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Hard Rock Rubi

444K views 3K replies 204 participants last post by  Buildit 
#1 · (Edited)
Hey all, brand new to the forum. I just picked a 2016 Hard Rock on Dec. 31st. My wife's been wanting a JK for some time now, with the agreement that I would build it up for her...how could I say no to that! Here's a few pics to document this journey...

Dealer pick up...


A couple more from today...





BUILD LIST AS OF: Feb. 23, 2016


~ Maximus-3 Stinger
~ J.W. Speaker 8700 Evo J Headlamps
~ J.W. Speaker 6145 J Series Fogs
~ Mopar Stainless Sills
~ M.O.R.E. Dead Pedal
~ Springtail M-Pac
~ Raxiom Factory GPS Back-Up System
~ Recon LED Tails/ R.R. Covers
~ ProCal
~ Banks Ram-Air Intake
~ MBRP Dual Axle Back Exhaust
~ sPod
~ ARB-21 LED Spots
~ Rigid Industries D2 Driving, Dually Floods


-Steven
 
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#4 ·
Welcome! Nice choice. We did just the same a few days ago ourselves.
 
#16 ·
#18 ·
Thanks DHart, thanks for the link. I have seen that, as I've been scouring the forums, trying to get educated before buying the RHRU. I'm a little paranoid about melting snow re-freezing on the belts, alt, etc., I would see that a lot here in Chicago. I need to study this out a little more. I also want understand exactly where/what the water falls onto from the factory hood vent design. What has been your favorite mod so far?

On a separate note, have ever taken your JKU to Crown King? We like to make the run on the bikes from our place near Walker.




-Steven
 
#19 ·
Nice jeep and bike

I purchased my JKU RHR back in September.... And purchased a yz450f in October :)

Many do have concerns with water going into the engine however the way I see it, it's still getting in there it's just the water is entering from a larger opening.

Looking forward to seeing what you do do with it
 
#20 ·
Nice!!! It's easy to see the correlation with Jeeps and bikes...very customizable, sense/statement of freedom, etc.. Where do you ride?

It's not the water that would worry me, it's the possibility of ice forming on some components...


-Steven
 
#21 ·
Welcome to the Hard Rock club. Get ready to have your wallet lighter. Ask me how I know.
 
#25 ·
Only done a few laps around my work...

Haven't had a bike in about 5 years. Back then there were two tracks I would visit that are close. Lake Bailee and new Vienna.... I want to get back into trail riding but I don't know anyone with bikes.... Thus I go to the track myself.

Do you do trails or track
 
#28 ·
I do trails. We'll schedule at least one all day (85mi/10hrs) ride while I'm out there. That ride is comprised of fire roads, trails, couple of old mining towns, four mountains ranges and terrain that starts in the pines(7500ft) and includes high desert sage (2500ft). If it rains, sections contain a mud similar to grease. It's a killer ride that some describe as "happy to survived that" when we get safely back. I love the physical side of that!

Keep at it, you'll meet up a few guys you can ride with, the more the better...like Jeeping I suspect:happy yes:




-Steven
 
#32 · (Edited)
Mods List Cogitations 1/4/16

I've been doing a lot of research via the forums about how I want approach this build. For starters, defining the parameters of this build first, will then help me define what/how it is done. Expedition type vehicle versus Rubicon rock crawler? A little of both? As a stock vehicle, it is already plenty capable.

Here's where I'm at with this. As I stated in my first post, my wife will using this as her DD. Now, she is a huge fan of "built" Jeeps...think growing up in the Southwest (lifted Jeeps, trucks,etc). She followed my XJ build and now understands what is possible with Jeeps.

Here are a few of her observations, coming from an Acura MDX to the Rubicon, "there's not much storage space, the back of the vehicle needs more heat, I love the view from the drivers seat, the Jeep feels very solid, like it's well made, feels like there is some substance around you, I feel safe in this". She also wants a back up camera (which she had on the MDX). Pretty short list of complaints, and some nice positives! In the end, I would like to enhance the capabilities of the JKUHR, keep it capable of relaxed comfortable city/highway driving. Give her the "badass" looking Jeep she wants and deserves. So, here's my first draft list of how I might build it up:

1) Add storage. I just ordered the Springtail folding tray Molle panel.

2) Add Dealer installed back up camera that plays through the 430N unit.

3) Upgrade headlights/fogs. Ordered J.W.Speaker Evo 8700J headlights and 6145J LED fogs, with Maximus-3 brackets(fogs)

4) Quick visual enhancements. Ordered 1.5" wheel spacers from Quadratec. Spacers will help with the anemic look of the factory stance, while I save up for the lift/tires. Ordered the Stinger bar from Maximus-3.

5) Have pretty much settled on the Mopar 3" factory lift. This is the one co-deveoped by Teraflex. Should provide capability, nice handling manners and suit the 35's.

6) 35" tire wheel combo...

7) Additional LED lighting set-ups. I'm still researching these. Spod system to handle the lighting.

8), 9), 10), ???

I would love hearing thoughts, ideas from fellow JK owners as to what are your favorite mods. This is going to be fun:happyyes:



-Steven
 
#33 ·
#34 · (Edited)
Thanks Blue! That is the lift I'm looking at. I think I'm going to call Teraflex tomorrow and speak with them directly. I like the Fox reservoir shocks on that lift, and the track bar I would definitely be doing down the road if I went with the Mopar kit.

Do you have a preference/experience in shocks?


