I bought my 2012 Jeep Rubicon brand new that same year. I opted for a 2-Door because I’m a bit of a purist at heart. That being said, a 2-Door can be quite the pain in ass sometimes. Out on the Trail I love how nimble it is, but when it comes to packing for trips, it’s not fun with the limited space.
I wasted no time with modifications. Within 3 days of purchase, I put on a 3” BDS lift, 35×12.50×17 Summit “Mud Hogs” and SmittyBilt front and rear bumpers. I would regret the BDS lift though.
I Cheaped Out!
The BDS lift used the factory control arms so it didn’t handle well on the street OR on the Trails. After only one season of off-Roading, I took a break; mainly to pursue other interests. I was actually involved in the world of professional R/C Car racing! Around 30 people in the world get paid full-time salaries to race toy cars around a Dirt Track fr Bowling Trophies…and I filmed a documentary series around this sport.
I was involved in the R/C industry until COVID hit which effectively ended my series…rather unceremoniously I might add.
With little else to do with my time, and some KICK ASS camera equipment just sitting around collecting dust, I decided to start a Jeep channel. To keep my channel somewhat unique I wanted to focus my channel on:
- DIY mods & repairs
- Product tests & reviews
- Off-Road Adventures
New Lift-Kit
The BDS lift was the FIRST thing to go! Rubi had developed a bad case of DEATH WOBBLE. The puny factory control arms were simply worn out. So I decided to upgrade to the TeraFlex ST3 Lift. Also decided to get back into off-roading! One piece of advice I’m going to give right now, is if you’re looking to get a lift. Don’t be cheap! Swap out the factory control arms. They absolutely suck!
POR15
Once the lift was done I did a bit of cleanup on the undercarriage. I covered the chassis, axles and basically the entire underside with POR15. To seal it I applied a coat of flat black on the axles as they were just a bit too shiny!
NAPA Brakes
Then I did the Brakes; cleaning everything up as I went.
Recovery
It’s always important to have recovery equipment; and since I knew that I could end up on some kind of solo adventure, I know a winch wasn’t an option. I added a Warn VR10s winch to my Rig. It has gotten me out of a few tight spots and even snagged me a super HOT Wife!
HD Steering Links
I also upgraded my steering system with the TeraFlex HD steering links. This was one of the most noticeable modifications I did. My Jeep drives so much better with a lot less wandering. I strongly recommend this kit!
Time to hit some Trails!!!
At this point I felt that Rubi was nearly Trail ready. There was just one more thing to do. Drive shafts! As luck would have it my front shaft would fail just two months before my first off-road trip in years. I replaced both factory shafts with a Rubicon Express kit. Now Rubi was ready to hit some trails.
After a super fun winter season, it was time for more upgrades.
Shocks!
My first addition would be the TeraFlex Falcon 3.3 Adjustable Reservoir shocks. The install was simple; 1.5 hours max. But be warned, these shocks are much longer than most other shocks. So when you install these shocks be sure to install longer brake lines. I went with the Rubicon Express stainless steel kit.
I couldn’t be happier with both on and off-road performance of these shocks. The adjustability is awesome!
- Mode 1: soft
- Mode 2: custom setting from 2.2-2.8 stiffness
- Mode 3: Firm
For around town and most trails I used Mode 1. For any technical sections needed full articulation I always use Mode 1. If the trail has a lot of lateral elevation changes I used 2.6 to make the ride a bit less of a back work-out. On the highway I also use 2.6 exclusively. The first thing I noticed was that cross wind didn’t affect my Jeep as much anymore. I have yet to find use for Mode 3; it’s just a bit too stiff for my 2-door. Maybe if I jumped it…
Dynatrac ProRock “Serious Performance” Axles
Because trail reliability is very important to me I moved away from my slightly modified Dana 44 axles and into a set of Dynatrac axles. The kit I selected offers a 1-ton ProRock 62 rear axle and their ProRock 44 “Ultimate” up front. This is their “entry level” kit, but for my 2-door this is PLENTY! Also included in this kit are ARBs Legen…wait for it…dairy air lockers! Rubi is next-level aweomse now!
Drive Shafts
To continue with my theme of durability, I replaced my Rubicon Express 1310 drive shafts with a set of 1350s from Tom Woods!
