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Old Jan 27, 2018 | 11:37 PM
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From: Livingston Tx.
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Well, I'm another "new guy" from Texas, I live on the lake in Livingston. Livingston is a little over a hour north of Houston. Lake Livingston is the 2nd largest lake in Texas,
I am a Paramedic, and have been for 25 years. I work 24 hour shifts on a dedicated 911 ambulance in Harris Co. (Houston).

Last May I traded in my "06" H3 with 220k miles, and got my first Jeep, actually wanted a Jeep when I bought the Hummer but wife talked me into the H3. You married guys know what I'm talking about,right? Happy wife = Happy life. In all honesty, the H3 was a great rig, and served me well. I never did any modifications to the H3 with exception being A/T tires but with learning how to use brakes/throttle to control traction its was surprisingly capable on mild to medium trails and sandy beaches. Enough on the Hummer, none of us are here for, or have time for that.
My Jeep? I bought a "17" Unlimited Rubicon, and love it so far. The reality is, I fell for the "old bait & switch" from the dealer. I was not quite ready to buy but had been watching the ads, I saw an ad for a New "loaded' HardRock for under 41K, needless to say, I headed to the dealership when i got off work the next morning, also needless to say, that jeep had been "sold". After 3 hours of looking at the rigs they had, and them trying to find me a HardRock for close to the Ad price, I was about to leave because I didn't want black, red, or white, and a truck full of Wranglers pulled into the back. Truck had 1 JKU Rubicon on it, and for some reason they were willing to negotiate better on this one.
It's silver, and to the best of my knowledge has every option short of premium sound and 4:10 gears. Now, I get it, a lot of that stuff don't mean squat when it comes to the trails but remember the "happy wife" from above, she likes it, and i was able to talk them down from almost 46k to just over 39k. I'm not sure what they are selling for in other areas but that's a decent price for Houston.

This rig will be my DD but its not my only vehicle, I won't get to go "wheeling" as much as i would like but I plan on making it as capable as my budget will allow. On road manners are on my mind but not my main concern.
I've saved up some money and I'm about ready to initiate my plan of attack, I'll list my thoughts, and would enjoy hearing your thoughts and opinions.

Lift...down to two choices. 1) MeatalCloak 3.5 Game Changer w/Fox 2) TeraFlex Alpine CT3 w/ Falcon

Tires/Wheels.... Nitto Trail Grapplers or Toyo M/T open country. I want beadlocks but thinking i can spend the money on more important things.

Front Bumper...I really have no clue here except that i like the "mid" width ones the most. I'm not convinced that the $1200 ones are that much better than the $600 ones. I'm also liking the thought of color matching, so being available in bare metal is a minor concern.

Winch....Really thought i wanted a Warn Zeon 10k but I'm leaning towards the waterproof Smittybuilt @ 1/2 the price, or more.

Rear Bumper/Tire carrier.....as with the front, I'm just not sure yet, although I'm fairly certain that a good quality tire carrier is worth the $

Programmer.... I'm down to two. 1)AEV Procal 2) SuperChips FlashCal. Leaning towards superchips because,from what I understand it can be upgraded for tuning.

Gears.....Probably will go with Yukon 5;13.....Opps, forgot to mention, I don't plan on anything taller than 35" tires. Possible that I'll go 4;88 but need opinions and more research.

Front Drive Shaft... not sure yet but preliminary research says T.Woods is good.

The above is my list to get done ASAP, and all within a short time of each other. There is a ton of other stuff but not as important to get done in a hurry.
Under side protection / skid plates
Lighting..Wife likes the look of full width above windshield, I'm not a fan but do want some additional.
Dual Battery set up.
Air Compressor of some type
Break upgrade
Front Axle shafts
Two way communication, unsure if handheld or hard mounted unit.

