Expedition Modded Jeeps - Let's see 'em!!
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA
There are mods that make jeeps more reliable, like axle sleeves, gusseting the front housing, ball joints and skid plates but they aren't exciting so most don't do them and leave the rest stock. My 3.5" lift w/ 35" tires and heavy steel bumpers reduced my mpg by at least 5mpg. Overlanding is only 50% of what I do though.
And as far as GPS stuff. Marks' set up is very helpful, but it also takes quite a bit of time to setup and research those routes. If you're in the backcountry it is good idea to have maps whether that is GPS or good high detail paper maps. I always carry a gazette (red high detail map) and a compass as a minimum. If you get lost you want to make sure you can get yourself unlost.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
Thanks Mark. Yeah - my 2-door is built as a general-purpose rig. I use it for overlanding, trail running, hunting & fishing... All sorts of stuff. I've kept it deliberately simple. Started with a basic 2012 2-door Sport, manual trans, and went from there. I've avoided a roof rack, to keep overall height low, and keep the weight lower. Have also avoided any permanent type of shelf/drawer system, though those are very tempting. I camp in a ground tent. Have a big one when there's two of us and a smaller tent when I'm solo, or just me and my dog. BTW - am in Washington State - and I do this stuff year round - rain, snow, sunshine, whatever comes. Well almost. I was glad to be at home in our last big winter storm earlier this week! For mods: 16x9" rims with 285/75/16 Toyo MT's - about the same as a 33x11.50 or so. Front Dana 30 set up with 4.10 gears and a Yukon Zip air locker Rear Dana 44 set up the same Tera Flex 1.5" coil spring leveling kit - the one with four new coil springs, not spacers Smittybilt bumpers & rock sliders/bars all around Engo 10,000 pound winch Vision X aux lights up front sPod switches built in ViAir underhood compressor for the air lockers and tires Replaced some of the front steering components with heavy duty stuff Tatton rear drive shaft Also bought an ARB fridge last summer on a 106 degree day - It's GREAT Have all the usual recovery gear: shovel, pul-pal, straps, hi-lift jack, also a set of four heavy-duty tire chains. Last summer I used it to complete the 600 mile WABDR (Washington Backcountry Discovery Route) twice, once with Mark Doiron. If you check out his videos - mine is the little white two-door. Looks like a midget next to the big, lifted four-door JK's! 
It works really well with the 4.10's and 33's and the fairly light weight of the 2-door. Here are a few photos, it looks, and is, pretty mild: Back end - packed on the last night of our week-long trip on the WABDR: Typical campsite: Less than two weeks ago, here in Washington: Stripped down with no doors, no roof, for a day of challenging wheeling in the Liberty area, Washington: Me, having a blast, driving my Jeep that day. The bag is full of maps, insect repellent, etc... Stuff I might need right away. With my buddy's red JK, up high in the Cascades last spring: Yes, the two-door can be a great little rig, with an advantage on the tight trails. Sometimes though, i do wish I'd purchased the bigger four-door. But the two-door is so danged fun! Regards, CW
It works really well with the 4.10's and 33's and the fairly light weight of the 2-door. Here are a few photos, it looks, and is, pretty mild: Back end - packed on the last night of our week-long trip on the WABDR: Typical campsite: Less than two weeks ago, here in Washington: Stripped down with no doors, no roof, for a day of challenging wheeling in the Liberty area, Washington: Me, having a blast, driving my Jeep that day. The bag is full of maps, insect repellent, etc... Stuff I might need right away. With my buddy's red JK, up high in the Cascades last spring: Yes, the two-door can be a great little rig, with an advantage on the tight trails. Sometimes though, i do wish I'd purchased the bigger four-door. But the two-door is so danged fun! Regards, CW
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
...
And as far as GPS stuff. Marks' set up is very helpful, but it also takes quite a bit of time to setup and research those routes. If you're in the backcountry it is good idea to have maps whether that is GPS or good high detail paper maps. I always carry a gazette (red high detail map) and a compass as a minimum. If you get lost you want to make sure you can get yourself unlost.
