Long Jeep.....chasing unicorns

[Metcalf]

I will be interested in seeing what you come up with!

I also am starting on a new small adventure camper (second iteration).

Here is a picture of my first small adventure camper Mayahual:

I will also be very interested in what you have to come up with. Mayahual is getting pretty close to what I am after.

Does anyone know the difference in length between a factory CJ8 tub and a factory LJ tub? (answering my own question....9" in total tub length I think?)

I really wish there where more diesels like the one you swapped in used in the USA. I think something like that could work really well BUT with it being such and uncommon engine in the US I would be hesitant to use something similar. I have looked at the 2.7L 5cyl diesel used in the Sprinters pretty hard....that is a neat little engine.

 

[Grasslakeron]

If it is just you then take the other seat out. Four screws which are no big deal. The platform is a good one. I have seen them some are simple and others had slide outs. The LJ is good because you can get one for 10-18k and build from there. If you build it to be removeable you could pop it in and out including the seat in twenty minutes or less.

Ron

 

[Metcalf]

If it is just you then take the other seat out. Four screws which are no big deal. The platform is a good one. I have seen them some are simple and others had slide outs. The LJ is good because you can get one for 10-18k and build from there. If you build it to be removeable you could pop it in and out including the seat in twenty minutes or less.

Ron

Taking the seat out is an option. I have thought about that on longer solo trips with my Willys.

I think the LJ is about the right size. Bigger than the CJ7/YJ/TJ length vehicle for sure. The body is long enough to get the wheelbase out to a 110" without things looking funny. I think the CJ8 body is just a bit long with a little bit too much butt on the body. You can bob a cj8 but then you can't get a top. I think a CJ8 with the rear axle moved back to the CJ7(ish) style position the wheelbase would be about 117 which is just a little long maybe.

I have definitely though about using a complete LJ as a base vehicle and that is where I pause. I don't think the stock axles are going to cut it. The transmission and transfer case a marginal in my opinion. The stock will last forever but is kinda flat on power in my opinion. So....do I pay 10-18K for a body and frame that I will have to fill with new guts. Even keeping the stock engine and transmission and swapping most of the other stuff out.....I just don't know if I see the value in buying a complete base vehicle only to totally redo just about everything?

So what is the alternative? Basically, buy a tub and build a complete vehicle from that. Aqualu will make a complete tub with just about any modification you want for about $5K. While that is expensive when you think about using it on an existing vehicle, it starts to look attractive when you think about using one as a base for an entirely new vehicle from the ground up?

 

[jscusmcvet]

Check with Haggis's LJ thread, he has done a great platform. You could consider a stretch on the LJ, such as the one from Genright and push the front out a couple inches and the rear out 3 or so and be pretty darn close to your 110 desired wheelbase.

I love this concept and will be watching to see what you come up with. I am not at a placein life to pursue this kin of rig, but fascinated by the idea.

John

 

[Metcalf]

Check with Haggis's LJ thread, he has done a great platform. You could consider a stretch on the LJ, such as the one from Genright and push the front out a couple inches and the rear out 3 or so and be pretty darn close to your 110 desired wheelbase.

I love this concept and will be watching to see what you come up with. I am not at a placein life to pursue this kin of rig, but fascinated by the idea.

John

Thanks for the thread idea, this one right....

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/55999-Tales-of-the-Grey-Mouser?highlight=haggis

Yup, lots of stuff in there to use.

I think a 110" wheelbase will work under an LJ tub. The front and rear can be pushed out slightly easy enough. The rear of the body is 5" longer than a TJ so the rear axle really has some room to move with larger tires. For the tires I have in mind at the low stance I prefer the axles will need to be moved for sure.

Suspension is another area that I think a LOT of improvements can be made over the stock suspension....and probably should. I'm not saying the stock TJ style suspension doesn't work, but the chassis has a lot more potential with an custom version. One area where the TJ/LJ suspension really suffers in my opinion are the lower frame side control arm mounts. They always seem to get hung up on stuff at the worst time.

Again.....I get caught in that buy a base vehicle or not vortex. I think in the long run you can get something better starting from scratch?

 

[Grasslakeron]

I looked into doing so before I bought me lj. This was based on the scrambler: body $5000, frame $2500, Axles $7500, power train $5000. Hardtop $2500, odds and ends $1000 tires & rims $1500. So a new scrambler $25,000. Lj $17,000 when I bought it. Yes it doesn't do everything that the scrambler project would have but it is close enough for what I really wanted to do. I will love to see this project when you build it.

Ron

 

[Metcalf]

I looked into doing so before I bought me lj. This was based on the scrambler: body $5000, frame $2500, Axles $7500, power train $5000. Hardtop $2500, odds and ends $1000 tires & rims $1500. So a new scrambler $25,000. Lj $17,000 when I bought it. Yes it doesn't do everything that the scrambler project would have but it is close enough for what I really wanted to do. I will love to see this project when you build it.

Ron

Sounds about right. I have some ideas on how to make the powertrain and drivetrain cost effective but very effective.

For what I want end the end I just can't see starting with a complete vehicle only to swap everything out. For a more mild vehicle I could totally see doing that.

Hopefully I can make this project come together. It might take a year or two to complete but in the end it would be worth it. My Dodge and Willys should keep me happy for that long

 

[njtacoma]

What about a IH Traveler or terra, like the one Rubebonnet (sp?) just built/is building. Yes the wheelbase is long at 118" but you get a stout boxed frame, decent access to the back seat, room to sleep in, etc.

