Long Jeep.....chasing unicorns

Metcalf

Metcalf

Expedition Leader
I'm starting to do some layout work for the frame....

Can someone with a stock suspension LJ/TJ measure from the top of the tub to the rear axle centerline? Just need a rough tape measure-ment :) Thanks.

I am trying to figure out what height I want to make the frame. I think I might be able to tuck a taller frame in the belly section (stronger) since all the body mounts are going to be custom anyways. The position of the front lower control arm mounts starts to play into things.....anyways...blah blah blah....

Thanks if you can help me out.
 
Metcalf

Metcalf

Expedition Leader
Some more thinking on the interior stuff.....

10_j_lib_int_sea__flat_front_passenger_seat_sec1_zps3015f102.jpg


This is what I was thinking for seats. These are Liberty seats. Does anyone have an opinion on them? Comfy?

With the passenger seat folding flat like that I think the sleeping platform can go over the flat back of the seat to the dash. There should be enough room for the seat to fold if the seat is slid back and the dash is a little less larger than the stock TJ dash.

One concern is that with the liberty seats I might loose the flip forward seat access to the rear storage area. I think the drivers seat will probably have to be mounted on a custom mount with the transfer case basically directly under the seat ( drivers drop np205 ). Perhaps I can use a factory flip forward TJ seat mount on the passenger side still. It will depend on the general tunnel size for the raised t-case and big transmission. Worst case I could probably design a new flip forward seat mount.

I'm sure there are more options out there for similar seats....
 
mcneil

mcneil

Observer
I think I can get all the measurements of a stock TJ you need. My tub is sitting on pallets in the driveway, and I have the springs out of the front so I can cycle the stock suspension to check clearance on my new drivetrain.
DSCN3373.JPG

For that measurement, are you looking for axle centerline to what point on the tub? The TJ tub actually has a good deal of clearance to the axle because of the shelf in the back.
edit: There's 3 body mounts on each side under the doors, they support most the weight an are all on the same plane. The shelf in the back of the tub rises up a little more than 6" over the plane of the body mounts. Clearance is give or take 1/2" due to stringers on the floor. The body mounts sit about 4" above the axle centerline at max compression, so 4+6+(your body mount/lift height) is your tub to centerline distance.

I have some of the frame & body in solidworks if you need that too.
 
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gavan

gavan

Observer
Someone already posted my Jeep, but let me post it again :sombrero:

2012-11-09_14-57-31_428.jpg


2012-11-09_16-29-00_145.jpg


I love it for expo type stuff. I love it because it is about the opposite of everything you are considering!

Big v8?

Nope. "little" 4BT cummins. 90% of parts are a direct cross from the bigger 6BT cousin, has plenty of power, but still gets mid-low 20s on 37s. ALL mechanical, even a mechanical cutoff valve. I have already bump started it a couple times on dead batteries (finally found the short). Point it down hill, pop the clutch on a completely dead battery, let the alternator top off the batteries. I also feed it up to 20% WMO to keep the mosquitoes away and save on fuel costs.

Automagic?

Nope. Old school NV4500. Found it for cheaper than rebuilding the TH400, its got a granny gear and an overdrive.

Crawler gears?

Nope. Just a stock Jeep D300. With 4BT low end, NV4600 first and D300 low, I have not found too many situations I needed more gear. Might to 32 spl outputs, but without the 4.0to1 gears, I have not hurt a stock one yet.

Custom Axles?

Nope. Stone stock CUCV D60/14b. Open front/detroit rear. I might go with a big upgrade and swap in some 35 spline front outers, but with an open front I am not too worried. Detroit locked 14b is stout and pushes the truck through most everything.

Custom Suspension?

Nope. 44044s up front and chevy 62s in the rear with some Bilstien 5150s. I can replace suspension parts at any junkyard in the nation and it rides surprisingly well, and flexes surprisingly well too. Spending some decent money on shocks helped a lot. I have ORIs on a custom suspension under my play Jeep, so I know how good it could be, but for reliability and ease I really like my crappy stock leaf springs.

Custom Body?

Nope. Stock CJ-10 tub and just a slightly modified M101a1 trailer bed. Trailer bed was $100, I can afford to mash up a couple.

Besides the motor, which was an expensive money pit due to some APO issues, the Jeep was made of cheap castoff parts and thrown together easily. That also means most everything is cheaply and easily fixed. Like wheels and tires. Mounted H1 wheels and tires are cheap!!!

Here is the big reason I would not do a CJ/YJ/TJ body for any expo stuff. It is NARROW. if it is just you, that might be fine, but the M101 is much wider and you can easily sleep two and have some room for gear.

Plus with the true one ton running gear it tows like, well, a 1 ton truck. I even kept the stock 1 ton brakes and master cyl.

