Tales of the Grey Mouser...

[Haggis]

Time passes but the Tale rolls on...

As the year passed the Mouser led us down back-ways to check out trout streams, grouse filled slashings, and places to leave the Jeep parked as we used our boots instead of its tires to muck around.

Come late spring the next Ridgerunner event came and this time it was a Hootenanny. We were a smaller crew this time but we had a heck of a good time. Then the ghosts of ExPo trip past struck, and once again I found myself in a mud hole with a non functioning fuel pump.

This time I was dragged back to the forest road by David (RockyRidge) and his JKU…

… where the Mouser was loaded up and hauled away as we could not get it to fire back up. Turns out that at the last ExPo event that tugged harness had resulted in both the power and ground wires having breaks in them hidden within the wire's sheathing. Some splicing, soldering and marine grade shrink connectors and the Jeep was running fine once again. Since then no problems at all, let's hope it stays that way.

 

[Haggis]

I'd been wanting a rack. Just something I could throw a stepladder on for work or to throw a canoe on top for a day's paddle. I didn't need one for an RTT or to haul tons of gear. For two people the Mouser (our Jeep) has plenty of room inside and when it's the whole gang we press the Tundra into service. So I had been looking around at various racks for a while trying to pick the right one. But I had a couple of requirements to meet before I chose one and those concerns were that it had to be very resistant to rust, be as light weight as possible, be adaptable to changing needs, be as quiet as possible running down the road, and be removable and easy to store if I didn't want it mounted on the Jeep all the time.

Well, I looked at all the options and really couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. Then one day we had an ExPo East meet where we were heading out on a river float. A new guy showed up with a JK Unlimited with a sweet roof rack. It was a RockyRidge rack made of aluminum and stainless steel, with cool aluminum slotted rails. It seemed like it would fit the criteria I was looking for. Well that feller (now my good buddy David) was the maker of the rack but only had them set up for the JKs. But I wanted one for an LJ. So after a couple of discussions, a few more ExPo trips, and a couple of prototyping meetings I got a new rack and it's met all my requirements with flying colors.

..

Here's the thread with the details of the rack if your interested.

 

[Haggis]

Club Redneck...Don't ask, the first rule is we ins can't talk about it...

Time moves on and the Mouser keeps rollin'…

A new year starts and then BigAl invites us back to Houtzdale for some winter time camping and wheeling. Thus starts the Rendezvous and this one is of the Redneck variety. Snow gives the ride a pucker inducing rush as we traverse hill climbs, steep winding trails and narrow track highwalls not to mention the eleven or so ice covered creek crossings. Just about the whole ExPo East gang showed up for this run...other than jim65wagon who had to work and drink hot cocoa sitting by his propane fireplace. :elkgrin:

I get stuck, but the fuel pump keeps working...:elkgrin:

........

.....

Last 5 photos courtesy of Cshontz​

Warm fires, frost covered interiors, moments of thrill ride like chills and good friends: it was a great weekend.

And that pretty much brings us up to the Present...more tales to come in the future! :smiley_drive:

 

[Nigel Caffiene]

A most enjoyable build thread to read! Looking forward to more. I wish I had a LJ.

 

[Haggis]

A most enjoyable build thread to read! Looking forward to more. I wish I had a LJ.

Thanks! Though this is probably more of a dairy than a typical build thread. :elkgrin:

 

[cshontz]

This is more of a dairy.

 

[Haggis]

This is more of a dairy.

Geez..so a guy forgets to hit spell check a time or two...darn uppity kids! :sombrero:

 

[Haggis]

Hectic Year...

