Just purchased this 2012 2 door. I have lots of toys but this is my first Jeep. Any tips tricks or quirks to these things I need to look for. I purchased it with the lifter tick and fixed it. It's pretty much a stock one owner.
First Jeep, tell me where to start
- Thread starter gimmie0124
- Start date
Threepointsix
JK Enthusiast
Good for you, for fixing the infamous tick and getting into a Wrangler.
My advice: drive and enjoy it. Worry about repairs as they come. The tick and oil filter housing leaks are some of the more common issues. Id say temp sensor and thermostat can fail quite early too. But they're easy fixes.
Cheers!
My advice: drive and enjoy it. Worry about repairs as they come. The tick and oil filter housing leaks are some of the more common issues. Id say temp sensor and thermostat can fail quite early too. But they're easy fixes.
Cheers!
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A throttle pedal enhancer is one of you best things to do, makes it feel like it has more power.
When vehicles are referred to as "toys", I always assume that means you're a builder, not a stocker. If that is correct, then there are soooooo many options. And since modified Wranglers are so popular, they're cheap to build.
Tastes vary, but I'd start by losing that nasty thing on the front bumper. I'd probably just swap on a pair off good off-road bumpers. Then I'd go lift, wheels, and tires. Next would depend. It might be re-gearing, and if so, I'd go ahead and put in lockers while the diffs are open. Replace those delicate step thingies with some sliders. Then a winch...
But that's me. What are your goals for the Jeep? Building a mall crawler is quite different to building a rock crawler.
Tastes vary, but I'd start by losing that nasty thing on the front bumper. I'd probably just swap on a pair off good off-road bumpers. Then I'd go lift, wheels, and tires. Next would depend. It might be re-gearing, and if so, I'd go ahead and put in lockers while the diffs are open. Replace those delicate step thingies with some sliders. Then a winch...
But that's me. What are your goals for the Jeep? Building a mall crawler is quite different to building a rock crawler.
Welcome, except for the Bush Bar and black, looks like my Dealership detailed 2010 2 door JK when I drove it of the lot new 12yrs ago. 17Als have been in my basement for 10yrs, and my step bars are Bitched and gone from the hard winters here. All Good
What @Dirty Dog said, what are your goals / intent? Depending on that depends on what moods first. If for off-roading a few things for me are.
1. Skid Plates for engine / transmission / and transfer-case
2. Winch and recovery gear - tree saver strap, recovery strap, snatch-block, backup battery jumper, shovel, gloves, tire repair kit, tools, portable light, electrical repair kit, some sort of communication device, HAM, GMRS, CB etc.
3. Lift depending on interest. For me 2 1/2” lift can do what I think probably 80-90% of people do off-road, most can accommodate 35” tires.
Agree with @Threepointsix on repairs, cross the bridge when it comes. I recommend changing all the fluids so you peace of mind knowing when they were changed and are good to go.
1. Skid Plates for engine / transmission / and transfer-case
2. Winch and recovery gear - tree saver strap, recovery strap, snatch-block, backup battery jumper, shovel, gloves, tire repair kit, tools, portable light, electrical repair kit, some sort of communication device, HAM, GMRS, CB etc.
3. Lift depending on interest. For me 2 1/2” lift can do what I think probably 80-90% of people do off-road, most can accommodate 35” tires.
Agree with @Threepointsix on repairs, cross the bridge when it comes. I recommend changing all the fluids so you peace of mind knowing when they were changed and are good to go.
Appreciate the replies. It will be more of a daily driver on the highway and the occasional trek to big bend. I'm not a rock crawler as much as a get somewhere and camp..er. I'm thinking a couple inches up.. little nicer wheels and cooper at3s. Get rid of the chrome (although that push bar is pretty damn stout..I was surprised) and maybe add some bumpers and a winch. Give it a little bark and no bite. This truck has never been off road. The underside is as clean as the day it was sold. I like the way it drives but never had a newer wrangler. I just didn't know what the "prone to fix" issues are. 3.6 tick is common in all of them. Someone had chased the oil pressure code and replaced the solenoid but didn't fix it. Turns out it had a wire rubbed through in the harness.
Nic_dEntremont
JK Enthusiast
Welcome to Jeeping, keep it right side up and I'm sure she'll treat you nice for a long while.
Welcome to the forum . Yeah what others posted.
Push Bar and side steps . There are much more
sturdier products out there for sure that will
suite your Jeep. But in the end end it's your money,
time and Jeep so do what you think is best and enjoy
the ride . We're always here for questions and friendly
digs if the need adrises.
Push Bar and side steps . There are much more
sturdier products out there for sure that will
suite your Jeep. But in the end end it's your money,
time and Jeep so do what you think is best and enjoy
the ride . We're always here for questions and friendly
digs if the need adrises.
Willys14jk
Member
Lift/tires/winch usually in that order when starting out unless you’re wheeling alone(which shouldn’t be the case) then winch first.
After you’ve got that established save up for gears/lockers and ideally driveshafts then you can kinda wheel it as is and upgrade as shit breaks or as you need/want.
After you’ve got that established save up for gears/lockers and ideally driveshafts then you can kinda wheel it as is and upgrade as shit breaks or as you need/want.
No, the first thing to do is to make sure your bank account is large or really good credit.
If you put taller tires on depending on what gears you have you'll need to do them after the tires along with recalibrating the speedometer. Going over a 2.5" lift you'll need a new front driveshaft and adjustable control arms and adjustable track bars. Also when choosing a lift don't go cheap or you could be replacing it again.
Willys14jk
Member
I don’t agree. Gearing is important but isnt 100% a requirement immediately. The driveshaft if you go above 2.5” I agree is accurate but the majority of people doing their first lift will be to fit 35” tires and only requires 2.5” lift. I ran my stock driveshafts from day 1 til I was on 37’s and fully built 44’s and that was from 2014 to 2020 with a lot of offroad time. As far as the bank account goes I figured that was a known factor just empty every pocket.
Only reason I said gearing was from experience because my Jeep had 35's on it with 3.21 gears when I bought it. Not a good combination.
Willys14jk
Member
It’s certainly not ideal and I was right there with you for a time although I had 3.73’s and a manual so it was more manageable but gears are a big investment and you really want to know what size tires you plan to run before regearing if at all possible.
How important a gear change is certainly depends on where you're starting. 35's and 3.21 gears would absolutely suck. 35's with 4.10 gears isn't terrible.
Depends where you are I think. 35s on 4.10 here with Automatic is absolutely sluggish. Somewhere like Florida? It'd be fine.
Seeing how the OP hasn't posted since 2022 I think all this advice is falling on deaf ears...