The cab is really not all that cramped for me. I was pleasantly surprised.

And want passengers not to feel left out in the pickup bed? Take the top off :flipoff2:

2012-01-04_12-19-03_487.jpg
 
Metcalf

Metcalf

Expedition Leader
I totally dig that truck.......but my Dodge is basically the same thing with a different body. It is just too big.

I am looking for something smaller. I want the body JUST big enough to sleep in. Sleeping just one person is going to be fine most of the time, If I have to sleep two she really likes me.

Can I have the tube car on the trailer? :) I want something basically between your cj7 and your cj10 in size.

Fun Fun stuff. Love your builds.
 
gavan

gavan

Observer
You don't want that tube car. It has impossibly small Toyota axles... I even ripped off a knuckle at KOH. It just does not air out like the Ultra4 guys :(

You said you wanted smaller?

2012-10-29_11-30-59_225.jpg


Sorry. Wrong way. :flipoff2:
 
gavan

gavan

Observer
Nah, not FJ80 stuff, just highly modified mini truck stuff. Sheared off both king pins on the driver front doing a jason scherer-rearer impersonation. Rebuilt it with those bearingless trunions and 16 ARP studs. Hopefully it will stay on this time. Sticky 40s are good for a toyota axle, right?

In all honesty, I have been ecstatic about my Toy axles. I would fully recommend some custom width HP8 front/FF 9.5 rear axles. I had some very custom one off knuckles for my Jeep, or I would have gone FJ80 outers on the front. Strong, light, easy to find parts, drop out thirds. With the FF kit the entire assembly, from the spindle out including the brakes, is the same. What is there not to like?
 
gavan

gavan

Observer
Metcalf said:
yeah, those are neat, but EXPENSIVE! I looked at going that way when I did my Willys rebuild. I just ended up designing and building my own frame instead for about 1/5 the cost.
Click to expand...

No kidding. Those frame guys make a nice product, but they like the green stuff. I made the frame for both the 7 and the 10 in the previous photos and I have seen plenty of people make Metcalf's willys frame.
 
W

wild1

Adventurer
Like all of your projects this should be interesting. I have a 2006 Rubicon Unlimited and it is close to the perfect size for a vehicle that can drive the 500 miles to Moab in comfort and then wheel with the best of them if you are so inclined. While I have a cargo/sleeping platform in mine I haven't really ever thought about deploying the sleeper without exiting the Jeep. I can see where this could be an advantage so I went out and tried it out. It's easy to reach over and flip the front passenger seat all the way forward and then climb into the back seat. With the front seat tipped forward there is lots of room to change clothes, cook dinner or just lounge out. When you are ready for bed the stock back seat folds flat, you can flip the deck pieces that store behind the seat forward, climb on the deck and flip the front extension forward. On the passenger side you get a 74 inch long bed that is 30 inch's wide between the factory roll bar and the edge of the drivers seat. Set up this way for a solo camper you can slide over to the drivers seat and drive away if need be. You have full access to the key, heater controls, radio and lights. It makes a very compact and light weight setup for solo travel and can also be used for two if you use a full width front extension. Looking forward to this build.
 
Metcalf

Metcalf

Expedition Leader
wild1 said:
Like all of your projects this should be interesting. I have a 2006 Rubicon Unlimited and it is close to the perfect size for a vehicle that can drive the 500 miles to Moab in comfort and then wheel with the best of them if you are so inclined. While I have a cargo/sleeping platform in mine I haven't really ever thought about deploying the sleeper without exiting the Jeep. I can see where this could be an advantage so I went out and tried it out. It's easy to reach over and flip the front passenger seat all the way forward and then climb into the back seat. With the front seat tipped forward there is lots of room to change clothes, cook dinner or just lounge out. When you are ready for bed the stock back seat folds flat, you can flip the deck pieces that store behind the seat forward, climb on the deck and flip the front extension forward. On the passenger side you get a 74 inch long bed that is 30 inch's wide between the factory roll bar and the edge of the drivers seat. Set up this way for a solo camper you can slide over to the drivers seat and drive away if need be. You have full access to the key, heater controls, radio and lights. It makes a very compact and light weight setup for solo travel and can also be used for two if you use a full width front extension. Looking forward to this build.
Click to expand...

Sounds pretty good. Do you have any pictures you could post?

a 74" long sleeping platform sounds pretty good to me in the stock LJ. I imagine without the passenger seat and stock dash in the way you could probably get at least 6" more? 30" wide with the drivers seat still in place sounds great for a solo sleeper also. That is plenty of room for me to crash out on. When the misses comes along it will just take a little longer to get setup. I'm not 100% set on sleeping in the camper every night but it sure makes things simple if you get it right.
 
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