Once upon a time I had a 2004 Cherokee, but I just bought my first Wrangler TJ in December, 2016. This is a whole new world. I think I’m addicted. Anyone else have that problem around here? LOL. This Jeep was stock and low miles, 46K. I looked for six months before I happened on it driving home one night right after work. Amazingly was the first one to call! By the next morning he’d had 12 calls and three offers over the phone. He held it for me and I was able to get down to the bank first thing with the owner and pay him cash so I could drive away. 4.0, 6-speed, and 31” GY MTR with Kevlar tires.
I want to run 33x12.5r17 or r15. I installed a Rubicon Express BB last week. Great first project. Supposed to be 2" but in reality the front turned out to be 1 1/4" and rear 1 3/4". This is the first thing I’ve ever done on a vehicle beyond change the oil.
That said, I have three questions. First, what is your opinion on 15's vs 17's? I am not planning to do any heavy wheelin, though I do get offroad. I have gravitated to r17's because I think it might look meaner and tire sizes seem to be going away from 15's. The rims I found that I like are 17x9 Pro Comps but I'm sure there are sill some 15's out there I would like.
Second, the person at Quadratec said all I need to do to run 33's is add a flat fender kit such as Bushwacker or Xenon. I asked about a 1.25' body lift and that seemed frowned upon. I was thinking I may not have to do the fenders if I did the body lift, and the body lift is much cheaper. What are your thoughts? And while your at it, what are your thoughts on Bushwacker vs Xenon as well as 4" or 6" width, keeping in mind the 33's coming on 17x9 wheels with backspacing of 4.75"?
Third, should I do the tires and wheels first and see if they can fit under stock flares? Or do the flares or body lift first because if I don't I'll get myself in trouble? I appreciate feedback from all you guys with years of experience. Here's a pic of the Jeep with the 2"BB ...
Since the build thread is so long and there have been so many iterations, I made a table of contents to help find things. I have had to learn virtually everything along the journey, so a lot of the posts are questions by me and answers from knowledgeable (and some not so knowledgeable) forum members. If you are learning you may want to follow the full discussion. There are lots of great pics and videos along the way! For those who want to find where the changes took place in the build or the steps for mods, the table of contents will help. Unfortunately, I did not always list the steps for a specific mod, but usually I did. I hope this helps you in your Jeep journey.
Table of Contents
1. Safely using jacks and jack stands
2. Install of OME 2933/2942 with 10mm Spacer
3. Brown Dog Motor Mount Lift
4. ZJ Tie Rod Conversion
5. Savvy 1.25" Body Lift (full install)
6. Warn Rock Crawler Rear Bumper
7. Quick Disconnects and Rear Bumper Tie-Ins
8. The Move from 31's to 33's
9. Savvy Transfer Case Cable Shifter (full install)
10. Rancho 5000X Shocks 55239/55241
11. JCR Rock Sliders (paint and install)
12. Dana 44 Axle Swap
13. PowerTrax No Slip Locker Install (full install)
14. MoRyde Tailgate Hinges
15. Video of Front Locker Off-Road Test (Hidden Falls)
16. Video of V-Notch Ledge Crawl (Wolf Caves)
17. First Concerns with JCR Sliders
18. Door Lock Mechanism
19. Stirrups for Easing Entry (design, sewing, and install)
20. Video of Wheeling at Hidden Falls
21. Eaton E-Locker
22. Regear
23. Rockhard 4x4 Hard Hat
24. Raised Stock Gas Tank Skid (full install)
25. First Moab Trip 2019
26. Grabars
27. Videos of Wheelin Denver Creek
28. Broken Dana 30 Axle Shaft Ear
29. Centric Rotors and BMB Pads
30. My Husband is Crazy Video
31. Steering Box Skid
32. Savvy MUA Tummy Tuck
33. JB SS SYE
34. Warn Rock Crawler Front Bumper
35. When I achieved Jeep Nirvana
36. Aluminum Rub Rails
37. Painting Genright Aluninum Corner Armor
38. NSG370 to 42RLE Swap
39. Savvy Engine Skid
40. Setrab Transmission Cooler
I want to run 33x12.5r17 or r15. I installed a Rubicon Express BB last week. Great first project. Supposed to be 2" but in reality the front turned out to be 1 1/4" and rear 1 3/4". This is the first thing I’ve ever done on a vehicle beyond change the oil.
That said, I have three questions. First, what is your opinion on 15's vs 17's? I am not planning to do any heavy wheelin, though I do get offroad. I have gravitated to r17's because I think it might look meaner and tire sizes seem to be going away from 15's. The rims I found that I like are 17x9 Pro Comps but I'm sure there are sill some 15's out there I would like.
Second, the person at Quadratec said all I need to do to run 33's is add a flat fender kit such as Bushwacker or Xenon. I asked about a 1.25' body lift and that seemed frowned upon. I was thinking I may not have to do the fenders if I did the body lift, and the body lift is much cheaper. What are your thoughts? And while your at it, what are your thoughts on Bushwacker vs Xenon as well as 4" or 6" width, keeping in mind the 33's coming on 17x9 wheels with backspacing of 4.75"?
Third, should I do the tires and wheels first and see if they can fit under stock flares? Or do the flares or body lift first because if I don't I'll get myself in trouble? I appreciate feedback from all you guys with years of experience. Here's a pic of the Jeep with the 2"BB ...
Since the build thread is so long and there have been so many iterations, I made a table of contents to help find things. I have had to learn virtually everything along the journey, so a lot of the posts are questions by me and answers from knowledgeable (and some not so knowledgeable) forum members. If you are learning you may want to follow the full discussion. There are lots of great pics and videos along the way! For those who want to find where the changes took place in the build or the steps for mods, the table of contents will help. Unfortunately, I did not always list the steps for a specific mod, but usually I did. I hope this helps you in your Jeep journey.
Table of Contents
1. Safely using jacks and jack stands
2. Install of OME 2933/2942 with 10mm Spacer
3. Brown Dog Motor Mount Lift
4. ZJ Tie Rod Conversion
5. Savvy 1.25" Body Lift (full install)
6. Warn Rock Crawler Rear Bumper
7. Quick Disconnects and Rear Bumper Tie-Ins
8. The Move from 31's to 33's
9. Savvy Transfer Case Cable Shifter (full install)
10. Rancho 5000X Shocks 55239/55241
11. JCR Rock Sliders (paint and install)
12. Dana 44 Axle Swap
13. PowerTrax No Slip Locker Install (full install)
14. MoRyde Tailgate Hinges
15. Video of Front Locker Off-Road Test (Hidden Falls)
16. Video of V-Notch Ledge Crawl (Wolf Caves)
17. First Concerns with JCR Sliders
18. Door Lock Mechanism
19. Stirrups for Easing Entry (design, sewing, and install)
20. Video of Wheeling at Hidden Falls
21. Eaton E-Locker
22. Regear
23. Rockhard 4x4 Hard Hat
24. Raised Stock Gas Tank Skid (full install)
25. First Moab Trip 2019
26. Grabars
27. Videos of Wheelin Denver Creek
28. Broken Dana 30 Axle Shaft Ear
29. Centric Rotors and BMB Pads
30. My Husband is Crazy Video
31. Steering Box Skid
32. Savvy MUA Tummy Tuck
33. JB SS SYE
34. Warn Rock Crawler Front Bumper
35. When I achieved Jeep Nirvana
36. Aluminum Rub Rails
37. Painting Genright Aluninum Corner Armor
38. NSG370 to 42RLE Swap
39. Savvy Engine Skid
40. Setrab Transmission Cooler
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