More NV2500 Van Episodes

XOR - Xtreme Off-Road Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

Daystar Products International, Inc.
Utility Jug, Cam Can, Triangular, 2.5 gallons, Plastic, Gray, Vented, Each
General Tire
General Tire Grabber X3 37X12.5R17
KMC Wheels
KMC Machete, Machined, Beadlock, 17X9
Optima
Battery, Yellow Top, 12 V, Deep Cycle, 750 Cold Cranking Amps, Top/Side Post, BCI Group 34/78, Each
Rigid Industries
7" Round w/ PWM Adaptors
Artec Industries
Group 34 Optima Battery Mount
Dynatrac
Complete Axle Assembly, Pro Rock 60 FFront, Pro Rock 80 Rear
Edwards Ironworkers
55 TON EDWARDS IRONWORKER with Hydraulic Accessory Pack option; 10 Ton Bender, 15 Ton Horizontal press,Tubing Roller and 40 Ton Shop Press.
ESAB
The Official Welding and Cutting Supplier of Xtreme Off Road, featuring the all-new Rebel 215 Multi-Process Welder
GR8TOPS
LJ XTOP Half Hardtop Kit
Maxxis International
TREPADOR M8060, 40X 13.50-17
Paramount
97-06 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport Front Bumper
Paramount
97-06 Jeep Wrangler TJ Steel Front Fender w/ Flare & Mesh Insert Black
Rigid Industries
E-Series 50 Midnight Edition
RockAuto.com
Aftermarket replacement auto parts for domestic and import vehicles.
Ruffstuff Specialties
Spare Tire Mounting Plate Multi-pattern
Rusty's Off Road
Mastercraft, Sahara, Suspension Seat
Rusty's Off Road
Rustys RX500 Performance Coilover Shock Absorber
Rusty's Off Road
Rustys TJ / LJ Wrangler 4.5 Advanced Kit
Spidertrax
3-1/2" Spider 9 Ultimate Housing
The Industrial Depot
The Industrial Depot - Fasteners, Hardware, and Shop Supplies
Trail Ready
TR Hardrock 024 17x10 Beadlock Wheel, Satin Polish, Red Anodized Beadlock Ring

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> UNLIKE MOST MODERN VANS, OUR NISSAN HAS A FULL FRAME UNDER THE BODY, AND IT'S JUST PERFECT FOR A FOUR BY FOUR CONVERSION. TODAY ON XTREME OFF ROAD OUR NV GETS SOME SERIOUSLY HIGH END AXLES AND STICKY 37 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON HEAVY DUTY BEAD LOCKS. PLUS WE DROP HIGH PERFORMANCE LIGHTING AND MORE INTO OUR JEEP LJ, EVEN BETTER, YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN IT!

(IAN)>> WE'RE GONNA START THINGS OFF TODAY WITH OUR NISSAN NV 2,500 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VAN CONVERSION. NOW MOST OF THESE LARGE WHITE CARGO VANS, YOU SEE THEM BEING DRIVEN AROUND BY TRADES PERSONS IN THE SERVICE

INDUSTRY, TAKING CARE OF THINGS LIKE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, OR EVEN BUILDING A HOUSE OR WORKING ON YOUR PLUMBING.

SO WE THOUGHT WHY NOT BUILD THE ULTIMATE OFF ROAD VERSION OF ONE OF THOSE VANS.

BASICALLY A GO ANYWHERE, DO ANYTHING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CARGO VAN THAT CAN CRAWL OVER ROCKS AND FIX ANY BROKEN RIGS ON THE TRAIL. NOW IT ALL STARTED WITH A POWER PLANT CONVERSION.

