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View Full Version : 37" spare in a Cherokee, and some other stuff-


IXNAYXJ
08-30-2009, 08:35 AM
It can be done; the load floor of an XJ to the ceiling is exactly 36.63"...it took some shoving and zero air pressure to make it fit. I spent the week on the Rubicon with a buddy; the rig weighed in at 5000 lbs without us in it and made it the 2000 miles round trip with only a few hickups (toasted O2 sensor, air filter, etc). I'm amazed at what XJs can do...they never cease to amaze me.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/109.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n265/comanchekid/rubicon%20trip/IMGP0594.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/_DSC0390.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/428.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/203.jpg

After fixing the O2 sensor, hitting the throttle body with some carb cleaner, and replacing the air filter, I got 15 mpg. Not too shabby considering the terrain I was covering on the way home, from Nor Cal to Seattle through the Siskiyou Mountains.

On a personal note, here I am using my Father's Coleman stove on the second anniversary of his death. He found this exact same stove abandoned at the enterance to the Rubicon Trial in 1972, driving his Toyota FJ55. He never ventured past the Gate Keeper, but the stove has served our family admirably and without fail for 35 years. Note the JPFreek T-Shirt. ;)

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/002.jpg

-----Matt-----
Root Moose
08-30-2009, 03:25 PM
Funny that. We got our camping stuff out for the first time in eight years a few weeks ago (it was a good trip!).

Sure enough, there was my Dad's old Coleman stove. It was old when I was a kid. We didn't take it though. We used to always take our MSR Dragonfly before kids but figured that now that we have kids we'd better get a new Coleman since Dad's was pretty ratty and we'd likely need two burners. Now I feel a guilty and stuff for not fixing Dad's up again. LOL

FWIW, I really like the new Coleman propane stuff.


Btw, clever using the rear foot well for the tire. :)
mudbutt
08-30-2009, 03:43 PM
Oofta, that's a lot of junk in the trunk....

Looks like fun.
ExpoMike
08-31-2009, 02:26 AM
Nice pics. Love the one you dropping down and lifting the rear tire. :D
whitecon
08-31-2009, 03:52 PM
Thats a cool looking rig. I like your cage set up:Wow1:
XJeeper
08-31-2009, 04:26 PM
Very nice. Can't get enough of them XJs. :victory:
OverlandZJ
08-31-2009, 05:41 PM
Nice pics Matt. Always wanted to run the Con..

Do i spy a short, balding, GI who recently moved east driving your rig in that one shot? :smiley_drive:
IXNAYXJ
08-31-2009, 05:58 PM
Do i spy a short, balding, GI who recently moved east driving your rig in that one shot? :smiley_drive:
Haha, yes you did. He flies back East tomorrow, but it's been a really fun trip for him. Some more:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/246.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/009.jpg

Our high-tech campsite:

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/132.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/129.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/118.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j160/ixnayxj/Rubicon%202009/112.jpg

-----Matt-----
SWbySWesty
08-31-2009, 06:39 PM
beautiful pics! Did you write a trip report in the completed adventures/expedition pages?