A TJ owner building up a JKU

[JeepZilla380]

Installed my bumper and winch yesterday.

I’m kinda tempted to be a typical JK owner and buy a 10” led light bar for the bumper

View attachment 49165
View attachment 49166

Saw a stock JKU with the only mods being an after factory bumper with double stacked 10in LCD light bars!

 

[lovemachine]

Update.

I just installed my new rear bumper. Went with the Rock Hard 4x4 aluminum bumper, to match the front. Tomorrow I should receive the Teraflex hinged tire carrier. I plan on installing that this weekend.

Still trying to decide if I want to level or lift it.

Also showed my old TJ some love. Changes out the rear main seal finally.

 

[lovemachine]

Got the carrier installed.

 

[Starrs]

Got the carrier installed.


View attachment 60721

Gonna lift it?

 

[lovemachine]

Gonna lift it?

I want to do something. I’ve been looking at the Teraflex 1.5” leveling kits. Not sure if I’d want the spacer or coil spring kit. And maybe just go to 33’s.

But like you said, JKU looks so much better with 35’s. But with this being 3.73 gearing, I don’t know what that would be like. And I don’t want to spend the cash to regear.

 

[Starrs]

I want to do something. I’ve been looking at the Teraflex 1.5” leveling kits. Not sure if I’d want the spacer or coil spring kit. And maybe just go to 33’s.

But like you said, JKU looks so much better with 35’s. But with this being 3.73 gearing, I don’t know what that would be like. And I don’t want to spend the cash to regear.

You only need 2” of lift to get 35s on the jks. Look into the Mopar hightop fenders. It’s the hiline version and pretty cool. You can put those on with no lift and fit 35s. 3.73s on a jk with 35s won’t be terrible but 4.10s is perfect. It’s amazing how different factory 4.10s ride on a jk vs a tj. Mind blowing. Seriously

 

[Starrs]

https://www.quadratec.com/products/12514_1040_07.htm

 

[lovemachine]

You only need 2” of lift to get 35s on the jks. Look into the Mopar hightop fenders. It’s the hiline version and pretty cool. You can put those on with no lift and fit 35s. 3.73s on a jk with 35s won’t be terrible but 4.10s is perfect. It’s amazing how different factory 4.10s ride on a jk vs a tj. Mind blowing. Seriously

I’ll look those up.

I was reading you’d want 2.5” of lift for 35’s, without trimming the stock flares or getting flat fenders.

All this research and work on my JKU has me wanting to start a build thread on my TJ.

 

[Starrs]

I’ll look those up.

I was reading you’d want 2.5” of lift for 35’s, without trimming the stock flares or getting flat fenders.

All this research and work on my JKU has me wanting to start a build thread on my TJ.

Yea. You def don’t want to daily an undergeared JKU on 35s

 

[mde8965]

Nice Jeep and tasteful upgrades so far. I’m considering buying one (that color is one of the top choices too) to be my daily after the lease on my current daily is up in January.

I keep going back and forth but looking at yours swayed me back again...

 

[MY97TJ]

Yea yea, I know this is a TJ forum. But I like this forum better than the others. And I want to build my new JKU from a TJ owners view.

I bought a 2015 JKU Rubicon because it’s a pain getting my sons in the TJ. They are 18 months and 1 month old. My TJ will become the new fun weekend toy. My JKUR will be my daily driver.

View attachment 46468
View attachment 46469

My new JKUR came with 285/70/17 tires with 17” American Racing wheels. Mastercraft tires. The look fairly new, so I’ll just keep running them until I need new tires. I’ll either go to Duratrac or KO2’s.
It does drive me nuts the previous owner didn’t buy a matching spare. I may fork over $200 for a matching spare.

At the moment, I’m not sure if I will lift it. I still have time to consider that. I would like to hear some input from you guys though. Be aware that this is MY “minivan” for my boys

I plan on buying new front and rear bumpers. Right now, I’m going to get a front bumper and a winch. I want to go with aluminum. With the weight of steel plus a winch, I have read that the springs will really settle, and cause more of a rake on these JKU’s. And since I don’t plan on lifting it yet, I prefer the light weight of aluminum.

I really like the looks of Rock Hard 4x4. And since I have their rear bumper and tire carrier on my TJ, I know they make good quality stuff.

I like:
https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-5048.htm

And:
https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-5045.htm

I just can’t make up my mind if I want full or mid width.

Any thoughts? I am VERY hopeful to get some input from other TJ owners

Hey curious about your TJ. Lift, tires, and wheel details. I like it.