Over the few years you have been upgrading your jeep and giving the reviews of the products, you have saved me hundreds of $$$$$$$$. Thanks very much for this video.
My wife. She's no longer in my truck.😀 But seriously, I would greatly appreciate it if people would stop using non-DOT headlights. So, thank you for touching on that subject.
I used to have a Wife 1.0 system, too. And it was great, but kinda plain and boring in the long run. So I upgraded to Wife 2.0 and all hell broke loose ! Turns out that Wife 1.0 is not compatible with Wife 2.0, so I had to get rid of the old one Unfortunately, Wife 2.0 was a terrible cook, and I had to invest in the Twin Sister upgrade … ohh boy ! Don't get me wrong, the Twin system was REALLY good looking, and while one was a bad cook, the other was a GREAT cook, and the first one was amazing at cleaning, I thought I had this in the bag ! That's when the Jealousy Bug on Wife 2.0 kicked in. They said all I needed was a software upgrade on Wife 2.0, and the silicone upgrade looked great, so I bought it! But then the Twin Sister caught the bug instead ! So I bought the silicone upgrade for the Twin Sister as well. Again all hell broke loose ! The company's lawyer has now stripped me of Wife 2.0 and Twin Sister upgrade for "improper use", and claims I have to pay HALF of everything I own in repairs ! Man, I should have stuck to Wife 1.0 ! 😢
@@JesseePDX Alas, I have yet to unlock Wife 3.0 But I *have* found "Ugly Lover" with the "Reach Around Favor" modification. Unfortunately she also came with the "Kinky Traits" modification, that I cannot seem to uninstall. She gets it into her head to do it just about anywhere - almost got me fired from my job too.
I just want to say that this was a genius video idea. Having a father with a Harley, I remember his garage being filled with pipes, seats, helmets, foot pegs, you name it. Everyone talks about all their favorite or least favorite new mods, but looking back and seeing/discussing what you've grown out of or ended up not using is, to me, incredibly helpful and interesting. Great great video. More Jeep folks should make videos on this subject.
Wow, this video brings back memories. Some "upgrades" I honestly don't know what I was thinking in the first place,. Most are like your's....I out grew them or "upgraded" to the next level. One thing I'm learning is to just do the right thing first instead of getting there in steps. GREAT channel.
Thanks for the honesty, i really respect you for pointing out the mods that you no longer use, the "mod" that i just got rid of was my JKU Rubicon on 40s" with a winch and armor, and now i've got a JT Gladiator Rubicon that i'm starting to mod out.
I appreciate the minimalist, "its OK to not have all the stuff" vibe of this episode. So many of the videos I watch tend to make me want more stuff. The cool factor, the new factor...it all adds up to not enough money for gas. Its more about getting out there and collecting memories with friends and family. I own three, green,1999 XJ's at home and a fourth Red, 2001 out of state with my oldest son. Four Jeeps doesn't seem excessive. I also agree on the hood glare. I keep all my front facing lights on the front bumper. The higher angle of the roof mounting can be a benefit, but for now, the bumper keeps the hood very dark. My favorite treat is to take the Jeep to a proper vantage point to watch sunrises. This means I do a bunch of driving in the dark, just before dawn. Twilight can be tough on the eyes, so lots of light is a big help.
We ares still so new to the Jeep Camping stuff, that I don't have a lot of stuff I have used that I no longer use. But i will second the GPS TRX system. One of the issues I have found with mine here in Oklahoma is you can be going along on some of these old logging roads and trails, and it shows you one coming up on the left or right, and it is not there. 1/4 mile away you will see it, but it is no longer on the GPS screen. So I don't use it much anymore, I figure it was actually too unreliable here for our needs especially if there was a true emergency, It don't know where you are half the time. Thanks for sharing what you have gone through and sharing it with us, it will help save me money. I appreciate you and I hope you have a blessed week. Dale
I ran BF Goodrich for many years in the oilfield and decided to try tried Cooper, I was very disappointed with the wear patterns and overall on road durability but really liked the off road performance. I decided to try them again 2 years ago and have been rotating and balancing every 1000-1500 miles and they have performed great on both with minimal road noise and decent wear. I'll be getting my HAM this summer for back country communication but will keep a hard mounted CB specifically for highway travel. I use it to communicate with truckers to get travel/weather condition updates. It has been useful more times than I can count.
I have a black poison spyder louvered hood panel so I don't get much glare from mine, unless it's raining. Not the ideal location for a primary light, but it does what I need it to do when my lights on the bumper aren't enough to see what's needed.
I run a CB simply for the fact that truckers are great entertainment and give useful information on road conditions and traffic. They don't use it much on the highway home but mine faintly picks up traffic from the main interstate about 13 miles away.
For the Fuel Lid, try some butyl rope from Second Skin Audio. You can pull it to make it thinner and put a small "bead" around the diameter. I kept a couple speaker crossovers in place with it in a door panel, and it stood up pretty well in New Mexico desert heat! And if you have some clips paired with the butyl rope, I don't think it'll go anywhere. Note, I don't know what it will do to paint in the long run... With that said, I love your videos! Great shots, high quality, just enough information and background on the trails. You truly do a great job.
If you haven't pitched them yet, I'd mount those hood mount lights on the rear of your Jeep. If you're camping, extra lights behind you when backing up or setting up is always nice.
The mod I wish I would not have done would have to be my Rough Country 50" black series light bar. The bar itself has given me no problems and it is extremely bright, a FANTASTIC product and greatly enhanced the looks of Bertha. My biggest complaint is the wind noise while driving. Not only is it unbearable to drive down the highway without blaring my music, I have to yell just to talk to the people in my Jeep with me. The light bar is currently still on the Jeep but I plan on taking it off soon.
I had a hi-lift jack mounted on my front TJ bumper for years and never used it. Finally I sold that thing. Another unused item was the soft top window bag. I used that thing a couple times when the Jeep was new and I didn't want to damage my windows. Now I just throw them in the garage. One of the best accessories I put on my Jeep has to be the mirror movers. My mirrors are attached to the jeep and not the doors so when the doors are off, my mirrors stay. Take that Mr Copper!
You know what- I love all the jeep information and the down-to-earth, truthful experience sharing. But, the thing I like best is that you just seem like a solid guy and it is nice to have you around. So- thank you for sustaining such a great channel. I'd love to go out on a wheeling adventure with you and your crew.
Another great informative video. Things that didn't work out: I bought some 7" LED Cube style lights with spots and wide-angle floods. Like your hood-mounted LED light bar there was too much hood glare and the wide-angle lights projected too much light back into the cab. Now I have a 4" cube with spots only. Simple and effective along with the 50" bar on the roof.
