Desert Fox build

Hoseman · Dec 10, 2014

Bare with me guys. Photo-bucket did a number on my build thread so I am now in the process of trying to fix all of the broken links.

This is my Jeep, there are many like it but this one is mine...

ok, so after harvesting info and tips from you guys and gals for several months (thanks everybody) I have finally decided to put together a build thread for my 2011 JKU Sahara in Sahara Tan. My vision for this build is an Overland/Expedition type build for camping and adventuring with my two young boys.

So, here's the picture from the ad where this whole thing started -

I grew up in the Sierras and have been four wheeling my whole life (mostly in pick up trucks) but this is my first Jeep and I am having so much fun with this thing that I am kicking myself int he butt for not buying one sooner.

Once I got the Jeep home it got the immediate "seal of approval" from my kids -

first thing to do? Why it was to peel off those factory Sahara and Wrangler decals of course...

now to get her dirty!

Hoseman · Dec 10, 2014

Next order of business was to get rid of some of the shiny silver stuff.

like the silver bumpier appliqués -

ahh, much better -

and while I'm at it how about plastic-dipping that bright Jeep grill logo? time for a little masking...

and several hours later some unmasking...

Hoseman · Dec 10, 2014

and the finished product (with a little dirt in this photo) -

Hoseman · Dec 10, 2014

So now it was time to get off the street and have a little fun...

After our first couple of outings to the Sierras and on the Cali Central Coast -

one of the first things we learned was that we needed some serious floor mats!

So a set of Quadratec floor mats were soon added to the Desert Fox -

after dragging on a few things it became apparent that we needed a little more clearance so... a lift kit was soon to come.

Chrisboedy · Dec 10, 2014

Congrats! I dig the cammo tire cover

Hoseman · Dec 10, 2014

thanks man, that tire cover is actually an alice pack cover from when I was in the military in the early 90s.

it doesn't fit perfect but does the majority of the visible part of the spare tire, as seen in the picture below which also shows that SmittyBilt tail gate MOLLE cover -

Jeremy KrawlOff-Road.com · Dec 10, 2014

Ahh the chocolate chip pattern!!! Great use of the Alice pack cover!! Nice looking Jeep so far!!

Jeremy

Hoseman · Dec 11, 2014

thanks Jeremy! I've got a bit of catch up to do on the photos so please keep an eye out and let me know what you think as the build progresses.

Hoseman · Dec 11, 2014

A few early other mods included the rear view mirror mod. people either love it or hate. Personally I love it! With the limited visibility out of the back window I'll take every bit of increased vision I can get. If anybody is not familiar with the mirror mod and would like some pics then let me know and I will take some comparison photos.

Next up, I wanted to do something with that big whip of an antenna...

At first I tried the plasti-dip treatment which made it look better but this long antenna was still just huge and swinging around when hit by branches etc. So, I went with a 13" antennaX.

The reception definitely suffered but looks cool and is short and out of the way now. The poor reception would have been a deal killer if I didn't listen mostly to satellite radio (sirius) and my iPod/iphone.

Hoseman · Dec 11, 2014

Next up was that lift I was talking about... decided to go with the Teraflex 2.5 coil spring lift. Here's a before pic showing the Desert Fox's stance -

After a couple hours of work with my buddy...

Everything fell right into place -

Hoseman · Dec 11, 2014

as a side note... in order to run the stock tires/wheels with the 2.5 TF lift I had to use spacers. I went with 1.5 Synergy spacer. ran them for about 4 - 5 months with no issues. This was only temporary until I saved up enough cabbage to buy the new wheels and tires.

Jeremy KrawlOff-Road.com · Dec 11, 2014

Sweet! What wheels and tires did you go with? They are kinda hard to see in your avatar. Nice Job on the lift. I ran a TF 2.5 on my last Jeep and it served me well.

Jeremy

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

The Wheels I went with were the AEV Savegre in black -

And mated them up with 315 Goodyear Duratracs -

So it was off to the tire shop to have them mounted -

Cameron138 · Dec 11, 2014

Biased, But sahara tan is the best

Love the build and the color match looks great, would probably kill for a sahara tan hard top! Keep up the good work man.

