saw that on the news. Thankfully we don’t seem to have that happening here. Pretty desperate to punch a hole in a tank and get fuel on you. But people are not smart. 
 

 

[Ivan K]

There appear to be more and more nut cases. Here is my fuel protection detail...🙂

[JDCrow]

11 minutes ago, Ivan K said:

There appear to be more and more nut cases. Here is my fuel protection detail...🙂

Love your CJ. And the pups too

[JDCrow]

My torx driver couldn’t quite hit the t15 in the steering wheel, so no remote start in.

I did ditch the rope pockets on the door. 

[JDCrow]

Was a little nervous with no spare out in the back roads last few days. This is a Smittybuilt “tub” spare tire Carrier. I also threw on the Alpine rear camera for later hook up when I do the radio 

[JDCrow]

I didn’t like the Degan grill, even though someone spent some bucks on it. I also not a fan of the “angry eye” look. My first Jeep, but already feel like a purist😂

The Jeep also had Disco lights that changed colors and danced around, not for me. I have a young employee with a Jeep and she’s excited to get these and other parts as hand me downs. 
 

Lots of research, but decided on JW Speaker lighting. Patience on EBay had led to some savings with open boxes. So far so good. So this is new OEM Satin grill, new headlights, new turn signals, and new fog lights that I still need to wire as the scotch locks for the dancing fogs I had to cut out. Also added some DV8 hood latches 

[Chargerman]

It’s great that there is a never ending list of items for updating/ improving Jeeps but it also can add up to serious dollars fast. Ask me how I know…..this is my CJ after a full restoration 

[JDCrow]

15 minutes ago, Chargerman said:

It’s great that there is a never ending list of items for updating/ improving Jeeps but it also can add up to serious dollars fast. Ask me how I know…..this is my CJ after a full restoration 

Soooooo sweet. Yes it gets expensive fast. The lift kit has some extra mods I will have to do; new front drive shaft as 2 things happen with the 3.5 lift. The exhaust was moved forward in later years of the JK. So the boot now can come in contact with the cross over pipe. Second, there is a funky joint out the transfer case, I forget what it’s called but the angle is nasty now. I have a new driveline for it. I also picked up a Fox tunable steering stabilizer. 
 

Future Mods I will post:

New Apple car play touch screen radio with amps/speakers

Full Vinyl seat replacement, with heated front seats 

Gobi roof rack to pack kayaks 

I picked up an AEV front bumper and skid plate for half price off Craigslist. Will search for a winch as well. This bumper allows me to flat tow the jeep with my Blue Ox system 

Besides some new tires, that should do it, 😂

 

Edited July 3, 2022 by JDCrow

[Kevin Schitoskey]

JEEP:  Just Empty Every Pocket

5 year frame off on my CJ - completed 10 years ago but you're never really done...

Beautiful machines

[Chargerman]

Not trying to hyjack JD’s thread but thought I’d share my CJs brother. Bought it in Ca and had it shipped east. It was in original condition when I bought it. It was still military drab green. 1941 WC-12. Took about 2 yrs to do this one. Same colors as the CJ

[JDCrow]

33 minutes ago, Chargerman said:

Not trying to hyjack JD’s thread but thought I’d share my CJs brother. Bought it in Ca and had it shipped east. It was in original condition when I bought it. It was still military drab green. 1941 WC-12. Took about 2 yrs to do this one. Same colors as the CJ

Very nice! Hijack away. I love seeing everyone’s rides. My “old” rig is an 94 OJ Bronco 

[Chargerman]

Love it. You see very few of those here in NE and if you catch one the fenders are usually about to fall off. Those colors show really well. 

[JDCrow]

Worked a bit on the Jeep: added a Jack 

[Ivan K]

Nice, that looks serious and now you have to watch for those low underpass situations  😉

[JDCrow]

44 minutes ago, Ivan K said:

Nice, that looks serious and now you have to watch for those low underpass situations  😉

LOL, wife was not a fan. But she never has changed a tire. 