THE VEIGHT UNDER THE HOOD OF THE NV 2,500 VAN FROM THE FACTORY IS A GOOD ENGINE, BUT WHAT'S BETTER? WELL A CUMMINS VEIGHT DIESEL FROM THE NEW NISSAN TITAN. SO THE GAS BURNER WAS PULLED OUT OF OUR VAN AND COMPLETE TITAN DRIVETRAIN WAS SLIPPED INTO THE FRAME. MOTOR MOUNTS WERE ADDED TO LOCATE IT UNDER THE HOOD AND NOW WE HAVE A DIESEL POWERED VAN. TODAY WE'RE GONNA CONCENTRATE ON CONVERTING OUR VAN OVER TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AND THE FIRST STEP IN DOING THAT IS

DECIDING WHAT SIZE TIRE WE'RE GONNA INSTALL ON THIS PROJECT. WE DON'T WANT A TIRE THAT IS TOO LARGE OR THE CENTER OF GRAVITY ON OUR VAN WILL GET TOO HIGH, MAKE IT UNSTABLE OFF ROAD.

SO WE'VE DECIDED THAT A 37 INCH TALL TIRE IS THE PERFECT FIT FOR OUR VAN.

NOW A GREAT 37 INCH TALL TIRE IS THE GENERAL GRABBER, AND I

GOT A SET OF THEIR BRAND NEW XTHREE SERIES GRABBERS. NOW THIS IS A MUD TERRAIN TIRE WITH AN AGGRESSIVE OPEN TREAD

DESIGN THAT WILL GIVE US MAXIMUM TRACTION OFF ROAD WITH MUD CLEARING AND STONE EJECTING DESIGN. THE SIDEWALL IS A HIGH VOID SIDEWALL WITH ALTERNATING SCOOPS TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM TRACTION OFF ROAD, AND EVERY TREAD BLOCK IS SIPED TO GIVE THE TIRE EXCELLENT TRACTION ON WET PAVEMENT, AND THE ALTERNATING TREAD BLOCK DESIGN WILL KEEP THE ROAD NOISE TO A MINIMUM. NOW THE GENERAL GRABBER HAS A SERIOUS OFF ROAD RACING HISTORY. SO WE NEED A SET OF WHEELS WITH THAT SAME PEDIGREE. THOSE WHEELS ARE TRAIL READY BEAD LOCKS. THESE TRAIL READY HARD ROCK SERIES 17 BY 10 WHEELS ARE AN EXTREME DUTY BEAD LOCK WHEEL MADE IN THE USA. THEY USE A STATE OF THE ART COUNTER PRESSURE CASTING METHOD AND USE SEQUENTIAL COOLING TO MAKE THEM 50 PERCENT STRONGER THAN TRADITIONAL CAST WHEELS. THE WHEELS, AS WELL AS THE RINGS, CAN BE ORDERED IN MULTIPLE FINISHES INCLUDING ANODIZING OR POWDER COATED. WE OPTED TO HAVE THE WHEELS LEFT WITH A MACHINED FINISH AND THE RINGS DONE IN RED TO MATCH OUR GENERAL GRABBER TIRE.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL RIDE HEIGHT OF THE VAN. THAT BEGINS WITH THE VAN ON THE LIFT AT FULL COMPRESSION

JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TIRES ACTUALLY FIT INTO THE WHEEL WELL. I'LL THEN MARK THE CENTER LINE OF EACH AXLE ON BOTH THE BODY OF THE VAN AND ON THE FRAME.

I'M SHOOTING FOR SIX INCHES OF UP TRAVEL FOR THE SUSPENSION. SO THE VAN IS THEN RAISED AN ADDITIONAL SIX INCHES AND MEASUREMENTS ARE TAKEN. WE NOW KNOW THAT WE NEED TO LIFT THIS VAN SOMEWHERE

