Let's discuss this truck-now discussing a different truck, see page 2.

[JMO413]

5 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Lol that’s fair and I understand. The XJ is practically the same way. 

The XJ never seemed off to me. It's mostly centered in the panel.

 

I'm surprised how much I like it with the quarter trimmed.

[Jesse J]

I really like the chopped flare as well. a lot actually

[89 MJ]

Well, it looks like I will be able to go look and (and buy to be honest) that truck tomorrow. I have been told it has a little bit of damage on the left side, but the owner has the parts to fix it, the striker was damaged too (as it was on my formerly white, now blue, truck), and it does have some rust in the floors.

 

Question is, what do I do with it? I would still feel bad about driving a nice, solid bed in the salt, but I will probably rust proof it first.

[BeatCJ]

Pah. Drive it. Other than to a bunch (truly, only a relative few) of people that cherish them, it's just a truck.

 

If you have a blue sky day truck, no reason NOT to have a DD truck.

[Pete M]

you shouldn't have any trouble at all selling that bed to someone doing a resto and then getting a lesser one for your daily.   

[Jesse J]

I wouldn't worry about it they where meant to be driven. sell the nice one for some cash and buy a worse bed rust proof the crap out of it 

[89 MJ]

21 minutes ago, BeatCJ said:

Pah. Drive it. Other than to a bunch (truly, only a relative few) of people that cherish them, it's just a truck.

 

If you have a blue sky day truck, no reason NOT to have a DD truck.

That is what I plan to do, but I cannot say for 100% certainty, because I haven't seen the truck yet. If 1 MJ is great, 2 must be better!

 

16 minutes ago, Pete M said:

you shouldn't have any trouble at all selling that bed to someone doing a resto and then getting a lesser one for your daily.   

I am thinking I might sell this bed, but I don't know what I should do to replace it, I don't really want to put rusty parts on, so I might be with a flatbed, but I'm not sure about that look either. I should definitely see if it comes with the original rear flares, that will probably be a large determining factor on what I do with the bed.

 

6 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

I wouldn't worry about it they where meant to be driven. sell the nice one for some cash and buy a worse bed rust proof the crap out of it 

This is what I am leaning towards, but maybe I go with some high clearance flares and big tires on it  I need a truck to wheel too.

[Pete M]

oooooo, a flatbed would be super cool!  selling the bed and tails would easily pay for anything needed to fab up a nice bed  

[Jesse J]

1 minute ago, 89 MJ said:

 

 

I am thinking I might sell this bed, but I don't know what I should do to replace it, I don't really want to put rusty parts on, so I might be with a flatbed, but I'm not sure about that look either. I should definitely see if it comes with the original rear flares, that will probably be a large determining factor on what I do with the bed.

 

This is what I am leaning towards, but maybe I go with some high clearance flares and big tires on it  I need a truck to wheel too.

big wheels will be really cool as would a flat bed (I would love to see it with one) I was under the impression you kinda wanted something a little more practical and tires flares and what not is more money. 

[89 MJ]

5 minutes ago, Pete M said:

oooooo, a flatbed would be super cool!  selling the bed and tails would easily pay for anything needed to fab up a nice bed  

My thoughts exactly, although, I don't know if I would sell the taillights, it never hurt to have an extra set.

7 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

big wheels will be really cool as would a flat bed (I would love to see it with one) I was under the impression you kinda wanted something a little more practical and tires flares and what not is more money. 

Yeah, sometimes my brain is a little richer than my wallet. If I wanted something more practical, I wouldn't be looking at buying a 32 year old truck to drive in the snow.

 

Maybe I could do a stepside too. Here are some different bed ideas I have.

 

1. Ranger stepside bed, looks OK and could probably get done the quickest, but not the most attractive.

 

2. Chevy LUV? bed, looks cool, but finding parts would likely be difficult.

 

3. Flatbed-personally my favorite in this case, I would probably do something similar. I know the picture isn't of an MJ.

[Jesse J]

the ranger and the chevy bed I really don't like. the flat bed looks like its on a taco or a hilux. 

[89 MJ]

2 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

the ranger and the chevy bed I really don't like. the flat bed looks like its on a taco or a hilux. 

I think you are right. The bed would still look pretty cool on an MJ.

[Jesse J]

8 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

I think you are right. The bed would still look pretty cool on an MJ.

oh the bed would look bad @$$ you should totally do it. like pete said selling the bed will get you enough cash to pay someone to make a really nice one

[Pete M]

stepsides = smaller bed

 

flatbed = bigger bed 

[Jesse J]

my vote is flat bed. maybe with some little walls on the side

[89 MJ]

3 minutes ago, Pete M said:

stepsides = smaller bed

 

flatbed = bigger bed 

You bring up a good point like always, I'm just trying to come up with some unique ideas.

 

1 minute ago, Jesse J said:

my vote is flat bed. maybe with some little walls on the side

That's probably what I'd build if I don't use a stock bed.

 

Maybe I should do a military inspired bed...

[Jesse J]

it would also give you the opportunity to get an longer bed a swb.

[89 MJ]

2 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

it would also give you the opportunity to get an longer bed a swb.

That's a good idea, I could definitely stretch the bed a little bit. I also have some spring spacers that I could throw in the front of this thing. Ideas, ideas.

[Jesse J]

1 minute ago, 89 MJ said:

That's a good idea, I could definitely stretch the bed a little bit. I also have some spring spacers that I could throw in the front of this thing. Ideas, ideas.

you could also buy add a leafs or some metric ton springs for a little more carrying capacity that would be cool

 

[89 MJ]

1 minute ago, Jesse J said:

you could also buy add a leafs or some metric ton springs for a little more carrying capacity that would be cool

 

It would. I think I might have some extra leaf springs from when I did my homemade bastard pack for my blue truck. Then it would probably be sitting right around 2 inches of lift overall. That would be pretty good.

[Jesse J]

yeah I'm imagining it stock paint nice diamond plate flat bed. with 35s on a 6 inch lift would be cool 

[89 MJ]

4 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

yeah I'm imagining it stock paint nice diamond plate flat bed. with 35s on a 6 inch lift would be cool 

It certainly would.

[Pete M]

just keep in mind as the gears are turning, the further you get away from stock, the worse the truck is as a daily. 

[89 MJ]

24 minutes ago, Pete M said:

just keep in mind as the gears are turning, the further you get away from stock, the worse the truck is as a daily. 

Ah yes, I do need to remember that I need to be almost responsible.

[BeatCJ]

And IMHO, 35's don't make a good DD on a truck this size. I had them on my '87 F-350, but that had about 3000 more lbs, more wheelbase and width. For a daily, 33x10.50 KOs are good, but 31's are perfect.

 

If you are going to use a non-Comanche Bed, then a Ute style trayback would be my choice. I would probably have less overhang, and the ladder rack is meh, but I think they have a lot of utility and can look pretty decent.

HiLux Ute Trayback.jfif

 

What the heck is a .jfif?

 

The rack on this is actually a canvas canopy kit, and would be cool, but still shows what I mean.