Expedition Modded Jeeps - Let's see 'em!!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: Berkshire, Uk
Not sure if I am allowed to post the link to the UK forum, so I will drop you a PM.
Neal
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Berkshire, UK
Hugo,
That was at Bagshot a military training area that is close to us.
Jeep Owners Club staged events there last year and hopefully this, so when your over you might get the chance.
As to the weather, we have had a few days without rain, but water levels are still high. We still have 4 fire and rescue crews pumping water 24/7 to keep the levels down!
Neal
That was at Bagshot a military training area that is close to us.
Jeep Owners Club staged events there last year and hopefully this, so when your over you might get the chance.
As to the weather, we have had a few days without rain, but water levels are still high. We still have 4 fire and rescue crews pumping water 24/7 to keep the levels down!
Neal
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 3
From: Aspen, Colorado
I frickin LOVE this post!
Couldn't agree more at this point but I have a lot of time with two young kids in carseats in the back. Hard to find room for those sweet mods when I need those rear seats for the youngerns.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
So, what I've been working on the past week is a metal plate to bolt down in the rear cargo area, using nutserts into the body sheetmetal. The new plate is 3/16" aluminum and I will tap and drill it to restrain a Tembo Tusk slide for the fridge, and a drawer. Above that I will mount a trail rack from Adventure Trailers. Spent the past week making that aluminum plate. Fortunately I have a friend with a big saw (a really big saw--he owns a business that installs granite countertops--and owns that white JK you see in many of my videos, as well as the Land Rover Defender). He cut the plate, then I had it broken at a nearby shop with a big sheetmetal brake. Now it's over being LineX'd.
Once it's all done and I receive the drawer, which is being custom-made to fit perfectly, the rear area will look much like this ...
And while all of this is going on, there's still just routine maintenance on the Jeep. This past week I also replaced the ball joints. What's interesting is my first set went over 100K miles. I had bought a set of Crown BJs way back when the only other alternative was $600 for ORE because everyone said the BJs fail so quickly. So, began a process of checking mine every few months when I rotated tires. Yet, they lasted that 100K miles. When they finally did go, and since I had the Crowns, I installed them. Well, after less than a year and about 20K miles I started having a gentle shimmy in the steering wheels at 45-50 MPH. Not very bad, but annoying that it was there. And shortly after that whenever I turned there was an annoying squeak coming from up front. Turned out that one of the BJs had a torn boot and the river fordings (presumably) had put enough muck in there to make the squeak. So swapped out BJs--Synergy this time. And those Crowns? Well, the lowers were already quite loose.
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Everett, WA
Love this tread!
Hello everyone!!!
By far the best thread I've come across. Haven't gotten my JKU yet (hopefully by next weekend) but I am still driving my LJ until the big day. The expedition side off Jeeping or overlanding is new to me, but I am in love with the outdoors, been skiing for twenty two years, backpacking, hiking, and really love anything outdoors. My dream is within the next few years to drive from here (Washington State) to the farthest point drivable in Alaska. I'd like to do it in three weeks and mostly all camping. It would be a late honeymoon. Anyway enough dreaming, keep the posts coming and I'll keep dreaming.
Cheers, Steven.
By far the best thread I've come across. Haven't gotten my JKU yet (hopefully by next weekend) but I am still driving my LJ until the big day. The expedition side off Jeeping or overlanding is new to me, but I am in love with the outdoors, been skiing for twenty two years, backpacking, hiking, and really love anything outdoors. My dream is within the next few years to drive from here (Washington State) to the farthest point drivable in Alaska. I'd like to do it in three weeks and mostly all camping. It would be a late honeymoon. Anyway enough dreaming, keep the posts coming and I'll keep dreaming.
Cheers, Steven.
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Kannapolis, NC
Sure. But, before I do that let me caution that it is a Shrockworks. There are plenty of threads here about charging your credit card upon ordering, unreliable delivery estimates, and long delivery times. But, most folks who own one rave about the features and quality, and would do it all over again. I certainly would even though it took ten months to get mine ...
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
Hoh boy. Without a picture I think I'll just guess that I was running doors off and you're asking about that mirror. It's the Mopar driver mirror relocation kit. Basically a TJ mirror on a special bracket mounted to the windshield frame. There is no mirror on the passenger side.
JK Freak
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 563
Likes: 1
From: Hopedale, MA
It's been in the shop quite a while, but it's back and I am beyond stoked.
More picts later. Currently not pictured - My Maggiolina AirTop RTT (on the forum in other picts) and Hannibal Safari Awning (not previously installed). Those later.
Do we have an expedition trip-planner thread? That's the next thread I want to read. I'm too old for non-North American travel, so I'll be looking for things to do on this continent. I nominate Mark D for King of that thread.
I'll be looking for people in SoCal to travel with BTW. I made the mistake of setting out with my son on my own and having an electrical breakdown a year ago that left me stranded and at the mercy of fate in a way that made me want to shoot myself. Had I been alone, it would have been no big deal, but with my kid it was a game-changer. Never again. I will always travel in at least pairs from here on out and I'm getting a satellite phone.
