Triple-purpose JK Build

[jsmoriss]

Last week-end we attended a 3 day trail event in Chertsey QC. I was thinking of doing a few trails with the trailer on Sunday, but it rained most of the week-end, so we decided to head back on Sunday morning instead. Here's a few shots of our base camp (before the rain started), and a video of Saturday's trails.

js.

 

[TOTJ]

Thanks for sharing the vid. I realy injoyed it.

 

[jsmoriss]

Thanks for sharing the vid. I realy injoyed it.

Thanks! It's the first time I actually sit down and edit video. I have plans for a few more interesting mounting locations for the GoPro, so the next one should be even more fun.

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

Some things I'm working on...

A few things I'm working on...

- A second battery for the trailer.

- A 60w solar panel and GP-PWM-25 regulator for the trailer (probably from Adventure Trailers). The solar regulator is not waterproof, but I'll mount it within one of the side bins, under a small shelf, which should keep it dry-ish when it's raining and we have to open the bins.

- 2 x ARB 2000MM Awnings, including mosquito nets, for the trailer (trdparts4u seems to have a good price on them right now). I was going to go with the Camping Lab awnings, but they're on back-order until the end of Sept, and I'll probably want to install them before then. The down-side of the ARBs is they don't have sidewalls. Considering how similar they are, I'm hoping the Camping Lab sidewalls will fit -- we'll see.

- Have a custom waterproof cover made for the tent mattress. That should keep it dry when folding the tent wet.

- Get AutoHome's winter cover for the OverZone tent. It should be useful if we go down to Cape Cod for some fly fishing this October...

js.

 

[Mr. D]

very good video, nice rig

 

[jsmoriss]

Here's the canoe mounted on the Jeep. There's still a good 3/4-1" of space between the lights and the canoe.

And right after mounting the canoe, we found an oil leak on the front of the engine:

Popular opinion would suggest either a front crank shaft seal leak, or a leak caused by the 'front timing cover surface porosity' covered by this TSB:

http://project-jk.com/images/tsb/TSB_09-008-07.pdf

Now I have to check if the engine is still under warranty (3 years = no, 5 years = yes).

js.

 

[jpzeroday@hotmail.com]

Epic post.

Thanks so much for the effort that you have put into this thread. Great work on your JK and trailer.

Keep it going.

JP

 

[leman]

still my all time favorite jk.

 

[gasman]

ok .. well done !!!!
i have read most of this thread from the begining and i must say well done , may i ask a question or 2 ? i may have missed it so i apologize. i have just purchased a 2010 rubi 4 door, and over the next 6 months will be built up for expo type travel, i love the stance of 4'' lift and 35's . i have 410 gears (tow package) my trailer prolly weighs about the same as yours, do you find any issues on the highway or hills with your setup ? can you cruise at a respectable speed 100 - 110 kph ? i think i read you chipped it , did it make a big differance ,

 

[XXXpedition]

thank god, i don't have to mount a canoe on top but just a WW kayak ))
i think my roofrack design is more for smaller stuff ))))

 

[jsmoriss]

ok .. well done !!!!
i have read most of this thread from the begining and i must say well done , may i ask a question or 2 ? i may have missed it so i apologize. i have just purchased a 2010 rubi 4 door, and over the next 6 months will be built up for expo type travel, i love the stance of 4'' lift and 35's . i have 410 gears (tow package) my trailer prolly weighs about the same as yours, do you find any issues on the highway or hills with your setup ? can you cruise at a respectable speed 100 - 110 kph ? i think i read you chipped it , did it make a big differance ,

When 4.56 gears finally become available for the front D44, I'll be changing my gears. The 4.10s are barely tolerable on 33s, and a PITA on 35s with the trailer. And that's with a Superchips on 94 octane, upgraded exhaust and air filter. Most people go with 4.88s with 35s, but I switch between 33s and 35s, so I'll be going with 4.56 instead.

