W.T.F.D.I.G.M.I - Turning my daily drive into a trail rig.

[aFatBird]

Following for my own future reference. Can't wait to see the final result so I can follow suit.

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[drewcnit]

So wow what a difference a half a day makes... button down all the miscellaneous fasteners.. and a little more work and voila! I have a tail gate.

Tail lights were next - Install is easy, to answer an earlier question,

How are the now long wire harnesses addressed?

looks like you are to shorten the factory harnesses and splice the new lights into the wires from the harness per the diagram. The only part of the tailgate/bumper harness I'm assuming that I'll be reusing is for the backup camera and license plate lights. The tail lights splice into the driver/passenger side tail light harnesses.
I've got a set of Baja Designs Squadrons to put in the smaller holes to use as 'camp' (*cough* tailgater a$$hole deterents *cough*) lights, that I will install and wire up the next day or so to my switch.

Then fenders -

So wiring and tail light surrounds are all I have left to do, oh and tighten down to the frame. (The directions never actually specify tightening down the four bolts mounting it to the frame LOL ? )

Gotta head back out to Harbor Freight, need some taps, the powder coater screwed me. The tail light surrounds bolt directly to the outer fenders, those holes are threaded or at least half of mine are...

See threads above, no threads below -

Final shots, probably tomorrow in the sunshine after I wash it and finish the wiring.

Also in case you didn't know, they have a presence here on the forums and are paying attention and gathering feedback -

 

[JTenn]

Also in case you didn't know, they have a presence here on the forums and are paying attention and gathering feedback -

Hey @motobilt any sales coming up? Andrew, your rig is looking AWESOME!!

 

[RockJeep98]

Hey @motobilt any sales coming up? Andrew, your rig is looking AWESOME!!

Bumpers are 10% of currently no codes necessary. Sorry not trying to create sales post or step on toes in here. Just provide tech support or feedback.

 

[drewcnit]

So tail light wiring was really not that bad, Bobby had sent me some notes -

​

We cut the bed light plug short and reuse the factory plug from the factory light so that we can use it to easily plug/unplug when working on it in the future.​

You will reuse the back up camera harness and the red brake light can be used to tie into the third brake light that we provide from Off road Only. It will be installed on the rear bumper. The excess wiring can be tied away. I hope this helps and let me know if you need anything else.​

And that's what I was assuming for the most part. The actual tail light harness from the tailgate I discarded, still have the jumper harness and it disconnects from the frame crossmember so I could remove the bed if needed with a quick disconnect, otherwise I followed the wiring diagram, matched wire colors crimped them and taped them up and they seem to work perfectly.

I had the factory halogen setup, so going to LEDs they even included some resistors to put in line to keep the computer tricked. Took it on the maiden voyage around Nashville, to Home Depot!

No dash lights at all when I fired it up and that's before I even connected the 3rd Brake light/license plate lights.

Still need to button up a few things -

• Gotta finish cleaning those threads on the drivers side tail light mount
• Wire the 3rd brake light/ license plate light.
• Now that I've bounced it around a bit on a short trip around town, I also want to re-torque every fastener just in case.

Also on the list of to do's but probably not until next weekend or near future -

• Aluminum Inner Fenders for the bobbed bed are sitting in my garage, haven't decided if I'm coating these... or how I'm coating them. Could do them in the same black I used on my front inners and keep it cheap, do it at home.
• The spare tire carrier rack is sitting in the garage and still needs to go to powder coat.
• Baja Designs Squadrons for the 'camp' light or rear light below the tail light. Also in the garage...
• Rocker Guards in the garage as well, but I'm not doing those until I buy the sliders and have both powdered.
• Mount my Preece Precision CO2 tank to the passenger side fender. (Probably should have marked/drilled holes for the mount before powder coat, but oh well.)
• I've got to slow my roll lol, I'm tired after this week.

Gonna work on buttoning it up tonight/tomorrow and will get some better full on pics.

 

[Hootbro]

Looks good! ?

 

[drewcnit]

Finished tapping those holes and loaded it up for Windrock tomorrow morning. Next couple weeks, I'll attack the to do list some.

 

[drewcnit]

Played around Saturday up at Windrock. I'm now on the second wash and still haven't gotten all the mud off.

 

[JTenn]

Played around Saturday up at Windrock. I'm now on the second wash and still haven't gotten all the mud off.

We got pretty nasty down at Stoney Lonesome too.

 

[antwon412]

What are the holes on the sides of the beds above the flares?

EDIT: This thing looks awesome! Great job

 

[drewcnit]

What are the holes on the sides of the beds above the flares?

EDIT: This thing looks awesome! Great job

I don't know if this image is clearer, but those are countersunk bolts, it's how the inner side wall and outer side wall connect partially. At least that's what I think your asking about, there's also holes on the topside of the bed side, which is how the tire carrier mounts to it.

 

[antwon412]

I don't know if this image is clearer, but those are countersunk bolts, it's how the inner side wall and outer side wall connect partially. At least that's what I think your asking about, there's also holes on the topside of the bed side, which is how the tire carrier mounts to it.

Gotcha. Once I zoom in I see that. Thanks.

 

[RockJeep98]

Looking good and glad to see you out there wheeling it already!

 

[drewcnit]

So played with the tire carrier rack / cargo rack base and mocked it up today. Trying to decide on what I want to do with it, had a buddy mention leaving the tire in the bed, just using the rack along with the cargo basket.

However if I used it as the tire carrier, I regain the space underneath for all the gear I normally carry.
Also undecided on mounting that CO2 tank.
Trying to decide if I need the bed rails/molle panels for the rack or just get the cargo basket and adapter plates.

That's an awful tall spot to put a big ol' 37inch tire (and future 40")

 

[krweatherl]

So I’m not the only one who does his builds in costly steps of “only this much and I’ll be happy with it”? I’m on my 6th jeep build and every one the same way. I’ve been eyeballing the bed replacement since it came out.

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