08April2019
Mid morning dropped the sunroof and drove out to the local Menards. Been kicking around the idea of getting the Skidrow Tonno Prop but hesitant to drill holes if not needed. So as I'm pretty sure I mentioned before, spent the past week plus looking at ideas for a DIY PVC prop to help prevent/reduce water pooling up on the back cover when it rains. I normally throw the cab cover over the TJ if the rear windows are off, but it doesn't play as nice if with the Trektop NX in "safari mode" (ie, sides won't reach the rails on the tub). A Smittybilt C-Res will keep the sides from coming in enough for rain to mostly stay away, but still not the best. Plus with the C-Res I can't use a tonno/duster/deck cover due to the whole needing the same tub rails thing.
So, PVC prop. I can honestly say that for once something went according to plan/easy. Mendards already had five (5) foot sections of PVC in 1/2" diameter that I was looking for. Found four 90* elbows and two "T" connectors, some foam pipe insulation, and I was set. PVC went over the Instatrunk and through the "doggy door" of the windjammer without a hitch, plenty of room for other things I picked up, and back home I went.
Before I got busy I checked how a 5ft section would fit. Answer: not very well to be honest. This was expected as one of the write-ups on a different forum mentioned trial & error size reduction until they hit 58 1/2". So marked that on one of the pipes, cut it down, and found it did indeed fit "just right". Marked another pipe at 24" inches, cut it, had my "sides" to sit on top of the wheel wells. Attached them with a 90* elbow, and test fitted the duster (why does that thing hate the passenger side snap to the windjammer any time I glance at it?), found it fit snug, but not too snug over the prop bow (hereby referred to as just "the bow"). Success
Spending a few minutes looking at the fit, I decided I didn't like that the duster still sagged a bit in the middle. Measured the length of a T-connector, subtracted that from the side piece on top of the wheel well, cut it down, then in half. Attached the two halves to the T-connector, cut another 5ft. length down to 58 1/2", attached that into the T's, and have a nice bow not quite mid way of the duster... right where the water usually pools. Undid things one last time, wrapped the insulation foam around the bows, and buttoned things up again. So far I'm happy with the look, there's enough curve to help prevent water from pooling, but things aren't so tight as to stress any seams.
Here's a quick pick from under the duster, tailgate looking forward in order to give a general idea:
(Gotta' clean my phone's camera lens and try that again, then replace that pic in a few days.)
After a mandatory coffee break (a good Fobbit never lets their mug run dry), I decided to tackle the dreaded door hinge busing replacement. As expected, did
NOT go as easy as the instructions made it seem it would. Either the body portion of the hinge knuckles are wider on top than they are on bottom, or Quadratec's measurements are off for older model TJ's. Short of an optical fibre cam like you see in secret spy movies, nothing I used or could see would suggest I had any residual pieces of the old bushings still in the hinge knuckle. Everything was smooth as a newborn's bottom. Yet the delrin bushings would not go in further than 1/4" or so. No amount of brushing, scraping, or swearing would change that. I honestly spent over an hour on the top and bottom driver side hinges trying to figure out where I could have missed something.
It is possible that I did miss something and just can't see it. I honestly don't know. What I do know is, being me and being stubborn, I decided since I had four bushings I'd sacrifice one for an experiment doing exactly what the instructions say not to do: used a hammer. BTW, do NOT use a hammer trying to fit a delrin bushing. They break.
At this point I did what probably isn't recommended, but I don't care at the moment because it worked. I took spare bushing #2 and fired up the bench grinder. Few passes on the grinder, checked diameter and visible integrity against an uninstalled bushing, few more passes, and viola! Ground bushing required a bit of pressure by hand and slipped right into the hinge knuckle. Repeated with a second bushing, re-installed my door (tight fit if anyone reading this is wondering), forgot to remove the spring holding the dome light switch down, closed door, cursed, removed spring and was happy dent on inside of door didn't get bigger. No, I'm not going to remove the fuse because I actually find the dome light useful at night to remind me if I left a door open.
So I'm making progress. Both on the TJ and with remembering myself (if that makes sense, thank you. If it doesn't, you're fortunate in my book). In about two oddly nice days weather-wise I've been able to knock out more than a few things on my to-do list for when Spring got here. As soon as the adapter nuts arrive I should be able to get the new dome light door switches installed. May swap out the bumper next weekend (supposed to rain/snow Wednesday through Friday and I have a road trip Tuesday until Friday or so). Buddy from work let me know he retrieved an aluminum plate with the dimensions I need for the tailgate MOLLE project, that actually should go quickly since I have things more or less ready to go sans that piece. Next week will be a good test period for how well I like the current wrap-around windjammer and duster combo partnered with the safari top. Never installed any of them this early into the year but after 4+ months of waiting my patience was pretty much shot.
In parting, power company is doing work in my alley this week. I think I should charge them for parking:
I know I said I'd be more than willing to make things as easy for them as possible, but I don't recall any of them mentioning leaving a tiny Deere in my driveway all day. Oh well, maybe it will help keep the white tails away.