Influencer II
I figured I would share my Jeep build and my personal experiences along the way. My name is Nickzero and I own a Black 2017 Jeep Wrangler JKU 6 speed.
When I was younger I drove around a 00' TJ and loved it! I bought her in NC from an older man for a great price and restored it to new. I drove it back down to FL where I would spend the next year enjoying every second of it off on the trails and trips to the beach. I sold my Jeep Wrangler TJ 5 speed in order to put a down payment on a new 17' JKU. My Black TJ started it all off for me, I caught the Jeep bug. I knew I wanted to stick with a black Jeep Wrangler, so i decided on a bare bones 17' JKU sport 6 speed manual with the soft top. The dealer had to drive my new JKU down form North GA so I could take the keys. I got very lucky on the purchase price and got even luckier when the dealer ate a $1,200 option charge for the 3.73 gears installed on my Jeep by a potential owner in GA who bailed out on the sale last minute. You could say that worked out in my favor when I was to switch over to larger tires later on.
Fast forward! I receive a picture to my phone via the salesman confirming the arrival of my new Jeep at the dealership in FL. At this point i'm pretty stoked to go see it in person.
I raced down to the dealership after work to obtain the set of keys to my dream rig. I had so many plans already lined up for her.
I made sure to follow Jeeps specific break in procedure and perform and early oil change. Driving a 4 door JKU compared to my 2.5L TJ 5 speed was night and day difference. At first driving around in the new JKU felt luxurious then once a few months passed I meshed into the fabric of the Jeep and started to familiarize myself with it becoming more comfortable with owning a new vehicle. I LOVE IT!
Right away I wanted to get rid of the Prius wheels and set myself up with some beef. I ended up finding a mechanic on C-list who worked at the Jeep Dealer in Daytona selling 5 new Rubicon wheels and tires for $600. I couldn't turn it down so my girl friend and I made a beach trip out of it and a few hours later I was riding on new Jeep Rubicon wheels and mud terrains. Right away I noticed a big difference and I could now tackle harsher off-road terrain.
Found out FL was sunny af so I bought one of these bad boys at a local show and shine Jeep meet in Orlando. Got a great deal from the guys at Spiderwebshade.
Went out riding with some good friends in FL. That night I noticed why it helps greatly to have extra lighting on your vehicle. I needed to do something about that.
Spent some time enjoying Ocala National Forest. Got around to purchasing the Cobra 75 CB radio setup for the rig. Communication was my main concern when wheeling the trails with the convoy.
Then one day at the Bartow Jeep Ranch I got beached and needed some recovery. I wasn't keeping up with the guys on 35's and 37's. I was still having a great time, however I needed to up my game. (literally)
So once tax money came in I bought myself a 2.5'' Teraflex spring lift with Fox Racing 2.0 shocks along with 5 new 35'' BFG KO2 all terrain tires with 1.5'' hub-centric spacers.
My good friend let me borrow his drift car garage to install the lift and shocks. Right after this I drove to the 4WP Orlando to mount my new 35's. I get such a sense of accomplishment when installing my own parts myself. The instal took no time since we both had prior experience with working on cars and trucks in the past.
Made it just in time for Jeep Beach 2017. The lift and tires look and feel great. Now I can see above the rest of traffic on I-4.
Though about it, so I did it. Cut the fenders instead of buying new ones. I think my angle grinder and painters tape did a pretty good job. Also pulled and cut the fender liners to match.
Scored a KC lightbar on the house from a friend who won it online. Unfortunately he had a TJ not a JK and the KC 50'' bar / brackets were for a JK, so I got lucky here. --- About a month later I hit a rock garden at Hardrock Ocala and bent up my factory tie rod pretty bad to the point we had to pull it back strait at a gas station with a tow strap. My alignment was so messed it ate up one of my BFG's to the point of no return. I decided to spend my B day money on a Teraflex chromoly 6160 atomic bomb proof tie rod. I drove to my buddies apartment complex to rip out the old and instal the new. Once I got it all dialed in it felt rock solid under the rig. No more issues bending the tie rod now. Scored a free Bilstein steering stabilizer from another good friend from Jersey.
Beef!
Got creative and saw-sawed off the bumper wings for a cheap DIY project. Also scored a great deal on some Rubicon rock rails from a local JKU guy with a Rubicon. --- With the lift and tires out of the way I had another item on my list I needed for extra protection and recovery.
A Redrock 4x4 stubby front bumper I got as a b-day present from my beautiful girl friend as well as a Smittybilt XRC 9500 synthetic rope winch and some KC Apollo 6'' halogen baha lights. S#its getting real!
