A Story of Indecision and Frivolous Spending

[Chris]

You are using Weatherpac style connectors with seals on them. The seal is supposed to be crimped if you aren't doing it that way and it takes a crimper like these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0732W6HQR/?tag=wranglerorg-20

You’re right Blaine. I just went out in the garage and looked. My crimper is almost identical to the one you linked to. That first one I posted was incorrect.

On another note: What are you using for paint on the brackets for the mid arm? Anything specific?

 

[mrblaine]

You’re right Blaine. I just went out in the garage and looked. My crimper is almost identical to the one you linked to. That first one I posted was incorrect.

On another note: What are you using for paint on the brackets for the mid arm? Anything specific?

We use Krylon Rust Tough Semi-flat black as that is the closest to matching the factory sheen we have found.

 

[Chris]

We use Krylon Rust Tough Semi-flat black as that is the closest to matching the factory sheen we have found.

Thanks. I’ll pick some up today to drop off with the Jeep on Monday. I gave them your number(s), so if you get a call anytime this week from RJ’s Chassis Dynamics, it will be about the mid-arm install.

I appreciate any advice you give them. These mid-arms are still new enough that I have to imagine that not many shops have installed them yet.

 

[toximus]

Just to clarify here, there is nothing wrong with a good solder joint for automotive purposes.

Good point, there are none.

I've been using connectors similar to this (depening on how many wires that need to be connected) lately, with great success:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FP1HXHQ/?tag=wranglerorg-20



Perhaps one day I'll get there. With the supercharger, running 37s and Dana 60s wouldn't make it such a pig.

Not to mention I'm stuck with 17" wheels for now, since I have your 17" Vanco big brake kit.

If that build list is truly your goal, you're going to be paying for a lot of things twice by doing your current build.

 

[Chris]

Just to clarify here, there is nothing wrong with a good solder joint for automotive purposes.



If that build list is truly your goal, you're going to be paying for a lot of things twice by doing your current build.

I don’t think that really is the goal. If I had an LJ I would definitely be more serious about 37s. But with the TJ, I think I’d rather stick with 35s. With 37s on a TJ I would likely end up stretching the wheelbase enough that it would probably just be a wiser idea to start all over with an LJ which has a more suitable wheelbase for 37s to begin with.

I’m no expert on the matter, but I assume that with anything bigger than 35s on a TJ, that’s when the wheelbase needs to start changing ideally? This is what I’ve read at least.

 

[Clint Rivera]

I don’t think that really is the goal. If I had an LJ I would definitely be more serious about 37s. But with the TJ, I think I’d rather stick with 35s. With 37s on a TJ I would likely end up stretching the wheelbase enough that it would probably just be a wiser idea to start all over with an LJ which has a more suitable wheelbase for 37s to begin with.

I’m no expert on the matter, but I assume that with anything bigger than 35s on a TJ, that’s when the wheelbase needs to start changing ideally? This is what I’ve read at least.

Yup. To run 37's you really need to be 102" ish plus. Not only that, you need new axles if you are running 37's where you need 37's (except maybe snow/mud).

35's on a TJ will get you pretty much anywhere you want to go.

 

[Chris]

35's on a TJ will get you pretty much anywhere you want to go.

Yes, that's what I discovered in my research. 37s are cool, but I wouldn't actually do that unless I had an LJ with the longer wheelbase. For my TJ, I am sticking with 35 as the max tire size and going to build around that.

This will ultimately save me some money too, since full width axles and 37s would add another 15k at least to the cost (with the way I'd do it at least).

 

[Starrs]

Nothing to this thread in a day? What gives? Nothing purchased?? Lol

 

[Chris]

Nope, not today. I'm dropping it off tomorrow morning, that's when the real action begins.

I did order the GenRight front and rear bumpers the other day.

Supposedly someone locally is going to come pick up my JCR bumpers on Friday for $800, in which case I won't lose any money. Hopefully he follows through and isn't just a typical Craigslist flake!

The GenRight front bumper is aluminum, which is nice. The back one is hardly even a bumper at all, which should give me much better departure angles, and IMHO just looks better.

In the meantime, maybe I need to stay out of @tomtaylz build thread, so I don't end up buying anything else that I don't need!

 

[Starrs]

Nope, not today. I'm dropping it off tomorrow morning, that's when the real action begins.

I did order the GenRight front and rear bumpers the other day.

Supposedly someone locally is going to come pick up my JCR bumpers on Friday for $800, in which case I won't lose any money. Hopefully he follows through and isn't just a typical Craigslist flake!

The GenRight front bumper is aluminum, which is nice. The back one is hardly even a bumper at all, which should give me much better departure angles, and IMHO just looks better.

In the meantime, maybe I need to stay out of @tomtaylz build thread, so I don't end up buying anything else that I don't need!

What do they look like?

 

[Chris]

What do they look like?

GenRight Aluminum Stubby Front Bumper
GenRight Rear Bumper Plate

I will of course have them powder coated black.

 

[JDS123]

GenRight Aluminum Stubby Front Bumper
GenRight Rear Bumper Plate

I will of course have them powder coated black.

Let me know how you like that rear bumper. It is the same one I've been looking at for a while. Still running the factory rear bumper which needs to go at some point. It is starting to get bent up pretty good.