Have that same Gas cap - it fades out in about 1 season of Texas sun and does not respond well to "reblacker" products. Nice thing is, its a fast easy install and cheap part. Im on my 2nd one in 3 years. Not a bad product but don't expect it to hold up to heavy UVs for very long, its all good until you get the Jeep clean and the black no longer matches the fenders, since you don't have the stock plastic fenders and have a silver Jeep might not be an issue for you at all, love the vids!
I got rid of my entire 2007 JK 2dr because I couldn't afford it when my other vehicle broke down and I needed a better commuter car for gas mileage. Happy to say that after six years, I will be getting a 2006 TJ Rubicon in Stone White in a week!
Thank you for being aware of blinding everyone else on the road with the primary headlights. Too many people convert to LED/HID with no consideration for others on the road. My dad has a bad astigmatism, and the super bright HID/LED non DOT (or questionably DOT-legal in the case of HID conversion bulbs) is extremely blinding. Need more light? That's why you have those 8 lights above the windshield. :)
I did something similar with my XJ’s headlights and got a $90 set on amazon that also weren’t dot approved, flickered, and blinded just about everyone diving a car less than 6 feet tall. I recently upgraded to Rigid industries trucklite headlights, which are about $350 on amazon, and I couldn’t be happier. Just go with high quality the first time.
Thanks for sharing this, Brad. I’ve been pretty meticulous about planning my build (a classic case of more time than parts money, LOL), so there isn’t much I’ve removed that wasn’t planned to be a temporary improvement. My recent addition of a set of painted Sahara flares is a good example. They’ll eventually yield to some flatties, but look so much better than grey plastic! I’m not surprised about your CB move, as I’ve noticed for some time Jeepers on the coasts leaning heavily on GMRS or HAM. In Texas, CB still rules the roost, but I’ve seriously contemplated adding a GMRS setup as well for the day I’m able to start taking some Jeep trips outside this area. What did surprise me - and is educational to boot - is your evolution on onboard air. I’m tempted to go with the single ARB, as I’m on 33s now, with 35s to come in a year or so. But, as pricey as it is, the twin is just so impressive. Again, thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
GMRS is a great options, I only know a few folks here that use it. The twin compressor is pricey, but honestly, its worth saving up for in my opinion if you are running 35 or larger tires.
One thing I got rid of was my Owl Cam long arm like the one if your rig. They have a new one that doesn't stick out so far and is made for steep windshields.
I've run a lunchbox locker in the front for around 6 or 7 years now. It will be gone before next winter. Getting tired of the weird behaviour in the winter. Going to a selectable and rehearing while I'm at it. It has been good off-road though!
Most usefull items on my jeeps has been Resco SST on board welder / power source with 150 amp lestec alternator My on board heat exchanger for hot showers CB radios are so important in hiway snow conditions do to truck drivers still using with valuable road information Tow bars. Many of broken jeeps towed out by the tow bar were tow straps just are made for towing more tugging and number one is the tow strap every one should have a good one
I also upgraded to the dual ARB, although the single did a great job I wanted to cut my time in half and found the opportunity to upgrade so I did and really noticed the difference!
the hinge step (not that model) was the first thing I did to my jeep. I absolutely love it. I have the Smittybilt Atlas. As a 5'5" person it's an absolute must and it looks great.
My gas cap did the same thing for a while. I eventually just drilled the top and bottom holes and found bolts that matched and put on nuts from the rear tail light. Snug as a bug now!
Been running a Powertank since 2000. Biggest PITA is finding places to fill the tanks and getting them recertified, over and over. They do fill tires super fast though.
The 3 things i no longer have was upgrading the set of tires from: 1. 31s to 33s. 2. Then 33s to 35s. 3. Then Finally got a set of 37s. Best tire size combination ever.
@@redleader499 that's true 35s looks good but 37s or bigger makes your Jeep (JK,JL) more capable as well it looks awesome!!! Yes at the same time that you have to upgrade to Dana 60 or bigger to make the axles cope.
Absolutely love your videos. I feel you give a honest and complete review in all of your videos. Like the fact that you can go back and do a video like this one where you say yes it was great back then, but because of XXXX I now like YYYY better. None of us get it perfect every time as things change and so does our needs. Great video. Thanks for taking the time to produce it.
Thank you! I have learned a lot over the years and I'm sure there will still be some other pieces of gear in the future that will get replaced or tossed.
Great video and honest reviews on reasons why you're not using some things anymore. My wife just walked by and laughed at me...She saw me watching TrailRecon Videos and I happened to have on my TrailRecon Tee Shirt!
I would imagine Marco may have a hand in the rear storage system. I built on myself using 1” aluminum square stock and handmade wooden drawers. It also contains the ARB roll-out and the ARB frig. Great unit but a bit heavy. Would appreciate info on the final weight of your system (and Marco’s) when available. I may take another shot at building a second rear storage unit if the weight savings warrants the build.
Great video Brad. I have done that with a few components myself like originally I went with a mid-width front bumper. On 37’s now I found it rubbed so I went to a LOD Signature Series Shorty Front bumper. I also added 1.5” spacers to my 2.5” Lift Springs and Bilstein Shocks. but now am running Synergy 4.5” Springs and a 1” spacer in front and Falcon 2.1 Sport shocks. so my father in law got 3.5” Lift components and Bilstein shocks from us for Xmas to get rid of his teraflex 2.5” budget boost haha he loves it and can now follow us a lot more places. It’s definitely an evolutionary process as we have grown our trails have gotten a lot tougher so our needs are constantly changing. Killer idea for a video we have loved watching you over the years and constantly take inspiration from your videos to try and grow and make our UA-cam Channel better so thank you for doing so awesome teaching everyone so much.
Last one I removed (or at least moved) are the grab handles that strap to the side sport bars which I see you still have. While I am short they were more in the way than useful and in their place I added the black cloth sun shades since the stock visor is poor as a side sun visor. Added the metal Rough County grab bars that mount on the upper right and left front corners and those work so much better. Moved the strap on grab handles to the back then replaced the stock sun visor with the TeraFlex replacement that I work just perfect.
Those KC headlights look nice. I went with JW Speaker 8700 Evolution which are equally expensive but they are amazingly bright and have nice horizontal separation so I don’t blind oncoming traffic. My JK has 3” lift w/37” so I had to angle headlights downward a tad. High beams are like turning on the sun. Lol. I love them.
Most of the stuff I don’t use in my jeep is pretty small... like you, I took my CB radio out, though I still have it and can put it back in when I go to Easter jeep safari or other events where a CB radio is desired/required. My buddies and I use mostly ham radios or short range walkie-talkies when we are out on the trail. I have an old CB antenna mount that came off when I replaced it with a larger highlift carrier that had a CB antenna mount on it. Most of the time my third row seat is up on the shelf in my garage, I don’t keep it in my jeep so I can utilize the storage space. If we are going somewhere with the whole family, I put it back in. Looks like many other people are trying to get your stuff you’re not using. If I can make a suggestion: maybe you could auction it off on eBay or something and have the proceeds go to charity... Excited to see what you are doing in the back of your jeep… I’m guessing Marco is going to help you build something? Looking forward to seeing what you choose!!
