TJ wrangler build for overlanding.

TJDon

Wrench guy
Picked up a 2002 Wrangler Sport 195k miles, 4.0ltr 5spd soft top for $4500. The 33" pro-comp tires were pretty wore out, the soft top had seen better days. Also has a 4" lift that i hope to eventually swap out someday. it is a great start and planned in changing out those things anyways.

This Jeep will be built for 3 purposes
1) The obvious, get out and explore
2) My daughter will eventually be driving it to high school in 2 years
3) Great daddy daughter project

Fortunately time is on my side with the build. I've been pretty lucky so far with the upgrades I've been able to source and that's my intention, to keep it a budget build as much as possible.

The Jeep came with the overhead rack when I bought it as the previous owner used the jeep as his hunting rig and as we all know, TJ's are not the friendliest with storage space!

The first thing to tackle was replacing the old worn out tires. The owner of Cloakworks (and a great friend of mine) happen to have 3 BFG KM2 35" tires from a wrecked jeep that he picked up and we're fairly new. And fortunately a local 4wheelparts had a tire sale going on also, so I bought 2 new KM2's for $400. Also sourced a brand new complete soft top for $100 with tinted windows.
My place of work (I am a dealership chrysler dodge jeep technician) had a JK on the showroom floor or sale with a smittybilt RTT and once it was sold about a year ago, the new jeep buyer didn't want the RTT so it was put in the storage room and had been sitting there for about a year. I had asked about it and the sales manager said "make me an offer for it". So, because the challenge for my TJ build is to be as cheap as possible....I offered him $250. He laughed and we eventually agreed on $400. Sweet!

I decided to mount the top in a "north-south" direction that way when deployed, we will have some weather protection while working out of the back of the Jeep.

A few months had gone by with very little work going on with project SHOESTRING, then I get a random message from my great friend Matson with Metalcloak. He asks "did you replace those basic stock bumpers on that Jeep yet?!?!" I laugh and he says "we gotta do something about those, and sponsors front and rear bumpers with tire swing out. HOLY CRAP!!!!! Matson Breakey and all the metalcloak staff are absolutely the best company to work with. Yes, I've been good friends with most of them for quite awhile. But this was over the top awesome and completely unexpected.

My daughter and I installed the bumpers and I just couldn't bring myself to reinstall the ugly sun faded smittybilt 8k winch that looked horrible. I made a call to Cloakworks and he found me a real nice warn 8k winch with synthetic line. The weight difference is crazy from steel line to synthetic. So much lighter!

My daughter and I are excited to get out and make some memories up in the hills and have some fun with friends.

The next project for it will be building storage for the back area and my arb fridge



Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 

TJDon

Wrench guy
Been some good updates with the TJ

As soon as the image upload problem is figured out, I’ll update this post with photos

Finally got to use the Jeep on a camp trip and have a few updates
 

TJDon

Wrench guy
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Installed this cool table for the tailgate. Folds away nice and tight
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Great overnight trip with my daughter. The flood lights work great in their location. Lit up the inside of the jeep well and the ground behind as you can see
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Nice peaceful evening
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Middle Fork Consumnes River camp ground off hwy 88 just before Silver Lake. We were the only ones within eyesight where we were. The river wasnt flowing much, but still a great time. Seen a bob cat and a couple dear
 

TJDon

Wrench guy
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Installed metalcloak rocker guards.
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And Dana 44's almost ready to be installed! Super stoked about this. Getting rid of the 35 and 30 has been a goal. The unpainted diff there is a high pinion 30 that I was going to put in the front. But found a killer deal on a front 44 and it was a no brainer to build that instead. Both are geared with 4.88's that Cloakworks did and both have limited slip lockers. Just waiting on finding axle shafts for the front, then a weekend to get them installed
 
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