[Dunx]

looks freakin amazing. I have a spare one of those led strips lying around actually. the ones where you can dial in any colour you want.
is yours actually purple? or is that just the photo hue?

edit: and yeah I would think a few small dabs of silicone on the back of that grille strip would work perfectly, and not be impossible to remove.

nice job!

 

[tbrou6229]

Nice job! Just curious... Do they fade up and down like the interior lights or do they simply turn on and off?

https://youtu.be/Nf698-dpTG0
I couldn't upload a video here, but here's a YouTube link for it.

Here's a second about learning where you tapped power... Wheels look good too since your bottom pic is first I've seen them mounted.

I tapped into the interior lighting in the floorboard (the yellowish LED, not the white one for the ambient lighting.) There is a red/black wire going in to this that I was able to splice in to on each side. From there I just ran wiring through a plastic grommett I found in the A-pillar and then out to the undercarriage.

Thanks on the wheels! I'm loving the look, and looking for some way to make it more permanent than the plasti-dip. May have to go with a powder coat if I can find one the right color.

 

[tbrou6229]

looks freakin amazing. I have a spare one of those led strips lying around actually. the ones where you can dial in any colour you want.
is yours actually purple? or is that just the photo hue?

edit: and yeah I would think a few small dabs of silicone on the back of that grille strip would work perfectly, and not be impossible to remove.

nice job!

Thanks Dunx,
The light is actually pretty white when you see it in person, but the camera always seems to capture it as blue/purple. It would be cool to be able to change the colors though!

 

[Wisconsin Mike]

https://youtu.be/Nf698-dpTG0
I couldn't upload a video here, but here's a YouTube link for it.

That is sweet! Really nice job, there.

 

[llChaosll]

Wow love the lights behind the grill & under. I dont know anything about wiring, would this void my warranty if I have someone do it?
I got the Jeep back in May '15.

The last thing I need to plastidip are the roof rails.
Were they hard to remove? I'm scared to try it but I heard its simple as long as you don't mess up the cover. I'm sure once they are removed it is easy.

 

[tbrou6229]

I don't think I did anything that could void the warranty; unless I was trying to get the interior footwell lighting worked on under warranty... Then I think they would have an issue since I cut wires for my power.

The roof rails were easy to remove, just be careful prying out the little covers. They only come out one way, and make sure to do it when it's warm or you could break the tabs. Then get a big flathead screwdriver for the bolts. (The bolt holes look like a 3-point bit of some type, but I used a flathead just fine. After all four bolts are out, slide the rails (not sure if it's forward or backward) and they will come right off.

If you are looking for a permanent solution, plasti-dip isn't gonna hold up long on the rails if you actually use them or strap to them. I'm considering having them painted with a good enamel, or more likely, I'll buy replacements in the grey or black.

 

[tbrou6229]

Just got my RRO steprails installed! They are looking awesome and like they can take just about anything. Unlike some of the other posts about RRO, I didn't have any issues with my product except that it took a while (4 weeks) for production... The parts came in perfect condition and I wasn't missing anything but one small (and very common) washer. The most painful part of the process was payment for the RhinoLining and install.

 

[osirisdean]

Here are some pics with the roof rails and grille dipped. Also, gotta love the black with a fresh polish. Its amazing how much depth it has!!!

dude, fantastic job all around. looks awesome! i plan on blacking mine out as well, so i may bombard you with questions if that's cool. :nerd:


for starters: how easy was it to take the roof rails off? i've heard some horror stories about how the bolts strip really easily and whatnot, so that's been a worry of mine.

 

[tbrou6229]

I did not have any problems getting them off. The only things to watch out for are the covers over the bolt holes... They have little tabs on them that are easy to bend too far and break

 

[tbrou6229]

So, I've done a few more mods to my KL; nothing major but I figured it was time for an update. I really liked the matte look of the black plasti-dip on the rails, but I want to actually use them for stuff so I decided to replace them with factory painted ones. I bought the grey (Trailhawk) ones off another forum member for a good deal and installed them a few days later.