Serpentine Belt Accessories
For the PSC Steering install I had to swap out my OEM serpentine belt for a longer one. I had also swapped the pulleys and the tensioner. I went with all NAPA components. I have to say, their pullies are AWESOME; they feature an oversized bearing as well as all metal construction!
Steering
They say the third time is a charm right? Death Wobble had taken out my factory box in 2018. My PSC stock replacement box was also not cutting it on most of the trails I was going on, so it was time for a big-bore box. I went with the PSC XD2 Big-Bore Steering box along with their high pressure pump. The kit is dubbed the “Adventure Kit”, and installing it sure was an adventure. It went in completely smoothly, but there are a LOT of pieces to this kit…including a massive cooler!
Tires
I have always run mud tires. They might not be the best on ice but in mud and deep snow you’ll have a hard time convincing me they’re not the best. I’ve had several differen brands but I’m loving the Mickey Thompson Baja Legen MTZs 37×12.50×17!
I mounted my MTZs on a set of ProComp 17” steel rims. I go with steel so that I don’t have to care about damage as they’re easy to repair with a can of gloss black rust paint!
Onboard Air
When I first got back into wheeling, I wanted to keep things simple. Thus, I had a very basic compressor setup. A portable DeWalt. To be blunt, that thing was a piece of shit! It took me nearly an hour to go from trail to highway pressure.
I was over being the last one done and because my future plans include swapping out my eLockers for ARB air lockers, I invested in ARBs twin compressor. Using the MORE (Mountain Off-Road Engineering) mount, I was able to install the compressor cleanly under my hood. Now I can do each corner in less than 2 minutes. The ARB Twin has 100% duty cycles so it doesn’t slow down; 2 tires were done in under 4 minutes and all 4 tires done in less than 8 minutes! I’m now he FIRST one done airing up!
Since my eLockers are long gone, I also use the onboard air to power my ARB Air-Lockers!
Keeping it Simple
To keep things a bit simpler, I removed the “SmartBar”; also known as the electronic disconnectable swaybar. It was getting too problematic and due to the moist environments I was wheeling in, I was worried about a short at the connector which would no doubt take the CanBUS with it. Not something I want to have happen out on the trails.
Yes, I have lost some convenience as manually disconnecting and reconnecting will ALWAYS be more work than pressing a button…but at least it’s reliable!
Dash Mounts
For keeping my devices firmly mounted and in a convenient spot, I use the Bullet Point mounts for iPhone and iPad mini sized devices.
Body Protection
I like my Jeep looking clean. I’ll drive it through pretty much anything, but after the trip is over I want my Rig to be clean. I also don’t want any body damage so for the hard-top I sprayed it with Raptor Liner!
The liner will keep the hard-top looking brand new for years to come. Now for the body I took a different approach. I Still wanted Rubi to look good, so I enlisted the help of “The Tint Factory” and they installed the HEXIS BODYFENCE Self-Healing PPF. Before the PPF could be installed, a deep power polish had to be performed to rid the body of the ravaged clear-coat. The PPF is essentially the clear-coat layer now.
So what now?
Because a Jeep is never actually done, I still have a lot of plans for Rubi:
- Decide what to do with the 3.6L. HEMI/LS Swap or get another 3.6? I love how light my Jeep is with the V6; it feels very nimble on the trails. The fuel economy is also a HUGE plus…especially on longer trail runs. The power & roar of a V8 would however be absolutely AWESOME!!!
- Bead locks
- Nemesis Industries flat fenders?
- New Seats?
- There is still a TON to do to Rubi before she’s “finished”!!!
Complete Parts List
Here is a listing of all the parts (both Mopar & Aftermarket) that have made their way onto my Jeep!
