Bye BYE XJ, Hello YJ

[BC Explorer]

Well I sold my old XJ that has brought me to many great advetures and of course back home and only letting me down once.
I have purchased a 94 YJ from a co-workers daughter who never drove in the winter or took it off-road. Now it is time to start converting it for expedition use.
The first upgrade was to replace the 70 amp ( which died anyways) alternator with a Grand Cherokee V8 136 amp unit.
Second was to build a rear storage rack similar to the one I built for the XJ.
A 1 3/4" shackle lift and 30X9.50X15 tires are installed for now.
Next will be OBA and hot water for showers.
Also added was a 8" wide Tuffy center console which is awesome but, a 6" would be a lot better for seat clearence.

On june 20th I will take it on her first trip lasting 13 days and 5000 plus kms.

Out with the old and I already miss it !

The 8" Tuffy console that fits a little to tight.

In with the new

rear storage rack covered with truck bed liner

 

[phxtoad]

Nice YJ! Gotta love the color. Are you going to lift? Here's what a 2 1/2" and 32's will look like if you do. Just imagine it with black steelies...

Todd

 

[BigAl]

I can't see your pics for some reason but I'm eager to see your build. 2.5 or 4.0?
edit: Okay, I see them now, you are going to love that rack, I have basically the same thing in mine. I couldn't live without it now

 

[XJxplorer]

Nice YJ...

What front bumper did you have on the XJ?

 

[BC Explorer]

Nice YJ...

What front bumper did you have on the XJ?

The front bumper on the XJ was custom built by me. I can't stand spending hard earned money on items that I can build for a fraction of the price.
The bumper cost me in total about $40.00 to build and powder coat, and the rear rack in the cherokee was $2.00 some scrap metal from around the shop and just my spare time.
I'll was going to post a pic of the Cherokee rear rack but, someone hacked the photobucket site !

 

[BC Explorer]

I can't see your pics for some reason but I'm eager to see your build. 2.5 or 4.0?
edit: Okay, I see them now, you are going to love that rack, I have basically the same thing in mine. I couldn't live without it now

It's a 2.5 and awesome on fuel, When the rack is not full of gear the dog lies up there, sort of dual purpose I guess.

I love your truck and really like the work on your roll bar.

 

[BC Explorer]

Nice YJ! Gotta love the color. Are you going to lift? Here's what a 2 1/2" and 32's will look like if you do. Just imagine it with black steelies...

Todd

I can't see your pics, what a tease !

 

[BigAl]

It's a 2.5 and awesome on fuel, When the rack is not full of gear the dog lies up there, sort of dual purpose I guess.

I bought an SUV cargo liner from AA for ~$9. I throw that on my rack for the dog to lay on. Great minds...

 

[BC Explorer]

I can't see your pics, what a tease !

Now I see it and your still a tease !
It looks to be the perfect stance.
Now you have me thinking.

 

[smbisig]

any new updates?

 

[ox4mag]

Great looking YJ though I've gotta say, your XJ was sweet!

 

[BC Explorer]

Just got back from the trip 2 weeks ago with my daughter and left for another right after I got home so haven't had much time to fab or update.

Well the first ever trip with the new (to me) YJ was a success and a lesson in packing. My daughter and I believe we have the packing down pretty good right now and actually had room left over.
We travelled just over 3000 KM's (1864 miles) and only used $397 dollars in fuel, my Cherokee would have been double if not more. We had expected to travel about 4500 KM's but, the trip was shortened after my daughter had a bad reaction to a spider bite on her wrist.

Well here are some pics from the trip.
I will also be posting pics soon of the rear bumper build and soon the trailer build.

A long dirt road cutting between the township's (was messing with special effects, oops)

A storm that we were soon to be in.

We couldn't find the pot of gold

Some of the awesome scenery

So much for pay at the pump, so much for the pumps !

An old smoke stack from a smelter factory in Greenwood

Time to get up......

and finally us at Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

 

[BC Explorer]

Great looking YJ though I've gotta say, your XJ was sweet!

Believe me I miss my Cherokee and some of the places I have gone with it.
I will be building a very stout trail rig out of the YJ and will keep every one posted.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

That's awsome that you took your daughter on such a fantastic trip. Mine is a bit young yet for the longer trips, but she loves the day trips.

I like the YJ, but I'm partial to the XJ's. I'd love to see a pic of the rear cargo carrier.

 

[BC Explorer]

My daughter just loves camping even in the worst conditions whether it be -5 and snowing, pouring rain or blazing hot.
My daughter and I have 3 week trip planned to travel to the Arctic Circle, Dead Horse Alaska and Inuvik.

Cargo carrier in which truck, how about I post both pics.

The YJ's

The Cherokee's