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Ped4599's Garage
I am starting my garage here, hopefully I can bring it over from my Jeepcommander.com garage.
Here are a few pics of my Newest Commander, a 2010 Limited, with a Hemi and Quadra Drive II
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Hope to get "my garage" built here soon with all of my old 2006 commander pics and build up and my build up with the new 2010, but for now here is a link to my videos http://www.youtube.com/user/ped4599?feature=mhum
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I have attended the first two Camp Commanders.
Here is a video link to the first one in my 3.7 sport.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ped4599?.../2/HmvRKsJJD7c
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Here is a photo of my first commander. It was a 2006 3.7 sport.
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It took me just about everywhere I wanted to go.
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Even though I loved the 06, i parted with my former Commander. I really liked it but the money was right and the deals were good....and i got a lot out of my old one so i pulled the trigger on a 2010 Limited. its load OTHER than the DVD player system...which we did not really need.
the trade off was that this was one of the few 2010 limited models with Quadra Drive II. that was my only stipulation...wasnt sure i would like black, but had to have QDII...and since it was not standard on 2010 models...i had to look around since most come with qt2......But no more 3.7L for me. it was a good model, i just was looking for bigger and better.
Link to a few more pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/ped4599/...eat=directlink
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Got my offroad tires today. I got 5 Maxxis Buckshot mudders in 265/70-17. I put them on the rims from Huey that i wont last year in Colorado.
Once i get the Lift and spacers on I will put them on and post a few pics.
Got the new tires home with out any of them touching the interior.
Now i just have to figure out what kind of a rim to get for the spare tire.....get a steel rim or try to find a matching JK rim.
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I wanted to go with Goodyear MTs but there was a special sale and I got these 5 tires for about half the price of 4 Goodyear MTs(kevlar). The tread seems pretty good. They are 8 ply supposedly, so they may be a bit rough riding but i am not worried about that too much.
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Well its no longer brand new.Got almost 600 miles on it. Went home for Easter to visit family in Iowa and had to leave the pavement. Did not go offroading, but had to drive on gravel and just getting to my family's farm is a small dose of offroad driving in its self.
I had to take a few "portraits" of the 2010 while it is still stock, since the lift is on the way.
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Everthing i ordered was on BACKORDER.
Rocky Rock road 2.25 was 4 weeks behind.
SpiderTrax 1.5 spacers were a few weeks behind.
The spacers finally came in and sat in the garage with the tires and rims till the lift showed up.
Here are the spacers I got.
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The lift finally came in and i took it to the dealer for the install and alignment.
It gained 2.25 inches in the back and almost 3 in the front.
here it is with the lift...
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I put the spacers on and the NEW Maxxis 265-70/17tires with the JK rims from last years camp XK.
It leveled it off and it turned out pretty well.
here is a shot of it with the lift, spacers and tires.
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I got my roof rack on and took a few picts.
I now have 1,700 miles on it, so i decided it was time to get it out for some "testing"......well mostly i just wanted to get some dirt on it so that "new" feeling will go away and i can use it for what I bought it for!
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I spent a little time testing out the offroad ability in my only arena....where i have test 4 wheelers, My old commander with qt1, many 4x4 pickups, a jeep wrangler, and even tractors......on my parents farm. Though the elevation does not compare to places like colorado, or any of the ORV parks i have been too, there is plenty of rugged terrain to try different things on.
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and ofcourse i got a lecture from my mother about being careful and not rolling a $50,000 vehicle before it even has 2000 miles on it.(thanks mom, i will do my best not to.Even in my 30s, mom knows best, i guess)
It was funny, though to see her face as i crossed some very deep and rugged gullies, and had tires a few feet off the ground.
I talked my wife into going along for some of it, thinking she would video, but no dice!...she wouldnt get out of the vehicle since it was muddy in places.
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So i am set up now for my tire and roof rack switching. Got a floor jack, impact wrench/gun, etc.I decided to keep the roof rack and MT tires in the garage and only put them on when they are needed. It takes about 10-15 min to swap the four tires and about 7-8 minutes to throw the rack on.
It will not fit in my garage with the roof rack on anyway.
I leave the 1.5 spacers still on the wheels when I go back to the chrome wheels/stock tires.
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Behold:
4xguard!!!!!!!!
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Wait for it!!
Wait for it!!!!!
!!!!
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After all the talk about the 4xguard having some problems with the paint. I got my stuff and did a complete and detailed inspection of every piece that came out of the "piles and piles" of packing! This stuff was packed very very well!!!
The result of my inspection was the the 4xguard stuff that I got was FLAWLESS!
and I was very impressed at the shiny, metallic paint on the front guard and the cross plate for the matrix. Its exactly what I had hoped for! Stainless steel would have been the only thing that could top that coloring, for my rig.
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I went to town on my 4xguard stuff.....and made a mess of my garage but i got it all done in one long after noon.
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The matrix is solid.
I think the best tool for me, on this install was the IMPACT WRENCH/GUN!
