Does the rack seem at all awkward or clunky? And do you know of any attachments that offer more protection to any lights I may mount? I like the Extreme Terrain products but I'm worried about protecting the lights and the Gobi offers that...

 

I love my Gobi! The install was easy and it's solid as a rock. The fact that it has a pseudo basket means that i didn't need to buy one. This was a score as some baskets run up to $500.00 or more. It also affords me the ability to attack my shovel and axe to it. And have recently added limb risers. Love my Gobi!

 

So, I got the bright idea to drive to South America (yeah, I know about the Darian Gap, legal stuff, blah blah, let's talk about the vehicle).

Note: this is not my first attempt at a long, expedition style trip. It's the first time I'll be doing it in something bigger than a CJ7.

I've gotta read this thread in detail, but here's my starting point:

2010 Wrangler Unlimited Sport. Super basic. At the very least I'd have to add:

- updated diffs, currently open diffs (bleah)
- updated suspension (stock is too soft)
- tires - currently have Duratracs, about 2k miles on them
- hard top? currently a soft top, but I dunno that I care, I've only ever owned soft top CJ's, and I've driven one of those to the arctic circle in summer, visiting the Yukon and Alaska, the other all over Mexico.
- top rack
- snorkel?
- winch? always nice
- bumpers

The $$$ add up, and I start thinking, hmmm, maybe I should just look around for something like a Rubicon, but prices on those are astronomical, even used.

So...thoughts? (should I start a new thread?)

 

In regards to awkwardness of the rack you will defiantly notice it, as with any rack i guess, but I find it not to be an issue. You just need to understand that you will be top heavy when loaded down and this should be kept in mind when offloading. The Gobi has a bar that surrounds the lights. This has help me while driving in areas with low hanging branches. Over all you will have wind noise but will soon learn to tune it out.

 

Take me with you... If you do start a new thread, I'm hella subscribing. Also check out the " low cost/free mods" thread, it has some great expo stuff and is a wallet saver. I never do a mod without combing that thread first.

 

I'm not too sure what you mean by awkward or clunky, but it is very secure once mounted. As far as lights go it has the 4 tabs on front and two on the back as you probably know. If you got some of the KC lights or something of the sort most come with a light guard themselves however.

 

Store the fridge in the jeep. I couldn't imagine going without my fridge.

 

Tough choice. You hear lots from people who spent money on their D30 only to say what a waste it was. However, ultimately it's all based on how you wheel your rig. Personally I'd probably opt for the D44, simply because it's going to be easier to come up with the $500 or so for the snorkle sometime down the road then whatever a complete front axle will cost you if you wreck it. On the other hand a built D30 should be enough as long as you're not hardcore into the rocks...

Yeah my buddy kept putting his off and blew his engine in a hole where the water wasn't anywhere near above the tire. I try to stay out of deep holes (and usually take bypasses if possible) and this is exactly why I got a snorkle. Well plus it looks bad ass, but mostly for the peace of mind.

 

This reminds me, for those who might be interested in driving the K-Trail in southeast Oklahoma: Friend of mine drove that with a group of Jeeps a couple weeks ago. It is a a pretty drive, but all of the lands on both sides have been sold off by Weyerhauser and much of it is used for gun clubs/hunting leases. There are probably some other activities going on out there--the kinds that are illegal, I mean. Anyway, there were a few mud holes that they drove through. Apparently someone has spiked the mud holes. In their group of Jeeps, they ended up with 19 flat tires. Yes, 19. They said it was a nightmare getting them all able repaired once they reached the only garage open on a Sunday in forever miles. There have been other horror stories out there in the past, including one where some folks piled debris in the trail and lit it on fire so that a group of travelers couldn't pass. At this point, I don't know what to say except that it's a sad thing when people think public spaces (the road) are their personal property. My friend did have one word of advice: In hindsight, they suspect that the locals know to take bypasses that did not exist before on these mudholes. The mudholes aren't that deep--but just deep enough to hide the spikes. So, take bypasses around all mudholes.

 

Just about finished up with the second spare tire rack. Here's the modified MBRP rack ...



And this is how the second spare will screw down (once I get some help to heft it up there).



I will safety wire the handle so it doesn't spin on its own. I don't plan to leave the tire up there because of possible sun damage.