BETWEEN FOUR AND SIX INCHES TO GET THE RIDE HEIGHT THAT WE LIKE. NOW I HAD A LOOK AT THIS FRAME AND THE FRAME OF THE TITAN THAT WE PULLED THE MOTOR OUT OF, AND THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR. I COULD PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH GETTING A LIFT KIT FOR A TITAN AND MODIFYING IT TO WORK ON THIS FRAME, BUT WE'D STILL HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM. THE 37 INCH TIRE IS SO LARGE THAT EVEN WITH IT LIFTED IT STARTS TO GET INTO THE BACK OF THE FENDER, AND ON THE VAN THE PROBLEM IS THE FENDER AND THE DOOR ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. SO IF I STARTED TO TRIM HERE I'M GONNA END UP CUTTING INTO THE DOOR. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NOW A BETTER OPTION IS TO JUST GO AHEAD AND DITCH THAT IFS AND REPLACE IT WITH A NICE, BIG SOLID AXLE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THIS RIG. IT'S GONNA BE A LOT STRONGER THAN THAT IFS SUSPENSION, AND IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA LOOK A LOT COOLER. I MEAN NOTHING SCREAMS HARDCORE OFF ROAD QUITE LIKE A

SOLID AXLE SITTING UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF YOUR RIG.

[ hammer tapping ] [ air wrench spinning ]

(IAN)>> WITH ALL THE SUSPENSION OUT OF THE WAY WE CAN NOW PLAN WHAT GETS CUT OFF OF THE FRAME. NOW YOU'D THINK THAT THE EASIEST DECISION TO MAKE IS TO

JUST GO AHEAD AND CUT EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WAY, BUT YOU HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD. THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER THAT RUNS ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRAME AND IS THE FRONT LOWER MOUNT FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, IT'S A PRETTY INTEGRAL PART OF THE CHASSIS. IF I CUT THAT OUT I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY CROSS MEMBERS ON THE FRONT OF THIS TRUCK. SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO FOR NOW IS LEAVE IT IN PLACE. I'LL GET RID OF THE SPRING POCKET AND I'LL GET RID OF THE REAR CROSS MEMBER. THEN I CAN MOCK UP THE AXLE AND SEE IF I HAVE CLEARANCE FOR THE FRONT DIFF, IF IT'LL CLEAR THAT CROSS MEMBER. IF IT DOESN'T, THEN I'LL REMOVE IT BUT I'LL REPLACE IT RIGHT AWAY, BUT FOR NOW I THINK I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO LEAVE IT IN PLACE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, FULLY LOADED AXLE ASSEMBLIES FOR OUR VAN.

(IAN)>> WE HAVE A PLAN, AND IT IS TO CONVERT THE FRONT END OF OUR NISSAN NV 2,500 VAN OVER TO A SOLID AXLE. NOW ALL THE INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION BRACKETRY AND PARTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE FRAME. THE NEXT STEP, WE NEED SOME TYPE OF AXLE, AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT WHY NOT UPGRADE THE REAR AS WELL. INSIDE THIS CRATE ARE TWO CUSTOM AXLE ASSEMBLIES SPECIFIC FOR THIS PROJECT.

THEY ARE A DYNATRACK PRO ROCK 80 REAR AND A DYNATRACK PRO ROCK 60 FRONT. NOW THE DYNATRACK PRO ROCK 80 REAR IS A MASSIVE AXLE ASSEMBLY. IT HAS 11 AND A QUARTER INCH RING GEAR, 40 SPLINE AXLES, AND A TWO INCH PINION. THIS AXLE CAN HANDLE SOME SERIOUS POWER.

THE PRO ROCK 60 FRONT IS JUST AS MUCH BEEF. I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THEM UPGRADE IT TO THE OPTIONAL 40 SPLINE SHAFTS AS WELL, AND BOTH AXLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH ARB AIR LOCKERS. NOW EVEN THOUGH WHEN YOU PULL THE LID OFF THE CRATE THESE AXLES ARE PURE ARC. WHAT TRULY MAKES THEM SPECIAL IS WHAT GOES INSIDE. LIKE ALL DYNATRACK AXLES, OUR PRO ROCK 80 REAR AND PRO ROCK 60 FRONT WERE BUILT IN THE USA AT DYNATRACK'S FACILITY USING THE BEST AVAILABLE PRODUCT. THE PRO ROCK SERIES OF AXLES START WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED HIGH CLEARANCE CENTER SECTION.