Did you order the lights with the bumper? I'm most interested to see how those work.

 

[cliffish]

Nope, not today. I'm dropping it off tomorrow morning, that's when the real action begins.

I did order the GenRight front and rear bumpers the other day.

Supposedly someone locally is going to come pick up my JCR bumpers on Friday for $800, in which case I won't lose any money. Hopefully he follows through and isn't just a typical Craigslist flake!

The GenRight front bumper is aluminum, which is nice. The back one is hardly even a bumper at all, which should give me much better departure angles, and IMHO just looks better.

In the meantime, maybe I need to stay out of @tomtaylz build thread, so I don't end up buying anything else that I don't need!

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is set #3 you have purchased for this TJ???

 

[mrblaine]

GenRight Aluminum Stubby Front Bumper
GenRight Rear Bumper Plate

I will of course have them powder coated black.

It won't matter for your uses but that front is not 6061 T6. Nor does it have a brace under the front lip to keep it from bending up into the round tube between the frame rails.

 

[Chris]

Let me know how you like that rear bumper. It is the same one I've been looking at for a while. Still running the factory rear bumper which needs to go at some point. It is starting to get bent up pretty good.

Did you order the lights with the bumper? I'm most interested to see how those work.

I'm not even sure it's much of a bumper, but I'll definitely let you know how I like it. I didn't order the lights with it. I'm going to see if I can find a cheaper set on Amazon. GenRight wanted $100 for them, and I felt like that was a bit much for just basic LED lights. We'll see!

I went without a rear bumper for so long, that I got kind of accustomed to the look of not having one there. It doesn't look bad!

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is set #3 you have purchased for this TJ???

You are correct! This thread is aptly titled.

It won't matter for your uses but that front is not 6061 T6. Nor does it have a brace under the front lip to keep it from bending up into the round tube between the frame rails.

I'm not fully aware of what the benefit of 6061 T6 is versus the other stuff to be honest. I know there are many different types of aluminum, I just wasn't sure what the differences were.

 

[mrblaine]

I'm not even sure it's much of a bumper, but I'll definitely let you know how I like it. I didn't order the lights with it. I'm going to see if I can find a cheaper set on Amazon. GenRight wanted $100 for them, and I felt like that was a bit much for just basic LED lights. We'll see!

I went without a rear bumper for so long, that I got kind of accustomed to the look of not having one there. It doesn't look bad!



You are correct! This thread is aptly titled.



I'm not fully aware of what the benefit of 6061 T6 is versus the other stuff to be honest. I know there are many different types of aluminum, I just wasn't sure what the differences were.

It is the strongest alloy for the money you should be using for armor and bumpers. The step down in strength to the next alloy group is considerably weaker. You won't ever use it to be tested enough to matter but we would destroy it in very short order.

 

[Chris]

It is the strongest alloy for the money you should be using for armor and bumpers. The step down in strength to the next alloy group is considerably weaker. You won't ever use it to be tested enough to matter but we would destroy it in very short order.

Interesting, I didn't know that. And here I was assuming that GenRight would use that stuff by default. I was always under the impression they built some pretty high quality parts, using the best aluminum!

Looking at some of their other stuff, they do use 6061 T6 on a lot of their parts, which makes me wonder why they don't use it on the bumper.

 

[cliffish]

Interesting, I didn't know that. And here I was assuming that GenRight would use that stuff by default. I was always under the impression they built some pretty high quality parts, using the best aluminum!

Looking at some of their other stuff, they do use 6061 T6 on a lot of their parts, which makes me wonder why they don't use it on the bumper.

I am sure it to offer different price points to satisfy different levels of customers.

 

[Chris]

I am sure it to offer different price points to satisfy different levels of customers.

Not so sure. There seems to be no rhyme or reason.

For instance, this one is made out of 6061-T6:
https://genright.com/products/t-lj-winch-guard-front-bumper-aluminum.html

But this one isn't:
https://genright.com/products/tj-lj-stubby-front-bumper-aluminum.html

It's the same exact bumper, one just has a bull bar, and one doesn't. Oh, and once is not made of 6061-T6. Makes no sense to me I guess.

 

[mrblaine]

Interesting, I didn't know that. And here I was assuming that GenRight would use that stuff by default. I was always under the impression they built some pretty high quality parts, using the best aluminum!

Looking at some of their other stuff, they do use 6061 T6 on a lot of their parts, which makes me wonder why they don't use it on the bumper.

It is very hard to work with to make bumpers. It has a generous minimum bend radius or it will break. If you look at the top bend across the front of the bumper, that is the dead giveaway that it isn't and can't be 6061 T6. It is a tight 90 done with conventional tooling on a press brake used for steel.

It is never good to assume.

Not so sure. There seems to be no rhyme or reason.

For instance, this one is made out of 6061-T6:
https://genright.com/products/t-lj-winch-guard-front-bumper-aluminum.html

But this one isn't:
https://genright.com/products/tj-lj-stubby-front-bumper-aluminum.html

It's the same exact bumper, one just has a bull bar, and one doesn't. Oh, and once is not made of 6061-T6. Makes no sense to me I guess.

You aren't paying attention. Look at the bends, you can not do that with 6061 T6.