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New Hard Rock Owner!!

3K views 46 replies 20 participants last post by  RubiconSS 
#1 ·
This site is pretty awesome! I have been reading posts now for days and I still don't know everything.

I am the new owner of a 2016 Hard Rock and this is my 1st Jeep Wrangler. I have had a lot of Jeeps-but mainly the suv kind.

Feel in love once l drove one and seeing one that was lifted with a set of black wheels.

I need some help.

Use - 90% Highway and road and 10% fun. Hopefully more fun once my wife loves me again.

I am going down the mod path. Suspension and wheels.
1. Teraflex 2.5 lift with shocks - are these shocks any good? world I be better off keeping my stock ones on? I am on a budget and cannot find a good answer if these shocks are worth it.
2. 18" wheel with 35s to get the tire to stick out and be aggressive is the right fitting :
18×9 -12offset and 305x65×18 ?
3. BFG K 02's or Duratec ?
4. If you had 1k to spend on suspension and you needed the highway and road to be most important, what suspensions would you pick?

I really appreciate any assistance or feedback.
 

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#2 ·
Awesome welcome to the club, you picked the right color. Looks just like mine, picked it up 6 weeks ago. Check out my build for a few ideas in my signature. As for a lift at the 1k range check out the "most popular WF lift" thread in the tech section. Congrats and enjoy.
 
#4 ·
This site is pretty awesome! I have been reading posts now for days and I still don't know everything. I am the new owner of a 2016 Hard Rock and this is my 1st Jeep Wrangler. I have had a lot of Jeeps-but mainly the suv kind. Feel in love once l drove one and seeing one that was lifted with a set of black wheels. I need some help. Use - 90% Highway and road and 10% fun. Hopefully more fun once my wife loves me again. I am going down the mod path. Suspension and wheels. 1. Teraflex 2.5 lift with shocks - are these shocks any good? world I be better off keeping my stock ones on? I am on a budget and cannot find a good answer if these shocks are worth it. 2. 18" wheel with 35s to get the tire to stick out and be aggressive is the right fitting : 18×9 -12offset and 305x65×18 ? 3. BFG K 02's or Duratec ? 4. If you had 1k to spend on suspension and you needed the highway and road to be most important, what suspensions would you pick? I really appreciate any assistance or feedback.
0.) getcher ass over to the Hard Rock Café and join us Hard Rockers http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/gsjs-hard-rock-caf-943929.html

1.) I'd look at MetalCloak or AEV's offerings if I were you... A couple of reasons... I've read nothing but positive things about these two companies' suspensions and MOST of the products they produce are all made right here in the USA (a couple of exceptions... AEV's wheels are Made in China, and MC's kits with Old Man Emu shocks are obviously not totally fabricated in the USA because OME = Australia)... A LOT of TeraFlex's stuff is made in China. When I have a choice, I buy American. Personally, I'll be going with the MetalCloak 3.5" Game Changer RockSport edition on my Hard Rock. Better than stock off-road and on... Might be overkill for what you're trying to do, but there's not much that's better out there in the 3.5" world than this suspension. They have 2.5" variants of this same suspension as well as some less intense 2.5" and 3.5" kits.

2.) I would personally go with a smaller wheel, even maybe run 315/70R17s on the stock Rubicon wheel (which is what I'm going to do). I personally don't like the big wheels on Jeeps look, but it's your Jeep, not mine. Also if you want the aggressive look, go with a wider than 305 tire. Be careful to be mindful of the laws in your state about fender to tire relationship (some states have laws against the tire not being completely covered by the fender)

3.) Duratrac

4.) See above... Look at the MetalCloak lineup, as they have several in that price range... Notably the True Dual-Rate line and the Overland line.
 
#5 ·
You'll save yourself a decent amount on tires if you look at 17's vs 18's if I'm not mistaken. I'd suggest doing that and maybe freeing up a bit more for your lift. I went with the 2.5 teraflex with Rancho 9000XL shocks, 17's and 315-70-17 duratracs.






 
#6 ·
You'll save yourself a decent amount on tires if you look at 17's vs 18's if I'm not mistaken. I'd suggest doing that and maybe freeing up a bit more for your lift. I went with the 2.5 teraflex with Rancho 9000XL shocks, 17's and 315-70-17 duratracs.
Good point. And if you reuse your stock wheels with 315/70R17 Duratracs, with the savings on tires and not having to buy new wheels, it's more money to put into your lift or other mods.

To reuse the stock wheels on the size tire mentioned, you'll need a 1.5" wheel spacer (look into Spidertrax).
 
#8 ·
Man-sweet ride!

So I went and jumped in. 2.5 Rubicon express w/ Pro comp wheels-18×9 Zero offset 35x12.5×18.

Pics to follow soon!
 
#10 ·
I forgot to add - these will be BFG's and not the Duratracs.

I got talked out of those at the store. Only parts I figure I really want after this will be the JW speakers for the headlights and the Maximus bar for the front.

Not sure if I want to keep the stock rims and tires just in case they might come in handy one day or put up for sale. Looking at the for sale forum - maybe $1,000 would be a solid deal for all 5 or should I ask more/less?
 
#12 ·
I forgot to add - these will be BFG's and not the Duratracs. I got talked out of those at the store. Only parts I figure I really want after this will be the JW speakers for the headlights and the Maximus bar for the front. Not sure if I want to keep the stock rims and tires just in case they might come in handy one day or put up for sale. Looking at the for sale forum - maybe $1,000 would be a solid deal for all 5 or should I ask more/less?
Curious as to what they said that talked you out of the Duratracs?

