Jeep Upgrade: Adding Storage and Security with Tuffy Products and Rugged Ridge
Many of us enjoy Jeeping lidless—that is to say, leaving the top in the garage and enjoying the open air Wrangler—or we are forced to park for work in a shady part of town with an easily cut soft top. When we’re involved in these activities, we need security for our onboard gear. There are others of us who simply feel more comfortable with a higher scale of security.
Tuffy’s security products can relieve all of your anxieties. Tuffy makes several products, different models of which fit nearly all models of Jeep Wranglers and CJs. A random selection—all of which are made of steel—includes glove boxes, under-seat vaults, center consoles, rear security drawers, and security shelves. Check out the entire selection and model applications at http://www.tuffyproducts.com/.
However, we’re just going to show you how to install the TJ/LJ/YJ Security Deck Enclosure (PN 240). This security deck enclosure creates a large (length: 34-15/16 inches; width: 35-3/8 inches; and height: 14-15/16 inches) and lockable storage area that is completely protected on all sides once the vehicle’s rear door is closed and locked. When the tailgate is open the lid easily hinges open (so easily you’ll need to add something to hold it open—bungee cord, etc.). The lid is then secured shut with the tailgate using an innovative latching system. If you have the need to transport larger items, the lid and front panel can be easily removed without tools. The lid is welded steel and can support large and weighty items. There are also two rectangular trays—one on each side above the wheel well—for addition storage and organization. Any items stowed on top of the enclosure must also be securely fastened.
Constructed from 16-gauge steel, with heavy-duty fasteners, and finished with a textured black powder coating, the entire Tuffy deck enclosure weighs 90 pounds. All the trays have external drain holes to prevent puddling. The Security Deck Enclosure mounts easily without drilling—it uses existing factory holes and/or captured nuts—and works with a hard or soft top, or no top at all (lidless!). An optional rubber mat (part no. 864) is not included but can be ordered separately. If you have a medium- or small-sized dog or two, they’ll enjoy riding on the lid and they’ll be able to see everything.
Now that we have all your large stuff either secure or supported, let’s address the smaller things you might want to take along on your trips. Stuff that you may need during a sudden thunderstorm, or stuff you may need and/or want and/or enjoy while camping, but not things you might need on an easy day trail trip; in other words, things you might need once in a while but not every trip, or the things that you’d like to be able to grab easily but not be in your way.
Rugged Ridge—well known for their very extensive catalog of Jeep products (see http://www.ruggedridge.com/) —offers what they call a “Sport Bag.” We call it a side bag because it mounts to your factory roll bar along either side. We prefer using two side bags (one on each side) so that each of us keeps our individual items in separate bags. We’ve had these bags—the longer version—on our Rubicon Unlimited for over a year now and we love their convenience and that they don’t take up any floor space.
These soft-side storage bags feature heavy canvas construction and oversized zippers. Rugged nylon straps keep the bags in place during even the most insane wheeling. Make the most out of your roll bar with a full complement of Rugged Ridge storage bags. This black zippered trail bag fits ‘92-‘95 Jeep Wrangler, ‘97-‘06 Jeep Wrangler, and ‘07-‘16 Jeep Wrangler (JK).
Even when you’re running the trails or malls lidless, you can pack a huge amount of stuff under the deck enclosure or in the sport bags. Everything under the enclosure is completely secure if the tailgate is locked; everything in the bags is out of sight.
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