NOW THIS ALLOWS ENOUGH ROOM INSIDE THE AXLE FOR LARGER RING GEARS, BUT IT'S SHAPED TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM GROUND CLEARANCE WHEN OFF ROAD. DURING ASSEMBLY ALL OF THE AXLES ARE COMPLETELY PREPPED, FULLY WELDED. THEN THE GEAR SETS AND LOCKERS, ALONG WITH HEAVY DUTY AXLE SHAFTS, ARE ASSEMBLED AND CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES TO ENSURE THAT EACH AXLE IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT AND READY TO HANDLE THE ABUSE OF THE TRAIL.

I'M GONNA START OUR AXLE SWAP AT THE BACK OF THE VAN BECAUSE THAT IS GONNA BE THE EASIEST ONE. THE REAR OF THIS VAN IS GONNA STAY LEAF SPRUNG, AND WITH THE FACTORY AXLE REMOVED, THE PRO ROCK 80 IS MOCKED UP UNDERNEATH USING SOME TEMPORARY LIFT

BLOCKS AND UBOLTS. THESE LIFT BLOCKS ARE THERE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL

LIFT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO GET TO OUR DESIRED RIDE HEIGHT. I'M STARTING WITH THREE INCH BLOCKS. THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BE REPLACED WITH SOME CUSTOM MADE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. NOW I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I'VE GOT GOING ON ON THIS REAR SPRING BUT TRUST ME, THIS IS 100 PERCENT FOR MOCK UP. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, NO ONE HAS EVER DONE THIS YET. I CAN'T JUST CALL UP A SUSPENSION COMPANY AND SAY I NEED SOME FOUR INCH LIFT SPRINGS FOR THE BACK OF AN NV NISSAN VAN. I'M STARTING FROM SCRATCH. SO THIS IS JUST TO GIVE ME AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH

LIFT I'M GOING TO NEED. ONCE I TEST FIT THE TIRES, GET THIS THING DOWN ON THE GROUND, THEN I WILL ACTUALLY PULL THIS SPRING PACK OUT OF THE VAN AND SEND IT OFF TO DEAVER SPRINGS. NOW DEAVER SPECIALIZES IN HARDCORE OFF ROAD SPRINGS. THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON WEST COAST DESERT RACING TRUCKS. SO THEY WILL BUILD ME A CUSTOM SPRING PACK FOR THE BACK OF THIS VAN THAT WILL GIVE THE LIFT THAT I NEED WITHOUT SACRIFICING ANY SUSPENSION MOVEMENT WHEN WE'RE OFF ROAD,

BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE SITTING AT EXACTLY THREE INCHES OF ADDITIONAL HEIGHT. WHAT I'LL DO NOW IS PUT THE TIRES ON, LOWER IT DOWN, AND THEN WE CAN START WORKING ON THE FRONT.

UP FRONT THE AXLE IS PLACED ON STANDS AND THE VAN IS LOWERED DOWN. IT'LL BE TEMPORARILY WELDED TO THE FRAME TO DETERMINE THE RIDE HEIGHT NEEDED.

THIS IS DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE AXLE DOES NOT MOVE DURING THE BUILDING OF OUR CUSTOM SUSPENSION. WHENEVER YOU'RE PERFORMING A SOLID AXLE SWAP ON A VEHICLE, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE HICK UPS ALONG THE WAY CAUSE WHEN YOU REMOVE THE INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S GONNA GET IN THE WAY OF THE AXLE. EVEN MORE SO WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A VEHICLE THAT

IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE TO BEFORE, LIKE OUR NISSAN VAN. ORIGINALLY MY PLAN WAS HOPING THAT I COULD LEAVE THIS FRONT CROSS MEMBER IN PLACE, AND IT DOES CLEAR THE AXLE, BUT YOU

CAN SEE THAT WITH THE TIE ROD INSTALLED ONTO THE AXLE THE STEERING IS GONNA GET INTO THAT CROSS MEMBER. THE AXLE IS SITTING JUST ABOUT AT RIDE HEIGHT RIGHT NOW.