And as far as GPS stuff. Marks' set up is very helpful, but it also takes quite a bit of time to setup and research those routes. If you're in the backcountry it is good idea to have maps whether that is GPS or good high detail paper maps. I always carry a gazette (red high detail map) and a compass as a minimum. If you get lost you want to make sure you can get yourself unlost.
It does take awhile to create this database, but once I do I can export it, then copy it to my laptop and my phone. The phone is my backup GPS. The laptop I use to share the maps, route and waypoints to others on the trip running BCN.
It is wise to also carry a paper map--as you allude, state Gazetteers are really nice and detailed. Many areas I go have NatGeo maps. USFS also has nice maps. When traveling in national forests, of course, it is a good idea to verify routes against their Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM). Those are not suitable for navigation, but they keep you out of legal trouble using the wrong vehicle on a trail (such as driving your Jeep on an ATV-only trail).
JK Newbie
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Baja Roof Rack and GPS Navigation
I just came back from the Baja 1000 in Mexico and I loved my new custom Roof Rack, it held up well while pre-running 300 miles of the course. I looked for one that met my needs but I couldn't find one, so I designed one and had it bult. I wanted a Roof Rack that mounted under and to my Yakima Gutter Mount Bars so I could easily remove it when not in use. I also wanted to continue to use my Yackima Bars while it was installed to carry surf boards, bikes, Enclosed Carrier, etc. I had the Roof Rack Designed to easily securely my trail gear, and to mount 4 Rigid Pods, Rear LED Driving/Turn/Brake Lights, Rear Flashing Amber LED Dust Lights, and my Lowrance GPS Antenna. The rack also worked well as a higher vantage point to get a better view of the race. If you are interested in getting one made send me a PM, my fabricator is out of Orange County, CA.
I used my new Lowrance Elite-5M Baja GPS system for navigation. I simply used the provided mount and installed it to my Drake Console Tray. The position worked well for both driver and passenger access. I was able to simply upload the SCORE Course Map, however I will be loading a better Mexico road Map prior to my next trip.
I am now looking for a good trail trash bag to strap on my spare tire, has anyone used the Smittybilt one? Is there something better?
I used my new Lowrance Elite-5M Baja GPS system for navigation. I simply used the provided mount and installed it to my Drake Console Tray. The position worked well for both driver and passenger access. I was able to simply upload the SCORE Course Map, however I will be loading a better Mexico road Map prior to my next trip.
I am now looking for a good trail trash bag to strap on my spare tire, has anyone used the Smittybilt one? Is there something better?
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
Snorkel JKU
I'm trying to decide on a couple of things for my expedition style jeep....the snorkel and a safari top. I'm not too excited about cutting my hood for the AEV snorkel, but I like the way it looks. Any opinions?
I'm also trying to find the best safari top out there...one that doesn't flap around.
I'm also trying to find the best safari top out there...one that doesn't flap around.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Not sure if it's been said on here or not, but I can't help but plea the case for a dry cell battery (OPTIMA). A few years ago, I drove out to Toroweep, on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is 60 miles of washboard road, one way. By the time I got back to Phoenix, I realized the severe damage vibration can have on a stock battery. The plates on the inside had all been broken loose and the positive post could be completely removed from the battery case. Been pretty happy with the Optima since then.
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 4
From: Israel
Not sure if it's been said on here or not, but I can't help but plea the case for a dry cell battery (OPTIMA). A few years ago, I drove out to Toroweep, on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is 60 miles of washboard road, one way. By the time I got back to Phoenix, I realized the severe damage vibration can have on a stock battery. The plates on the inside had all been broken loose and the positive post could be completely removed from the battery case. Been pretty happy with the Optima since then.
That's because their spiral cells design saves space, and allows the outer shell to have rounded lines and be smaller than the square shaped larger batteries.
Last edited by GJeep; Nov 25, 2015 at 08:17 AM.
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA
I'm trying to decide on a couple of things for my expedition style jeep....the snorkel and a safari top. I'm not too excited about cutting my hood for the AEV snorkel, but I like the way it looks. Any opinions?
I'm also trying to find the best safari top out there...one that doesn't flap around.
I'm also trying to find the best safari top out there...one that doesn't flap around.
