Destination Unknown - 2022 JTR journal

[Turnswrench]

Is your Norco just for charging the lithium batteries or do you also charge the vehicle battery?

Just the house battery. The single battery under the hood has been a rock star. It sat for three weeks without any charge or starting even while I left the doors open and such while I put in the Dometic. I'm sure my luck will run out some day ?

Sponsored

 

[chorky]

While I am waiting on more parts to arrive to continue work on the kitchen, and trying to find a solution to some wiring of the Genesis system, Santa came early this year. Way early! Over 2 months early. This year it was orange and purple Santa.

Super stoked to get this installed! Having more range and fuel capacity has been a major desire of mine in any vehicle over the last 10+ years. It just really opens the door to a lot of niceties, including simply running errands or going to see family/friends out of town. I hate having my life revolve around where the next gas station is. Although many would argue, including a good friend of mine, "well you still have to stop to pee... so what difference does it make?" Well, the difference is I can stop where I want to, instead of where I have to in order to get fuel, or go 75+ miles out of my way in the middle of a trip to gas up. Where I live, gas stations don't exist every 10 miles like the city folk think exist all across the nation. Some stretches can be upwards of 150-200 miles to get gas, unless you divert from the intended path by 75-100 miles each way.

Fortunately for me, unlike another forum member, I have not seen any manufacturer or transport related damage, and I have not found any loose metal shavings inside the tank or filler neck. Which is nice. Hopefully there isn't something somewhere behind one of the internal baffles.

My curiosity got the best of me and I had to take it out of the packaging. To my surprise, it is actually lighter than the battery I just put under the hood a few days ago. Weighing items and adding them up comes to 75 pounds. I did not bother weighing the exhaust as it probably is comparable to the factory exhaust that will be removed. I am certainly happy about it not being under estimated weight wise. Although, it would be better if it was made of aluminum and had a bolt on replaceable skid plate. That is the only concerning factor for me - but then again I dont play in the rocks consistently, if ever.

 

[Turnswrench]

While I am waiting on more parts to arrive to continue work on the kitchen, and trying to find a solution to some wiring of the Genesis system, Santa came early this year. Way early! Over 2 months early. This year it was orange and purple Santa.

Super stoked to get this installed! Having more range and fuel capacity has been a major desire of mine in any vehicle over the last 10+ years. It just really opens the door to a lot of niceties, including simply running errands or going to see family/friends out of town. I hate having my life revolve around where the next gas station is. Although many would argue, including a good friend of mine, "well you still have to stop to pee... so what difference does it make?" Well, the difference is I can stop where I want to, instead of where I have to in order to get fuel, or go 75+ miles out of my way in the middle of a trip to gas up. Where I live, gas stations don't exist every 10 miles like the city folk think exist all across the nation. Some stretches can be upwards of 150-200 miles to get gas, unless you divert from the intended path by 75-100 miles each way.

Fortunately for me, unlike another forum member, I have not seen any manufacturer or transport related damage, and I have not found any loose metal shavings inside the tank or filler neck. Which is nice. Hopefully there isn't something somewhere behind one of the internal baffles.

My curiosity got the best of me and I had to take it out of the packaging. To my surprise, it is actually lighter than the battery I just put under the hood a few days ago. Weighing items and adding them up comes to 75 pounds. I did not bother weighing the exhaust as it probably is comparable to the factory exhaust that will be removed. I am certainly happy about it not being under estimated weight wise. Although, it would be better if it was made of aluminum and had a bolt on replaceable skid plate. That is the only concerning factor for me - but then again I dont play in the rocks consistently, if ever.

This is exciting!!

 

[chorky]

Some extra protection arrived today so I had to pick them up. Side note they do not fully fit into the bed, which makes sense.... Their coating quality appears better than I expected, so hopefully it holds up well. I'm excited to have less mud, snow, and road gunk on the door handles this winter!

I opted to go with the MOPAR performance rails for a few different reasons. They were on sale first and foremost, and were something like 45% under normal price this go-around. They are also wider than the stock rails of course, but not wider than the fenders, which is something I wanted. The JT is low enough to the ground, barely, for me to get in without needing a step, so the RSE motorized steps were just not needed. Which is also good because these are very light for what they are, but still offer plenty of protection in the event they are needed. And they are a third of the cost! Hopefully they will be on without issue this weekend.

