Compromises-

[IXNAYXJ]

I don't like to compromise. I want my cake and I want to eat it. Here's what I'm talking about:

My current wheeling rig ('94 XJ 2-dr) is worn out. Motor has 200k on it and one cylinder has no compression. Doors don't shut anymore (50k miles of HARD wheeling, including two flops), it leaks, smells like the burned hair of a soggy buffalo and doens't have a straight panel on it.

Easy solution is to but a new rig and swap everything over. Of course, this is a good oportunity to do some upgrades. I'll be switching to Claytons LA's, doing a full cage/exo halo, tube fenders, etc. Sounds great, right?

Here's the problem; I wheel with multiple passengers with relative frequency, and I sleep in the back of the Jeep. With the cage, I'm not sure how I'll make the rear seat viable, so I thought about putting in two bucket seats back there and modifying the floor pan. But that's a lot of work.

Also, I want to do a storage tray (Tuffy's is really nice) in the rear with a spare tire mount on top. Basically, I'm running out of room. How do I prioritize? Forget sleeping in the rig and buy a tent? Tell my friends to piss off and buy their own rig? Or figure out some really elegant and clever way of doing everything I want it to...any ideas?

Old and new:

My Blue Heeler Abby overseeing out progress:

Basic idea for the cage:

Doesn't leave much room. I'm debating including the b-pillar x-brace...I dunno:

-----Matt-----

 

[articulate]

Pony up for a Chaser, get new friends (ones with their own rigs), and bring a babe for the passenger seat. Call it done.

 

[ExpoMike]

Personally I think you need to prioritize the type of wheeling you want to do. :sport_box

Hearing how you have wheeled hard with a couple flops and looking at the cage design you want to do, I think your mindset is still in the hardcore arena. Not faulting the value of a good cage but in an ExPo type build, the setup you are showing is overkill. The cage without all the extra side to side cross bracing would protect much better then without (since few hardtop vehicles tend to do full cages) but you would still retain your much needed internal space.

I am faced with a smiliar situation as my wife and I want to do more ExPo travels and an XJ is on the small side compared to most of the rigs you see. It just takes more thinking on how to maximize your usable space. Though we don't typically carry more then the two of us, there are times we might be four up and having the back seat is nice. I am planning to build side storage areas that will be flush with the wheelwells inside, so I can keep the main floor area clear. I am going to put a rear tray across the back, behind the seat but about the same height as the top of it, for a two level load area. The spare tire and some of the recovery equipment will on on a rack I will build on the roof. Most likely I will add an air assist bags for the rear springs to help with the load.

In the end I am going to build a ExPo trailer with an RTT to haul a lot of the camp gear. With all my ideas in place, the XJ will be "able" to sleep one or two for a night or two, have my spares and recovery on board so I could leave camp without a trailer or on a day trip BUT any longer trips would have the trailer setup to work out of.

I do get envious of seeing all these big rigs with all the room and capacity but at the same time I get a kick out of picking through trails with more spare room and getting 20 MPG.

Before you really jump into your build, REALLY read over this site, think about exactly what you want to do and layout your plans with that goal in mind. It is really hard to have a hardcore rig that doubles as an ExPo rig. At least that's my opinion, espically with an XJ.

If I had my way, I want a Pinzgauer 6x6 with an ambulance box that I could build a full contained camp rigs. :drool: :jump:

OR you can just do what articulate proposed!!!

 

[IntrepidXJ]

easy solution. build 2 specific rigs....

one for expedition style travel and build your old one as a rock crawler.

that's what I did. there is no good way to have 1 rig that can handle both well enough for me...IMO

:sport_box

 

[John90XJ]

I know Matt too well and also know he's not going to go on any, at least near term, journey that doesn't involve some hardcore wheeling.

In the PNW we tend to look at keeping things low and inside in order to deal with center of gravity. This helps with tight trails and smacking into tree trunks. This generally rules out RTTs and spare tires on the roof rack.

That being the case, and knowing the setup Matt will be running for tires, axles, etc., I think a reverse storage area would work well. Create a floor above the spare tire and have it run all the way to the rear of the seats. If a second row seat is added, run around it with a platform. Seldom used items, like the spare tire, can ride under this platform. More frequently used items could be retrieved from hatches built into the floor and allowing access to the large space that is presently under the back seat. Using the cross braces of the cage for a dual purpose supporting this platform seems to make the most sense.

Pulling out a cooler or other gear carrying box and leaving it on the roof or under the rig when parked in camp would leave a large area for sleeping. For that matter, the seats could be folded forward and an extension could be unfolded from the front of the platform, something secured with a piano hinge.

It could easily be done in aluminum or steel square tubing and sheetmetal or plywood. Things like water supply and secondary batteries could be incorporated into the design and then plumbed to a readily available open area at the rear.

Ultimately it would be nice to make a driver out of it as well as a strong wheeling rig like the present one. I'm fairly happy with mine and it's setup in a similar fashion....nothing on the roof, all the weight inside and located low.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

Pony up for a Chaser

Won't fit where I go, unfortunately.

get new friends (ones with their own rigs)

But scaring unwitting passengers half to death is part of the fun of having a wheeling rig!

and bring a babe for the passenger seat. Call it done.

