Roughing It Smoothly
Jeep TJ built for Exploring Ghost Town's and Trails
| We all know that we shouldn’t make it a common practice to travel off road alone. But when you’re fascinated with ghost towns and semi-retired, you can’t always find a friend to come along in another four-wheel-drive rig, so you must build your own vehicle to be strong enough to withstand the rigors of every type of trail in the Southwest.
You need to notify someone reliable about your plans; where you’re going and when you’re coming back. We use a pair of DeLorme topographic atlases of Arizona and a neighbor. Just before leaving, I call my friend and tell him the names of the towns we’ll be looking for and on what page the towns are located. I also tell him when I’ll be back or when I’ll call him if plans change at the last minute. You’ll also need to carry plenty of drinking water—one gallon per day per person, at a bare minimum, depending on the weather—for everyone on board. And don’t forget plenty of water for your pets. In many parts of the U.S. you also need protection against poisonous snakes; i.e. high boots, snake stick, etc. For communication, I recommend CB or FRS radios between vehicles. Depending on the skip, you may even be able to use the CB in an emergency; however, I also recommend a cell phone. Nowadays, if you climb to the top of a high hill, you may be able to call home for help.
We picked the Jeep Unlimited because of its longer wheelbase, which gave us additional cargo capacity and a smoother ride. Combine a 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with a VentureCraft USA TrailBlazer off-road tent trailer and you have one heck of a team for hunting ghost towns. Unfortunately, VentureCraft USA went out of business some years ago because they made a damn fine trailer. The tent trailer is equipped with an 8-foot-high tent, queen-size bed, large waterproof cargo tub, ice chest tray, easily removable fenders, torsion-bar suspension, Wrangler-matched wheel hubs, rear-mounted stabilizer legs, and more than 12 inches of ground clearance. The zippered door and zippered openings on three sides of the tent can be zipped shut, zipped open with screens, or wide open to skeeters and other flying critters. Optionally, a 10-foot square tent was offered that zipped onto the trailer tent’s opening.
If you’re not using a lunar ring to tow your trailer, you might consider a Master Lock Adjustable Hitch. Using a 3/8-inch-drive ratchet you can raise or lower the ball up to a 7¾-inch drop or a 6¼-inch rise so that the trailer can be towed in a level situation. Perfect for lifted and lowered trucks, up to 500-pound tongue weight and up to 5000-pound towing capacity can be handled by this hitch. The hitch will slide into any 2-inch receiver tube.
The Unlimited is no trailer queen, it is not only my daily driver, it is my primary ghost hunter, so I wanted the best tires I could find. With this in mind, I decided on Goodyear Wranglers for my Wrangler. Initially, the Jeep came with 35-inch tires from another manufacturer, but they couldn’t be balanced—even after trying three times. Also, the 35-inch tires, coupled with the 4.0L engine, were too tall for good highway power. Over the years, I’ve always had excellent luck with Goodyear MT/R tires, both for their traction and sidewall toughness—not to mention their long mileage and relative low highway noise. The 33-inch MT/R tires are smooth as silk on the street, perform very well on the trail, provide improved highway performance, and have very strong sidewalls that slip through sharp rocks with nary a scuff. For some background, the 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is OEM-equipped with the 4.0L fuel-injected inline six cylinder engine, six-speed manual transmission with two overdrive gears, Dana 30 front differential, Dana 44 rear differential (with 4.56:1 gear ratio), Advance Adapters’ Atlas II two-stick transfer case with 4.3:1 low range (more about this later), cruise control, air conditioning, full-cage rollbar, and a hard top. The Atlas II is known throughout the industry as the strongest transfer case in four wheeling. It is fully synchronized, can be shifted on the fly, and with the two sticks can be in 2-wheel high, 2-wheel low (front or rear), 4-wheel high, and 4-wheel low. Several different low range ratios are available, as is a newer three-speed Atlas that offers two low range gears.
