ok heres the scoop. i cant decide which way i want to go with my project. I had ideas of halfway copying bob roggys jeepster buggy(jeep front, tube back) but i keep thinking i want it to be more like an actual jeep. i havent been able to find a cj7 tub for a doner for the roggy copy so thats making me want to go back to the origional plan. CJ5 with tube front fenders and chop the rear wheel wells out straight to the back and then down at an angle. i got my drivetrain picked out(see sig). regardless of anything im building my own frame( 2x4x3/16 box tube) this is the easy part, the hard part is deciding what direction to go.
so whats your vote? cost is a BIG issue, im trying to get this done before summer(steve :flipoff2: ) and on a limited budget, i have about 800 saved up now but half that is going into rebuilding my engine.time is kinda on my side, i have all the time in the world and once i start something im dedicated on finishing. I have the tools to do most anything at work-welder,tube bender,SAWZALL :D and other stuff and a knowlegable boss( you may know our moderator :D ) this is all pretty confusing rereading it but basically, jeep/buggy or jeep/jeep
i can post pics of each idea if that helps:D

roggy idea
no coilovers, leafs all around, 3/4 elliptical rear and shackle reversal front,tube front fenders, rear kinda like the pic but will me making a place in back where i can haul my dirtbike around too, 100" or so wheelbase sittin on 36+ tires

or chop a cj5 tub i can get like this

i'm debating the same thing, shortened 7 tub with a bed or keep the 5 like it is(cut out in the back). i decided i'm looking for a scrambler tub as we speak, but you'll like the room of the truck style jeep. if you tube the back are you going to build a flat bed(highly recomended for the space)? problem is its your choice. both have their purpose. hard to say. figure out which one you need.:beer:

Originally posted by FULLSIZE
i'm debating the same thing, shortened 7 tub with a bed or keep the 5 like it is(cut out in the back). i decided i'm looking for a scrambler tub as we speak, but you'll like the room of the truck style jeep. if you tube the back are you going to build a flat bed(highly recomended for the space)? problem is its your choice. both have their purpose. hard to say. figure out which one you need.:beer:

i know your lookin for a scrambler tub but i dont think steve is gonna give any of his up :D i mean if i wanted to, i could make the custom body for about 300 bux. i work at a jeep shop and get a good discount on anything and a supplier has body panels, i was debating bobbed scrambler as well. i think if i can come up with the money ill build the cuztom cj7 body, i only want the cj7 door opening for the room and to have hard half doors :D and id chop the cj5 tub like yours in the rear;) im not gonna flat bed it though if i go with option 1, more room to flex in the rear without hitting anything. plus id put storage/too box right behind the body, then the gas tank and motorcyle rail on top so i dont need one

i was just thinking camping gear. i always run out of room. dropping the cell through the floor this weekend. and what kind of jeep store do you and steve run anyways, cant even find a rusty old scrambler tub!!!!!:flipoff2:

Originally posted by FULLSIZE
i was just thinking camping gear. i always run out of room. dropping the cell through the floor this weekend. and what kind of jeep store do you and steve run anyways, cant even find a rusty old scrambler tub!!!!!:flipoff2:

its steves shop, i just ship stuff(see cuztom title) :D and he dont do rust ;) ill figure out what i want to do about space if i ever get around to choosing what i want, i was hoping to start the frame over spring break but looks like thats gonna have to wait:( i think ill see what other people think IF THEY EVER POST ;) and decide after i build the frame and get the suspension and everything set up

hey Brad :flipoff2:

hey Brian:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Steve N
hey Brad :flipoff2:

hey Brian:flipoff2:

i mentioned you :flipoff2: I have the tools to do most anything at work-welder,tube bender,SAWZALL and other stuff and a knowlegable boss( you may know our moderator )

i like both ideas but i think i like the cut cj5 idea better. i have seen a few like this and i think they look sweet. when i lenghtened my cj5 i cut the frame and body in half and added 15" in there. while it looked good at the time, after a roll, a flop, and lots of rock and tree rash i wish i would have cut the rear fenders and slid the rear back like you were talking about. the lengthened 5 was/is cool but now that it is hammered i can't just go get another tub. i would have build another and fortget that. i got my jd2 and my next project is a buggy!.

