2017 JKU "Big Bear" Overland Build
05-13-2017, 11:14 PM
#1
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
2017 JKU "Big Bear" Overland Build
Opening:
I just got the word that the order is finalized and will finally be joining the Jeep family and starting a build. A little backstory I am originally from Ohio but due to serving with the Air Force I have been overseas for some time. While in Okinawa I did not pull the trigger due to not being able to bring it over, and then when I got orders to the UK the plan was to purchase either a diesel Jeep or to do a Defender build. However, I got here settled and started to learn quickly that diesel Jeeps can't come home to the states whenever I make it back. On top of that the Defenders that could are few and far between due to galvanized chassis, not being old enough, not being well cared for, or having too many miles for the cost. This pretty much left me SOL and without options as far as a used Jeep went. Enter deployment! Due to the awesome tasking, I am able to put 6k down on a Big Bear and have another 6-8k for a nice opening spree of mods! The build will be focused around Overlanding and maybe even eventual living/Vanlife when I make it stateside for a nice long roadtrip. I am a photographer and really enjoy the landscape aspect of things so I will be building things out to allow me to stay on location longer and go deeper off the beaten path to capture those sights usually only seen by a few eyes. As it stands now the Jeep is expected to land over in the UK when I get back almost perfectly timed around July/August! I will not hold my breath as who knows what could come up to shorten or extend that timeframe though. All said I am super excited and will be starting the thread now to get some help with a few questions as far as part compatibility goes before pulling the trigger on some initial purchases and to give you guys an idea of what the Jeep will eventually become!
Stock Options:
Black Exterior and Interior
6-Speed MAN
3.73 Gearing
"Big Bear Package" (Mostly visual upgrades, some decent wheels and tires, and the connectivity group)
Body Color Hard Top (Don't Hate)
LED Lighting Group (Have heard great things)
Dream Sheet:
LOD Offroad - Trail Rack and RotoPax mounts for water.
License Plate Delete
ARB - All Weather Steel Fridge (the new one about to drop, mines well as I don't have one)
James Baroud - Insulation Kit
Titan- Fuel Tank (waiting on the new version as old is no longer avail after the sales)
Series Defender - Rear Window Vents
Weathertech - F/R Deflectors
Adventure Trailor - Interior Cargo Rack
Roadshower 2
Rebel Offroad Blackout Kit (Storage setup with lighting)
RTT (leaning heavily toward AluCab, Possibly a James Baroud though)
AluCab Shadow Awn 270
Jetboil Burner
SPOD
Warn - Zeon Platinum 10S
Poison Spyder - Brawler Rockers and Crusher Flares
ACE - Inner Fenders
Backup Camera
Black Rhino - Armory Wheels
NITTO - Ridge Grappler 35x12.5s
OME 2" Lift with Heavy shocks and steering stabalizer (May go 4", looking for opinions)
Magnaflow - Pro Series Catback (more for clearance and less space taken up not the sound)
ARB - Dual Compressor
Tuffy - Glovebox, Driver and Passenger lock boxes
Genesis - Dual Battery Setup & G screen for SPOD
JW Speaker - LED Tail lights (if my LED lighting does not include LEDs in the rear.)
