theksmith
Explorer
awesome, can't wait to see/hear more. i've been wanting to do the same but have yet to remove the headliner to determine best way to attach the upper points.
Our family Adventure WJ "Dinosaur"
- Thread starter Bretthn
- Start date
awesome, can't wait to see/hear more. i've been wanting to do the same but have yet to remove the headliner to determine best way to attach the upper points.
I too am interested in this!
Bretthn
Explorer
I started working it out last night and think it can be done by just removing the plastic pillar cover. I need to get the right tool to remove the seatbelt though.
Not sure if I am going to use some self tapping screws or rivnuts..
I may just go with the self tapping screws for now and later can drill larger holes for the rivnuts. Either way there is plenty of structural support behind the plastic cover where the top of the rear seatbelts anchor is. Anyone know the exact size fore the seatbelt bolt star key?
Not sure if I am going to use some self tapping screws or rivnuts..
I may just go with the self tapping screws for now and later can drill larger holes for the rivnuts. Either way there is plenty of structural support behind the plastic cover where the top of the rear seatbelts anchor is. Anyone know the exact size fore the seatbelt bolt star key?
theksmith
Explorer
i think it was a t-50... but do yourselve a favor and just get a little torx set like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-11-Piece-3-8-Torx-Bit-Set/14146076
as you tear into the WJ more, you'll find a few different torx sizes here and there
Bretthn
Explorer
T-50 was right.. Thanks and pictures will be up as soon as I can get some grub in me.
brianwj
Observer
I have the same setup on my WJ and love it. I even just got my Quickfists in the mail to mount my axe and shovel the same way as yours. I camped on the beach last year and would like to recommend 2 ft PVC pipes as anchors for your awning. We had 40mph + winds and didn't lose one of them even had to dig some of them out they were in so good.
Bretthn
Explorer
Great idea with the pvc, I have used deadman anchors before with sticks and such but never thought of pvc for something light and easy to pack.
I got the Raingler Net mounted and have to say that I am very happy. It is very well built. The buckles that would probably suffice even if made of a heavy plastic are actually all metal. The net is well put together with good stitching and the tie down strap points are in just the right places for my setup. Of course it can and will be used in many other configurations than what I have it currently set up for. Especially with all the extra anchor points I put in last weekend.
I ended up mounting the footman loops to a metal roof support that is linked into the rear pillars above the seat belt mounts. I just predrilled and used some #12 self threading screws. I also used some fender washers so the hardware would pull the headliner in against the roof support rather than ripping through it. It only pulled in a little and shows up more in the pictures than it does in person.
theksmith
Explorer
yep - see that now, thanks!
Bretthn
Explorer
The axe is Fiskars 7857 X15 23.5-Inch Chopping Axe and it is a good size. The shovel is about the same length and I just happened upon it at Northern Tool for about ten bucks. I had to have the shovel to get a beach driving permit for the Outer Banks and figured this one would suffice. I would not expect it to last for regular yard work though..
Look what came in the mail on Monday.
My rear Bilstein 5100s! Hopefully I will have time to put all 4 in this weekend.
Bretthn
Explorer
So here is something that I have been wanting to post up as it was highly useful to me when I stumbled across and stole the idea from Mauka2Makai with his amazing Land Cruiser.
It is a air bed designed to fit in the bed of pickup trucks with cut out sections to fit over the fender wells. So it also will work for many SUVs the same way. All I did was go to the Airbedz website and check out sizes to determine what would fit in the back of my Jeep. It fits perfectly for when I go on solo camping trips. It is extremely durable since it is made for truck beds, and it has a built in two way pump for automatic inflating or deflating. When I bought mine I got a carrying bag, ac power cord, dc power cord, patch kit, and two inflatable inserts for when it is used in the house or while camping. My wife and I both slept on it for 3 nights and it was very comfortable for an air mattress.
The inserts.
Inserts in place.
Inserts removed.
It is actually pretty large.
It is a air bed designed to fit in the bed of pickup trucks with cut out sections to fit over the fender wells. So it also will work for many SUVs the same way. All I did was go to the Airbedz website and check out sizes to determine what would fit in the back of my Jeep. It fits perfectly for when I go on solo camping trips. It is extremely durable since it is made for truck beds, and it has a built in two way pump for automatic inflating or deflating. When I bought mine I got a carrying bag, ac power cord, dc power cord, patch kit, and two inflatable inserts for when it is used in the house or while camping. My wife and I both slept on it for 3 nights and it was very comfortable for an air mattress.
The inserts.
Inserts in place.
Inserts removed.
It is actually pretty large.
Bretthn
Explorer
SHOCKS
So I finally installed the Bilstein 5100 shocks last weekend and did the first tire rotation at ~135000 miles. Here are a few pictures from the install.
Old front
Old vs new
New front
For the front shocks I bought new hardware for the lower mounting locations. I used all grade 8 hardware: 4 times 5/16-18 x 1 1/4" bolts, 8 times 5/16" washers and 4 times 5/16" nylock nuts.
Old rear
Old vs new
New
For the rears I recommend using some PB blaster on the bolts ahead of time to help break them loose. Overall the install is easy, I just wish that I had had the shocks when I did the rest of the suspension since they would have taken no extra time then.
Now I have only put a couple hundred miles on the new shocks but must say that they are amazing. The jeep now rides infinitely better than a stock WJ. The 5100s are extremely adaptable on and off road. Pavement now feels like a cloud and rough dirt roads feel like fresh pavement. I will give a better review once I have some miles on them.
So I finally installed the Bilstein 5100 shocks last weekend and did the first tire rotation at ~135000 miles. Here are a few pictures from the install.
Old front
Old vs new
New front
For the front shocks I bought new hardware for the lower mounting locations. I used all grade 8 hardware: 4 times 5/16-18 x 1 1/4" bolts, 8 times 5/16" washers and 4 times 5/16" nylock nuts.
Old rear
Old vs new
New
For the rears I recommend using some PB blaster on the bolts ahead of time to help break them loose. Overall the install is easy, I just wish that I had had the shocks when I did the rest of the suspension since they would have taken no extra time then.
Now I have only put a couple hundred miles on the new shocks but must say that they are amazing. The jeep now rides infinitely better than a stock WJ. The 5100s are extremely adaptable on and off road. Pavement now feels like a cloud and rough dirt roads feel like fresh pavement. I will give a better review once I have some miles on them.