Late to the Party: theksmith's 2016 JK Unlimited Rubicon (Gadget)

[DAvy120 1]

Sad day.

Sad to see one of the baddest wj owners leave the wj community.

Congrats on the new rig!!!

 

What you trying to get out of wj?

[theksmith 3,838]

Congrats and welcome to the JK club! Nice looking Jeep!

 

Sad day.

Sad to see one of the baddest wj owners leave the wj community.

Congrats on the new rig!!!

 

What you trying to get out of wj?

 

thanks guys!

 

the WJ isn't going cheap, even if it takes a long time to sell. i've got a couple things to do like fixing the bent passenger rock rail and putting the shower back in, as well as a full detail before i put the price out there. i'll probably put the front bumper back on too. then as i mentioned i'm going to try and sell it as a complete package with EVERYTHING...

 

issues are of course the big dents & scratches and the front seats don't match the rear. the rebuilt engine and fresh tranny are seen as a downside to most people, but a plus to some i guess - i have to look back to see how many miles are now on the new new engine. also whoever buys it will have to be able to pay for it outright most likely, as a typical bank won't give a vehicle loan for well over the blue-book value of something.

 

a quick inventory of the "full package" would be: 2003 WJ Limited with rebuilt 4.7L H.O. (including all new sensors & engine accessories, flow-matched reman 4-hole injectors, new radiator), recent tranny replacement using very low-mileage used tranny & new electronics, interior all works correctly (A/C, heat, heated seats, seat motors, cruise control, locks/windows/etc.) and no interior holes/rips/tears, Edgestar 43qt fridge/freezer with custom Engle slide-lock mounting & remote thermometer, docking 10.1' Sony tablet acting as GPS/topo maps/stereo/etc., rear-screen movie projector, Midland CB, about $1k in spare parts & 64oz containers of every vital fluid, all the new stereo stuff (Clarion EQ, Sony BT DAC, 2 MB Quart amps, 4 JBLs, Pioneer subwoofer, door sound dampener, etc.), the custom roof rack & solid fully-welded mounting based on a Rola basket & extension, shovel/Gerber axe/60"Hi-Lift Xtreme, fresh dual AGM batteries & Blue Sea battery controller with all 1/0 cable, door mounted dual Maglites & Halon fire extinguishers, the burrito warmer (engine oven), hot water shower, the new Morimoto HIDs & custom grille, all LED bulbs inside & out, aftermarket tail lights, wiring done right with custom switch panel inside & Bussmann waterproof relay/fuse block, emergency battery cutoff, rear lock-in/out table and storage shelf with stainless tie-downs, custom rear rain/shade awning, rock lights & rear hatch light (red & white LEDs), heavy tint on all side & rear windows, Weathertech front/rear floor mats, and of course all the core mods (trussed JK Rubicon axles with lockers & custom bracketry, the RCV front shafts, alloy rear shafts, 6" Clayton long arm lift, freshly rebuilt 242HD t-case, custom long travel front & rear all-flanged driveshafts, Teraflex shocks & stabilizer, Rockrawler HD tie rod, Clayton trackbar, Johnny Joins in front upper axle mounts, Synergy drag link/trackbar axle mount/tie-rod stabilizer clamp, JKS disconnects, Clayton belly skid, custom radiator support skid, HD diff covers, 17" Eagle alloys, (5) 35" KM2's with ~50% tread) - and i'm sure i'm leaving something out. EDIT - oh yeah, the 3/4 HP compressor & 5 gallon air tank with rear mounted quick disconnect, 25ft coiled poly air hose, jack, front tow hooks, rear trailer hitch with shackle mount with stainless locking hitch pin.

 

i could be talked into keeping the tablet and/or fridge to reduce the price, but that's about it - i want to start mostly fresh with the JK.

[DAvy120 1]

thanks guys!

 

the WJ isn't going cheap, even if it takes a long time to sell. i've got a couple things to do like fixing the bent passenger rock rail and putting the shower back in, as well as a full detail before i put the price out there. i'll probably put the front bumper back on too. then as i mentioned i'm going to try and sell it as a complete package with EVERYTHING...

 

issues are of course the big dents & scratches and the front seats don't match the rear. the rebuilt engine and fresh tranny are seen as a downside to most people, but a plus to some i guess - i have to look back to see how many miles are now on the new new engine. also whoever buys it will have to be able to pay for it outright most likely, as a typical bank won't give a vehicle loan for well over the blue-book value of something.

 

a quick inventory of the "full package" would be: 2003 WJ Limited with rebuilt 4.7L H.O. (including all new sensors & engine accessories, flow-matched reman 4-hole injectors, new radiator), recent tranny replacement using very low-mileage used tranny & new electronics, interior all works correctly (A/C, heat, heated seats, seat motors, cruise control, locks/windows/etc.) and no interior holes/rips/tears, Edgestar 43qt fridge/freezer with custom Engle slide-lock mounting & remote thermometer, docking 10.1' Sony tablet acting as GPS/topo maps/stereo/etc., rear-screen movie projector, Midland CB, about $1k in spare parts & 64oz containers of every vital fluid, all the new stereo stuff (Clarion EQ, Sony BT DAC, 2 MB Quart amps, 4 JBLs, Pioneer subwoofer, door sound dampener, etc.), the custom roof rack & solid fully-welded mounting based on a Rola basket & extension, shovel/Gerber axe/60"Hi-Lift Xtreme, fresh dual AGM batteries & Blue Sea battery controller with all 1/0 cable, door mounted dual Maglites & Halon fire extinguishers, the burrito warmer (engine oven), hot water shower, the new Morimoto HIDs & custom grille, all LED bulbs inside & out, aftermarket tail lights, wiring done right with custom switch panel inside & Bussmann waterproof relay/fuse block, emergency battery cutoff, rear lock-in/out table and storage shelf with stainless tie-downs, custom rear rain/shade awning, rock lights & rear hatch light (red & white LEDs), heavy tint on all side & rear windows, Weathertech front/rear floor mats, and of course all the core mods (trussed JK Rubicon axles with lockers & custom bracketry, the RCV front shafts, alloy rear shafts, 6" Clayton long arm lift, freshly rebuilt 242HD t-case, custom long travel front & rear all-flanged driveshafts, Teraflex shocks & stabilizer, Rockrawler HD tie rod, Clayton trackbar, Johnny Joins in front upper axle mounts, Synergy drag link/trackbar axle mount/tie-rod stabilizer clamp, JKS disconnects, Clayton belly skid, custom radiator support skid, HD diff covers, 17" Eagle alloys, (5) 35" KM2's with ~50% tread) - and i'm sure i'm leaving something out.

