Steele42's 2dr Jeep Wrangler rebuild (going for a change...)

[steele42]

Just a quick update on using the batteries for extra weight. This just shows that each rig is different, but I actually prefer the jeep lighter without the extra weight of the batteries on the rock rails. I don't know if its the wheelbase, or the tires, or what, but the jeep actually performs better without the extra weight. But I still prefer the weight in my honcho. Makes me think twice now before I judge someone else for something they do with their rig that I wouldn't do on mine.

[heinie_21]

those shaved rails look good! even better on the jk than the taco IMO

you should paint them shiny black. they would look like metal. (for a minute till they got scratched haha)

[steele42]

Thanks! I thought they turned out pretty good for free. It's time to put some miles on this rig

[PhantomRS10]

Looks good

[heinie_21]

come put some miles on it up north

[crawlin now]

great lookin jeep!

[steele42]

Got me some of my scale accessories today. Mounted up the shovel and the hilift jack.


My favorite hilift jack mount in real life is angled behind the spare tire like this


You couldn't see much of the jack in this case, so I tried this


Ultimately I chose to mount it on the roof rack.

[Spiike]

you would think that putting the jack way up there would be heavy to lift if i was 7" tall lol

[steele42]

Originally Posted by Spiike

you would think that putting the jack way up there would be heavy to lift if i was 7" tall lol

Ya it was kind of a stretch getting it up there, but I never get stuck, so I'll never have to take it down

[heinie_21]

i like it vertical on the rear bumper

[steele42]

Originally Posted by heinie_21

i like it vertical on the rear bumper

It may end up back there, it was just more of a commitment to mount it to the body. I want to make sure I like my body height, then mount the jack to the body at that time so it sits like it is resting on the bumper. For now I like the rack mount too. Waiting for my cooler and fire extinguisher. And trying to decide if i want my ax and pry bar on the jeep.

[steele42]

So I decided to try my hand at some tow shackles today. I think they turned out pretty good.



They actually work pretty well as a vertical indicator in pictures, so you guys can tell that I'm not cheating with my camera angles

[PhantomRS10]

What did ya use for the shackles. they look pretty dang good

[steele42]

Originally Posted by PhantomRS10

What did ya use for the shackles. they look pretty dang good

1/4" cotter pins, 3mm x 1/2" bolts, and nuts. 1/8" drill bit makes the right size hole. I don't take credit for this, saw it here in the forums.

[ebbet]

Those are some of the best home made shackles I have seen! Good work! I might have to use this idea.

[steele42]

Originally Posted by ebbet

Those are some of the best home made shackles I have seen! Good work! I might have to use this idea.

THANKS

[steele42]

A little Thanksgiving crawling. I'm thankful for this hobby

[steele42]

Did a little crawling today out on the San Rafael Swell with a buddy of mine. This is where it pays to have two rigs. Now he is going to get one for Christmas . Here are some snaps of the day.



Note the toe shackles. This trail was most definitely not flat.

Today was actually my first time out in the wilderness with it. The only place I've driven her so far is the rock pile up to my front porch and in my sisters rock landscape on Thanksgiving. It did really well. Not quite as good as Taco, but still did things that impressed me.

[steele42]

During this build I keep telling myself that I am going to be more careful with this rig and drive it nicely. Turns out I have a hard time with that, and a couple of spills proved to be fatal for my scale accessories. Maybe the roof rack isn't the best place for these.



The jack broke on a tip over. Later I was climbing up a crack and got too close to one side, and the shovel decided to grab the wall. It lost.... Luckily, I got my package today from yoda@4x4 which was supposed to only have a fire extinguisher, but he also threw in a hilift jack, gas can, and coca cola box. THANKS AGAIN yoda@4x4 !


I think a little JB weld will fix the shovel right up.

[heinie_21]

Originally Posted by steele42

Did a little crawling today out on the San Rafael Swell with a buddy of mine. This is where it pays to have two rigs. Now he is going to get one for Christmas . Here are some snaps of the day.

you know that's at least 60% why i bought my 2nd rig. it worked too haha! got you hooked

not surprised AT ALL that j-bone got hooked too hehe. tell him to register at the forum so he can do some learning before he gets one


edit: PS, i took some spills with my jack on the roof-rack and it held up fine. probably because they weren't securely wired to it. they were just bungee'd on so there was some give