Hopefully, I'll figure out how to post pictures and will be able to share as I go along my path.
I truly will appreciate any input, or opinions.
Thanks for taking the time to read my first post.
:{)

Edit:I'm well aware that my factory fenders won't last long but I plan on keeping them until I tear them up or off..

Last edited by Pmedic920; Jan 28, 2018 at 12:26 AM. Reason: additional text
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Old Jan 28, 2018 | 05:57 PM
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Welcome to thge forum, I'm new here too but have done a lot reading of posts. Seems like a good place to be.
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 10:30 AM
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Saw your post the other day but hadn’t gotten around to responding as I’ve been sick. Had a couple comments to throw out there –

Wheels – if you ever THINK you might end up on beadlocks, just go ahead and bite the bullet now. I bought regular wheels, have scraped em up to high holy hell wheelin’, and now they are worthless in regards to resale. My current set up with 37s really dictates needing 3.5” backspacing….but my wheels are 4.5”, which has me running spacers which is not-so-ideal. Dropping money on beadlocks with proper back spacing is now a tough pill to swallow. Keep in mind that the initial cost of wheels spread over the long life of the vehicle is probably not as bad as it looks up front. Also, you’re going to see those wheels every single time you look at the jeep, and they are going to have a big impact on the look, so pick what you want and what will keep you happy for a long time. From a function standpoint, you probably don’t NEED beadlocks. I air waaaay down and have a fairly aggressive style, and I’ve never had a big issue. Maybe a C rated tire you might be more careful how far you air down, but with the tires your considering it’s not gonna be a huge issue.

Winches – I have the Smitty X20 10k with synthetic. It’s gotten plenty of use and it suits both my needs and budget. Would I rather have a Warn? Yes, but couldn’t justify it.

Rear tire carrier – you are correct good sir, this is one thing you get what you pay for, and it’s worth it. Narrow down your style (rear cage, bumper/spindle mount/hinge mount) and go from there. One thing about the cage and hinge mount models is they give you greater flexibility on what rear bumper you want to install.

Programmer – I use a Bully Dog….don’t buy one. The Superchip FlashCals are nice units, and the interface is very user friendly….on top of being upgradeable as you note. I never understand why anyone chooses the AEV ProCal over something like that. The ProCal seems so archaic to me.

Gears – Honestly, if you’re not going larger than 35’s, 5.13s are going to be way low for you. I run 5.13s with 37s and it leans on the aggressive end. I have a buddy with 35’s and 4.88’s, and it’s pretty comparable to my setup. 4.88’s and 35s going to put you around 3k rpms on the interstate. The engine will be humming pretty decent, and the 3.6L isn’t as forgiving at higher RPMs as the 3.8L was. Also, with that rubi transfer case, you’ll have plenty of off road capability. If I were you, I’d stick to 4.56 for a nice all around ride. That is typically the sweet spot for the 3.6L and 35s.

Front drive shaft – Tom Woods is good. Might look at Adams as well for a cheaper option. You might even price out a custom DS from a local driveline company.

Happy building!
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 01:57 PM
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From: Livingston Tx.
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Originally Posted by resharp001
Saw your post the other day but hadn’t gotten around to responding as I’ve been sick. Had a couple comments to throw out there –

Wheels – if you ever THINK you might end up on beadlocks, just go ahead and bite the bullet now. I bought regular wheels, have scraped em up to high holy hell wheelin’, and now they are worthless in regards to resale. My current set up with 37s really dictates needing 3.5” backspacing….but my wheels are 4.5”, which has me running spacers which is not-so-ideal. Dropping money on beadlocks with proper back spacing is now a tough pill to swallow. Keep in mind that the initial cost of wheels spread over the long life of the vehicle is probably not as bad as it looks up front. Also, you’re going to see those wheels every single time you look at the jeep, and they are going to have a big impact on the look, so pick what you want and what will keep you happy for a long time. From a function standpoint, you probably don’t NEED beadlocks. I air waaaay down and have a fairly aggressive style, and I’ve never had a big issue. Maybe a C rated tire you might be more careful how far you air down, but with the tires your considering it’s not gonna be a huge issue.