[Guest Ray Davis]

1 hour ago, JDCrow said:

LOL, wife was not a fan. But she never has changed a tire. 

My grandaughter who is a beautiful long legged silky blonde college student and her boy friend a muscled up Cross-fit guy  had a flat tire.  He is watching while she is changing the flat when a good old boy drives up in his pickum up and asks y'all need some help, the boy friend says no we're good.  The driver snorts I can see she is  but what good are you.          Her dad made sure she knew how to change a flat,  now he needs to teach the boy friend.   The boy is not one bit interested in cars, only in working out.  The girls have to change the flats nowadays, what are we coming to?  

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by Ray Davis

[JDCrow]

12 minutes ago, Ray Davis said:

My grandaughter who is a beautiful long legged silky blonde college student and her boy friend a muscled up Cross-fit guy  had a flat tire.  He is watching while she is changing the flat when a good old boy drives up in his pickum up and asks y'all need some help, the boy friend says no we're good.  The driver snorts I can see she is  but what good are you.          Her dad made sure she knew how to change a flat,  now he needs to teach the boy friend.   The boy is not one bit interested in cars, only in working out.  The girls have to change the flats nowadays, what are we coming to?  

 

 

 

Well……I’d say her picker is broke if she picked him. 

[Guest Ray Davis]

7 minutes ago, JDCrow said:

Well……I’d say her picker is broke if she picked him. 

I've see women make some odd picks.   Hopeing he is a passing whim but who knows he may turn into something.  We were all young.. and look at us now.  Humm

[JDCrow]

28 minutes ago, Ray Davis said:

I've see women make some odd picks.   Hopeing he is a passing whim but who knows he may turn into something.  We were all young.. and look at us now.  Humm

It’s just a saying we have with my sister. 47 and 3 marriages down, who knows who the next is. We tell her that her picker is broke. 
 

It seems to me when one changes themselves to match the person they want to be with, it rarely works.

My sister, was army wife, business wife, construction wife…. Just was never herself. 
 

I’ll hope with you, I don’t have any kids so I don’t know what it’s like. 

[Guest Ray Davis]

On 8/15/2022 at 12:02 AM, JDCrow said:

It’s just a saying we have with my sister. 47 and 3 marriages down, who knows who the next is. We tell her that her picker is broke. 
 

It seems to me when one changes themselves to match the person they want to be with, it rarely works.

My sister, was army wife, business wife, construction wife…. Just was never herself. 
 

I’ll hope with you, I don’t have any kids so I don’t know what it’s like. 

That's interesting, it's interesting to catch a glimpse into other peoples world, it brings a human quality and to see that others lives are filled with ups & downs too.        It's a losing battle to try to change someone, yet we all are constantly changing.  Like a rock tumbling down a stream, life will change us, hopefully for the better.

Your sister shouldn't give up, just get her picker fixed.  ( I like it )  She's young, I have kids older.   I have a friend my age ( 81 )  he's at # 5 and single again,  he might need to give it up.

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Ray Davis

[JDCrow]

Bro. Deep, deep, deep. I will say this; I try hard not to burden my wife with me deepest thoughts. I wear her out with just my never ending projects. I need chaos, she seeks comfort. It works for us (30 yrs this year) 

As for my sister, I’m both proud and scared for her. I’m proud that at 47 she did something for herself and put herself through nursing school. She did it all at night. Scared Because she has a very well paying job with her state. 8 more years and she could walk away, but her hearts not in it, so I understand.

 

I appreciate greatly your insight, and courage to speak it. Kinda bummed as I would love to sit down and Rock in a chair on a patio and swap stories. 

[JDCrow]

Got my Used AFE bumper on, in love. Also got the new radio/speakers in, but the Maestro unit will not talk to the head unit….. and got to take the jeep out today. Didn’t make it to our destination, road was a little more intense than time allowed