Didn't you see the pics of Abby?

-----Matt-----

 

[IXNAYXJ]

But seriously...

XJ Mike:

If I only wanted to do one type of wheeling, this wouldn't be a challenge! I don't want to compromise, remember?

Good input though, and good luck with your build. As John pointed out, though, trailers and RTTs just aren't feasible for my main area of operation.

IntrepidXJ:

Believe me I've thought about it. My new rig is so nice to drive it'll be tough to chop up and make into a Highway nightmare. I have decided I'm going to run a Currie Anti-Rock sway bar on this one...my old rig leans like a drunken sailor. I actually use nautical terms when describing it.

BTW, we still need to work on getting some of your pics in the magazine like we talked about. let's get the ball rolling!

John:

Thanks for the ideas. I'm thinking about buildng a 3-seater.... Maybe mount a bucket seat on the starboard side behind the pass. seat and leave behind the driver for storage and a flat spot to lay out. That's why I posted this thread, though, is for ideas how to make a hardcore wheeling rig sustainable for a week alone.

Either way, it's going to be a really fun project. It goes in to Those Guys on the 2nd, and I expect it to be totally buttoned up by the end of January, so the clock is ticking.

-----Matt-----

 

[4Rescue]

So do you want to put the spare INSIDE the truck??? Like the factory like set-up? I'm confused.

A) I'd say tell your friends to at least get ONE other rig.

B) I'd say make a rear swing away carrier?

I'm kind of in the same boat about sleeping in the truck. I like it, but I can't help but think a tent wether roof top or not isn't just easier. For just me and my gear it's fine, but throw in the GF and it becomes really hard.

I can't wait to see your EXO. THat solves one of the biggest issues I see XJ's having. IE the lack of frame etc. Here's a link to what I think is the NICEST exo I've come across (although it's a bit of a mix of both internal and Exo really).

http://gitout.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=195

 

[John90XJ]

I'm kind of in the same boat about sleeping in the truck.....throw in the GF and it becomes really hard.

Freudian slip?

I can't sleep in my XJ....it took one time a few years ago to convince me that was a dumb idea. Matt is shorter and likely half my weight and he uses some kind of contortioning to do it.

In the end it seems easier to put up a tent and just be done with it. It's generally more comfortable and certainly easier to avoid things like your friends duct taping you in your rig or surrounding it with Saran wrap.

 

[4Rescue]

Freudian slip?

I can't sleep in my XJ....it took one time a few years ago to convince me that was a dumb idea. Matt is shorter and likely half my weight and he uses some kind of contortioning to do it.

In the end it seems easier to put up a tent and just be done with it. It's generally more comfortable and certainly easier to avoid things like your friends duct taping you in your rig or surrounding it wait Saran wrap.

Yeah WHOOPS! HAHAHAHAHAHA

You seem to have friends much like mone. Personaly that is one thing AGAINST the tent IMO, We hassle the crap out of a particular friend of ours who's GF makes him bring and set up a tent on every trip. we usualy spend the night throwing beer cans at it , and oddly anough duct taping them in.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

I want to be able to store the tire inside for reasons of a lower COG, but it won't fit where the factory spare is (wasn't designed for a 35" tire).

I can't wait to see your EXO. THat solves one of the biggest issues I see XJ's having. IE the lack of frame etc. Here's a link to what I think is the NICEST exo I've come across (although it's a bit of a mix of both internal and Exo really).

That's funny...that's the same one I posted a pic of, and the inspiration for my new set up. He's actually going to be helping me do the final swap of all my parts from the old rig once the cage/exo is finished.

-----Matt-----

 

[4Rescue]

I want to be able to store the tire inside for reasons of a lower COG, but it won't fit where the factory spare is (wasn't designed for a 35" tire).That's funny...that's the same one I posted a pic of, and the inspiration for my new set up. He's actually going to be helping me do the final swap of all my parts from the old rig once the cage/exo is finished.

-----Matt-----

So are you from the NW then??? I guess I didin't see the pic, I was reading this at work, and our server's block alot of hosted pics. THat's cool that you're basing the design off of his. I love the rear quarters he made, can't wait to see what you come up with.

I get what you mean about mounting it low for COG, and yeah, the donut barely fits in the back verticaly, let alone a big ol 35...

Cheers

Edit: yup sure enough there it is HA. BTW, love the healer, those dogs are sweet.

Dave

 

[John90XJ]

I love the rear quarters he made, can't wait to see what you come up with.

The quarter guards are made by the guys at Trail Head Off Road in Washington. Several of us have them and they really work well.

http://www.thor4x4.com/

 

[IXNAYXJ]

I love the rear quarters he made...

As John said, those are THOR gaurds. The white 2-dr XJ on their site is my old rig:

-----Matt-----

 

[4Rescue]

I did not know that. Either way, I really like those. And I love the tube fenders as well.