The Superchips is worth it, but the biggest difference is with 94 octane, which is not easy to find when you're on the road. As a consequence, I'm tuned to 91 and tank with 94 when I can (lessens the chance of pinging when hauling the trailer).

If I was running 35s all the time, I'd probably do 4.88s first.

js.

 

[JPK]

I just drove a fellow's JKU with 35's and 5.13's. It was a good set up and not too low.

I have a Hemi in my JKU with 4.88's and I wouldn't mind 5.13's either.

Really appreciate your attention to detail regarding your Jeep, trailer and your greats posts and thread jsmoriss!

JPK

 

[jsmoriss]

I just drove a fellow's JKU with 35's and 5.13's. It was a good set up and not too low.

Automatic? I have a manual, so 5.13s would be way too high (for me) on the highway. I also have a relocated exhaust, so when I go over 3000rpm for a while, the drone becomes a bit annoying. Higher RPMs gives you more power, but also comes with higher fuel consumption and noise (depending on your exhaust setup I guess).

If I remember my RPM tables correctly, down-shifting from 6th to 5th gives you the same result as going from 4.10s to 4.88s -- something to try on the highway to get an idea of the torque / rpms / noise.

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

Back from vacation...

Before leaving, I cleaned the front of the engine, and checked it whenever we stopped for gas. It helped that I added a temp and oil pressure gauge, so I could monitor for a catastrophic oil seal failure, etc. After driving a total of 10 hours, the front of the engine is still completely oil free.

Next on the list is a clutch upgrade, 2LO adapter for the tcase, new brake rotors and pads, and rear axle shafts. Hopefully I can get all this installed before the end of September (Bethel Jeep Jamboree in Maine).

In case you were curious, here's a short video of our camping trip. We were in northern Quebec, so went with a french soundtrack (although the singer / band is from France, not Quebec).

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRqcnpcm9xw"]YouTube - Canoe-Camping in La Verendrye Park, Summer 2010[/ame]

js.

 

[JPK]

Automatic? I have a manual, so 5.13s would be way too high (for me) on the highway. I also have a relocated exhaust, so when I go over 3000rpm for a while, the drone becomes a bit annoying. Higher RPMs gives you more power, but also comes with higher fuel consumption and noise (depending on your exhaust setup I guess).

If I remember my RPM tables correctly, down-shifting from 6th to 5th gives you the same result as going from 4.10s to 4.88s -- something to try on the highway to get an idea of the torque / rpms / noise.

js.

No, the 3.8L/5.13:1/35" JKU has a standard transmission.

Engine RPMs at ~65mph/105kph would be roughly 2700.

The Jeep was very nice to drive and no engine noise issues, even with the top down. {As an aside, the "Hill Assist" rollback counter measure was... interesting. I'm sure it would be useful in the rocks offroad, but it would take a little to get used to.}

See this table, which assumes a 1:1 ratio. The standard in the JKU has 1:1 fifth, .84:1 OD sixth. http://www.4lo.com/calc/geartable.htm

Higher highway RPM's may or may not lead to decreased milage. Much depends on the load, trailer or not, grades encountered, even the wind. But, if you're already turning better than ~2200rpm or so, then I have to agree that for daily driving milage will decrease.

My JKU is a five speed auto with 4.88's, with 3rd at 1:1, fourth at .75:1, fifth at .67:1. At 70mph/112kph RPM is right at 2000, but with the Hemi that is about perfect. There is no lugging or gear hunt at any mph/kph or engine rpm.

I wouldn't mind 5.13's in the 3.8L engined JKU's to help overcome the "unabundance" of power down low from that engine. And while the Hemi produces as much torque at 1250rpm as the 3.8L does max, more torque, more rpm at slow speeds = more control, etc.

4.56's and 35's are essentially equal to factory 4.10's and 32's in the Rubicon, 4.88's aren't that far off either. If you have the chance to drive a 4.88 or 5.13 geared manual it would be enlightening to everyone if you gave your impression vs. your 4.56's, especially off road.

JPK