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

I hear ya Cameron, I really dig this color too! Nice looking ride you've got there too.

young gunna · Dec 11, 2014

i really like this color, those pictures in the sierras look like it was an amazing trip

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

Thanks Gunna, we've had several great trips up there so far. Once the Jeep was lifted and the new tires were on we had a bit more clearance so had to test it out on a few crossings -

nothing too serious... just getting my toes wet at this point

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

Still trying to play catch up here with the photos of the progress. Here's another simple mod we did... Mopar Fuel door swap -

before -

And after the install -

BlueBabySound · Dec 12, 2014

Looking good!

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

Thanks bro,

Here's a couple of "after" photos from the tire / wheel upgrade -

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

Forgot to mention also added these Mopar tail light guards -

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

And a little finishing touch for the wheels were these 45 caliber valve stem caps that I made (just had to go back in and trim a little excess glue from the cap) -

And the spare tire was now a bit bigger so no more chocolate chip Alice pack tire cover : (

Hoseman · Dec 29, 2014

Hoseman said:
And a little finishing touch for the wheels were these 45 caliber valve stem caps that I made -

so, I come out of the sporting goods store after shopping last week and find that someone had the stones to steal some of my valve stem caps that I made right off of my Jeep! They are easy and cheap enough to replace but come on... :rant:

Hoseman · Dec 12, 2014

Even found a little bit of snow up at our cabin -

Was fun to make mud with but hoping for a little more snow on the next trip!

Hoseman · Dec 14, 2014

With the new, larger tires on the Desert Fox I found a spot that was rubbing. It was the front tires on the air dam when in a full turn but only in reverse.

So after a little trimming a little piece off of each side... Problem solved -

Hoseman · Dec 14, 2014

So, another mod that I forgot to mention or show here was the turn signal and side marker light replacement. I was looking for a more subdued look for the Jeep so I went with the Quadratec clear lens kit.

Here's the stock lenses -

And the clear lens kit installed -

Hoseman · Dec 14, 2014

Although the kit has clear lenses it includes amber bulbs so that it still meets the DOT requirements when illuminated -

jaxes88 · Dec 14, 2014

Great looking JK you've got there. That tan is a fantastic color for any 4x4. This is a cool build, I'd definitely look into a spare tire cover that fits your current one though, I've seen alot of cracked and dry rotted spares on the back of jeeps because they are exposed to so much UV light.

Hoseman · Dec 15, 2014

thanks for the tip on the tire cover. I'm going to work it into my tire rotation but that is a good idea. Maybe I could find a spare at a surplus store and have a sewing place use the material of the two to make one that fits.

1Topp · Dec 14, 2014

:thumb:

Hoseman · Dec 15, 2014

OK, so if anyone else is going to do the clear lens swap I thought I'd let you know an issue I ran into. Quite simply, the Qtec lenses came as an entire housing, not just a lens. The quality of these is much less than the Mopar ones. The little clip on one of the side markers very easily snapped off in my hand.

The one good thing about this light is that it is held so tightly between the inner fender liner and the actual fender that when it's bolted in place it won't move. If I were more patient I would have returned the broken piece and waited a few weeks for the replacement to arrive.

Anyway, if you're looking at doing the same mod I would suggest that you be SUPER careful with the clips on the side markers when doing your install. Good luck.

Hoseman · Dec 15, 2014

The next thing I noticed is that if I was going to use this Jeep as an Overland/Expedition vehicle that I would need to figure out how to haul my camping gear, my kids, long guns, bows, etc.

So, I looked at a few different options. Like a trailer? hmmmm...

this one seemed just a bit too big and heavy to haul up and down the mountain. so... it was either a smaller trailer (hard to find) or a roof rack.

I did a bunch of research on roof racks and decided to go with a Garvin rack.

Hoseman · Dec 15, 2014

Well, the Jedi mind trick worked on the old lady... got the Garvin Wilderness Expedition roof rack for my birthday!

So, there I was... a new roof rack -

and a Jeep -

A Jeep that I needed to drill a bunch of holes in! oh snap!

After measuring about dozen times (and a few cold ones) I got up the nerve to poke holes in the Jeep...

1Topp · Dec 15, 2014

Hoseman · Dec 15, 2014

NICE!!! After I get re-geared I may go for a trailer yet. Yours looks like a great match to your Jeep.

Desert Fox build

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