Phase 3
- 4.5 Rubicon Express with 1 inch body
- 36×13.5×15 Iroks
- Winch
- Lockrite in front
- Super D44 – Detroit Locker in rear Dana 44
- 4.56 Gears
Phase 3
I decided to try out Iroks even so I had no major problem with my BFG MTs but with a new lift (RE 4.5) they were looking small. The tire industry had also changed a lot in the last two year and options are now endless and mind numbing.
I could go with a more aggressive tire this time because the Jeep has migrated into a weekend warrior and no longer serves the daily drive role. I had always loved the Iroks since they came out but I was a little unsure about going 36×13.5 and really unsure about getting bias ply. After costing them and finding out they are cheaper than even the budget model 35s I was sold and kind of wanted to take a risk to try them out. (Edit bias Iroks are no longer a budget tire)
Phase 2:
Setup:
Anyone who has spent a weekend on the trail knows come Monday your seats are in a need of some good cleaning. Jeeps are open to the elements quite a bit more than your average vehicle, then again they go places your average vehicle doesn’t.The great thing about seat covers is you can play all weekend long and then Monday pull them off and go to work
In my mind one of the most likest parts to dent on your Jeep is your gas tank. The tank skid on early Tjs is nothing more than a tin plate to hold the tank in place. (The tank was improved in later years but still isn’t great)
Why do I need a skid my gas tank is plastic? Well you can puncture plastic too and over time all that thumbing and dragging over rocks is going to take its toll. Your fuel pump is inside the tank, you don’t really want to hit that to many times. I know from experience!
One vulnerable spot on a Tj is the steering box. It is easy to damage and leave you stranded with a big dent in the pocket book. The box hangs just below the bumper and is prone to getting dented or cracked.
It is also a very cheap insurance at under $75 dollars and only takes under an hour to install.
I did this install for several reasons but the main one was to get rid of the stock air box so I could make room for an on-board air system. I also installed the filter because it is possible to dunk the air box while leaning the jeep on its right side into a stream or river. With the filter in the middle of the Jeep you need to be in really deep before having the filter submerged. Continue reading Tj K&N Air Filter
Quick Disconnects are a personal preference and there are several different ways of doing them.