No, it's not a Ford Explorer, it's a Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited Explorer. We've owned a number of JKs in the last couple of years and wanted to incorporate all we'd learned into a Jeep that would be an excellent daily driver and would work well for backcountry exploring trips, too. This Unlimited wouldn't be the biggest or baddest Wrangler on the planet, but it would be the best all-around JK we'd ever owned.
Davis Auto Center in Logan, Utah, supplied our brand new, fully loaded 2009 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited. Charlie and T.J. Davis always take care of us and are getting interested in exploring the backcountry themselves. We drove our Unlimited from the dealer to Mount Logan Off-Road, the northern Utah JK experts, to have the transformation into JK Explorer performed.
When it was finished, the JK Unlimited was what we hoped it would be - the best all-around Wrangler we've ever driven. Peruse the photos to see how that was accomplished.
 |  The only under hood modifications...  The only under hood modifications made were the leak-proof Optima Yellow Top battery and the cooling fan for the Warn Endurance 12.0 winch. |  JKS sent us a set of their...  JKS sent us a set of their adjustable control arms, track bars, coil retainer plates, and rear track bar mount reinforcement bracket. The control arms utilize greaseable brass bearings for smooth, reliable operation and excellent longevity. Fine pitch adjustment threads ensure superior strength and allow over 3 inches of adjustment. New OE rubber bushings are used to isolate road noise and vibrations without over-stressing the mounting brackets. Finally, a durable powdercoat finish and zinc plating provide excellent corrosion protection.The track bars are adjustable and use OE rubber bushings for superior vibration resistance. This will keep the JK Explorer noise, clunk, and vibration free on road and trail. |