POLL: How do you like your Jeeps? Stock, modded, etc.

[RumorsOFsurF]

I've been thinking about our little community and how folks here view the Jeep experience. Obviously most of us probably like to at least run a trail here and there, otherwise we wouldn't join a nerdy forum about Jeeps. :crazy:

What I'm wondering is how stock or modified we all like our Jeeps. Whether bone stock or full width axles and a V8, or somewhere in between.











I'll start:

Personally, I like a Jeep with a mostly stock appearance, yet one that has functional mods to help on and off road. A sleeper, in car terminology. A winch, other recovery gear, maybe a couple sizes bigger tires and a minor lift, even axle and V8 upgrades are cool, so long as they LOOK like they belong. Narrow those D44's or D60's if necessary to make the Jeep look factory and clean. I want my Jeep to look like a Jeep. No hacked fenders or aftermarket flares, no tires sticking out 8 inches on both sides.

I know I've posted LOTS of pics of my Jeep, but here's what I'm referring to:

My Jeep still looks fairly stock, but I've upgraded the tranny, rear axle, installed a winch and a bunch of other stuff. I'd like to eventually swap a small block Chev, lockers, and a few other things, but I want to retain the stock look.

 

[Fulltimer]

Other than the bedlined body mine looks mostly stock. I added a steel front bumper with a winch and roof basket with lights. That is about all that is different from a stock appearance. If I'm parked by a 100% stock Liberty you can tell it's lifted and that the tires are bigger. Stock tires are 29" and my tires are 32". Then I also have full skid plates. The inside has really changes...no back seat!

Terry

 

[CH3NO2]

I think the only part on my '76 that is still stock is the ignition switch.

 

[JKMudder]

I voted modified (although I plan to run 35s).

I like tough and functional mods. But I admit to doing some things purely for looks. You saw my gas cover right?:crazy:

 

[AZ Outlaws]

I guess I'll have to say a sleeper... slightly modified mainly because of $$$ restraints.
My set-up is a good compromise for highway and trail use. As it sits, it works very well for the moderate to slightly difficult trails I run. If I had more $$$ to put into my Jeep, which I don't, I'd like to go from a 2.0" coil spacer lift with 33" M/T's to a 4" coil lift with all the associated upgrades riding on 37's. I've spent a over $4k on mods and equipment so far and I need another $3k to finish my wish list.

Most of my mods and improvements are not really apparent unless you know about Jeeps, JK's in particular. Here's what I've done so far.........

My '08 Jeep Wrangler JK X 6-speed with all the mods listed below

Mods completed:

- Debadged (only club decals, got groceries? sticker, and USAF badges remain)
- Yukon 4.56 gears (replaced the crappy stock 3.21 gears)
- BFG M/T KM2 285/75-16 tires (33x11.5)
- Eagle Alloy 16" brushed aluminum wheels
- Rubicon Express 2.0" coil spacer lift w/monotube shocks
- Mopar Rubicon rock rails
- JKS sway bar quick disconnects
- TeraFlex heavy duty steering stabilizer
- Optima red top battery
- DayStar spare tire bump stops
- DayStar heavy duty hood latches
- Mopar door sill guards
- Mopar gas cap door cover
- Mopar heavy duty slush mats
- MasterCraft grab handles
- Front and rear axle vent tubes extended
- Cargo stop installed behind the front seats
- Vanity mirrors permanently installed on the sun visors
- Shorty 8" AM/FM antenna

Extra Stuff:

- Staun tire deflators
- Masterflow 12v air compressor
- Harbor Freight 8 ton bottle jack
- AEV JK jack base
- ARB tire repair kit
- Expedition One 4 gal "Geri" Fuel Pack (2)
- Cobra 29 LTD Classic CB radio peaked and tuned
- 3' FireStik antenna
- Garmin 60CSx GPS with 24k Southwest topo maps (trail)
- Garmin Nuvi 260W GPS (highway)
- Compaq laptop loaded with Southwest topo maps and saved trails

Wish list:

- Power Tank 10# Co2 system
- 4 KC Hi Lite off road lights
- Front and rear off road bumpers
- Oil pan skid plate
- Evaporator skid plate or relocate it
- Relocate muffler

 

[CT99XJ]

Heavily Modified. Not much on my XJ is stock anymore except the front axle housing, the unibody, and interior pieces. Body mods have been done, some internal engine stuff, clocked T-case, Durango steering box, and a bunch of small tweaks I've done that make the suspension ride how I want. I don't run sway bars on this Jeep, and never will again.

