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photos by Bryan Irons
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photos by Bryan Irons
1 Addicted to Dirt Pt 3
The Aries Automotive units tuck nicely into the body and feel exponentially sturdier. Factory mounting locations are retained so there’s no need for drilling holes. After a few trips out, we learned that they easily wash out and the buildup of snow and ice is not a problem with the open design.
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photos by Bryan Irons
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Unless you have 8’ arms, you’re going to need a helping hand installing the pre-assembled panels and cinching down the bolts
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photos by Bryan Irons
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Once all the security lid components are installed, some adjustments will need to be made so that all the pieces align.
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photos by Bryan Irons
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That’s better. Take your time and make small adjustments one at a time.
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photos by Bryan Irons
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It would be nice if you could have the security gate keyed to the ignition key, but it’s not a big deal to pack around one more. The finish of the lid matches the other Aries Automotive components perfectly and is designed to last.
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photos by Bryan Irons
6 Addicted to Dirt Pt 3
Moving on to the doors, simply undo the bolts, release the hold back strap and unplug any electrical connectors you may have. We recommend lubing the hinges before installing the new doors.
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photos by Bryan Irons
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The latch mechanisms work well, and we didn’t experience any rattling from the doors once they were all in place. The light weight doors are easily removed and can be simply stored, too. They do accept the factory Jeep JK mirrors and instead of swapping them back and forth, we just picked up a set of Rugged Rudge reproduction units.
Words and photos by Bryan Irons @bryanirons
Open top, no-door vehicular trail riding is an experience that can’t be really spoken or written accurately about, so its best to enjoy it first-hand to gain a sense of true off-roading. As the build on our friend Zoran’s 2015 Jeep JK progressed, so did our anticipation of what was to come next.
In previous installments, we began by beefing up the suspension, tires and wheels. We also fortified recovery points and prepped for a future winch system. Now, at this point, we turned our attention of adding more hardware to give Zoran a “pride of ownership.”
We know this vehicle can handle the trails as Zoran has gleefully brought his polished Jeep JK out on many runs in the mountains. These rides also revealed some shortcomings, making him realize the need for some new wants, which we rigged to his off-road ride.
The first desire was to deal with the factory running boards that did nothing for protection against the elements and even rubbed against the tires at full stuff. So, powder-coated running boards from Aries Automotive were the order of the day (that also matched the bumpers). The running boards easily bolt into the factory locations and take less than an hour to install with simple hand tools – perfect.
The other area of annoyance are the full doors. If you are lucky enough to not reside in BC, where a lack of doors on any vehicle (where they were originally equipped) is illegal, then we envy you. While a set of factory half doors are not cheap by any means (especially given the current value of the U.S. currency), a set of quality tube doors from Aries Automotive came with the same order as the running boards. Although we did get a set of Rugged Ridge factory mirrors for the new tube doors, so we wouldn’t have to swap mirrors every season when the other doors went back on. Again, here in BC, vehicles are required by law to have two rear view mirrors, which we understand. It’s just too bad that Aries Automotive doesn’t include a set with its tube doors.
The install is super simple and only requires a Torx bit, which you should already if you own a Jeep. In the event you have never took off your doors in the past, expect to spend some time (and the use of some penetrating lube) getting them off. Having a buddy to assist you is a good idea as well.
With the top down and tube doors, the Jeep JK platform doesn’t leave a whole lot of space to secure valuables. So, we ordered a rear close out kit – again from Aries Automotive – so Zoran could keep his ‘speedo and tanning oil safely stowed away from prying eyes’. The kit includes closeout gates, which still allow the rear seats to be folded down for extra cargo space while keeping the rear trunk compartment secure. The kit also allows a hard or soft top to be install over it so there’s no need to be swapping it in and out during the year depending on what top was on.
Some tweaking and tuning of the brackets was also required to get a proper fit and use the included locks and keys. One of our gripes was that the installation instructions could use some better illustrations to show the placement of the brackets as we had to take a few stabs at it. Nonetheless, we liked the rubber seals that keep rain or moisture out of the trunk area, as well as the top deck that’s strong enough to place larger items like a cooler on top.
Off-roading can be enjoyed in just about anything with the proper tires, and we have the fire-red Jeep JK ready for whatever may come over the horizon, which is what it’s all about. Some personal items to provide more comfort and security are always money well spent when the funds allow. Choosing additional gear can become a choice of “who, what, when, where, why, and how much,” but by sticking with aftermarket products that are well engineered always trumps “flashy” and “new” any time. We chose Aries Automotive for this install because the items are easy to procure, they are well made, and have been around for quite a while with no signs of leaving the market any time soon. They are simple to work with, just like us!
Aries Automotive - www.ariesautomotive.com
Rugged Ridge - www.ruggedridge.com