**There’s definitely a moment when a dream you have actually becomes a reality. And we hope everyone can relate at least once in their life. For Eric Poole that happened just as soon as he put the finishing touches on his 2017 Jeep Wrangler JKU Rubicon Recon, Elite LS JK. And we’re pumped because we got to sit down to learn everything that went into building the Jeep he’s so proud of in this week’s Featured Build. Check it out below. **
When did you first start building the JK?
I bought it in late 2017 with a 4” mopar lift that rode pretty bad and was honestly scary with how it handled on the road. In May of 2018 I dropped it off at Jeep Tech for John and the crew to do some magic on it.
I decided to do everything at one time and to do it right the first time.
We took our time to meticulously plan out exactly what I wanted so that I didn’t have to build this a second time. Piece by piece from frame up it was built to perfection, in my opinion.
What is your favorite part of the build so far?
Easy! The LS3 wakes up the Jeep and constantly catches attention from just about everyone.
The common question is “what’s in that thing?”
With the ASA Offroad Cam it definitely sounds different than your average JK. I had Vengeance Racing tune it for me and it’s currently sitting around 525 horsepower which is plenty of power to get these 40s moving.
What’s different about the suspension?
It’s a complete frame off modification. It’s a double triangulated rear and 3-link front that required all new mounts. All stock brackets are removed and then the brackets for the coilovers and new control arms are welded in. Each Coilover bracket is outboard which provides more stability.
What’s cool about this suspension is that it was designed to handle everything from daily driving to racing at King Of The Hammers.
With the flat belly, and relocated fuel tank, it creates much more ground clearance than a normal long arm suspension as well.
Where have you taken it off road and how does it perform?
I haven’t had much seat time since Jeep Tech finished it, but I took it to a private off road park in Cumming GA and had a blast with it. It did everything I pointed it at with no issues. I plan to take it to Moab next year to really put it through the paces. What really surprises me is the performance on road as well. I can do 90+ mph on the highway with one finger on the steering wheel with no vibrations or bump steer.
What do you recommend to others wanting to do an extensive build?
Don’t rush the decision. I took my time and researched as many options as I could. But that also gave time to let the budget catch up as well. I would also recommend finding a quality shop to work with that really puts passion into what they do. Jeep Tech worked with me through mocking up wheel and tire combinations, and talked me through every option that we picked out as well as helped me research each and every part that went into the build.
When you plan it out, and do it all at once the end goal is so much more rewarding than rebuilding it over and over again. It also means more time in the seat enjoying your rig!
Is the Elite LS JK finished?
Well no rig is ever really done. The Jeep is perfect in almost every aspect. However, after getting some seat time in it and seeing how capable it is off road, I think we can improve a few more things on it that I hadn’t considered before. I think I want to add aftermarket seats for a more secure ride off road, a Genright roll cage to protect me on those iffy trails and half doors for more visibility.
After that it will literally be my dream jeep!
Just when you think it’s perfect, you know there’s always room to add a littttttle bit more. Eric’s really put a lot of great work into this rig and it shows. It’s a beast on and off the road and we’re ready to hear about those big off road trips. What do you think of the Elite LS JK? Be sure to show this article and his build some love below.