They're one of the best all around tires at the 35" size... A shop I was talking to tried to talk me into Nitto Trail Grapplers or Toyo Open Country, but none of the reasons they provided as to why made any sense and they couldn't provide me a reason to NOT go with the Duratracs other than their claim that they're "hard to find" which is simply not true.

The Nittos have a warranty that is written in what looks like Greek and no explicit mileage warranty. I'm sure they're great tires but, I'm a pretty smart guy and I understand legal-lese fairly well, and I can't understand their warranty terms on those tires. I don't deal with any company where I can't understand when I'm covered and when I'm not.

The Toyos are supposedly also great tires, but I think the Duratracs are better all around performers.

Just curious as to what reasons they gave you. I usually don't trust sales guys at tire shops because they all either push their own personal favorite or they're selling whatever company is kicking them back the best.
 
#11 ·
@Wizo 1k for special edition wheels will sell pretty quick. I'd set your price at 1200 OBO. I sold my special edition Willys for 900. I marked it up for 1200 but the guy I sold it to drove 8 hours just to pick it up so I knocked it down a few hundred.

Last, Northridge is having a 20% off sale for JW Speaker. Get em before the deal is gone.
 
#23 ·
So....the jeep is awesome! The guys at 4wd parts hooked me up and the finished product not only looks good but drives even better. Can't tell you how happy I am. He said I was the first jeep they put these style Procomp wheels on. The tires ride like street tires, very quiet!

I also got the 20% discount on the JW speaker lights, those go on tomorrow.
Only bad part was one wheel got lost in shipping so I will have the replacement on Friday.

Oh, I can't put up for sale any parts so if any one can help me sell my wheels I would greatly appreciate it. I would sell to forum members for $1,000, local pick up better.

Check my photos!
 

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#26 ·
You keep talking about the noise at 10 to 15 mph. Who drives at that speed? I'm old so maybe I can't hear it but my wife who has great hearing also can't hear the noise you're talking about. These KO2s are great all around tires, and I have thousands of miles both on and off road on them.
 
#25 ·
I will take it back but I got to let the wallet take a quick break. These can get real expensive quickly and you are never done.
 
#29 ·
Thank you.

Did my lights also. Had to buy adjustable screws to get them pointed correctly.

Bought wild boar grabs and installed those but I ended up cracking my visor mirror when I tried to use it for a shade. Was driving today and my 2yr old daughter in back was getting sun in her eyes. I did not push it hard but it snagged against the bar which I guess was not screwed in all the way.

I also put in new hood latches because of flutter and did the mopar head liner to quiet the cabin.

I believe I am done now. I just need to unload all these spare parts that are taking up garage space and fix my visor.

Thank you guys for responses and the forum for the wealth of information.
 

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#31 ·
If you are on a budget, and this is your first real jeep consider enjoying and experiencing what you have before jumping into suspension and other expensive mods.

A hard rock off the lot is more capable than a high percentage of modified jeeps. You have decent shocks and also are likely to have the higher spring rates from the factory.

If you want some improved belly clearance you can throw a RC 2.5" budget boost in for $180.00 you have improved stance. Run you good stock set up until it's done or holding you back.
 
#32 ·
If you are on a budget, and this is your first real jeep consider enjoying and experiencing what you have before jumping into suspension and other expensive mods. A hard rock off the lot is more capable than a high percentage of modified jeeps. You have decent shocks and also are likely to have the higher spring rates from the factory. If you want some improved belly clearance you can throw a RC 2.5" budget boost in for $180.00 you have improved stance. Run you good stock set up until it's done or holding you back.
Too late for all that. OP gone and done jacked his ride sky high!
 
#34 ·
The cabin seems about the same for noise. Honestly it's the windshield and the groves in the roof that make wind noise. I did notice better acoustics with music today and the road noise is lower from the rear panels.

Yup. I was contemplating not doing anything to the jeep but it's fun (and crazy) to jump in head first. I knew buying the jeep that i wanted it to look and function in a certain way. 80-90% road use and 10-20% exploring the full capabilities. I would have been very happy keeping the jeep in stock form but I really like it modified.
 
#35 ·
Quick question.

My sticker says Dana 44 axles and 3.73 gears but I thought all rubicons had 4.10 gears? Can it be a mistake or is that what I have?
 
#38 ·
Thanks for quick responses.

I have an auto and I can't see anywhere where I might have the 4.10 gears...I really wish I did and thought all hard rocks had them. I have the remote starter also....this is a bummer.
 
#40 ·
Where can I get my build sheet?
 
#42 ·
Congrats. I have a 2014 JKURX and love it more each day. The only downside is modding never stops, only grows once you start. I pray your wife learns to love it just as much as you, if not then fyi be prepared for buying her a lot of "just because presents" to help with all the boxes that arrive. I just installed my RK 2.5 Max Travel lift combined with Fox Shocks and love it for my usage, but for what you initially stated DD, mostly city and highway, and for what you said budget wise, I would look hard at either AEV or Teraflex. My friend has the AEV 2.5 combined with Bilsteins and loves it for everyday driving. Hope this helps and congrats again. The fun is just beginning, and remember patience and do your homework will save you in the long run.
 
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