2008 JKU Rock Crawler

Not quite a full build thread because I don't have many pictures, but my next major project on this jeep will probably be a LS swap or a super charger. I haven't decided yet. This is something that my father and I have been working on. This jeep has lived its life in Moab, and since my father has purchased another JK to ad to his collection of crawlers I decided to bring this one home with me to Texas to see how it wheels in Texas rocks. It is a 2008, and this is how it looked when we purchased it in 2014 with a 4 in lift kit on 37 Toyos with everything else bone stock including the gears except for a detroit locker in the rear and of course bumpers because they dont last long in the rocks.

 

This is it today with 40s, Teraflex Dana 60s front and rear, Arb lockers front and rear with 5.38 gears. Teraflex 4 in suspension with Teraflex sway bar quick disconnect.

 

Damn I want 40s...and new axles.

 

Sweet rig OFFGRID. I love your builds. Very nice

 

Thank you. This was mostly dads idea. He wanted 6 inch long arms. He has one with long arms already and sometimes they get hung up. I thought we should see if we could make 40s work on the short arms and 4 in lift. It rides great and wheels great. Just really lacking in power.

 

The most recent addition to our JKU build. Bad weather eliminator.

 

Nice! Now it makes a bit more sense why you needed it trailered.

 

Yep, and the stickies don't live long on the pavement. I had them a little over a year now and I have used almost half the tread. Some road travel to and from local trails in Moab and to the gas station to fill up here in TX. I have to drive a minimum of 4 hours to get to any decent trails in HOuston, TX so it really has become a trailer queen.

 

Your JKU reminds me of the Alpine rig I saw last summer. You just need some crystal purple highlights.

Both. Nice rigs.

 

Yea I see it. It will never happen! No purple here. I have a little hunter's green in the Beadlock rings and that was because I bought them used. If it doesn't have a necessary function, I don't spend the money on it. All of that bling I see on Jeeps, I see instead money that I could put towards axles or lockers or re-gears etc.

 

I'm mostly like you, every upgrade has a function, but if I add something that has function I try to have the best form possible

 

Yeah...I get it. Got some bling on my Jeep. Alot of functional upgrades too. Unfortunately up here in NJ. We don't have the wheeling trails and places to go like you guys have out there. But, I do have a few upgrades coming this weekend.....Hopefully. But the bottom line. We drive Jeeps. Jeeps owners are a special breed. And we are special. .

 

JKBob you have to have some trails within a 4 hour drive that you can take a group weekend trip to. I'm sure you checked out riderplanet to see where they are.

 

Thanks @OFFGRID. I have checked out rider planet several times. You mentioned it some time ago in another thread. And I've been checking ever since. There are A few ATV and dirt bike complexes in NJ. I think what your referring to is Rausch Creek.www.rc4x4.org. their about a 3 hour ride out in PA. I've never been there. But I do have plans on getting out there this spring and summer. Only issue. They want you to wheel with 2 rigs. And none of my friends get why people own Jeeps. Yeah i know......and i call them friends. So i would have to take a chance and take the 3 hour ride. And hope i could hook up with some one that will let me ride with them.
But anyway. I do get your point. If I had a need for lockers, better Danas, regearing, and quick disconnects. I'd have them with the money I put into this Jeep. I wish I did have a need for them. I'm envious of you guys that have places in your back yard to wheel.

 

WV doesn't look too far of a drive from you. Ther is the Hatfield and McCoy trail system including Bearwallow which by itself is 22000 acres. That is huge! The largest we have around hear is 1000 acres and that takes me about 1.5 hours to drive the perimeter with all its obstacles. Look for some Jeep clubs that get together often. There is almost always a group in the club that goes out more often. I also here about a lot of trails in NY.

 

Thanks @OFFGRID for the advice. Would love to be able to drive an hour and a half to a trail. The little dirt and sand one i run every now and then. Is just a big circle around a lake where I fish some times. Nothing extreme. I have been doing some research into clubs. There is a couple I'm following and considering joining. Also, Rausch Creek offers and / or has these off-road seminars. Looking at hitting a couple of those up over the spring and summer. I have some issues as to why I can't travel 4or 5 hours from home or weekend trips. But hey, it is what it is.