2018 JL Rubicon - Turtle Power!

Forgive me for I have sinned.

I traded my 2016 Tacoma in back in 2019 for a VW GTI and then it for a 2019 VW R in 2020. The Tacoma was getting around well enough, but it was getting <13mpg in town and the rack was needed some fairly costly maintenance done.. and I’d forgotten how shitty the roads were in WV while I was stationed in California and Hawaii for nearly a decade.

Fast forward to now with premium prices crushing me in my last semester of school and these terrible roads, I decided it was time to get my ass (and my pup’s ass) back into a lifted vehicle. I didn’t want a truck, and specifically wanted a two door Wrangler since it’s just me and Riley against the world.

Found a 2018 Rubicon in Mojito in Jersey for a good trade on the R. 24.5k miles and a lot off the price of a new one, and in the color I wanted with most of the options I wanted (LEDs, 8.4” entertainment, winter, remote start).

Hoping to not have as much money into this as I did the Tacoma (sig), but we know that won’t happen.

 

Sub'd! Killer color! Good lookin pup!

 

First thing first. Fumoto valves are a godsend.

Need @JLee to make some sliders like the ones I had for my third gen (best looking sliders out there)

 

Threw these on the other day. Thought they’d look nice; but was bummed on application how they don’t cover much at all. I got them mostly for my pup so she wouldn’t constantly be making a full paint contact with her paw, so I guess it works.



Also removed the Fumoto valve. I’ve used these before without issue, but this one didn’t tighten down enough without me getting into over torqued range on a brass fitting. Noticed a small drip this past week on a cement driveway.

I put a new OEM plug in and lost around $65 between the valve and the dumped oil at around 900 miles. I’ll stick with this as it’s a full pan pour and drip free.

Filled back up with Motul Eco 8100.

 

I haven’t done much short of getting the OEM all weather mats in this thing because I was finishing school and doing a lot of commuting, but we managed to get down to Canaan Valley this weekend. Didn’t go off road because of time and having a great plan for it, but managed to see some great sights.

Black Water Falls



Seneca Rocks



Spruce Knob (highest point in WV)



10/10 recommend to anyone looking to camp out. Tons of trails, camping, fishing, etc.

 

I had XPEL paint protection film put on the door sills of my Ram. It's a four pup truck. Six years on, it’s completely intact and saving paint on the daily.

 

Tagged a dear a few weeks ago on a state highway of all places. Turned around to come back and kiss my bumper. Didn’t do too much damages, just bent the bumper up a little and out a very small dent in one of the panels.



So now I have this that I’m getting done by a local powder spot that does all of the race track cars and quads for shows. Bumper is Barnes 4WD Pritchett Canyon series.



So much for staying stock.

 

It's back from the shop, but I'm still waiting for the bumper and skid to get back from small powder shop. Hoping to get it back soon.

In the meantime, I'm going to be getting KM3s put on it next week, and I'm going to get some new brakes (Power Tech Z36 probably) and a new battery (Odyssey AGM) ordered shortly after. Then I'll get a Switch Pro with some Baja Design LP6s mounted on the bumper

 

Now I just need some LP6s and a winch and we’re in business.

 

I love the idea of jeep, but I smoke my head getting into almost all of them, and crunched my neck bouncing around in my old XJ.

Love the green 2 door. Ideal model.

 

I’m only 5’10” and I’ve cracked my head a few times on the bars. It’s also difficult to see red lights if you’re the first in line at the “stop here” strip on the road. They’re definitely not made for tall people.

The new JL soft top is infinitely superior than prior gens. My buddy’s TJ is a bear to deal with compared to this.

 

Got some 285/70R17 KM3s today. Bumper goes on this weekend if I find time.

 

that green is killer

 

Nice two door. Looking forward to more progress.

 

Cosmetic upgrade to protect the paint from rocks since the fenders open high, and mud flaps look atrocious on Wranglers. You can see in the above photo that the stock rails don’t protrude at all. They’re still pinch seam rails, but way bigger and sorta work as a step for her now (and more later when I lift).

Next up is getting a new battery, and a switch pro for lights for the bumper.

 

Finally got off my ass and installed the bumper. I have the lights, switch pro, and mounting kit, and I’m just waiting for a firewall boot kit to come in that I can reuse if I ever trade in without drilling the current hard plastic plug.

Also just waiting for some Black Friday deals on a winch.



Also got this in today with a relocation bracket for my rear plate. I’ll get these dropped off for powder soon with some backup lights installed.

 

Switch Pro and LP6s installed. Now I need more accessories.

 

Second deer in less than 12 months. This one ran off a hill as I was coming through a turn and was already slowing down. Had I been a few feet forward it would have ran right into my wheel.



Bumper bounced it like a piñata. I’ll never not own a steel bumper on a vehicle now. Majority of damage is a cracked lens on the running light (the hanging side marker bolts into it, and the clip on the light broke) and some clips inside the fender. The LP6 missing from the pic works fine but the bracket it comes with got bent all to hell.



Honestly incredibly impressed with BajaDesigns here. The deer hit the light as it come into the bumper, and didn’t break the light itself.

End of the day, for now, I just super glued the light back in where the broken clip was for the bolt. I started a claim when it happened but I’m going to cancel it and look for some aftermarket takeoffs someone else is selling.



Looks good enough for now, I’ll prob hit another deer soon. Move to the country, they said. It’ll be great.

 

Did the nut on the LP6 pull through the mounting hole in the bumper?

Are you on your 3rd set of tires?

 

It didn’t pull through. I pulled it off and just put the nut back on so I didn’t lose it.

It is on its third set, but the KM3s are in the garage because I’m driving too many highway miles for work right now to justify shredded mud tires. The KO2s were wearing bad and had real bad manners on wet road, which I drive on a lot in my area.