Looks great! Love the external A/C plug.

 

Thanks DJ - that feature alone is going to be one of my most appreciated this winter.

 

Holly smokes. This thing is so shiny. Nice list of mods you've got going. Good job!

 

I've never really liked the Jeep steelies, but they look really nice in black and wrapped in a beefy tire. Your Pat looks great!

 

Thanks Mtny and jeep_now. Within four hours of taking these photos, we now have about 3 inches of snow and the trucks are salting the roads. Feels good to know it's sealed, even though it probably won't look like this again until April .

 

I see youre stocking up at my favorite store (Liquor City)

But in seriousness, wow, thats a really nice looking Patriot. That shine alone... yowza!

 

Thanks breadtruck - the Granite Crystal Metallic does take a nice shine. Yes, Liquor City is a huge store - great selection of bourbons, ryes, Irish, and single malts, as well as bargain brands.

 

I was going to ask you what color that was...Now I know....Your pat looks really capable with the mods you have done.....Looks good....It is always nice to be self medicated(Liquor city)LOL.....Have fun in that new fresh snow!

 

Ok, I'm impressed...

I'm slowly starting to build my 08 FD1 Riot for overlanding.

I have been looking for 16" Steelies to put something a little beefier on, I'll have to give your part number to the nice lady at the parts counter and see how much those run.

How is the power run to the roof basket for your lights? I was thinking about putting a RTT up there and was going to mount lights to the RTT (a bar forward and maybe three small six head to the sides and aft as well as a pair at 45deg off the center facing out)

My girlfriend thinks I'm nuts, but that's ok...

 

Jgould, be sure to have your dealer confirm those part numbers for black. The wiring kit is Mopar Jeep for these lights and is run through a hole we put in the roof according to a template provided in the kit just inside the left front rail. You might be able to see it in the photo. I will try to take another photo close up when it stops snowing. Also, the wiring instructions can be found online. The switch is located below the left front air duct on the vertical section of the dash to the left of the steering wheel just above my left knee when seated in the driver's seat. and is wired per instructions to be activated only when the high beams are on. I will try to find a link to the instructions.

 

I'll let you know if that's the part number for the black. It'll probably be early next week before I can make the call as I'm not sure of a work schedule yet. I really wish our patriots had the light bar option that the Libby's had...

One other question in regards to your paint color. Is it OEM? My girlfriend seems to think its not...

 

The OEM lights I bought were to fit a Jeep basket that was offered a few years ago as an accessory. Jeep has the brackets available the put the lights out a few inches in front of the lower front bar of the basket. I figured the lights should be able to work with the Yakima basket, with a little modification. I am sure of the part numbers, but want to make sure you confirm with your dealership given the struggle I had getting these. The paint is an available OEM color, Granite Crystal Metallic.

 

Looking great!

My Jeep locking lug nuts went bad after about 2 winters, had to cut them off, so I'd use Fluid Film on those if I were you.

 

Thanks dixiedawg. How is your new rear fender set up, btw?

I discovered Fluid Film because of your posts about the product and am using it on every thing I want to protect from the severe winter conditions up here. I use it on various undercarriage points on our Pats, including the underside of the SuperSliders and the trailer hitch, as well as under the hood for anything that looks like it might rust or corrode, including the battery terminals. I'm also using it on outdoor locks and other exposed metal items around our property. I look forward to reporting on the outcome in the Spring. I've read that it can be used on parts that already have started to surface rust and will stop progression of such rust.

Where did you use it on the lugs? The threads? There are no moving parts on the lugs.

 

How did you mount the wiring plug for the trailer wiring to the bumper? I like the way that looks.

 

x2 Love the color!

 

Post CRDSTU install photos

Before (clean, late November 2014) and after (salty, late March 2015) Murchison Suspension CRDSTU coil spring installation:

The before-mod photos show the Patriot with factory coils, RRO SuperSliders, and about 150lbs. of recoveryapocalyto gear that I always keep in the cargo area. The after-mod photos show the gear removed, RRO SuperSliders still installed of course.

I have realized about a 1/2" - 5/8" lift in front and about a 1 1/2" lift in rear, with cargo removed for both series of measurements (I realized much more lift, as the photos starkly show, when comparing before-mod with gear and after-mod without). All photos show full size spare assembly in cargo area. The after-mod photos are at a slightly lower angle than the before-mod photos it seems, my bad.