I dont thing i could have gotten it so snugged up and solid with out it
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the front guard was very heavy and by the end of the day my arms were tired and it was all i could do the lay on my back and get the bolts started.....needless to say, i hit them with the impact!
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Beautiful Commander. There is something about a black vehicle that really just makes me smile. I'm waiting for my front skid now. Can't wait to put it on.
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The temp came up as i was working so i was soaked in sweat, and my garage was a mess, but I got it all done and am very happy with it all.
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I even took a cheep plastic hitch plug and attached the OEM Lic. Plate holder to it.
(AND NO, I am not scared if you have my plate NUMBER---if you want to track me down that badly, come on over and i will buy you a beer....call ahead for you favorite brand/flavor. I will even get you a lead cocktail. Just pick your caliber.)
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Here is a video with my first real test of what the new 2010 is like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q44HP...?v=Q44HP_TBdvw
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NOTE on 4xguard Belly guard:
After this trip to the Tuttle Creek ORV park in KANSAS, I inspected the underside and saw that I took some pretty hard hits on the skids. The good news is that the 4xguard Belly guard no doubt saved me from damage to some of the vehicle parts. I can see where it hit the belly guard, but ofcourse there is no damage to the Jeep. I think all the skids held up very well!
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I decided on the Rugged Ridge 8500 with synthetic 16000 Lb. line from AutoAnything.com. I had a special coupon and free shipping so i got a good price on it.
I got a winch cradle, a snatch block pulley, and a couple set of quick connects from Promark (formerly Gorilla winches).
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I decided not to put the arm/handles on the winch tray. They are nice for carrying it but is looks better without them if i decide to drive around with it on. With the 4xguard Matrix system, it almost looks like its all part of the package.
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I got a short 1 Ga. cable and wired it up to a shut off.
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An idea I stole from Huey. I taped up the connectors to seal them and then used giant heavy duty zip ties to hold it securely in place. I seems to work very well as I tested it after the install.
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I have hidden quick connects so its an easy hook up and removal, and the Front guard hide it all well when tucked behind....plus its very well protected.
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Here are some photos from my week in the wilderness, and my 2010 Commander's maiden deer hunting voyage. As usual, the Commander proved to be the best hunting rig I could ask for.
This is my camp back in the middle of "no where" Nebraska, several miles from any town.
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That camper looks really cool.
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Mighty fine rig you have! I like the progression with the mods that you show.
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I finally made my rear extension for my winch. I forgot to post it back when I made it and just ran across this photo I took. I found a 2 ga. heavy truck cable which met all the rating requirement to match the winch cables. I cut the end off and put in the quick connects to hook to my winch so i can use it in the back of the vehicle...or use the winch on another vehicle if they are not wired for the quick connects. And it can be used as a jumper cable still if needed.
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I got my rear sliders yesterday....in the middle of a snow storm! we had a warm spell last week when i ordered them and was hoping it would stay in the 60s like it was then, but not we are back in the teens and have several more inches a of snow.....so these will stay in the box til it warms up. I also got my side guards rock rails, but it will be the same for them...they will stay in the box till i get a warm day to work on them.
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So due to all the snow storms we had the rear sliders sat on the shelf for a week or so but it finally warmed up a little bit and i went to work on installing them.
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I could tell just by holding them that they were the real deal. they are heavy and very solid!
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I went over the instructions and followed them down the list for the most part. One thing I had to double check was that they were to be mounted on the out sides of the frame rails. I knew that was where they went, but it never actually said that. I didn't want to put them on wrong.
I found the mounting holes and drilled them out.
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.....after removing the spare tire.......
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there is a small wire you are suppose to move for a bit while you drill then put it back, but for some reason the rear guard covered part of the hole so I tucked it up out of the way. Here is the wire.
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Then i marked the spot for the 3rd hole. since the muffler wouldn't alllow you to drill this side using the sliders as the template once in place.Even with this method, i was still off a bit and to ream the hole a lot. I was off by almost an entire hole.
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Once I got it all set i painted the holes that i drilled to help prevent some rusting. then set the space i from the bumper.
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ONE small issue I had was that the third bolt was only 2 inches, where the first were 3inch. i am not sure if my rails are wider then others on the 2010...but i could not make the 2 inch bold work, so I went to the store and got a matching 3 inch bolt and that worked well. If you use the 3rd hole option, you may want to be prepared for this.
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Once I got them both on, I set the spacing how I wanted it and locked them down.
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I got 4 matching screw pin D ring loops so i could have a matched set on front and back.
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I mounted the loops and put tiny zip ties on each side of the loops to keep the play from letting them rattle...i zipped them tight so the loops wont swing.
I like them. The sliders add a whole new look to the rear bumper.
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Side guards
I got my side guards and got them installed. I am very happy with them.
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They were very very heavy!
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I removed the plastic rails. If you have ever been off the pavement, i promise you will have dirt up inside there...no matter how well you wash your car. when you are removing the plastic ones, be ready for a face full of dirt.
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I got all set up. i was by my self so I used a piece of packing and covered a jack stand to hold the one end while i start the process.
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