It’s been awhile since the last story was told so it’s time for an update. This has been a hectic year around the clanhold as weather, work and life have had their way with the family. Not too much time has been spent wondering the backwoods around these parts and extended travels just were not going to happen. The funnest thing we’ve managed to sneak away to has been the Bantam Jeep Festival held in Butler, PA which is just a short hop south of our home base. Thousands of Jeeps, the best cruise night ever and a cool Jeep gathering made for a fun weekend. We went down for the Friday Night Jeep Parade, found that the only spot for the Mouser was in a parking spot (along with several thousand other Jeeps)…

...and watched the Jeep nation roll in…

Soon after the Mouser started developing a slight wobble, it was a rare occurrence but troubling anyways. I started looking for the source of the trouble; ball joints, tire balance, and what not but couldn’t pin down the trouble. Everything seemed tight and fine yet the problem showed up from time to time. Finally I had my boy Cam work the steering wheel while I eye balled the underpinnings and found the track bar hiem joint at the frame mount was compressing under steering input. Popping the track bar lose I found the hiem joint was wasted on the adjustable track bar that came with the Full Traction lift kit. So began the search for a new track bar and keeping in consideration that I might be upgrading the Mouser suspension in the near future I settled on the JKS Adjustable Trackbar as it was a hefty unit with rebuildable ends. I received the JKS bar and realized that when I installed the Full traction kit I had to drill out the axle mount for the track bar out to ½” and that the JKS was set up for the stock hole size of 3/8”. I quick call to JKS and they promptly set out the right sized sleeve and bushing for my use. Sweet! I got it mounted up and rolled the Mouser out the door and realized how much the new trackbar had improved the antics of the front end of the Jeep. Funny how new parts make a rig feel, well, new again. Here’s a comparison shot of the Full Traction bar and the JKS one.

Here’s hoping the frantic days of ‘011 have passed us by and that we can get out and enjoy the backwoods a little more. Though hunting season is upon us so the Clan will be out stocking the freezers in full force the next couple of months.

 

[AmericaOverland]

My question to you Mark is how do you two get out of the Jeep through the back? It looks like to me you have to leave the hatch completely open when you have the tailgate shut, otherwise you've got the rear tire and light blocking? I definitely want to build something like this come this spring when I get ready for another camping season. Is it possible you can PM me the plan to build this? I couldn't understand some of the terms you were writing in building this. My jeep is just like yours, but stock.

Thanks so much!

 

[Haggis]

When entering from the back of the Jeep we leave the tire carrier in the open position, close the tailgate and then pull the rear class closed. I use a small bungee strap hooked to the roll cage and the rear wiper housing to keep it closed. I can work up a plan for you but please be patient. I'm a bit preoccupied this time of year, it's deer season out this way after all.

 

[mmmlafayette]

Just a positive note to Mark's design. I built mine last winter based on his design and it has worked great. Spent over 12 days last summer in the back of the Jeep. Works for the wife and I, but when we take the dog, we stay in a tent. Thanks Mark!

 

[Logans91XJ]

Excellent reading and loving the the Jeep!

 

[Haggis]

Just a positive note to Mark's design. I built mine last winter based on his design and it has worked great. Spent over 12 days last summer in the back of the Jeep.

I'm glad the design worked for you. Post up some pics someplace so we can see the results.

Works for the wife and I, but when we take the dog, we stay in a tent. Thanks Mark!

For us it's bringing the kids along and then we just take the Tundra.

 

[Jim K in PA]

Mark - your Full Traction adjustable track bar did/does not have a heim joint on the frame end. That is a tie rod end, and I believe it is a stock Jeep TRE. Cheap and easily replaced. The flex joint on the JKS bar is certainly a good alternative, and provides a greater degree of movement before binding, but is a more expensive option. I'll take that FT track bar off your hands if you don't need it!

 

[Tumbleweed]

Mark, if and when you do get some bed plans done-keep me in mind for sending a set too. I am not a woodworker so need an idiot proof set. Many thanks. Compliments to a well built rig that is not overdone with high dollar "stuff". I am pretty handy with metal and welding, thinking of a removeable frame of 1" square tubing for a platform base that would be adaptable from everyday use to a sleeping platform. Possibly a multiple piece set up that would pin together or similar for different configuations. Tmblwd@cableone.net Don