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What’s up – I’m Jeepin Bubba from Black Bear Off-Road in North Georgia. I spend hours each week talking to customers about how they want to build-out their vehicle… and here’s what I’ve noticed: Most people have a few general ideas about the direction they want to go with their Jeep. Maybe what color wheels they want, and/or what brand & size lift their friend recommended, etc. So over the years, I’ve learned to ask a series of questions to zero-in on a customer’s desire & intentions. It’s actually my favorite part of the job, but it can sometimes take time to weave through the endless aftermarket options. That however was not the case with Nate Smith. Nate’s been in the automotive industry for a while, so he knows what he likes. Not only that… 

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Jeep filming

Nate had a specific set of problems to solve with this Jeep… 

You see – Nate’s a marketing manager for Fox Factory (you may have heard of them). His job takes him all over the country shooting commercials for Fox and their portfolio of companies & partnerships. Many of these shoots are done off-road… in remote hard-to-reach locations. Imagine strapping expensive camera gear not only in, but ON your vehicle… and then bombing around Moab. Plus trying to do all that while staying connected to the team back at the office. 

Jeep JKS 3.5 lift

Nate’s Jeep needs to be rugged… 

But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Nate’s Jeep still has to be highway worthy. So here’s what he started with: A bone stock 2013 Jeep Wrangler JKU 10th Anniversary Rubicon. 

First on the List: Lift the Jeep… 

For that – we used a 3.5″ JKS J-Krawl kit with Fox 2.5 adjustable shocks. This kit is a complete package, it has fully adjustable control arms, quick disconnects, adjustable track bars, and dual-rate springs. Plus it’s got all the hardware & brackets needed to make the job go smoothly. The 2.5 Fox shock are remote reservoir shocks, with the ability to adjust both high & low speed dampening. Basically, it’s an American made, well-thought-out, great riding lift kit. We also added some BDS extended brakes lines for safer flexing abilities. 

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3.5 lift JKS J crawl Jeep JKU

Tires: 37/12.5-17 Nitto Trail Grapplers… 

These tries are the gold standard for reliability. For the wheels – we did a set of Mammoth Boulders in 17×9 with a -6 offset. It’s nothing too fancy. But Nate looked at the wheels as consumable product. He wanted something better than stock… but something he could replace easily & not something he had to worry about. 

Jeep JKU Steering Upgrades… 

Something that’s often overlooked on Jeep builds (that can lead to death wobble) is the steering. If you upgrade to big wheels & tires, but don’t upgrade the steering, it’ll eventually catch up to you. We went with STEER SMARTS no-drill tie rod & draglink, and a Fox ATS steering stabilizer. To me this is the best steering setup on the market. 

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KBD fenders Jeep JKU

Fenders / Armor / Body…

To clear the larger 37in tires, we did KBD fenders. They’re one of the best-priced fenders on the market that offer clearance and hold up well to off-road abuse. For armor – this Jeep sports Crawltek inferno frame-chop bumpers front & rear. Frame-chop bumpers tuck the bumper close to the body. Therefore, they add durability and increase the Jeep’s approach & departure angles. We also added Crawltek sliders to protect the body. In the front bumper, we installed a Warn 10K synthetic winch with a Factor 55 ultra hook for self recovery. 

Crawltek frame chop bumper Jeep

Crawltek rock sliders Jeep JKU

Axles…

To support the larger tires (and added weight), we did an axle swap. It’s a Dana spicer ultimate 44 in the front, and a UD60 in the rear. These axles have a thicker housing, as well as thicker brackets. The rears also have a semi-float design, so we were able to keep Nate’s 5-lug wheels. We went with elockers front & rear, and 4.88 gearing. And to put the cherry on top, we went with a Dana Spicer 1350 driveshaft front & rear. 

Starlink overlanding

Electronics…

On top of the hood, Starlink was mounted to connect Nate’s Jeep back to the office and/or civilization in case of emergency. Under the hood, we upgraded the Jeep’s charging system with a 350 amp, JS alternator, and a big-3 wiring kit. We also upgraded to an Odyssey battery. Doing all this really helps with the added accessories, and for charging-up batteries on the go. 

KBD fenders

Lighting… 

For lighting we kept it simple. We chose KC gravity series headlights, and Recon LED turn signals & taillights. Some of the small touches included a blacked-out grille and a Jeep gas door. 

Jeep JKU cage

Jeep Rock Hard Rollcage

Inside the Jeep… 

The first thing you’ll probably notice is the 10th anniversary red leather. So when we decided to add a Rock Hard 4×4 bolt-in cage, we powder-coated it Rubicon Red. The cage is a great safety feature. And as an added bonus, Nate can use it to mount cameras on shoots. For audio – we did a Sony headunit & Kicker speakers throughout. 

Rock Works thumb screw tie down Jeep JKU

Trunk / Tailgate…

We used Rock Workx quick thumb screws to make removing the top fast. But – they can also be used as tie-down points for rear cargo. Nate carries a recovery kit from Factor 55, as well as a first-aid kit. He also carries an Eaton GC1800 portable power station & solar panels in the back so he’s prepared for whatever happens on the trail. Finally on the tailgate, we mounted an Excessive Industries tag & rotopax mount. This mount holds two 3-gallon rotopax – for a total of 6 extra gallons of fuel if needed. 

Eaton Portable power

This Jeep is prepared for all circumstances…

It’s well built… but it’ not overbuilt without rhyme or reason. This Jeep can handle the trails… yet it’s comfortable & viable on the open road. It’s a super useful tool, in more ways than one. I love working with customers like Nate, who have a vision & purpose. And I love being able to partner & collaborate with great aftermarket companies to make a Jeep that fits their exact needs without compromising. Nate’s Jeep Wrangler JKU is the Swiss Army Knife of builds. It’s a tool, everything has its purpose, and it just works.

Article by Jeepin Bubba

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