 

[TheOpa]

While I am waiting on more parts to arrive to continue work on the kitchen, and trying to find a solution to some wiring of the Genesis system, Santa came early this year. Way early! Over 2 months early. This year it was orange and purple Santa.

Super stoked to get this installed! Having more range and fuel capacity has been a major desire of mine in any vehicle over the last 10+ years. It just really opens the door to a lot of niceties, including simply running errands or going to see family/friends out of town. I hate having my life revolve around where the next gas station is. Although many would argue, including a good friend of mine, "well you still have to stop to pee... so what difference does it make?" Well, the difference is I can stop where I want to, instead of where I have to in order to get fuel, or go 75+ miles out of my way in the middle of a trip to gas up. Where I live, gas stations don't exist every 10 miles like the city folk think exist all across the nation. Some stretches can be upwards of 150-200 miles to get gas, unless you divert from the intended path by 75-100 miles each way.

Fortunately for me, unlike another forum member, I have not seen any manufacturer or transport related damage, and I have not found any loose metal shavings inside the tank or filler neck. Which is nice. Hopefully there isn't something somewhere behind one of the internal baffles.

My curiosity got the best of me and I had to take it out of the packaging. To my surprise, it is actually lighter than the battery I just put under the hood a few days ago. Weighing items and adding them up comes to 75 pounds. I did not bother weighing the exhaust as it probably is comparable to the factory exhaust that will be removed. I am certainly happy about it not being under estimated weight wise. Although, it would be better if it was made of aluminum and had a bolt on replaceable skid plate. That is the only concerning factor for me - but then again I dont play in the rocks consistently, if ever.

I’m very interested to learn from your installation and first few uses. Very cool!

 

[chorky]

I’m very interested to learn from your installation and first few uses. Very cool!

I'm looking forward to it! I might have a shop do this one though... we'll see what they quote for install. Just because I dont have a garage and it can snow bad any day now.

@Turnswrench did a pretty good overview of his install. Details start a few pages back but the install part begins I think in post # 276. page-19

 

[chorky]

Well couple of tasks today. First - by FAR the easiest mod I have ever done on a vehicle.

Looks good, and I think it will perform excellent for my intention. And it only added 23 pounds total to the vehicle.

 

[chorky]

If you recall, I previously had the Cam Chef Sherpa. It was a pretty cool little storage table thing, but after a year of using it I realized it just didn't suit what I was looking for. Which is ok as I will gift it to my dad for his adventures.

I decided this time to build my own option - see post # 191 and earlier for more. Today the final items arrived that will be used to house all my 'kitchen' stuff.

Here is a layout of bag #1. Now much of this is not needed for camping, but I got it cheap at nowhere else than Amazon, and it is all pretty good quality stainless.

I opted for the two little cheapie soft bags. They fit all of the kitchen stuff perfectly. The top bag (furthest away) is stuff I realistically will never use. The bottom bag (closest) contains things I do in fact use frequently, and the utensils used for eating are in the zippered mesh pocket to make them easier to access and distinctly different than cooking things.

They just so happen to fit perfectly inside the Kelty soft shell bag.

And into the kitchen box it goes.

Side note - as you can see the cutting board fits perfectly! This was pure accident. I did not at all plan on this happening.

Ok now for bag #2 layout. I feel being at Bragg all over again....

Everything fits nice and snug - except for the mugs which will bounce around. I will probably wrap them with towels or something.

And into the box it goes. This box is to be at the front because, well the first thing you usually grab when stopped for the night is the stove.

I think this is going to work out really well. I have not yet decided if I want to leave it simple, or make a simple plank with drawer slides. I will have to see what the reach is like once it is in the bed of the Gladiator to determine that. My sneaky suspicion is I will be adding a slide. But, there is plenty of headroom for a 2" slide - and the bags are soft shell so they are easy to manipulate. The only thing I do know for sure, is the hinges on the door need to be changed up. I need hinges that allow the door to open completely and not block part of the box entrance.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Funny named bags aside (Sundick LOL) what do you think you have total cost of the kitchen utensil kit?

I'm seriously considering dumping all the random stuff I've accumulated in the camping box for a more streamline setup like either a GSI or Stanley all in one but I like the way you've laid I out and its very comprehensive.

 

[chorky]

Funny named bags aside (Sundick LOL) what do you think you have total cost of the kitchen utensil kit?

