What did you do to your JK today?

[mjonesjr84]

Seeing a built JK and TJ side by side like that, there hardly seems like that much of a size difference. I know JKs are a little longer and wider but perception on stock vehicles makes the JK look way huge by comparision.

None the less, that looks excellent and I hope you enjoy it.

The wheelbase alone is almost 2' difference. The stock axles are 5" wider. This JKU is stretched 3" rear and 2" front too. These full width axles are almost 10" wider than the TJ axles. There was always a huge difference in the line I took in the TJ vs the JKU's I trail ride with. Granted there were some obstacles that they struggled with and I didn't.

Appreciate it. Looking forward to relearning how to drive .

 

[pc1p]

Picked up this 2013 JKU a week or so ago. It has front Dana 60, rear shaved 14 bolt, sport cage, 3-link front/rear, and 40's. It is replacing my '00 TJ that was built for rock crawling.


View attachment 130546

Sweet rig! Big Jeeps seem to be on a discount as of late. Even V8 swapped rigs are being had for nickels compared to what they were just a few years ago… good for buyers, not so much sellers, but hey, that’s life!

 

[mjonesjr84]

Sweet rig! Big Jeeps seem to be on a discount as of late. Even V8 swapped rigs are being had for nickels compared to what they were just a few years ago… good for buyers, not so much sellers, but hey, that’s life!

Thanks. It's always up and down. My brother got a similar built '12 JKU in 2023 for not much more than I paid. It would have cost me 2-3 times what I paid to build it myself. And I was able to sell my TJ to offset cost.

 

[pc1p]

Thanks. It's always up and down. My brother got a similar built '12 JKU in 2023 for not much more than I paid. It would have cost me 2-3 times what I paid to build it myself. And I was able to sell my TJ to offset cost.

That's a little surprising to hear, I would have guessed quite a discount compared to something similar in 2023...

Around here, JKUs are ~30% below of what they were in 2023 (I know this intimately, since that's when we started looking at one for my daughter). Even more, "big JKU builds" and JK's are probably ~40% below what they they would have (quickly!) sold for in 2023. I'm at the point now where I might buy a ~2012+ JK as a future project because they're just so ridiculously priced at...

This one for example, would have easily been ~$12,000 back then (we paid $13,400 for our 2010 Islander, which was a STEAL and well below market in Dec 2023). Granted there are more miles now than it would have had 2+ years ago, but even when adjusting for that, these are all bargains. Many of the Jeeps in my area (Northeast PA) are surprisingly from southern states: NC, SC, FL, and a handful from TX and TN; I guess people are moving back (like we did in 2021).

This one is basically what we paid for the Islander (plus the hardtop we bought second hand for it). Almost double the miles but still, the cost is crazy low by comparison...

Here's one from a dealership, super clean and again about half of what we paid for the Islander.

There aren't any "big" Jeeps for sale around me, but I keep an eye on some of the national sale pages and V8-swapped pages and they seem to follow the same trend.

This is all fine by me - the sooner JK's get into YJ pricing, the cheaper and easier I'll be able to find parts I am glad I sold my LJ when I did though, as it brought in quite a premium, because those too have softened quite a bit. Selling it was able to buy my JK, axles, and about half of my V8 swap, so all and all, I was happy with what the market was like then.

 

[mjonesjr84]

That's a little surprising to hear, I would have guessed quite a discount compared to something similar in 2023...

Around here, JKUs are ~30% below of what they were in 2023 (I know this intimately, since that's when we started looking at one for my daughter). Even more, "big JKU builds" and JK's are probably ~40% below what they they would have (quickly!) sold for in 2023. I'm at the point now where I might buy a ~2012+ JK as a future project because they're just so ridiculously priced at...

This one for example, would have easily been ~$12,000 back then (we paid $13,400 for our 2010 Islander, which was a STEAL and well below market in Dec 2023). Granted there are more miles now than it would have had 2+ years ago, but even when adjusting for that, these are all bargains. Many of the Jeeps in my area (Northeast PA) are surprisingly from southern states: NC, SC, FL, and a handful from TX and TN; I guess people are moving back (like we did in 2021).
View attachment 130548

This one is basically what we paid for the Islander (plus the hardtop we bought second hand for it). Almost double the miles but still, the cost is crazy low by comparison...
View attachment 130549

Here's one from a dealership, super clean and again about half of what we paid for the Islander.
View attachment 130550

There aren't any "big" Jeeps for sale around me, but I keep an eye on some of the national sale pages and V8-swapped pages and they seem to follow the same trend.

This is all fine by me - the sooner JK's get into YJ pricing, the cheaper and easier I'll be able to find parts I am glad I sold my LJ when I did though, as it brought in quite a premium, because those too have softened quite a bit. Selling it was able to buy my JK, axles, and about half of my V8 swap, so all and all, I was happy with what the market was like then.

Stock or a street lifted JK in about a 150 mile radius of me is down in price, especially since I bought the '12 that I daily. What I paid seems to be the going rate here. I know of 2 that sold that were friends of mine in the last 3 months that were similar builds that brought the same that I paid. All-in-all im happy with what I paid. I think I got a pretty good deal actually.

 

[mjonesjr84]

Got the PRP front seats swapped in and the rear stock seat out. I also removed the rear carpet in preparation to install the Armorlite flooring when it gets here.

Installed the RockHard harness bar. I've got the rear one on order to install as well. These will tie me over until this summer when I put in a full cage.

I also test fit the Front Runner Outfitters JKU cargo slide. It fits perfectly. I just have to wait to get the PRP rear seat base before I can install it. It mounts over the rear seat bolts.

 

[pc1p]

Got the PRP front seats swapped in and the rear stock seat out. I also removed the rear carpet in preparation to install the Armorlite flooring when it gets here.

Installed the RockHard harness bar. I've got the rear one on order to install as well. These will tie me over until this summer when I put in a full cage.

I also test fit the Front Runner Outfitters JKU cargo slide. It fits perfectly. I just have to wait to get the PRP rear seat base before I can install it. It mounts over the rear seat bolts.

"build thread, build thread, build thread, build thre..."

Okay you get the point - you should make a dedicated build thread for this beast to document what you do and some trail rides #makebuildthreadsgreatagain

 

[tJKrider]

Around here, JKUs are ~30% below of what they were in 2023

My nephew was just in an accident during one of our recent snowstorms. Someone tagged him from the rear at a decent clip. 2016 2Dr w/hardtop, lift, 35s. Insurance totalled it due to the frame damage and gave him ~$18k which I thought was pretty generous!