3 Easy Upgrades for the Jeep Wrangler Anyone Can Do!
• 3+ Easy Jeep Upgrades ... Check this video to see how these upgrades have done 5 YEARS LATER!!!
This is a How To video featuring these three easy upgrades that I ordered and the step by step instructions for installing them on the AutoEdits 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JKU.
This video is geared towards the beginner mechanic or someone with no wrenching experience but all of these upgrades are legit awesome improvements to ANY Jeep.
00:00 Introduction
03:04 Rear seat recline
12:07 Grab bars
16:52 LED tail lights
First is the Jeep JKU rear seat recline kit. This kit does exactly what it says and makes the rear seat much more comfortable for humans to inhabit.
Here's the link:
www.amazon.com/dp/B01BCO5YEE/...
Second is the installation of super strong Grabars. These replace your cloth handle and make getting in and out of your Jeep much easier. The original link is unavailable so here is another option:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLK5483?...
About those tail lights... I have since upgraded to the JW Speaker Tail Lights and they are much higher quality ... plus they are about the easiest thing you'll ever upgrade so enjoy that! Here's the link:
www.amazon.com/dp/B015ZBZPS0/...
Please take a moment to look through the shopping list I set up for the Jeep and see if there is anything else in there that might be good for you... anything you get from there helps the channel so thank you!
www.amazon.com/shop/autoedits
Hope you enjoyed this video and will like and share!
Don't forget to Subscribe to the AutoEdit You Tube channel for more content and follow me on Instagram
/ autoedits_jason
#easy #upgrades #jeep #wrangler
www.amazon.com/shop/autoedits/list/3V59WNMGIVSC0?tag=onamzjasonlew-20&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d Check out the full shopping list on the AutoEdits Amazon homepage!
14:55 "This is one of those things I'm going to use every single time I get in and out of my Jeep..." Immediately uses steering wheel to get out lol
lol
Yup saw that too hehehe!
Haha that is too good
I use the stock straps and they work great
He should have done it purposely trolling and used the steering wheel more dramatically.
Thanks for the video Jason. I did the Grabars about two months ago and just did the rear seat recline kit today. I sprung a leak while torquing on the same exact bolt. It caught me a little further up on the outside of my forearm.
Those grab handles are pretty trick! And if they're the right diameter, one could color coordinate them by using mountain bike grips on the end, they come on tons of colors and styles.
Woke up at 2am to the alert. Learned some things. Going to sleep. Doing them Monday.
Wow, Awesome! That rules!
Ya i have grab bars [orange] match color.
what size tires are those
While researching Jeeps I came across your video's Jason and I have watched them all. Finally found a used jeep as a project and started with the grab bars and seat recline, this is going to be fun. Thanks!
I actually just got done making the first two mods in this video. The bolts on my back seats were super hard to take off, but was able to manage it. The backseat is way more comfortable now, the grab bars are amazing, super helpful. Haven't done the brake lights yet, hopefully soon. But thank you for your video, super easy install. Keep up the good work brother. Your videos are awesome. Thank you again.
Just finished my first two upgrades ever! - Handles and Back Seat. Those backseat bolts almost did me in. Now save some cash and then tail lights! Thank You!
Jason, thanks for showcasing the GrabBars. Saw them in your video, loved them, bought them and just installed them today. High quality, Great recommendation!
Had an 07 JK and in 08 I stacked washers to accomplish the same thing on the rear seat. :)
Love your videos. I installed LED headlights a few months back.... Wow what a difference. Great upgrade ideas.
Hi-Lift Jack handle works as an awesome breaker bar too.
Didn't even think of that... good suggestion!
20 min for upgrade 2 with an impact. Love the new leg room.
I have the Rough Country version of the grab bars, one of the best practical interior upgrades that I have done. The bars are super sturdy and a ton more useful than those cheap strap on things. The rear seat recline mod is next on my list. Thanks for the awesome video!
Yeah buddy! Thanks for watching and saying hey!
Went and bought a ratcheting torque wrench for those back bolts....saved my afternoon.
