88Xj
Banned
Thanks brother, I'm honestly doing mine on the CHEAP.
98 Jeep ZJ "SHTFV"
- Thread starter Recce01
- Start date
Thanks brother, I'm honestly doing mine on the CHEAP.
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
I was trying to be on the cheap myself but things have snowballed. Just dropped almost a grand on lift stuff for the front of mine. Then discovered yesterday that someone had stolen my S10 leaves I was gonna build the rear with. And if that wasn't bad enough, someone also pulled the diff cover on my 8.8 I'm planning on putting in the XJ, leaving it to collect rain. Grrrr!!!!! All this was done while I was out in the field.
I am sure your rig will be awesome! Just take your time!!
agreed, come on Jeepdreamer, dont sell yourself short!
Thank you! I have most of my relationships from motorsport, a lot of great guys and companies I have worked with over time
Me too! That's why it is taking so long LOL. I saved for 2 years before starting the project.
I was trying to be on the cheap myself but things have snowballed. Just dropped almost a grand on lift stuff for the front of mine. Then discovered yesterday that someone had stolen my S10 leaves I was gonna build the rear with. And if that wasn't bad enough, someone also pulled the diff cover on my 8.8 I'm planning on putting in the XJ, leaving it to collect rain. Grrrr!!!!! All this was done while I was out in the field.
It is all cheap when you spend a little each month. Doing it cheap doesn't mean you have to use cheap parts, it just means it takes longer to do it
Sorry to hear about the thefts 
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
It is all cheap when you spend a little each month. Doing it cheap doesn't mean you have to use cheap parts, it just means it takes longer to do it Sorry to hear about the thefts
Yeah... I hear ya. And I'm part junkyard/imagination scrounger and part "buy the best you can afford a wee bit at a time" kind of guy. If I can make it I will usually give that a try as well. But since most of my focus and time and moolah has been aimed at the Scrambler lately I feel a little guilty spending the dough on the XJ when I probably shouldn't be. haha! But its also a case of I know where I want that Jeep to be build wise down the road. Add to that the screaming deals I've turned up here and there for various stuff which kinda Has to go on the Jeep before trying to ship it.... and it has kinda snowballed. heehee! But the theft of the springs is able to be over come.. I've even found some springs off of a Ford Ranger that I may be able to work with. The 8.8 I just drained and refilled with ATF for the time being until I can get at it. That should keep it from rusting at least.
Thanks for the kind words and the encouragement. And last but not least for lighting the way via your mad skills and exemplary build!!!!
Sorry to hear about the thefts Yeah... I hear ya. And I'm part junkyard/imagination scrounger and part "buy the best you can afford a wee bit at a time" kind of guy. If I can make it I will usually give that a try as well. But since most of my focus and time and moolah has been aimed at the Scrambler lately I feel a little guilty spending the dough on the XJ when I probably shouldn't be. haha! But its also a case of I know where I want that Jeep to be build wise down the road. Add to that the screaming deals I've turned up here and there for various stuff which kinda Has to go on the Jeep before trying to ship it.... and it has kinda snowballed. heehee! But the theft of the springs is able to be over come.. I've even found some springs off of a Ford Ranger that I may be able to work with. The 8.8 I just drained and refilled with ATF for the time being until I can get at it. That should keep it from rusting at least.
Thanks for the kind words and the encouragement. And last but not least for lighting the way via your mad skills and exemplary build!!!!
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
ahem... updates?
It is all cheap when you spend a little each month. Doing it cheap doesn't mean you have to use cheap parts, it just means it takes longer to do it
Yeah... I hear ya. And I'm part junkyard/imagination scrounger and part "buy the best you can afford a wee bit at a time" kind of guy. If I can make it I will usually give that a try as well. But since most of my focus and time and moolah has been aimed at the Scrambler lately I feel a little guilty spending the dough on the XJ when I probably shouldn't be. haha! But its also a case of I know where I want that Jeep to be build wise down the road. Add to that the screaming deals I've turned up here and there for various stuff which kinda Has to go on the Jeep before trying to ship it.... and it has kinda snowballed. heehee! But the theft of the springs is able to be over come.. I've even found some springs off of a Ford Ranger that I may be able to work with. The 8.8 I just drained and refilled with ATF for the time being until I can get at it. That should keep it from rusting at least.
Thanks for the kind words and the encouragement. And last but not least for lighting the way via your mad skills and exemplary build!!!!
Thank you!
ahem... updates?
hahah man, Work has me balls to the wall, but I am working on my next post. Expect some updates by the weekend. Thanks for tuning in as always! Next stop, Solar!
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
I hear ya! Work is busy here and I spend every free moment wrenching on one Jeep or another. Have lots to do before I can get them on the boat to come home! Woot! Can't wait for the progress...