I fabbed up some U-bracket drop mounts in order to mount my KC lights to my bull bar the proper way. Only took some U brackets, dozen small screws, washers and nuts with some thread-locker to seal the deal. KC Provides some of the easiest simplified wiring instructions I have ever read. I wired these up in no time.
My girl caught me reading some directions while flexin' XD
The bumper tuned out perfect along with the XRC 9500 and KC lights setting it off. --- Meeting up with some good friends at the TOJC social Jeep meet in Orlando.
Enjoying a ride out to Ocala National forest with the crew.
"Exploration and adventure will define you over time." --- Thank you for following my JKU build and I hope you enjoyed it. The build is still in progress and have many more modifications on my list. Feel free to message me about my build with any questions you may have. I will post my parts list below. - Nickzero OB#12727
Instagram: Nick_JKU
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The Parts List:
• 17x7.5 Rubicon Wheels / BFG M/T 32’s (5)
• Tera-flex 2.5’’ spring lift kit
• FOX Racing 2.0 shocks (4) $115.99 ea.
• 35x12.5R17 BFG A/T K02’s (5) $199.99 ea.
• Off-Road 13’’ Antenna
• Smitty-built rear grab handles
• Fire Extinguisher strap holster
• Rugged Ridge front grab handles
• Best-top front and rear floor matts
• Rugged Ridge cargo mat
• JKS Quick disconnect end links
• Cobra 75 CBR kit w/ fire stick
• Spiderweb Shade
• Rugged Ridge 1.5’’ spacers (4)
• KC Hi-lights 51’’ Light bar w/ brackets + harness
• Rugged Ridge Tow Hitch
• Rubicon Rock rails
• Tera-flex Chromoly tie rod
• Bilstein Steering stabilizer
• Custom cut bumper
• Custom cut fenders
• RedRock4X4 Stubby bumper
• Smittybilt XRC 9500 Synthetic winch
• D-Ring isolators
• KC 151 Apollo 6’’ lights
• Teraflex 7 foot tree strap
• ARB 17500LB Snatch Strap
• XRC Winch cover
• Trasharoo bag $42.29
On my list:
Gobi Stealth rack, 10# Package B Powertank, Hi-lift jack, ARB awning, Vector Offroad JKE dash bar, Vecotor Offroad JKU cargo shelf, Garmin Inreach mini, HAM setup and other stuff I cant afford now.
Get out and explore!
When I was younger I drove around a 00' TJ and loved it! I bought her in NC from an older man for a great price and restored it to new. I drove it back down to FL where I would spend the next year enjoying every second of it off on the trails and trips to the beach. I sold my Jeep Wrangler TJ 5 speed in order to put a down payment on a new 17' JKU. My Black TJ started it all off for me, I caught the Jeep bug. I knew I wanted to stick with a black Jeep Wrangler, so i decided on a bare bones 17' JKU sport 6 speed manual with the soft top. The dealer had to drive my new JKU down form North GA so I could take the keys. I got very lucky on the purchase price and got even luckier when the dealer ate a $1,200 option charge for the 3.73 gears installed on my Jeep by a potential owner in GA who bailed out on the sale last minute. You could say that worked out in my favor when I was to switch over to larger tires later on.
Fast forward! I receive a picture to my phone via the salesman confirming the arrival of my new Jeep at the dealership in FL. At this point i'm pretty stoked to go see it in person.
I raced down to the dealership after work to obtain the set of keys to my dream rig. I had so many plans already lined up for her.
I made sure to follow Jeeps specific break in procedure and perform and early oil change. Driving a 4 door JKU compared to my 2.5L TJ 5 speed was night and day difference. At first driving around in the new JKU felt luxurious then once a few months passed I meshed into the fabric of the Jeep and started to familiarize myself with it becoming more comfortable with owning a new vehicle. I LOVE IT!
Right away I wanted to get rid of the Prius wheels and set myself up with some beef. I ended up finding a mechanic on C-list who worked at the Jeep Dealer in Daytona selling 5 new Rubicon wheels and tires for $600. I couldn't turn it down so my girl friend and I made a beach trip out of it and a few hours later I was riding on new Jeep Rubicon wheels and mud terrains. Right away I noticed a big difference and I could now tackle harsher off-road terrain.
Found out FL was sunny af so I bought one of these bad boys at a local show and shine Jeep meet in Orlando. Got a great deal from the guys at Spiderwebshade.
Went out riding with some good friends in FL. That night I noticed why it helps greatly to have extra lighting on your vehicle. I needed to do something about that.
