2016 Wrangler JKU Build

Now, fast forward to finally getting a proper bumper and making the switch to KC HiLiTES and Metalcloak.

Before I go any further — don’t worry, I know that running 35s with no lift and wheel spacers wasn’t the best move. But hey, you win some, you lose some!

This Metalcloak lift you see on the right was my first real experience with a proper build. For the first time, I was able to hit real trails with enough capability to actually start pushing myself — which, loosely translated, means doing dumb things.

This was the first real step toward truly learning how to off-road — and from this point on, I never looked back.

As you can tell from the photos, the trails got tougher — and the build got more armor. I fully embraced the soft top life and started taking harder lines, getting more technical with each trip.

Now, even though it looked good, I did still drop my door the first time I took it off. It left a mark that's probably still there! But in true off-road fashion, the tires got bigger — and so did the rocks. That meant it was time to level up.

And just like that, the next phase of this build was set in motion.

Phase 2:

The JT axle swap was a major turning point in this build. I went from a Dana 30 up front in a Sport JKU to Dana 44s front and rear from a Rubicon Gladiator. That upgrade opened the door to lockers and stronger components to support bigger tires.

The biggest challenge came when I realized the JT has a three-piece front axle, whereas the JKU does not. That led to about a week of thinking the swap wouldn’t work — mostly because no one we knew, or could find online, had done it before. But after some hands-on troubleshooting, I discovered it simply needed new axle shafts. Once I swapped those in, it worked like a charm.

Funny enough, that’s how I ended up with RCV shafts. The three-piece axle design on the newer platform was confusing the JKU’s speed sensors, which caused it to go into limp mode. Once that was fixed, everything worked perfectly. The rear axle just needed some mount adjustments — but the front fit like a glove.

Once I stepped up to 37s, I realized it was time to start reinforcing other parts of the Jeep. The steering needed some attention, the shocks could use an upgrade, and — let’s be honest — the suspension travel needed some love too. That’s when I started thinking about going long-arm.

Long story short, I wanted to push the build further and have the Jeep perform better than it already was. At that point, it was doing great — I just had bigger goals. If I’m being honest with myself, I knew I was chasing more capability and comfort on the trails.

Do you need a long-arm suspension? No.
But man... they sure ride nice.

Like I said, bigger tires mean bigger rocks. And boy, was the long-arm kit worth it! Being able to feel stable while driving over massive boulders made the Jeep feel unbeatable.

With this new excitement, I didn’t want to stop. I’ll admit, from this point on the Jeep really put in work. I could have stopped and been perfectly happy — but I didn’t see any reason not to keep making it better than ever!

From the 37s setup, I added a 4.5" spring just to fit 39s. The goal was heading toward 40s — but we weren’t there yet! At this point, I knew I wanted 40s. The more I wheeled and met people in the community, the more I wanted to keep up with the harder trails and the growing movement that 40s were becoming the new 37s.

Looking back, I didn’t need to upgrade — I still hit every trail I wanted to. But the bigger tires definitely helped. From MOAB to Shaver Lake to the Big Bear Mountains, I did it all. And even then, I still didn’t want to stop.

This is where things got interesting. Instagram was booming, and I started collaborating with new people and getting deeper into the off-road industry. I had the chance to work with some bigger names, and they taught me a lot about what the industry is really like — great people all around. I also got to enjoy some amazing times with them at various events.

This period made me rethink both the build and the direction of Elevate. I knew I wanted to keep going, but how? Here I was, leading trail runs, helping people who broke down or were just learning how to wheel. So, I started teaching proper off-roading techniques — how to do it safely and how to get back off the trail without trouble.

This is where Elevate really started to become about helping people learn from my mistakes, become better off-roaders, and get out to explore more — safely and responsibly.

It started to make sense to me that Elevate could be a platform to help people off-road. I began attending more meets and expos, and helped more people both on and off the trails — from getting stuck in the snow to fixing driveshafts with my buddies after a breakdown.

Elevate finally had a clear purpose. That’s when I decided the build would be focused on being ready for any situation and able to help out whenever needed. And that’s where this last chapter of the JKU build begins.

Elevate’s story was born, and I stepped up to Dana 60s to push toward 40s. This was all part of my goal to help people on and off the trails and to continue learning everything I was excited about. It felt like reaching the last level of a game — I had learned so much, but there was one more thing I needed to master before reaching the final level.

Along the way, I had so many amazing opportunities to share my journey. I connected with numerous companies, learned about their products and how they worked, and shared that knowledge with countless people.

This is, sadly, where this build ends. A lot of people have asked me why I sold my JKU, and the answer is actually pretty simple. To quote Dom from Fast & Furious 5: “Family.”

I was about to have my son, and I knew this build wasn’t the right one to raise a family in. I wanted to shift focus to something different — and a couple of extra airbags definitely help.

This build taught me so much over the time I drove it — and yes, it was my daily driver! The people I met and the places I went, I will never forget. But more importantly, this build helped me learn what to do, and what not to do.

It’s also provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge to start Elevate’s educational mission — teaching people the who, what, when, where, why, and how of building their Jeeps. This has allowed me to begin a new build: a Gladiator Rubicon that will be my family build.

This JKU — the same one you just read about — was more than just a rental car from Hawaii. It was my teacher in off-roading and helped me discover what Elevate is truly meant to be.

So, please join me as this adventure continues with the new build! And thank you for coming along on this journey so far.