Enthusiast III
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2018 JKU Golden Eagle
- Thread starter Michael G.
- Start date
Enthusiast III
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Depends on how deep your pockets are and what kind of trails you run.
As a fellow JKU owner who has a hybrid crawler/expedition rig, I'd get larger tires and just enough of a lift or budget boost to clear them. Stay as low as possible.
Some recovery gear would be next for me, a winch and recovery kit. (Straps, tree saver, snatch block, etc.).
The JKU has perfectly fine under armor from the factory, the most vulnerable part of your belly though is also one of the most important, the oil pan. Get an oil pan skid if you're going to be playing in the rocks.
I've never looked at this edition of the JK before, if it has lockers then great. If not, you'll want to get some at some point. This will not be cheap though.
Again, really depends on what kind of trails you'll run and how much you want to spend. The aftermarket support for JK's is unbelievable, but pricy for quality gear.
As a fellow JKU owner who has a hybrid crawler/expedition rig, I'd get larger tires and just enough of a lift or budget boost to clear them. Stay as low as possible.
Some recovery gear would be next for me, a winch and recovery kit. (Straps, tree saver, snatch block, etc.).
The JKU has perfectly fine under armor from the factory, the most vulnerable part of your belly though is also one of the most important, the oil pan. Get an oil pan skid if you're going to be playing in the rocks.
I've never looked at this edition of the JK before, if it has lockers then great. If not, you'll want to get some at some point. This will not be cheap though.
Again, really depends on what kind of trails you'll run and how much you want to spend. The aftermarket support for JK's is unbelievable, but pricy for quality gear.
Enthusiast III
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I plan on easy to moderate trails. plan on just overlanding so no rock crawling. Looking to do most things on a budget but dont plan to go cheap just want reliable products. this edition doesnt not come with the locker but has anti spin. largest tire size i plan on at first is 33" maybe 35"s down the road but will see how things go and if trip plans require it. Thanks for the info @GetLost . Do you have a roof rack? and have you done the trails in the Ozark?
My thought process is recovery gear first.
How experienced are you offroading? Drive it and learn.
Maybe all-terrain tires if the stock ones aren't great (they probably aren't, but fine for most gravel roads, etc.) Are those 17s or 18s?
Also I'd switch out the factory antenna for a stubby. The factory one whips around a lot and chips the pain by the windshield.
How experienced are you offroading? Drive it and learn.
Maybe all-terrain tires if the stock ones aren't great (they probably aren't, but fine for most gravel roads, etc.) Are those 17s or 18s?
Also I'd switch out the factory antenna for a stubby. The factory one whips around a lot and chips the pain by the windshield.
Off-Road Ranger I
My advice is to not go crazy on any mods just yet. You should find that the stock vehicle is perfectly capable for what it sounds like you'll be doing. I have a 2016 JKUHR with no lift and stock tires and it's handled everything i've thrown at it, even some pretty serious trails. The first thing i ever bought for it was a Hi-Lift jack, that will get me out of just about any situation, I've only had to use it once on my vehicle to stuff some rocks under a wheel when i was high centered. As others have recommended, just get out there and drive it, make changes only once you realize a real limitation. For us (a family of 5) we ran out of space for gear on longer trips, so we bought a rack (GOBI), we live in the desert so after one too many hot shadeless trips we bought an awning. Aside from those, we're still basically bone stock.
If you think you'll be driving on any rough rocky trails where you may ding the diff from time to time, it would be wise to upgrade your differential covers sooner rather than later. the factory diff covers are paper thin. I slapped on the Teraflex heavy duty diff covers for about $90 each after i noticed a very tiny leak from one of the factory covers.
If you think you'll be driving on any rough rocky trails where you may ding the diff from time to time, it would be wise to upgrade your differential covers sooner rather than later. the factory diff covers are paper thin. I slapped on the Teraflex heavy duty diff covers for about $90 each after i noticed a very tiny leak from one of the factory covers.
Off-Road Ranger I
Oh wait, one thing to buy right away: Get a halfway decent air compressor so you can air down as soon as you hit dirt roads and be able to pump them back up at the end of your trip.
Enthusiast III
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Thanks for all the great info guys, I definitely see the storage as an issue as I have a family of 4 but also undecided if they will be with me or not. I have plenty of stuff on my wish list already trying to narrow down things. Have also heard recommendations of upgrading lights since the JKU headlights are not very bright.
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Sent from my Pixel XL using OB Talk mobile app
Enthusiast III
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I would say I'm still a beginner for off roading, they are 17" wheels with 245/75/17 Goodyear Wranglers. I'll look at a winch, Treds and a recovery kit first I guess, and a stubby antenna.
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Yep, I agree with @brien on the air compressor.
Before I got my ARB, I used the high output compressor from Harbor Freight (Like $60). Filled up my 35's quickly and lasted a long time.
I wouldn't worry about the lights right now. They should be more than adequate for now.
Before I got my ARB, I used the high output compressor from Harbor Freight (Like $60). Filled up my 35's quickly and lasted a long time.
I wouldn't worry about the lights right now. They should be more than adequate for now.
Enthusiast III
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I have an air compressor already that I got from O'Reilly's a couple of months ago. And a cheap on as backup.
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I do, I opted for the AEV Rack with Side Rails (Around $1300 for both). I didn't like the look of the dom tubing around the sides of my rig.
It mounts to the roll bars still which makes for a very robust rack.
I have not done anything in the Ozarks.
Shouldn't need a winch yet. Save that money and use it to get everything else for recovery and new headlights, they are terrible.
I.M.O. go with a 2 1/2 teraflex lift with 285/75/17’s. Inexspensivly done & not an overkill & you can go ANYWHERE as needed for off-roading/overlanding. Recovery gear & traction plates also. Check out xbull on eBay. Cheap alternative & work great for mudd & bridging. Get out there & see what your rig is capable of first & find your comfort level & modify from there. To have a very capable rig you do not need to spent 15k. Jeep jku’s are unbelievably capable bone stock. Just my ✌Cents & good luck with your build. Keep us posted & share Picts of your build.
Enthusiast III
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Off-Road Ranger I
I'll second the 10-ton x-bull tracks. I've been using them for about a year and they haven't let me down yet
Traveler III
Enthusiast III
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I have a yaesu vx-7r handheld but looking for a permanent rig radio
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Enthusiast III
Enthusiast III
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Ok i have the X Bull Tracks on my amazon wish list, and other things like, LED Headlights from Quadratec and KC. Smittybilt Winch with Synthetic Rope, Spot/Beam lights, Initially i am going to hold off on larger tires and lift kits til i figure out what i need. Also thought about the Smittybilt Defender rack for extra cargo, I dont plan on doing a RTT just a ground tent.