Recce03
Ki6MRT
Whoa...! Our lives warp into an eerie parallel again. A few years ago I acquired a familiar vehicle that you probably know very well. It went to SEMA in '01 or '02.
It morphing its way into a substantially capable over landing vehicle. Even more so than it was originally. We'll have to compare notes again soon. Interesting what a decade can entail.
GCFL!!
It morphing its way into a substantially capable over landing vehicle. Even more so than it was originally. We'll have to compare notes again soon. Interesting what a decade can entail.
GCFL!!
Recce03
Ki6MRT
You assume correctly. It has served me well this past year. We are heading up to Big Bear on the 1st via Pioneertown. Should be an interesting day in the snow. Your welcome to join us. 0700 at the dinosaurs in Cabazon on 1.1.13.
I see also that you have joined the ham community. Welcome. Good choice in equipment as well. I'm impressed.
I see also that you have joined the ham community. Welcome. Good choice in equipment as well. I'm impressed.
Glad to hear it man! We were out on the road again finally this weekend after a little dry spell of travel. I could have met up with you at one point, but we were gone by the time you posted. Be sure and start a thread on your rig so I can check it out. Thanks for the compliment!
Time to go Solar!
It has been quite some time since I have posted some real content in our thread. Truth be told, we have been dealing with some family health issues along with a demanding schedule at work. This has left no time for me to get on and share our progress. On that note, I will get you up to speed with our latest additions.
I have noticed that our family tends to use a substantial amount of battery juice once stopped and camping. This worries me a lot due to the fact we tend to roll solo and find ourselves in very desolate areas way off the beaten path. That is the idea anyway, to stay off the main routes. With this in mind, we felt it was time to look into solar power. We feel solar is the best way to go to keep the optima battery topped up as well as bail us out of a situation where we have a dead battery in the field. For this need. we turned to what we consider to be the best option, Powerfilm. Those I have talked to seem to believe this is the best system that is compact enough to take with you, and performs at the top of the charts.
After a bit of research we decided to go with a 60 watt panel and a 90 watt panel.
The 90 watt panel is Khaki in color and meant to work on the awning of the Jeep.
The 60 watt panel is black, and meant to go on the hood to the Jeep.
Both of these solar charging panels are very light weight and fold up quite small. The locations are just what I figured would work well assuming I have the vehicle positioned correctly to take advantage of the sun light. They can be placed anywhere.
While we were selecting items, we decided to go with the "Assurance kit"
This kit includes all the basic accessories needed to take advantage of the juice harnessed from the sun.
To be specific:
RA-6 Daisy Chain Accessory - This allows you to connect multiple panels
RA-8 15' extension cord with aligator clips- This will help if I need to use the panels to charge any 12v battery
RA-9 Charge Controller- This takes all of the power the panels put out and regulate the output to 4.5 amps at 12v
RA-11 15' extension with O-ring connectors- This is what will be hard wired to the Optima in the Jeep ZJ
We also aquired [2] RA-7, these are 15' extension cords. This should help remote use of the panels.
It has been quite some time since I have posted some real content in our thread. Truth be told, we have been dealing with some family health issues along with a demanding schedule at work. This has left no time for me to get on and share our progress. On that note, I will get you up to speed with our latest additions.
I have noticed that our family tends to use a substantial amount of battery juice once stopped and camping. This worries me a lot due to the fact we tend to roll solo and find ourselves in very desolate areas way off the beaten path. That is the idea anyway, to stay off the main routes. With this in mind, we felt it was time to look into solar power. We feel solar is the best way to go to keep the optima battery topped up as well as bail us out of a situation where we have a dead battery in the field. For this need. we turned to what we consider to be the best option, Powerfilm. Those I have talked to seem to believe this is the best system that is compact enough to take with you, and performs at the top of the charts.
After a bit of research we decided to go with a 60 watt panel and a 90 watt panel.
The 90 watt panel is Khaki in color and meant to work on the awning of the Jeep.
The 60 watt panel is black, and meant to go on the hood to the Jeep.
Both of these solar charging panels are very light weight and fold up quite small. The locations are just what I figured would work well assuming I have the vehicle positioned correctly to take advantage of the sun light. They can be placed anywhere.
While we were selecting items, we decided to go with the "Assurance kit"
This kit includes all the basic accessories needed to take advantage of the juice harnessed from the sun.
To be specific:
RA-6 Daisy Chain Accessory - This allows you to connect multiple panels
RA-8 15' extension cord with aligator clips- This will help if I need to use the panels to charge any 12v battery
RA-9 Charge Controller- This takes all of the power the panels put out and regulate the output to 4.5 amps at 12v
RA-11 15' extension with O-ring connectors- This is what will be hard wired to the Optima in the Jeep ZJ
We also aquired [2] RA-7, these are 15' extension cords. This should help remote use of the panels.