Stumptaco Expedition Vehicle Build-Up

[taco chaser]

Cool photos. That town along the river looks real nice, what town was it?

So why the XJ over a toyota? I realize you had a bad Tacoma experience but XJ's have there own batch of issue's besides being a Jeep.

 

[StumpXJ]

Matt, thanks! That town is called Bernkasel Kues, it is on the Mosel river. It is indeed a beautiful little place.

The reason I am picking the XJ is because I already own it. We have it in the States, and its obviously paid for (its a 1996, and we are the original owners), so I am shipping it over here to be my new wheeling machine. I will have about 8K to spend on it for modding (even got clearance from the wife!), so it should be pretty capable when finished. I also have done all of the maintenance on the Jeep since day one so I am pretty familiar with its quirks and problems.

The toyota thing didnt really put a bad taste in my mouth, in fact I am very pleased with how they have handled the issue and would buy another taco in a heartbeat. The problem is, being over here with the military, the pickings for a good used truck are VERY slim, and I dont want to spend the money on a new one. I could get a decent Euro spec vehicle (Hilux, or a Defender, etc.), but dont want to spend that much time and effort on something I cant bring back to the states easily. I have been on the fence about what to do, but the XJ is the most reasonable/responsible thing to do.

~James

 

[maxama10]

Cool! We used to have a Wrangler, one time took it out with another guy who had one. He didn't listen to me and was an idiot.

There was a large boulder in the middle of our trail. He didn't see it and just hit it with his tire. It stopped him and he turned on his lockers and tried to gun it over whatever it was in his way while I yelled at him.

Needless to say he bashed in his tranny pan pretty good, fortunately not like the guy above!


I vote for a hilux.


But the XJ should be pretty sweet, what are the plans for the mods?

 

[StumpXJ]

what are the plans for the mods?

Well, I am starting off with a Rubicon Express 5.5" Longarm lift kit, 35 inch Copper STT's, Chromo axle shafts, 4.88 gears and an ARB in the rear. I will armor the whole thing, front winch bumper with a 10,000 pound winch, and a swingout tire gate bumper for the rear, with another rear mounted winch, probably the 8000 pounder I already have. A roof rack to accomodate my lights and roof top tent, sliders, etc. All of my gadjets from the yota will go in the Jeep also, cameras, fridge, Scan guage, (and of course a snorkel because trhey are cool....) etc. I may eventually do an internal cage also, just depends on which way I go with it. The 8k dollars I have to play with wont last long with the above list, but since I will do 95% of the fab work myself, it should be doable.

~James

 

[maxama10]

Will you and tacogrande be fabbing up the bumpers?

Sounds pretty sweet!

:chef:

 

[fbksurferjoe]

Ah man i just read up on your thread and cant believe what i saw. I am sorry to hear about your taco i cant even imagine losing mine. Hopefully the jeep works out as well for you.

 

[taco chaser]

Matt, thanks! That town is called Bernkasel Kues, it is on the Mosel river. It is indeed a beautiful little place.

The reason I am picking the XJ is because I already own it. We have it in the States, and its obviously paid for (its a 1996, and we are the original owners), so I am shipping it over here to be my new wheeling machine. I will have about 8K to spend on it for modding (even got clearance from the wife!), so it should be pretty capable when finished. I also have done all of the maintenance on the Jeep since day one so I am pretty familiar with its quirks and problems.

The toyota thing didnt really put a bad taste in my mouth, in fact I am very pleased with how they have handled the issue and would buy another taco in a heartbeat. The problem is, being over here with the military, the pickings for a good used truck are VERY slim, and I dont want to spend the money on a new one. I could get a decent Euro spec vehicle (Hilux, or a Defender, etc.), but dont want to spend that much time and effort on something I cant bring back to the states easily. I have been on the fence about what to do, but the XJ is the most reasonable/responsible thing to do.

~James

I figured that's what was going on and it completely makes sense, should be a sweet xj real soon.

 

[StumpXJ]

Heading out in the morning at 5am for the start of a 2,200 mile round trip journey to Sweden. Got the truck slam packed with stuff, with very littl room to spare. The "stuff" includes a reserve 140 liters of fuel with 7 Jerry cans, and the 65 liters in the trucks tank. I dont want to have to buy fuel on the european economy, as we can get it at about half price (still $4.10 per gallon!) on the military base, so I am taking as much with me as I can.

Here are a few loaded pics.

Not sagging too bad right now, but I will probably put 20-30 pounds in the airbags before I leav in the morning. Right now they are at only 5 Psi. I am not sure how much weight is on the rear of my truck, but its a lot.

This is the reason I am going to Sweden (the orange R/C boat), to race radio controlled boats. This is actually what I do for a living over here, modify engines, and make various custom parts for these boats. I am currently the world record holder in two classes for straightaway speeds, and the world champion for 2008 in the "Sport Modified" class. Ok ok... so its not exactly earth shattering, but not many people can say they are "world champion" at something!

Here is a video of an engine I built for a record run for a guy, http://youtube.com/watch?v=riUSMBR6V78 Just to give you an idea.

Jerry cans?

This will be my first outing with the new RTT/changing room and awning. Looking forward to not having to load everything back up everyday to go to the hotel! I will be spending 4 nights there.

~James