Hey Brad.. nice video as always. Since I got my 15 JKU I've depended on videos like yours so that I can avoid buying things I dont need for my JK. I have my other truck an 08 Tahoe, and over the years I learned what works and doesnt and spent alot of money on things that didnt quite stand up to the hype. So tks for all your vids, great work, love TR. I'm also a ham and just am not putting a CB system in mine, but do carry a handheld when going out with guys that only carry CB. Keep up the great work TR.. Also I must say that I have had serious concerns over using CO2 in Tires. CO2 is highly reactive with moisture which builds up in tires with pressure changes. It then becomes acidic and apparently has a negative effect on rubber. When you switched over to CO2 I was intrigued with the speed of inflation, although CO2 is expensive in NYC. I also use the ARB dual compressor installed in my JK. Works great, I have a VIAIR system in my Tahoe with a tank. I would love to see TR do a video with technical data on the pros-cons of CO2 and whether or not it will affect or damage your tires.
I bought Some Genright 4" flat fenders Steel, had them painted to match my TJ and found that after a year or so they started rusting in the corners where the welds were. Took them off and got the aluminum fenders. exact same fenders just no rust aluminum. Left the aluminum and now I polish them.
I got a double din dash and put a single din radio on top and i put a single din cobra cb radio underneath it and it’s very clean. I also got a metal glove box with a radio mount so i got a ham radio and a single din mount adapter and installed it in the dash
Fuel door/cover option...I ended up plasti dipping (spraying) the fuel cap, blacking it out, and it looks amazing! I tried the Mopar door and it just seemed too bulky.
One upgrade I'm glad I did was install the Gravity Pro6 50 in. light bar. HOLY SHIT, it is so bright like when I was in the woods, the whole woods was lighten up like it was daytime.
I enjoyed your video it was step by step of what you had and what you upgraded. tapped on your video to watch you about your air compressor. I'm running 36 IROC off-road all terrain tires. I just put in a on board air tank system wasn't impressed it had a 2.0 gallon tank I ran it 120 PSI. lowered the air pressure in one of my tires, and before I knew it the air tank went from 120 PSI to 80 psi, I was told to do run to tanks. Like you said sometimes in your video it take some time to get used to.
With how easy it is to get your initial HAM license, and the fact you can buy a handheld Chinese radio clones for like $40, i really think it just makes sense to use that instead of hard-mounting something. Heck, we even use the handheld HAM radios to keep in touch among the family when we visit theme parks, lol
Great video; very important concept. The MORE Off-road “dead pedal” had to go. Thought it’d be good there but being 6’4” I needed the leg room. Interested???
I had some headlights similar to the ones you showed. I didn't like the light they put out. They looked cool and I was told they were legal. But part of me was freaking out and I just took them out and put in JW Speakers. No problems, had them for over a year now.
Get a BNC to PL259 adapter for the handheld CB and use it with an external antenna when you need it. Works nearly as well as a permanently mounted radio but you can disconnect it and throw it under the seat when you don't need it.
I have the perfect plan. We need to hold a "no longer using" JEEP parts garage sale. I have tons of stock parts that were removed to place upgrades. Not worth the effort to post on ebay since most OEM parts have little value. I even have a set of those horrible JK headlights, safely wrapped in the box that my JW Speaker replacements came in. Like you, the first time that I was returning home from a trail ride at night, I was appalled at the dim OEM headlights. Found that low beam was better than high beam. Take care. Love your videos. Like the others, can't wait for your storage upgrade.
This was a good video to do. Some of that gear they are putting out is getting out of hand! I have to agree with your son on the new gas cap door. The one he got looks great! Not having a fuel door there is ugly as sin. Keep up the good work! Look forward to the next project build.
My thing that I took off was a roof top tent.....I drive a 95 Chevy k1500 and I wasn’t able to haul my atv in the bed with it on so I sold it then I bought a cot tent that folds out and I like it way better
Glad to hear you've got your ham license. From day one, I've only had a ham radio in my rig (currently have a 2m and HF), and have thought about adding a CB but honestly no one I go out on the trails with have either one. I usually have to remind my friends who are licensed to bring their handhelds since they don't have a mobile mounted. The biggest problem I've had is that I typically ride with the doors/windows off so the wind noise during commuting or getting to/leaving the trail is picked up a lot on my mic. Been thinking about what I want to do to resolve that. 73 N4DBV
I added the molar tailgate reinforcement and tire relocation brackets to my JL. They will be coming off soon because I'm going to be ordering the LOD back bumper and carrier package. I should have one down that route day 1, but I got the steel bumper package and felt silly removing the stock steel bumper that I technically paid extra for.
For your headlights maybe all you needed was an upgrade to the wiring harness and a good set of relays. I always do that to my vehicles and it really makes lights brighter.
Thanks for this great update vid Brad.. You really don't see the honest thoughts of things that didn't work.. Just got my JK Saturday, after a year and a half of looking.. I've been keeping up with all of your mods, and adventures.. Thanks for doing lots of the legwork, and making it easier for me to decide in which direction I should go.. hurry up with the rear storage/kitchen.. its almost spring and need to get this thing ready..!!
One of my major upgrades on my TJ that I'm getting rid of is my rough country suspension lift. They're terrible and I'm replacing them with rancho 9000 XLs
My dual ARB will fill all 4 37" tires on my H1 pretty quickly... it's beyond capable. The one upgrade that I got rid of (well, stopped trying to fix anyways) was my backup camera. I just don't care whats behind me anymore - it gets run into anyways.
Great video Brad. Do it right the first time, that's my motto. Don't try to save money on something cheap, you will wind up buying it twice. And do your research before buying anything. The RAM phone mount is the only thing that I have bought for my Jeep that I returned (I did a lot of research on the RAM mounts and they are highly recommended, but I disagree with all of the positive reviews of that product).
I agree with most of list. Obviously not the same for all. I personally like the solid mount C. B. and I did get the same Ham as you also. Similar views on air. I have the 15 lb. Tanks times 2. Also a backup compressor. Great share. Thanks.
This could be the first of a whole new trend on YT: stuff I DON’T use anymore. Everybody loves gear vids, but what about all the trial & error that came before? And, in typical TR fashion it’s done with class and little negativity. WTG!
Great video. I like keeping my jeep trim & fit too so I have thought long and hard about each of the mods that are on it. Sometimes less is more. I still enjoy my pedal commander, but I always switch it off and go back to the stock programming when I'm offroad.
OMG, this is so me!! The latest is the front and rear bumpers with bull bar that I loved at first but now it's being replaced shortly with a different set of bumpers and new angled bull bar. I'd love to find a Jeep site where I could sell these parts at!
