2012 JKU Rubicon Build/Adventure Thread

[Septu]

Well after installing some of my mods, and the rest arriving today, I guess it's time to start a build thread. The JK is a silver 2012 JKU Rubicon, with the 5 spd automatic. Leather, dual tops, cmd start, connectivity, basic stereo. Ordered Nov 15th, picked it up on Feb 14th.

My long term plans include 35s, roof rack, bumpers, winch, 3.5" lift, additional gas tank, some lights, drive shafts, beefing up the axles and possibly a super charger (although this is damn near at the bottom of my wishlist - so who knows). I expect this will take 3-5 years to build it up - not that it'll ever truly be done. Right now my wishlist is sitting around 35k (including some guesstimates for some installs). Winning the lotto would go a long way to getting this done sooner! However being realistic, this first year will be fairly slow. Other than wiring in some lights, and making a sleeping platform in the back, my only plan for this year is to get the AEV bumper and winch - likely around fall/early winter.

I plan on going more of an expo style with this one. Will be sleeping in the back to start with, and eventually going to an Mongoila style tent for the roof. A small trailer to is something I keep thinking about, but am still uncertain whether I really want to tow something (both performance wise in the mountains I'd have to travel to go south, and whether I want that behind me while in the cites I'd visit while traveling or while wheeling on the trail). My dream is to do some traveling down to Mexico and further south for my summer vacations - likely taken in the winter because -40 sucks. I figure I can be in Mexico within 6-7 days of leaving the Yukon, allowing for 2-3 weeks of exploring before having to head home. No, not nearly long enough, but a start.

04/29/13 - so big new purchase today. Bought a small 1/4 ton trailer - a Canadian M101 with a lid and a RTT. A couple pics HERE. I'll pick it up from Vancouver when I go down there in mid June. Will have almost 2 weeks to camp, kayak and play before making my way home. Guess I'll find out what it's like to tow it in the mountains and deal with in the city now.

Current Look:
04.20.13


So far I've installed:

Vector's UFO Plates
Spidertrax Spacers
Drake Grille Billet Inserts
Gas Cap cover
Bug guard
WeatherTec front floor mats
Cibie headlights
Vision X Fog lights
sPOD Switch System
Stubby Antenna (DIY)
Cowl Air Vent Cover
Lightforce 170 100w HIDs
Pat Harrison's/Trailskins Limb Risers
LoD Mid Width bumper with a custom pre-runner setup
Engo 10k Winch with synthetic line
Smittybilt XRC Flat Fenders
33x13.5x17 Iroks
CND M101 1/4 ton trailerw/ RTT

My Hella headlights, harness and Hella Supertone horn and RR taillight guards arrived yesterday, and it's slightly warmer outside (~15f) and might try to install the the lights tonight. I hear the horn is more of a pain in the ***, so am not sure yet how I'll mount that, and it'll likely have to wait until spring. Although if I keep getting cut off by *******s (like today) it might get done a lot sooner.

My sPOD should arrive next week so I can do up the aux lights lights on the window (75w LF HIDs) and the locker mod. Will have to change things around once RR comes out with their A pillar panel, but that'll be in the spring so it's all good.

[JPK]

Some good news. With the 2012 you will not need to replace either drive shaft. Some bad news. With the 2012 and ~#" of lift you will needs to install an AFE replacement exhaust Y to cear any front DS. But the AFE Y costs a lot less than a new DS.

Here's a link to a thread detailing how to build a rear storage compartment that opens to a flush sleeping area in the rear of a JKU. http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f96/u...orage-1216045/

JPK

[Septu]

Yeah the drive shafts are pretty far down on the 'to do' list as well. The AFE Y pipe will get done at the same time as the lift. I'll be doing something pretty close to what Ron Jenx did. A little taller (not sure how tall yet), and I still need to decide if I want to try and put a small pull out drawer on the drivers side to use as a cooking station, or do something else. And how much I want to try and save/use the stock cubby hole in the cargo area.

Lots of decisions to make, and lots of time.

[JPK]

Another fellow used 6" metal studs in lieu of the 4" studs and got some extra room. But the floor wouldn't be flush like Ron Jenx's is, at the rear hinge (adjacent to the back seats) the floor would angle down to the folded rear seats, at least without some means to raise the end of the folding sections. Not really a big deal.

I have designed and am looking for someone to build a rear storage area for my JKU and my solution to the cubby hole is a full floor with piano hinged lids. One would be inaccessible under a fridge when the frige is in the Jeep, but the other would always be accessible, so you could reach under the inaccessible lid for anything you might need. Seperate lid for jack access, with a lip to make the whole floor flush.

Building on Ron Jenx's platform, a similar top with a hinged lid over the cubby would work, framed out for support.

I am no craftsman, so I'm looking at Adventure Trailers dual slide, which would accomodate a stove under a fridge. But I need a top platform for carrying gear too. And I want it all to lock via the tailgate. Solved how to do that, but the woodworking skill required is beyond my own (by a lot.)

I live within an hour of Annapolis, MD and have contacted several marine carpentry shops today. Unfortunately, the mild weather has them busier this March than ussual.

BTW, I have had no issue with the oem DS's in 43k miles, even with a Hemi.

JPK

[Septu]

Yeah am not an expert on the wood working, however I could do it myself, and my father is a carpenter, so I can always enlist him to help and bounce idea's off.

How much lift do you have?

[Septu]

Got the new headlights installed. All I can say is wow. This is how it should be stock. I'll still use some aux lights, however I could if I had to do a road trip with these. Nice sharp cutoff for the lows, decent highs. Fog lights barely do anything now. Part of me wishes I'd spent the extra on Cibies, but these should be fine.

[JPK]

My Jeep has the 4.5" AEV suspension and rides on 37's.

Might have to try the same headlight you now have. Sounds like they are a real improvement.

[Septu]

I highly recommend it. Night and day difference. Will try to get a picture tonight. The old lights I knew were bad (and now I know how bad). I took the new JK for a ride last week out of town (pitch black). I was uneasy doing 60 due to the lights, and not being able to see well enough. I could do a road trip with these ones tomorrow and be okay with it.

[Septu]

Finally got off my *** and installed the sPOD.

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[Dendy Jarrett]

Which headlights did you go with? I have looked at the IPF and ARB replacements.