Thanks for the video, you made it look easy. I'm going to recline the backseat this weekend.
Just got myself a 2012 unlimited sahara and was looking for stuff to do and came across your video, and now I think I'm going to be doing all 3! Great video and looking forward to more, just subbed!
Welcome and thanks so much! The Wrangler is a great platform for all kinds of little projects to custom tune it to your tastes!
I just came across this today, over to amazon to get the incline spacers now!! Probably the grab bars too
This is my dream car!!! I'm so fall in love with this car
I just wanna say that, every install with your guidance is simple for me, maybe that`s why I`m studying mechatronics. I can clearly see who drives back seats by a lot of dog hair. Pinto as always very help full. High five !!!
Thanks so much... really appreciate hearing that!
No problem, I really enjoy watching your videos :)
I have videos on these myself, there great upgrades, there is a use for the soft grab handles, if you see my jeep hacks video. those rear seat bolts can take a impact to remove in some jeeps. great video there. always enjoy them
small improvements make a huge difference.
Agreed!
I liked when you got into your jeep after the install of lights and didn't use your new grab bars.. Lol! Thank you for sharing
thanks for giving it a watch!
myke collins I'm 110 years old with a hip like a piece of rotted wood, and I even I get into my Jeep without a goofy handle.
Always look forward to you videos. I have the Grabars, similar tail lights, but I do not have the back seat spacers. Those bolts are a pain to remove. Awesome video as always. Keep them coming Jason!
Thank you thank you!
just bought my jeep 4 days ago and loving the grab handles
Cool, welcome to the club! Now get ready to be broke because you're buying parts for your Jeep all the time.
i can’t seem to find these grab handles on jc whitney’s site for gladiator.
Your intro was great..reminds me of troy mcclure
Glad you got that!
Love your videos as always. I did the GraBar install awhile back on my ‘17 Recon. They must have used a metric ton of locktite on the bolts. I eventually needed to run a die tap to clear our the threads and then it was as easy as you showed. Keep up the good work!
Wow, the instructions did mention that it may need a run through with the stock bolt with a bit of oil on it to clean the threads and yours is an extreme case... glad I didn't need that as well!
0091556367522
One tip from having done this a few times, if you start with the outboard legs of the back seat, you can flip them up and out of the way and then get easier access with a cheater bar to the inboard legs. This also helps when putting them back in. You can get a much better angle on them. I am glad you had the tip to flip the seat up to take the back bolts out. It is really difficult to get those out when you are leaning on the seat instead of moving it out of the way. Don't ask me how I know that. An impact wrench could break the nut underneath free if you really over do it. Sometimes it is better to just use copious amounts of elbow grease. I use the impact wrench when I can though too. Great video thanks!
Good advice, thanks!
Hey jasson you save my life with the recline seat kit, thanks.
Glad I could help... LOL!
Ive had the grab bars for years. Love them, the most simple and great upgrade. Short people still cant reach them, but I cant help them with that.
Well, I wish you had told me about them sooner! LOL
Just give ‘em vertical shin extensions
1derful video, ordered grab bars tonight and some JL hood latches for my 2014 JK Rubi. Really enjoy your videos!
Sweet!
Always look forward to your videos 👍👍
I like that you muscled through the bolts showing you don't need an impact for every install. Makes me feel I can do more things even though I don't have money for something like that, so good job! Love the videos!! Edit. I started typing this at 7:58. Then you bring out the impact for some fun! That was awesome haha.
LOL! I still grunted out all but that one! Thanks so much for watching!
Definitely the rear seat recline kit! The kits are awesome, but I made my own spacers from delrin stock, milling machine, and drill press. not hearing my rear passengers complain about the execution posture seats anymore is priceless. Keep up the great work Jason!
Very clever! Nice one!
Great video. I did the rear seat mod a while ago. I just bought some washers from Lowe's. On a note...nice channel. I love all that you've done to your Jeep.
Thanks and I like that you figured it on your own!
I have to agree. $55 for a few spacers is a pretty stupid price point! I think I just found the 4-pack of GraBars for the same price! Time to start ordering!!!
