So, I miss my LJ....

[BIGdaddy]

Haven't done much lately due to the birth of my daughter, Sydney, but I have undertaken a few small jobs...

-re-paint worn out silver lower trim
-test out the load-carrying characteristics with this
test mule...

I've actually found a bunch of things to be different with around 180lbs on the roof.

1. light handling, likely from number 2.
2. sagging rear end
3. brakes still powerful, and more than adequete
4. haven't noticed much drag or change in power...4.0L has some GREAT grunt to it.

It makes me second guess a full length rack, and also makes me think on how I'd carry a full load of tools and camping/fishing stuff. Not to mention my old town canoe...

 

[gpndave]

Congrats on the XJ. I have owned two and they were the best vehicles I owned. When my paint looked like yours, I opted for the full exterior Line-X application. I like to think I was the first to ever do this back in 1995, but probably not. I wrote for Cherokee America and many of the old articles on my XJ are still available in the tech section of www.off-road.com/jeep.com. The actual link is: http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/Line-...For-Bed/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/353347

Anyway, it was so cool and cost less than a paint job. I could run through the brush and climb all over the vehicle without worrying about scratches. Attached are a couple of my XJ photos. I sold this XJ in Korea and now have a TJ and trailer and a WJ. Enjoy the XJ!!

 

[BIGdaddy]

Congrats on the XJ. I have owned two and they were the best vehicles I owned. When my paint looked like yours, I opted for the full exterior Line-X application. I like to think I was the first to ever do this back in 1995, but probably not. I wrote for Cherokee America and many of the old articles on my XJ are still available in the tech section of www.off-road.com/jeep.com. The actual link is: http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/Line-...For-Bed/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/353347

Anyway, it was so cool and cost less than a paint job. I could run through the brush and climb all over the vehicle without worrying about scratches. Attached are a couple of my XJ photos. I sold this XJ in Korea and now have a TJ and trailer and a WJ. Enjoy the XJ!!

Thats pretty cool. I bought my jeep cuz I like the way it looked though, So I'll likely get it repainted eventually in the same silver and black.

Regards...

B

 

[BIGdaddy]

Had some fun recently going to Fiesta Island with my family, mother in law, and wife's cousin, niece and nephew. They'd never been before and it was cool to see them have fun at a place we've enjoyed for years.

My girls

Playing "Indiana Jones" complete with German soldiers and snake pits(puddles)

Laughing at what, I don't know.

free tent from my wife's aunt...what a blessing!

Took a few pics of where we parked, and of our shower/privvy shelter.

We were there for about 4 hours, and everyone ended up using our Luggable Loo once or twice. The resounding review was that of

"Wow, that is so cool!",
"Thanks for bringing that!",
"What a relief not having to hike to a dirty,smelly portable toilet!"
"I love the potty, Daddy!"



One thing that I realized I would really like to add to the Jeep is an awning

We are at fiesta island at least 2 or 3 times a month to watch fireworks and to cook s'mores, and the shade(especially with our newborn would have been welcome on a hot thursday afternoon.

Also, I do a lot of work @ my wifes school building sets for the drama program and it sure would be nice to pull my jeep up to the theatre, deploy the awning and have a shelter from the sun/rain (probably 30 days construction days out of the school year)

This is all aside from the obvious camping shelter application on trips to the boonies. I really like the idea, company and price assciated with the camping lab Awning. I'll probably order that one.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Oh, and I picked up a hitch today. The deal just plopped on my lap, so I jumped on it.

Its a factory XJ hitch that looks to be in great shape. It came complete with wiring harness that has the exact hook up that my utility trailer does. WOW!

Now all I need is a way to bolt it up.

ahem...*cough*...ahem...:elkgrin:

EDIT: Well, I ended up pulling the trigger on some nutstrips, as I really need to use my trailer next week. I ordered from Morris4x4, a place that some naxja buddies recommended. I'll keep y'all posted on my experience. The shopping and checkout/payment pages we're very straightforward and I quickly received a confirmation email confirming my order, thusly, so far I give them a "thumbs up"! (they seem to have lots of jeep stuff)

 

[BIGdaddy]

Well packed were my nuts...

trips...nutstrips, is what I meant to say...haha...

These came today, VERY nicely finished and packed. I ordered these when? Friday? Monday? I don't remember...pretty timely for sure. Its www.morris4x4.com...

I'll just find some nice weather proof grade 8 bolts and go to town. The strips actually have more nuts than my frame has holes. 4 total per side, whereas the strips/hitch can accomodate 5 or 6, I think. Should I drill out my frame to gain extra strength?

And hey, Mike, thanks dude, for your offer of hitch and nutstrips, I just didn't want to rush your truck project, and I need the hitch operable next week, so yeah, thanks a bunch, anyways. I'll still bring your remote and cable on the 29th...haha!!

oh, and by the way, for those who may not know, these go into an xj rear frame rail and position the nuts that hold the hitch and or tank skiplate on, without having to wrestle with individual nuts. These also spread the load along the whole frame rail via the 1/8"-1/16" inch steel strip. these were $15.99 per strip x 2 plus $9.99 total shipping. No sales tax equaled about $41.00. As nice as they are, they're worth it for me!

 

[ExpoMike]

Congrats on the find and no worries. I had seen a couple on Craigslist that I thought would be a good deal for ya but didn't have your email address to send to you.

The whole truck project is really dragging out much longer than anyone had hoped.

Glad something came your way so you weren't waiting on me. I'll be able to sell it whenever the time comes. See ya on the 29th.

 

[winkosmosis]

That's the same place I got my nutstrips. Fast shipping, and they actually have them in stock unlike some stores. The treads are M12 1.75 40mm long... or was it 1.25

I've learned in the past couple weeks that installing a hitch is harder than it sounds, at least when all your bolts are rusty.

 

[winkosmosis]

 

[winkosmosis]

I don't know why you'd have fewer holes... Maybe it's a difference between 1984-1996 and 1997+

 

[BIGdaddy]

yeah, weird. I bought it cheap off a guy who's 95 cherokee turned out to have no holes @ all...lol.

He was going to get a rock bumper with a 2" receiver...:elkgrin:

 

[BIGdaddy]

this'll complicate my roofrack plans...haha!

used to look like this..

Almost done with this sucker...

Thanks to these guys:

 

[winkosmosis]

Does it weigh less than 150lb? I think that's the rating of the roof rack.


Shouldn't those child laborers have dust masks or something?

 

[BIGdaddy]

Does it weigh less than 150lb? I think that's the rating of the roof rack.


Shouldn't those child laborers have dust masks or something?

which roof rack? my thule bars?

no, they worked for about 5 mins..haha. they didn't actually create any dust...

 

[BIGdaddy]

Well, I don't have pics yet...and in reality, you've seen it before...

but my hitch is on. Install was a 3-4 on my 10 scale with a bit of head-scratching but nothing a sawsall couldn't fix...haha!

I found my locking pin and ball mount hiding in my garage. I'm going to pull each bolt off one by one and put a washer and anti-sieze on all of them, and I still have to find the right splice for my year jeep, but its on and already dissuading tailgaters...haha.

:elkgrin: