I have been occupying my time lately with a new project. I bought a jeep and decided that if I am going to own another one, I am going to fix it up the way I want. I thought that it is about time I show off my project and get (what I hope) is some input on what you think of it. Hopefully it will be Kavanaugh certified. Lets have it ... good or bad.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6dc04b3127cce9733f897dabd00000016100Aas2zhmzZsWMg

If you are going to be euthanizing the jeep, you might want something heavier. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Looks good on the outside, but what's inside? Spares and specs lists?

I'm looking at an Outback as my next rig becuase it's big enough for me to sleep in the back, and still have room for four REAL spares, a fiver each of gas and water, my milk crate of car stuff, and BOB with extra bits. Around here, there are a ton of them on the road and not so many in the scrap yard, so they must do well in winter.

I like it, however if I were to have a BOV of this size it would be filled with stuff. How about pulling a small heavy-duty military trailer with most of your BO stuff in it? That way you can set up camp and still have a vehicle to use for a beer run! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Specs: 3" lift with 33" BF Goodrich All terrain (mistake- mud tires next time), 8000 lbs winch, rock climber grill guard, 3/8'" clevises attached to frame. skid plates and differentail guard. Quick release sway bar. it has a 4.0 liter straight 6 with K&N air filter, power aid fuel diffuser (? spelling) and a superchip computer chip. Inside it is more or less stock . I built an overhead console for CB, toggle switches for the lights and an accessory fuse block. It has an Olympic storage rack over the top of the whole thing and (not in picture) 4 off road lights mounted to the rack. I can attach my shovel and axe to the rack and I can throw my extra spare on the top, as well as mountain bikes and "stuff". In the back cargo area I attached cargo tie down straps to the floor and quick release webbing straps to secure stuff to the full roll cage inside (BOB bags don't move". On the back I made a gerry can holder that slides into my receiver hitch. I can carry 3 gerry cans (all locked down with locks and cables) and still tow my jetski or trailer. It has snow chains for all 4 wheels and I carry a 50 caliber ammo box for my "possibles" box. I have my medic bag in there, winch controls, tools, extra clevises, electrical repair stuff and some para-cord.

All in all, I am now broke greasey and confused as to who the lady that keeps coming out yelling at me to stop spending all my time and money on the thing. (secretly she really likes it). Its fun and the infinite possibilies of customizing it makes it mine. Not going to try to change your mind about the outback - but take a hard look at how much you are able to "do" to it and what you want it to do.

As far as winter driving - it has a LOT of power. If you are not aware of how you are driving, it will change directions on you - quick! I was able to go places that a Landrover was not - just because of the weight factor. With everything on it, it weighs in at just over 4000 lbs. Personal opinion - the things are almost bullet proof.

Forgive me for going on about it - I am proud of it. A lot of work and personality went into building it. Thanks for looking and asking.
<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'd say you are set up to get out of dodge.

Jim,

Do you know Jeep is putting out a 4-door Wrangler later this year? I really like it and may buy one. I am due for a new vehicle and I was thinking of getting a Jeep Liberty but the 2007 4-door Wrangler looks much better!

Here is a link:
http://www.jeep.com/en/07wranglerunlimited/index.html

Reminds me of a cross between a jeep and a hummer. I like it!

Jim,

Our family is facing the same situation. Our 11 year old twins moved from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. We now have 3 boys that are into camping and when my wife and I want to go with we have a very hard time getting all the camping gear and the five of us into her Honda Odyssey let alone a Jeep.

I have been thinking that maybe we should get a small cargo trailer. We could leave most of our camping gear in there all the time. That would free up the interior of the vehicle for people comfort instead of having gear crammed around people's feet like we do now.

I am thinking of getting a 2007 4-door Jeep Wrangler but it would not have enough cargo capacity for the five of us to go camping. I would have to get something like a Chevy Suburban to carry all our stuff. I don't want to drive one of those to work everyday!

If I really have to Bug out I'm taking one of these:



Forget traffic, I'll just ride right over ya. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I test drove one of the jeep liberties and didn't care for it. It was nothing that I could put my finger on just didn't want to buy it. I did, however, end up buying a Ford Escape for the wife. Love that vehicle. It was a reasonable price and had all the whistles and bells that she wanted. It also gets great fuel mileage. We took it out in the snow and it performed GREAT!!!. The tires are not as agressive as they should be for hard playing, but that is not why we bought the SUV. Take a look at it, maybe it will serve you purposes. I looked at the Xtrera and it was a close second choice. It was about $3000.00 more and had less options. It was a good vehicle though.

I cant afford the fuel of the suberbans or Yucons etc... for the 1 or 2 times that I will be going into the hills a month. Plenty of space, if you can afford to get all that stuff up to the hills in the first place.

I like your idea of a trailer. I have a Lowes special trailer (4x8 flat bed with a ramp). If I need more room then the escape and the jeep, I hook up. Problem being is that it is not enclosed. Anything on it WILL be wet, dirty, muddy etc...

On E-Bay they have a few Bantam trailers made for the jeeps in WW II. They are tough as nails if rust and previous owners have not taken too much of a toll on them.