combatcamera

I don't. Never did. It was just sort of a comedy of errors it ended up that way.

Thanks for the replies everybody. Just wanted to double check things before getting into it. Hornbrod... Thanks for the link. That's more info about driveshaft geometry specs than I ever knew before. The info from everybody is greatly appreciated.

Hi all.. I've got an '89 Comanche that has been lifted. The truck has a 4.5 inch lift to it, using an add-a-leaf in the rear. In addition to that, the rear has a spring-over-axle conversion. The end result is the rear is about four inches higher than the front. The issue is the truck keeps chewing up U-joints in the driveshaft. A result, I've been told, of the angle of the driveshaft. I'd prefer not to keep replacing U-joints. My inclination is to either remove the add-a-leaf in the rear or simply replace the springs with stock replacements, keeping the spring-over-axle. The question I have is, would this correct the angle issue with the driveshaft? Thanks. Jon

Hi, A few quick questions about things going on my with my '89 Comanche. 1. When running, the voltmeter reads just under 12 volts. Just started doing this recently. The alternator is brand new as is the battery, so I know it's not that. Not a lot to go on, but I'm largely clueless when it comes to electrical items. Any idea where the drain may be? 2. Lke many other Comanches, the floor pans on mine, well, need replacing. I've never welded anything and I don't have a welder anyway. I'm curious if there is anybody in the Maryland area that could help out with welding in floor pans. I'd compensate you for you time of course. Just would prefer doing it this way than taking it in to a body shop of some other similar place. Thanks. Jon

I'm up for it. Been meaning to do some sort of photo essay on off road stuff for awhile now. WOuld be a good time to start. Jon

I'm in Maryland, near D.C. Not really into the whole giant mud puddle thing, but would be up for getting off road and hitting some trails.

Thanks for the comments about the photos. Always good to hear. I've been trying to get out and photograph folks doing their thing out on the trails as well, but no luck as of late. Things haven't been working out schedule-wise. Jon

It's my truck that Pat was building the bumper, and yup, it did indeed take longer than what was originally planned for. But, that's OK. It's solid bumper, and looks pretty good too. The brackets that mount to the frame were pretty much carbon copies of the original bumper mounting brackets. As such, getting them tied into the frame was just a matter of putting the original bolts in and tightening them down. Though, wrestling the completed bumper on there and in place was another matter. I mean, the bumper is built great, it's just a large and bulky item that needs to be shifted around a bunch to get it on and in place. Here are the brackets as mounted to the frame: See, just like from the factory. And you can also see how the brackets are then tied into the bumper itself. Pretty much welded onto a large piece of angle iron, which is then welded to the bumper itself. It's a pretty large hunk of metal that ties the bracket in the bumper itself, so there is a lot of weld surface. Another image of the bracket tie-in. This also shows the clevis mounts and receiver hitch and how they are welded in on the back end as well. Plus, it also serves as a way to share Pat's "pretty" welds, since most of those were on the back of the bumper. But really, I'd much rather have ugly welds that are strong than pretty welds that don't hold up. And one other thing visible here is the custom license plate bracket Pat made. I had just planned on using zip ties to attach said plate to the bumper, but Pat quickly put together this plate bracket that slides into the receiver hitch. Another view of the bracket for the license plate. While it was great that Pat took the time to assemble the bracket, my plan is to figure out a different way to mount the license plate. And, looking back now I think it would have been better to mount the receiver hitch a little closer to flush, or flush with, the bumper itself. But, hmm, whatever, still dig it as it is though. At the time I kept thinking that we had to leave room for the hole the pin goes in that holds the towing ball bracket in place. Didn't occur to me at the time that, well, that hole could be moved etc. Just another view of the bumper. It left Pat's as bare metal, but today, I primered it up and then painted the puppy. Here's what it looks like all painted and on the truck. And just another view of it and the truck. The bumper itself is actually cut to mach a TJ, so it's a few inches shorter than the Comanche. But, I think it still works well and looks nice too. OK, no rear bumper in this photo, but another photo of the truck itself. The above photos show the finished product, below is Pat building it. And really, in his above post where it says "we" built a bumper...well, Pat built it. I just stood around, shot a few photos and tried not to get in the way. Pat welding in part of the bumper. Cleaning the bumper surface to weld in the back part of the receiver. Cutting the angle iron to attach the bumper brackets to the actual bumper. Measuring out placement of the bumper bracket tie-in points. And welding in the tie-in point. Knocking off slag after welding in a clevis mount. Tapering the ends of the bracket tie-in point. See those out of focus black things that look they they don't belong in the image? That's slag that just happened to land on the lens. Cutting off the end caps on t he bumper. Welding the end caps in place. Measuring out placement on the back of the truck. Pat in his workshop. That's it. All in all a good time. And a nice bumper too. I'd buy one from him..oh, wait, yeah, I guess I already did. Hmmm...well, perhaps a front bumper in the future. Anyhow, any questions about metal working or welding, as Pat. I only know how to spell welding.

just a test

Thanks for the reply. I sent you a PM.

Looking for either a rear "offroad" type bumper with a receiver, or a class III trailer hitch for a 1990 Comanche. Haven't had much luck elsewhere, thought I'd try here. Lots of stuff for Cherokees out there, but not so much for the rear part of the Comanche. I'm located in Maryland. Jon