Jeep LJ building Questions

[weinbern]

I got a 2005 rubi LJ. My initial intent was a rock crawler. I enjoy breaking and fixing my rig as much as the next but i didnt want to start with a $20k jeep. I would like to swap my focus for this vehicle to a more expedition style. I am gonna have 3 passegers at max (me, gf, and dog). I would like to avoid getting a trailer but its always a possibility.

I have added 4" fully adj control arm lift
front anti-rock
RK HD steering
MC fenders
bushwacker rears
Chicago 9k winch
1" front pucks
1" BL with 1" MML (will be adding absolutly flat TT skid)
durbaked interior
custom front and rear bumpers w tire carrier
35" BFG MT with soft 8's

Here are some random pics of where i am at with the build

Just gonna post some random thoughts i got...

What suspension is best (I am leaning towards Clayton or RK on 2.5 or 4-inch lift)?

Can i build a roof rack for a RTT (>1k #'s)?

What RTT are best for 2 people and a dog?

What gear ratio is best for a fully loaded LJ with 6spd tranny on 35's?

 

[weinbern]

Just for fun this is how it looked when i picked it up

 

[zombie]

I'd be interested to see where you take this. I was thinking about a roof rack, then started leaning towards a trailer, but some trails yesterday cured me of that (couldn't have turned around in some of the places with a trailer).

 

[kevinofcamelot]

Get the Genright Safari Tank and the poly performance interior rack

 

[weinbern]

Get the Genright Safari Tank and the poly performance interior rack

I like the safari tank, been thinking about that for awhile. Do you have a link for the interior rack at Polyperformance? I searched the website and couldnt find it.

 

[njjeepthing]

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/Poly-Performance-Jeep-Wrangler-Baja-Basket-p-18614.html

 

[weinbern]

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/Poly-Performance-Jeep-Wrangler-Baja-Basket-p-18614.html

I was thinking of doing an external rack to mout a RTT. Has anyone does this on a Wranlger (TJ/LJ)? I would like to get around getting a trailer. Just more baggage....

 

[weinbern]

random moment of quietness at work made me design this in paint

 

[NOMADIC_LJ]

Not exactly like your idea but close. If you want to make your rig more overland friendly, I would second the extended fuel tank idea. Great bang for your buck mod.

 

[-JD-]

Is that the Smittybilt SRC rack?

Do you have a personal review?

While I have my own ideas about how to do a rack right, it seems hard to beat @ $313 delivered for the basic rack if the quality and durability are acceptable.

 

[-JD-]

I really like the idea of a 3-point per side mounting for an LJ and have been thinking about it for a good while.

I am eventually planning on adding Savvy aluminum full corners, and I was thinking of using them or maybe the same mount points to mount the mid and rear uprights rather than carrying them down to the bottom of the tub. The front support would land on the lower, fixed section of the upper door-hinge/windshield bracket and maybe include a light mount and a mirror mount bracket of some sort as well.


I'm definitely going to be ordering a Safari tank for my LJ soon. I've been looking for the best price and I have yet to find anything comparable off the shelf. Since all my lift components are in and the rockers/sliders and full belly skid are expected in in the next month or so, I might as well do the tank too while the Jeep is on the stands.

 

[JPK]

Here is the Garvin Expedition rack on my LJ.

Its a good stong rack rated at 300lbs for offraod use. My rack is eqipped with two Thule 54" cross bars on Garvin mounts along with a shovel and axe holder. Garvin also offers a HighLift holder though I mount my HiLift on the rear bumper.

They offer a front wind deflector which I would get - probably will get - to limit wind noise for when the hard top is on. Changing tops is not fun but not too bad, the rack unbolts from the front risers and, after unbolting intermediary supports at the rear, tilts back on the lower rear supports. You would need to tilt the rack back to lower the soft top or use the "sunrider" half fold provision.

My only complaint of any sort is that the powder coating could use improvement and after four years of east coast ocean spray/beach and snow treatment exposure it is showing some rust that I need to remove, and it will need to be painted.

I recently spoke with Garvin and ordered a 1/2 length rack for my JK Unlimited hardtop and they informed me that they had improved their powder coating and now use a better primer. The new rack appears to have better powder coating, but only time will tell.

Here are views from one side and the other. BTW, the top boxes carry about 50lbs worth of gear, day in and day out and have for four years. No issue with the rack. Also the rack has carried ~80lb canoes and other stuff, in conjunction with the loaded boxes, off road without problems.

Hope this helps.

JPK

 

[NOMADIC_LJ]

Is that the Smittybilt SRC rack?
Do you have a personal review?
While I have my own ideas about how to do a rack right, it seems hard to beat @ $313 delivered for the basic rack if the quality and durability are acceptable.

yes its an SRC rack. I got it free from the R&D guys in exchange for installing/trying and reporting back. This is a prototype.

I had a wilderness expedition rack previously and the build quality was better but for free its hard to beat. I'm not a crawler so for my needs it works good. I generally just keep lightweight camping items up there.

 

[grahamfitter]

I was thinking of doing an external rack to mout a RTT. Has anyone does this on a Wranlger (TJ/LJ)? I would like to get around getting a trailer. Just more baggage....

I have a Congo Cage with an Autohome Overcamp RTT. While strong and effective, the rack is also heavy, noisy and already going rusty. I'm looking for roof bars that mount directly to the hard top and are somehow braced to the roll bars.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[weinbern]

I have a Congo Cage with an Autohome Overcamp RTT. While strong and effective, the rack is also heavy, noisy and already going rusty.

The congo cage is strong enough for a RTT? Could you possibly estimate how much weight ur putting on it when its stationary and fully setup (occcupants + tent)?