WrenchMonkey
Mechanical Animal
Or, would be...
AEV Brute Expedition Build in Dubai
- Thread starter Oman4x4
- Start date
Or, would be...
Oman4x4
Laurie Bridger
I'm planning on running a Pace Edwards Tonnau Cover (it arrives next week) - power retractable and goes into the canister in the front. The dead space below this canister will become a water tank for on-board showers etc, and will probably work on some storage dividers flush with the wheel arches to have easy access to tools over the bed-sides. The goal is to have easy access from 3 sides of the bed, as opposed to strictly through the tailgate with my old set up.
For bigger trips, will have the option of mounting baskets above the tonnau and storing things there, and may go as far as making a canvas cover for the whole cage to keep things out of the elements better. And if it still doesn't fit, then we take the Raptor
The extra space under the chassis will also accomodate a sub-fuel tank, so no need to carry jerry cans in the bed. One jerry can will sit on the back bumper, next to the spare tire, as a final reserve and also something to help out friends if they can't keep up ;-)
Exactly how the space will be laid out though - I expect that to evolve naturally as the camping trips happen and we figure out what works best. The past 10 years or so has mainly been day trips.
Oman4x4
Laurie Bridger
I'm still at it
It's been a hectic year... Insanely busy work load and flying back to England to spend time with my sick Grandmother and unfortunately attend her funeral... and then the guy who was building the Brute left and I had all this camping gear I'd purchased for the Brute and no sign of the Brute being finished any time soon...
So... the quick solution was to sell this:
Then buy this:
Promptly got to work on getting the roof rack designed and built:
And then with what free time I did have amongst an insane workload for most of this year - enjoyed camping on the weekends. (Some nights used it to sleep at the office!)
But I'm happy to say work has been continuing on the Brute and there will be an update in the next post
Oman4x4
Laurie Bridger
Brute Progress!
Body lines perfectly straight now. All body new body mounts and everything perfectly in place. Door gaps worked out.
With no engine and transmission or fuel tank or rear bumper it sits way up in the air
Scored a deal on some lightly used 37" BFG KM2s - so those are going to go on there...
However they are for a 17" wheel not a 15" wheel - so time for new alloys. These are getting mounted next week (with the help of TJ to JK adapters until we get around to doing new axles in JK bolt patterns.)
Should look a lot closer to this when it's done
And finally - one other custom touch I'm thinking of throwing in - extractor vents from the 2014 Mustang 5.0 V8:
Seems to be a good fit!
Body lines perfectly straight now. All body new body mounts and everything perfectly in place. Door gaps worked out.
With no engine and transmission or fuel tank or rear bumper it sits way up in the air
Scored a deal on some lightly used 37" BFG KM2s - so those are going to go on there...
However they are for a 17" wheel not a 15" wheel - so time for new alloys. These are getting mounted next week (with the help of TJ to JK adapters until we get around to doing new axles in JK bolt patterns.)
Should look a lot closer to this when it's done
And finally - one other custom touch I'm thinking of throwing in - extractor vents from the 2014 Mustang 5.0 V8:
Seems to be a good fit!
GetOutThere
Adventurer
This build is intense. Can't wait to see it complete!
jscusmcvet
Explorer
I am having great success with the hood vents on my 2005 LJ. I am not a scientist but the engine has not gotten close to being too warm and the hood is only warm to the touch rather than scalding. Our summer here in North Carolina may not be the desert you are in, but regularly up to 95-100 over the past few weeks.
So I guess what I am saying is... go with the hood vents
Nice truck and camping pics by the way.
John
So I guess what I am saying is... go with the hood vents
Nice truck and camping pics by the way.
John
precision powder
Backwoods Explorer
This was an excellent read and is an extremely excellent build! Fantastic job on those mounts you designed from plate, impressive work.
Oman4x4
Laurie Bridger
A bit more CAD work for tonight:
A friend's Jeep has similar bump stops set up in the front, and has managed to actually bend the plate they are welded to. After seeing that - I've drawn up a reinforcement plate to be welded on.
Securing a car on a trailer using the body / chassis can be a BAD idea - especially if the straps to not have snap-hooks on them. As the car bounces on the suspension while it's on the trailer, those straps are going slack and pulled tight again, repeatedly. If you're really unlucky, the hooks can fall out. That won't happen with these tie-down tabs welded to the axle housing. These front ones fit up flush against the swaybar mounting points.
And the rear ones are simply on the axle tubes.
A friend's Jeep has similar bump stops set up in the front, and has managed to actually bend the plate they are welded to. After seeing that - I've drawn up a reinforcement plate to be welded on.
Securing a car on a trailer using the body / chassis can be a BAD idea - especially if the straps to not have snap-hooks on them. As the car bounces on the suspension while it's on the trailer, those straps are going slack and pulled tight again, repeatedly. If you're really unlucky, the hooks can fall out. That won't happen with these tie-down tabs welded to the axle housing. These front ones fit up flush against the swaybar mounting points.
And the rear ones are simply on the axle tubes.
precision powder
Backwoods Explorer
Top notch work!
Question, what are you doing to do with the frame, axle tubes, and other pieces under the jeep? Any type of protective coating like powder coat, paint, etc? I know you dont get much rust there but it would be nice to do anyway
Question, what are you doing to do with the frame, axle tubes, and other pieces under the jeep? Any type of protective coating like powder coat, paint, etc? I know you dont get much rust there but it would be nice to do anyway
Oman4x4
Laurie Bridger
Thanks! I am planning to powdercoat the frame, axle housings, control arms, centre skid plate, gas tank skid plate and bumpers and cargo rack in the same textured matte black finish.
should all match nicely precision powder
Backwoods Explorer
Thanks! I am planning to powdercoat the frame, axle housings, control arms, centre skid plate, gas tank skid plate and bumpers and cargo rack in the same textured matte black finish.
Great choice! I as well went with a mini textured black on everything I did for my jeep. It looks great, very low key as well.
This is what I am using, my guess is yours will be similar?
Oman4x4
Laurie Bridger
Great choice! I as well went with a mini textured black on everything I did for my jeep. It looks great, very low key as well.
This is what I am using, my guess is yours will be similar?
Yup pretty much exactly that
you did the washers as well? The coating doesn't get damaged while tightening?