| SKU | Description |
| 83297 | NAPA Front Caliper Bolt |
| 83597 | NAPA Disc Brake Bushing Kit |
| 83682 | NAPA Rear Caliper Bolt |
| 009-0280-4 | 48″ Hi-Lift Jack |
| 05083669AA | MOPAR Oil Slinger for Axle Shafts |
| 4060905 | Continental Serpentine Belt (For PSC Steering Pump) |
| 5012436AB 200F4 | MOPAR Front Hub Bolts |
| 52059971AC | MOPAR Standard Front Stabilizer Bar |
| 52060013AA | MOPAR Stabilizer Bar Bushing |
| 52110141AB | SMOPAR tabilizer Bar Bracket |
| 551765A | NAPA Adaptive One Rear Brake Rotor Smooth |
| 5JC82CA1AA | MOPAR Rubicon Hood Decal |
| 6510185AA | MOPAR U-Nut (Brake Line to Chassis Mount) |
| 68003570AA199F5 | MOPAR Electronic Locking Diff Connector |
| 68140033AA | MOPAR Rear Window Hinge Cover |
| 68145208AB | MOPAR Passenger Side Front Axle Shaft (with Yoke) |
| 68145209AB | MOPAR Driver Side Front Axle Shaft (With Yoke) |
| 68299026AA | MOPAR JEEP Nameplate (Black – Red Trim) |
| 748-880518 | NAPA Premium Front Brake Rotor Smooth |
| ARB171503 | ARB Compressor Manifold |
| ARB601 | ARB Digital Pressure Guage |
| ARBCKMTA12 | ARB Twin Air Compressor |
| ARBJKUH | MORE ARB Twin Air Compressor Underhood Mount |
| DBS 926294 | NAPA Praking Brake Lever Kit |
| FNP SG8390M | NAPA SilentGUARD Brake Pads Semi-Metallic |
| FNP UP10941PB | NAPA ULTRA PREMIUM PARK BRAKE SHOE |
| H/LRC-875 | Hi-Lift JK Rollbar Mounts |
| JK1803 | Rubicon Express Drive Shaft Package |
| JWS0554543 | JW SPEAKER 8700 Evolution J2, Black Bezel Headlight Kit |
| NUP 3268 | NAPA Park Brake Harware Kit |
| PSCPK36JP1 | PSC HD Steering Pump & Accessory Kit |
| PSCSG688 | PSC Steering Big Bore XD Power Steering Gearbox – SG688 |
| RE1530 | Rubicon Express 24″ Front Stainless Steel Brake Lines |
| RE1540 | Rubicon Express 20″ Rear Stainless Steel Brake Lines |
| RUG11210.11 | Rugged Ridge Hood Catch Kit (Black) |
| S/B13047R | Smittybilt 3/4-inch D-ring Shackle (Red) |
| S/B2728 | Smittybilt RUT-Recovery Utility Tool Trail Shovel |
| S/B2744 | Smittybilt 17,600 lb. Snatch Block – 2744 |
| S/B2828 | Smittybilt Trail Axe with Sheath |
| S/B76410 | Smittybilt XRC Tailgate with Tire Carrier |
| S/B76635 | Smittybilt SRC Classic Rock Rails (Black) |
| S/B76806 | Smittybilt XRC GEN1 Front Bumper (Black) |
| S/B7687 | Smittybilt XRC Gen 1 Rear Bumper with Hitch (Black) |
| TER02-01-33-400-253 | TeraFlex 3 Inch Lift Falcon Series 3.3 Fast Adjust Piggyback Shock Absorber Kit |
| TER1213000 | TeraFlex JK 3-4.5 Inch Sport ST3 Suspension System |
| TER1853900 | TeraFlex HD Tie Rod and Drag Link Kit |
| TER36-07-01-200 | TeraFlex Falcon Bolt-On Rear Shock Skid Plate Kit |
| THM HT203328 | NAPA Thermostat and Water Outlet Assembly – OE Temp |
| UBS 12579A | NAPA Front Axle Seal |
| UBS BR930839 | NAPA Wheel Bearing & Hub Assembly – Front |
| UNI TS5805 | NAPA Coolant Temperature Sensor |
| UNR 16988 | NAPA Upper Radiator Hose |
| UNR 16989 | NAPA Lower Radiator Hose |
| UNR 36816 | NAPA DriveAlign Belt Drive Idler/Tensioner Pulley – Steel Smooth/Backside (65 mm x 17 mm x 25 1/2 mm) |
| UNR 39415 | NAPA Belt Tensioner |
| UP8390M | NAPA Ultra-Premium Rear Brake Pads Semi-Metallic |
| V/A00032 | VIAIR 3 in 1 Air Dwn Gauge 0-60 |
| WAR103253 | Warn VR EVO 10-S Winch with Synthetic Rope |
| YAWD44JKRUB-L-K | Yukon Gear & Axle Dana 44 4340 Chromoly Driver Side Rear Axle Shaft |
| YAWD44JKRUB-R-K | Yukon Gear & Axle Dana 44 4340 Chromoly Passenger Side Rear Axle Shaft |