Or a Willys Wagon... I used a scout frame under a 55 wagon, with scout axles and chevy 350 drivetrain. fun truck to drive 103.5" if i remember for wheelbase. I wish i had pictures on my computer but that 20 years ago.

Of course I really like LJ's and at this stage in my life buying (LJ) is way more practical then building (Traveler, terra, Willys wagon).

Look forward to seeing what you hash out.

 

[Grasslakeron]

Sounds about right. I have some ideas on how to make the powertrain and drivetrain cost effective but very effective.

For what I want end the end I just can't see starting with a complete vehicle only to swap everything out. For a more mild vehicle I could totally see doing that.

Hopefully I can make this project come together. It might take a year or two to complete but in the end it would be worth it. My Dodge and Willys should keep me happy for that long

Go portals if you do this. The sprinter motor puts out the same power as the ford 300-6. Based on the wheelbase you are still around 3500 lb. Max trailering.

Ron

 

[Metcalf]

What about a IH Traveler or terra, like the one Rubebonnet (sp?) just built/is building. Yes the wheelbase is long at 118" but you get a stout boxed frame, decent access to the back seat, room to sleep in, etc.

Or a Willys Wagon... I used a scout frame under a 55 wagon, with scout axles and chevy 350 drivetrain. fun truck to drive 103.5" if i remember for wheelbase. I wish i had pictures on my computer but that 20 years ago.

Of course I really like LJ's and at this stage in my life buying (LJ) is way more practical then building (Traveler, terra, Willys wagon).

Look forward to seeing what you hash out.

I've thought about building something like this out of old iron but never really found the right body style. A hard steel top is nice, but I think this will get something along the lines of a frameless soft top. That is one thing I really like about the LJ body, using an off the shelf top is very possible. On nice thing about a jeep universal body is that you can go from soft to hard top and back in about an hour. The ability to replace the top is also attractive. If you get into some situation and tag the top cracking or ripping it you can replace the entire unit without having to cut out sheetmetal.

For me. The frameless LJ top is about right. The rear volume of the top is minimal and tight to the roll bar. This really reduces the bulk of the top over the rear of the chassis. This is generally the area I see most tagged off road on tight trails with longer SUV type vehicles.

 

[Metcalf]

Go portals if you do this. The sprinter motor puts out the same power as the ford 300-6. Based on the wheelbase you are still around 3500 lb. Max trailering.

Ron

I'm not really interested in Portal axles. The idea is really cool, but parts and complexity makes that idea go into the recycle bin for me. I really want something fairly simple with easy to find parts I can walk into any parts house with a hope of finding.

The sprinter engine is neat, but I agree that it would be a little underpowered.

A new grand cherokee has a 114" wheelbase and is rated to tow 7000+lbs. That makes you think that a 110" wheelbase will only tow 3500lbs? My old ford truck was a shortbox with a big block and regularly saw some pretty heavy loads and only had a 117" wheelbase.

I don't want to tow all day every day cross country with this thing. It would just be really nice to be able to hook to something and have the power and drivetrain to move some weight around if I needed to.

 

[Metcalf]

This dang thread needs a picture or two....

This was the LJ that got me on this kick. I watched the build-up on Pirate and JeepForum.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep...onglegs-build-poison-spyder-stretched-lj.html

I also got to crawl all over it, under it, and ask a ton of questions about it at Easter Jeep Safari this year.

It is a VERY nice little LJ but is still based on the stock LJ body and frame with the stock engine and automatic transmission. After looking this jeep over and over and over I had to ask myself, what if you just started with a body tub....and maybe a modified one at that. Would adding a better engine, transmission, transfer case, and axles really be that much more expensive or add that much more time in the long run?

Just to be clear. I am after what most people on this board would probably cause a needless and maybe crazy level of off road performance. I like to do this like this......

and then I want to be able to drive cross county with cruise control and sleep in the back while I am tired after towing a new car project home....

 

[Giviner]

Any thoughts on an MJ pickup? They can be a bit tough to find, but they are light, 119" wheelbase i believe, and can be had with a 4.0L motor. They also share a LOT of parts with XJ's which are everywhere. Coil springs up front, leafs in the rear. More than enough room in the bed to sleep. Pull the axles off, plate the unibody (i know you are handy with metal) and slap some built D44's or a 44/9" combo under there. A bit of lift and fender trimming and you can easily run 35's. They are cool little trucks for sure.

 

[njtacoma]

and then I want to be able to drive cross county with cruise control and sleep in the back while I am tired after towing a new car project home....

I don't think you should sleep in the back while on cruise control, seems dangerous...

Could you purchase a factory frame? and build with a new tub? It seems to me like the right wrecked LJ might be able to be made to work. It wouldn't be the same as buying a good runner, and you would gain the benefit of factory wiring for some things, steering column etc.

 

[MrBeast]

How about this rig:



It is a Jeep J10 tug that has been converted into a pickup with a new frame, had a Cummins 4BT and NV4500 stuffed in it.

He has a build thread over on Pirate

The bed is made from an M105 trailer that he cut down to the right dimensions, I thought it worked out super slick the way he did it. I am a big fan of this truck, and I think it would serve your needs exactly, you could even cut the canvas top on the M105 down to fit the narrowed bed and have a dry place to sleep in the back, and with the side kit even if the wind picked up the tarp would be fairly stable.