Black Rhino’s Heavy Metal JK: A Jeep Wrangler Built for Adventure

Black Rhino’s Jeep Wrangler Sport Unlimited

By far one of the most popular vehicles to jump in and go where few people dare to tread is the venerable Jeep Wrangler. Its legendary performance off paved roads is known the world over. Even the name itself immediately sparks images of rugged off-road performance and a spirit of open road freedom. The Wrangler’s lineage spans over thirty years and four generations, with the JK model being arguably one of the best loved of them all by its drivers.

The JK was introduced in 2006 and is still currently available this year in what is said to be its final year of production. After a very successful 12 years in production, it is being replaced by the new JL model Wrangler. When Brea, California-based Black Rhino Wheels went looking for a vehicle to build up for the 2017 SEMA Show and properly show off their selection of off-road wheels, they naturally selected the JK to serve as their ambassador.

Black Rhino picked up their JK brand new from the dealership and immediately went into teardown and rebuild mode. Their plan was to build it into a well-rounded on-and off-road vehicle suitable for the daily commute while being able to take on a wide variety of off-road trails and terrain. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. We find that many off-road vehicles share the need to fulfill the duties of daily drivers and off-road weekenders.

“THE WRANGLER’S LINEAGE SPANS OVER THIRTY YEARS AND FOUR GENERATIONS, WITH THE JK MODEL BEING ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BEST LOVED OF THEM ALL BY ITS DRIVERS.”

The build started in Irving, Texas, at JR’s Custom Auto. Ryan Gallagher from Black Rhino fills us in, “JR helped source a blank slate, stock Wrangler, and started off the build with a graphite gray CLOAK exterior coating.” For those who aren’t familiar with it, the CLOAK exterior coating is a Kevlar sprayed coating that, in effect, “armors up” your vehicle’s body for incredibly tough surface protection. With over 30 years of experience, the crew at JR’s Custom Auto knows a thing or two about vehicle customization and the Kevlar coating is a veneer which they apply to vehicles that will see significant off-road use.

It was at this stage, after the CLOAK coating was done, that the Jeep was driven to California for further work. Of the trip from Texas to California, Gallagher says, “Once the first set of wheels and tires were installed, we drove the Jeep from Texas back to California where the remaining build was finished at Shoreline Motoring in Huntington Beach, California. Since the drive was quite the road trip, we made a few stops along the way, mostly at scenic spots to stretch out the legs and at a few off-road shops for inspiration.”

It was when the JK made it into the expert hands of Paul and Ray at Shoreline Motoring that the rest of the build began to take shape. It was decided that the stock Jeep Pentastar V-6 engine would require a bit of extra performance help, especially when considering the extra weight of the mods that were going to be installed.

A full Magnaflow exhaust was fitted for an easier breathing Jeep and the deeper growl of the exhaust was a bonus. A DTE Pedalbox was added to improve throttle response. The PedalBox is an additional control unit, with four user-selectable programs, that increases throttle response by removing delays in the accelerator resulting in enhanced drivability.

“THE BUILD HAS BEEN THROUGH FOUR SETS OF WHEELS BEFORE WE FINALLY DECIDED TO END UP WITH OUR BRAND-NEWFOR-2018, MILITARY-INSPIRED ARSENAL WHEEL DESIGN.”

For enhanced control over the JK’s add-ons such as LED lights and lockers, a SuperChips TrailDash 2 programmer was also installed.  The TrailDash 2 allows the driver a bevy of function controls at the touch of its 5-inch screen including locker engagement, bypassing TPMS, auxiliary lighting activation through easy EAS integration and more.

To get the best grip possible, even on loose dirt and rocks, the JK’s suspension was thoroughly upgraded with a Skyjacker 6-inch LeDuc coilover lift kit. Also 2.0 Fox coilovers, 2.0 Fox hydraulic bumpstops, Hellwig Suspension front 1-1/4-inch sway bar kit and rear 7/8-inch sway bar kit were all worked into the Jeep.

Getting stranded due to bent parts is a quick way to end or seriously delay any trip. To beef up the steering components, a whole host of steering upgrades were chosen for the JK. Included are Steer Smarts Yeti Extreme JK Top Mount Steering Linkage Kit, Fox Shocks 2.0 ATS Steering Stabilizer, and Reid Racing Jeep Wrangler JK Dana 30/Rubicon 44 knuckles. The steering stabilization parts help to increase steering response and dampen unwanted steering feedback.

“THEIR PLAN WAS TO BUILD IT INTO A WELL-ROUNDED ON-AND OFF-ROAD VEHICLE SUITABLE FOR THE DAILY COMMUTE WHILE BEING ABLE TO TAKE ON A WIDE VARIETY OF OFF-ROAD TRAILS AND TERRAIN.”

Helping the JK grind through the trail are complete front and rear axle kits by Carbon Off Road/Currie Enterprises. You’ll find that the Currie RockJock 44’s on the front house an ARB Locker, Carbon Chromoly axle shafts, and yoke. The RockJock 60 in the rear is similar and also houses an ARB RD167 locker.

To protect the Jeep’s exterior, a Go Rhino BRJ40 front bumper with stubby end caps can be found up front and a Go Rhino BRJ80 rear bumper brings up the rear. These bumpers are customizable with user selectable modular components that can change the look and function of the bumpers. For recovery purposes, a WARN Platinum ZEON 100 winch is fitted in the front bumper. A set of 2-inch Go Rhino shorty fender flares allows for greater wheel and tire clearance as well.