Winches – I have the Smitty X20 10k with synthetic. It’s gotten plenty of use and it suits both my needs and budget. Would I rather have a Warn? Yes, but couldn’t justify it.

Rear tire carrier – you are correct good sir, this is one thing you get what you pay for, and it’s worth it. Narrow down your style (rear cage, bumper/spindle mount/hinge mount) and go from there. One thing about the cage and hinge mount models is they give you greater flexibility on what rear bumper you want to install.

Programmer – I use a Bully Dog….don’t buy one. The Superchip FlashCals are nice units, and the interface is very user friendly….on top of being upgradeable as you note. I never understand why anyone chooses the AEV ProCal over something like that. The ProCal seems so archaic to me.

Gears – Honestly, if you’re not going larger than 35’s, 5.13s are going to be way low for you. I run 5.13s with 37s and it leans on the aggressive end. I have a buddy with 35’s and 4.88’s, and it’s pretty comparable to my setup. 4.88’s and 35s going to put you around 3k rpms on the interstate. The engine will be humming pretty decent, and the 3.6L isn’t as forgiving at higher RPMs as the 3.8L was. Also, with that rubi transfer case, you’ll have plenty of off road capability. If I were you, I’d stick to 4.56 for a nice all around ride. That is typically the sweet spot for the 3.6L and 35s.

Front drive shaft – Tom Woods is good. Might look at Adams as well for a cheaper option. You might even price out a custom DS from a local driveline company.

Happy building!
Thanks for chiming in.
I do want, and will buy a set of beadlocks, I like the security, as well as the look. Fact is, wheels just are not in my budget for the first phase of my plan. You did'nt ask but for the sake of conversation, I'll tell you. "My plan" is for 37s on beadlocks (hence the 5;13s) but I only have so much cash to get started with, so I figured I would buy some 35s (315-70r17) and run them on my stock wheels until they wear out. By the time i need new tires, I will have saved the money for the Tires/Wheels I ultimately want. This will also give me a chance to see some BLs in action, and talk to some folks running them. I really don't have enough info to make an informed decision yet.
Bumpers are another area that I need to research better/more. I've resolved to go with a good quality "hinge mount" tire carrier, and hold off on buying bumpers until I've seen a few on the trail, and can talk to the owners of them. I want " bang for buck" but I've got to like the look as well. I see 100s of them around Houston but 99% of them are on rigs that have never seen a dirt road let alone a Jeep trail.
I feel kinda' like a women shopping for a new dress, "does this bumper make my Jeep look fat"?
I want to get a winch mounted before venturing to far from home, so I think I'm going to have a buddy add some support to a "take off" Rubicon winch bumper, and run that until I make up my mind. There is just so many choices, looks, price, quality. I just don't want to buy something because i'ts the current "hot" name.
Looks like my" phase one" will consist of....
suspension
tires
winch
gears
front drive shaft
and programmer, I have the $ for the bumpers but can't pull the trigger until I know more.
Phase 2 will be...
rear drive shaft
break upgrade
dual battery
wheels w/new tires

You probably know better than me, the list goes on and .......It's a matter of how much overtime i can pull, and how much the wife will tolerate.
I'd be a lot further ahead but we have a daughter getting married in May, been planning a wedding for almost a year. Ya'll only thought that Jeeps were expensive.
Cheers :{)

Last edited by Pmedic920; Jan 31, 2018 at 02:01 PM. Reason: Typos
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 03:04 PM
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I hear ya. If you think you end up on 37s, I'd still suggest 5.13s is a bit low. 4.88s would work for both 35s and 37s, and again, you have the benefit of a 4:1 rubi TC for offroad. Your OP stated you didn't see yourself going bigger than a 35 which is why I suggested 4.56 originally.

