My assembling of Mr. Potato Head

Kyle7R

New member
Didn't really consider my JK to be worthy of a build thread, but I do need a place to gather all my pictures ;)

This is my first Jeep, though I always had wanted one it never really seemed practical to me. I was always a full size pickup type of person my most recent being a 2010 Crew Cab z71 Silverado that I absolutely loved.

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I had this truck for a couple of years, but being lucky enough to have a take home company vehicle it just sat in the garage (which turned out to be a blessing later on) I was getting tired of paying a $500 note plus full coverage insurance for a vehicle that never moved.

Shopped it around and ended up selling the truck for quite a bit more than I owed on it, pocked the extra money and put it towards our wedding!

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In the middle of all that, I needed to have a vehicle available (for when I wasn't working, and to help keep some miles off the wife's car) so I picked up a super clean z71 Tahoe. I had always kinda liked them, and thought "why not?" though I wasn't particularly in love with the truck, it did serve its purpose and let me help a friend in need.

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He bought this truck and had no way of getting it home, so we used the Tahoe to bring her back to H-Town.

After a while of not being happy with my vehicle, I started to get the itch again. So I sold the Tahoe, deciding I wanted a Jeep. Though I didn't know much about them, I started looking around for a pre-owned (we are on a budget man!) and test driving a few.

When we first started out, I was convinced we needed/wanted a 4 door, and if I had come across one that I just couldn't live without I would have bought it. But after some time searching and inspecting/driving, I found that our budget was fit for either a higher mileage/rougher life 4 door, or a very low mileage and very clean 2door.

So I expanded my search, and had my sights set on a 2 door sport with a 3.6, 6 speed manual, soft top in Gecko Green. Problem was, it was about 2.5 hours away.

I call the dealer, ask if it was still there and they say yes. Great! I'm on my way, will be there in a few hours.

Flash forward, pull into the lot, drive around and do not see any Jeeps....anywhere. Finally find the salesman I spoke to over the phone, who immediately begins to apologize profusely, he says soon as we got off the phone he saw the Jeep get loaded up and shipped off as it had been bought via online sale and shipped to the person who purchased.

At this point, I'm wondering if it's even meant to be. But while eating lunch my wife takes my phone and starts thumbing through the saved searches on my auto apps, and comes across a 2009 Rubicon, 2 door with less than 22k miles in Sugarland.

She insists that we go down there and take a look, so we do. It was an interesting journey, but after all of that we are finally part of the Jeep family!

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it took you a while but you finally made it into the family! Congrats and welcome!:beer:

Welcome. You won't look back.

Congrats! Welcome to the family[emoji106]

Welcome to wayalife! Love the whole background story!

Thanks everybody!

I know this thread is wayyyyy past due, so I'll be updating as I dig up old pics of what little mod's I've done were added. :thumb:
 
One of the first things I did, was remove all the emblems and decals besides the Rubi hood decals of course. Then did a little DIY mesh grill project that is still one of my favorite mods.

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Then came a set of Rubi rails off Craigslist, for some reason mine came with the crappy plastic steps. While looking around trying to decide what lift to go with, a buddy of mine gave me a set of stock springs from a 4door hard top with towing package. While not a Rubicon, it still netted me about 1.5" up front and about .5" to .75" in the rear to sit level.

Added some skinny fenders to make room for 35's

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Bonus pooch

Kept browsing around until I found a deal on some wheels, then started the hunt for tires.

I got extremely lucky, the wheels that I bought came from another local Jeeper who had their brand new JKU modded and the wheels scuffed by the dealership or the transport company. I bought the 3 scuffed wheels, and then ordered 2 additional matching wheels online, got a set of 5 wheels for less than 400 bucks!

Same goes for the tires, lady had bought a set of 35's to go on her truck, put them on and did not like how they fit and rubbed the fender. Got 4 tires for a steal!

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So after running around a while without a spare, I found a nail in one of my tires and realized things could have been real sketchy if it had actually cause a flat, or worse.

Luckily, a guy had a brand new matching tire on craigslist! He had bought a truck, and he didn't need the spare tire they had thrown in the back. Lucky me!

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Bonus dog pic. :cool:

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Rode around with the 35 on the stock carrier for a week or so, and I knew I didn't want to live like that for much longer :crazyeyes:

I know plenty of people who run 35" or bigger than that on the stock carrier without issue, but I had already heard my tailgate popping and creaking with the stock Rubi wheels and tires.

So after some deliberation, I ordered an OR-Fab swing away tire carrier.

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Very happy with it so far, and it looks awesome to me

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Shameless gym selfie.

I am loving the new look more and more.
 

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Actually had to get out and about today. Spent the day at my old office.
 

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Got my cb instated today, mostly...my Firestik has down to be "out for delivery"since yesterday morning from the USPS. Yet, it's still not here. So everything is installed, just waiting on my antenna!
 

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Got my cb instated today, mostly...my Firestik has down to be "out for delivery"since yesterday morning from the USPS. Yet, it's still not here. So everything is installed, just waiting on my antenna!

Lost in the floods? Maybe..

What size firestik did you go with?
 
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