YAY a new video from Autoedit!!! awesome stuff mate.
Thanks so much!!!
Love all you videos buddy, just bought myself a pair of anzo tail lights for the Jeep from jcwhitney. Keep me coming
Seriously! Awesome to hear that... hope you like them as much as I do mine!
I just bought a Jeep (used) and it came with the grab bars, and I absolutely love them! I'm a big guy so there's no way I'd dare use the factory ones lol.
this has to be my favorite KZhead Channel! Keep it up man!
You are the best! Thanks so much for the support!!!
Flip your rear view mirror. This will increase visibility out the window and out the back window. It turns it upside down then pushes it up higher on the window. Best Free upgrade. Try it and let us know what you think. As Always, the best jeep videos!!! Keep it up.
I use the map lights on the bottom of the mirror at night often... flipping it would lose those tho??? OK I'll try it!
autoedit I noticed you have the map lights on yours. That would be a good reason not to flip it. I'll be interested in seeing if you felt it was worth it since you would be loosing functionality.
now some bullet resistant windows! i love your tank
Awww yeah.. Have been eyeing off a set of these grab bars from my Rubi for a while !! Also with the huge push coming on the m/t side with double the roadkill eps are we still Gunna be getting these awesome and high quality Vids from you ?? I do hope so!!
I haven't been on a Roadkill in a while... maybe one in January but they haven't locked the dates yet. So that means I'll try to continue cranking content here as much as I can!
OMG these are soo easy that even this chic can do it! Ordering my parents and installing these bad boys in my Rubicon💪🏼🤟🏻
Love hearing this!
Your Vids are very helpful and informational. Planning on ordering my 2018 Rubicon JL in a few weeks. I've been watching all your Vids this week and now I really got the Jeep Bug.Keep up the great work.
Awesome to hear! It's a never ending wish list with these things .... ENJOY!
I want to get a Jeep in a couple of years when I get out of high school. Super cool learning more things about the jeeps! Jeep is also my dream car that I want.
Awesome!
Sold me on the JKU Grab Handles and the Rear Seat Recline Kit ! Thanks for your videos.
Sweet! Thanks for watching!
Great video!!! I just purchased the lights, seat kit, and the grab bars! The site has 10% off which is nice. $422.83 for everything! I hope the led lights hold up and don’t start burning out on us. 😀👍
That's awesome to hear! Thanks for letting us know there's a discount as well. I'm only a few weeks but everything is doing great so far!
I got those grab bars. Their definitely nice
I have the Grabars in mine. I love them. Save your stock tail lights for a while, I haven't had much luck with some of the LED tail lights.
I did save them, just in case... lol Great minds...
Yea, I'd pull out the battery impact wrench for this for sure, lol. I bled enough breaking loose the red loctite that was on the body mount bolts when I installed my rock sliders. 😆
Excellent vid! I'm looking at buying a 16' Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock in the next week or so and I'm definitely gonna get this seat kit and likely the grab bars. It's already got JW Speaker heads and tails👍👍
My DREAM CAR.... All I can do is dream😂😂😂. I'll just continue to look at yours and picture myself in it😂😂😂. Beautiful truck. Perfection!
Thanks!
im about to get mine this month, hopefully, ive been waiting 14months
Manifest !!
Hey I love the video! Really good and easy mods. I was just wondering what size tires do you have on this? I just bought a 1990 Jeep Wrangler and was looking to deck it out and wanted to start with the tires. Just wondering what size I should get.
That was an awesome video. Not only is my name Jason but just last week I did the same tail light install. Plus, my kids always complain how uncomfortable the back seats are so now I know what I can do. And, lol, the wife always complains about the cloth hand grips to get into the jeep and have a set of grab bars on order. Weird man. Like your style.
I like that you shared this! Thanks so much for watching and taking a minute to say hey!
those strong grabbers are a MUST!
You remind me of my dad, good tips! 👍
I hope that's a good thing! Do you think you might try one of these upgrades?
ya - so. I'm experienced and have a fair amount of tools - but am new to Jeeps. I did the recline kit yesterday - prob took about 5 hours and while not difficult at all, I can't imagine how anyone without experience would be able to get those bolts out of the seats if they are rusted! I suggest spraying them with a rust buster or something like that and let it sit for a few hours on all the bolts (both at the bolt head and at the threads underneath the Jeep). Impact wrench did not budge them, and had limited space to utilize a cheater bar. Seat belt tip also good - pull it all the way out then let it retract, so that it locks in place; also recommend pushing the legs all the way up too, to get them out of the way. Thanks for these vids, amigo! BTW, I also sprung a leak lol.
Very good suggestions!
A really human channel man, I don't even have a Jeep but I like to see your vids, it's like being talking with a close friend. Oh and those tail lights look awesome !
This is great to hear! Thanks so much for taking a minute to share such good stuff!
Wish you had done a before/after on lights. Good video !
Love my Velcro handles and other people find problem with your grab bars
Nice video of the seat spacers. I have them and have been waiting to put them on. Thought it would be a bit harder but u did it easy. Have all the other stuff already. Thx
Thanks! The bolts just took a bit of effort but it was very straightforward.
Grab handles work great , going to install the the seat recliners shortly, great video👍
Nice!
Very nice, simple things with minimal skills, and max rewards, thanks. Question, what rear bumper with that swing away tire mount is that? It looks good. Thanks again.
That's the MetalCloak Crawler bumper and I have been absolutely thrilled with it. I have a video install on that in my Jeep playlist.
Already have the grab bars. But love the idea of the recline rear seat. Thanks for sharing.
Right on!
Great vid, I am a little late to teh show but I have been debating on grabbing a jeep and your tips are great!
No debate... grab a Jeep and have some fun! LOL!
Awesome. Thank You!
I got the cloth grab handles to begin with cause I just thought they looked pretty cool but once installed they're definitely impractical. I was looking into the frame handles but I also heard they might interfere with future wiring. Still after watching this I'm kinda sold on them.
I'm not sure how they would interfere... simply remove them to pull the A pillar cover off, put your wiring in and re-install... easy!
Clean looking upgrades I might add!
Thanks!
I love that jeeps are pretty customizable and more importantly, you can use a multitude of different aftermarket parts that aren’t proprietary. That said, I find it kind of silly that you couldn’t simply recline your seats back further without having to go through all this trouble…
Yep already had my eye on the grab bars. My wife hates those hokey stock straps. The back lights look impressive. I was looking at JW Speaker but the back up lights on yours look brighter. Idk. I’ll take a look. A fellow Snap-On man I see. Thanks for the vid!
Thanks! The bars will help the wife for sure... I like the look of the JW Speaker lights but for this video was trying to pick the "more affordable" option and I think these lights are $100 less. Good tools make work better!
autoedit I totally get that, not everyone wants to lay out $300 for taillights that can get damaged on the trail and are so easily removed. The latter is the reason I’m hesitant.
JC Whitney, America’s Harbor Freight. I admit I bought stuff from them a long time ago. Actually a crower cam for my 57 Chevy.
At 6:20 I wouldn't recommend using a cheater pipe on a ratchet. I did it once and applied way too much torque with it and it broke the ratcheting mechanism. Definitely good to use with a non ratcheting socket wrench or a regular combination or box end. Loved the video though and I'm gonna get that rear seat recline kit.
This vid helps a lot. I'm picking up my 1st Wrangler JK on Monday! And I have a problem, I can't keep things stcok when I get them. I HAVE to add my flavor to it. This vid gives me a good idea on where to start before I spend BIG $$ on 'unnecessary' stuff... Lol ✌🏽
Good luck!
Just got done putting some grab bars on my black JKUR guess it’s a coincidence 😂. Shocked at how useful they are. What I did with my old cloth handles is put them on the headrest on jeep and now it’s another point to grab onto and singed the excess nylon off. 100% worth it. Always wondered how do you jeep your jeep so clean? I struggle to keep mine clean even not off-roading hehe.
That is a great tip on what to do with the old handles! It's funny when I watch some of the videos because the Jeep does look really clean but in real life it's pretty normal looking all the time.
Great video. Thanks for the ideas.
Thanks, anytime!
Jason, I'm considering a new Wrangler JL, so I have been watching a number of videos on Jeeps. As a voice over guy and someone who does some industrial videos, I'm a HUGE critic of some of the people doing KZhead videos. (I critique myself harshly too.) Some guys talk in a sing-songy voice (apparently they think it sounds like a news reporter or something), while others try TOO hard to be funny or entertaining. Others always say THEE for the word "the" or AYE for the word "a" (uh)... they just sound stilted and unnatural. Still others turn five minutes of material into a 20 minute video of rambling and repetitiveness. You, on the other hand, were just natural and conversational. Your tip of the hat to Troy McClure was amusing without trying too hard for a laugh. You spoke to the camera (your viewers, actually) like you were just chatting with a friend. You demonstrated your work thoroughly, yet concisely. Really NICE work. I don't subscribe to a lot of pages, but I will subscribe to yours.
This is really, really nice to hear! Thanks so much for the detailed input and thoughts! Welcome to the channel and hope to interact with you more in the future!
I have all these upgrades thanks to your vids with the exception of the seat recliners,…. I was wondering if you would do a video on how you installed and wired up your license plate relocation kit to the spare tire? I have a swinger arm as well and if you don’t wire a light on it in my state of Pennsylvania it is illegal. So video like that would really help🙂
I had to laugh on seat spacers. I spent hours getting those bolts out. Busted knuckles, had to get 1\2 Harbor Friegh breaker bar because I though I would break my 3\8 drive because of lock tight! Great video!
LOL! It makes you earn every turn of the wrench for sure.
I had to laugh also. I had the spacers before I got the Jeep. First day I had it was when I put them in and it was still difficult. It took me a few hours and a lot of swearing, blood, ave sweet. But definitely worth it. Only cost me $23.
Easily one of the most disappointing and frustrating projects I've ever taken on. Bolts literally felt like they were welded on....to the point I thought the threads were already cross-threaded from the factory somehow. Finally got them all off with two solid straight hours of swearing and then, with the spacers in place, the holes WOULD NOT line up with the threads in the floor. The seat bracket would not allow the bolt to line up straight to start threading. I just knew I was going to fully trash the threads trying to get them to go. Finally gave up and could barely get the bracket holes and floor threads to align enough to get the bolts starts without the spacers. Even after oiling the bolts and starting by hand, a hammer driver only got them in 1/4 of the way. Elbow grease the rest of the way. Ridiculous.
with the rear spacers in three quarters of the rear seat bracket/mount is not in contact with the floor. Those spacers seem like the would be far better if the were made to support the entire length of the bracket to the floor. They are designed to distribute the weight over the entire footprint. The fronts are the size of the foot of the support.
I need a Jeep for Colorado mountain fun and also I live 2 hours from Moab
another "cheater bar" method is to slide a close ended wrench over the handle of the ratchet or breaker bar (think of an L shape) to help add torque, this is usually easier in tighter spaces.
The grab bars are awesome. Get ready to swear more than you ever have before getting them in. You have to get the angles perfect to not cross thread them. The tears take a couple of minutes. The fronts are a royal pain. They took me about 2 hours no exaggeration. Worth it in the end though.
Interesting, this is the second set I've been a part of the install and they both went about like this. I must've gotten lucky but this video shows in about real time how the install went! Thanks for sharing your experience and being positive about it!
Definitely have a lubricant ready for the bolts when taking them out. Took me 2+ hours to remove them. Jason actually made this look pretty easy considering haha
Thanks for the backup!
Good morning nice jeep dreamin of having one😀
Yeah same here almost bought a cheap tj yesterday but someone pulled up and about doubled my price
thanks for the video...lighting and sound was off ( hard to hear and see) but certainly got the Jest of the improvements.
