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2006 LJ “Highline” Build History

rubclt

rubclt

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City
Charlotte
State
NC
I really enjoy reading about the various builds on this forum and wanted to share my 2006 LJ build. I bought this Jeep new in 2006 and did most of the mods over the next several months. I crawled this Jeep in Tellico, Windrock and Uwharrie to name a few. I trailered it to many of these trips and that’s why it has 23,000 miles as I write this in 2022. I am planning a refresh this winter and will update along the way…

Current photo of Jeep at Uwharrie National Forest Daniel Trail August 13. 2022
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I bought the LJ in late 2006, almost bought a 2007 JKUR but had a lot of parts I could use from another Rubicon TJ so I found this 2006 in Sumter, SC and drove it home with 24 miles on odometer. I had an AEV Highline kit and started taking it apart right way. Pretty sure my wife thought I had lost my mind when she came out and saw the front clip off our new jeep…

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After test fit, a local paint shop did the flame red and welded and filled the top seam on the AEV fender for a smoother, cleaner look.

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This jeep became know as “Highline” because of the AEV Kit, which unfortunately is no longer sold. In this photo you can see how the new front fender is mounted about three inches higher.

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Here is jeep with no lift and a set of 35” tires.

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I added a 2.5” OME lift and ran the 35” tires, added a Warn PowerPlant, Teraflex Disconnects, Big Daddy front and rear bumpers

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rubclt said:
Thanks @Belizeit… Factory hardtop, I added soft top and Bimini top…
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LJ could be ordered with dual tops. Mine was but softtop was gone before I bought it last year. Mine is highline also unfortunately not an AEV setup, mine has Poison Spyder stuff.
 
Awesome Jeep. They should have never discontinued the LJ concept. And those highline kits were so cool back in the day. 👍

And I think all year TJs could be ordered with dual tops. I ordered my 99' that way.
 
rubclt said:
Thanks @Belizeit for compliment, fortunate to been able to keep it 16 years, maybe I can enjoy another 16 or more years
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You could probably sell it on Bring a Trailer for well more than you bought it for new. I don't recommend this and sounds like you wouldn't even think of it.
 
barrys said:
You could probably sell it on Bring a Trailer for well more than you bought it for new. I don't recommend this and sounds like you wouldn't even think of it.
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I've had the pleasure of knowing Chris since 2003 and I'm not even in the running as a future owner of Highline! LOL
 
For her 20th anniversary upgrade lights on the B Pillar. The light bracket from a JK moves inward and down.

Before Warn dual beam
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After Rigid
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The AEV Highline kit still holds maybe one of the top 5 spots for me as the best aftermarket mods for a Jeep ever. That setup looks so RIGHT!

When we bought our LJ, it only had the hard top. Told the dealer (tiny town in SE NC, Whiteville) that we really wanted the dual top option. Dealer owner ordered the soft top and had his son drive it 3 hours one way to our house to drop it off when it came in. He'd ordered the Rubicon LJ as soon as it came out but no one wanted one that spendy down there. He was ready to move it when we found it.

I will definitely be watching this! Miss ours something fierce.
 
Interested to see the rear bumper plans.

The spare inside the bed looks great I just wonder about smell. I have transported tires like this just for a brief period and the smell of new rubber drove me crazy. I know HighLine rarely has a top on it so it probably won't be an issue. Just the first thought that came to mind.
 
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