Shop Rig - 2007 Jeep Wrangler X

[Jeff]

snorkel.

+1...if it wasn't like $450.

Yeah, for those who don't do the offroad thing I am not adding anything else to the rig other then the lift (which it sorely needs!). I already have a roller fairlead on the Jeep, I am trying to fix a problem I am having with the winch cable hitting the bumper. The answer is modify the winch/bumper or get a different fairlead. That is the point of changing it. I like the look of the rollers and they are moar baller but the hawse might make the most sense seeing as I would rather not cut the bumper up. I am looking into other modifications I could make to avoid getting rid of the rollers rather then cutting the bumper at this point.

To answer about roller vs. Hawse as it pertains to rope vs. steel cable. Justin has pointed out the traditional answer. Aluminum Hawse normally goes with rope where as roller goes with cable. You can use a roller with rope but it needs to be FRESH and never used on cable. Otherwise it will have burs that will damage the rope. My roller has never been used for cable. There was cable on the winch when it was new but it was never used. Further most people say Roller is better because it allows for more extremes in the angle of your pull. If you need to make a pull that is not in a straight line the rollers will always provide better friction relief then a piece of smooth aluminum would.

Oh, and RJ... CLUTTERED? I thought it was classy as Jeep builds go...



This made my pee pee move.

[WRXtranceformed]

I love it but I think you're trying to put too much shit on it now. Or maybe I just don't get the offroad stuff. That car as it sits right now with a few inch lift and a few extra inches in track width is money.

The part he mentioned is what should be there in the first place, the rollers are recommended to be used for a cable, where a Hawse style is recommended for synthetic winch lines, correct me if im wrong. He is just trying to do it correctly so its functional and doesnt eat up the winch line. After this round of installs and the lift id leave it alone, aside from maybe some type of roof rack.

Does Mopar sell all that winch stuff too or is any of that aftermarket? I guess I just thought that was the point to show Mopar products...or are you guys selling aftermarket accessories as well?

[Goodspeed]

Does Mopar sell all that winch stuff too or is any of that aftermarket? I guess I just thought that was the point to show Mopar products...or are you guys selling aftermarket accessories as well?

Not uncommon to see independent aftermarket parts on factory demo vehicles.

[LC619FR]

I guess as one of the few on here that are into the "offroad" scene, I will comment on Jeff's Jeep. In most cases in vehicles, looks def. take priority over stuff. With muscle cars, show cars, it seems that you do enough to give it a clean look that works well then leave it alone. In the offroad world you bolt on as much shit as you think you might need on the trail. When you are out on a trail with you and maybe one other Jeep and miles away from both your tow rig (if you have one) or a store with 2 kids playing a banjo, you need to make sure you have enough shit to be able to fix the shit that breaks or atleast make due until either you can get said part or limp the jeep out. I think what Jeff is doing with his JK is a very "clean look" as Jeeps go. If it were my Jeep I think there'd be more shit on there, of course I also did harder trails then Jeff will probably attempt (not saying Jeff is chicken shit, but why take a demo vehicle that you might sell and beat the shit out of it). I would have atleast a set of windshield lights, some type of provisions to carry atleast one Jerry Can, if I had kept my JK it would have a full cage by now.

As far as showing off Mopar only items, mopar doesn't make a winch, but they do make a bumper that has provisions for a winch. I think it would look like complete shit if Jeff put the bumper on there and didn't fill the gaping hole with something. Jeff buy the hawse fairlead, don't put spacers on the bolts and don't cut up that bumper.

[.RJ]

In most cases in vehicles, looks def. take priority over stuff

Right. Is whoever that buys this really going to take it off road?

If they're not, IMO, it just looks cluttered. If they are, they can always add the stuff they really need.

[WRXtranceformed]

In most cases in vehicles, looks def. take priority over stuff

Right. Is whoever that buys this really going to take it off road?

If they're not, IMO, it just looks cluttered. If they are, they can always add the stuff they really need.

That's spot on and basically where I was going with it.

Not bringing any hate, I just wanted to clarify what his intentions were because unless I missed it (which is possible) I didn't see where Jeff said he was turning it into a hardcore offroading rig. I thought he was just going to showcase MOPAR products that his shop sells to get people to buy stuff.

[LC619FR]

In most cases in vehicles, looks def. take priority over stuff

Right. Is whoever that buys this really going to take it off road?

If they're not, IMO, it just looks cluttered. If they are, they can always add the stuff they really need.

