Some people are born with Jeeps and four-wheeling running through their veins, and everything they do, day in and day out, is based around the mechanical four-wheel wonders. We know guys with backyards, storage yards, and shops that are stuffed with Jeeps they'll never drive, sell, or fix. The trusty little vehicles just sit there looking pretty, eye candy for the soul, rusting away into eternity. Yet, as disconcerting as this quandary may be to some folks, being Jeep enthusiasts ourselves, we see nothing wrong with this affliction!
Bitten by the same bug, Jeff Leonard of Littleton, Colorado, is half-owner of Rokmen Manufacturing and spends his days, nights, and weekends designing and building Jeep parts. He built this low-profile Wrangler LJ as a functional rockcrawling trail rig and a test subject for his company's Jeep wares. The rig is built with a minimal amount of lift, yet allows the use of 40- to 42-inch-tall tires, giving the Jeep a good amount of ground clearance while keeping the center of gravity low. This design makes the Wrangler one very cool trail- and boulder-hugging crawler.
Tech Specs
2005 Jeep Wrangler LJ
Drivetrain
Engine: 4.0L I-6
Transmission: 42RLE
Transfer case: NP241
Front Axle: Spider 9, ARB Air Locker, 5.29 gears, 35-spline chromoly shafts
Rear Axle: Spider 9 full-floater, ARB Air Locker, 5.29 gears, 35-spline chromoly shafts
Suspension
Springs & Such: (front) Old Man Emu 2-inch coils, Fox shocks, Rockmen control arms; (rear) Old Man Emu 2-inch coils, Fox shocks, Rockmen control arms
Tires & Wheels: 40X13.50R17LT Goodyear Wranglers, 17x81/2 beadlocks
Other Stuff: Tom Wood's 1350 driveshafts, Superwinch EP9 9,000-pound winch, Rokmen front bumper
The low-profile suspension...
The low-profile suspension design keeps the center of gravity low, giving the rig more stability and safety in off-chamber situations. The suspension is designed around 2-inch-lift Old Man Emu coil springs, Rockmen control arms, and Fox shocks. Jeff's high-clearance fenders and AEV's heat-reduction hood allow the use of 40-inch-tall tires without a major increase in vehicle height.
Jeff built the unique cablike...
Jeff built the unique cablike rollcage Unlimited LJ for safety. It runs the length of the interior and makes a secure point for mounting the spare tire. The Jeep is also fitted with Mercenary rocker guards/sliders. The Stryker corner armor is constructed with 3/16-inch steel and 13/4-inch DOM tubing.
The front and rear full-float...
The front and rear full-float axles are fitted with custom Spidertrax Spider 9 axles. Both Spider 9s use 35-spline 4340 chromoly shafts, Longfield 300M U-joints, and ARB Air Lockers. Jeff custom-built the steering components and used a PSC hydraulic steering assist to help steer the 40-inch Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs.