Base Camp

[beardus supremous]

First off I would like to say that this forum is awesome; Alot of great people and amazing trips/ vehicles on here. I have not been into the "overland" game so much as the mudding aspect, but a change was in order. "Mudding" ends up costing too much for so little, and cleaning up afterwards just plain blows. Quick back story, i have owned a 95 Cherokee, a built 79-87 (kind of a bastard truck) Chevy k20 7 inch lift and 36's, a 00 F-350 Powerstroke programmed, and FINALLY sold them and bought a 01 Jeep Cherokee Sport. 4.0, auto, np231, (sadly) dana 30LP and a dana 35. After a long search for a XJ that wasn't corrupted by the salt and calcium from a Maine winter, a friend of mine found a wreck in Boston at an auction. Price was right (shipping ended up being not so right), but it showed up.
sony 199.jpgsony 202.JPGsony 196.jpgsony 036.jpgsony 102.JPG

[beardus supremous]

The body work we knew about from the auction pics, no big deal. However, I ended up having to put in a new transfer case because of the horrible grinding noise from the chain. And on the test drive to the shop it was going down the road a bit sideways. Upon further inspection I got a used leaf spring and threw it in on the drivers side because the eye had been pulled apart from the impact it took. I thought everything was fine and dandy, but had to put in a passenger side leaf spring too because that side had been shortened at the eye. Believe it or not the Jeep had a totalled title. The bodywork was fixed by a friend and rebuilt title in hand. (sorry no pics of this damage) also the pics above were with the side trim removed.

[beardus supremous]

I threw a cheap bumper together from some steel i had around, it didn't last too long but i was getting married to i was not spending too much. I also aquired a cheap roof rack and put some 2x4's on it to carry my boat. The jeep was bought mostly for the purpose of getting out to the fishing spots my bigger pickups couldn't go. c182 169.jpgc182 170.jpgc182 184.jpg

[beardus supremous]

After taken it fishing a couple times, I decided it was time to upgrade to what i really wanted to build. I ordered a Rough Country Series II 3 in AAL and bought a set of Goodyear Wrangler Authority AT's. c182 081.jpgc182 080.jpg

[beardus supremous]

Some things here and there needed to be fixed TPS sensor, front brakes the usual repairs and then once I was caught up on bills, it was time for from real bumpers. So I welded up a rear bumper and tire carrier, a front bumper and some new gutter mounts for the roof rack. c182 320.jpgc182 321.jpgc182 322.jpgc182 331.jpgc182 356.JPGc182 403.JPG

[beardus supremous]

Just a quick pick after a long week i had over the summer at the Katahdin lookout on I-95 coming back from a rafting trip. c182 446.JPG

[beardus supremous]

More pics and fun to come so stay tuned. Pre runner bars on the bumper, milemarker 8000lb winch, another one inch lift, 8.8 swap... shiz getting crazy.

[Black_ZJ]

I am a Maine native and know all too well about the mud and rust, don't miss it all since moving away in 1995. But I do miss some aspects of Maine and most of my family is still there. Can you give me some details on your gun/fishing pole rack? I snapped the end off on one of my rods last year and need good storage rack for them.

[Maine07jk]

Nice set-up. I too live in Maine and have a family camp on Moosehead Lake!

[AMDemon]

what brand rod holders are those?
i really like how they clamp the rof and are not suction cups.