I STILL HAVE FOUR TO SIX INCHES OF UP TRAVEL TO WORK

WITH, AND THERE'S NO ROOM FOR THAT TIE ROD TO CLEAR THAT CROSS MEMBER. NOW I CAN'T JUST CUT IT OUT BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY CROSS MEMBER ON THE FRONT OF THIS FRAME. THE FRAME HORNS WILL ACTUALLY START TO SPREAD.

SO BEFORE I REMOVE IT I NEED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CROSS MEMBER UP FRONT, NOT A BIG DEAL THOUGH.

THAT WILL END UP BEING OUR WINCH MOUNT BEHIND THE BUMPER. WHAT I NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW IS JUST BASICALLY TEST FIT EVERYTHING ELSE IN PLACE. I'M GONNA LOCK THE AXLE TO THE FRAME WITH A PIECE OF SCRAP TUBING LIKE WE NORMALLY DO. THEN I CAN PUT THE TIRE AND WHEEL ONTO THE AXLE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT PLENTY OF CLEARANCE BACK HERE AT THE FENDER.

IF I NEED TO CHEAT THE AXLE FORWARD ANOTHER INCH OR MAYBE TWO INCHES, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT, NOT AFTER I'VE ALREADY GONE AHEAD AND BUILT A BUNCH OF SUSPENSION BRACKETS, BUT YOU CAN SEE WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO CONVERTING THIS NISSAN VAN OVER TO A HARDCORE OFF ROAD RIG. ONCE THE FRAME AND AXLE TUBE ARE PREPPED, SOME INCH AND A HALF TUBING IS WELDED IN PLACE. WITH THE TIRE BOLTED UP IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF CLEARANCE FOR OUR FRONT TIRES.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP OUR GIVEAWAY LJ GETS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE TRAIL.

(IAN)>> JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS TO TAKE CARE OF ON OUR ROCK AUTO DOT COM GIVEAWAY LJ BEFORE IT'S READY TO PULL OUT OF THE SHOP AND HIT THE TRAIL ON AN EPIC WHEELING ADVENTURE. THINGS LIKE OFF ROAD LIGHTING, SOME ACCESSORIES, AND SOME MORE COMFORTABLE SEATS INSIDE OUR HALF CAB. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THIS JEEP HAS UNDERGONE A HUGE TRANSFORMATION. IT STARTED AS A BONE STOCK 2004 JEEP LJ WITH A FOUR LITER HIGH OUTPUT ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT IF XTREME OFF ROAD IS GIVING A JEEP AWAY TO A LUCKY VIEWER IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE PRETTY AWESOME. SO THE FIRST STEP WAS TO DITCH THE STRAIGHT SIX FOR A FIVESEVEN HEMI AND A 545 RFE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

BUMPERS, FENDERS, AND ROCK SLIDERS FROM PARAMOUNT INDUSTRIES WEREN'T THE ONLY BODY MODS TO THIS JEEP. A HALF CAB CONVERSION FROM GREAT TOPS TRANSFORMED THIS JEEP INTO A PICK UP. A CUSTOM LONG ARM SUSPENSION SYSTEM FROM RUSTY'S OFF ROAD, A SET OF SPIDER TRAX NINE INCH AXLE HOUSINGS STUFFED WITH

