2015 Tank Green Rubi "Damma Trucker" Overlander Build...

[FastGlass]

Well, She's here folks! 23 days from order date (Wha...WHAT?!).
I missed my 2010 Rescue Green 2 dr. Rubi...Had big plans for that one, alas...life intervened and got busy. Wife wanted a "nice" ride (Read comfy with lots of amenities), So...
Got her an Audi Q7 TDI Prestige...She loves it, but I missed my Jeep. As luck would have it, I find myself needing an off road capable vehicle that can accommodate two 130lb German Shepherds, my 3 yo son and a ton of camera exipment for my photography based excursions through VT, NH, ME, the Berks and upstate NY. Figured I could kill two birds with one 2.5 ton stone
Let the fun begin....

 

[FastGlass]

View attachment 253265Wanted full coverage bumpers for this build....but with high clearance front, back and especially the corners. The places I'm going tend to have lots of scrub brush, saplings/smaller dia. Trees etc...really wanted a grill gaurd type hoop (think Genright), so called up the good folks at Expedition One and told them what I was hoping to accomplish. Nancy, Caleb, Jacob and Kevin...all those guys, have been literally jumping through bumper hoops (sorry) to be able to pull this off perfectly for me...all whilst getting their own build setup for SEMA! By the way...if you get a chance to get there for that, I'm being told it'll be worth it...they're unveilling a few new suprises...
Since they already posted the front bumper to their page, I figure it's safe to show y'all the pre powder coat...
"Shop dog approved"

 

[FastGlass]

My brother got me hooked up with Brian and the guys at BDR Automotive in Holliston, MA, They're LR and Jeep specialists...really all 4x4 related stuff, but they're good and have a great local following. He's about to have a busy day...
Some of this stuff I'll be doing, but I'm leaving the electrical and suspension up to them...

 

[BVClimber]

Sweet sally. Gonna be a fun rig. Welcome back to jeep land! Love the brown interior also. That bumper looks grizzly!

 

[xwazmtb]

That looks super awesome so far can't wait to see the full build!

 

[GetOutThere]

Gorgeous truck. Love the two tone interior with that green.

Bumper looks mean too. Expedition one are a great crew.

 

[HAFICON]

Wow great looking JKU, and what a ton of parts. Hope to see the final product soon.

 

[FastGlass]

Wow great looking JKU, and what a ton of parts. Hope to see the final product soon.

You and I both, my friend! Most will be done as small projects when there's free time. I'm still trying to figure out which wheels for my purpose. I'd like to run real low alla beadlocks, but I don't want any high maintenence, or potential issues if fully loaded with my family in the jeep. I don't have enough experience to KNOW....you know?
I'm pretty sure I'm going to try a frankenlift setup between the Clayton 4.5 long arms and adj. trackbar, and AEV's springs, 5160 reservoir shocks and high steer kit in an effort to have the best of on road/off road capability and load handling....because I need to wheel a bit...practice recovery etc...I'm going to leave the suspension pretty stock (depending on just how bad all the extra weight affects it), until I KNOW what I'll need...

 

[HAFICON]

Well for wheels AEV makes some great options has the valve stem recessed into the wheel to protect it. Rugged Ridge makes great looking wheels but other than looks nothing special I dot think. I dont know enough about beadlocks to offer any input.

AEV:
http://www.aev-conversions.com/shop/products/wheels

 

[toxicity_27]

Check out the Interco Birddog. These are the wheels I'm planning on going with.

http://www.intercotire.com/BIRDDOG.php

 

[Jurfie]

Well for wheels AEV makes some great options has the valve stem recessed into the wheel to protect it.

While not listed on the link HAFICON provided, AEV sells their pintlers with a headlock option as well.

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

Weight

With the weights you plan on carrying I am assuming you,ll add a winch you may want to think about heavy duty springs. I have the warn bumper and 10 k smithy built winch and I found my stick springs sagged to the point where I had only 1/2 inch of travel before hitting the bump stops. Most of the lifts I looked at did not offer heavy duty springs to accommodate the added weight. So ended up with ome springs. I had them on my fj100 too maybe consider these?

 

[FastGlass]

With the weights you plan on carrying I am assuming you,ll add a winch you may want to think about heavy duty springs. I have the warn bumper and 10 k smithy built winch and I found my stick springs sagged to the point where I had only 1/2 inch of travel before hitting the bump stops. Most of the lifts I looked at did not offer heavy duty springs to accommodate the added weight. So ended up with ome springs. I had them on my fj100 too maybe consider these?

Yeah...that's good info...thanks, but bad news for my wallet
I was hoping to push off the lift/springs etc until I could do it all at once...lift (and all the accompanying parts), skids, ball joints, axle reinforcement and driveshafts...

 

[FastGlass]

While not listed on the link HAFICON provided, AEV sells their pintlers with a headlock option as well.

I had seen those. It appears the offsets with all the AEV stuff is actually designed for the Jeep. I think they state it at 5.2". I was looking at the Hutchinson rock monsters at around 4.6" or so...not sure if that matters. I know they are heavy wheels, but they also have a great rep as far as being bombproof and in field serviceable ( with an extra replacement o rings etc). They also look pretty sweet, but that's far down the list vs the ability to air down to 10psi or less if required.

 

[DEFENDERBEAM]

tank color is sweet. thing is gonna be cool.