JK stuck :( Shovel mount anyone?

[ThinkMud]

I got stuck in the mud this weekend and had to have someone run me to wally world to get a shovel.. so i was trying to figure out how some of you guys mounted a Hi-Lift and shovel??

http://www.thehavenots.net/jeep/Trip2Armandos/stuck1.jpg

http://www.thehavenots.net/jeep/Trip2Armandos/stuck2.jpg

http://www.thehavenots.net/jeep/Trip2Armandos/stuck3.jpg

http://www.thehavenots.net/jeep/Trip2Armandos/stuck4.jpg


by the way.. it took TWO (2) Xterra's to "Daisy Chain" strap me out!!

[wayoflife]

Holy cow, that looks like one very stuck Jeep. How the hell did you manage to do that if you don't mind me asking?

Regarding how to mount a Hi-Lift and/or shovel goes, I can tell you that most of the aftermarket rear bumper tire carriers will have at least a mount for a Hi-Lift jack like this...

http://www.4x4xplor.com/lod/prodimages/LoD-XTREME.jpg

Now, if the new JK's had steel bumpers like the old TJ's had, you could have always done something like this...

http://www.4x4xplor.com/images/Hi-Lift/Hi-Lift00.jpg

As far as shovels go, I usually just carry a collapable one in my recovery bag. And, for all the times that I've needed it, it's been more than enough :yup:

[ThinkMud]

yeah i know about the aftermarket bumpers, but i'm just wondering to how to mount them stock, i saw someone mount his hi-lift inside going across his tail gate...

as far as how i got stuck, that little creek looked really small, we even walked right overtop of it and didn't sink any... had 3 people in my jeep (including me) and we went slowly into the creek, and straight down in like 2 seconds... first we are up on high and dry ground, then 2 senconds later, 33" front driver side tire completely covered in mud! it was crazy!

[wayoflife]

Yeah, water crossings can really be deceiving. Glad to hear you were able to get out alright and without any damage I hope. If your front differential was completely submerged for an extended period of time, you might want to drain the fluid and replace it just out of precaution.

As far as mounting a Hi-Lift inside goes, yes, I have seen plenty of guys do this using fence clamps on either end of your roll bars and then your jack to them using the fastening bolts.

[wayoflife]

Here's another solution I had once found. Basically, this guy drilled a couple of holes through his roll bars and bolted his Hi-Lift to them.

http://www.webejeepin.com/images/Glenns_Jeep/hi-lift-jack-mount-new1-lg.jpg

http://www.webejeepin.com/images/Glenns_Jeep/hi-lift-jack-mount-new2-lg.jpg

Only real problem I see with this is that the JK's are wider and don't know if the Hi-Lift will reach both ends and be mounted to the roll bars.

[ThinkMud]

those are some good ideas to mount the hi-lift!

As far as damage, only ego, haha... but yes my front diff was under mud for about 2 hours. you really think i should change the fluids? it is all air tight right? no breathers?

[Robar]

I got stuck in the mud this weekend...

http://www.thehavenots.net/jeep/Trip2Armandos/stuck1.jpg


Here is a man that is not affraid to get his Jeep dirty. :D

[wayoflife]

those are some good ideas to mount the hi-lift!

As far as damage, only ego, haha... but yes my front diff was under mud for about 2 hours. you really think i should change the fluids? it is all air tight right? no breathers?

So far as I know, there should be a breather on top of your diff. Most likely you should be okay with this being a new Jeep and all but whenever the diff goes under wather past the breather for a long period of time, I typically do a change just in case. Fortunately, the new JK's come with drains so you won't have to pop the cover off :yup:

[ThinkMud]

That's cool, we used to mod our Xterra's diff's breather by putting a tube from it and run it up thru the body... i guess we'll have to figure out something on these JK's as well. I better plan a maintance day soon just to be safe.

[2k2wranglerx]

when the diffs are hot, and you cool it quickly by submerging, you can get some water in there . . . .you're probably fine though.

I've pulled some diffs that straight up smelled like corn field!!!!!

[jamesr]

I hope that involed alcohol :eek!:

wow

Now that is a jeep thing :cool:

[ponpeta]

Real nice job there, and I wouldnt let it get to me most people are to chicken XXXX to take a new JK out in the woods any way, and by the way are there any good spots to go mudding up there, outside of richmond? I hate driving 3 hours up to the mountains to go get dirty.

[ThinkMud]

That was actually in Fredricksburg, about 45 minutes north of Richmond.
I still wheel a lot with my old Xterra club, VAXC.org, we have lots of trips, there are a few semi-close spots, like Shoe Creek (south of Charlottesville off 33), Flagpole and DryRiver (up near Harrisonburg) and some small spots here and there, i.e. powerline trails...

Good news on the Hi-Lift... it fits under the back seats! so it's there for now, until i can figure out a cool way to mount it...

[doojer]

Underneath the back seats is a great storage area... a couple zip-ties oughtta hold a hi-lift in place under there until you need it. Also, a collapsable shovel will fit in the little storage area underneath the rear cargo. I picked one up from our local surplus store for 7 bucks.

Way to get muddy! :p

[ThinkMud]

i just have the jack laying under there, it's pretty tight fit so it doesn't rattle that much, but i also bought the little handle holder thing. so it keeps the handle from rattling. I was thinking of getting a little bike lock to wrap around the jack and the leg post of the seats for security. and the shovel is an awesome idea, I've been meaning to get to a surplus store to buy E-tool (Marine name for the folding shovel) for years now, just never got around to it... but mine wouldn't fit in the cargo area, b/c i already have tools, 30ft Tow-strap, folding hand saw, and more tools... that i keep in there, i need more secure places to store stuff, and i'm not paying 400 bucks for that Tuffy storage thing either! i'll make my own before i spent that much on a box..