Also selected to protect the JK, was a pair of Rockslide Engineering Rocksliders with retractable steps. These slick sliders feature steps that remain hidden in the rockslider and automatically deploy or retract when the JK’s doors open or close. The manufacturer says that they are off-road capable, meaning that they function as capable impact deflecting sliders when the step is in the closed position and its motors can be submerged in water.

“’THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WAS DEFINITELY THE ROAD TRIP BACK TO CALIFORNIA.’ DURING THAT TRIP, THE JEEP VENTURED THROUGH TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, UTAH, NEVADA, ARIZONA AND GOT TO VISIT THE GRAND CANYON, TOO.”

Not only do the exterior parts protect the Jeep, but also we have to admit, they look great too. Further enhancing the look of the Heavy Metal JK, as the staff at Black Rhino affectionately calls it, are front and rear LED lights by Spyder. The front LED crystal headlights feature black housings and the rear LED taillights are finished in black smoke. We think they tie the look of the build together quite nicely.

Protecting the vehicle’s interior is a Rock Hard 4×4 Full Roll Cage, because you never know! A full Roadwire leather interior was installed to give the JK a luxurious feel and an sPOD 8 Circuit SE System helps keep the accessory switches in one place, easily managed and always ready to go.

Since this is a build that Black Rhino Wheels wanted to display at their SEMA booth, wheel selection was of particular importance. Gallagher pointed out that, “The build has been through four sets of wheels before we finally decided to end up with our brand-new-for-2018, military-inspired Arsenal wheel design. We designed this wheel in response to the popularity of our existing Armory wheel. Although the Arsenal is available in 17-, 18-, and 20-inch sizes for the JK and JL Jeeps, we opted for a 17-inch setup to retain as much function as possible off road.”

“GETTING STRANDED DUE TO BENT PARTS IS A QUICK WAY TO END OR SERIOUSLY DELAY ANY TRIP. TO BEEF UP THE STEERING COMPONENTS, A WHOLE HOST OF STEERING UPGRADES WERE CHOSEN FOR THE JK.”

The 17-inch diameter Arsenal rims are 9.5-inches wide with 4.5-inches of backspacing. Installed on them are Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ tires in 40×13.50R17 size. For stopping power, an oversized 13.5- inch Baer Brakes Pro System can be found in the front while 12-inch Baer SS4 units are located in the rear.

Demonstrating that the Heavy Metal JK is ready for any activity, a selection of Rhino Rack carriers is installed on the vehicle including an all-purpose roof rack, a bike carrier and a snowboard carrier complete with a Ride snowboard.

All in all, the entire project took about four months to complete. That isn’t bad considering all the work that has gone into it. When asked about the most memorable experience he’s had with the Heavy Metal JK, Gallagher recalled, “The most memorable experience was definitely the road trip back to California.” During that trip, the Jeep ventured through Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and got to visit the Grand Canyon, too. Next time you get to do another couple of thousand miles in it, call us up, won’t you? We’d love to ride along.

UPGRADES

2017 Black Rhino Wheels Heavy Metal JK

PLATFORM: 2017 JEEP WRANGLER SPORT UNLIMITED

ENGINE: 3.6L V-6, DTE PEDALBOX, SUPERCHIPS TRAILDASH PROGRAMMER, FULL MAGNAFLOW EXHAUST

SUSPENSION: SKYJACKER 6-INCH LEDUC COILOVER LIFT KIT, 2.0 FOX COILOVERS, 2.0 FOX HYDRAULIC BUMPSTOPS, HELLWIG SUSPENSION FRONT 1-1/4-INCH SWAY BAR KIT, HELLWIG SUSPENSION REAR 7/8-INCH SWAY BAR KIT,

WHEELS & TIRES: BLACK RHINO ARSENAL 17X9.5, MICKEY THOMPSON BAJA MTZ 40X13.50R17

ACCESSORIES: STEER SMARTS YETI EXTREME JK TOP MOUNT STEERING LINKAGE KIT, FOX SHOCKS 2.0 PERFORMANCE SERIES STABILIZER, ATS STEERING STABILIZER, AND REID RACING JEEP WRANGLER JK DANA 30/RUBICON 44 KNUCKLES, CARBON OFFROAD/ CURRIE ENTERPRISES ROCKJOCK 44 AND ROCKJOCK 60AXLE KITS WITH ARB RD167 LOCKERS, GO RHINO BRJ40 AND STUBBY END CAPS, GO RHINO BRJ80, GO RHINO 2-INCH SHORTY FENDER FLARES, ROCK SLIDE ENGINEERING ROCKSLIDERS, WARN PLATINUM ZEON 100 WINCH, GENESIS DUAL BATTERY KIT WITH 2 ODYSSEY PC1500, SPOD8 CIRCUIT SE SYSTEM, GENESIS OFF ROAD, ODYSSEY, SPOD 4X4, BAER BRAKES 13.5-INCH FRONT PRO BRAKE SYSTEM, BAER BRAKES 12-INCH REAR SS4 BRAKE SYSTEM, RHINO RACK PIONEER PLATFORM RACK, RHINO RACK HYBRID BIKE CARRIER, RHINO RACK SNOWBOARD CARRIER, ROADWIRE LEATHER INTERIOR, SPOD 8 CIRCUIT SWITCHES, ROCK HARD 4X4 FULL ROLL CAGE, ROADWIRE LEATHER INTERIOR, GRIZZLY COOLER 40 JEEP EDITION, HILIFT JACK, DTE PEDALBOX BY SHORELINE MOTORING, SPYDER LED CRYSTAL HEADLIGHTS, SPYDER LED TAIL LIGHTS, RIDE SNOWBOARD