Momma Gets a New Ride

[Yeller]

I couldn't be happier with the looks changes either

[Harry Dawg]

Thanks for your testimonial Yeller.

Glad life is treating y'all good, and praise the Lord for a nice rig too!

Looks like a fun project, and it's cool to see something a little outside the box.

An interesting choice being that it has IFS, but that has its perks..Sure will be a nice comfortable ride to Moab!

Interested to get a trail report upon your return.

Safe travels!



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[Yeller]

Thanks Harry! When you met her last spring we were both still adjusting to the new her and learning, still are. God has been too good to us, loving life

I’ll certainly make a trail report I have a box of tie rod ends that I hope I don’t need

[Yeller]

Got a permanent location for the license plate and added a Rotopax mount

[devildog80]

Nice additions to the truck.
Details on the tire carrier?

[Yeller]

The tire carrier and bumpers are made by https://www.bailiebilt.com/ they specialize in early bronco parts, I modified and adapted them to the explorer. The tire carrier is a direct bolt on for their rear bumper. I have the same bumpers on my Bronco.

[devildog80]

That tire carrier could be adapted to bolt to any after market bumper.....I would think. Only issue would be if you were pulling a camper/trailer behind...say an FSJ, it would need to be unhitched so tire would drop down, but a Jeep CJ rarely has that issue. Sure looks solid, and very nice the way it brings the tire right down to the road.
Thanks for sharing, and did look at the site. Some nice stuff there.

[Yeller]

I thought about building a bumper and off setting it to the side, this was definitely the easy button.

Gordon does some fantastic stuff. There is a 2 year wait for restoration work. The stuff they turn out is truly something to behold.

[Yeller]

Ok haven't been laying around too much, had other things going on and of course that work thing is always in the way. Been contemplating storage. One of my worries is always stuff inside laying loose and trying to kill me or passengers when something else is already in that process and the loose stuff inside is just adding fuel to the fire. I hate dealing with tying stuff down, is always a pain. I opted for using Milwaukee's Packout line of boxes combined with one of their wall plates to mount it all to. I wound up with 3ea of their 10x16x13 boxes and a soft sided ice chest. They are all accessible from both the rear hatch and the back seat, sometimes when you need that stuff the back hatch is often not operable, especially with a spare tire mounted to the bumper so access from the inside was important. Inside access is also where dealing with straps or whatever is an added pain, you put all of that in there and tied it down with the rear hatch open. Out of view is a snatch bag with 2 soft shackles, 6' tree saver, and 2 small ratchet straps, very light not worried about being a projectile.

This was not a cheap endeavor but felt it worthy and I'm not worried about that stuff flying around or being unorganized. The floor plate has 12 #14 screws in it, I'm not worried about it turning loose. The boxes snap in and out easily, have handles, just couldn't think of anything else better thought out.

Box 1 nearest the seat has all of the recovery gear in it.
A. 2ea 10' tree savers
B. 1ea 2x30' recovery strap
C. 1ea 2x20' recovery strap
D. 2ea recovery rings with soft shackles (snatch blocks)
E. 2ea soft shackles
F. 2ea 3/4 steel bow shackles
G. 2ea 5/8 steel bow shackles
H. 1ea 50' winch extension

Box 2 in the middle has tools and spare parts.
A. Tie rod ends, the most fragile mechanical item on the car, hope to never need them but they are the size of my pinky finger....
B. Full set of wrenches 1/4"-7/8" and 8mm to 19mm
C. Full set of sockets and ratchet from 1/4"-7/8" and 8mm-21mm
D. Extendable 1/2" breaker bar, extends from 10" to 16" with adapters for all of the sockets
E. 10" and 12" adjustable wrenches
F. Diagonal cutters
G. 420 Channel locks
H. 3lb hammer
I. Test light
J. Multi meter
K. Small rolls of wire
L. Zip ties, 75lb and 175lb
M. Wire crimper/stripper with assorted connectors
N. Roll of Gorilla tape
O. Screw drivers, #2 philips, 3/16 flat, 1/4" flat and a 1/2" flat - gotta have a pry bar LOL
P. Needle nose pliers
Q. Vice grips
R. Fuses of all sizes, shapes and amps, at least 1 of everything, even the fuse box under the hood.
S. Figured that was enough

Box 3 in the back.
A. Old sheet- always handy to have
B. Small tarp
C. Spare set of rain gear (someone besides me always forgets hers when packing...)
D. 2 rolls of lint less paper towels
E. Anything else that was miscellaneous that needed to be in the car.

Box 4 on top is a soft sided ice chest. gotta have cold drinks and lunch it is easily accessible from the back seat, even on the go if someone is sitting back there.

