JK Rubicon journey

[TJ]

GME radio and antenna

[TJ]

Put Rampage locking hood latches

[TJ]

Installed Mopar hood lift struts. Easy install with no drilling.

[TJ]

Changed the front turn signals to LED ones.

[TJ]

Changed the headlights to JW Speaker 8700 Evolution J LEDs. These are full replacement and ECE and ADR approved for LHT use (i.e. RHD vehicles). Had been looking for them for sometime but the price had always been too much for me.

Out came the old headlights:

In went the new ones:

Headlights, windshield lights and fog lights all on for a quick check:

There is a chrome ring around the lamps to keep them in place, I painted it black as well. I have not driven at night yet to see how much the difference is yet.

[TJ]

Took it for a spin last night, and light is amazing. But lights need both vertical and horizontal adjustment. It was not focused properly in front of me driving.

Also discovered that now the passenger side vertical light leveling motor is not working. Driver side motor works. I will take everything apart again and see what is going on. It was working before I changed the lights.

[TJ]

Got the motor working again, one of the wires had come off. Oh well.

Aligned the lights best I could do, and it's day and night in terms of visibility over factory halogens. Nobody flashed me coming the other way on test run, so beam must be aligned correctly.

[TJ]

Battery died this morning. It just would not start (starter clicking). It was the one Jeep had put in at the factory.

Replaced it with Optima Yellow top. Battery cables fit fine once the zip ties were cut. Turning out to be an expensive April.

[Pico42]

So those JW Speakers are a good bit of kit? We pushed the go button on a pair a few weeks ago at a 4WD show - waiting for them to arrive.

Quite like the bonnet struts too - with some big tyres and a bit of lift it can be quite hard to get the bonnet up properly.

[TJ]

So those JW Speakers are a good bit of kit? We pushed the go button on a pair a few weeks ago at a 4WD show - waiting for them to arrive.

Quite like the bonnet struts too - with some big tyres and a bit of lift it can be quite hard to get the bonnet up properly.

Once I got them aimed and aligned properly, they are great. I can actually see in front of me. Took me a couple of attempts to get them aimed correctly to my liking at home. Then got it verified by a beam setter at a friendly shop as well, just to be extra safe, when I went to pick up the new battery.

[TJ]

Well, I like things that match. So:



Got JW Speaker tail lights as well.

[TJ]

[bagal]

Hi there
With that ARB rear bar, how do you incorporate a towbar?
bagal

[TJ]

Hi there
With that ARB rear bar, how do you incorporate a towbar?
bagal

Tow bar fits to the cross member just like before. ARB bar is designed around it. They are separate items.

[bagal]

OK, thank you for that. Next question, are the front recovery points part of the ARB bumper? ARB told me that recovery points had to be fixed to the chassis due to the air bag "cans".

[TJ]

OK, thank you for that. Next question, are the front recovery points part of the ARB bumper? ARB told me that recovery points had to be fixed to the chassis due to the air bag "cans".

My JK had no crush cans from the factory. Those hoops at the bottom of the front bar are part of the bar.

[TJ]

Bit of an update, long weekend was very helpful. Installed a tow hitch. It sit just level with the muffler/exhaust and does not stick out in the back to cause hindrance.

Tongue is removable, I was just looking at how it fitted together. I have the factory wiring loom, which I will install later in the week.