Like everyone else on here... I've always loved jeeps. I used to live up in central/northern MN (Brainerd, MN). Up there didn't have a jeep, but I had a pickup... mainly for towing and hauling around my wheeler in the back. When my family and I moved to SWFL I sold my truck, wheeler (brute force 750i), boat, snowmobiles, etc. A small part of me was bummed, but a huge part was excited for the move south and honestly... a break from all the maintenance and work on the sleds, atv, boat, yard, etc.... sometimes you can become a slave to your toys.

At first I picked up a 2011 Mustang GT. I did a few tweaks to it and got the HP up around 400 @ the tires. It was a BLAST to drive, but my family and I couldn't all fit in it....at least not very well. So... it sat. After 2 years I had 7k miles on it. Whenever I took it out... I beat the crap out of it and loved it. Around Cape Coral, FL (where I live now).... I could really only run up through 2nd really hard before I would be speeding. So it sat... took it out once a week... beat on it and parked it.

Oh.. I forgot too.. I work from my home. I'm am IT geek (IT Enterprise Architect for any other geeks out there), so I didn't even get to drive it to and from work. I actually work for the same place I did up north... just out of my house now down here. I travel to our other location, Dresher PA about once every 5 weeks or so.

Anyway... back to my story... it sat.... and I was getting sick of it. So... I sold it. I thought and thought about what to replace it with. I really missed my truck (2006 Dodge Ram). It had nice big tires (20" w/ Procom extreme mt) and was pretty damn fast for a truck. I also really missed by ATV... the Kawi Brute Force 750i. Being in southern FL... I also kinda wanted a convertible. So... (I said I was a geek, right?) ... I put together a sheet of all the options out there. I had a budget to work in, so I kept running into issues when going after multiple vehicles/toys. Then it hit me... a Jeep... a 4 door jeep. I had always loved them. Thought they where the coolest thing out there.

So I started really researching and checking out prices and options. Wanted the unlimited so I could fit the family. Wanted something with 33" or 35", but I wanted to pick it out and make it mine. Had to be off-road worthy, but something my wife would still want to drive (makes spending more on it later easier ).

I ended up getting a new 2013 JKU Sport Red. I really wanted to make it mine, so I went with the sport and will customize it as I go. So far, I have the lift (rough country 2.5"), 17" rockstars w/ 35" Nitto trails and go rhino's side steps. Like us all... I have a list of 100+ things... but will keep adding over time. I have always been one to customize everything. I can't leave something stock.

My next few things are pretty basic. Strengthen up the rear tire carrier w/ some lower support from the hitch (adding the hitch on this week). Adding some locking lugs, spare tire supports, etc... nothing huge on this round. Mainly finishing touches from the lift and wheels.

Next up will probably be new gears... but honestly w/ the 3.6 pentastar married up to the 6 speed, pushing these 35" (really closer to 33 on it) with 3.21 gears is waaaaaay better than I thought it would be. I'll probably have to use 4lo when I start wheeling with the Caloosa Jeepers (on my todo list to join their group), but I'll see how it is before I swap them out. Would probably go 4.10 or 4.88... we'll see.

Anyway.. I'll wrap this one up... but I before I do... I wanted to say a quick thanks to a lot of you on this forum. A lot of great people willing to put the time in for newbies and other jeep guys/gals like me. It really helped me select my jeep and the upgrades I've done and will do. It's also been great for just basic understanding... like earlier today wondering what the hell the tube was coming out of my rear axle... after a quick search... breather tube, and now I have another mod on my list

Thanks everyone!

- Blex

P.S. First name is Chris (1800-million of us out there... and sick of someone calling and 1/2 of us saying "what" at the same time. So I often go by Blex... drop the Rud (Blexrud) from my last name... and that's what I seem to always go by... Blex


Edit - Here's a pic of the jeep:

 

Welcome to the forums and florida!

 

Right on Chris, welcome to the JK-Forum community