Triple-purpose JK Build

[boknows]

JSmorris,

Nice build and great read. Whats your take on the Garvin roof rack now that you have had it for a while? How does it mount to the Hardtop?

Jason

 

[XXXpedition]

How does it mount to the Hardtop?

as far as i know it doesn't.
it's bolted to the windshield frame, and on the back on the sides somehow. a detail shot, would be great, though ;-)

 

[tjpete]

Trailer question - it looks like the frame is black, not stainless? I thought that the whole thing was stainless?

How did crossing the border go?

 

[jsmoriss]

Trailer question - it looks like the frame is black, not stainless? I thought that the whole thing was stainless?

The frame is made of 3CR12 (3% nickel, 12% chromium) with milspec paint.

How did crossing the border go?

It didn't. One wheel is backordered, so the new ETA is sometime this week or next.

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

A detail shot, would be great, though ;-)

Here you go...

More pictures of the install here: http://public.mvlan.net/folder/011/Jeep/Projects/Garvin Roof Rack/

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

I finally finished the trailer plug. There was no perfect spot for it, so this was the best I could do. It's at a slight downward angle, so I drilled a small hole at the bottom, in case any water gets in, and stuffed some dielectric grease on the connectors.

This install is probably not for the faint of heart, since we had to take a sledgehammer and a length of steel to make some room behind the bumper...

Here's a picture of a 'test fit' to give you an idea of the room we were working with...

Finishing the trailer plug wiring means the backup battery / BIC panel is also finished -- the trailer power is cut when the vehicle current drops bellow 13.4V (so the trailer fridge can't suck the starter battery), and the BIC also cuts power to the trailer when the winch is switched on. The Mopar 7-pin wiring harness includes a relay for the parking lights, but I might add some additional relays on the trailer to limit current draw on the OEM wiring (for stop, turn, and backup lights).

The "BIC also cuts power to the trailer when the winch is switched on" feature works like this: A switch is turned on inside the cab, which activates a relay in an sPod relay/fuse box under the hood, this in turn switches on a 225A continuous duty solenoid (600A peak/spike) to power the winch, and also triggers a relay on the backup-battery panel. This relay switches a ground to the trailer BIC, which cuts power to the trailer. Simple, ey?

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

Nice build and great read.

Thanks. I love reading build threads for ideas, etc. It's really great to see how people tackle problems.

Whats your take on the Garvin roof rack now that you have had it for a while?

- Make sure you use plenty of silicone in those crossbars when you push in the plastic plugs.

- Every few months check for rust and touch up with semi-gloss paint.

- Removing/re-installing the hard-top is a major pain in the ***.

- Folding down the soft-top is also another pain in the ***, although not as bad as actually removing/re-installing the hard-top. You can always remove the side windows and roll-up the back, and leave the soft-top up.

- I changed to the soft-top last summer, but kept the hard-top so far this summer. If the hard-top had rear windows you could open, I wouldn't bother with the soft top at all. In the summer it gets pretty hot back there for the dog, so I may still change tops - we'll see... The soft doors also look way better with the soft-top. :-D

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

She's almost ready! All that's missing are the awnings and two Zarges cases on top. I decided on the Campa awnings for now - they're pretty tough, and they'll do until I replace them with Hannibal awnings sometime in the future.

js.

 

[tjpete]

So cool. Do you have your first trip planned for it?

 

[corrupt]

love the idea of using the high lift jacks as your stabiliser legs, eaiser to use, stronger and will come in very handy for other uses down the track im sure.

 

[jsmoriss]

So cool. Do you have your first trip planned for it?

We just moved into a new house, so we're busy with that right now, but we're planning a 2 week flyfishing trip in Maine for early September. Next Spring we'll probably take 5-8 weeks to do Eastern Canada (2 months would be nice, but we'll see how the finances are). After that, we'll see... I'm thinking of using it as a basecamp to explore northern lakes and rivers by canoe (two Solo canoes) -- head out for 3-4 days, then come back to eat real food, take a hot shower, etc. and then drive somewhere else to do the same. In another few years we'll probably ship the Jeep and trailer by container to Australia, and spend a few months down there.

Using the trailer for activities (basecamp, dog training, expeditions, etc.) is only half the reason I bought it. In 3-4 years I expect we'll buy a 100+ acre property -- without roads, utilities, or house -- and use the trailer on week-ends to camp on the property. We might eventually make a trail and build a Yurt or another kind of non-standard housing.

We'd also like to drive down the Eastern coast, but I'd like to avoid campgrounds if possible, so we'll see...

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

love the idea of using the high lift jacks as your stabiliser legs, eaiser to use, stronger and will come in very handy for other uses down the track im sure.

I can't take credit for anything on the trailer - I only chose the options. I _did_ ask Chris to make the stove removable though, so I can cook away from the trailer in bear country.

The tent was a difficult decision. The Campa tent can be folded with the kitchen panels in place, and it has a floor (nice for rainy days) where-as the OverZone doesn't. The OverZone is a few inches wider, the kitchen panels can be setup in a variety of ways, it has a winter cover, and some of it's construction details are better. But it was a toss-up - either one appears to be a great tent. Hopefully I won't miss that integrated floor/tub in the kitchen area...

Chris has been really proactive by e-mail. He's guided me through some decisions (tires, tent, cases, etc.), based on the needs I expressed, and his experience using this trailer. He's also changed one or two parts to work better with my vehicle and made sure they would work well together (clearance with spare tire, for example). He's asked for a lot of measurements (tire, hitch, etc.), which I've been happy to provide - it just means the trailer will fit that much better.

js.

 

[XXXpedition]

In another few years we'll probably ship the Jeep and trailer by container to Australia, and spend a few months down there.

i hope you plan at least half a year... otherwise i don't think it's worth going through all the hassles, customs, etc. and money (it cost us $5k one way - more info on our prep site under 'down under')

add'l note: and if anybody ever ships a vehicle, stay away from Rinkens - they'll screw you up!

 

[jsmoriss]

i hope you plan at least half a year... otherwise i don't think it's worth going through all the hassles, customs, etc. and money (it cost us $5k one way - more info on our prep site under 'down under')

Thanks for the info - we'll indeed plan for at least 6 months. I ran some quick calculations, and it looks like the Jeep and trailer will be around 26.3 feet. Even if we stick the trailer tongue under the Jeep, I don't think we'd fit a 20' container...

I noticed you guys shared your container (a 40 footer?) with two other vehicles. How did that go? Would you recommend sharing, or paying for the whole container all to yourself?

Thanks,
js.

 

[jsmoriss]

We're picking up the trailer on Saturday...

We're picking up the trailer on Saturday - fingers (and toes) crossed that everything goes well. Chris is actually driving it (9 hrs) from Ohio to Champlain NY, where we'll pick it up. We'll go trough all the features, adjust the electric brakes, and then head back to Canada. So far Chris has offered a level of service that has far exceeded my expectations, and I suspect the construction quality will reflect the same level of attention. I'm really looking forward to using the trailer now... Although I'm a bit nervous about backing it up our driveway -- I have to back it up a 90 degree turn into our driveway and then straighten it out. I can always un-hook it and push it back by hand, but it's 2100 lbs, and our driveway has decent slope on it.

js.