Yep. My CB is hidden behind the glove compartment but I stopped bringing the antenna. I use ham. I also have a TRX7 which I kinda regret. My JK Speaker headlights are also questionable, even though I've had them "professionally" aimed twice now and told they're fine. I get flashed on two lane roads all the time.
Really enjoyed this flavor of presentation(much like the '5 things we Hate about our new jeep'!) the headline caught my eye, but subsequently following them (w/you, marco, & fabulous overlanders w/lite brite) has been a surprising jeep education for me. quick aside, it's always painful to watch a jeep crawling up then swapping rubber side & not rubber side in quick succession downhill with coolers, etc spewing like crazy, BUT!!! the mere thought of a rig like yours or marcos rolling is just UnThinkable!! Anyway, back on topic, my hat is off to someone like yourself that has & uses the wisdom to periodically stand back, evaluate what you've done, and act on the choice to part ways with an earlier aftermarket infatuation if it's not measuring up. i also gotta say, the look on britt's face when she tasted that streak marco cooked up, Totally Priceless!! Happy Trails,...
Instead of purchasing more upgrades for my JKU Rubicon I decided to trade it in for a new Gladiator Rubicon. Now it has many of the upgrades I wanted to add and twice the storage.
Thanks for this video! Appreciate the honesty and feedback on items you've changed your mind on. Very helpful with all the awesome gear that's out there.
Hood mounted Hi-Lift brackets. Looked cool enough and held the jack just fine, but they don't tell you that it completely blocks the sprayers for your windshield washer. So, you're off-roading and getting down and dirty and when it's time to wash some bugs or mud off the windshield, at best it would basically spit a bit all over the glass, which just spread the mud and bug guts. Went to a driver door hinge setup. MUCH better!
Yes! I spent about 20K in parts that I later sold for less that 30% of their original value over 4 years when I owned my JK. Northridge4x4 Loved me lol. Now I live in Germany and Drive a small car a 2012 Suzuki Swift... so depressing.
I had a Nite Ize Steelie for my phone, re-purposed it for the CB mic when I noticed the battery life diminished due to the magnet. Went with an Anker equivalent but the constant heating and cooling in the interior of the Jeep caused the adhesive to fail numerous times, so I upgraded to a RAM Mount for both the CB mic and phone. I modified an old hitch mount bike rack for my spare, but since it didn't have any sort of anti-wobble system, it moved around too much. I've ditched too many LED pods due to quality and a lack of a good pattern. I've currently in the market to replace the ones on the Jeep for a better one, but I'm dealing with it for the time being. Homemade awning is getting replaced with an ARB here soon. Other than those, most everything else was either worn out from use and I decided on something better, or it was with my base camp setup.
The only mod that I didn't like would have to be my stinger. bought a rough country stubby winch bumper (love it) and later bought the stinger mod for it, mainly for aesthetics. Now I'm looking at it and I hate the way it looks.
I bought some rubber floor mats in a set that were listed as being made specifically for my year and model. The front row floor mats were great. The reader floor mats were half the size they needed to be and weren’t even in the right shape. It was and still is the greatest waste of money I have ever spent
Fuel door Attempt number 3 : Rugged Ridge fuel door. Put it on my ZJ (yes you heard me right) and it’s solid aluminum and it is awesome. So if new one fails again try rugged ridge
One time I bought 22inch wheels with 35s for the mall runs but I couldn’t handle the stress of constant humiliation from other fellow jeep buddies. So I only run 17s with 40s now. :)
Wow I didn’t know that the ARB single takes awhile to inflate. Still wanna go ARB but I definitely want something rather my cigarette lighter powered compressor, but upgrading my tires too 35”s so good to know about the compressor.
Hey if you want to pass the compressor or light bar on to a new 4wheeler I’d be more than happy to take it off your hands and add it to my first Jeep, also my first 4x4! I’m sure I’m not the only one to ask but can’t hurt! On another note I appreciate the good info and quality videos, keep it up is helped me a lot already!
I love this vlog. because I have not done much to my jeep except a hard rock winch plate with a custom led light mount(28") and smitybilt 10k h20 winch. I have no back seat, I mounted my hi lift jack behind my rear speaker bar. I figured on not building a storage system in my jeep, rather store things systematically, keeping things light. as for coms. two Motorola walkies work for me and buddies.
Gibson Exhaust. it sounded good when on the trail but my rear clearance was horrible and after a while the sound got a little annoying. Put the stock back In There and much happier. wish I could get those 400 bones back
I liked when you said that you sit down and stare at the jeep, my me laugh because I thought it was just me. Love your Jeep, great job.
Over the few years you have been upgrading your jeep and giving the reviews of the products, you have saved me hundreds of $$$$$$$$. Thanks very much for this video.
My wife.
She's no longer in my truck.😀
But seriously, I would greatly appreciate it if people would stop using non-DOT headlights. So, thank you for touching on that subject.
Mort Homer constantly getting blinded by other Jeeps with upgrades lights not aimed, and my JL sits up pretty tall
Just don't tell anyone where the body is, you should be ok...And yes, being sheer blinded by headlights, not a fun time.
I used to have a Wife 1.0 system, too.
And it was great, but kinda plain and boring in the long run.
So I upgraded to Wife 2.0 and all hell broke loose !
Turns out that Wife 1.0 is not compatible with Wife 2.0, so I had to get rid of the old one
Unfortunately, Wife 2.0 was a terrible cook, and I had to invest in the Twin Sister upgrade … ohh boy !
Don't get me wrong, the Twin system was REALLY good looking, and while one was a bad cook, the other
was a GREAT cook, and the first one was amazing at cleaning, I thought I had this in the bag !
That's when the Jealousy Bug on Wife 2.0 kicked in.
They said all I needed was a software upgrade on Wife 2.0, and the silicone upgrade looked great, so I bought it!
But then the Twin Sister caught the bug instead ! So I bought the silicone upgrade for the Twin Sister as well.
Again all hell broke loose !
The company's lawyer has now stripped me of Wife 2.0 and Twin Sister upgrade for "improper use",
and claims I have to pay HALF of everything I own in repairs !
Man, I should have stuck to Wife 1.0 ! 😢
@@Grumpy_old_Boot should have just got Wife 3.0 with Long Arms
@@JesseePDX
Alas, I have yet to unlock Wife 3.0
But I *have* found "Ugly Lover" with the "Reach Around Favor" modification.
Unfortunately she also came with the "Kinky Traits" modification, that I cannot seem to uninstall.
She gets it into her head to do it just about anywhere - almost got me fired from my job too.
I just want to say that this was a genius video idea. Having a father with a Harley, I remember his garage being filled with pipes, seats, helmets, foot pegs, you name it. Everyone talks about all their favorite or least favorite new mods, but looking back and seeing/discussing what you've grown out of or ended up not using is, to me, incredibly helpful and interesting. Great great video. More Jeep folks should make videos on this subject.
