New JKU Cargo System and Other Upgrades

[MattJ]

Heading off the grid for the long weekend. Trying a few new things: 1) planning to rig a removable 250-ft zipline in the trees, 2) will test a 10'x10' pop-up canopy since the forecast is for a lot of rain over three days, and 3) testing a new packing system for fridge ingredients.

I was able to strap the ladder to the spare wheel without covering the back-up camera. The fridge containers are air-tight and spillproof, and make it easier to pack everything since they are all a uniform height and size. I'm hoping the larger canopy is a good solution for a rainy weekend. Wouldn't be fun to huddle under a smaller tarp or in the tent for three days.

 

[MattJ]

Some photos from the field:

 

[RacerAV]

holy cow youve got a lot going on! how do you like that solo stove? worth the money over a stainless washer drum for $50???

 

[MattJ]

I love it. I own two - one for home and one for camping. I never head into the woods without it. Much better and dragging stones around to make a fire ring and leaving a campsite littered with a pile of charred logs. The vortex circulation is so powerful that it can incinerate even wet or rotten logs to ash. Each day I move it to a different spot based on the wind patterns so it doesn't send smoke toward the tent.

It creates a perfect bed of red-hot coals, so I'm working with a design engineer to create a special modular cooking system that will pack very small and work great with the Solo Bonfire. Stay tuned!

 

[MattJ]

Here's the "morning after" photo. Nothing but ashes. We even tossed a moss-covered stump in there at one point. The perforations around the top rim form ribbons of flame that change colors as the temperature increases. Really cool.

 

[MattJ]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, I designed my tent mounting system so that the tent can open to the side OR the back of the vehicle. Today I tested the procedure for swiveling the tent, and it worked great! I'm really happy that it worked so well, since 1) it took me a LOT of work to design and build this mounting system, and 2) as far as I know, this is the only tent a rack system on earth that can do this.

My goal is to test a new "fast back" overlanding configuration with three specific goals:

1) Reduce set-up and take-down time for the tent and tarps for treks where we camp in a different spot each night
2) Use the tent floor as a "roof" over the back cargo bay, rather than using a separate tarp for that purpose
3) Use a side tarp that is easy to set up and will be contiguous with the tent, creating one huge covered area around the back and side of the Jeep

Here are photos of the swivel switch and the "fast back" configuration. I'll take some more pictures of everything deployed in the woods this weekend.

 

[RacerAV]

very nice work man!

 

[MattJ]

very nice work man!

Thanks!

Here are some photos that show the 12v outlet hub and LED strips that I installed. I also use the hub to power a 12v fan when the weather gets hot:

 

[MattJ]

Went to the batcave today and pulled the tent and hardtop off. Switched to a soft top for some upcoming trail runs and beach trips this summer.

 

[MattJ]

Here's what my JKU looks like in "trail configuration": all cargo bins, tent and hard top removed. Believe it or not, this photo is from a pubic byway in New Hampshire (a Class VI road).

 

[MattJ]

Yesterday I found the perfect balance point for my hardtop. The hoist system now enables the hardtop to raise and lower perfectly level.

 

[Vendish]

Subscribed. Very cool build. I'm currently attempting something similar, though likely not nearly as cool, with the Teraflex Nebo rack.

 

[MattJ]

This week I made the "Big Switch" from offroading configuration to overlanding setup for the fall season. Not an easy week, but I got everything done in time for weekend trips on either end.

 

[MattJ]

I exhibited my Jeep at at Scout event this weekend. There was some wind and rain in the forecast, but I couldn't stake the vestibule of my Tepui tent since I was near asphalt on that side of the vehicle. Then I realized I could use the ladder itself. So I figured I'd pass along this tip to others with similar tents!

 

[Captain Texas]

What kind of roof rack is that? AEV? How hard was it to take off the hardtop with it on?