Built a dumb KJ for my woman

[Home_brewd]

Which option is best and why? I have 3 young kids and sometimes my wife needs to get into the back to deal with them. So B seems like it would be better for that but how much integrity would I be sacrificing. Or is there a better option?

 

[YotaAtieToo]

For the type of rig it is, I wouldn't bother.

The x bracing is good for super high speed stuff like desert racing, or keeping its shape with lots of hard rolls like in a hard core crawler. My opinion is that it's not necessary to keep occupants safe.

 

[Home_brewd]

For the type of rig it is, I wouldn't bother.

The x bracing is good for super high speed stuff like desert racing, or keeping its shape with lots of hard rolls like in a hard core crawler. My opinion is that it's not necessary to keep occupants safe.

Honestly was considering that an option as well, considering I haven’t added much weight to it or altered the factory cabin.

 

[Toreadorranger]

Those cross baces on the B pillar are a big factor for cage strength. Id run the A design and pull over to deal with the kids. Don't sacrifice safety for convenience.

 

[alienbiscuits]

Really cool build. Any plans to enclose the fuel tank?

 

[Home_brewd]

Really cool build. Any plans to enclose the fuel tank?

Thanks. Yes, it was temporarily enclosed with wood but I will make a better enclosure once the cage is finished.

 

[Home_brewd]

After starting the X, I loaded all 3 kids in the back and realized there was no way they could all fit comfortably and safely with the full X so this was the compromise. Considering it still retains all the factory safety rollover characteristics and it’s just a secondary wheeler, I think it will be fine.

 

[SHARPMACHINE]

Looks great! :)

 

[Trashman]

Going to go through this thread in detail.

My son decided he would rather drive the P71 than the KJ (cant blame him)

So, gonna play with the KJ a bit.

02, Limited.

I always wanted to build an SAS KJ just to be different.

My boss sold it too me for $1200. Everything works.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Going to go through this thread in detail.

My son decided he would rather drive the P71 than the KJ (cant blame him)

So, gonna play with the KJ a bit.

02, Limited.

I always wanted to build an SAS KJ just to be different.

My boss sold it too me for $1200. Everything works.

You mean, "for your wife"?

 

[Trashman]

You mean, "for your wife"?

....ya....my wife.

 

[ridenby]

Fellow from CO had a real nice sas KJ . He drove it to Black Mt. in 2011 He and alljproducts.com where working on a kit. Do not know what happened with that.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I'd think a kit that uses all JK link mounts would be the way to go. Even a JK D30 would probably be fine in a little liberty on 35-37s.

Btw, our cats name is Liberty and I call her Bert for short. Feel free to use the name

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

I saw OP's KJ in one of the Matts Offroad Recovery youtube videos I watched recently. They were all out on a trail ride somewhere with the group Matt was in but for the life of me I can't remember where. EJS or KOH is what I'm thinking but I'm probably wrong.

 

[u2slow]

I would pull the suspension/axles and plop the whole thing on a 78-79 bronco rolling chassis.

 

[Home_brewd]

Btw, our cats name is Liberty and I call her Bert for short. Feel free to use the name

Haha, that’s what my wife calls it.

I saw OP's KJ in one of the Matts Offroad Recovery youtube videos I watched recently. They were all out on a trail ride somewhere with the group Matt was in but for the life of me I can't remember where. EJS or KOH is what I'm thinking but I'm probably wrong.

Yeah she took it on a trail with Matt’s Offroad recovery and Dirtlife Nate. There is another video of her on that trail also on muddybeards 4x4 or something like that on YouTube, it was fun and both my wife and her Liberty did well on the trail.

 

[Home_brewd]

We packed up the family and made it out to KOH 2022. We did a little wheeling but mostly just cruised around watching races, checking out cool rigs and watching other people do stupid stuff, it was a blast!

 

[Home_brewd]

We decided 37s are too small for such a big rig so I bought her some 39s. I stretched the rear axle back an inch and raised it an inch. Now I just need to clearance the body a bit.

 

[1tonjk]

Saw this rig in person over the weekend, gotta say looks pretty bas ass, he did make sure to mention he built it for his wife.

Feel lucky man I can hardly get my woman to get in my jeep, let alone go wheeling or drive it.

Rig looks nice and dont see them everyday

 

[plym49.2]

Terrific build! Props.

 

[Home_brewd]

Saw this rig in person over the weekend, gotta say looks pretty bas ass, he did make sure to mention he built it for his wife.

Feel lucky man I can hardly get my woman to get in my jeep, let alone go wheeling or drive it.

Rig looks nice and dont see them everyday

Thanks man! I make sure to tell everyone it’s my wife’s rig, I don’t want people thinking I would drive a purple Jeep Liberty because I like it, lol.

 

[Home_brewd]

Since the jeeps are to small for my family of 5 and fuel for 2 jeeps is expensive I had to build a little trailer. I build this little thing out of scrap parts and steel I had left over from other projects. We took it out to Gold lake and Snake lake for a little shake down. It was fun to build and it tows great but I definitely need to lower my axle gears now, the little 3.7 didn’t like the 4:88s with 39s and a couple hundred pounds of trailer and gear in tow. I plan to add some storage compartments and maybe a roof top tent to the trailer in the future but for now it works.

 

[Home_brewd]

I meant to post these first. I picked up a rusted out useless trailer from a guy I worked with. I was able to reuse the leaf springs, air shocks, axle, a couple crossmembers and the deck. I cut the leafs in half and made a 1/4 elliptical suspension with some left over stock JK upper CAs. I flipped the U shaped axle and had to straighten the bend out of it. Then reinforced it. I was given 2 beadlocks and the tires are the 37s off the Jeep.

 

[csutton7]

nice...

 

[Penetrode Offroad]

Came out pretty good!

 

[gt1guy]

That's slick. Well done.

 

[Home_brewd]

nice...

Came out pretty good!

That's slick. Well done.

Thanks! I am happy with how it turned out considering the time frame I had and the parts I had to work with.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

The coolest Liberty on the planet just got cooler.

 

[Home_brewd]

I missed KOH this year, but I stayed home and did some much needed axle work. Rebuilt and regeared to 5.29 from 4.88s and 35 spline rear axles. I also added a back bone to the 9” and finished removing some of the old truss I rushed through last year so I could get it out on the trail.
And I upgraded my power steering pump with one from a V8 WJ with the Hydro fan. Even though it was unnecessary, I knew I wanted to make the upgrade once my stock box failed. It was a tight fit but made a significant difference.

 

[Pablo]

Fellow from CO had a real nice sas KJ . He drove it to Black Mt. in 2011 He and alljproducts.com where working on a kit. Do not know what happened with that.

People talk about buying expensive stuff-- but when it comes out they never do. That is pretty much what happened with most of these KJ products.