Spent some time enjoying Ocala National Forest. Got around to purchasing the Cobra 75 CB radio setup for the rig. Communication was my main concern when wheeling the trails with the convoy.
Then one day at the Bartow Jeep Ranch I got beached and needed some recovery. I wasn't keeping up with the guys on 35's and 37's. I was still having a great time, however I needed to up my game. (literally)
So once tax money came in I bought myself a 2.5'' Teraflex spring lift with Fox Racing 2.0 shocks along with 5 new 35'' BFG KO2 all terrain tires with 1.5'' hub-centric spacers.
My good friend let me borrow his drift car garage to install the lift and shocks. Right after this I drove to the 4WP Orlando to mount my new 35's. I get such a sense of accomplishment when installing my own parts myself. The instal took no time since we both had prior experience with working on cars and trucks in the past.
Made it just in time for Jeep Beach 2017. The lift and tires look and feel great. Now I can see above the rest of traffic on I-4.
Though about it, so I did it. Cut the fenders instead of buying new ones. I think my angle grinder and painters tape did a pretty good job. Also pulled and cut the fender liners to match.
Scored a KC lightbar on the house from a friend who won it online. Unfortunately he had a TJ not a JK and the KC 50'' bar / brackets were for a JK, so I got lucky here. --- About a month later I hit a rock garden at Hardrock Ocala and bent up my factory tie rod pretty bad to the point we had to pull it back strait at a gas station with a tow strap. My alignment was so messed it ate up one of my BFG's to the point of no return. I decided to spend my B day money on a Teraflex chromoly 6160 atomic bomb proof tie rod. I drove to my buddies apartment complex to rip out the old and instal the new. Once I got it all dialed in it felt rock solid under the rig. No more issues bending the tie rod now. Scored a free Bilstein steering stabilizer from another good friend from Jersey.
Beef!
Got creative and saw-sawed off the bumper wings for a cheap DIY project. Also scored a great deal on some Rubicon rock rails from a local JKU guy with a Rubicon. --- With the lift and tires out of the way I had another item on my list I needed for extra protection and recovery.
A Redrock 4x4 stubby front bumper I got as a b-day present from my beautiful girl friend as well as a Smittybilt XRC 9500 synthetic rope winch and some KC Apollo 6'' halogen baha lights. S#its getting real!
I fabbed up some U-bracket drop mounts in order to mount my KC lights to my bull bar the proper way. Only took some U brackets, dozen small screws, washers and nuts with some thread-locker to seal the deal. KC Provides some of the easiest simplified wiring instructions I have ever read. I wired these up in no time.
My girl caught me reading some directions while flexin' XD
The bumper tuned out perfect along with the XRC 9500 and KC lights setting it off. --- Meeting up with some good friends at the TOJC social Jeep meet in Orlando.
Enjoying a ride out to Ocala National forest with the crew.
"Exploration and adventure will define you over time." --- Thank you for following my JKU build and I hope you enjoyed it. The build is still in progress and have many more modifications on my list. Feel free to message me about my build with any questions you may have. I will post my parts list below. - Nickzero OB#12727
Instagram: Nick_JKU
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Parts List:
• 17x7.5 Rubicon Wheels / BFG M/T 32’s (5)
• Tera-flex 2.5’’ spring lift kit
• FOX Racing 2.0 shocks (4) $115.99 ea.
• 35x12.5R17 BFG A/T K02’s (5) $199.99 ea.
• Off-Road 13’’ Antenna
• Smitty-built rear grab handles
• Fire Extinguisher strap holster
• Rugged Ridge front grab handles
• Best-top front and rear floor matts
• Rugged Ridge cargo mat
• JKS Quick disconnect end links
• Cobra 75 CBR kit w/ fire stick
• Spiderweb Shade
• Rugged Ridge 1.5’’ spacers (4)
• KC Hi-lights 51’’ Light bar w/ brackets + harness
• Rugged Ridge Tow Hitch
• Rubicon Rock rails
• Tera-flex Chromoly tie rod
• Bilstein Steering stabilizer
• Custom cut bumper
• Custom cut fenders
• RedRock4X4 Stubby bumper
• Smittybilt XRC 9500 Synthetic winch
• D-Ring isolators
• KC 151 Apollo 6’’ lights
• Teraflex 7 foot tree strap
• ARB 17500LB Snatch Strap
• XRC Winch cover
• Trasharoo bag $42.29
On my list:
Gobi Stealth rack, 10# Package B Powertank, Hi-lift jack, ARB awning, Vector Offroad JKE dash bar, Vecotor Offroad JKU cargo shelf, Garmin Inreach mini, HAM setup and other stuff I cant afford now.
Get out and explore!