Wilderness Racks by Garvin offers many different styles and sizes, including roof racks and rear-mounted racks. Wilderness’s motto is “Leave nothing behind” and with a roof rack you don’t have to—up to 200 pounds, that is. Many different accessories and attachments are also available, such as the one holding my 4-foot Hi-Lift jack, for holding lights, gas cans, shovels, and other implements. Speaking of the Hi-Lift jack, I wouldn’t recommend leaving pavement without one. It can not only lift your vehicle off rocks, it can also, with the proper attachments, pull it forward or backward out of whatever mess you find yourself in. A Hi-Lift can even help you change a tire should the need arise.
The Safety Seal tire plugging kit is one of those items that will definitely be needed at some time or other to “get you back.” It may not be the next trip, or the one after that, but eventually you’ll need this kit. As sure as rocks puncture tires, this kit will be needed sooner or later. While you could “leave home without it,” you shouldn’t leave pavement without it. Its “sticky strands” will plug a hole up to a quarter-inch.
Another excellent air tool to carry along in your “air-tool box”—I use a waterproof GI .50-caliber ammo box for my air tools—is the Deflator from Currie. You simply thread it on the valve stem, unscrew the valve, and release the deflator slide, which allows the air to escape quickly. Slip the slide back into place to stop the air and it gives you the new lower pressure. Keep releasing and checking the air pressure until you’re down to your trail-riding pressure. After the trail, you can use the Onboard Air Pump to bring the tires back up to highway pressure almost as quickly as the Deflator lowers it.
Mating a Kilby Enterprises’ Onboard Air system with the Saf-T-Seal kit, Deflator, and Goodyear MT/R tires will guarantee your return to pavement. The Onboard Air system consists of a fanbelt-driven modified air conditioning compressor, air pressure manifold, 2.5-gallon storage tank, 20-foot coiled air hose, locking filler valve, spray nozzle, and two mounted “glad hands” connectors (one on each bumper). To use, flip up the dash-mounted safety-shield covered toggle and the system is almost immediately brought up to its operating pressure of 150 psi, and it’s done at idle. With the huge amount of air volume available and the pressure tank, Onboard Air can easily run air tools and/or fill huge off-road tires quickly. This kit is by far the best air pump I’ve ever owned. Kilby also supplied the steering box skid plate, body mount guards, gas tank skid plate, and the inside cargo tray.
The RCH100-1 7-inch Round Jeep Conversion Headlamps kit from Roundeyes is a night vision upgrade for the Jeep owner. Conversion headlamps are designed to replace your OEM sealed beam headlights providing you with a much safer nighttime driving experience. If you have a hard time seeing clearly at night on the trail, in the dunes, or on the highway with your stock headlights, this upgrade is what you need. Roundeyes conversion headlamps will provide you with a whiter and brighter light output, allowing you better vision in the fog, rain, snow, and night driving conditions. They are 60% brighter than conventional sealed beam headlamps with GE MegaLight Plus H4 60/55-watt bulbs that are replaceable. They have a die-cast aluminum housing with a complex multi-surface reflector that produces a wider beam pattern, and their heavy-duty solid glass lens is durable yet super clear. A Gortex breather allows heat to escape while keeping moisture out of the lamp assembly, which can handle off-road bulbs up to 130 watts. The good thing about using these headlights is the easy drop-in installation with no additional wiring needed. You simply unscrew the headlamp bezel, remove and unplug your old sealed beam headlamps, and replace them with these.
It is often said that a winch is more useful to pull others off obstacles than you. However, if you’re going to be traveling solo, you’ll want a winch. And you’re going to need a winch that’s rated at least twice the weight of your rig. Since an Unlimited with a full cage rollbar and hardtop weighs slightly above 4,000 pounds, the Warn 9.5 (rated at 9,500 pounds) is a perfect fit. On the Unlimited, you can either use the included cable remote control or the dash-mounted inside switch to run the cable in or out. Warn markets many different models with several different weight ratings, so you’ll have no trouble finding one to fit your vehicle. But don’t forget to also purchase a Warn winch accessory kit that includes gloves, snatch block, tree strap, and clevis clamp all in a convenient carrying bag—trust me, you won’t be sorry.