Next on the agenda, a Hemi or Diesel upgrade, but not right now. Out of cash.
Special thanks to Alex Carvallo and his team at American Overland Expedition. He is the man and his shop is all about getting things done the right way.
NOTE - Nitto Trail Grappler 37's and AEV 4.5" lift. I am fully aware that this is an overbuild for expeditioning/overlanding. I'm ok with that. More specifics on my build later. I can whole-heartedly recommend the AEV lift however. It handles wonderfully and rides a thousand times better than it did on the stock suspension.
Quick rundown on recent additions:
ARB Twin On-board Air with outlets just inside both rear doors for air-ups after air-downs.
AEV Beadlock Wheels
Chromoly axle shaft upgrades
Gusseting and full reinforcement on OEM Rubi Axles to help with 37's support.
Teraflex Front Brake Upgrade
Full underbody armor
New driveshafts to accomodate lift
Back-up and hill crest peek-over camera (just made that term up). No spotter required when you're cresting a ridge you haven't been to before. (screen in rearview)
AEV rear bumper
AEV gas tank (10 gall)
Pull pal mount
Hi Lift 60" Emergency Responder (poor man's Jaws of Life) Range Jack. My dad call's Hi-Lift's range jacks. He's a former search and rescue dude for miners.
Hannibal Safari Awning (Yes I had to import it).
Maggiolina Airtop RTT
Custom Fabricated cross bars for RTT to mount it better to Gobi
Fabrication and modification to Gobi allowing rear vertical bars to mount to fabricated corner plates due to incompatibility between Gobi and AEV rear bumper.
ARB fridge install.
Cooktop install under fridge.
Fuel tank for cooktop.
2 Drawer Storage System.
Rubicrawler Gear Set.
Poison Spyder Rock Sliders
Poison Spyder Internal Roll Cage (Trail version I think)
Tuffy center console with CB.
Tuffy under driver's seat storage
AEV Heat Reduction Hood
Trucklite LED Headlights
Better picts later and somewhere better than up the street from my house. At least it's not in front of the grocery store.
Scott
Attachment 445953Attachment 445954
More picts later. Currently not pictured - My Maggiolina AirTop RTT (on the forum in other picts) and Hannibal Safari Awning (not previously installed). Those later.
Do we have an expedition trip-planner thread? That's the next thread I want to read. I'm too old for non-North American travel, so I'll be looking for things to do on this continent. I nominate Mark D for King of that thread.
I'll be looking for people in SoCal to travel with BTW. I made the mistake of setting out with my son on my own and having an electrical breakdown a year ago that left me stranded and at the mercy of fate in a way that made me want to shoot myself. Had I been alone, it would have been no big deal, but with my kid it was a game-changer. Never again. I will always travel in at least pairs from here on out and I'm getting a satellite phone.
Next on the agenda, a Hemi or Diesel upgrade, but not right now. Out of cash.
Special thanks to Alex Carvallo and his team at American Overland Expedition. He is the man and his shop is all about getting things done the right way.
NOTE - Nitto Trail Grappler 37's and AEV 4.5" lift. I am fully aware that this is an overbuild for expeditioning/overlanding. I'm ok with that. More specifics on my build later. I can whole-heartedly recommend the AEV lift however. It handles wonderfully and rides a thousand times better than it did on the stock suspension.
Quick rundown on recent additions:
ARB Twin On-board Air with outlets just inside both rear doors for air-ups after air-downs.
AEV Beadlock Wheels
Chromoly axle shaft upgrades
Gusseting and full reinforcement on OEM Rubi Axles to help with 37's support.
Teraflex Front Brake Upgrade
Full underbody armor
New driveshafts to accomodate lift
Back-up and hill crest peek-over camera (just made that term up). No spotter required when you're cresting a ridge you haven't been to before. (screen in rearview)
AEV rear bumper
AEV gas tank (10 gall)
Pull pal mount
Hi Lift 60" Emergency Responder (poor man's Jaws of Life) Range Jack. My dad call's Hi-Lift's range jacks. He's a former search and rescue dude for miners.
Hannibal Safari Awning (Yes I had to import it).
Maggiolina Airtop RTT
Custom Fabricated cross bars for RTT to mount it better to Gobi
Fabrication and modification to Gobi allowing rear vertical bars to mount to fabricated corner plates due to incompatibility between Gobi and AEV rear bumper.
ARB fridge install.
Cooktop install under fridge.
Fuel tank for cooktop.
2 Drawer Storage System.
Rubicrawler Gear Set.
Poison Spyder Rock Sliders
Poison Spyder Internal Roll Cage (Trail version I think)
Tuffy center console with CB.
Tuffy under driver's seat storage
AEV Heat Reduction Hood
Trucklite LED Headlights
Better picts later and somewhere better than up the street from my house. At least it's not in front of the grocery store.
Scott
Attachment 445953Attachment 445954