My list of things in the works:

*tire carrier (hitting up the steel yard tomorrow)
*full belly skid
*working on building long arms (or if I end up swapping in the ford HP44 I have lying around, I might just go radius arm)
*2 low modification to the 231
*need a new SYE
*add a 1.5 to 2" budget boost to the 3-3.5" i have to eventually clear 35's
*Ballistic truss on the D30, custom preload double heim bars on the 8.25
*relocate rear shocks to spring plate, run through floor
*Fox 2.0 remote reservoirs
*working on adapting DubJay steering to the front
*Taurus E-fan, eliminate the mechanical fan altogether
*mount my Scot-bottle to the spare tire carrier inside for OBA
*Tie sliders into front bumper and rear bumper (when built)

 

[86mcss]

I have disco's and a steering guard. I need to fab a bumper and then will be installing a winch soon after. Other than that my ruby will stay mostly stock. There is no reason to do anything else to her

 

[RumorsOFsurF]

I guess I'll have to say a sleeper... slightly modified mainly because of $$$ restraints.
My set-up is a good compromise for highway and trail use. As it sits, it works very well for the moderate to slightly difficult trails I run. If I had more $$$ to put into my Jeep, which I don't, I'd like to go from a 2.0" coil spacer lift with 33" M/T's to a 4" coil lift with all the associated upgrades riding on 37's. I've spent a over $4k on mods and equipment so far and I need another $3k to finish my wish list.

Most of my mods and improvements are not really apparent unless you know about Jeeps, JK's in particular. Here's what I've done so far.........

My '08 Jeep Wrangler JK X 6-speed with all the mods listed below

Mods completed:

- Debadged (only club decals, got groceries? sticker, and USAF badges remain)
- Yukon 4.56 gears (replaced the crappy stock 3.21 gears)
- BFG M/T KM2 285/75-16 tires (33x11.5)
- Eagle Alloy 16" brushed aluminum wheels
- Rubicon Express 2.0" coil spacer lift w/monotube shocks
- Mopar Rubicon rock rails
- JKS sway bar quick disconnects
- TeraFlex heavy duty steering stabilizer
- Optima red top battery
- DayStar spare tire bump stops
- DayStar heavy duty hood latches
- Mopar door sill guards
- Mopar gas cap door cover
- Mopar heavy duty slush mats
- MasterCraft grab handles
- Front and rear axle vent tubes extended
- Cargo stop installed behind the front seats
- Vanity mirrors permanently installed on the sun visors
- Shorty 8" AM/FM antenna

Extra Stuff:

- Staun tire deflators
- Masterflow 12v air compressor
- Harbor Freight 8 ton bottle jack
- AEV JK jack base
- ARB tire repair kit
- Expedition One 4 gal "Geri" Fuel Pack (2)
- Cobra 29 LTD Classic CB radio peaked and tuned
- 3' FireStik antenna
- Garmin 60CSx GPS with 24k Southwest topo maps (trail)
- Garmin Nuvi 260W GPS (highway)
- Compaq laptop loaded with Southwest topo maps and saved trails

Wish list:

- Power Tank 10# Co2 system
- 4 KC Hi Lite off road lights
- Front and rear off road bumpers
- Oil pan skid plate
- Evaporator skid plate or relocate it
- Relocate muffler

I'd put a winch on it first, but your rig is about like how I'd do it. 33's are about as big as I'd ever go, though. Very cool JK!

 

[narleycarley]

I'd put a winch on it first, but your rig is about like how I'd do it. 33's are about as big as I'd ever go, though. Very cool JK!

But the JKs come with 32's from factory, so going 33's is really no difference. Now the TJs, with I think it's close to a 28, is a difference.

 

[AZ Outlaws]

I'd put a winch on it first, but your rig is about like how I'd do it. 33's are about as big as I'd ever go, though. Very cool JK!

Thanks!!

I don't have a real need for a winch, saving pennies for the other stuff on my wish list. My Next purchase is off road bumpers. Gotta wait until I ding up the milk jug plastic bumpers so i can file an insurance claim. With my low insurance deductable I'll take their money, add some of my $$$ and get them that way. No sense paying the total cost of bumpers entirely with my money.

But the JKs come with 32's from factory, so going 33's is really no difference. Now the TJs, with I think it's close to a 28, is a difference.

Not true... it all depends on what model and package you get.

The X, now renamed the Sport, comes standard with 225/75-16 (29x9) street tires. If you get the "Customer Preferred Package 23S" for an additional $2,840.00, you get the 17" Rubicon rims on Goodyear 255/75-17 (32x10) street tires and a few other goodies. The Rubicon models come with the old 32x10.5" BFG KM tires AND bigger springs and longer shocks.

