lthixson

Not mine but very cool. Would make a great tow vehicle for an off road Comanche! http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4642632437.html

Started taking the canvas off of the Wildernest, all of the screws that hold the base on had to be removed with an impact driver. I'm going back with stainless steel fasteners after the tent is cleaned. Then I'll use tent tape to patch the rips, seam sealer on the seams and a couple coats of water-repellant. Pics to follow...

Continuing with the "expedition" Comanche. After buying the Wildernest (which i still haven't detailed) I began looking for a parts truck. I ended up finding a long bed in Dallas and I was able to get the fuel system and some other odds and ends off of it. I thought that with a little fabrication I could make the 22 gal tank fit in my short bed...uh, nope! So I ended up using the LWB fuel pump/sending unit, filler neck, straps and gauge but had to buy a new 18 gal tank. The installation was straight forward because it went in the stock location. I capped off the return line and Teed the supply line into the Cherokee vapor line. I installed a momentary switch, adapted the fuel gauge and installed it in my console just in front of the 4WD shifter. The gauge reads about 1/8th of a tank too much, but functions correctly other than that. The pump transfers between 1-2 gallons/minute from the stock Comanche tank into the Cherokee tank. The Cherokee tank supplies the engine. I now have 38 gallons of gas onboard, essentially doubling my range.

I bought a 1988 - 23 gal tank from a JY. I have a '87 SWB. Can I switch everything (pump, sending unit, vents) to a new 18 gal tank?

I got the fuel system off of this truck. It is rust free, 4.0L, 5-speed, 2WD. The long bed is in good shape except for a dent on the RF. Tailgate is good, too. Has the stock cargo light and switch. Has gray bucket seats, center console, sliding rear window and a clock. Good guys to work with.

Okay, let me try this again. My MJ has two gas tanks. An xj tank where the spare was - this supplies fuel to the engine. AND the original MJ tank - It's not being used right now. I want to hook the MJ tank up so that it fills into the neck of the XJ tank (just below the gas cap) using a quick connect. When the xj tank gets low I can switch the MJ fuel pump on to fill the xj tank. The quick connect will stay connected unless I want to fill a portable container. Then I can disconnect it and turn on the MJ fuel pump with a switch, filling the portable container. I'll have two switches for the MJ fuel pump. One in the cab and one by the quick connect. Either will activate the MJ fuel pump independantly of the other. My question is: How many gallons per minute does the MJ fuel pump put out?

I've got an xj fuel tank, located where the spare was, on my 97+ conversion. The filler neck is in the bed, mounted to the side wall. I want to have the original gas tank fill into the xj tank when I flip a switch. Will the stock fuel pump do this in a reasonable amount of time or should I buy a high volume transfer pump? Rather than mess with the xj tank could I have the mj pump fill into the filler hose of the xj tank. I'd like to have some sort of quick connect so that I could fill portable containers from the MJ tank. What do you think?

Couple of pics from our day trip to the Capitan Mountains, north of Roswell, NM. Just a day trip, so we haven't gotten to use the tent yet.

b16gsr & Backdraft. - The top of the camper opens like a clamshell. The top is supported by poles and that becomes the platform where you sleep. It's rated for 500 lbs. When the top is open, the area directly above the pick-up bed is open with about 7' of clearance. There is a zippered canvas "ceiling" that keeps the tent from falling into pick-up bed when everything is closed.

RockMJ- The Wildernest campers are quite rare, especially the 6' models. I used searchtempest.com to search all of the Craigslist ads with 500 miles of me daily. I was willing to travel that far for one if I had to.

Backdraft - No. I was literally there for 5 minutes. Just long enough to get the pics.

The tent went up in about two minutes. Two big rips, half a dozen small holes, missing a couple of support poles and filthy! Looks like a good project.

I found a 6' Wildernest camper in Austin. Called the owner, negotiated a price and headed down. My route took me close to Comanche, Texas. It was only a 30 minute detour and I couldn't resist the photo op! Any way....14 hours, 800 miles and $275 later; I am the proud owner of a more than slightly used Wildernest Camper! It's a little rougher than I would've liked but it came with Thule crossbars and Yakima bike racks, so I guess its a wash. I'll try to get a picture of it set up tomorrow. Then it'll come off the truck for refurbishing. This was the first long distance trip with the MJ and it did great. No mechanical problems and it averaged 17.5 mpg! :cheers:

Installed the limo lights, referenced in other CC posts, in the B-pillars. They, and the cargo light, are activated by a switch on the dash, not when the doors open. Installed neoprene seat covers. Not the best fit, but they are waterproof and similar to Okole for 1/8th of the price.

