Extended Offroading Tech
- Thread starter expo XJ
- Start date
shady awning
Supplies:
6'x8' silver tarp (7 bucks)
1/2"x10' thin-walled conduit cut to 6' and kryloned black (lowes)
(2)7' expandable tarp poles (Rei)
(6)MSR groundhog aluminum tri-stakes (Rei)
50'x1/8" guyline (rei)
I found this might be good for a short break,but it just doesn't feel like it'll cover much area past a noon sun or having to move the vehicle to adjust for the sun.
I want to be able to walk under the shelter and have part of the jeep covered too, so I picked up a tarp that is 12'z16' so I can cover nearly the entire Cherokee, and have plenty of room to be covered.
As soon as I get the 12'x16' tarp fitted I'll post some pictures of what it came out like.
Supplies:
6'x8' silver tarp (7 bucks)
1/2"x10' thin-walled conduit cut to 6' and kryloned black (lowes)
(2)7' expandable tarp poles (Rei)
(6)MSR groundhog aluminum tri-stakes (Rei)
50'x1/8" guyline (rei)
I found this might be good for a short break,but it just doesn't feel like it'll cover much area past a noon sun or having to move the vehicle to adjust for the sun.
I want to be able to walk under the shelter and have part of the jeep covered too, so I picked up a tarp that is 12'z16' so I can cover nearly the entire Cherokee, and have plenty of room to be covered.
As soon as I get the 12'x16' tarp fitted I'll post some pictures of what it came out like.
Get yourself a tent you can trust to keep you warm, dry and keep the bugs out if you're gonna sleep outdoors.
If you're gonna sleep in the back of the truck have some sort of air mattress. There's an R-value to the air mattress insulating you from below to keep you warmer or cooler, and the bonus of being more comfortable while sleeping (also great in the tents). I use a 2.5" XL sleep mat from Rei that I got on sale.
Good shocks and a decent suspension to help ya get over the twistys.
A set of rock lights for if ya get out to do some night riding and wanna see where you're going
When all else fails have a friend with an excavator pull ya off the obstacle.
It occurred to me after a lot of this and overheating several times
That I should let some heat out.
After doing this mod I found that it did let a lot of heat out, but when it's 125 with the heat index it didn't matter, so I have deduced that the fan clutch is gone. What I'm doing now is a: water pump, a radiator, thermostat, and an electric triple fan conversion. There's not much worse than being stuck anywhere with the tide coming in and being unable to move your vehicle, so I'm going to try to prevent that from ever happening.
The awning worked great by the way, I had another size that was 12'x16' and it covered the whole vehicle and extended out a good ways for cover.
Oh and don't forget a charcoal grill for dinners, and a way to make hot tea or coffee in the morning.
That I should let some heat out.
After doing this mod I found that it did let a lot of heat out, but when it's 125 with the heat index it didn't matter, so I have deduced that the fan clutch is gone. What I'm doing now is a: water pump, a radiator, thermostat, and an electric triple fan conversion. There's not much worse than being stuck anywhere with the tide coming in and being unable to move your vehicle, so I'm going to try to prevent that from ever happening.
The awning worked great by the way, I had another size that was 12'x16' and it covered the whole vehicle and extended out a good ways for cover.
Oh and don't forget a charcoal grill for dinners, and a way to make hot tea or coffee in the morning.
SO after the vents did help vent some heat but still had the overheating issue I decided to go with dirtboundoffroad's electric triple fan conversion.
I also picked up a new water pump to go with it
After this I plan on a two row full aluminum radiator and new hoses, particularly a lower hose with a spring inside to keep the hose from collapsing and overheating the engine.
In addition to the triple fan I plan on doing a zirgo digital fan controller
I also can recommend a UTV cargo web cargo net works great in the back of an XJ to hold stuff in place
I also picked up a new water pump to go with it
After this I plan on a two row full aluminum radiator and new hoses, particularly a lower hose with a spring inside to keep the hose from collapsing and overheating the engine.
In addition to the triple fan I plan on doing a zirgo digital fan controller
I also can recommend a UTV cargo web cargo net works great in the back of an XJ to hold stuff in place
Reid
Hasnt Seen Dirt in Years
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Location
- Winston Salem
Keep this in your glove box. (unless you can fit YourHotDogGuy in there)
Jim Allen's 4wheeler's Bible. $20.00
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Wheelers...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314816170&sr=1-1
Jim Allen's 4wheeler's Bible. $20.00
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Wheelers...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314816170&sr=1-1
quest for the cooler running trail/ desert/beach XJ
Test Fit number one:
The components used:
Clearances with mechanical fan removed:
The bolts from the mechanical fan that replace the studs are 5/16-24 (3/4" long) from what I read around 20ftlbs torque on em:
Test Fit number one:
The components used:
Clearances with mechanical fan removed:
The bolts from the mechanical fan that replace the studs are 5/16-24 (3/4" long) from what I read around 20ftlbs torque on em:
Reid
Hasnt Seen Dirt in Years
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2005
- Location
- Winston Salem
all of the above. its the next best thing to wheeling with yourhotdogguy!
if you have never been offroad before, and you were gonna set out on a trip accross africa....take this book.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/four-wheelers-bible-jim-allen/1102559909?cnd=6&ean=9780760335307
i just ordered a copy for $11.00 including shipping.
are you a student or professor at nc state?
take water! I usually bring a cooler and freeze a few nalgenes the night before instead of using ice because it's less of a mess to deal with. Stays cold and always good. I always bring a big ass thing of home made trailmix, because that's always helpful as well.
As far as tech is concerned, an air compressor never hurts, especially with an impact wrench, tire inflator and air gun to blow stuff off.
take water! I usually bring a cooler and freeze a few nalgenes the night before instead of using ice because it's less of a mess to deal with. Stays cold and always good. I always bring a big ass thing of home made trailmix, because that's always helpful as well.
As far as tech is concerned, an air compressor never hurts, especially with an impact wrench, tire inflator and air gun to blow stuff off.
Fan conversion update: I anticipate an increase in MPG as I felt a slight increase in HP.
The fans don't draw as much air as I'd hoped, but it does keep the vehicle at 210. I wired two fans on a switch that operates off a fused battery line, and the third fan is run off a fused line off the original electric fan circuit.
May look into another type of 10"fan later. need more than an 80 watt fan I believe to get the draw I want.
The fans don't draw as much air as I'd hoped, but it does keep the vehicle at 210. I wired two fans on a switch that operates off a fused battery line, and the third fan is run off a fused line off the original electric fan circuit.
May look into another type of 10"fan later. need more than an 80 watt fan I believe to get the draw I want.
Update on the electric fan conversion: I didn't get much over a single MPG benefit onroad. The intake was replaced by an AFE cold air intake, and it makes great noise without providing any gain in MPG. I still have yet to take the Jeep on a HW only run to test MPG on the HW. Cannot say these are any benefit for camping at all with extended wheeling