Drake Offroad - Hood Holds, Handle inserts misc cosmetic shit
RedRock Short Antenna
M.O.R.E - Passenger Dead Pedal
Hood Lock/ Mesh grill insert
Khan / Chelsea Truck Co Leather Upgrade interior and front seats (way down the road)
Metal MOLLE roof plates I have seen around some forums front and rear as well as some netting to stuff things above like pillows blankets etc
I just got the word that the order is finalized and will finally be joining the Jeep family and starting a build. A little backstory I am originally from Ohio but due to serving with the Air Force I have been overseas for some time. While in Okinawa I did not pull the trigger due to not being able to bring it over, and then when I got orders to the UK the plan was to purchase either a diesel Jeep or to do a Defender build. However, I got here settled and started to learn quickly that diesel Jeeps can't come home to the states whenever I make it back. On top of that the Defenders that could are few and far between due to galvanized chassis, not being old enough, not being well cared for, or having too many miles for the cost. This pretty much left me SOL and without options as far as a used Jeep went. Enter deployment! Due to the awesome tasking, I am able to put 6k down on a Big Bear and have another 6-8k for a nice opening spree of mods! The build will be focused around Overlanding and maybe even eventual living/Vanlife when I make it stateside for a nice long roadtrip. I am a photographer and really enjoy the landscape aspect of things so I will be building things out to allow me to stay on location longer and go deeper off the beaten path to capture those sights usually only seen by a few eyes. As it stands now the Jeep is expected to land over in the UK when I get back almost perfectly timed around July/August! I will not hold my breath as who knows what could come up to shorten or extend that timeframe though. All said I am super excited and will be starting the thread now to get some help with a few questions as far as part compatibility goes before pulling the trigger on some initial purchases and to give you guys an idea of what the Jeep will eventually become!
Stock Options:
Black Exterior and Interior
6-Speed MAN
3.73 Gearing
"Big Bear Package" (Mostly visual upgrades, some decent wheels and tires, and the connectivity group)
Body Color Hard Top (Don't Hate)
LED Lighting Group (Have heard great things)
Dream Sheet:
LOD Offroad - Trail Rack and RotoPax mounts for water.
License Plate Delete
ARB - All Weather Steel Fridge (the new one about to drop, mines well as I don't have one)
James Baroud - Insulation Kit
Titan- Fuel Tank (waiting on the new version as old is no longer avail after the sales)
Series Defender - Rear Window Vents
Weathertech - F/R Deflectors
Adventure Trailor - Interior Cargo Rack
Roadshower 2
Rebel Offroad Blackout Kit (Storage setup with lighting)
RTT (leaning heavily toward AluCab, Possibly a James Baroud though)
AluCab Shadow Awn 270
Jetboil Burner
SPOD
Warn - Zeon Platinum 10S
Poison Spyder - Brawler Rockers and Crusher Flares
ACE - Inner Fenders
Backup Camera
Black Rhino - Armory Wheels
NITTO - Ridge Grappler 35x12.5s
OME 2" Lift with Heavy shocks and steering stabalizer (May go 4", looking for opinions)
Magnaflow - Pro Series Catback (more for clearance and less space taken up not the sound)
ARB - Dual Compressor
Tuffy - Glovebox, Driver and Passenger lock boxes
Genesis - Dual Battery Setup & G screen for SPOD
JW Speaker - LED Tail lights (if my LED lighting does not include LEDs in the rear.)
Drake Offroad - Hood Holds, Handle inserts misc cosmetic shit
RedRock Short Antenna
M.O.R.E - Passenger Dead Pedal
Hood Lock/ Mesh grill insert
Khan / Chelsea Truck Co Leather Upgrade interior and front seats (way down the road)
Metal MOLLE roof plates I have seen around some forums front and rear as well as some netting to stuff things above like pillows blankets etc
Last edited by jedg; 04-24-2018 at 11:57 AM.
05-15-2017, 07:24 AM
#2
JK Jedi
Tried to read about your build, but the serifs on the font make the thread extremely hard to look at without going blind. Maybe it's just me. 
The following users liked this post:
TrailBadger (02-10-2018)
05-31-2017, 04:57 PM
#3
Former Vendor
Congratulations on the new rig! It looks like you definitely have your work cut out for you. If you have any questions when it comes time for exhaust, please feel free to shoot us a call or PM here on the forum. We are always happy to help! 
05-31-2017, 05:27 PM
#4
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
Have seen you guys all over the various Jeep and Overland forums great to see the company active! Love the brand from my experience with faster autos when I was in Japan and at meets here around Silverstone! I think some more important additions will have to come first but I am pretty sure the exhaust will be going in right around when the KO2s wear out and I upgrade to 35s! I will be sure to get in contact, I have a few folks who have browsed my website and are looking at some partnerships for product photos so feel free to contact me or have your marketing team do so if that is something the company has a budget for! Looking like the Highlands, Snowdonia, and the Alps before years end with maybe even a sponsored trip to Morocco come winter so I am pumped to get it delivered and start exploring!
