Hodges 2016 Bilstein Build

[hodge-xj]

Been a while since I actually posted anything.

232k on the truck. Did fresh Air and Fuel filters. Added a cabin filter finally as well a few K's ago. Also installed a set of Smart Liners since my weather techs were beat. Full floor coverage to fend off toddler snacks.

TLC is definitely needed. Windshield, both headlights and a tail light are all broken in some facet thanks to tread caps on the highway or some other misc debris of some type. Spring time will definitely see all new OE style lights, a windshield and likely a brush guard to protect the new stuff. Vice Designs has a nice skid I wanna add as well to protect underside a bit. Otherwise I can't say I need/want much beyond a bed topper and drawers still. It surely won't turn heads like this but it runs 3-4 hours on the highway a day and that's all I can ask right now.

House hunting is still priority as I have a second kid on the way and need more space. Also picked up the wife a brand new Kia Telluride which is pretty sick mom car.

We'll see how things look this spring.

 

[czervika]

Man time flies.

 

[hodge-xj]

Man time flies.

You aren't kidding man. I swear it was yesterday I was in highschool.

 

[ram1500rsm]

232k miles, damn.... Enjoy the Telluride, plenty of space for the family.

 

[hodge-xj]

232k miles, damn.... Enjoy the Telluride, plenty of space for the family.

Yea I'm logging some serious seat time again lol. Gave it a light refresh with some bits and bobs since my wife refers to it as the Grandpa Truck now. Still have my fuels and toyos so might scoop another set of tires for those wheels and regain some cool factor lol. We'll see what I actually end up doing.

The telluride is awesome, and really surprised me. My wife loves it. Aside from the tech graphics being a bit on the girly side with the color ways i really like it. Added tuxmats and it's as baby/woman proof as I can make it. For a 3 row mom car it's pretty slick.

 

[hodge-xj]

New headlights and some black wheel skins. Current setup is boring but super comfortable for all the highway driving I'm currently doing.

 

[czervika]

Looking good.

 

[hodge-xj]

Looking good.

Thanks. We have entered full blown dad mode/commuter phase. I'm trying to hang onto some cool factor while maximizing practicality. Stockers are lame, but the offset means I don't have to clean the truck much at all which has been really nice. Big plus is I hit nearly 30mpg on my trip home today. Lots of wants on the list, few needs right now.

 

[hodge-xj]

Ordered some new stainless hardware for my fuel wheels and picked up some paint to touch them up and get the faux beadlock painted black. Pulled lower valence off again as I cracked it at work and ordered the Vice Designs stock compatible skid. The wheels are going to be a side project when I can get some spare time and hopefully have them done by the time it's warm. I also need to repaint the white bumper top cover, which I'll remove this time from the truck, but that will be a closer to summer project so I can be sure the temps will be warm enough.

Should be enough to keep me busy for a while with my lack of free time lol.

 

[hodge-xj]

Skid is on. Easy peasy.

 

[kurek]

no EPS skidplate?

 

[hodge-xj]

no EPS skidplate?

Thats next! Honestly, this is all to keep 18 wheeler tread caps from nuking something at 5am when they all seem to be in the middle of the highway.

 

[hodge-xj]

1100 lbs to the dump.

Truck tared at 8060 on the way out. Door says I'm 6950 GVWR. So trailer is about 1100-1150. Consider my tow rating is 7750lbs with a 1390 payload. Trailer is only good for 5k. Heavy hauler here guys watch out!

Loaded it sat about perfect level at 23.25-23.5" all the way around. * EDITED at bottom* Trying to get rough numbers for tongue weight to see if I wanna drop the pintle a little. Trailer is on long term loan from my father in law so I'm tweaking things and fixing the trailer up as I go.


This pic is how the truck has been living life and will be for a while. Commuting and working on the new property with a second child due in July means the truck is nothing more than a work horse. With the 3.55s and 285s Defender M/S2s this thing tows and drives great so I really don't wanna jump to 35s and kill that. Still a daily driver at 239k.

Looking at front bumpers as I am considering adding a winch setup. The new property has a couple acres and I am planning on clearing it out. I'd also still like to do a cap and drawers but money is going to much more useful things right now.

Edited Measurements

Loaded - 23.25- 23.5" F/R
Unloaded Trailer - 23.25 F/ 23.5 R
No Trailer - 23-23.25 F / 24-24.25 R

Hard to measure exact so these are just quick numbers.

