Winter Modifications......

[JeepInMud]

OK it has become that time of year where the Jeep is coming off the road and it is time to do some "upgrades".

I am first getting my 85 CJ7 to FI first and formost, after that I have a few other mods that have to be done. I ma going to modify/reinforce the cage as my son will be starting wheeling with me next year (he will be 2-1/2 years old).

My biggest dilemma will be storage for all my goodies, right now the back seat isn't in and I have the 35 sitting in the back and I stuff all of my tools around it and go. My thought is to put the 35 on the roof (I have a hardtop) as it will block all my rearward vision if I get a rear tire carrier. and I also am thinking I should mount a couple of small tool boxes to the wheelwells after the cage is modified. I was alss toying with looking for a used under seat drawer for the rear of the CJ. My wife will be going with me more often and I want to get it to the point that I can carry 3 people in the CJ, I will have a car seat bolted into the rear of the CJ for the little one, so I am unsure if I should use the under seat drawer or build a cabinet that will fit behind the seat and secure it to the floor and then anchor the child seat to it.

Any ideas would be helpful!!

Crazy Davey had a small socket setmounted under the hood on his old CJ that looked interesting as well.

[Spinalguy]

i would not put a 35 on my roof. The cog of your short CJ would be severely compromised.
i have mine on a baja style rack behind the driver/pass seat and although it too causes higher cog it is much lower than if on the roof. They look cool up there but tippy, tippy, over you will go.
i have no rear view but that is what side mirrors are for.
Tom

ooops, just re read and see that losing a backseat is not an option. i would build a swing away off the rear bumper. Do not put it on the roof

[JeepInMud]

is there any cons to getting a roof rack for other items (gas cans, tools, coolers) so that I open up some room, or should I get a complete carryall for the rear to accomodate all of that ??

[SteveO]

If you're wheeling with a kid in a car seat especially make sure that everything is secured.  The last thing you need is a Jeep on it's side and finding out your kid was killed by flying tools.  I keep all my heavy stuff outside and clothes/sleeping bags etc in the cab so it doesn't hit me if something unexpected happens but I've got a truck.

PM Dave about his socket set system.  He's got some great Jeep ideas and he's a helpful guy if you ask. .....Steve

[Bnine]

Daves tool kit there was just a small plastic case mounted on the fender well.

He had a cool ignition and alternater swap in there too.

The revolver shackles he did on the back work awsome. He said teraflex's bushing would wear to easy though. He made custom ones for them. I'd ask him about those if you went with revolvers.

He did a lot of trick things to his old CJ. And tons of them were straight forward affordable mods.

Braced the motor, rock gaurded most the jeep, home built diff gaurds with drain plugs, simple highlift mount, the list goes on.