Also, it's really hard to beat the Teraflex hinge carrier, but since 37s are in the picture I'd tell you a spare 37 will technically fit with minor modification, but it's a really snug fit if you have 3.5" backspacing like most beadlocks have, and which you'll need for 37s. The rubber is really right up against the body, and the tire really starts encroaching on the tailgate handle. Keep that in mind when looking around. I really like Metalcloaks hinge carrier too, but I suspect similar issue. When they say "will fit up to a 37" they aren't necessarily saying a 37 mounted on a 3.5" BS wheel, so just do your homework. I've seen the hinge carriers like Ace and Crawler Concepts that sit further from the gate......and don't like those near as much. Both the Poison Spyder and GenRight cages are nice, and although I'm not a big DV8 fan, it's hard to argue with their more budget friendly cage design.


You see where my 37 spare rides for the trail in my avatar....LOL. I'm on the extreme budget friendly plan at the moment.
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 04:51 PM
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Welcome to JK-Forum!
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Ryan0260
Welcome to JK-Forum!
Thanx.
Bout time one of you admin types showed up
Cheers :{).
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by resharp001
I hear ya. If you think you end up on 37s, I'd still suggest 5.13s is a bit low. 4.88s would work for both 35s and 37s, and again, you have the benefit of a 4:1 rubi TC for offroad. Your OP stated you didn't see yourself going bigger than a 35 which is why I suggested 4.56 originally.

Also, it's really hard to beat the Teraflex hinge carrier, but since 37s are in the picture I'd tell you a spare 37 will technically fit with minor modification, but it's a really snug fit if you have 3.5" backspacing like most beadlocks have, and which you'll need for 37s. The rubber is really right up against the body, and the tire really starts encroaching on the tailgate handle. Keep that in mind when looking around. I really like Metalcloaks hinge carrier too, but I suspect similar issue. When they say "will fit up to a 37" they aren't necessarily saying a 37 mounted on a 3.5" BS wheel, so just do your homework. I've seen the hinge carriers like Ace and Crawler Concepts that sit further from the gate......and don't like those near as much. Both the Poison Spyder and GenRight cages are nice, and although I'm not a big DV8 fan, it's hard to argue with their more budget friendly cage design.


You see where my 37 spare rides for the trail in my avatar....LOL. I'm on the extreme budget friendly plan at the moment.
Well, I could very easily be wrong but seem to remember seeing a chart that said I needed to go 4:88 just to get back to factory with 35" rubber.
My thinking was that 5;13 would give me the flexibility to run 37s if I wanted too.
Guess I need to dig a little deeper, because i sure don't want to be @ or above 3000 RPMs on the highway.
I appreciate your persistence, might be saving me a costly mistake, and thats a big part of the reason I'm here.
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 05:25 PM
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Hey Resharp, I actually just saw in the FAQ thread, Wayoflife says that to get back to factory performance w/35s, you need 4:88, and w/37s you need 5:13. seems I saw this same info in other charts on the interweb.
I'll dig deeper to see what i can find about RPMs at given speeds with these set ups. Maybe a Guru will pop in and offer some wisdom, ya think?
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Old Jan 31, 2018 | 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Pmedic920
Hey Resharp, I actually just saw in the FAQ thread, Wayoflife says that to get back to factory performance w/35s, you need 4:88, and w/37s you need 5:13. seems I saw this same info in other charts on the interweb.
I'll dig deeper to see what i can find about RPMs at given speeds with these set ups. Maybe a Guru will pop in and offer some wisdom, ya think?
You looking at faq's for the 3.8L? I can promise you that factory performance isn't cruising around at 3k rpm. Here's your gear chart (using actual tire measurements, not what is stamped on the tire -



It's accurate. I've had 3.73, 4.10, and 5.13 gearing with 35s and 37s. It's about spot on every single time.

Last edited by resharp001; Jan 31, 2018 at 06:29 PM.
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