My K9 SAR JKU 2.8 CRD

Norbullitt

New member
Hi

Yesterday I picked up my very first Jeep.
Its a 2013 JKU Sahara with the 2.8 diesel,
the engine that most european Wranglers have.





Also, since I am located in Norway, the car is a bit different.
The import taxes on cars here is quite extreme. But cars classified
as cargo vans are excempt from taxes. To qualify as s cargo van,
there need to be a certain amount of cargo space. A divider between
the cargo area and passenger area, and they can have a maximum of 3 seats.

Alot of cars including most Wranglers get converted before import to meet these requirements.
So the rear seats are removed, and a cargo barrier is installed behind the front seats:



I have owned many cars over the years including some odd ones,
but the Wrangler is still completely different from anything else I have owned.

I only had a short test drive in it. And when I picked it up, I wasnt quite
sure I had made the right choice. But now its quickly growing on me,
and Im starting to love it.


It will serve as my daily driver, a fun project car, and dog hauler.
I am heavily involved with voulenteer K9 search and rescue work.
So I need room for my two dogs in the back, and lots of dog training gear, SAR equipment,
extra clothing and so on.

The first thing I did was to put the logo of my SAR organization on the rear windows.



Then the stupid subwoofer went out, so I got room for my dog cage.
Will get a side panel without subwoofer later.



I also made a small shelf between the dog cage and cargo barrier:



This is all temporary and I do hate rush jobs.
But tomorrow Im leaving for 10 days of rescue dog camp.
Will plan and build a proper storage solution later...
 
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Norbullitt

New member
I would love to have a diesel motor. What other plans do you have for it?

The plans so far are mainly related to storage. The interior is a lot smaller than my previous car,
so I need to maximize it. Most likely I will build a raised floor.
Would also like a fold down tailgate Molle panel.

In the front I will build/buy mounting brackets for my GPS, VHF radio and phone.
The car also came with the ARB mirror and reversing camera package.
Will get the trailer camera kit as well for my small caravan.

Im also planning some lighting upgrades.
I want some pillar mount VisionX lights.
And also new headlights. Maybe the heated Trucklite LED lights.
Although they are not E-approved. So technically not legal in Europe.

It would be nice with a 2.5" lift and some AT tires.
On my Vanagon Syncro I had BFG AT, and liked them a lot.
But to be fair, Im not really going to offroad it.
So the capabilities of the Wrangler far exceeds what Im going to use it for.
It was a matter of want rather than need :)
 
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Norbullitt

New member
Now I have had the chance to live with the Jeep for a few very busy weeks.
Not many pics I am afraid. But heres one from yesterday, when I stopped and took the dogs for a small hike.

20150415_134710.png_zps676wwou7.jpeg


Hoping I will have the time to build a proper storage solution soon..
 

Omar Brannstrom

Adventurer
Maybe You should ask truck lite about the heated ones, if they are legal, or maybe You have already done that. I mean the unheated are legal for Europe http://www.truck-lite.eu.com/tl27.

Here in Sweden I doubt that even if I put in legal Truck lites, it will probably still not be legal because I can not alter my stock lights to anything else exept new Hella H4 stock lights.
 

Omar Brannstrom

Adventurer
With your Norway configuration, with the rear seat out what payload do You have for your vehicle. I have 545kg in my 2013 unlimited rubicon with the rear seat in here in Sweden. Just wondering if the payload would increase with your configuration.
 

nnnnnate

Adventurer
For mounting your radio, phone and whatnot take a look at what Vector Offroad came up with. Not that you'd order from the US but the threaded posts are already on your JK and you could come up with something without too much trouble I'm sure. I've got one of their bars and really like the convienence of the mount points. I rarely have things mounted to it when I'm driving around town but when I gear up for a trip its super useful and nice to have the stuff out of the way.

EDock-XL-2011-up.jpg
 

Comanche Scott

Expedition Leader
Now I have had the chance to live with the Jeep for a few very busy weeks.
Not many pics I am afraid. But heres one from yesterday, when I stopped and took the dogs for a small hike.

20150415_134710.png_zps676wwou7.jpeg


Hoping I will have the time to build a proper storage solution soon..

I'm looking at two beautiful big woofers right next to the vehicle. No need for a sub-woofer, unless you just really want a lapdog while you drive... :D

Check out psychosquirrel's box. If you can get it to Norway at a reasonable price, it would provide an awesome storage solution that would work with the crates.
I'll see if I can find the link to it, and post it up here.

Here is a link to his web page:
http://www.grenadeacorp.com/

And Northridge 4x4 is selling them.
http://www.northridge4x4.com/interior/grenadeacorp-jku-2007-15-sub-roof-concealed-locking-storage-system?

Some information from when he was designing the prototype is here, starting at post #117
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/136194-Lets-see-cargo-area-storage-mods/page12

Hope this helps!
 
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Norbullitt

New member
Maybe You should ask truck lite about the heated ones, if they are legal, or maybe You have already done that. I mean the unheated are legal for Europe http://www.truck-lite.eu.com/tl27.

Here in Sweden I doubt that even if I put in legal Truck lites, it will probably still not be legal because I can not alter my stock lights to anything else exept new Hella H4 stock lights.

THanks will look into that. Did not know they made ECE marked versions.


With your Norway configuration, with the rear seat out what payload do You have for your vehicle. I have 545kg in my 2013 unlimited rubicon with the rear seat in here in Sweden. Just wondering if the payload would increase with your configuration.

The payload is actually lower, at 505 kg. Dont know why, but we do have some strange regulations for calculating payload.

I'm looking at two beautiful big woofers right next to the vehicle. No need for a sub-woofer, unless you just really want a lapdog while you drive... :D

Check out psychosquirrel's box. If you can get it to Norway at a reasonable price, it would provide an awesome storage solution that would work with the crates.
I'll see if I can find the link to it, and post it up here.

Here is a link to his web page:
http://www.grenadeacorp.com/

And Northridge 4x4 is selling them.
http://www.northridge4x4.com/interior/grenadeacorp-jku-2007-15-sub-roof-concealed-locking-storage-system?

Some information from when he was designing the prototype is here, starting at post #117
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/136194-Lets-see-cargo-area-storage-mods/page12

Hope this helps!

Thank you. Psychosquirrel's box would be great for my needs.
However the crossbar for the rollbar is altered on my car due to the van conversion.
It is raised slightly and is a square piece of steel, rather than round.
Dont know if it still would be possible to attach the box to it...
 

Comanche Scott

Expedition Leader
Might check with a local fabrication shop to see what they could do to build something similar that would fit your Jeep, or modify the brackets on this.
 

Norbullitt

New member
Havent posted in a while, as I have been super busy with..well life.
Since my last post I have....



Been on many small trips in the woods...



Been hauling lumber...



Started building a storage platform. Still work in progress...



Gotten stuck...



Mounted a VHF radio



And a antenna mount. Its all still in a test phase...



Mounted window visors...



And today; gotten rid of the 1970's in the dash and replaced it with this...
 

Norbullitt

New member
Went on a small mountain trip 2 weeks ago...

20150613_073902_zpswu67nuhj.jpg


Great scenery



Reindeer rush hour



Snow in June. Much to the amusement of the dogs



Spot the Jeep
 

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