Roof Rack

This was my first welding project, and it came out very well. I used relatively thin 3/4" box tubing and decided to mount direct to roll bar to avoid the ugly arms on most commercial racks that attach to the jeep tub. I had it powder coated and will run the safari top underneath it year round.

Currie Anti-Rock

Got real tired of connecting and disconnecting the stock swaybar, so I removed it and installed a Currie Anti-Rock off road swaybar. The Currie is a torsion style swaybar that is splined to the links on each side. The result is more controlled flexing off road, no hassle of disconnecting, and an overall smoother ride. It stays connected all the time and nothing has to be done when going off road. After testing it today I have a feeling it may turn out to be the best mod for the money I've done so far:

LCA skids

Welded on four lower control arm skids from Mike's 4x4. Pretty good fit on the front. Had to modify the back.



My Riddler diff has taken a little hit and some paint has come off... holding up solid though.

Ham radio install

Mounted a Yaesu 2900R VHF radio next to my CB:



With a Firestick 5/8 wavelength 2m antenna w/ heavy duty spring on teraflex tail light mount (about 4 ft):

Passenger gas mount

Added an identical gas can mount on the passenger side... for gas or water:

Rear diff cover

Can't just install one:



This time I used grade 8 hardware and torqued to 20 lbs, waited 24 hours and then torqued to 30 lbs to avoid squeezing out too much RTV. 75W-140 synthetic was used for both axles.

I ended up with Riddlers because they seemed like the best combination of design and toughness. Ruffstuff and Great Lakes both make impressive, non-cast steel covers that are as strong as they come. But the Riddlers have an excellent tapered and edgeless design combined with completely recessed bolts. It's a design compatible with the idea that armor should be as smooth as possible so as to slide off rocks instead of catching on them. The mating surface is wide and Riddler has an excellent reputation selling so many covers. They are also deep and guaranteed to fit with Rubi lockers.

Another choice I considered was T&J covers, but they seem to be getting harder to find. Here's an entertaining if impractical comparison of covers: The Great Diff Cover Shootout

Homemade quick swaybar discos

Bypassing the stock swaybar connecting bracket for quick connecting and disconnecting:

Before:


After:

Riddler Diff Cover

Today I replaced the front factory D44 differential cover with a Riddler cover. Much heavier and a better design with tapered edges and recessed bolt pattern:



Painted it to match the jeep:

Recent Additions to Rubi

Some recent small additions:

Relocated ARB locker pumps to under driver's seat (they are stock located rather miserably on top of the transfer skid):



Bestop Safari top (great product) and cb antenna:



Uniden 520 CB w/ Arizona Rocky Road mount bar (works well):



Engine/oil skid from Rusty's Off Road (decent product, it'll do):



Simple PA speaker (amplified only by CB):



Daystar switch vent panel (not wired yet):



Skid Row steering box skid:



Husky front and rear floor liners (great product):



Garvin rear basket rack:



Used Scepter jerry can from ebay for about $50:

TRIP: Signal Peak, Placer County CA - 2009

Considered a difficult trail, but no large boulders here. The most challenging part of signal peak is climbing the partially washed out ledge trail about 1/4 - 1/3 way through the trip. Other than that it's not too bad.

At the top of Signal Peak:

First Post: starting off

Here is the baseline:

-4” Fabtech suspension
-33 x 13.5 Toyo MTs
-Garvin front & rear bumpers
-Garvin rear swing-away tire carrier and rack w/ gas can mount
-Champion 7500 winch (generic, blah, upgrade down the road, but it works)
-Bushwacker 6” fender flares
-Lights: six 100w KC driving (overhead, previous owner); two 55W mopar fogs on front bumper