Jeep Show-and-tell

[YJ Dave]

Here is my "94 YJ

More or less I'm looking to get some idea's for an upcoming projest. Please show me and tell me about what and why you built your Jeep like you have.

 

[Scott Brady]

I dig the green.

The Jeep looks solid, and balanced.

Have you upgraded the D35 yet? I would recommend it.

Revolver shackles in the rear are excellent too.

 

[goodtimes]

What are your plans for the vehicle? Touring the back roads on single day trips? Taking the family down to the Sierra Madre? Bouncing off of big rocks?

Personally, I left my jeep basically stock. Small lift (3.5"), 285/75R16 tires, some body and chassis armor, some communication stuff, some recovery stuff, a place to sleep....and a couple doo-dads here and there.

It turned out to be pretty versatile...I am comfortable taking it down a 4.5 (1-5 scale) trail, has enough room for me and my side-kick (4-legged kind) to live out of for a week+ at a time for the longer trips (Baja, Death Valley, etc), still reasonably comfortable on the street, can still get 17mpg, and has a "poser index" (AKA RTI score) of 886. My biggest complaint is the road noise gets old after the first 100 miles or so......a hard top may be in my future.

I can lay out details if you like.....but I just got home from another 12 hour shift, so I am going to track down something to eat....

 

[YJ Dave]

My thoughts toward my Jeep are in a transition phase right now. Well more or less anyway. I was building it to do mostly rockcrawling, and harder trails, this Jeep and I have in the past competed and done very well in the old "Legends" class in rockcrawling. Over the last year I have been thinking more and more about extended trips with my friends and my Jeep to explore the ghost town of the former "Wild West", getting back to the original reason why I picked up the Jeep now 8 years ago.
The green color, came about after being hit by an uninsured driver 2 years ago, over $4K in damage was done to my Jeep, thankfully I was uninjured. But this crash had me spending the savings that I was putting away for new axles to putting the Jeep back on the road. I'm again looking around at a few options for axles, and I hope to put something under her over the winter. The only real changes that I'm thinking of making to the Jeep as it sits today are different axles, and some type of rack system so I can better organize my gear. I may also try going down to 2.5" springs because I think I have the clearance that I need to make it work.
Other than that, the Jeep as it sits today is stock 4.0 motor, custom high clearance exhaust, 35" MTR's with 3.5" springs, 1" BL, high clearance trany skid plate, 1" Brown Dog motor mounts, SYE, Detroit locker (rear), 4.10 gears, Jeeperman bumper, full size spare tire, greasable shackles, Lightforce lights, 10 LB CO2 tank, and a QAII compressor, and a winch.


But lets see some pics of all of your Jeeps. and tell me why you have built them the way you have.

 

[bigreen505]

Well, I don't have a Jeep, but drool uncontrollably every time I am in the presence of them. I saw a nice red one yesterday with a rack over the spare tire that had a large Thule Evolution 18 or 21 mounted on it. The width was about the same as the Jeep, maybe a bit more. That would be an interesting way to increase storage space. Check out articulate's Jeep page, that might give you some ideas. Also, do a search here for GoodTimes' sleeping platform.

 

[BajaTaco]

I have no Jeep pics of my own either, just wanted to say I dig the green too. Perfect color to go with all those pine trees.

Good luck with your project - sounds like you have a really nice existing setup/platform to work with.

 

[articulate]

Amigo:

My TJ is an "X" package. Sort of a budget version of the Sport, so it has the I-6 engine, but utilitarian trim. I was a broke kid who thought Jeeps were really cool when I bought her, and I never thought I was going to "mod" her out, either. Then did a few trips.......the most essential thing to tackle with a Wrangler is organization. Real estate is premium inside those things, but I don't need to tell you that.