TRUE HIGH NINE THIRD MEMBERS AND COIL OVERS ALL THE WAY AROUND, ALL ROLLING ON MAXXIS 40 INCH TREPIDOR TIRES AND KMC MACHETE BEAD LOCKS. THE RIGID INDUSTRIES 50 INCH "E" SERIES LIGHT BAR WILL GIVE US TONS OF LIGHT OUT THE FRONT OF OUR JEEP AT NIGHT, BUT I CHOSE THE MIDNIGHT EDITION BAR. NOW THAT HAS A SMOKE COLORED, OR BLACKED OUT, OPTIC INSIDE THE BODY OF THE LIGHT. THAT JUST HELPS TIE ALL THE DESIGN OF THIS JEEP TOGETHER. ALL OF OUR BODY ARMOR IS TEXTURED BLACK POWDER COAT AND THE WINDSHIELD MOUNTS THAT I GOT FROM RIGID INDUSTRIES TO MOUNT THE LIGHT ARE ALSO BLACK POWDER COAT. TIE THAT IN WITH OUR BLACK HALF CAB, AND BY BLACKING OUT THIS LIGHT IT'LL JUST DISAPPEAR DURING THE DAY, BUT WHEN WE NEED ALL THAT LIGHT AT NIGHT IT'S JUST A FLIP OF THE SWITCH AWAY. FOR ON THE ROAD DRIVING I'M ALSO GONNA UPGRADE THE HEADLIGHTS WITH A SET OF RIGID INDUSTRIES LED TRUCK LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THESE DOT COMPLIANT SEVEN INCH ROUND BULBS GIVE YOU ALL THE BENEFIT OF A HIGH WATTAGE LED LIGHT BUT ONLY DRAW ONE POINT EIGHT AMPS. NO PARTS ARE EVER INSTALLED ONTO A HARD CORE OFF ROAD RIG JUST FOR SHOW. EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE, AND THAT INCLUDES THE BATTERY. THERE IS A REASON THAT YOU SEE SO MANY OPTIMA BATTERIES IN HARDCORE OFF ROAD RIGS. THE AGM, OR ABSORBED GLASS MAT, AND SPIRAL CELL TECHNOLOGY PREVENT CELL FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION, AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN OFF ROAD

RIG THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT OF VIBRATION. I LIKE TO USE THE YELLOW TOP BATTERIES BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE WINCHES ON YOUR RIG, YOU TEND TO CYCLE THE BATTERY A LOT MORE, AND BECAUSE THE YELLOW TOP IS A DEEP CYCLE

STYLE BATTERY IT RECOVERS A LOT QUICKER. NOW I'M GONNA SECURE THIS BATTERY INTO OUR JEEP WITH A BATTERY BOX FROM RTECH INDUSTRIES, AND I'M JUST GONNA MOUNT IT IN THE FACTORY LOCATION.

(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, A HAND MADE TIRE CARRIER GIVES OUR JEEP STORAGE SPACE AND STYLE.

(IAN)>> I LIKE JEEP PICK UP TRUCKS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH ROOM IN THE BACK TO CARRY ITEMS EITHER TO THE TRAIL OR WHEN YOU'RE ON THE TRAIL, BUT YOU CAN SEE, WHEN YOU ADD A LARGE ITEM LIKE A FULL SIZED 40 INCH SPARE TIRE YOU QUICKLY RUN OUT OF SPACE. WHERE AM I GONNA PUT THINGS LIKE EXTRA FLUIDS, SPARE PARTS, AND TOOLS? NOW I HAVE A PLAN TO RUN A FULL SIZE SPARE IN THE BACK OF THIS RIG BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE IT FOR THE TRAIL

RIDE I HAVE PLANNED. SO NOW I HAVE TO FIND SPACER FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. THE FLUIDS I HAVE A RATHER UNIQUE PLAN. I'M GONNA USE THESE DAYSTAR CAM CANS.