Probably not...but most people who buy Jeeps and lift them that never take them offroad, they still want the look. They're called mall crawlers. Another way to think of Jeff's Jeep is if a customer buys a Jeep from him then look at his Jeep they never have to open the mopar catalog. They can say I want this and that but not that...The more I look at Jeff the more I think in the Jeeping world his is setup as a nice and clean weekend warrior. Enough for the average Jeep owner to go out and run Blue level trails and still be able to drive the Jeep to work on Monday. If I had one complaint about Jeff's Jeep it's the letters. I think the letters make it look busy, but no more so then Joe's Plumbing van you see rolling through town, and since it is advertisement I think Jeff made a good choice.
I hope my old one didn't look to "clutered" Hell that winch even looks familiar.

[Jeff]

Thanks for all the comments everyone. I was in the middle of writing a response at home when I got a call from my Grandparents that their basement had 4 inches of water in it and they needed help ASAP! So that was what I did most of the night and I didn't get back on when I got home.

Zach has answered most everything perfectly really. But I do have a few points to ad. Technically Mopar does have a line of Winches. It is a "Mopar by Warn" sorta thing where they just toss a big mopar sticker on a Warn winch....so I just got a Warn M8000 (from Zach as he has pointed out) and I am going to probably stick a mopar sticker on it. There are certain products that Mopar does not make that are sorta "essential" to the offroading look and activity. Another example would be the jack. I got asked by a co-worker "why don't you paint that god awful ugly red thing black or something?" I had to explain to him that hi-lifts are red like the sky is blue and you must have one on the trail. There are things I would LOVE to have that Mopar does not make. Things like tube fenders. But in the interest of not getting out of line I have not added such things. I am hooked up with a wholesaler who sells most aftermarket offroad products, so I can get most of these things cheap enough to sell them at some small profit but keeping it Mopar has the most benefits to me as well as the new Jeep customer. Warranty and financing play a big roll.

As far as how this specific Jeep is set up, I picked things I think my customers will buy. I would have rather had the rock sliders then the steps...but what are people more likely to buy in the real world? So the shop rig has steps on it. People want this stuff when they see it. If all they have to say is "I want it to look just like X Jeep I see around town" they are going to get whatever aftermaket stuff he has (which is likely cheaper as well). I need a tool here to get them to say the same thing about our products. Its hard to sell someone a $600+ bumper from a 3in by 3in picture. To make them want your product you have to put it in an authentic context, so having all the things that make it a real rig, even non-mopar stuff, is really important to the effort.

[.RJ]

so having all the things that make it a real rig

I think thats where my opinion differs. Maybe I dont know the market, but I would expect the mall crawler crowd wants looks vs real world functionality, and that doesnt really include roof racks and winches... I'd expect those are the people that see the Jeep and say "I want that". People that are really going to use it for off road already know what they want or need.

[Kaan]

Mall crawlers have winches too... they build them exactly like a trail rig... except they dont get them dirty and they wash them every weekend.

[Goodspeed]

Maybe I dont know the market, but I would expect the mall crawler crowd

NOVA Ôëá Real Virginia

[Jeff]

I was going to write a long reply by Kaan beat me to it. I left for a sec and came back and it was all said in one sentence. Basically most people who modify their Jeep never hit the trail or the mud. But they want the look just like they do. Sorta like putting a big wing or low profile tires and big wheels on a car you will never race. I guess your point would be that most people don't put in a harness and a fire system in their street race car look-a-like but I would argue that if it got them street cred they would. Winch, hi-lift, lights, etc. is all stuff you NEED to have the look most people are going for. It is the military truck that has everything we need to go anywhere sort of idea.

Yes it is true that most hardcore offroaders know what they need and know it is cheaper from the aftermarket. Most people and even some of the hardcore who are going to modify a new Jeep will still get some Mopar accessories so they can finance it in. Plus it must be said that Mopar stuff is top quality, not poser junk. So if you want it done right Mopar might be on your list anyway.

[Mike]

Maybe I dont know the market, but I would expect the mall crawler crowd

NOVA Ôëá Real Virginia

Right, we just pay for it.

[Jeff]

Thanks to Zach's help I got the lift on. Got a hawse fairlead and relocated my winch control box from the bar to the top of the winch. Also got the Hella 500's on and the 3ft Firestik on the tail lamp mount for my CB. BAWLIN. Only thing I have left to do besides wheel the thing is the backup lamps.

[BLINGMW]

looks good to me

[Jeff]

Looks like a Jeep right? Moar from when we did the lift.

[BLINGMW]

Looks like a Jeep right?

I'm not really a Jeep guy, but from what little I know yes, it appears to be, upon initial inspection, a Jeep.

[LC619FR]

You need to make some quick disco's for the front and rear and really flex that thing out.

[Kaan]

time to get the bobcat out and build a place to show off the jeep.