I've done very simple modifications in comparison with the mega-Jeep builds going on out there, and what you have done is far more mechanically impressive. But you asked

• My first mod was the anti-swaybar quick disconnects by JKS.
• Second mod was a tow hook bolted to the frame in the rear, as I didn't have any recovery points back there
• And a week before I got married, I pitched the rear seat and installed a Mountaineer Rack by Garvin. I've never regretted having the back seat out.
• Old Man Emu suspension - VERY nice. I dare not call it a "lift" because it's so much more than that.
• Rocker panel protection. Need I say more?
• Rear bumper/swingout system also by Garvin. I went back and forth for several months between wanting a roof rack or doing an over-the-spare rack. This system won, and I got a 2" receiver, shackle mounts, and a nicer spare carrier, and a more protective rear bumper for less than the cost of a roof rack.
• Warn front bumper - simply for the recovery points and the capacity to accept a winch in the future.
• And the ARB Safari snorkel. It's piped and sealed properly.

My tires are merely 31" x 10.5". I'd rather move up to 33" x 10.5" but I'd have to address my drive train. I'm not ready - nor motivated - to replace the rear axle (Dana 35). I'd also need to move to taller ring and pinions, as she sits now 3.07:1 My page tells it like I think it: I should have waited for the Rubicon package.

If I didn't have the truck - as my wife and I were discussing last night - I'd love to dump the money into the Jeep (1" body lift, SYE, tummy tuck, 33" tires, Dana 44, etc etc) and get a Chaser from Adventure Trailers. Powdercoated RED to match, too!

Maybe I'll do that in the future....

Anyway, my Jeep is plenty capable for 3.5 rated trails (on the 5 scale) and I don't have any care in the world to do tougher than that.

I don't know if I answered a single question of yours....

Be well,
Mark

 

[goodtimes]

2003 Wrangler (rubicon)
Entire drivetrain is stock, left this way for reliability.

Chassis mods:

• 3.5" Rubicon Express short arm kit. Chosen primarily because of the lower control arms. They stand up to abuse better than most others seem to. Plus, I like the cartridge joints (adjustable and re-buildable) that they use. I added adjustable upper control arms to the kit to allow me to use a double cardan (CV) driveshaft, supplied by Tom Woods.
• Front shocks are el-cheapo DT-3000. They suck. 'nuff said
• Rear shocks are Rancho RSX. They don't suck as bad as the DT's do. I also relocated the lower shock mounts outboard to 'hide' them from rocks behind the lower control arm mounts, and eliminated the upper bar-pins (which are prone to failure--like both of mine did while in Baja), all using some pre-made brackets from N'th degree mobility. Good stuff there.
• Steering system is 1.25" solid 4130 with 1-ton tie rod ends. Supplied by Currie enterprises. The OE parts were weak, and bent.
• Axle vents are extended into the engine compartment.

Skid plates/armor:

• Front lower control arm pockets (link captures) are boxed in with 3/16" cold rolled steel plate. This was a preventitive measure, as they tend to get beat up, and will cause maintenance problems if not addressed.
• Steering box is hidden from the rocks thanks to a Kilby skid plate.
• Rear differential has a cast steel cover from Poison Spider Customs,
• Front differentail has a tubular cage on top of the OE cover. Both of these were installed because I got tired of having to re-seal the diffs after dragging them over rocks.
• Rock sliders are by Sun Performance. The OE parts provided on the rubicons are junk.
• Front and rear bumpers are home made, because I am cheap (and I enjoy fabrication work). Front bumper incorperates a winchplate, radiator hoop (not shown in pic above...no current pics are on-line), and protection for the roller fairlead (almost visable in the pic). One question I always get about the bumper, is why I mounted the shackles "sideways". I did this because I expected to do more winching/pulling/extracting at a angle to the side...so this plays to the strength of the attachment point. I'm happy with it thus far.
• Roll cage was cut/bent by Poison Spider Customs, and welded in by me.
• Belly pan/t'case mount was also made by me because I destroyed the OE part. I also added 2" of ground clearance to the belly of the jeep at the same time, while keeping the drivetrain in the OE location.

Interior mods:

• radio mounts for both 2 meter and CB are part of the roll cage (added by me). I needed a place to put them, so it was a natural choice. Both mic's are auto-retracting to keep the cords out of my way, and in a location where I can grab either of them without having to take my eyes off the trail.
• Hi-lift mount is on the rear spreader of the cage. Out of the way, always handy. Too bad it rattles.
• Shovel mounted in back, on top of wheel well. I had a quick-fist laying around from the '04 SEMA show, and I had a shovel that needed a home. Killed 2 birds with one stone.
• Sleeping platform. Bolts in place of passenger seat and rear seat. Provides over 6 feet from tailgate to dash, and full width of rear compartment for gear when travelling, and for me to sleep. If the weather if bad, there is enough room for the dog to sleep inside too (providing she doesn't start farting or snoring -- she is prone to both at inoppertune times). I'm really happy with this mod. I have a TON of storage room inside, and can get out of the rain and off the ground at night. One of my favorite mods.

