After using and living with my LJ the last three years I’ve found that I use it mainly as an off road taxi. It gets myself and a friend down a Jeep trail or Forrest Service road that leads us into an area where we can day hike and look for Indian ruins. The Jeep often gets left at a trail head or back in the brush where we begin our off trail hikes.
I was looking to build something that provides some out of sight storage for all the normal off road gear I take on these trips. I’m hoping for “outta sight, outta mind”. In the past I’ve just had various bags or cases tie down in back.
I also wanted to build something somewhat modular that could be configured different ways.
This picture shows the base board that I started with.
The rear seat, seat brackets, and center seat belts have been removed. The board has 1” spacers on the bottom side that fills in these areas and allows the board to just barely rest on the carpet. I used the factory threaded inserts for all the mounting bolts, (a total of 7 fasteners) so no new holes needed to be drilled in the tub. The rear seat can be easily reinstalled if necessary. There are tie down tracks mounted up front to allow for tying down a duffle bag or whatever and also to provide a good base for the mounting bolts.
In the above pic you can also see the cargo basket set up that I built. This basket has proven to be very handy on longer trips.
Details can be found here:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/custom-cargo-basket-storage.8648/
These pictures show the drawer and box that I built to provide the storage. You can also see the tie down loops on the side of the box that will allow boxes etc to be tied on the top during camping trips. These loops can be installed in 5 or 6 different locations along the side.
I didn’t use a locking latch because the tailgate provides the only real security in that you’d have to get the gate open in order to open the drawer. The center divider in the drawer is fixed to add strength but the rear divider is adjustable or removable.
Here is my fridge slide mounted just in case I want to take my Engle on a multi day camping trip.
I’m already thinking about adding a holder for either my 2 1/2 or 5 gallon MWC. I may also add some 1” holes in various places that would allow me to thread some roller cam straps under the base board to tie down other things if the fridge slide wasn’t used.
I’m trying for an adaptable set up. Time will tell.
I was looking to build something that provides some out of sight storage for all the normal off road gear I take on these trips. I’m hoping for “outta sight, outta mind”. In the past I’ve just had various bags or cases tie down in back.
I also wanted to build something somewhat modular that could be configured different ways.
This picture shows the base board that I started with.
The rear seat, seat brackets, and center seat belts have been removed. The board has 1” spacers on the bottom side that fills in these areas and allows the board to just barely rest on the carpet. I used the factory threaded inserts for all the mounting bolts, (a total of 7 fasteners) so no new holes needed to be drilled in the tub. The rear seat can be easily reinstalled if necessary. There are tie down tracks mounted up front to allow for tying down a duffle bag or whatever and also to provide a good base for the mounting bolts.
In the above pic you can also see the cargo basket set up that I built. This basket has proven to be very handy on longer trips.
Details can be found here:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/custom-cargo-basket-storage.8648/
These pictures show the drawer and box that I built to provide the storage. You can also see the tie down loops on the side of the box that will allow boxes etc to be tied on the top during camping trips. These loops can be installed in 5 or 6 different locations along the side.
I didn’t use a locking latch because the tailgate provides the only real security in that you’d have to get the gate open in order to open the drawer. The center divider in the drawer is fixed to add strength but the rear divider is adjustable or removable.
Here is my fridge slide mounted just in case I want to take my Engle on a multi day camping trip.
I’m already thinking about adding a holder for either my 2 1/2 or 5 gallon MWC. I may also add some 1” holes in various places that would allow me to thread some roller cam straps under the base board to tie down other things if the fridge slide wasn’t used.
I’m trying for an adaptable set up. Time will tell.
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