I did check the factory bottle jack, it works just fine, and those of you that are fond of the Toyota jacks, might be surprised to know this one goes just as high and gets just as short. So, I didn't feel the need to add to the jacking tools, I believe what is there is just fine. I did add a 4 way lug wrench that is secured under the back seat. I also added the most used trail tool I have ever carried, a 36" heel bar that is stashed behind the back seat and under the floor flap with the jack tools. I've used that bar for everything from vehicle repairs, trail maintenance, recoveries, all sorts of things. I try to not leave home without the minimum of these 3 things, a large pry bar, a hammer of sufficient size (3-4lb) and toilet paper, cuz sometimes stuff happens

BTW: does anyone have an original retractable package cover for one of these? I'd love to have one.

[Yeller]

Decided that I didn’t want to transfer any tools back and forth so I picked up an air compressor, made a hose and locking Jaco chuck and mounted it on the fender well. Ran power to it and connected it with an SAE plug so there is power in the back for other needs if needed. Also mounted an air gauge to the upper rear window trim for easy access. All mounted with adhesive backed Velcro.

[dodgerammit]

Nice. That's possibly my next upgrade. I'm looking for second hand Viair units ATM. I also found a thread on a CJ2a forum about home built spring under 'skids' to protect the inverted U bolt ends on the front axle. That would be another nice mod to do before I bend one of those bolts.

[Yeller]

Nice. That's possibly my next upgrade. I'm looking for second hand Viair units ATM. I also found a thread on a CJ2a forum about home built spring under 'skids' to protect the inverted U bolt ends on the front axle. That would be another nice mod to do before I bend one of those bolts.

This is a cheap Amazon compressor, figured for $40 if it lasts a year I’ll be happy.

I’ve always looked at ubolt skids as something else hanging down. Haven’t don’t it on this but I normally cut them off flush with the nut, I’ve never bent one that was cut off. However it does make them single use, rarely will the nut start back on once removed after they have been cut.

[dodgerammit]

This is a cheap Amazon compressor, figured for $40 if it lasts a year I’ll be happy.

I’ve always looked at ubolt skids as something else hanging down. Haven’t don’t it on this but I normally cut them off flush with the nut, I’ve never bent one that was cut off. However it does make them single use, rarely will the nut start back on once removed after they have been cut.

It adds 1/4" below the nut. Allows reusability if desired, though I tend to shy away from reusing U bolts. The skids basically remove the 'snagging' effect rocks tend to have. Spring under's only drawback, IMO.

The only other concern I have is the front diff cover. I'm lucky to have one of those odd shaped 44 housings. Unsure of how much force it takes to start to deform.

[Yeller]

I’ve welded a 2x1/4 piece of strap over the ring gear on a bunch of covers. Seen them take some amazing abuse.

[dodgerammit]

I’ve welded a 2x1/4 piece of strap over the ring gear on a bunch of covers. Seen them take some amazing abuse.

Kinda what I was considering, along with some plating along the flat spots.
I know these covers are decently adequate for what they are, but a sharp rock edge at the right angle could mean a bad day.

I read an article years ago in some 4wd publication where they gave an oil pan puncture protection by cutting flat pieces of steel to approximate shapes, then using copious amounts of adhesive (windshield adhesive or similar) and bonding the steel to the pan. It didn't 100% cover every spot, but offered ample protection on the cheap, plus the adhesive offered a bit of 'cushioning' effect from impacts as well. I can see it working in theory.

[Yeller]

It’s amazing the added strength even a piece of 1/8” gives to a former niece if steel. 1/8” in 2” wide strips can be formed well enough with a sand bag and hammer to match the cover and give the desired results. I don’t know about your specific cover of your odd front axle but the standard 44 front cover is pretty robust, they will take a good lick without issues. The issue isn’t bending, it’s bending enough to rub on the ring gear or puncture, your steering linkage becomes vulnerable at that point.

[Yeller]

We just returned from a 2600 mile, 9 day road trip to SE Utah. We had an excellent time, covered a lot of new to me ground, some in areas that I will return to, there is so much to see. Here’s a few pics of the explorer doing its thing. Everyone that watched it said it just looked wrong lol.

We did push it harder than I expected too on a couple of trails, but it performed flawlessly.

Dang it got bit by the sideways pic bug…….

[devildog80]

It looks to have handled whatever you threw at it

[Yeller]

Ok time to make a trip report

The explorer did fantastic, we drove it the 1100 miles out and back. We also did 600 miles of trails and back roads while were there. We started by spending 2 days in Blanding UT running Hotel Rock and Elephant Hill. Then we went on to Moab, we did Flat Iron Mesa, Secret Spire/Dallenball Tunnel, visited the fossil beds, Long Canyon, Shafer Trail, Potash Road, Dome Plateau, and all the 4x4 trails in Arches. We had a fantastic time and can’t wait to go back. Next trip will be with the J Truck to do a little camping as well.

Here’s a few random pics. One is a repost turned the right way, no we didn’t drive upside down

[devildog80]

Did momma let you touch the steering wheel, only while truck was parked, or did she allow you to drive it a little bit on the trip? It is her new rig after all