There are a few other things I have done here and there...gps mount, hand throttle, grab handles, etc....

Next up are some lights, steel corners, and a rack to mount my kayak to....and an adjustment to my bump stops....and a different sway bar system (Currie anti-rock at both ends)....and a few other things I haven't thought of yet (like storage tie-downs).

 

[YJ Dave]

Those are some good looking Jeeps that you guys have.

Keep it coming! Lets see more good pics. Even the stock Jeeps, lets see what you have done. Pics of rack systems, trailers and other mods would also be real cool.

I also ditched my back seat many years ago, but my GF has an 11 year old son, and it is hard for me to leave either of them behind when I head out on day trips. Depending on what happens with the three of us I may be saving up for a new back seat and a trailer, so we can all fit in the Jeep for a few days.

 

[articulate]

Here is my Jeep. Her name is Mayahuel, The Agave Burro.

The only thing I have not modified or changed is the right rear rigid brake line and now that I think about it...I think I changed that too.

What a beautiful machine, The Agave Burro! :costumed-smiley-007 :drool:

I've seen Brian's Rubicon, too, which is very sweet. His sleeping platform looks like a test to the universe and goddesses of love: "Yes, that's right, I have no space for a woman in here. Go ahead, I dare you!" :ylsmoke:

Dave, I'd think a trailer is in order. With a girlfriend and a young one, the space and tent option is hard to disagree with. :smiley_drive: Everyone appreciates a soft bed...and GRRRRR! if it pleases the girlfriend...well, you know.

 

[goodtimes]

...His sleeping platform looks like a test to the universe and goddesses of love: "Yes, that's right, I have no space for a woman in here. Go ahead, I dare you!" :ylsmoke:

Well, see....the deal is kinda like this. There *is* room for 2, providing they are real friendly.....but she's gotta find her own way to and from the party.

:1888fbbd:

And the Agave Burro.....:bowdown:
That thing is just friggin sweet.

 

[cshontz]

Love your ride, Mark. We shoulda rolled together - the vast distance that seperates us aside.

This thing was great. Old Man Emu + .75" w/ 32x11.50, winch, sport cage, front and rear Powertrax No-Slips, and an Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case. It trivialized alot of the terrain around here.

I miss it. I smacked it into something. This picture was taken after the smacking occurred. After that it, wasn't quite right - like it was an unfaithful spouse, so I sold it.

 

[smbisig]

Here's mine.

1993 YJ, 4.0, ARB's, ARB Bullbar, OME Suspension, 1" Daystar Body Lift, Flowmaster Cat Back, Kargo Master Rack......................

 

[CLynn85]

Here's my 98 TJ:

It's a sport with 98k miles. 3" Springs in the front, 2" spacers in the back. 31" Kumho MT's, home built rocker guards, and a few other doodads.

I love the jeep for beating around in town and on the trail. But being my DD it's kind of rough. At the moment I have a gas tank with a small pinhole on the top that needs to be fixed, a bad hesitation on occasion that I can't find the source of, short belt bypassing the burnt up bearing on the AC compressor, missing right rear shock because of the cheap Doestechs wearing out and the eventual failure of a bar pin, among other things. Everytime I get time to fix one thing I end up with 2 more things to fix and/or replace. I'd love to just turn it over to a mechanic and say, here, fix it, and just have it back in sound shape.

My biggest complaint is the D35c in the rear. I find myself constantly babying it whenever I'm out cause I'm so afraid of breaking the rear. I didn't know better when I bought it, who would've thought DC would put such a fragile unit in.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I'm sooo confused on the whole.......TJ.....XJ......Whatever J thing!


.....and the "spring over"........

.....and the "spring under"........

...and which is better.




.................


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