Going from 32x10 to a 33x11.5 might not seem like all that much, but it does require a 2.0" coil spacer lift and some air dam trimming on a X/Sport model. The set up I have does make just enough difference and is more than enough to do moderate to slightly difficult trails I run. Many JK owners install a 3.0" lift and put 35x12.5 tires on their Jeep. Many run with a 4.0" lift, trim their fender flares and roll on 37's. Keep in mind... a coil lift 3.0" and over requires more mods than just a lift which raises the price to run those 35" and larger tires. Money I didn't want to spend.

But hey, it's a Jeep... build it to suit your wants, needs and what you can afford. LOL... now if I had deep pockets, I may have considered going bigger. Ha ha... living on my Air Force retirement and social security has me watching my pennies more than I used to.

My JK X the day I bought it home with the 23S package....

 

[narleycarley]

Going from 32x10 to a 33x11.5 might not seem like all that much, but it does require a 2.0" coil spacer lift and some air dam trimming on a X/Sport model.


It doesn't REQUIRE that, it's just suggested. I know more than one that's running either nothing with those tires or the other is just running some wheel spacers.

 

[AZ Outlaws]

Going from 32x10 to a 33x11.5 might not seem like all that much, but it does require a 2.0" coil spacer lift and some air dam trimming on a X/Sport model.


It doesn't REQUIRE that, it's just suggested. I know more than one that's running either nothing with those tires or the other is just running some wheel spacers.

LOL... okay, you got me on a technicality with my poor choice of words. And, you're right... nothing is "required". You took my word "required" out of context or I should have rephrased my sentence to say... if you want to prevent rubbing on a X/Sport riding on 33's and wheels with 4.5" of back spacing, then a lift is "required" to prevent said rubbing.

My JK X rubbed the rear fender flares riding on BFG KM2 285/75-16 (33x11.5) tires. The 16" Eagle Alloy wheels have the max recommended back spacing of 4.5" with zero offset. It rubbed more so when loaded with ice chest, extra water and fuel, tools and other odds and ends you would normally take on a run.

Another factor that plays into the equation... Jeep puts three different size shocks on the JK. An X has the shortest, the Sahara is middle of the road, and the Rubicon has the longest. The Rubicon with it's longer shocks can get by without rubbing riding on 33's easier than a X. I don't know about the Sahara or JK's equipped with a tow package which also comes with longer shocks than a stock X......

 

[CT99XJ]

I'm gonna have to agree with AJ on this one. Whether it's "required" by the English dictionary usage of the word is irrelevant when it eliminates the need to make a non-reversible modification such as trimming fenders, air dam, bumpers, etc.

 

[narleycarley]

Ehhh, either of said Jeeps I was talking about hasn't cut anything up. But oh well

 

[daspes]

Every one I know who wheels a JK on 33's (except AZ) is doing so with just a .75" leveling lift in the front and correct BS wheels/or spacers. Very minimal rubbing at all, and thats only the rear. Small bumpstop can fix that.

To answer the Poll I prefer Hardcore Daily Drivers.

 

[AZ Outlaws]

Every one I know who wheels a JK on 33's (except AZ) is doing so with just a .75" leveling lift in the front and correct BS wheels/or spacers.

What is considered "correct BS", stock wheels?? What wheels are your buddies running? As I said in another post here or in another forum, I think the issue if 33's rub depends which shocks you're running and the BS of the wheels. Anyway, that's the only explanation I can come up with.

From everything I've read on the different JK forums, 4.50 is the recommended max for aftermarket wheels, which I'm running. The front was never an issue at stock height with 32 or 33 tires on my JK, just the rear.

This is my JK X as I bought it with the 23S package, the same 32" BFG KM tires and 17" wheels that comes stock on a Rubicon. Not much room....

The same 32's on Soft 8's with 4.50 backspace with all the normal stuff you carry on a run. You can imagine 33's with 4.50 BS rubbing big time without a lift....

My 33x11.5-16 BFG's and a 2" lift... no rubbing. Without the lift they rubbed. Sorry i don't have a pic of the JK on 33's non lifted with the tires stuffed up the rear end....

 

[Dave]

Nice pics AJ. I like the one with the tire hanging over the ditch.


I voted on the poll for "modified but street friendly". Mine gets driven on the street a lot.

Dave

 

[ridenby]

I just like to be able to get around the mall parking lot.

 

[94_c/1500]

I voted modified, yet street friendly. I don't want a truck that I can't drive on the street.

 

[XtrmTJ]

It's not what you buy, it is what you build !