 

i could be talked into keeping the tablet and/or fridge to reduce the price, but that's about it - i want to start mostly fresh with the JK.

 

 

Hit me up with a pm when you get a price figured.

[theksmith 3,838]

Hit me up with a pm when you get a price figured.

 

sure thing, will be soon.

[theksmith 3,838]

and back to the JK - a few more minor widgets...

 

the first item i had actually ordered for the new rig was a Covercraft custom cut sunshade. i've had one of these for nearly every vehicle and they all fit perfectly. they also fold up nicely and don't warp or come apart from the sun exposure. cost is around $55.

 

 

the fit as seen from inside:

 

 

you can see a plain black leather steering wheel cover (~$25) in that last photo too - another thing i always throw on rigs that have leather wrapped steering wheels so i don't ruin the factory covering, plus i like the thicker wheel feel.

 

i usually run without a radio antenna, but B and Aimee like to listen to FM sometimes so i swapped in a black 14" shorty antenna (~$15) instead of just a nubbin or short black screw. it sticks up above the body line enough to still get reception fine in the city, though i'm sure out-of-town won't work very far.

 

 

and finally, one other item i did keep from the WJ was the new little trail machete that Aimee got me last Christmas. instead of mounting the sheath directly like i did before, i used the extra nylon straps that came with it to make a little pocket for the whole knife & sheath to slide into.

 

 

there were already a couple holes in the seat bracket, so i only needed to drill a couple more to mount the holster and a little rubber bumper so the handle didn't rattle against the seat bracket. since the knife was a present, cost on this mod was only ~$6 in stainless steel screws & nylock nuts, plus the rubber bumper (all from Ace Hardware).

 

 

it's simple to slide in and out, but tight enough to stay secure on the trail.

 

i'm currently waiting on a bracket to flip the steering stabilizer, and ordered some more lighting stuff that is coming on the slow boat from China (literally). i have plans for a rear flip-down tailgate table 95% sorted out (i think i can do a better job and for a little less money than all of the production ones i could find).

[GRUNT 87]

Neat! Congrats K. I have been looking at the possibility of a used 4 dr, this summer. As I progress with my YJ(not joking,as I am finally assembling the drivetrain) I realize I only have 4 seats and more than 4 family members. With my father getting along in age, and my family wanting to go exploring/Jeeping, I need to evaluate options. Family time is my highest priority, followed by fuzzy bunny. Mostly my kids want to go out with everyone. I am hoping that with the possibility of a diesel Wrangler coming out that the newer(used) four doors will be unloaded at a decent price...and I will always keep my YJ

[Gunner 0]

Congrats Chris love the color. Can't wait to see what you do to this one hope to see you out there soon! !

[K7VZ 15]

Selling my XJ for a JK was the worst vehicle mistake I ever made. Hopefully your luck is better.

[scottL 178]

Selling my XJ for a JK was the worst vehicle mistake I ever made. Hopefully your luck is better.

Worst vehicle mistake you ever made. Care to expand on that comment, Virg? Is it:

 

• concerned about damage/warranty defect issue?
  
• too bulbous compared to the XJ?
  
• didn't realize cost of lifting & adding aftermarket doo-dads on top of vehicle payment?
  

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

 

P.S. I miss your XJ.

[theksmith 3,838]

Selling my XJ for a JK was the worst vehicle mistake I ever made. Hopefully your luck is better.

 

damn, that's rough! you're actually the second person to tell me they were really disappointed with a JK purchase (the other person had a ZJ and WJ beforehand).

 

i haven't really wheeled it yet - but so far i like everything except for missing the V8 quite a bit. every time i get back in the WJ it takes a few moments to re-adjust to how sensitive the skinny pedal seems in comparison...

 

IMO the 3.6L is actually no slouch, but it has to rev much higher than the 4.7L to get going so it doesn't feel "peppy" for sure. the JK accelerator pedal is also considerably stiffer which should make for better throttle control over obstacles, but it further exaggerates the difference between the engines. i am making it a priority to keep things as light as possible with regard to accessories (aluminum bumpers, etc.).

 

the Mercedes designed auto tranny seems smooth and unless FCA put it together poorly, it should last... my understanding is that they've been surviving well behind much larger engines for a long time.

 

i also think that overall the JK has good road manners in stock form (for a truck/Jeep type rig anyway). i really like the utilitarian feel/look of everything and the upright seating position. the premium Alpine stereo system isn't too bad, supposedly much better than the premium version in the older JK's. it's nice that they moved the sub into that wasted spot in the rear floor instead of taking up cargo room like before. oh, and remote start kicks butt - i wanted to add that my WJ for really long time!