ZJ Overland Build

[OIIIIO]

Been lurking here for some time. Thought I would post up my build.

1998 ZJ Laredo with the 5.2.

Picked up a IRO 3.5" lift and some custom bumpers:

Storage build:

I wish the back was a bit deeper for longer drawers...oh well, these do the job:

I had a hard time seeing over the wheel:

Shake down for the lift...Jeep Jamboree:

Finally decided on a Rhino Rack and Tepui tent:

Good shot of the swing-away rear bumper:

Just added some auxiliary lighting...50" light bar and some small led floods.

...still need to wire up the switches and fuse/relay box:

As she sits today:

...soon:

Other mods:

Aluminum radiator, 5.9 hood vents, and a Flowcooler water pump. Added a cheap 12k HF winch.

Next up...

Install Blue Sea ACR, switches, fuse/relay box, and other goodies. Hope you enjoyed the pics.

 

[Gizzard Stone]

I like your drawers. Assume the dog rides on top of them?

-M

 

[OIIIIO]

I like your drawers. Assume the dog rides on top of them?

-M

Not really...we have a cover for the back seat she occupies.

 

[dglenn1960]

Very nice rig

 

[tarditi]

nice build! Is there room for a small gear box between the LED bar and leading edge of the tent?

Consider some rock rails, too

 

[OIIIIO]

nice build! Is there room for a small gear box between the LED bar and leading edge of the tent?

Consider some rock rails, too

Yes. I have about a 20" x 48" space in front of the tent. I can get a Plano Storage Trunk in that spot.

 

[BCobe]

What size are those tires? Good looking ZJ.

 

[Melosrey]

Could you post more info regarding rhino rack and how it mounts up to your ZJ. Pics would be awesome.

 

[OIIIIO]

What size are those tires? Good looking ZJ.

265/75/R16 Duratracs. Seem to be a durable tire. I have the tow package with the 3.73s, and it seems to be OK with that size.

 

[OIIIIO]

Could you post more info regarding rhino rack and how it mounts up to your ZJ. Pics would be awesome.

I yanked the stock rails and put Rhino's RT tracks on...they had to be custom drilled to account for the stock nutserts. The nutserts stick out of the roof about an 1/16" to 1/8"...right around the thickness of the track. I purchase stainless hardware and used the nutserts to hold down the track, but did rivet them at the ends. Some black silicone seals it all up.

Unfortunately, I relied on Rhino to size my tracks, and in hindsight, I wish I had purchased longer tracks. The stock rails length add rigidity to the roof, and mine are just long enough to mount a 76" x 48" Pioneer platform.

I used 2" heavy duty feet and mounted the platform right to the tracks. No cross bars needed...which was nice.

I custom drilled the rails for the RTT to fall between the wider slats in the platform for a nice close fit. I wanted everything to be as low as possible.

 

[Melosrey]

I see, thanks for the info. I was hoping to mount "universal" tracks as well except the Frontrunner variety. Setup looks great, I'd like to sit everything as low as possible as well.

Are you running the g&g bumpers as well? Did they weld/fit fairly easily?

 

[OIIIIO]

I see, thanks for the info. I was hoping to mount "universal" tracks as well except the Frontrunner variety. Setup looks great, I'd like to sit everything as low as possible as well.

Are you running the g&g bumpers as well? Did they weld/fit fairly easily?

Not sure who G&G is...but I purchased the bumper plans from some site and had them built. I would say the front for well. The rear was not easy...the main support plans were too narrow and they had to modified. The corner where the hinge sits is not well supported, so the bumper flexes when I open the swingaway.

 

[OIIIIO]

Decided to work on the dual battery setup and switches for lights. Added several auxillary power outles as well.

Here is a teaser...more pics to come:

 

[OIIIIO]

Picked up an ICOM 2820H for my new mobile setup. Mounting pics coming soon. One question....I need a head unit extension cable...any ideas?

 

[OIIIIO]

Dash pics and dual battery setup:

With tablet for navigation:

I know a lot of ZJ owners have struggled with placing switches here...turns out it is super easy. The plastic Jeep used will bond using Weld-On. Simply bond the panel to the back of the dash piece and you are done.

Note the ACR relay button (red) in the pics above...here is the setup it controls:

All of the battery cable is 2 AWG, and is fused between the main battery-ACR, ACR-house, house-fuse/relay box, and accessories.

It all sits behind the seats in a "cubby" I built into the rear of my drawers:

Everything wires to distribution strip: