Overland Ready

[robert j. yates]

I first showed up here many months ago right when I was begining a build that would transform my Jeep from rockcrawler trailer queen to overland adventure rig. Rockcrawling was getting boring and the yaa-hoo contingent that is the norm on the dry lake bed a Johnson Valley was simply getting to much for me. My wife and I prefer solitude so we decided to procure a trailer and begin a build that would allow us to explore the desert southwest either solo or with a like minded group of folks. My Jeep was already well modified from a strength point of view being that it had to survive the hammers. It has over 20 trips out there along with 2 over the Rubicon, 1 over the Dusy Ershim, and several more in the Table Mesa area of Arizona. What I needed to do was clean up a few up a loose ends, strengthen a few things, change some shock valving and add more power if I was going to be pulling a trailer. Then I had to decide on a trailer.

Anyways....this is kind of my reintroduction to you folks and I hope to now see some of you out on the trails. We are currently in the planning stage for 2 trips....the Mojave Rd from Laughlin to Afton Canyon and a trip into Tuweap from St. George Utah. Anyways...on to the specs.....

1998 Jeep TJ Wrangler and 2007 Horizon E Trailer

Trailer
1400lb GVW
20gal water capacity
3 gallon propane
10 gallon fuel
EZ-Awn 1800 Tent
Engle 45qt fridge freezer on slide
Fiamma Awning
Cook Partner slide out stove
Loc N Roc articulating hitch
Dual Deka Marine batteries with manager and smart charger
4 12v receptacles mounted on trailer
Electric trailer brakes
Aloca 15x8 forged Classic 1 rims w/ Champion C3 beadlock conversion
35x12.50 MTR tires

Jeep
Built 4.0 including Hesco aluiminum head, cam, roller rocker kit, late model manifold swap, Thorley Header....122whp stock and 159whp modified
32RH automatic transmission with separate dual cooler circuit, deep pan, relocated vent
NP231 with Teralo 4:1 conversion, AA HD SYE kit
JE Reel driveshafts
TXT Alumiflex suspension
Edelbrock IAS Extreme Remote shocks
Currie rock ribz
Warrior Corners
ACF gas tank skid
fabricated aluminum belly skid
OR Fab floor mount front sport cage with Rockhard rear crossbar
Warn 9.5XP with Materpull 3/8th line
HP30 front axle with Warn hub conversion chromo axles 4:56 with ARB locker
Stock D44 with Alloy USA chromo axles 4:56 with ARB locker
rear disk conversion from a Grand Cherokee
Vanco Raptor front brake upgrade
Prodigy Trailer Brake controller
hydroboost
Tommy Lee Steering pump and high output box, remote resevoir and cooler
Dual Odyssey PC1200 batteries with Kodiac Industries tray and manager
RH Specialties onboard heat exchanger for portable hot water shower
15x8 Alcoa forged Classic 1 rims with Champion C3 beadlock conversion
35x12.50 MTR's
2 5gal CO2 tanks and 1 ARB on-board compressor
H4 headlight conversion with IPF optics
CB
CD stereo
Mopar sailcloth top
Bestop soft doors, safari bikini and cab tonneau and windbreaker

[CJC99TJ]

Welcome back, Robert!

It was one of your posts on JU that led me to this site. So, thanks!

[DakarTJ]

Nice to see you over here Robert. I have also gotten away from the big rock stuff. I never did it as much as you, but I do find this kind of wheeling more to my wife’s and my liking. Its fun to be out in the middle of nowhere by your self, or with a group that is not all about pounding the h@ll out of my Jeep.

[BigAl]

Welcome back, Robert!

It was one of your posts on JU that led me to this site. So, thanks!

I thought I recognized that screen name but couldn't remember from where. I used to post on JU a lot. Glad to have you here. I like the trailer.

[robert j. yates]

Thanx guys...and yea, I'm done with the big chest thumping world of rock crawling. I never really bought the Jeep for that in the first place...just kinda got caught up in the adrenaline rush of things. Thats all kind of old now and with a new wife, we are more interested in being together out in the wilderness and away for the idiots.

We already did one trip this summer in one of Marios' rentals as mine wasn't built yet. We travelled up the 395 and over the Tioga pass and spent a few days in Yosemite. We then went backout the same way and spent a few more days in the Devils Postpile area outside of Mammoth. The fishing kinda sucked but the hiking was great. So I guess we already have a bit of leg up on the curve for using the trailer.

No. 1...I am glad I got the bigger tent
No. 2...I am glad I built the onboard shower. If momma isn't happy..ain't nobody happy LOL.
No. 3...I am glad I built the motor...the Horizon is heavy and my 3 speed auto isn't the most efficient.

Now I need to ddecide if I want to swap a AW4 into the Jeep and run 4:88's or even 5:13's with a Rubicon front D44 or else leave it be. I average around 10mpg with the trailer so I might just look into a larger tank from Genrite and cal lit good.

[JPFreek1]

Welcome back and congrats on such a cool setup!!!

[svaras]

I first showed up here many months ago right when I was begining a build that would transform my Jeep from rockcrawler trailer queen to overland adventure rig. Rockcrawling was getting boring and the yaa-hoo contingent that is the norm on the dry lake bed a Johnson Valley was simply getting to much for me. My wife and I prefer solitude so we decided to procure a trailer and begin a build that would allow us to explore the desert southwest either solo or with a like minded group of folks. My Jeep was already well modified from a strength point of view being that it had to survive the hammers. It has over 20 trips out there along with 2 over the Rubicon, 1 over the Dusy Ershim, and several more in the Table Mesa area of Arizona. What I needed to do was clean up a few up a loose ends, strengthen a few things, change some shock valving and add more power if I was going to be pulling a trailer. Then I had to decide on a trailer.

Anyways....this is kind of my reintroduction to you folks and I hope to now see some of you out on the trails. We are currently in the planning stage for 2 trips....the Mojave Rd from Laughlin to Afton Canyon and a trip into Tuweap from St. George Utah. Anyways...on to the specs.....

Wow.....this sounds exactly as my history....TJ builted for rockcrawling, got tired about rocks, and now trailer in the back for expeditions.
You can check my rig / trailer in the "Completed Expedition" forum @ CHILEAN north coast.
Congratulation nice rig & trailer.

[datrupr]

Welcome to ExPo!!! Very nice TJ and trailer set up you have.

[Alex]

It's good to hear from you again, Robert!

How is the conversion from trailer queen to trailer tug... any regrets?

[robert j. yates]

It's good to hear from you again, Robert!

How is the conversion from trailer queen to trailer tug... any regrets?

Thanx guys.

Alex....no real regrets just dealing with Jeeps being Jeeps is all.

My Horizon came out a bit heavy which has caused a bit of a cantilever effect on my suspension so I need to deal with that. I am looking at moving my spare to the Horizon with a Hitchgate as well as relocating the battery bank into the main box next to the Engle.

The 3 speed with 4:56 gears in the axles and 35's is also a bit of an issue as gas milage pretty much sucks. I'll probably leave that alone though as the Horizon does allow me to carry 10gallons of fuel.

The other issue is power and frankly, after the engine build, other than putting a supercharger on it or scrapping the motor completely and dropping in a V8 I can't do much more.

I can tell you that I am basically at the point where I don't want to spend anymore money LOL.