Wow, this video brings back memories. Some "upgrades" I honestly don't know what I was thinking in the first place,. Most are like your's....I out grew them or "upgraded" to the next level. One thing I'm learning is to just do the right thing first instead of getting there in steps. GREAT channel.
Thanks for the honesty, i really respect you for pointing out the mods that you no longer use, the "mod" that i just got rid of was my JKU Rubicon on 40s" with a winch and armor, and now i've got a JT Gladiator Rubicon that i'm starting to mod out.
I appreciate the minimalist, "its OK to not have all the stuff" vibe of this episode. So many of the videos I watch tend to make me want more stuff. The cool factor, the new factor...it all adds up to not enough money for gas. Its more about getting out there and collecting memories with friends and family.
I own three, green,1999 XJ's at home and a fourth Red, 2001 out of state with my oldest son. Four Jeeps doesn't seem excessive.
I also agree on the hood glare. I keep all my front facing lights on the front bumper. The higher angle of the roof mounting can be a benefit, but for now, the bumper keeps the hood very dark. My favorite treat is to take the Jeep to a proper vantage point to watch sunrises. This means I do a bunch of driving in the dark, just before dawn. Twilight can be tough on the eyes, so lots of light is a big help.
We ares still so new to the Jeep Camping stuff, that I don't have a lot of stuff I have used that I no longer use. But i will second the GPS TRX system. One of the issues I have found with mine here in Oklahoma is you can be going along on some of these old logging roads and trails, and it shows you one coming up on the left or right, and it is not there. 1/4 mile away you will see it, but it is no longer on the GPS screen. So I don't use it much anymore, I figure it was actually too unreliable here for our needs especially if there was a true emergency, It don't know where you are half the time. Thanks for sharing what you have gone through and sharing it with us, it will help save me money. I appreciate you and I hope you have a blessed week.
Dale
Oh I can relate! I gotta make a video about this too, I also have a corner of my garage devoted to "Jeep parts that aren't being used anymore"
Chris Meacham I know that game all too well. Good wall decor for the garage!
There's a lot of add ons I see in your Jeep vids that I don't see you really using homie. You make Jeep ricer vids IMO.
Jack Fu interesting perspective 😀
I have a garage half full of fox Mustang parts, and now I'm starting to fill the other half with YJ parts.
I ran BF Goodrich for many years in the oilfield and decided to try tried Cooper, I was very disappointed with the wear patterns and overall on road durability but really liked the off road performance. I decided to try them again 2 years ago and have been rotating and balancing every 1000-1500 miles and they have performed great on both with minimal road noise and decent wear. I'll be getting my HAM this summer for back country communication but will keep a hard mounted CB specifically for highway travel. I use it to communicate with truckers to get travel/weather condition updates. It has been useful more times than I can count.
I agree on the hood mounted light. Don't like em. Too much glare.
Yes!
I have one mounted in front above my winch fairlead.
JeepSolid especially with lighter color Jeeps
Totally agree. Jjeepers that put them on spend more time at malls than they do in the backwoods
I have a black poison spyder louvered hood panel so I don't get much glare from mine, unless it's raining. Not the ideal location for a primary light, but it does what I need it to do when my lights on the bumper aren't enough to see what's needed.
I run a CB simply for the fact that truckers are great entertainment and give useful information on road conditions and traffic. They don't use it much on the highway home but mine faintly picks up traffic from the main interstate about 13 miles away.
For the Fuel Lid, try some butyl rope from Second Skin Audio. You can pull it to make it thinner and put a small "bead" around the diameter. I kept a couple speaker crossovers in place with it in a door panel, and it stood up pretty well in New Mexico desert heat! And if you have some clips paired with the butyl rope, I don't think it'll go anywhere. Note, I don't know what it will do to paint in the long run...
With that said, I love your videos! Great shots, high quality, just enough information and background on the trails. You truly do a great job.
That single ARB Compressor would probably be a nice addition to your sons XJ. 😉
I like your way of thinking!
Just say’in. 😉
Or you could sell it or gift it to one of your viewers. 😉
It would, alternately, make a nice addition to my XJ. 😉
Why is everyone winking 😉
I like the KC LED headlights too. Just wish they come out with a heated lens for us northern folks.
If you haven't pitched them yet, I'd mount those hood mount lights on the rear of your Jeep. If you're camping, extra lights behind you when backing up or setting up is always nice.
your videos are my favorite out of all the jeep channels!!
I'm truly humbled, thank you!
The mod I wish I would not have done would have to be my Rough Country 50" black series light bar. The bar itself has given me no problems and it is extremely bright, a FANTASTIC product and greatly enhanced the looks of Bertha. My biggest complaint is the wind noise while driving. Not only is it unbearable to drive down the highway without blaring my music, I have to yell just to talk to the people in my Jeep with me. The light bar is currently still on the Jeep but I plan on taking it off soon.
I had a hi-lift jack mounted on my front TJ bumper for years and never used it. Finally I sold that thing. Another unused item was the soft top window bag. I used that thing a couple times when the Jeep was new and I didn't want to damage my windows. Now I just throw them in the garage. One of the best accessories I put on my Jeep has to be the mirror movers. My mirrors are attached to the jeep and not the doors so when the doors are off, my mirrors stay. Take that Mr Copper!
You know what- I love all the jeep information and the down-to-earth, truthful experience sharing. But, the thing I like best is that you just seem like a solid guy and it is nice to have you around. So- thank you for sustaining such a great channel. I'd love to go out on a wheeling adventure with you and your crew.
You are too kind man, thank you very much. Would be great to see you out on the trail sometime.
Another great informative video. Things that didn't work out: I bought some 7" LED Cube style lights with spots and wide-angle floods. Like your hood-mounted LED light bar there was too much hood glare and the wide-angle lights projected too much light back into the cab. Now I have a 4" cube with spots only. Simple and effective along with the 50" bar on the roof.
Great video! Never seen another one like it on UA-cam. We all have “upgrades” we don’t use anymore.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Have that same Gas cap - it fades out in about 1 season of Texas sun and does not respond well to "reblacker" products. Nice thing is, its a fast easy install and cheap part. Im on my 2nd one in 3 years. Not a bad product but don't expect it to hold up to heavy UVs for very long, its all good until you get the Jeep clean and the black no longer matches the fenders, since you don't have the stock plastic fenders and have a silver Jeep might not be an issue for you at all, love the vids!
I got rid of my entire 2007 JK 2dr because I couldn't afford it when my other vehicle broke down and I needed a better commuter car for gas mileage. Happy to say that after six years, I will be getting a 2006 TJ Rubicon in Stone White in a week!
