Saying Hello - 07 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

[Milehi explorer]

Hello All, I have been watching since February but I finally got around to posting pictures of my current Jeep. I have been exploring since I was a kid and this Jeep is another in a long line of them including a CJ5, CJ7, XJ, KJ and a TJ. The additional wheelbase and cargo room have been excellent for camping trips throughout Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. I am looking forward to spending more time on here! Thanks for the great forum.

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Jeep_river_crossing.jpg

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Jeep_caribou.jpg

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Jeep_left_hand_canyon1.JPG

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Jeep_left_hand_canyon_2.JPG

[TxRubiRig]

Welcome aboard.

I don't post much (mostly due to lack of knowledge right now...lol), but do find this site very informative.

[TheMike]

Welcome aboard! Where are you located?

I am more tempted everyday to move on to the JK Rubi Unlimited. The only thing holding me back is the amount of money I have poured into my current Rubi. I started out with the hard core rock crawling in mind and have moved toward more of what these boards are focused on; overland expedition type of travels.

Anywho, again, welcome! See you on the trails!

Mike

[boknows]

Nice jeep and beautiful pics, welcome.

[LUISJG]

welcome!

nice jeep,,Colorado is on my short list of destinations.

[SeaRubi]

Great color! welcome to the forum. :smiley_drive:

[Milehi explorer]

Thank you for all of the compliments. I am located just north of Denver so it makes trips into the high country pretty easy!

I would definitely recommend the 4 door unlimited if you are looking for more expedition style travel. I had a Rubicon TJ prior to this Jeep and it was an excellent rock crawler trail rig, but it didn't hold enough stuff, ride that well or get very good gas mileage. While I didn't get a new Rubicon (I couldn't wait and there weren't any on the lot) I would definitely recommend one. I trail ride and camp with a couple of them and they do an outstanding job. The break over causes the belly to drag but a small lift kit can take care of that. Also, people complain about the 3.8L but it seems to do just fine, even on I70 heading to the mountains, especially once broken in. Also, I average 18.5 MPG in my 50/50 city/highway driving commute.

thanks again!

[Scott Brady]

Really nice JK!

I have completely enjoyed mine so far.

[SeaRubi]

That's such a great looking color. Beautiful Jeep - welcome to the forum :smiley_drive:

Does your Sahara have the limited slip rear? How do you like the limited slip with the traction control? What did the gearing end up being?

cheers
-isaac

[Gear]

:wavey:

[Milehi explorer]

Thank you for the compliments, the color combo sold me also!

Yes, I have the limited slip rear along with the brake lock differentials (traction control). It does not allow for perfect crawling like locking differentials but the combination of the limited slip and traction control has performed excellent. I trail ride with 2 Rubicon unlimiteds (1 stock and 1 on 35s) without to much trouble. Every now and then I run a winch line or take a strap but not as often as you would think. The articulation provided by the JK suspension truly is outstanding. When the sway bar is disconnected you have to work to get a tire off of the ground, especially with the unlimited's wheelbase.

Since mine is a 2007 I ended up with 4:10 gears in the axles along with a 2.72 to 1 transfer case it works out pretty well on the trail. Again, by no means is it a Rubicon but it still has dirt running through its veins even if it is a "mall crawler".



http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Jeep_Flex.JPG

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/Jeep_Flex_2.JPG

[TheGillz]

Welcome from another JK lover/user!

[nwoods]

... it still has dirt running through its veins

Nice photos. Camping and wheeling, and wheeling out where you camp is all you need to say to get a high five around here.

Cheers!

NW

[SeaRubi]

Thanks for the reply! a friend might be in the market soon for a JK Unlimited, and I've been trying to nail specs for '07 vs. '08. I'm bummed that they chose to put 3.73's on the 08's rather than 4.10's as the common gear ratio for the towing package. Thanks also for confirming the LSD rear for the Sahara - I *think* all Saharas are coming with the LSD but wasn't sure.

I too came from a Rubicon, but mine was an LJ - it was a very nice rig, but with a move to the east coast and milder wheeling, I thought the JK would serve our family + dog better than the LJ did, and it has. I couldn't pony up for another Rubicon, but they got me anyway with this X that had a rear locker and the electronic swaybar disco from rubi, 32's, and the HD suspension; practically the same truck.

I'm lusting after an Atlas 4sp transfer case but the 2.7:1 on it's own is very nice for exploring - the gearing is way more usable for the type of off-road trips I like to take than it was in the Rubicon. In the Rubi I was always shifting between lo and hi range when in convoy with other rigs - mostly Rovers with 3.2:1 low and 3.54 gears. At 4:1 and 4.10's, I couldn't keep up in lo range, and Hi was a little rough on my clutch when encountering the occasional obstacle in cascade trails. I'm in massive agreement with you in that the 2.7 really seems a lot more tractable for most wheelin'. The BLD stuff is cool - moderate throttle really hooks it up and I like hearing my stock A/T's squeal a second or two once they both begin to grab :hehe:


Anyhoo, looking forward to more pics of your trips! Thanks again for the info on your rig.

cheers,
isaac

[MtnMan]

Always room for another Unlimited! Welcome. :luxhello:

[Milehi explorer]

Thank you all for the complements. I have added a rear tire carrier that includes a hi-lift jack mount and a way to mount an expedition one Geri can. By no means the greatest JK bumper but for the price I could not pass it up, also the ability to carry a little more fuel is a huge bonus.

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/DSC03642.JPG

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/DSC03641.JPG

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/DSC03648.JPG

[jerdog53]

Nice! :wavey:

[SeaRubi]

wow - your rig is looking better all the time. well done! You might wanter to consider some corner guards.

edit: I meant to ask - who's the manufacturer? also, what's your initial impression of those jerry cans? what's their capacity?

[Milehi explorer]

wow - your rig is looking better all the time. well done! You might wanter to consider some corner guards.

edit: I meant to ask - who's the manufacturer? also, what's your initial impression of those jerry cans? what's their capacity?


The manufacturer of the bumper is Rancho. I got it for a little over $400 shipped so it is pretty inexpensive in the grand scheme of JK rear bumpers but it fits my needs.

I have been working on corner guards. If you look at the pictures you will notice a strip of steel that is bolted to the rear of the body. This is my quick solution to protecting a bare corner. I will probably work something up like the Currie Tailbones when time allows. Here is a picture of the corner guard that is on there now:

http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/DSC03644.JPG

The quality of the Expedition One Geri is excellent. It appears to be very strong (much thicker then normal plastic fuel cans). I have had fuel in it for a week to test it and have not had a drop leak out. However, it does only hold 4 gallons. I would really like to have an extra gallon or two more but it is very nice and compact. It would allow fuel to be carried a lot of places that a regular fuel can won't fit.
Overall I give it a :26_7_2:

[SeaRubi]

Thanks for the info on the bumper- I definitely want one of those! I see what you've done with the corners now and it seems you've got some good surfaces to work with in fabbing something up. For $400, you can't beat that with a stick!

And that fuel can is sensational. I found the Expedition One site and they claim:


Designed to handle loads of up to 800lbs of gear stacked on top of it.

I could see packing 4 of those stacked 2 per side down flat on a roof-rack for a total of 5, an extra 20 gallons. That's easily another 200 ~ 250 miles of range. If the load rating is correct, it should hopefully hold up to having 50~75lb loads beating down on it off-road.

linky:

http://www.exp-one.com/Geri_intro.htm