I'd go for the hacked up 5 route.

It's more jeep than what Roggy built (not as custom, but still cool)
It's less likely to draw attention on the road (from our law enforcement friends)
You can actually put stuff in the back (camping gear and :beer:)


Can't help with how much one will cost over the other, but you can probably figure that out on your own.

Originally posted by Mo
I'd go for the hacked up 5 route.

It's more jeep than what Roggy built (not as custom, but still cool)
It's less likely to draw attention on the road (from our law enforcement friends)
You can actually put stuff in the back (camping gear and :beer:)


Can't help with how much one will cost over the other, but you can probably figure that out on your own.

street thing is definitly an issue, i have no trailer or tow rig so ill have to be driving it to the trails. I may have a line on a cj7 tub so ill see what that turns out like, if i get it cheap, ill either trade ken for his or just hack it and make the buggy now. i mean it would be cheaper for me to MAKE the cuztom body rather than buy a good condition cj5 tub, unless someone has a free one? :D keep the comments coming. and mo as for the camping gear and stuff, that can be taken care of with either design:D i can make the whole back on option 2 into a storage box too, i wont always have my dirtbike rail back there.:D

as far as dirt bike acomidation you can use a receiver hitch to carry it

Originally posted by snacksnack
as far as dirt bike acomidation you can use a receiver hitch to carry it

i knew that and i guess ill do that now, i just figured that since i would be making cuztom everything, that i could just incorperate that into my design :D well from the looks of it and thinking about it a little more, i think ill go with everyone and keep the cj5 body idea and go with that. ill chop the rear wheel wells similar to the jeep above and tube front ones, and since i wanna have hard half doors, i can either just chop the door opening to accomodate or do what i thought up today and make some spiffy tube/sheetmetal doors.
later after ive wheeled this and figured out what i want/need to do AND gotten a tow rig ;) , ill think again about making one like roggys and that would be a dedicated wheeler.:D now i just gotta come up with the money to buy the tub:eek: ill be sure to post again after i get started in a few weeks:D

YJ tubs are easy to find for cheep with no rust. I think they're uglier than the CJs, but it may be a better solution for you. Their frames are pretty strong too (if you wanted to save time and $$$). Also more room and longer wheel base to start with, and doors are easy. I'm just throwing out ideas.

Originally posted by newt
YJ tubs are easy to find for cheep with no rust. I think they're uglier than the CJs, but it may be a better solution for you. Their frames are pretty strong too (if you wanted to save time and $$$). Also more room and longer wheel base to start with, and doors are easy. I'm just throwing out ideas.

YJ TUBS ARE CHEAP WITH NO RUST:eek: FIND ME ONE!!!!!!!!!!!! ill even come pick it up:D who cares if its ugly, its getting chopped. i know yj frames are factory boxed tubing but i figure its gonna be cheaper to make my own frame instead of buyin a yj one and chopping everything off and adding on what i need, this way i make it so it fits whatever i need. as for doors, see the idea above:D ill be making STIFFIE fab doors :D you guys wont get it till we start marketing stuff:p

Originally posted by Brad


YJ TUBS ARE CHEAP WITH NO RUST:eek: FIND ME ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know most dont like this but watch the F/S boar on JU...I have seen quite a few come across there when I was looking at doig a similar project...instead I kept my current YJ and just used it as a platform:D:D:D

Originally posted by Supergper


I know most dont like this but watch the F/S boar on JU...I have seen quite a few come across there when I was looking at doig a similar project...instead I kept my current YJ and just used it as a platform:D:D:D

yeah ive been doing that but all the tubs, be it 7s or YJs are on the other side of the freakin country:(