I will try to post after-mod photos with gear as the rear did compress, but only by 3/8", with no difference in the front!

The install was performed by my dealer on the 1 year anniversary of delivery from the factory and my purchase the same day, 25 March 2015. The alignment is all within spec, save for left rear camber, which is at 0.0 degrees (range is -1.45 to -0.15 degrees). Dealer said they could not get the camber any closer, but that it should be fine, given that I rotate every 3-5K miles (twice a year, five wheel rotation). The ride is outstanding. The steering wheel is straight for the first time. Highway drive is flawless, no pulling, no vibrations, no shimmies, no nothing but true tracking and a smooth ride at all speeds.

I am thrilled with the mod, as it solved the cargo weight / factory spring sag problem better than I had hoped. I plan on carrying more weight from time to time, cargo basket, cargo area, possible small trailer, camping gear, bicycles, etc., and am confident that these springs will compress very little when I do.

 

Looks great, congrats!

How's handling? Any improvement? Less roll in the turns?

 

Handling is improved, much tighter, less roll in turns believe it or not. Also, when hitting pot-holes and such on a turn, the rear end doesn't bounce sideways like it used to a bit. Hitting holes do not seem any more accentuated, rather less so.

I did not want to take the RRO lift route as I knew my load-out would compress the stock springs exactly the same way it did in the photos, thus eliminating about an inch or more of lift gained by the RRO, without all the handling benefits realized by the CRDSTU. Plus, I do not believe these coils will compress that much further under additional loads, another plus over the RRO.

All around a much better ride!

 

I had another coat of powder coat put on by a local shop, no charge. I also gave the coils a few applications of Klasse seal as well. I will be sure to hit these with FluidFilm in the Fall as part of the annual spray. Great to read that your positive experiences are ongoing Sandstone.

 

I loved my Stu coils. The Jeep felt completely a different beast. I'd recommend adjustable rear control arms to get the rear alignment within spec. They aren't that expensive and the install is pretty easy. I installed mine myself even though I've never done it before. Rockauto carries them but they are called lateral links if I'm not mistaken.

 

Excellent suggestion TJN. RRO offers adjustable control arms - will they work?

 

Yes, they will.

There's also SPC:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sps-67455?seid=srese1&gclid=CK6r4_Hf0sQCFYMCaQod8pwAVA

Moog offers a re-branded SPC, I've seen it around somewhere

 

I had a thread going on that topic. Here it is.

http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270977

 

Outstanding! I remember that thread now. I am going to order the MOOG/SPC arms and schedule an install with my dealer. Thanks again TJN.

 

Looks good. I also noticed the bettere load handling of these springs. They'll drop about an inch or so when I load tools and supplies in the rear, but no more lighting the sky like the old springs did even when new. I did have a problem with toe links in the rear ( I had 120,000 miles on them though ), maybe I'll also try the lateral links. I'll do it myself, as the local service guy try's to tell me my warranty is not valid because I change the oil myself.

 

I like it, just wish the coils provided a bit more lift (not willing to lose that much ground clearance and take the RRO off), so you gain .5" in the front and 1.5" In the rear, I almost think that with a RRO lift might not be as terrible as what I had thought, with lifting it even more. Maybe if I stumble across STU's coils for cheap I might try it.

 

Just cut down your RRO an inch and have decent coils and still max lift.

 

You should note that the stock springs compressed nearly 3/4" in the front and 1 1/2" in the rear with about 150 lbs of gear in the cargo area and RRO Supersliders - and that compression was much worse with real cargo, camping, overlanding, small trailer, etc. So, the RRO lift will still suffer the stock coil compression and sag that the STU coils will not. I believe it at least evens out, if not better lift with the STU'S coils over RRO lift when actually loading out the Pat, plus the STU coils provide much better handling qualities. My opinion is based on having studied this for months and now finally enjoying both the STU coil reality and heavier load out potential.