-Steven
 
#38 ·
Man, that's a huge amount of money for a lift, in my view. Much more than you probably need to spend, unless you really want to.

The AEV 2.5" Dual Sport Coil lift kit can be had for around $1000 and gives a really great, comfortable ride. And 2.5" feels like the ideal height for a blend of street and off-road use. Works perfectly with the 17" AEV Pintlers wheels and 35x12.5x17 LT "E" rated Nitto Trail Grapplers. No spacers needed. Add AEV geometry correction brackets and front stabilizer for a few hundred more.... Perhaps around $1300ish plus labor. I think an awesome lift for a reasonable amount of money.

I think you might want to go with a tire slightly more street oriented than the Trail Grapplers, however, as they are a little noisy and quite heavily built. Perhaps the Terra Grapplers, or Goodrich KMs or KM2s, which I think will be quieter on the pavement and still give pretty good off-road performance. We chose the Trail Grapplers in "E" rating for their exceptionally beefy build, providing excellent resistance to side wall punctures off-road. But they're also over 90# a piece in weight and a bit noisy on pavement at speed. We really do love these tires, though, and they inspire great confidence off-road. Here's my Sahara with the set up:





With our new Hard Rock Tank, we're going to use the same AEV 2.5" Dual Sport Coil lift kit and then move the wheels and tires from the Billet Silver Sahara over to the Hard Rock.
 
#39 ·
^ Thanks D! You're right about the price of that lift. That is the real knock on it.

Tell me about your AEV lift, how's it been for you? Any regrets, or things you would change about it? Great info on the tires as well! Your JK looks spot on!


-Steven
 
#41 ·
Steven... I'm no expert, but decided to go with the AEV 2.5" coil lift kit and 35x12.5x17 tires because a number of professionals who are experts told me that it would be an ideal all-around set-up for good road manners and comfort and good general off-road ability... At a moderate price. Having lived with this on my Sahara Unlimited for 3 years and 12,000 miles, I'm exceptionally happy with the set-up. We certainly use our Jeep more for around town driving, but also want to be able to tackle moderate off-road trails, as well. We're not hard-core rock crawlers.

If I were to change anything, I might want a little quieter tire on the highway, but the off-road performance and the looks of the Nitto Trail Grapplers is extremely impressive. So, we pay a bit in road noise to have the exceptional beef and toughness of the E-rated Trail Grapplers. The weight, rating, sidewall lugs and sidewall thickness really inspire a LOT of off road confidence.

There are a lot of good choices out there for lifts, wheels, and tires. So, best that you evaluate what you want from your Jeep, how you'll be using it, and your budget before deciding what to go with. We wanted a moderately conservative approach that was still somewhat aggressive. You may want to be even more conservation, or more radical.
 
#40 ·
IF you plan on going off-road I would strongly encourage you to use a lift that includes control arms to move the axle back into position and correct caster.

If your Jeep will be on-road, or mild wheeling then correction brackets (caster correction) will be just fine. But they don't recenter your rear wheels in the wells and they hang down and can gets hung up on the trail/rocks. You'll notice the rear wheels seem too close to the body with these lifts.

I run correction brackets on our on-road Jeep and control arms on our off-road Jeep.

About 5:00 minute mark of this video they'll discuss some of that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZUSrjamaJE
 
#42 ·
Thanks again Blue! Great info in the video. I'm a huge fan of Teraflex, as I have used many of their products on my XJ build. They seem to be a company that does not cut any corners, which in my mind will usually justify their price.

On my 1999 XJ that I bought from my neighbor for under $3000, it squeaks and rattles from some of the suspension pieces, I don't really mind. However, this build is different for me. I went out and bought the baddest brand new Jeep I could get my hands on. What ever I do for suspension has to work seamlessly...either as good as the stock set-up in regards to NVH, and add gains in the offload capabilities dept. I don't want any compromises if I have it both ways. I've read reviews of the Teraflex 3" as actually delivering a better ride than stock. Your experience has been 40Kmi trouble free miles. I'm in complete agreement about keeping the axles in the stock position, for all the reasons stated. I don't want "un-engineer" anything on the RHR. Keep the good info coming:thumb:


-Steven
 
#44 ·
So, all this talk about lifts, and I receive some interesting news today. I had inquired of a vender on here about a quote for the 3" Mopar lift. Turns out, it has been discontinued, which I also saw a Mopar site last evening. It is being replaced by a 4" kit that will include a front driveshaft, Fox shocks, control arms, etc..Missing are the limiting straps from the previous kit. I'm wondering if this is co-deveoped by Teraflex like the 3" kit. It's showing currently not available.




-Steven
 
#46 ·
:thumb: That's why I wanted to make sure you knew Teraflex was marketing the 3" fixed arm by themselves now. Price is a little less taking into account they added the track bar to their package.

Personally I wouldn't go 4" for 35s, a lot more involved going that high. AND I got 4.25" up front out of the 3".
 
#53 ·
Nevets.... awesome lights you have there... painting me envious!

FYI... with the AEV 2.5" lift and 35" Trail Grapplers, we got exactly 4" more height over the stock Hard Rock. And the ride is much nicer than stock! Very happy with this!

 
#54 ·
Hi D, as you probably already know, the J.W.Speaker LED's are about a 1000% improvement over the stock weak flashlights/headlamps.

Your Hard Rock looks fantastic! That AEV lift is definitely on my short list of lifts. That's not the first time I've read it rides better than stock. Thanks for your thoughts, looking forward to seeing more pics of the "Tank".


-Steven
 
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