My most recent and probably most usable change was to add the OEM hitch and bezel. I was originally looking at replacing the entire rear fascia, but the bezel was less than half the price and looks pretty good. The hitch install was fairly straight-forward and there are several good posts on here about completing the install. I like the weight and strength of the hitch over the original bumper. The installed bumper (without tow package) is made of a fairly thin, hollow aluminum attached with a few bolts. The OEM hitch mounts in a manner that seems a lot more secure onto the frame and is made of a thicker, heavy steel. Removing the fascia and installing the bezel was fairly straight-forward as well, following the instructions and template provided.

While I had the rear fascia off, I decided to remove the chrome tips for the exhaust and paint them matte black to match the blackout scheme of my Latitude. Overall, I like the new look!

Now, lets see if these pictures will link right... I usually upload and attach, but i'm trying to link them from a Google account. And GO!!!

Installed Hitch

Bezel-Cutout

Bezel Installed

Finished product!

And with the (blacked-out) chrome tips)

If those don't work, here is a link to my google photos album with the pics.
https://goo.gl/photos/LECsZyuGSUnLtuvV6

 

[Jeep#2]

Good job on the hitch install. Do you plan to install the trailer harness as well?

 

[Ferdinand1]

Great work on your Jeep!

 

[tbrou6229]

Good job on the hitch install. Do you plan to install the trailer harness as well?

Not right now... it's a bit too much money since I'm not planning on towing a trailer or anything like that. I mainly am going to use the hitch for a bike rack and possibly a cargo rack later on.

 

[tbrou6229]

Latest update

Just finished a few more mods to my Latitude. First, (and smallest) I couldnt decide what to do with that bright chrome "Latitude" emblem now that nearly everything else on my KL is black or grey... so i pulled it off and i'll figure out something to replace it later!

I then pulled off my grille inserts and took the plasti-dip off them as it was peeling. I painted them with a matte rustoleum black.

Next, I worked on installing my new tow hooks. [SEE HERE FOR INFO] I had read a lot of posts on adding usable tow hooks to non-trailhawk KLs and I figured out a bracket that I think will work well. I had a local welding and fabrication shop build the bracket off some designs I worked up, then brought it home and painted it and added Curt tow hooks. (As said before in the above link, I'm not adding these to make it look like a Trailhawk... I am adding these to have the ability to pull myself, or someone else out of a bind.


Also, I just got my lift kit from @HazardSky [SEE HERE FOR INFO] and got it installed. Moving the front strut and drilling the hole was fairly simple and straight-forward. However, the back coil springs gave me a bit of a hassle. Took me a few hours to do the driver side; the passenger side was a bit easier once I figured it out. (It only took about one or two hours!). But it looks good with the lift installed!

Sorry I don't have any pics of the completed lift yet. By the time I got the wheels back on, It was getting late and a storm was coming through. I didn't have time to get all the trim and fascia put back on. (I also haven't had a chance to wash it yet!) Those pics will come later though. I PROMISE!

While I had the wheels off for the lift install, I took the time to paint the calipers with a high-heat black. I like how the matte looks, but I'm thinking a gloss black may look better. Time will tell, and I may change it after I get my new tires put on in a few weeks.

I am planning on having my wheels redone. I just havent decided between semi-gloss black in a spray-vinyl material (HaloEFX), or painted with a color similar to the plastidip I have now. I love the color I've got, so I'm leaning towards that.

More photos and mods to follow!!!

 

[tbrou6229]

Latest pic with painted grille, tow hooks, HazzardSky lift, and a fresh polish!!!

 

[rski]

cant see any pics....

 

[tbrou6229]

cant see any pics....

GRRRR... Lets try this...

 

[Jeep#2]

Alignment

Looks great! Did you need to get a realignment after the spacer lift? Also, did your Latitude have much rake b4 the lift? It looks pretty level now with the lift installed.

 

[rski]

eh its ok..i guess..lol. just kidding ... looks great....

 

[tbrou6229]

eh its ok..i guess..lol. just kidding ... looks great....

Don't make me unfriend you... Lol