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559K views 4K replies 176 participants last post by  G Beasley 
#1 ·
Retro Rubicon LJ build

I havent had a 4wd that could be driven on the highway in a long time and I was getting tired of trailering everywhere so I started looking for a LJ Rubicon last Thanksgiving . Within a week I found this with 60k miles for a great deal and it was semi local .

This is the first picture I took of it once I unloaded it from the trailer . The next day I took it out back to have a little fun .

I immediatley liked the softer ride than I had in my samurai , but it was lacking some in capability . I knew with some time and research it would be much more capable , but for the time being I contented myself with cleaning it , getting a new top and some Line X .


I removed everything from the LJ and added a custom milk crate seat . I trailered it over to Line X and then when I got it home I put it all back together just in time to drive up to Lake Erie for work . (Seeing a trailer habit yet )


This was the 1st time in 7 years I hadnt driven a dually CTD Dodge on a trip and I really enjoyed the TJ . So I went full bore into researching here on JF and ROF and I ordered up an Old Man Emu super ultimate setup from DPG offroad .

I came home from six weeks on the road and this is what I had waiting for the Rubicon .


The thread has gotten a little long heres a spoiler pic of what the LJ looks like as of August 2013 .
 
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#1,322 ·
Two hours North of me in VA .Its pretty mellow , but its great for the kids with all the creek crossings and places for them to play in the water . There used to be an amazing rock garden , but the trail to it is closed now .
 
#1,329 ·
They closed all the White Castles , not sure if you would want to go ?:D
Once my work schedule gets figured out I will let you know .



Thanks to a lot of help from Jonathon yesterday and Kimbo today the tree pile is getting close to be done !
 
#1,331 ·
My wife can eat them non stop , but I cant stand the smell of them . I guess its all what you grew up with as I love seafood and she cant touch it .


The yard is almost back to normal . By sunset tomorrow the steel panel I cut out for Clint will be half way to Washington and the yard will be clean .
 
#1,333 ·
The truck is younger than me :( But we both have some good work left in us.

$700 is cheap for a J truck , there really arent that many left around . More people know me locally from driving the J trucks than the Rubi , the old J trucks just stand out .
 
#1,337 ·
General red letters suck for rocks, my buddy had them. They are really heavy too. I ran the STT's for about 20k miles and they had 50% tread left. They are an awesome tire! KM2's are notorious for weak sidewalls and run small. And I wouldn't put Krawlers on a rig that gets driven on the street often.

Out of what you listed you just can't go wrong with the STT's. I've only put about 700 miles on my MTR's but they seem to grip a little better. Time will tell which one I end up liking better.
 
#1,348 ·
Thats good to know . I did read today that Cooper has been purchased by an Indian tire company :(

You ought to look at the Nitto trail grapplers, my buddy has ran them from NC to Moab and all over URE and Harlan. They are quiet and work really well on anything, very tuff tire(in an e load).
I dont see where they offer a 35 in a 15 inch rim size ? And the 33 is $250 a piece which means the 35 is more ... I will add it to the list to ask my local shop about tomorrow .


The yard is almost back to normal , by tomorrow night I will be back to working on the jeep tub trailer .
 
#1,347 ·
You ought to look at the Nitto trail grapplers, my buddy has ran them from NC to Moab and all over URE and Harlan. They are quiet and work really well on anything, very tuff tire(in an e load).
 
#1,350 ·
Your Pitbulls are made in the USA , too bad they would shake my teeth out on the trip to the trail :D The MTZ is a nice looking tire , but they are expensive ! Of course none of the other tires are cheap .Sadly the cheapest is the Grabber and it doesnt have the best reviews .
 
#1,356 ·
A little off topic, but I just noticed your in Eden. I recently started working nearby out of the DOT office Riedsville and am usually working day to day in Madison on site for a bridge replacement. If you see any new plain white f150 with a yellow light on the roof checking out your jeep as you drive by its probably me... or one of the other 8-9 guys that work out of the same office
 
#1,358 ·
Are you driving back and forth from Raleigh ? I am headed over to Reidsville today to get the Jeep inspected , feel free to holler at me if you see me and we can talk Jeep .
Negative. If I buy them they will be for the LJ. Would be good tires for cruising around town and hitting the local trails; save the Pitbulls for big trips like Harlan and Windrock. My current MTZs are going on the TJ since they have 80-90% tread. Main reason though is that I could put off buying beadlocks for the Pitbulls directly after the axle swap. Mount the low tread MTZs on some cheapo steelies and deal with them until I can afford some nice beadlocks.
Gotcha , good beadlocks are a sound investment . With the luck you have had double beadlocks may be in order .
 
#1,360 ·
Chapel hill, each day but the company truck came with a gas card so I don't have to buy fuel at least. And ya I'll def flag you down if I see you sometime.
know anywhere cheap to live around the area. I either want super cheap that's at least not gross and is livable just to stay in Mondays - Thursday andjust go home over the weekend or somewhere decent for a bit more
 
#1,361 ·
Theres a nice little single wide close to me for rent , at least it looks nice from the outside . Its in the country off the major roads , but only two miles from 14 . I can get the number for you if you are interested ?
 
#1,362 ·
Todays Jeeping
Washed the Jeep and got the top and doors removed early .

The more exciting news is that Jonathon came over and popped a Rubicon locker bypass in for me . Now I can run the lockers in 2wd , and high range . He made it look easy , but I am pretty sure I would have made a mess of it . For the record 12v is teh debil !

And trailer fabbing is back underway with a goal of getting it titled by the end of next week .
 
#1,368 ·
Todays Jeeping
Today I ended up driving around delivering and picking up parts . Not very exciting , but I did get the kids in the creek .

And I also picked up the parts I need to finish the trailer . There will be real fabrication pictures up by Monday night ! Woo Hoo...
 
#1,369 ·
Good to hear your getting the trailer project rolling again. I foresee your biggest pain will be the wiring. If you have any questions let me know. We use the 5 plug pre-made harnesses which make life much easier.
 
#1,370 ·
I think thats what I have for wiring it . Four wires sheathed and one exposed. Hopefully I can have this thing lit up like a Christmas tree by Monday night . I do have to pull the tub again for final welding and wiring , but the engine crane and an awesome wife make that a fairly easy job . :D
 
#1,371 ·
Todays Jeeping
Trailer progress ! Not a lot as we had my sons 6th birthday , but progress none the less .


The wiring harness is in and figured out . I need to get a few more fittings tomorrow , but it will have operable lights tomorrow evening .
 
#1,372 ·
Todays Jeeping
Trailer progress ! Not a lot as we had my sons 6th birthday , but progress none the less .

The wiring harness is in and figured out . I need to get a few more fittings tomorrow , but it will have operable lights tomorrow evening .
Happy Birthday, MiniBeasley!
 
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