I'm seriously considering dumping all the random stuff I've accumulated in the camping box for a more streamline setup like either a GSI or Stanley all in one but I like the way you've laid I out and its very comprehensive.

haha yeah I didn't notice that until posting the picture lol.

I do have the Stanley cook set: https://www.rei.com/product/161619/...21xgmZ2ZEVzAp8fDX3EaAuDGEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
It does come with a spatula and spoon. I bought it on guide fitter though for way less than REI is selling it.

Here is a link to the kitchen set I got. Definitely do not need everything in there but I didnt want to throw it away and it's maybe only a pound or two of extra stuff....I'm sure theres other options available but this is just what I landed on.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075MDYP64/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s04?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H2HVXGH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s05?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PMN7XL4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SQ1MT4S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071H75LGC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s03?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZJ9D6T4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Funny enough that $13 temp gauge works just as good as the $250 one my dad got me for Christmas a few years ago.

Also forgot to mention that several things there include a set of 4. So the plates for example. I only packed enough for 2 in the JT. Just in the event someone needs a spare, but I'm alone 99% of the time so there is no need for 4 plates. The other two plates, bowls, knives, etc.. will go in the kit I build for the TJ - which will start to happen this spring.

 

[chorky]

Just posting, for record and ability to recall, more issues I found regarding the transfer case repair.

Initial post is here:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/anyone-have-trans-leaks.59905/

Today's post is here - post # 95
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/anyone-have-trans-leaks.59905/page-7

And here - post # 25,969
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ning-no-politics.23705/page-1732#post-1228281

 

[chorky]

Inventory time of the Long Range America auxiliary tank. Everything is here, and it looks like they switched to a different ICV - whatever that stands for.

Here is a better view of the ICV

It's pretty thin plastic, but considering it really shouldn't see a lot of pressure, I think it will be ok. And if not, I dont know that it will really make a ton of operational difference anyway.

 

[chorky]

The first task to accomplish is important, so it get's it's own post. Be sure to put the magnet next to the pickup. Fortunately I have not had the amount of metal shavings, that are seen anyway, as others have experienced. But this is a critical step. After the fact I thought of the idea to split the magnet into two so there would be a capture point on both sides of the pickup - but hopefully this will be sufficient.

And whatever you do, do NOT drop your long flat tip screwdriver down the hole!

 

[Turnswrench]

ICV = inlet check valve. Fuel can go into the tank, but not back out the same way.

This is looking awesome so far! ?

 

[chorky]

The first real thing I wanted to get out of the way was wiring. I am very picky about wiring and really don't trust anyone to be up to the bar. Theres a slight chance I might hire a well known shop to do the actual tank install, so while waiting another day for a return call/email, I wanted to prepare the wire. Here I was sneaking 2 wires that run to the tank through the last bit of open grommet space available. I dont think I can fit another wire through that if my life depended on it - so hopefully this is the last.

Next - I wanted to get some connectors in place. It was getting dark, and cold, fast but I didn't want exposed wires hanging since every morning everything is covered in frost. These wires run on the drivers side, and partly inside the frame rail. Same as the reverse lights and rear flood lights. This is more of a pain since there is no existing harness to zip tie wires to like there is on the passenger side. So, I want to minimize any chances of water induced corrosion.

At the same time I ran 2 wires into the bed to tie into my main bed ground bus. If you notice the colors, I have always worked hard to keep consistent with wiring themes. Today's vehicles are all sorts of complicated with crazy wiring coloring patterns - usually because theres just so many wires going on. This is much more simple of course. So there is black ground for the pump, brown ground for the fuel level sensor, orange power for the pump power, and blue 'power' for the fuel level sensor (blue usually is a 'signal' wire that may carry voltage).

With that out of the way, the sun over the hills and temps dropping, I sat inside for a minute or two. From the moment I heard about LRA I knew I wanted a tank. For me, fuel is the one thing you really can't have enough of, and an aux tank, especially for exploring and camping, just extends the fun so much. But where to put that switch?? I really don't know. But I'm leaning to seeing if there is enough space behind that little gap between the parking brake handle and the transfer case selector. The switch is about 2" long - crazy long for something so basic. If it doesn't fit there - I really don't know where to put it. Somewhere visible. I had thought about the 12v charger port - but...I really want that reserved for the MOPAR trailer brake controller.

Sponsored