Each year at the PA Jeeps All Breeds Jeep Show, Zone donates a free Jeep lift kit to a lucky club member. Only catch, the winner has to bring their own tools and install the kit in Zone’s booth during the event. The goal for the project is to show how the average enthusiasts using basic hand tools can install a lift kit over the course of a weekend. And for added bonus the winner gets to take their Jeep out for its inaugural run on the RTI ramp and obstacle course immediate following the install. Over the years we’ve had everything from pouring rain to blistering hot 100+ degree days to perform this “backyard install” in the grassy infield at the York Fairgrounds. This year started off with rain and ended up with beautiful sunny weather and temps in the mid-80s.
Nick Parks was our recipient this year. He’s a 23-year old JK owner in a family of Jeepers. Nick’s daily driver is a 2008 Jeep Wrangler (2-door) JK. He decided the 4” Zone Lift Kit was the right height for him and got to work tearing down his Jeep first thing Saturday morning. He made good progress throughout the day as onlookers stopped by to ask questions and even an appearance from Ian Johnson, host of Spike TV’s Extreme 4×4. Sunday morning Nick got to work to finish the install. He had a few setbacks along the way from bent control arm brackets and a hand injury that almost took him out of commission. For the event Nick brought a set of bald 35” mud terrains to get it rolling on until a new set can be sourced. Early Sunday afternoon after one last check for loose hardware the Jeep pulled out of the booth and onto the RTI ramp to check out the improved articulation. Following that it cruised over to the obstacle course to test it out on a variety of off-camber obstacles, hills climbs, log bridges, and rock gardens.
The JK performed flawlessly and we’re looking forward to seeing more from this Jeep out on the trail. Congrats to Nick on winning the kit and completing the weekend install. Enjoy the kit and have fun wheeling! Check below for the install video and for more photos from the event, check out the Zone Facebook page.