Pete M Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 so my uncle says he'd like me to build him a hunting rig. this is still hypothetical since no cherokee has been acquired and I'm in no position to start such a project. but of course that hasn't stopped me from thinking about it. :D he wants something nimble, reliable, and effective at hunting-rig duty. manual windows, no carpeting, very, very basic. I imagine some roll-on bedliner is in the floor's future. he's already said he'd be willing to splurge on some new dana 44s with lockers, so I don't have to worry about building up the 30. I'm thinking on building around a set of 34x10.5 LTB swampers. they are tall, aggressive, tough, and yet thin enough to keep the rig from getting too wide (my 14" wide boggers like to catch on trees). a 4.5" lift should accommodate them after the proper bumpstopping and trimming. I want to keep the COG low and was even thinking about 3", but that might not be worth while. long-arms would be nice, but we'll see. I'd like to integrate the roof rack with a roof edge bar and some a-pillar and d-pillar protection. kinda like a rollcage, but made with smaller tubing and a lot less of it. if he has a serious roll, the XJ is toast and the parts will get moved to another, but the added steel should help with structural integrity and protect his noggin, but more likely, it'll deflect minor impacts with trees and what-not. plus I can build some ladders into the design. I just don't want the all-out rollcage with the all that top-end weight. I'd rather have nothing than a full cage for a hunting rig. The rocker guards need to stick out far enough to be a step, and I'd like to make flares out of tubing and connect them to the bumpers and rocker guards. with the extra weight I was thinking of building the leafpacks out of Dakota leafs. more carrying capacity and longer so I can hack off the old mounts and build a new rear mount integral into the bumper. still open on the bumpers. tube, flat steel, box steel, I dunno. but there will be a winch up front for sure. some pics I've found that should help visualize my thoughts: 34 ltb on 4.5" lift (can't find any more images of this particular ride and yes I see the image is backwards) with some scribbles and doodles: (the little line at the bottom of the dash is a short step, something I've always wanted right there) I like how this guy made his front flare out of the tube and it rolls right into the rocker guards (which stick out enough to use as steps) this is where I want the spare to go. right behind the drivers head and high enough that I can fit a removable rack underneath (for hauling dead things outside of the rig). the tire carrier and rack would both swing out together. The pivot point will need to be substantial. my uncle has taken some huuuuuge elk before. I like how this guy has roll out and fold down tables. very camp-functional. thoughts and pics of your thoughts are most welcome. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hunting rigs, I thought, have been pretty much just beaters. I know you are probably excited about it, but why couldn't you just find a Cherokee with a 4.0L, AW4, 231, manual everything, vinyl floor, and a 8.25? The axles could handle 31's, 33's with a light foot, and fit under a 3" lift with some beating/trimming. Put some rocker guards on it so it can belly drag and have a couple good high lift points... Maybe some bumpers if he's feeling spritely... But a hitch at the least for a recovery point. Other than that, the occasional rock bump or tree scrape on the body will be a moot point, and the XJ can easily be replaced in the event of something major without a ton of time into it. Rob :dunno: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 ^This... minus the lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 mostly because it's not my rig. he wants something simple, but nice. think of it more as an "excursion rig" rather than a hunting rig. this jeep will be trailered to colorado, montana, texas... wherever. doesn't need to be highway capable, but street legal. he seems to have money to burn on projects. you should be around for our continuing debate about a complete engine rebuild vs. finding an XJ with a purring engine and just leaving it alone. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I like it. I personally would find a way to seal out/block off the rear side windows. This will keep nosey people from looking into the vehicle (and possibly getting sticky-fingered ideas about the long-guns) and give one a bit of privacy while sleeping in the vehicle (sleeping bag on top of the storage boxes). Kind of like the XJ's Brits use as cargo vans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I think a Cheromanche would be better suited. That way the kill stays in the bed. Deer hair and blood stink and is hell to get out of the interior. I would build it like this, BB, 33/10.50s, full skids and sliders, rear hitch, front bumper and winch. I would make a gun storage compartment under the rear seat also. Done, it's a hunting rig needs nothing else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 I like your ideas Pete. I might add a front hitch too and a receiver winch. Or at least a little movable 1-2000 lb which for hauling elk or whatever. Maybe you can make it hook onto tow points front and rear with convenient electrical hookups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 A buddy and I recently built his hunting rig. Its a 95' with a 4" lift, 32" mud tires, 8.8 LSD and 4.10s, Nate's front and rear bumpers with recievers for a cradle winch. The roof basket is a Walmart version with some selective supportive welding/bracing with an extra roof slider for support in the middle of the basket. For carrying deer he made a cargo carrier which slides in the rear reciever. A truly offensive LED light bar is on top. Its got a lot of little touches. He also uses it to tow his duck boat. I like what he did with the carpet, just rip out the rear cargo area. Keep the front carpet it, helps keep the Jeep warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 I was debating the removable winch idea, but couldn't figure out how it would work with the cargo rack out back. although the rack will be removable so that really might be a moot point. Adding in a small ATV winch to the back sounds intriguing. that could make for a useful tool. maybe both winches would make use of the same receiver attachment points and wires to give more options... :dunno: hadn't thought about the heat aspect. would help keep out the exhaust heat in the summer too. does anyone sell a plain-jane vinyl floor mat these days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Specifically for XJ's? Not that I know of. You COULD do what I did in my K5 and just use a rubber stable mat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 RockAuto has vinyl "carpets" listed for the 96-down XJ, but not for the '97+. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Quick question: Why not a FSJ Waggy? It comes with dual 44's, has a ton more space than a XJ, can fit 34's with almost no lift, and if you get a 4.2 powered one, a 4.0 swap would be cake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 pretty much the same reason he eliminated a lot of the other possibilities (rangers, explorers, etc). he's looking for something small and nimble. plus parts are still easy to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Ah. Yes. The small, nimble part isn't the FSJ's strong suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 more pics I've found while looking for ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 A Comanche with a contractor's rack would be cool too. You could use the rack to mount a rooftop tent and have the bed for cargo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 definitely want wraparound bumpers/ still not sure if I'd prefer the prerunner style or more like the ARB bumper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Seat warmers Pete! Seat warmers are a must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 I'll add that to the list. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 been thinking about this more and have pretty much decided that the mopar JK Rubicon axles will give the best bang for the buck. I wanted gears deeper than 4.10s, but that's all my 88 has and it gets around just fine. leaning towards the TNT truss (which contains all the necessary control arm/shock/coil mounts) rather than adapting the original stuff or welding on a mutipeice kit. still not sure which control arms to use. I want to do long arms, though the TNT kit says it doesn't work with Y-link style control arms. this choice might wait 'til I get a firm budget number. going short-arm would be a way to shave a good amount of dough off the bottom line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 WJ on JK rubicon 44s with WJ wheels. not that wide at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Full width trusses and inner C gussets are a must with JK axles. 65" width with 25" wall tubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 ouch! do you know what caused that particular incident? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 and would that happen to be an '07 axle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Looks like someone had too much RedBull and then an Icharus moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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