05-31-2017, 05:32 PM
#5
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
As an update Roof Racks have swapped now looking to Front Runner or Eezi-Awns K9 due to being in Europe and shipping being a pain with Rhino Racks not being very widespread this side of the pond. Pretty set on the Expedition 3 from Alu-Cab as far as RTT goes but the James Baroud still leaves a twinkle in the eye.
11-30-2017, 04:18 PM
#7
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
A much needed update
Alright WOW, It has been a minute. Ok so for future reference I keep my buildprint pretty up to date. Eliza The Overland JKU
However here is what has been done and a few of the adventures it has gone on since we last spoke!
ARB Front Bumper
Alu Cab Ex 3 Tent
Front Runner Slimeline II rack
Camping Vents and Rain guards
Handle inserts
short antenna (byways are not very wide old one was annoying)
Vector Dock and RAM mounts for S8+ and my new Ipad Pro 12" that I use for Topo
Recon LED Turn Signals Smoked
Slats for the roof of the tent
BRO Visor covers/pouches
Grab Bars
HiLift with hood mount
currently getting maxtrax and the side mounts as well as sorting the wiring on a rigid chase light for the rear.
Have done the North Coast 500 recently and knocked out Brecon Beacons/S Wales area as well as the Lake District. The longest I have lived out of the Jeep so far is a week and a half but Next year is Nordkapp for a month, and I should be in it for 10 days over the holidays in the Alps.
First Byway run
Yarwell P&P, some good climbs and some mud
S Wales Trip (Top Gear Rd. and some resevouirs)
Lake District and N Coast 500 run
However here is what has been done and a few of the adventures it has gone on since we last spoke!
ARB Front Bumper
Alu Cab Ex 3 Tent
Front Runner Slimeline II rack
Camping Vents and Rain guards
Handle inserts
short antenna (byways are not very wide old one was annoying)
Vector Dock and RAM mounts for S8+ and my new Ipad Pro 12" that I use for Topo
Recon LED Turn Signals Smoked
Slats for the roof of the tent
BRO Visor covers/pouches
Grab Bars
HiLift with hood mount
currently getting maxtrax and the side mounts as well as sorting the wiring on a rigid chase light for the rear.
Have done the North Coast 500 recently and knocked out Brecon Beacons/S Wales area as well as the Lake District. The longest I have lived out of the Jeep so far is a week and a half but Next year is Nordkapp for a month, and I should be in it for 10 days over the holidays in the Alps.
First Byway run
Yarwell P&P, some good climbs and some mud
S Wales Trip (Top Gear Rd. and some resevouirs)
Lake District and N Coast 500 run
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DT_JK18 (05-31-2018)
Trending Topics
11-30-2017, 04:48 PM
#9
JK Newbie
Thread Starter
11-30-2017, 05:10 PM
#10
JK Enthusiast
Congrats on the build. Looks nice. And welcome to the Jeep family.
Looking through the pics I have to just try and give you some advice from a long time Jeeper. Your fourth pic posted today ( the one driving fast through water and splashing) is what I thought to mention. Have you ever heard of hydrolocking an engine? You might want to research that a bit. The air intake on the JKs is located on the passenger front side of the engine bay. There are many stories of people sucking water into the engine from water shot up toward the intake when splashing water up there. Suffice to say it can result in engine damage. Always better to take water crossings slowly and only up to depth specified by Jeep. Take the advice as you will. Just wanted to let you know. Happy Jeeping.
Looking through the pics I have to just try and give you some advice from a long time Jeeper. Your fourth pic posted today ( the one driving fast through water and splashing) is what I thought to mention. Have you ever heard of hydrolocking an engine? You might want to research that a bit. The air intake on the JKs is located on the passenger front side of the engine bay. There are many stories of people sucking water into the engine from water shot up toward the intake when splashing water up there. Suffice to say it can result in engine damage. Always better to take water crossings slowly and only up to depth specified by Jeep. Take the advice as you will. Just wanted to let you know. Happy Jeeping.