Summer Lofn Jeep

First Year In

So, the Jeep Mod bug bit early and After scoring a Gobi rack from a coworker after he sold his Jeep, I had a great platform to start modifying. The Gobi rack allowed us to bring our surfboards to the beach and mount an ARB awning to the side for camping and beach excursions. Thoughts of a roof top tent also floated in the air.

We explored Montauk and did a lot of beach trips and made good use of our four wheel drive. I was a full on Jeeper again and we were having a blast.

Uwharrie Jeep Jamboree

I was lucky enough to win a Jeep Jamboree trip during a giveaway on Instagram. I was allowed to choose any Jeep Jamboree in the US as long as it wasn’t sold out. I ended up deciding on Uwharrie in NC and my friend Mike also joined me with his Jeep. Up until that point, we had only been driving on off road on the beach and had one trip up in the catskills that wasn’t at all that technical. Prior to going I had emailed Jeep Jamboree and asked if I would be okay with a stock Jeep. They said, yes, and so I went.

I had a blast for the two days of four wheeling in Uwharrie National Forest. It was so much fun and the trails were awesome. The Jeep survived as stock, but I quickly realized that a lift was needed. A lot of obstacles were too big for my stock sahara. Some of the more gnarly areas had bypasses and I would do those and then film the others hitting the tough routes. At this trip, I decided it was time for a lift.

ROAD TRIP to Jeep Jamboree USA – UWHARRIE
JEEP Jamboree USA Uwharrie – Day 2 Sherwood Forest Group
JEEP Jamboree USA Uwharrie – Day 3 Tour De Forest Group

Some Big Changes

Finally after a few years of planning and accumulating parts, Summer Lofn Jeep received an axle swap and was lifted. I was able to find a Rubicon axle set up in Michigan with only 23k miles on it.  After receiving the axles the axle swap was done and the AEV 3.5″ lift was installed. Out went the Dana 30 and Dana 44 axles with 3.21 gearing and in went the Rubicon Dana 44’s with 4.10 gears and e-lockers.

This greatly increased our clearance and ride quality while off road. No more hitting the bump stops and bottoming out in ruts when fully loaded for beach trips.

A lot of the big projects for our Jeep are complete. We originally had plans to use the jeep with an off road trailer that JP is building, but now it is going to be our adventure Jeep that we tow behind the RV.  As such, we have been making changes to make it an excursion vehicle to use on adventures when we find a spot with the RV.

We’ve moved the roof top tent to the Jeep from the off road trailer, so now we can sleep where we park it if we plan to camp. We’ve been making changes to accommodate a small outdoor kitchen, showering, and our big plan is to eventually add a small fridge.

It’s an ever evolving Jeep and that’s the way we like it!

Full run down of all the mods and upgrades done to our Jeep.

Links to our amazon store and the install videos.

Jeep Wrangler Sahara-con JKU 2016 Mojave Tan

Exterior Upgrades / Mods
Dana 44 Axle swap with 4.10 gears and E-Locker
ARB Diff Covers – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007NDB5M4/
Adams Driveshafts – Extreme Duty 1350 front and rear  – https://www.adamsdriveshaftoffroad.com/jeep-jk-1350-cv-driveshafts/
3.5″ Lift by American Expedtion Vehicles –
16″ Steel Wheels by Wheel Vintiques –
31575R16 Nitto Trail Grapplers –
JKS Swaybar Quick Disconnects – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005TTZ78M/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d&tag=aiponsite-20&linkCode=ic6&ascsubtag=amzn1.ideas.3F6TIWN6NYEL6
J8 Custom Front Bumper –
Rough Country 12k Synthetic Line Winch – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B8TWL5Y/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d&tag=aiponsite-20&linkCode=ic6&ascsubtag=amzn1.ideas.3F6TIWN6NYEL6
AEV Winch Plate –
Factor 55 Fairlead – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R6J3OGK/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d&tag=aiponsite-20&linkCode=iil&ascsubtag=amzn1.ideas.3F6TIWN6NYEL6
Factor 55 Prolink – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716YJ6PJ/?ref=idea_lv_dp_
KC Front Bumper Lights –
Trasharoo Garbage Hauler – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RGRCGI/
Gobi Stealth Rack – https://www.gobiracks.com/product/gobi-jeep-jku-4door-stealth-rack/
ARB 2500 Awning – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V9XT8WB/ref=twister_B010TM01IE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Kargo Master Safari side steps – Discontinued – Metalcloak now makes them as they bought KMS.
Daystar Hood Vent Kit – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078GT3XNR/?ref=idea_lv_dp_
Day Star Hood Latch Mod – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GH5ORK/?ref=idea_lv_dp_
Smittybilt XL Overlander Roof Top Tent –
Bilstein JK Steering Stabilizer – https://amzn.to/36mSOVZ
Metalcloak Drag Link – https://metalcloak.com/metalcloak-hd-drag-link-jk-wrangler.html
Metalcloak Tie Rod – https://metalcloak.com/metalcloak-chromoly-dog-legged-tie-rod-jk-wrangler.html
Metalcloak Rear Axle Correction Bracket – https://metalcloak.com/jk-rear-coil-spring-alignment-correction-retainer.html
Morryde Heavy Duty Hinges – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019QGL5VQ/
Morryde JK Tailgate Reinforcement – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019QHBAWE/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d&tag=aiponsite-20&linkCode=ic6&ascsubtag=amzn1.ideas.3F6TIWN6NYEL6
Power Tank Mount – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082VMPT9L/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d&tag=aiponsite-20&linkCode=ic6&ascsubtag=amzn1.ideas.3F6TIWN6NYEL6

Under the Hood Upgrades / Mods
ARB Dual Compressor – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050DI9YQ/
Genesis Offroad Dual Battery – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N23QWI6/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d&tag=aiponsite-20&linkCode=ic6&ascsubtag=amzn1.ideas.3F6TIWN6NYEL6
KC Custom Underhood Lights – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LLNGM0C/

Interior Upgrades / Mods
Outback Adventures Trailgater Table – https://outbackadventureproducts.com/shop/
Rough Country Grab Handles – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLK5483/
Pedal Commander – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MDXZPTC/
Day Star Switch Panel – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010T731N6/
Rugged Ridge A Pillar Switch Panel – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PZF9FW/
XCargo Gamma Bags – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MBHMGLR/?ref=exp_summerlofnfamily_dp_vv_d
Innovative JK Solutions Rear Seat Recline Kit – https://amzn.to/35YZJU6
Front Door Cup Holders – https://amzn.to/2WhJrmq
Vector Offroad JKe Full Width Dock – https://vectoroffroad.com/collections/all/products/jke-dock-2011-2017
Overhead Molle Panel –
CB Radio with Firestick Antennae –