An Expedition Jeep Wrangler???
HI All,
What a great thread! I feel completely out of place here in the face of the huge amount of accumulated experience. But I wanted to get my story into the mix.
In the year 2000 I bought a red 1989 258 Cu In straight 6, red soft top Jeep YJ Wrangler with a manual 5 speed - cheap. It did not run but the significant vehicle elements were OK. With a lot of work and not much money I got it road capable again. I basically fixed all the little things to bring it back to stock capability. It had been badly neglected. I had no thoughts beyond tripping down rough roads in pretty places and use 4WD only when necessary. My Jeep was completely stock except for a Warn 8274 winch which I inherited. Then I made a pivotal decision to join the local Jeep club. BTW, at the time I was 59 years old, too old for major mechanics work-Right? Not quite as I found out later.
The club turned out to be a major eye opener. Here was a group of people for which their Jeep was a hobby and tough trails the goal. My Jeep was always bringing up the rear, often needing a winch tug, and there were many trails where I was not allowed to participate. I grew frustrated and more ambitious. And I was learning about vehicle modifications. I then faced the question of what did I actually want. I decided that rock crawling was not my goal. But I wanted my Jeep to not limit my destinations. A compromise was necessary. One can make many modifications that are neutral of the goal. Moderate lifts, front and rear ARB's, lots of skid plates, body protection where necessary, good tires, low gearing in the transfer case. I fuel injected the engine (a major improvement), improved the cooling system, installed a hydraulic assist brake system. I was getting in pretty deep and my goal was not yet definitely defined but coming into focus.
I decided I wanted a Jeep that was based on an expedition model. This is an ambitious goal for a Jeep Wrangler. It is a very small vehicle. So I set a goal. I wanted a technical capability that would not limit my destinations, be capable of supporting a week long venture without any support except for gas, be reasonably comfortable, be self contained, be reliable, be organized, and be a beast on very rough trails. Everything hinged on creating storage space. This was not easy. Not very many Wranglers are used or designed for extended trips because it is so small. Note that I travel alone; not married and no kids. But I really liked its small size. It's a wonder on trails. The challenge became whether I could accomplish my goals with a Wrangler. I note on this thread no one is using a Jeep Wrangler. Your needs are different. Your vehicle choices will be different.
I don't want to bore with all the bloody details. Suffice it to say that I accomplished my goals. True, I don't have an out of the weather situation that you would get with a camper or van. I admire those set ups. I must camp. Not ideal in my view but definitely enjoyable. I can carry two each gas and water Gerry cans. My equipment is mostly stored on a top rack in four Pelican cases with home made custom clamps where I also carry a Pull Pal, a collapsible ladder for roof access, a roll-up camp table and four Gerry cans. All items that can be made inoperable by water, such as clothes, sleeping bags, self-inflating mattress, tent, etc., are stored inside the Jeep. Generally, I use simple camping gear that is easy to set up and take down. For example, my tent is a Kamp-rite Collapsible Combo tent cot. But, don't misunderstand, I like my comforts. Table and chairs are all present as well as a capable cooking ability. My ARB Freezer/Fridge gives me food options. The Pelican cases are amazing. I have never seen either a drop of water nor a grain of sand inside them. And I have been in some nasty weather. My Serius Sat radio is the cherry on top of the pie.
So, is this an expedition vehicle? I don't know. Compared to what you folks are using it is not. However, I have no trouble taking trips of indefinite lengths, to inaccessible places, in reasonable comfort and efficiency. I like it a lot. I have had a lot of comments from other Wrangler owners indicating they did not think it could be done. But, I'm proof-it can be done - in some sort of style.
Sparky