Thank you for being aware of blinding everyone else on the road with the primary headlights. Too many people convert to LED/HID with no consideration for others on the road. My dad has a bad astigmatism, and the super bright HID/LED non DOT (or questionably DOT-legal in the case of HID conversion bulbs) is extremely blinding. Need more light? That's why you have those 8 lights above the windshield. :)
I did something similar with my XJ’s headlights and got a $90 set on amazon that also weren’t dot approved, flickered, and blinded just about everyone diving a car less than 6 feet tall. I recently upgraded to Rigid industries trucklite headlights, which are about $350 on amazon, and I couldn’t be happier. Just go with high quality the first time.
We did the same thing on the XJ... sometimes you really get what you pay for.
Thanks for sharing this, Brad. I’ve been pretty meticulous about planning my build (a classic case of more time than parts money, LOL), so there isn’t much I’ve removed that wasn’t planned to be a temporary improvement. My recent addition of a set of painted Sahara flares is a good example. They’ll eventually yield to some flatties, but look so much better than grey plastic!
I’m not surprised about your CB move, as I’ve noticed for some time Jeepers on the coasts leaning heavily on GMRS or HAM. In Texas, CB still rules the roost, but I’ve seriously contemplated adding a GMRS setup as well for the day I’m able to start taking some Jeep trips outside this area.
What did surprise me - and is educational to boot - is your evolution on onboard air. I’m tempted to go with the single ARB, as I’m on 33s now, with 35s to come in a year or so. But, as pricey as it is, the twin is just so impressive.
Again, thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
GMRS is a great options, I only know a few folks here that use it. The twin compressor is pricey, but honestly, its worth saving up for in my opinion if you are running 35 or larger tires.
One thing I got rid of was my Owl Cam long arm like the one if your rig. They have a new one that doesn't stick out so far and is made for steep windshields.
I was just looking at that online the other day and thinking of ordering it... you just made up my mind, thank you! Love the Owl Camera!
I've run a lunchbox locker in the front for around 6 or 7 years now. It will be gone before next winter. Getting tired of the weird behaviour in the winter. Going to a selectable and rehearing while I'm at it. It has been good off-road though!
Another helpful video from my favorite Jeep UA-camr! Thanks Brad and greetings from the Midwest! 🤙🏼
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Very informative video, I like it!
Most usefull items on my jeeps has been
Resco SST on board welder / power source with 150 amp lestec alternator
My on board heat exchanger for hot showers
CB radios are so important in hiway snow conditions do to truck drivers still using with valuable road information
Tow bars. Many of broken jeeps towed out by the tow bar were tow straps just are made for towing more tugging and number one is the tow strap every one should have a good one
I also upgraded to the dual ARB, although the single did a great job I wanted to cut my time in half and found the opportunity to upgrade so I did and really noticed the difference!
the hinge step (not that model) was the first thing I did to my jeep. I absolutely love it. I have the Smittybilt Atlas. As a 5'5" person it's an absolute must and it looks great.
My gas cap did the same thing for a while. I eventually just drilled the top and bottom holes and found bolts that matched and put on nuts from the rear tail light. Snug as a bug now!
Been running a Powertank since 2000. Biggest PITA is finding places to fill the tanks and getting them recertified, over and over. They do fill tires super fast though.
The place I get mine filled just raised their prices... not too happy about that.
The 3 things i no longer have was upgrading the set of tires from:
1. 31s to 33s.
2. Then 33s to 35s.
3. Then Finally got a set of 37s. Best tire size combination ever.
Yep, many of use have gone through similar tire evolutions... love 37's!
But with 37s you risk breaking your axles unless you upgrade to a Dana 60 I thought? I have Dana 44s and the 35s seem to work pretty good!
@@redleader499 that's true 35s looks good but 37s or bigger makes your Jeep (JK,JL) more capable as well it looks awesome!!! Yes at the same time that you have to upgrade to Dana 60 or bigger to make the axles cope.
"c'mon guys you know you stare at your Jeep in the garage"
Man, I thought I was the only one.....
Me 🙋🏾♂️😅
Absolutely love your videos. I feel you give a honest and complete review in all of your videos. Like the fact that you can go back and do a video like this one where you say yes it was great back then, but because of XXXX I now like YYYY better. None of us get it perfect every time as things change and so does our needs. Great video. Thanks for taking the time to produce it.
Thank you! I have learned a lot over the years and I'm sure there will still be some other pieces of gear in the future that will get replaced or tossed.
Those steps would make a great Valentine’s Day Present
Great video and honest reviews on reasons why you're not using some things anymore. My wife just walked by and laughed at me...She saw me watching TrailRecon Videos and I happened to have on my TrailRecon Tee Shirt!
LOL! That's awesome! Thank you for the support!!!!!
Cant wait to see what kind of storage solution you are going to come up with.
I would imagine Marco may have a hand in the rear storage system. I built on myself using 1” aluminum square stock and handmade wooden drawers. It also contains the ARB roll-out and the ARB frig. Great unit but a bit heavy. Would appreciate info on the final weight of your system (and Marco’s) when available. I may take another shot at building a second rear storage unit if the weight savings warrants the build.
great video, glad to hear i'm not the only one who has to "upgrade" on the "upgrade"
can't wait to see the DIY storage solution! Its been something I've been struggling with too
Great video Brad. I have done that with a few components myself like originally I went with a mid-width front bumper. On 37’s now I found it rubbed so I went to a LOD Signature Series Shorty Front bumper. I also added 1.5” spacers to my 2.5” Lift Springs and Bilstein Shocks. but now am running Synergy 4.5” Springs and a 1” spacer in front and Falcon 2.1 Sport shocks. so my father in law got 3.5” Lift components and Bilstein shocks from us for Xmas to get rid of his teraflex 2.5” budget boost haha he loves it and can now follow us a lot more places. It’s definitely an evolutionary process as we have grown our trails have gotten a lot tougher so our needs are constantly changing. Killer idea for a video we have loved watching you over the years and constantly take inspiration from your videos to try and grow and make our UA-cam Channel better so thank you for doing so awesome teaching everyone so much.
Last one I removed (or at least moved) are the grab handles that strap to the side sport bars which I see you still have. While I am short they were more in the way than useful and in their place I added the black cloth sun shades since the stock visor is poor as a side sun visor. Added the metal Rough County grab bars that mount on the upper right and left front corners and those work so much better. Moved the strap on grab handles to the back then replaced the stock sun visor with the TeraFlex replacement that I work just perfect.
My wife makes me keep them so she has something to grab when climbing in and out, but I have been thinking about switching to the metal grab handles.
I suspect that Marco will be assisting on the new storage setup! Fridge slide & Drawer system
Oh ya, he's going to be a big help!
@@TrailRecon Trying to match the camp cooking game?
I like to cook, but I don't have Marco's skills!
Try the Pedal Commander, love mine. Return to stock with push of a button. And I get 1.5 mpg better.