I've got a line on a 6' Wildernest Camper. The topper looks to be in good shape but the tent has some small holes. dry rot and general mildew. I've never repaired a tent before. Is it worth cleaning/repairing and what is the best way to do it, or should I have a new tent made? If new is the way to go, where is the best place to get it done and what kind of price am I looking at?

Now you're copying me with the Moab wheels! Look forward to the build.

Extremely rare DIESEL Comanche, LWB, 2wd, 5-speed. NO RUST!!! 5K buy it now. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-White-Jeep-Comanche-Long-Box-2-1-Turbo-Diesel-5-Speed-Manual-/140670942993?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item20c0a43f11

Codymanche - It's a Code 3 Excalibur lightbar with takedown lights. I bought mine used. It mounts nicely between the stock roof rack supports on an xj. The third brake light install is pretty straight forward. I copied Backdraft's build. I used a dremel tool with a cutting wheel to make the opening. Trimmed the light base to get the correct angle, and used black gasket maker to seal it in. There is a white and orange wire on the driver's side loom - that is the wire for the brake light. I just T-tapped it. I ran new wire for my interior lights and cargo lights and put a switch on the dash. The lights don't come on when the doors are opened. This mod really updates the exterior of the truck. Third brake light Cargo Light

Backdraft- Yes, this is it. I had to drive to McAllen to get it. 11 hours one way and I never left Texas! I've cleaned it up a bit and fixed a lot of the little stuff that was wrong with it. Plus I added a Ranger third brake/cargo light and sound deadening material under the carpet...Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery... 88mjnc - Actually the XJ is my daily driver. My son owns an Avalanche, which is a little too civilized for the trails!

I am in Lubbock, Texas. My son and I took both of my Jeeps to the Canadian River Basin in Amarillo today. Great family fun!

I have a 98 Cherokee as my DD and love it! I've wanted a Comanche for over a year. I was looking for a SWB that had the 97+ conversion already finished, 4X4 with around 4" of lift, a 4.0L , auto, A/C and little to no rust. There don't seem to be many Comanche enthusiast in Texas so my search took awhile. This is what I found: The truck has the front end, doors, interior and entire drivetrain out of a 2000 Cherokee. The guys that did the conversion didn't swap over the cruise control and the airbag light is on so I assume that they don't work either. :( The interior was slapped together and several interior pieces are missing (including the B-pillar lights), the heater is bypassed, the emergency brake doesn't work, there is no stereo and the passenger window won't roll up/down. The exterior is metalic deep navy (purple) with color matched rhino liner on the Bushwackers, tailgate and sill panels. The PO added custom front and rear bumpers and front skid plate. The driver's side floor pan has been fiberglassed but there is zero rust past that. The inside of the bed is the original white with no rhino liner. The conversion included using the XJ gas tank placed where the spare tire should be. The original tank was removed. The drivetrain has 120k miles on it (judging from the xj odometer) and runs/shifts fine. The rear main has a small leak, the power steering leaks, and the idler pulley squealed like crazy! The truck drives straight with no wobble at all but does ride really rough (because of the SOA conversion, I guess) I intend to fix this up as an expedition type vehicle with dual gas tanks and a Wildernest camper. Here are some pics after I cleaned the Comanchero up and added Moab wheels with 33" Nitto Grapplers. I painted the Bushwakers and sill panels flat black, and rhino lined the bed. I fixed the window, heater, and pulley, added a stereo, B-pillar lights and a 3rd brake/cargo light from a 2000 Ranger. I also added sliders that I found here on the CC forum, and undercoated the truck. If any one knows where I can find a Wildernest camper for a 6' bed, in decent shape, please let me know!

http://amarillo.craigslist.org/cto/2695662430.html

Very similar to yours, Backdraft. Though not quite as nice!

Yep, that's it. But it's mine and you can't have it!

I've got a guy that wants to sell me a 1987 Comanche 4x4, SWB, Fuel Injected 4.0L, Auto, with a 4.5" lift and 33"tires, 3.73 gears, Bushwacker flares, custom front bumper, and sliding rear window. No rust, no wreck damage, some minor leaks, but has a current safety inspection. He has done the 97+ front end and interior conversion (- air bags & cruise). Everything else works including the A/C. He's not sure how many miles are on the truck but thinks that it's over 200K. The paint looks good from 30' but scratches and chips are visible the closer you get. He has a clear title. I haven't seen it in person yet. He says that it starts, drives and stops well. He's asking $4500. Is this a good price? Is there anything else I should ask before I drive 8 hrs to pick it up? Any help is greatly appreciated. 8)