How would you outfit this custom LJ?

[Ford Prefect]

.....Sadly the photos do not come in to my computer, I am going to have to look at this when I get home, but I can tell you one thing Jeff (aside from welcome back!)

.....I had tube fenders on my CJ-7, and I loved every bit of that extra clearance. If you did a High-Line style fender on there I think you would find a lot of room to stuff the tires on the trails, and an ability to put bigger tires without having to go up in elevation. I suspect it would be a nice way to go for you over all.

~Brian

 

[jscherb]

A few photos from my recent Colorado trip...

Snow at 13,000 feet:

 

[Fargo]

A few photos from my recent Colorado trip...


Snow at 13,000 feet:

I saw you out there. I was just starting Engineer when you were coming down at Anias Forks. Where did you find the snow at? I was hoping to find some for the kids to see, but only saw one small patch at the top of Imogene.

 

[jscherb]

I saw you out there. I was just starting Engineer when you were coming down at Anias Forks. Where did you find the snow at? I was hoping to find some for the kids to see, but only saw one small patch at the top of Imogene.

That photo was taken on the east side of Mosquito Pass, just below the summit. Sorry I didn't see you, but I didn't know what Jeep to look out for .

 

[Ford Prefect]

Jealous. I go there nearly every year.

This year I got an all expenses paid trip to Afghanistan. Personally I feel the brochure has it rather over rated, but maybe that is just me...

 

[Fargo]

That photo was taken on the east side of Mosquito Pass, just below the summit. Sorry I didn't see you, but I didn't know what Jeep to look out for .

Ahhh, I didn't hit that part of the state at all. I almost did a couple of years ago, but its one for me to hit another time.

I was driving an Unlimited Rubicon Limited Edition Sahara (I just laugh everytime I say the full name of my Jeep) No problem on not seeing me. At the time we passed you were watching the edge as you were decending. So you wouldn't have gotten more than a glance. Not to mention there are a LOT of nice Jeeps out there. Honestly, I don't know if I would have spotted your Jeep at that time either except the red gas cans really caught my eye. It was after I saw the gas cans I realized it was your Jeep. I was hoping to catch up to you in Ouray or somewhere to check out your top. But I never saw you again. It sure is fun out there isn't it!

 

[Fargo]

Jealous. I go there nearly every year.

This year I got an all expenses paid trip to Afghanistan. Personally I feel the brochure has it rather over rated, but maybe that is just me...

Took me awhile to catch your humor. Thanks for serving. The trails will be waiting for you when you return.

 

[AmericaOverland]

Jscherb, what are these doors on your Jeep? These are not your usual TJ doors. I saw a TJ with these doors recently. Great photos, by the way.

 

[jscherb]

Jscherb, what are these doors on your Jeep? These are not your usual TJ doors. I saw a TJ with these doors recently. Great photos, by the way.

For this trip I was running Jeep factory Jeep doors, topped with aftermarket fiberglass upper door with sliding windows. Whenever the weather permitted, I took off the upper doors and stowed them in the back of the Jeep. It rained pretty much every afternoon on this trip, so mostly I had the uppers off in the morning and on in the afternoon, that's why some photos are with the uppers off and some with the uppers on.

Here's a driveway photo before the trip, I've still got the hardtop hard sides on, hadn't switched to the soft sides yet, but the half doors/fiberglass uppers are installed:

After doing 4500 miles with these aftermarket fiberglass upper doors, including 200 miles on the trail, I've got some ideas for improvements, so a future fiberglass project for me will be fiberglass uppers to my own design...

 

[jscherb]

Outfitting the LJ Safari for this summer's expedition...

Last year the LJ Safari got a really good workout - a trip to Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, two separate off-roading trips in the Colorado Rockies, and a trip to Florida. I already did one trip to Florida in it this year, and I'm in Florida again this week but decided to drive the Retro Wrangler on this trip.

This summer, the plan is to drive the LJ Safari to Alaska. I've already made lodging reservations in Coldfoot Camp and at Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay - I plan to drive the Dalton Highway (anyone seen Ice Road Truckers?). I'm working on lodging arrangements along the Alaska Highway right now.

I'm working on my list of prep and provisions for that trip. It won't be a camping trip, so I don't plan to bring the roof-top tent along, but driving those roads you do need to plan for breakdowns, so some basic survival stuff needs to be on the list. I'm making several lists of equipment, supplies, etc., including breakdown supplies - extra serpentine belt, maybe some hoses, other repair parts like extra headlights (the folklore about the Dalton is that trucks fling stones which break many windshields and lights). I'll bring both side-mount jerry cans because the distance between Fairbanks and Coldfoot Camp and between Coldfoot Camp and Prudhoe Bay is not too far from the limit of the LJ's range on a full tank. I'll also bring at least two spares, one on the roof rack, possibly more.

I'm also working on a list of maintenance/check items to do to the LJ before departure, obvious stuff like fresh oil change, but also thinking of things to check out for possible replacement if worn.

If any of you have any suggestions for gear, LJ maintenance, survival supplies or any other tips for this trip I'd be very interested in hearing them. As I get close to finalizing my lists I may also post them here for your review so you could spot anything I've missed.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[madZJ]

Sweet, sounds like a fun trip if you make it down to Anchorage shoot me a PM or just stop by Northern Knives and ask for the Beard.

 

[jscherb]

Sweet, sounds like a fun trip if you make it down to Anchorage shoot me a PM or just stop by Northern Knives and ask for the Beard.

The current plan is the Alaska Highway to Fairbanks, up to Prudhoe bay and back to Fairbanks and then back to the US, possibly bask to US by a slightly different route. Anchorage unfortunately not in the current plan.

 

[Mudicon]

Jeff, as the former owner of a custom vehicle shop, I can honestly say your work quality, design, and craftsmanship is second to none. It was a pleasure to read through these pages gaining inspiration and ideas. I have always wanted the Safari Cab on my LJ, and am thrilled to see it go to market. I am just sorry Gr8tops priced them so far out of most people's budget.

 

[Yuman Desert Rat]

If you're willing to drop the coin; I highly recommend installing a Genright Safari tank. It holds 31.5 gallons greatly increasing your range.

 

[jscherb]

Jeff, as the former owner of a custom vehicle shop, I can honestly say your work quality, design, and craftsmanship is second to none. It was a pleasure to read through these pages gaining inspiration and ideas. I have always wanted the Safari Cab on my LJ, and am thrilled to see it go to market. I am just sorry Gr8tops priced them so far out of most people's budget.

Thank you very much, it's very nice of you to say that.

Unfortunately I don't have anything to do with the cost structure of the companies that might license my designs.

I've often wondered if instead of licensing it to a company that offered completed hardtops, what if I had found a company that wanted to offer fiberglass parts kits that a DIY-er would complete himself, kind of like the set of parts pictured below. I suspect most people would fine a kit like that too daunting to complete though.