Gray Wolf - The low key, stealthy overlander

[graywolf.trails]

Covid gave me a near-death experience and in the months after recovery, I had a lot of reflection and self-prioritization. I have always loved exploring, hiking, and being in remote places in the wilderness. There was a calling to get into Overlanding and create priceless memories with my family (Me, my Wife and 2 school-age kids). I have always wanted to own a Jeep wrangler (been a fan of the Willys Jeep and the Mahindra Thar - growing up in India). In the fall of 2021, I bought a pre-owned 2020 JLU Sahara as it fit my max budget set for the base vehicle - did not have a need for the niceties in the Rubicon and wanted to stretch this as far as it can go and see if we would outgrow the Sahara in terms of capability. Since then it has been a cult-like obsession and a deeply invested way of life for myself and everyone in my family. This thread is a journal of how our build has evolved over time.

2020 Jeep Wrangler JLU Sahara
3.6 V6 ESS, 8spd Auto
Factory options: Rear Trac-Lok LSD with Dana M220, Body-color hardtop, Proximity Keyless Entry

Instagram:
Chauffer - https://www.instagram.com/subash.canapathy/
Jeep - https://www.instagram.com/graywolf.overland/

Wheels and Tires	Wheel: 17x8 Black Rhino Warlord - Gunmetal Gray Tires: LT315/70R17 BFG KO2 C-Rated
Powertrain, Gears, Lockers	4.56 Nitro Gears ARB Front and Rear Lockers (RD100, RD245)
Suspension, Lift	Clayton Off-Road 1.5" Springs (Front and Rear) FOX IFP 2.0 Shocks 2-3" (Front and Rear) JKS Manufacturing J-Flex Adjustable Front LCA TeraFlex Jounce bump stops - from 1.5" ST/1 kit Metalcloak Front and Rear Adjustable Track bars Apex AutoLynx Sway bar disconnects SteerSmarts Tie Rod and Drag Link SteerSmarts Sector Shaft Brace
Recovery	Smittybilt X20 Gen3 12K Winch Rugged Ridge Premium Recovery Kit ARB Single Compressor
Exterior Mods	Dee Zee Hex Roof Rack Smittybilt Overlander XL Gen2 Rooftop tent Mopar Performance Rock Rails Rugged Ridge Venator Front Bumper Mopar Steel Rear Bumper Mopar tailgate reinforcement and spare tire relocation bracket
Interior Mods	EcoFlow River Pro Lasfit JL Aux Switch Panel - for lockers, compressor Tazer Mini Trailgater table with pull-out cutting board JL Cargo Rack/Shelf Milwaukee Packout Drawer and Organizer Voswitch Front dash camera panel with 3x 1" Ram ball mounts Hood Decal - @pixeldecals Hothead Headliners Full kit Headliner
Camping Gear	Woods Dual burner stove

Recent Pics (Current State):

 

[Sgt_USMC]

Can’t wait to see the final product!

 

[graywolf.trails]

 

[graywolf.trails]

Will update more pics after the bumper and winch is in. Right now the roof rack is done

 

[graywolf.trails]

Roof rack and roof top tent done. Ready for camping season. Excited about leaving the ground tent and the sub par comforts of it at home..

 

[graywolf.trails]

Lost about 1/4" post tent. Will swap the Clayton springs after the first camping trip

 

[Mike Pierson]

Looks great!

 

[graywolf.trails]

More pictures. I love the roof rack. It was a bit tricky to install without scratching the hard top. The clearance is tight but looks fantastic and i don't have the highway whistle noise at 60mph like the mopar roof rack i had before this.

The deezee rack has an air dam in the front cross rail that does well in reducing the wind noise.

 

[Sylvester]

Good Looking Jeep

 

[jeeeep]

What's the data port for?

 

[graywolf.trails]

What's the data port for?

Assuming you meant the Aux switch panel?
Its supposedly for wiring CB antenna and routing it through the dash area.

From the product website - https://www.lasfit.com/products/jeep-wrangler-jl-2018-2021-auxiliary-switch-kit
Q: What is the RJ12 jack on the Red switch assembly?
A: The RJ12 jack is an inline coupler for compatible CB radio.

 

[biosyn]

Awesome build. How are you liking your switch panel?

 

[graywolf.trails]

Awesome build. How are you liking your switch panel?

Its looks stock and well integrated.. The switches are tactile, have night backlighting but I sometimes worry if they are durable.. it feels a bit thin when pressed and I have been babying it to not wear them out soon.

The functionality is terrific. The left side switches are connected to CANBUS. So when I engage lockers it has all the safety built in like Rubicons.. I can only engage lockers in 4LO and under some speed limit, then I can only engage Front locker after the rear locker is engaged. I like that its foolproof that way and I can always used Tazer to bypass enable rear locker in 4Hi if needed.

I wanted a clean stock like look, and this was the only thing that fit that criteria. I would have hated those flip switches or protruding mini screens that never look like they belong on the dash

 

[graywolf.trails]

Its looks stock and well integrated.. The switches are tactile, have night backlighting but I sometimes worry if they are durable.. it feels a bit thin when pressed and I have been babying it to not wear them out soon.

The functionality is terrific. The left side switches are connected to CANBUS. So when I engage lockers it has all the safety built in like Rubicons.. I can only engage lockers in 4LO and under some speed limit, then I can only engage Front locker after the rear locker is engaged. I like that its foolproof that way and I can always used Tazer to bypass enable rear locker in 4Hi if needed.

My compressor is connected to Aux A. I can pre-prime the lines (by running compressor for a second until it auto offs) so that the lockers engage stealthily when needed.

 

[biosyn]

My compressor is connected to Aux A. I can pre-prime the lines (by running compressor for a second until it auto offs) so that the lockers engage stealthily when needed.

That's awesome and sounds like a great setup. I didn't pick up the aux switch option, as I found my jeep on a dealer lot, so I have been looking into different options. Thanks for sharing!

 

[graywolf.trails]

From weekend camping trip. This was the first time driving in proper off-road conditions with the tent on. Wind noise was ok and bearable..

What concerned me the most was this floaty squishy feeling when articulating over bogs and obstacles with one tire up. May be it's in my head..i felt as if it was going to tip over.

Will update here if it feels any different after i install the Clayton springs and fox shocks. Currently it's still on the stock Sahara suspension.

On other news, i did use the front locker for the first time to get out of a spot without gunning it with gas as i was worried about toppling. Good to have that insurance.

 

[Sgt_USMC]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I have heard, but no personal experience, that RTTs make you a lot more top heavy and give the feeling of tipping more. That’s just what I have heard.

 

[graywolf.trails]

Sounds like a lot of fun! I have heard, but no personal experience, that RTTs make you a lot more top heavy and give the feeling of tipping more. That’s just what I have heard.

If it's just a feeling then it's something to get over. If for reals it suffers from higher CG and not offset by the crap ton of camping gear in the trunk then id have to be extra careful. I don't know how to measure this to test the limits though.

 

[Sgt_USMC]

I think given it’s adding a good amount of weight up high it may change the CG. Having more weight down low inside will help to a point I feel. The higher CG is why I haven’t considered getting a RTT myself.

 

[graywolf.trails]

If I'm just wheeling on local trails and back by night i think i should keep the tent at home.. It's a pain to remove store and put it on.