 

[hodge-xj]

Truck is back to the dealer for a massive coolant leak. I suspect it's the turbo coolant line under the upper intake. Cab likely coming off again. Oh the joys

 

[hodge-xj]

Interesting discovery. The 4600s I put in last year are the same length as my icons. Wonder if the classic models were using 5th gen front struts? AFAIK the icons are extended vs OEM 4th Gen stuff. I'll be interested how they ride with my stock coils.

Planning on pulling off the eibach coils and going back to the OEM set to the 1" notch plus my little 1/4" top shim spacer. Icons will stay on for the time being as the adjustability is huge for me right now. Eibach stuff rides good but just sits too tall for my needs right now. I've been doing a lot of towing and being able to drop the front has been awesome. Allows me to run level loaded and saved me from having to spend the cash on new UCAs for the time being.

I'll update tomorrow with some pics and measurements.

 

[hodge-xj]

Full Dad mode!

Sits about 22.5"F/24.5" rear unloaded.
Icons front, Bilstein Rear coils and 4600s (longer than OEM)

Lowered the front with my icons vs buying new UCAs right now. Tossed Bilstein coils in rear to drop it a little there as well. Levels out perfect with loaded trailer hooked up. Once I'm done renovating and moving into new home and selling the old I'll have time to get my fuel wheels done, windshield replaced and see whatever else it needs by than. Close to 250k on the odo now.

 

[danielmid]

View attachment 566582

Full Dad mode!

Sits about 22.5"F/24.5" rear unloaded.
Icons front, Bilstein Rear coils and 4600s (longer than OEM)

Lowered the front with my icons vs buying new UCAs right now. Tossed Bilstein coils in rear to drop it a little there as well. Levels out perfect with loaded trailer hooked up. Once I'm done renovating and moving into new home and selling the old I'll have time to get my fuel wheels done, windshield replaced and see whatever else it needs by than. Close to 250k on the odo now.

What UCAs do you need? I pulled my front level off and have Zone UCAs with fairly fresh ball joints in them just sitting now that I'd make a good deal for you on.

 

[hodge-xj]

What UCAs do you need? I pulled my front level off and have Zone UCAs with fairly fresh ball joints in them just sitting now that I'd make a good deal for you on.

Idk why I never saw this, sorry for the late response. As of now I'm not on any level either myself so I am good. Thanks for the offer tho!

 

[hodge-xj]

Icons officially started leaking this week, passenger side, which initiated a bit of a rabbit hole of work on the truck. Things have been insane here and I have not done anything but drive the truck ,A LOT. Long overdue for some time checking things out to say the least.

Truck has been in regen a bit more frequently than normal and with moving I am getting fuel at different stations that I'm unfamiliar with. Definitely need to tighten intervals and keep an eye on this.





Pulled the eibach coils off the 4600s, preloaded stock coils to the highest clip and added that 1/4" spacer. Sitting around 22" (+/-) in the front, 24" rear. Took a spin around the house to settle things so TBD on ride vs icons and the eibach coils. Not that I need the benefits of coilovers any more but the ride quality on torn up roads has always been something I've been pleased with. Pic of icon shaft is after I cleaned it to confirm it was oil. Lower mount and bump are saturated, just hard to get a picture. Best guess is these have about 80-100k on them.



Side steps were pulled off and I noticed my cab corner has some bubbling. Pulled the little vent looking thing in the rear door jamb and no surprise found rust. In my infinite wisdom I never actually sprayed fluidfilm into the outer rocker cavity. Only did it from the underside. Added some bushwhacker rocker armor cover things to prevent anything from punching through the sheet metal as it's thin like a soda can. Later this week/month I'll get the cavity cleaned out and get it loaded up with some cavity wax if some type. Won't be perfect but I'll buy me time/ prolong the inevitable death of the rockers. Covers fit ok, and could definitely be made to sit perfectly, but with a toddler running around and the day fading away I did my best without really fitting them perfect. Need to see about adding steps again for loading the kids. Rear is sitting kinda high in this picture, since I backed into the spot. There's about 2" of actual rake.


Fuel wheels are gonna be repainted and fixed somewhere in the mix of all this. Trying to time it around needing tires as well. Delete is still in the plans as I don't intend on a new truck anytime soon. For now, it's earning its keep and I can't complain much! Just under 250k at the moment.

 

[hodge-xj]

258k on the old girl and finally did the rear control arms and track bar. Bushings were toast but in better shape than I anticipated. Felt some clunking when I was towing a machine a few weeks ago and figured the arms were shot.

Picked up some rebel take off rims locally I need to get cleaned up and swap tires onto. Current wheels are going to get a set of winters tires soon.

New house, 2 kids and 2 jobs doesn't allow much time for anything extra. Hope all is well with everyone.