Words: Fuelish Media
Photos: Dale Martin
Standing tall, like no other, this Jeep JKU is in a league of its own. Though we’ve featured many customized Jeeps, this particular one really stands out from the rest. At a quick glance, anyone can see that this is not your average lifted vehicle. The details, both inside and out, are quite unique, really setting off the JK.
So how does a vehicle like this come to fruition? Well, it all started a few years back when Chad Bowman decided to have a little fun with a Toyota Tundra. After posting about the truck on Instagram, Shaun Lewis of SR Designs hit him up about finishing it and offered him a spot in the Bully Dog booth at the upcoming SEMA Show. After finishing the Tundra as planned, Chad made good on the deal and solidified himself as a builder.
Getting bit with the customizing bug during his first time around, Chad was hooked on creating badass vehicles that get noticed. From that point, Chad decided he needed to go bigger than the last time. Though he was successful, he really wanted to make a name for himself by going “all in.” Going further than he’d ever gone before, the next build would be on a level of its own.
Chad set his sights on a 2017 Jeep and walked into a local dealership to pick up a basic version. Since he was going to completely tear into it, the only options he was interested in were door locks and power windows. When asked about warranties, Chad said he wouldn’t need any as nothing was going to be left untouched. Building a vehicle like this Jeep JKU involves a bit of risk, especially for Chad as he took a perfectly good vehicle and completely disassembled it.
It was a calculated risk as he knew some talented people from a few shops that could handle the tall order. JP Auto Styles was the first stop for Chad where the interior and audio system were done up. The plan was to take care of the inside first as it would be more difficult to do after the Jeep was lifted. With the interior gutted at JP Auto Styles, all the panels were smoothed and painted white by Wrap It Up Hydrographics. A Smittybilt SRC cage was added that was also hydrodipped by Wrap It Up Hydrographics along with a few other key pieces as well. JP then added an iPad on the dash, made a huge overhead sound bar and a rear stereo box to house the Audio Legion USA speakers and amps. Topping it off, All-Kine Upholstery wrapped the seats in leather to match the purple and white theme.
With the interior complete, Chad drove the Jeep to Resurrected Fab for a full custom 20” suspension lift. The factory axles were ditched for bigger ones from a 2006 Ford F-250. They were then stiffened up with custom trusses that match with the All In theme. Holding the axles in place is a set of custom traction bars that are mounted to a cradle in the center. Fox 2.5 coilover shocks with remote reservoirs keep the ride smooth, while a set of sway bars keep the Jeep level when it goes around curves. Again, nothing was left untouched as the frame was painted and all the suspension pieces were powder coated by Unforgettable Customs. Setting it all off is the ginormous 28” Rolling Big Power (RBP) Horizon wheels with 44” Tri Ace tires.
The final segment was the exterior, which has been dramatically changed from its original state. Starting with the fenders, the stock versions were removed in lieu of a set from Fab Fours, along with door skins, mirror guards and a ViCowl windshield protector. Then, the inner fenders received covers from Skull Krushers for extra style. New beefier bumpers from CrawlTek were added and were dressed with hooks from Royal Hooks. A more pronounced hood from DV8 Offroad replaced the plain factory version. Then, a roof rack from Razerrack was attached with lighting from Twisted Pro. The finishing touches include custom exhaust tips by AOW Welding, an Oracle Vector grille and RBP steps.
This Jeep was a huge undertaking and took well over a year to complete. It was a tight race to get it to the 2018 SEMA Show but with a lot of help, Chad was able to make the deadline. He took a gamble on this Jeep JKU and it paid off as he had the tallest and sickest one at the show. With that being said, it was all worth it, even with the many struggles Chad endured along the way.
Special Thanks to: SR Design Marketing Director Shaun Lewis, Rolling Big Power, Tri-Ace Tires, HornBlasters, Royal Hooks, 12 Volt Villains, Rhino Hitch, Skull Krusher, AOW Exhaust, True Spike lug nuts
GEAR: 2017 JEEP WRANGLER JKU
Owner: Chad Bowman @all_in_jku
WHEELS / TIRES
- 28×16 Rolling Big Power Horizon
- 44×16.50R28 Tri Ace Dakar M/T III
SUSPENSION
- Custom-built by Resurrected Fab, which includes the cradle, traction bars, track bars, steering, sway bars and axle trusses
- Fox 2.5 coilover shocks with remote reservoirs
- 2006 Ford F-250 axles
- Paint and powder coating by Wrap It Up Hydrographics
PERFORMANCE
- Pedal commander throttle response controller
- K&N air filter
- AOL Welding exhaust
- Revolution Gear & Axle gears
- AFE Power diff covers
EXTERIOR / ARMOR
- CrawlTek bumpers
- Fab Fours fenders, mirror guards, door skins and ViCowl windshield protector
- Skull Krusher inner fenders
- DV8 Offroad hood
- Oracle Vector grille
- Royal Hooks door handles
- Razerrack roof rack
- Painted frame
- Paint and powder coating by Unforgettable Customs
- Hydrodipping by Wrap It Up Hydrographics
RECOVERY
- Royal Hooks
- Rhino Hitch
LIGHTING
- Twisted Pro all-terrain lighting
ACCESSORIES
- Infinite Rule security locks
- (3) Odyssey Batteries
- Genesis off road battery kit
- VMS True Spike lug nuts
- Floating center caps by Neely Precision
- Custom-painted gas cap and floating center caps
- HornBlaster Train Horns (8 horns)
- Rolling Big Power steps
- 12 Volt Villains license plate and cover hide-a-way
INTERIOR
- Complete custom leather interior by All-Kine Upholstery
- Custom sound bar, speakerbox and audio by JP’s Auto Styles
- Smittybilt SRC cage
- Custom dash with 12.9” iPad
- Climate control switches and vents relocated
- Rolling Big Power shifters
- Custom purple carpet
- Hydrodipping and paint by Wrap It Up Hydrographics
INFOTAINMENT / ELECTRONICS
- RideController used to make iPad control stereo
- (4) Audio Legion USA amplifiers
- (8) 6.5” speakers
- (6) tweeters
- (4) 10” subwoofers
SOURCES:
SR Designs & Marketing – _sr.designs_ | Resurrected Fab LLC – diego_resurrected_fab | Wrap It Up Hydrographics – wrap_it_up_hydrographics | JP Autostyles – jpsautostyles | Unforgettable Customs – _unforgettablecustoms | All-Kine Upholstery – allkineupholstery | Rolling Big Power – rollingbigpower | Royal hooks – royalhooks | 12 Volt Villains – 12voltvillains | Razer Racks – Razer Racks | Twisted Pro | All Terrain – twistedproallterrain | TAmerican Outlaw Welding – ao_welding | Tri_Ace Tires USA – tri_acetireusa