Those KC headlights look nice. I went with JW Speaker 8700 Evolution which are equally expensive but they are amazingly bright and have nice horizontal separation so I don’t blind oncoming traffic. My JK has 3” lift w/37” so I had to angle headlights downward a tad. High beams are like turning on the sun. Lol. I love them.
Most of the stuff I don’t use in my jeep is pretty small... like you, I took my CB radio out, though I still have it and can put it back in when I go to Easter jeep safari or other events where a CB radio is desired/required. My buddies and I use mostly ham radios or short range walkie-talkies when we are out on the trail.
I have an old CB antenna mount that came off when I replaced it with a larger highlift carrier that had a CB antenna mount on it.
Most of the time my third row seat is up on the shelf in my garage, I don’t keep it in my jeep so I can utilize the storage space. If we are going somewhere with the whole family, I put it back in.
Looks like many other people are trying to get your stuff you’re not using. If I can make a suggestion: maybe you could auction it off on eBay or something and have the proceeds go to charity...
Excited to see what you are doing in the back of your jeep… I’m guessing Marco is going to help you build something? Looking forward to seeing what you choose!!
Thanks for sharing! I should have mentioned, like you, my CB is still wired up and I can re-install it pretty easy if needed.
Jeremy McLerran I thought about doing a giveaway for some of my parts too. Pay it forward, you know!
Looking forward to the diy storage system! 👍🏻
Very helpful vid. Can't wait to see the storage system.
Right on! Info on the storage system coming soon!
Hey Brad.. nice video as always. Since I got my 15 JKU I've depended on videos like yours so that I can avoid buying things I dont need for my JK. I have my other truck an 08 Tahoe, and over the years I learned what works and doesnt and spent alot of money on things that didnt quite stand up to the hype. So tks for all your vids, great work, love TR. I'm also a ham and just am not putting a CB system in mine, but do carry a handheld when going out with guys that only carry CB. Keep up the great work TR.. Also I must say that I have had serious concerns over using CO2 in Tires. CO2 is highly reactive with moisture which builds up in tires with pressure changes. It then becomes acidic and apparently has a negative effect on rubber. When you switched over to CO2 I was intrigued with the speed of inflation, although CO2 is expensive in NYC. I also use the ARB dual compressor installed in my JK. Works great, I have a VIAIR system in my Tahoe with a tank. I would love to see TR do a video with technical data on the pros-cons of CO2 and whether or not it will affect or damage your tires.
I bought Some Genright 4" flat fenders Steel, had them painted to match my TJ and found that after a year or so they started rusting in the corners where the welds were. Took them off and got the aluminum fenders. exact same fenders just no rust aluminum. Left the aluminum and now I polish them.
I got a double din dash and put a single din radio on top and i put a single din cobra cb radio underneath it and it’s very clean.
I also got a metal glove box with a radio mount so i got a ham radio and a single din mount adapter and installed it in the dash
Fuel door/cover option...I ended up plasti dipping (spraying) the fuel cap, blacking it out, and it looks amazing! I tried the Mopar door and it just seemed too bulky.
One upgrade I'm glad I did was install the Gravity Pro6 50 in. light bar. HOLY SHIT, it is so bright like when I was in the woods, the whole woods was lighten up like it was daytime.
I enjoyed your video it was step by step of what you had and what you upgraded. tapped on your video to watch you about your air compressor. I'm running 36 IROC off-road all terrain tires. I just put in a on board air tank system wasn't impressed it had a 2.0 gallon tank I ran it 120 PSI. lowered the air pressure in one of my tires, and before I knew it the air tank went from 120 PSI to 80 psi, I was told to do run to tanks. Like you said sometimes in your video it take some time to get used to.
With how easy it is to get your initial HAM license, and the fact you can buy a handheld Chinese radio clones for like $40, i really think it just makes sense to use that instead of hard-mounting something. Heck, we even use the handheld HAM radios to keep in touch among the family when we visit theme parks, lol
Great video; very important concept. The MORE Off-road “dead pedal” had to go. Thought it’d be good there but being 6’4” I needed the leg room. Interested???
I had some headlights similar to the ones you showed. I didn't like the light they put out. They looked cool and I was told they were legal. But part of me was freaking out and I just took them out and put in JW Speakers. No problems, had them for over a year now.
Get a BNC to PL259 adapter for the handheld CB and use it with an external antenna when you need it. Works nearly as well as a permanently mounted radio but you can disconnect it and throw it under the seat when you don't need it.
I have the perfect plan. We need to hold a "no longer using" JEEP parts garage sale. I have tons of stock parts that were removed to place upgrades. Not worth the effort to post on ebay since most OEM parts have little value. I even have a set of those horrible JK headlights, safely wrapped in the box that my JW Speaker replacements came in. Like you, the first time that I was returning home from a trail ride at night, I was appalled at the dim OEM headlights. Found that low beam was better than high beam. Take care. Love your videos. Like the others, can't wait for your storage upgrade.
That would be a great swap meet event!
This was a good video to do. Some of that gear they are putting out is getting out of hand! I have to agree with your son on the new gas cap door. The one he got looks great! Not having a fuel door there is ugly as sin. Keep up the good work! Look forward to the next project build.
My thing that I took off was a roof top tent.....I drive a 95 Chevy k1500 and I wasn’t able to haul my atv in the bed with it on so I sold it then I bought a cot tent that folds out and I like it way better
I did with metal fender flares i installed for a couple
Of weeks and I replaced for the stock ones.
Nice to know!! Such a teaser as well... Can’t wait..
Glad to hear you've got your ham license. From day one, I've only had a ham radio in my rig (currently have a 2m and HF), and have thought about adding a CB but honestly no one I go out on the trails with have either one. I usually have to remind my friends who are licensed to bring their handhelds since they don't have a mobile mounted. The biggest problem I've had is that I typically ride with the doors/windows off so the wind noise during commuting or getting to/leaving the trail is picked up a lot on my mic. Been thinking about what I want to do to resolve that.
73
N4DBV
Great idea for a video
I added the molar tailgate reinforcement and tire relocation brackets to my JL. They will be coming off soon because I'm going to be ordering the LOD back bumper and carrier package. I should have one down that route day 1, but I got the steel bumper package and felt silly removing the stock steel bumper that I technically paid extra for.
For your headlights maybe all you needed was an upgrade to the wiring harness and a good set of relays. I always do that to my vehicles and it really makes lights brighter.
Thanks for this great update vid Brad.. You really don't see the honest thoughts of things that didn't work.. Just got my JK Saturday, after a year and a half of looking.. I've been keeping up with all of your mods, and adventures.. Thanks for doing lots of the legwork, and making it easier for me to decide in which direction I should go.. hurry up with the rear storage/kitchen.. its almost spring and need to get this thing ready..!!
Congrats on the new Jeep!