Awesome video Jason as always. Jeep is looking great. One of my first upgrades was those grab bars. Definitely handy. Watch out when you're wheeling though. Don't move your head forward when you're bouncing around. Your noggin could potentially bang into it. Grabar will win that fight. Lol
I heard that as well but for the rest of the time the are awesome! Thanks for the "heads up" LOL
hey mr because of you I did all 3 of these on christmas morning by myself in my pajamas in my driveway it was awesome and easy as hell thank you , now I have a question to any and all that might read this , I have just purchased ZROADZ jk rear spot lights that mount on the glass door hinges and a set of the back up spot lights for mounting on top of your rear tail lights they are awesome ! and so easy to install but the maker supplies zero instructions on how to wire them other than stupidly running the cables thru your window between the glass and the seal gasket and watching many vids on youtube not one company will tell you otherwise but they all say the same thing , there are so many ways to do it we dont want to show you on here ? it is crazy anyway i just thought I would cast it out there and do some fly fishin to see if I get a bite Many thanks for the great vids autoedit
Glad to hear I inspired a pajama wrenching party on your Jeep! As for routing wires out the back... for the rear license plate stuff I have ... I routed out the rear into the area behind the tail light and down through the foam out underneath the body. Maybe look into that.
Finally LED taillights thank you for listening. But Please get led headlights,you should get black JW Speaker and maybe get 50inch LED light bar on winshield.
I'm still trying to figure out what I want on the front of this thing, light wise... but thanks for the suggestion!
Loving my Trucklites. I don't even use my fogs anymore, because they put out so much spread. And I'll never pay that JW price, lol And you might want to check this out: kzhead.info/sun/bLuuYZGwmpVndJs/bejne.html I heard something about the JW lens cracking and found this.
I concur, the black JW Speaker headlights have been the best purchase. Bright white and great visibility. Also, flip your rear view mirror over. This is the best Free mod you can do!!!
autoedit Please...no 50 inch light bar. Yuck. Those things are tacky and too trendy. Hood led is better.
Definitely going to get those tail lights !!!
I recommend the JW speaker instead www.amazon.com/dp/B015ZBZPS0?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjasonlew-20&creativeASIN=B015ZBZPS0&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.3V59WNMGIVSC0&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin
I haved had my old TJ since new. It is now so heavily modified very little of the major components are factory original. I think the engine and body are the last of the major factory original parts.
Hey Jason. Any suggestions for grip bars that rear-seat passengers in a two-seater can use to get into the back seat? Thx.
Damn I love the lights 😭
I even found some cooler ones a few months later!
Awesome! Video thanks for sharing
Well dang, thank you for watching and saying awesome stuff!
I like your upgrade video, but the grab handle part I have a question about any airbag deployment issues that you might have by mounting that there !
The Gra-Bars concern me because the second you're in a roll over or other wreck they become a significant hazard for your head, where the nylon and rubber grips are much less likely to cause a severe head injury.
My thoughts too. Not worth the risk
Thanks for this comment. Completely overlooked that aspect.
puppetmaster518 I think for MOST people, the reward is greater than the risk...like most things
Awesome upgrades! Thanks
I just did the recline kit today. I really wish my back 3 nuts would have gone as easy as yours haha.
I've heard they can be tough!
While the hand grips definitely help with entering and exiting the car.....they make a nice blender blade when you have an accident. I am sure manufacturers put safety first when making the soft straps. Also the hard ones might puncture air bags????
Great instructions for the upgrades. A recommendation would be since you are plugging these items for JC Whitney, you may want to take a second and show the item numbers that JC Whitney has for each of the products. This will make it much easier for those that would like to purchase these items to locate them on the JC Whitney site. Just a thought. Thanks again. Dane
I put the link to the specific parts on the JC Whitney website in the description... seems like that should be sufficient for most people. Thanks for the suggestion and watching!
Thanks for the ideas! Is that the Blue Healer carpet upgrade ?
LOL! Close... it's just the ugly mutt upgrade, the blue heeler was to expensive
Awesome vid as always!! I still want a tube sock shirt!!!!! My next install is finally an exhaust then some new diff covers and rock lights. Happy holidays.
Thanks! Those sound like great upgrades and kind of fun installs. Have a great holiday as well!