First Time Jeep Owner in Kodiak, AK!

Coastiehog

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 11, 2017
Messages
122
Location
Kodiak, AK, United States
Hi all! Just purchased my first Jeep ever when i sold my WRX a couple weeks ago.....just after arriving in Kodiak Alaska! I have a 2002 Jeep Wrangler Sport with 4.0L! I bought this Jeep with 61K miles!

I have a lot of plans for this Jeep and have parts just waiting to go on! Here is a list of what I have ordered already:

32" Kumho Road Venture AT51's (pic attached)
15x9 Tuff T01 Wheels (pic attached)
New Speedometer Gear for 32's
Rough Country 2.5" Lift
Rough Country Steering Stabilizer
Rough Country Rear Track Bar Relocation Bracket
2 New Front Fenders (previous owners kid hit something on driver side years ago....bent it slightly)
4 Inch LED Pods
Roll Bar Mounted Grab Handles
2 4x6 Front Speakers with Mounts
A New 6.5" Sub for Console
Smittybilt Neoprene Seat Covers
1.5" Hubcentric Wheel Spacers
Carbon Fiber Vinyl...to wrap center of dash....just because.
New Luk clutch....throwout bearing in chattering.
New Precision Throw Out Bearing....not a fan of the plastic ones in the kit.
DNA 7" Pocketed Fender Flares

I think that is it right now. My suspension parts are in VA waiting for my brother tto ship them to me since Rough Country won't ship to Alaska without high cost. He also has my front fenders for the same reason.

Anyway, I will get some build pics up as I go. Here is a before pic.
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Now, off to get the tires mounted on the wheels.....may put them on the TJ today if they won't rub too bad without the lift.
 
Great looking TJ! We've had a few members from Alaska. How are you liking it up there?

@Ted who used to live in Alaska would always complain (and rightfully so) about the insane shipping costs for getting parts in Alaska.
 
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Great looking TJ! We've had a few members from Alaska. How are you liking it up there?

@Ted who used to live in Alaska would always complain (and rightfully so) about the insane shipping costs for getting parts in Alaska.

Thanks!! It was a good find IMO.

I like it, but the biggest downside is shipping cost or inability to get certain items. It takes time a patience to find that part or parts that will ship here...and ship free. Most of the parts shipped to me for free. Even the wheels and tires I had shipped free 2 day air (took like 5 days)!!. Amazon is your best friend up Here! Haha!

We have an Auto Hobby Shop on Base wheree we can mount and balance tires for like 5 bucks and a number of different lifts and bay time is like $10 per hour which is great! So, most of my work will be done there. We also have a weld shop and sand blasting area! Wish we had a paint booth though.....my TJ will be going matte black unless I decide to do matte black vinyl.

I plan on chopping up the front bumper in the weld shop until I pull the trigger on a new one. Just letting my bank account recover a little lol. The wife started this whole thing when she ordered the seat covers when I got home and sent me on a wheel and tire hunt! Who's JEEP is this anyway??!?!?!!
 
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Thanks!! It was a good find IMO.

I like it, but the biggest downside is shipping cost or inability to get certain items. It takes time a patience to find that part or parts that will ship here...and ship free. Most of the parts shipped to me for free. Even the wheels and tires I had shipped free 2 day air (took like 5 days)!!. Amazon is your best friend up Here! Haha!

We have an Auto Hobby Shop on Base wheree we can mount and balance tires for like 5 bucks and a number of different lifts and bay time is like $10 per hour which is great! So, most of my work will be done there. We also have a weld shop and sand blasting area! Wish we had a paint booth though.....my TJ will be going matte black unless I decide to do matte black vinyl.

I plan on chopping up the front bumper in the weld shop until I pull the trigger on a new one. Just letting my bank account recover a little lol. The wife started this whole thing when she ordered the seat covers when I got home and sent me on a wheel and tire hunt! Who's JEEP is this anyway??!?!?!!

Yeah, Amazon is even my best friend here in Oregon. I say that because with my Prime membership I can get free 2-day shipping on almost everything, and I get the Amazon video, which is worth the cost alone.

Anyways, at least your resourceful enough to get the parts you need. I feel you on the wife thing. My wife always gets mad when she uncovers how much a certain Jeep part I bought really cost, haha.

Where are you stationed up there?
 
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Yeah, Amazon is even my best friend here in Oregon. I say that because with my Prime membership I can get free 2-day shipping on almost everything, and I get the Amazon video, which is worth the cost alone.

Anyways, at least your resourceful enough to get the parts you need. I feel you on the wife thing. My wife always gets mad when she uncovers how much a certain Jeep part I bought really cost, haha.

Where are you stationed up there?

Yeah, my wife didn't realize what she did when she signed that permission slip! Haha!

I am at the Coast Guard Base. I am the Housing Officer up here.....so I get to look at spreadsheets and listen to complaints a lot. Just got here on July 15th.
 
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Yeah, my wife didn't realize what she did when she signed that permission slip! Haha!

I am at the Coast Guard Base. I am the Housing Officer up here.....so I get to look at spreadsheets and listen to complaints a lot. Just got here on July 15th.

Haha, yep, I have that same story too. The Jeep makes up for it in the Summer though, because she and our kids love riding with the top and doors off.

Okay, I wasn't certain if you were Army or Coast Guard. I know they've got a lot of military bases up there if I remember correctly (I'm former Army).
 
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Haha, yep, I have that same story too. The Jeep makes up for it in the Summer though, because she and our kids love riding with the top and doors off.

Okay, I wasn't certain if you were Army or Coast Guard. I know they've got a lot of military bases up there if I remember correctly (I'm former Army).

Won't get much topless driving out here lol. Average summer temps are 65 and 90" of rain average per year lol.

The Seals have a training unit here and there is the Air Force Missle Defense base. I think there is a National Guard Base here as well.
 
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Won't get much topless driving out here lol. Average summer temps are 65 and 90" of rain average per year lol.

The Seals have a training unit here and there is the Air Force Missle Defense base. I think there is a National Guard Base here as well.

Maybe not much warm weather, but lots of beautiful scenery from what I've seen!
 
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Welcome to the forum (and a very expensive habit). And thanks for serving. This is a great Jeeping community.
Thanks, and thank you for your support as well!!

Yes, expensive! Haha! I think I am almost $2K in on mods so far and I still have a lot more I want to do!

So far this is going to be my go to forum. The others seem dead or not very friendly!

Went to install my Smittybilt seat covers today....one strap ripped right out of seat cover and one of the clips would not stay clipped....needless to say, they are going back. My interior is in great condition for an 02 so will hold out for some Bestop or something.

Didn't get to mount tires because I spent 3 hours cleaning the interior to get the previous owners old McD fries, chapstick tubes, caramelized cola and hair out of the carpet and cup holders! Lol! Even pulled carpet up and wiped out the floor pans. Amazing how this Jeep has no rust being that it was bought in Alaska and has never been anywhere else!!

Since I am returning the seat covers.....i think a new front bumper will be on order soon!