I picked up my JK yesterday and have ordered most all of the parts needed for phase 1 of my build up (lift, tires, winch, gears, replacement front bumper, recovery gear, security, etc....). About the only thing I don't like about the Unlimited is its breakover angle. Even with the lift and tires I'm concerned the breakover angle will still be an issue.

The last two offroad vehicles I owned (K5 Blazer on one tons and 44's and '85 4Runner on 36's) both had flat belly pans, which made sliding over the rocks much easier. I have been unable to find any flat belly pans for the JK? Is anyone making one yet? If so, what all is needed for clearence? 1" body lift? Lifted motor mounts? Big hammer?

 

I think the gas tank will be the biggest obstacle to overcome with the JK. The plastic fuel tank is held in place by the skid plate, and there is a frame cross-member which runs over the top of it. With no way to raise the tank up, there's no way to increase ground clearance in this area. Hopefully someone will resolve this issue at some point, but I haven't seen anything yet.

 

I am hoping Nth will design a Tummy Tucker skid for the JK like they did for the TJ. Slick piece. THey also have cool diff sliders too....

 

Since you replied I spent the last few minutes on my back laying under the Jeep. It seems that every thing in front of the gas tank is pretty straight forward. The skid plates below the t-case and transmission easily could be raised 2". The crossmember with the t-case mount could be redesigned to gain a solid 1.75-2". The exhaust where it crossovers from one side to the other in front of the t-case would have to be relocated, but seems simple enough.

As you said the gas tank is the biggest obstacle. For me I would consider a smaller, flatter tank, as the Jeep will be for the most part an offroad toy and I don't need a 400 mile range.

 

I agree 100%.

 

You wont have to worry about that, lol

 

I could not find my Jeep locally so I bought it off the internet. I flew from San Antonio, Texas to Shreveport, Lousiana to pick up my Jeep yesterday and drove it home. Yahoo maps said it was 393 miles. I took a round about way and ended up covering 427 miles. I DID NOT stop for gas (dealership filled it up) and the dash computer says I am good for another 53 miles. It is calculating milage at 19.6 miles per gallon.

I did drive very leasurely (no more than 70mph) and varied the speed regularly in order to break it in properly. This is a '07 JK Unlimited Rubicon with auto and hardtop.