 

I was reviewing the Jeep Patriot articles I found on the Expedition Portal. First was the "Little Overlander" article featuring the mods done by the author that included RRO lift, SuperSliders, and Cooper Discoverer A/T3 in 235/65R17 (yes, they rub). Impressive lift:

However, in the same article, that Pat is loaded out somewhat and I notice quite a lift reduction due to the factory coils, e.g.:

Then, two more articles followed featuring a roof-top-tent added to that RRO-lifted Patriot as found in "First Impressions" and "Field Tested". The photos show the Patriot with an empty roof-top-tent installed (88lbs.) and nothing more. The coil sag is obvious in all photos, e.g.:

Compare with his photo of his Pat before the lift with OEM tires (215/65R17 - 28"):

Mine with CRDSTU coils, no load out, and smaller tires (215/70R16 - 27.72") than the author (235/65R17 - 29.21") - I lost appx. 1/4" in the rear from the height shown in this photo when I subsequently added appx. 150lbs. of gear in the cargo area:

I can imagine how much lower the RRO lift would be reduced with factory coils if the author really loaded his Pat out with camping gear in the cargo area (or even just the appx 150lbs. of basic gear I keep neatly stashed in my cargo area)! I suppose the RRO lift is good for looks and if one is not intending on loading it out much, but the reality of the saggy factory coils cannot be overlooked when considering the true lift potential of the RRO. I am happy with the CRDSTU coils.

 

What a difference! Making me lean the STU direction with all the RRO problems people have been having

 

RRO lift and stock coil overs....

I don't find the stock suspension saggy in the slightest in fact it is quite taught,but not overly so,great for highway comfort and mild off roading,and I have the RRO lift and have 0 problems with it,in fact it has been a vast improvement in ride comfort and off road ability.
What I didn't like about the STU is what I heard and saw through pic's. I saw about spring corrosion, and springs being to stiff...plus someone had a problem with getting hold of them at STU after the spring corrosion problem,,,to the point where they gave up and are now going with the RRO...the stock springs are great and so is the RRO lift if it is done correctly and a proper 4 wheel alignment is done!!!! no probs here.

Bill.

 

I don't find the stock suspension saggy in the slightest in fact it is quite taught,but not overly so,great for highway comfort and mild off roading,and I have the RRO lift and have 0 problems with it,in fact it has been a vast improvement in ride comfort and off road ability.
What I didn't like about the STU is what I heard and saw through pic's. I saw about spring corrosion, and springs being to stiff...plus someone had a problem with getting hold of them at STU after the spring corrosion problem,,,to the point where they gave up and are now going with the RRO...the stock springs are great and so is the RRO lift if it is done correctly and a proper 4 wheel alignment is done!!!! no probs here.

Bill.

Ride Comfort ?

 

Agreed with Jeeperitis, if your going with RRO, just go into it know that a proper alignment after everything is said and done and everything will be fine. Today I am tossing on the big boy spring/summer tires again, cant wait to feel that smooth ride.

 

I did not state that the RRO poses any problems other than it suffers from the spring sag (compression) that occurs when you load it out as described. The pictures I provided above support that assessment. I also did not state that the factory suspension with factory springs is too soft as it relates to riding comfort, again, merely that the factory coils sag/compress significantly under load and the factory ride does then indeed suffer.

Jeeperitis, I have read posts of yours elsewhere on this site in which you state that you do not load out your Pat, just regular use and occasional fishing ventures off road. Again, I load mine out and my pictures show exactly how much sag/compression I experienced with a less-than-one-year-old FDII with factory coils and RRO SuperSliders with only about 150lbs of gear in the cargo area.

I have read only one instance of a complaint of CRDSTU coil corrosion, from goguidi, a poster from Greece. Only one poster that I can recall, tkdrumr (3 posts total), complained of too much lift to his 2009 2WD Patriot and a rough ride resulting from his CRDSTU install. (Comparatively, I have read far more complaints about ride quality with the RRO lift, shaking, shuddering, etc., than I have from the one complaint about the same phenomenon above with CRDSTU coils.) This is my build thread and my opinions, based on research (as above) and experience with the CRDSTU coils are simply that 1) the CRDSTU option is perfect for someone who loads out their 4WD Patriot and wants to maintain as much, or even gain a little more lift, than brand new factory height without any load and that 2) the RRO route will not allow one to escape the significant factory coil compression with a load, plain and simple.

I believe the lift of the CRDSTU coils with a load will be almost equal to the lift height of an RRO lifted Pat with the same load and would love to see evidence in a side-to-side comparison to support or disprove this belief by direct comparing the lift heights of the same year/mileage Patriots with the same loads, one with CRDSTU and one with RRO. FYI, I posted my #35 thread above in a new thread I started in this Suspension and Tires forum titled, "Comparing and contrasting CRDSTU and RRO - I would appreciate the debate continuing there, not here.

For those of you who enjoy your RRO lift, outstanding, wheel on brothers. I look forward to reading more discussion in the Compare and Contrast thread...