6:59 Brad, I have the same fuel door. It's loose too. But with a couple pieces of 1/2" double sided body tap it'll be solid as a rock.
One of my major upgrades on my TJ that I'm getting rid of is my rough country suspension lift. They're terrible and I'm replacing them with rancho 9000 XLs
Love your videos. Starting watching your channel before I even had my TJ.
Right on, thank you!
My dual ARB will fill all 4 37" tires on my H1 pretty quickly... it's beyond capable. The one upgrade that I got rid of (well, stopped trying to fix anyways) was my backup camera.
I just don't care whats behind me anymore - it gets run into anyways.
Awesome as always! I can't wait for the storage system!
Thanks! I'm so excited to get the storage system built... going to be awesome!
Great video Brad. Do it right the first time, that's my motto. Don't try to save money on something cheap, you will wind up buying it twice. And do your research before buying anything. The RAM phone mount is the only thing that I have bought for my Jeep that I returned (I did a lot of research on the RAM mounts and they are highly recommended, but I disagree with all of the positive reviews of that product).
You get what you pay for and yes, doing your homework pays off!
I agree with most of list. Obviously not the same for all. I personally like the solid mount C. B. and I did get the same Ham as you also. Similar views on air. I have the 15 lb. Tanks times 2. Also a backup compressor. Great share. Thanks.
Sometimes I wish I had gone with the 15lbs tanks!
love your hotwheels box in the back
This could be the first of a whole new trend on YT: stuff I DON’T use anymore. Everybody loves gear vids, but what about all the trial & error that came before? And, in typical TR fashion it’s done with class and little negativity. WTG!
I'd love to hear what other folks are no longer using... although the manufactures may not what to hear it! LOL!
Great video. I like keeping my jeep trim & fit too so I have thought long and hard about each of the mods that are on it. Sometimes less is more. I still enjoy my pedal commander, but I always switch it off and go back to the stock programming when I'm offroad.
OMG, this is so me!! The latest is the front and rear bumpers with bull bar that I loved at first but now it's being replaced shortly with a different set of bumpers and new angled bull bar. I'd love to find a Jeep site where I could sell these parts at!
Yep. My CB is hidden behind the glove compartment but I stopped bringing the antenna. I use ham. I also have a TRX7 which I kinda regret. My JK Speaker headlights are also questionable, even though I've had them "professionally" aimed twice now and told they're fine. I get flashed on two lane roads all the time.
Really enjoyed this flavor of presentation(much like the '5 things we Hate about our new jeep'!) the headline caught my eye, but subsequently following them (w/you, marco, & fabulous overlanders w/lite brite) has been a surprising jeep education for me. quick aside, it's always painful to watch a jeep crawling up then swapping rubber side & not rubber side in quick succession downhill with coolers, etc spewing like crazy, BUT!!! the mere thought of a rig like yours or marcos rolling is just UnThinkable!! Anyway, back on topic, my hat is off to someone like yourself that has & uses the wisdom to periodically stand back, evaluate what you've done, and act on the choice to part ways with an earlier aftermarket infatuation if it's not measuring up. i also gotta say, the look on britt's face when she tasted that streak marco cooked up, Totally Priceless!! Happy Trails,...
Instead of purchasing more upgrades for my JKU Rubicon I decided to trade it in for a new Gladiator Rubicon. Now it has many of the upgrades I wanted to add and twice the storage.
Thanks for this video! Appreciate the honesty and feedback on items you've changed your mind on. Very helpful with all the awesome gear that's out there.
Hood mounted Hi-Lift brackets.
Looked cool enough and held the jack just fine, but they don't tell you that it completely blocks the sprayers for your windshield washer. So, you're off-roading and getting down and dirty and when it's time to wash some bugs or mud off the windshield, at best it would basically spit a bit all over the glass, which just spread the mud and bug guts. Went to a driver door hinge setup. MUCH better!
Yes! I spent about 20K in parts that I later sold for less that 30% of their original value over 4 years when I owned my JK. Northridge4x4 Loved me lol. Now I live in Germany and Drive a small car a 2012 Suzuki Swift... so depressing.
I had a Nite Ize Steelie for my phone, re-purposed it for the CB mic when I noticed the battery life diminished due to the magnet. Went with an Anker equivalent but the constant heating and cooling in the interior of the Jeep caused the adhesive to fail numerous times, so I upgraded to a RAM Mount for both the CB mic and phone. I modified an old hitch mount bike rack for my spare, but since it didn't have any sort of anti-wobble system, it moved around too much. I've ditched too many LED pods due to quality and a lack of a good pattern. I've currently in the market to replace the ones on the Jeep for a better one, but I'm dealing with it for the time being. Homemade awning is getting replaced with an ARB here soon. Other than those, most everything else was either worn out from use and I decided on something better, or it was with my base camp setup.
I want to thank you I am going to try to do what you have inspired me to do get a jeep and work on it with my son!!
Yep my sprintex supercharger! Just a not needed upgrade on a DD. Trying to sell it buy keep getting low balled
Joey Jordan how much you asking
The only mod that I didn't like would have to be my stinger. bought a rough country stubby winch bumper (love it) and later bought the stinger mod for it, mainly for aesthetics. Now I'm looking at it and I hate the way it looks.
I bought some rubber floor mats in a set that were listed as being made specifically for my year and model. The front row floor mats were great. The reader floor mats were half the size they needed to be and weren’t even in the right shape. It was and still is the greatest waste of money I have ever spent
Fuel door Attempt number 3 : Rugged Ridge fuel door. Put it on my ZJ (yes you heard me right) and it’s solid aluminum and it is awesome. So if new one fails again try rugged ridge
One time I bought 22inch wheels with 35s for the mall runs but I couldn’t handle the stress of constant humiliation from other fellow jeep buddies. So I only run 17s with 40s now. :)
Wow I didn’t know that the ARB single takes awhile to inflate. Still wanna go ARB but I definitely want something rather my cigarette lighter powered compressor, but upgrading my tires too 35”s so good to know about the compressor.
Hey if you want to pass the compressor or light bar on to a new 4wheeler I’d be more than happy to take it off your hands and add it to my first Jeep, also my first 4x4! I’m sure I’m not the only one to ask but can’t hurt!
On another note I appreciate the good info and quality videos, keep it up is helped me a lot already!
I love this vlog. because I have not done much to my jeep except a hard rock winch plate with a custom led light mount(28") and smitybilt 10k h20 winch. I have no back seat, I mounted my hi lift jack behind my rear speaker bar. I figured on not building a storage system in my jeep, rather store things systematically, keeping things light. as for coms. two Motorola walkies work for me and buddies.
Gibson Exhaust. it sounded good when on the trail but my rear clearance was horrible and after a while the sound got a little annoying. Put the stock back In There and much happier. wish I could get those 400 bones back