Everyone,

So I have been looking around at some threads about the expedition vehicles and I didn't see a lot of 4 Door JKs. I will be building a 4 door for 2 person with a dog. I have seen a lot of roof top tents but I haven't found the perfect one yet. I'm new to the overlander type builds so if you have any modifications that have helped you out in different situations please feel free to educate me! I haven't started this build because I am currently deployed in the Navy so the Jeep is getting built on paper right now. Here is an idea of what I would like to build:

-4 Door JK- Mango Tango - Better Visibility in my opinion
-Hard Top
-Engine- stock for now but I really want a Cummins diesel or a LS1 or LS2 if I stay gasoline
-Roof top tent- I like the Camping Lab roof top tent the best, the 47" by 94"
-possibly a body mounted ladder
-OB Air, water, and welder
-GPS- I need help in this department. Where is everyone finding these computers or screens with built in GPS? What is the best way to mount GPS items.:confused:
-35" Tires with beadlocks
-Body Armor- I'm big into rock crawling so I gotta have my steel armor. Not a fan of aluminum.
-1 ton axles with lockers
-better built roll cage
-Roto Pax with window replacement mounting system
-Snorkel... I have an ARB snorkel on my '99 TJ but for the JK this is still up for discussion.
-Front and Rear Bumpers- something with good approach and departure angles, nothing extremely bulky but still very strong. I like the stinger style bumpers but I'm not sure if they are practical for this type of project.
-Lighting- I will LED lights. Something like the Vision-X light bars, Truck-Lite headlamps.


This is all I have right now! Please send some suggestions!

- winch, winch-mount bumper
- hilift jack, mounts, recovery gear
- jerry can for extra gas, mount
- toolbox, spare parts
- custom storage in back, could be as simple as tiedowns and a cargo screen to prevent stuff from falling into back seat, or could be fancy drawers. see what others with the same vehicle have done for ideas.
- roof rack may be nice for longer trips since the jeeps have limited carrying capacity. i'd try a few trips without one first though. it'll probably take a few trips before you figure out what you need and what you don't and how to pack it all in.
- gasoline stoves are nice in that they use the same fuel and you'll have a jerry can of gas. propane stoves work a bit better but then you have to carry extra fuel. i have a half-height propane tank plus one small can for backup. if i did it again, i'd get a gasoline powered stove to avoid the need for propane. if you go gasoline, get a small liquid-transfer hand-pump so you can transfer the fuel without pouring.
- shade is necessary in the desert. could be as simple as a tarp or blind and two poles (other two ends attach to your vehicle). keep it small, though. an ezup would be too big.
- portable water filter (e.g. backpacker model), just in case.
- cb

optional:
- electric fridge, 2nd marine battery, manual switch or auto battery management switch so your starter's battery doesn't get drained by your fridge/lights/stereo overnight. for long trips, the electric fridge is really nice. but it is not necessary for 4-day trips (block ice is fine). i personally love my engel fridge; i hate getting water over everything, contaminating the fresh vegetables from the raw meat, although using tupperware helps.
- "pett" toilet. even when just digging a hole in the ground, it's nice to have the seat.
- shower/toilet privacy tent. some rooftop tents have this as an option, or get a standalone unit (i recommend the one from cabelas with steel poles). but skip the portable pump shower (e.g. zodi) -- a basin of hot water and cup works just as well and don't take up valuable space.

i'll also add, for discussion sake, that a rock crawler and an expo vehicle have some competing criteria. for example, lots of armor and big tires add weight which decreases fuel economy. straight axle with soft suspension is great for rock-crawling but ifs with stiff suspension is nicer on the freeway and along washboard dirt roads which are most of what you're on in an expedition trip.

i built my truck as a middle-way general camping vehicle and will do the same next time. i take it for two week camping trips but can handle some rocky trails, i just avoid the most extreme trails which is easy to do (e.g. barrett lake was the toughest, but i didn't enjoy that much -- felt like i needed crawler gears or doubler/dual t-cases). i'm not listing my choices because my point is this:

what kind of trips are you planning? what do you really need for those trips? it's best to build slowly, as you go on trips you'll figure out what you really need or enjoy. start off with the essentials, but don't drop >$10k at once ordering things other people like; they may not be relevant for your camping style even if they are good products.

just my 2-cents.

well the trips i plan on doing is possibly a few trips to canada or to alaska. but i want to be able to drive some trails to. i dont want to do just the dirt roads all the time. i want to make a versitile Jeep Expo/crawler. I know I will have to sacrifice some things in the crawling field. I mean its only going to be my fiancee, me, and a dog (on occasions). But mainly two people.

maybe I should rethink the build before it starts. idk. but i would like to make an all around vehicle.

Have you considered Adventure Trailers' JK Habitat?

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/page/vehicles/jk_habitat/

Have you considered Adventure Trailers' JK Habitat?

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/page/vehicles/jk_habitat/

Thats really cool

Have you considered Adventure Trailers' JK Habitat?

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/pag...es/jk_habitat/

That is a nice set up, but what about bugs? I see all these really nice kits but many of them leave the inside of the truck exposed allowing bugs to get in the tent. It took another day to get rid of all the flies in my friends SUV when I camped at Assateague Island in MD.

That is a nice set up, but what about bugs? I see all these really nice kits but many of them leave the inside of the truck exposed allowing bugs to get in the tent. It took another day to get rid of all the flies in my friends SUV when I camped at Assateague Island in MD.

Maybe you should shower more often? LOL kidding

I used to have bug screens with felt and magnets glued to them to put over my windows at night in my xterra.

Worked awesome and let me sleep with the windows down all the way at night.

A stock RUBICON model comes with dana 44s, e-lockers, low-range gearing, sliders -- ready to wheel right off the lot! You're DONE!

On a side note, I think the newest Jeep Unlimited models have all kinds of electronics now, so you should ask what the jeepers think about that and what model years are best. I think the earliest Unlimited 4-doors were shorter too. Personally, I dislike the trend to make everything electronic/computerized -- too hard to fix yourself (and costs more at the shop, too, I bet). For getting busted out in the backcountry, it may be better to have something older and simpler that you know how to service (without a handheld computer!)

Also, don't underestimate the your girlfriend's opinions/values! It's pretty easy to spend too much on mechanical upgrades and not enough on comfort and convenience. Generally, dudes are more happy than ladies passing out on a tarp near the fire. But little (cheap) things can go a long way! I'm just saying include her in your decisions. You may find what she likes is cheap and easy (compared to 38" MT, for example!).

For example, I got a wire shelf (like you put in the laundry room) -- when I need to set up camp, I put the shelf on the side of the truck using some brackets I installed and voila! instant table for cooking. My wife loves it and it cost me $20. In contrast, my Spartan buddies don't get to come out camping nearly as much because their wives just aren't into it.

well the trips i plan on doing is possibly a few trips to canada or to alaska. but i want to be able to drive some trails to. i dont want to do just the dirt roads all the time. i want to make a versitile Jeep Expo/crawler. I know I will have to sacrifice some things in the crawling field. I mean its only going to be my fiancee, me, and a dog (on occasions). But mainly two people.

maybe I should rethink the build before it starts. idk. but i would like to make an all around vehicle.