NOW THESE ARE VERY INTERESTING FLUID CONTAINMENT DEVICE. THEY'RE DESIGNED TO ATTACH DIRECTLY ONTO THE RIG, OR THEY EVEN COME WITH A BRACKET THAT'LL MOUNT THE CAN INSIDE YOUR SPARE TIRE. THEY'RE CALLED CAM CANS BECAUSE THEY LOCK IN PLACE WITH THESE LITTLE CAMS, AND WHEN YOU NEED TO USE IT YOU SIMPLE TWIST THE CAN AND PULL IT OFF THE CENTERING LUG. NOW I'M GONNA MOUNT SOME OF THESE IN THE BED, BUT THE TIRE, WELL YOU CAN SEE JUST STANDING UP EATS UP A LOT OF SPACE, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I'VE GOT A PLAN. USING SOME 120 WALL INCH AND A HALF DOM, I'LL CUT, NOTCH, AND ASSEMBLE WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE A HORIZONTAL SPARE TIRE CARRIER. I'LL TACK THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER ON MY WELDING TABLE TO ENSURE THAT IT STAYS GOOD AND FLAT, ADD AN ACTUAL SPARE TIRE PLATE THAT WE GOT FROM ROUGH STUFF SPECIALTIES, AND ONCE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IS FINISHED WELDED I'LL ADD SOME TABS TO BOLT IT INTO THE TUB. THEN THE TIRE CAN BE DROPPED INTO PLACE. WITH THE SPARE TIRE MOUNTED PERFECTLY FLAT ACROSS EITHER WHEEL WELL, WE HAVE GOOD VISIBILITY OUT OF THE BACK OF THE JEEP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I NOW HAVE ALL THE STORAGE THAT I WANT UNDERNEATH IT FOR THINGS LIKE TOOLS, PARTS, AND FLUIDS. AS FOR THE CAM CANS, I HAVE A RATHER UNIQUE IDEA. I'M GONNA USE THIS UNIVERSAL MOUNTING BRACKET THAT YOU CAN GET FOR THE CAN FROM DAYSTAR, AND I'M GONNA MOUNT TWO CANS ON THE INSIDE OF THE TAILGATE OF THE JEEP. THAT WAY WHEN I NEED THE FLUID I SIMPLY OPEN THE TAILGATE AND THEY'RE RIGHT THERE, BUT WHEN I DON'T I CAN CLOSE THE TAILGATE AND THEY'RE SECURED WHEN WE'RE ON THE TRAIL. THE LAST UPGRADE WE HAVE PLANNED FOR OUR JEEP IS A SET OF MASTERCRAFT SAFETY SUSPENSION SEATS THAT WE GOT FROM RUSTY'S OFF ROAD. NOW THE REASON YOU SEE SO MANY MASTERCRAFT SEATS IN JEEPS IS BECAUSE THEY'RE MADE IT VERY EASY TO SIMPLY REPLACE THE FACTORY SEATS WITH A SET OF TRUE RACE SEATS BY GIVING YOU ALL THE BRACKETS YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO BOLT THEM INTO PLACE. NOW WE'RE USING A COUPLE OF THEIR SAHARA SEATS. NOW THESE ARE A TRUE SUSPENSION SEAT, FULL TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION, AND WHAT'S VERY UNIQUE ABOUT THESE SEATS IS THEY ALSO HAVE A RECLINING BACK ON THEM, AND THAT MEANS THAT WE GET ALL THE COMFORT AND SAFETY BENEFITS OF THE SUSPENSION SEAT BUT WE HAVE THE ADJUSTABLE BACK

FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS.

YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SPEND MANY HOURS IN THIS SEAT ON THE ROAD OR ON THE TRAIL, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS JEEP. WE'RE GONNA BRING A BUNCH OF OUR FRIENDS ALONG ON WHAT WE'RE CALLING AN EPIC WHEELING WEEKEND. WE'LL JOIN UP AND HIT FOUR DIFFERENT OFF ROAD PARKS

COVERING 300 PLUS HIGHWAY MILES AND PROBABLY ABOUT 100 MILES OF DIRT JUST TO SHOW YOU GUYS HOW VERSATILE THIS ROCK AUTO DOT COM GIVEAWAY LJ WILL BE ONCE ONE OF YOU OWNS IT.
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