The Premier Power Welder is the ultimate underhood welding system—welding can begin at just above idle. The Premier Power Welder has been installed on vehicle for 27 years and is proven in all phases of use, including applications in military, municipal, farming, off-road, rescue, construction, and maintenance vehicles. It is designed to be simple, reliable and functional without any unnecessary gauges, dials or lights. This is one product that really can get you there and bring you back again, even if you break while you’re out there.
All of us have had to grab jumper cables at one time or another; either to help someone else or to get our own rig started. To having to raise the hood each time to access the battery, I decided a Wrangler outside heavy-duty connector—similar to those used on professional tow trucks—was a better way to go. It was installed by Precision 4x4 in Kingman, AZ, and now all I have to do is plug in the cables and jump the other vehicle. In addition to plugging in the jumper cables, I can plug in camp lights without worrying about replacing mantles after every trail ride.
The Currie Antirock sway bar provides balanced performance of front and rear suspension for rugged off-road conditions. It gives the driver increased traction by balancing and distributing the weight over all four tires. The Antirock off-road sway bar, which is made of SAE 4130 Heat-treated steel for ultimate strength, is designed to replace the stock Jeep sway bar. It is of the same quality used in professional off-road competition and includes all components, bushings, hardware, and step-by-step instructions. It is positioned through the front cross member and attaches to the stock mounts on the axle housing on Jeep TJs. The Currie Antirock sway bar does not need to be disconnected for off-road use. Jeeps—especially raised ones—will have more body roll than stock. This sway bar may be used on the street, however; it will not provide the same performance as the stock setup.
Taller tires mean higher boulders and stair steps can be negotiated easier—a taller the tire, the higher the obstacle that can be rolled over rather than climbed over—and taller tires also means that the vehicle needs to be lifted for more tire clearance. Since OEM tires are in the 28- to 30-inch range, in order to run 33- or 35-inch tires, the Unlimited had to be raised. For 33 or 35, the Jeep had to be raised 4 to 6 inches; taller tires would require a higher lift. Obviously, with a 5 1/2-inch Rubicon Express lift, the OEM shocks would no longer work, so Ranch 9000 adjustable shocks replaced them. Adjustable through five settings, very stiff to very soft, the 9000 is ideal for ghost hunting. Whenever I let the air out of the tires, I also set the 9000 shocks at No. 1 (very soft); perfect for off-roading and allowing the suspension to articulate softly through its full range of movement. On the highway, however, No. 1 would make you sea-sick with all the rolling and leaning. Therefore, with the load I carry and towing the trailer, I set the shocks at No. 5 for firm control, which is also done while I’m airing up the tires.
What can I say about ARB air lockers that hasn’t already been said. Those of us who’ve been four wheeling for more years than we care to count, know that in reality, a four wheeler is in fact a two-wheel drive vehicle—one driving wheel on each axle—if it has open differentials. If you’re ghost hunting alone, though, you definitely need lockers in your differentials—at least one. And in my opinion, having controllable lockers is a great improvement over lockers that can’t be turned off—especially in the front differential. A front locker makes it extremely difficult to turn as the locker works very hard to keep both front wheels pulling equally, which means they want to stay straight. With an ARB air locker in the front differential, on really tight, technical trails you can leave the transfer case in low range, disconnect the front locker, and make the turn without having to back up several times. I also have 4.56 gears and ARB lockers in my 1982 CJ-7 and they’ve been in there for almost 10 years without a problem. To play it safe—and I have no idea if ARB recommends the practice or not—I always make sure the Jeep is stationary when I engage the lockers. I never hit the switch on the fly, and I’ve never broken an air locker, side gear, or the ring and pinion.
The KJ31 kit from BRX Products replaces all the OEM radiator hoses with silicon high-performance hoses with a lifetime guarantee, and BRX Products are committed to your total satisfaction. They guarantee that their high-performance direct-fit hoses will not fail for as long as you own your vehicle. According to BRX, silicon is the best possible material known to man for resistance to acids, temperature, pressure, and fatigue failure. If you want quality replacement radiator hoses, freedom from worry about hose failure, and a lifetime warranty, you need to look into BRX Products, as their hoses are pressure tested to four times the burst pressure limit of a stock radiator hose.
Garmin’s TrailGuide GPS navigation unit, available through Jeep dealers, is the perfect GPS unit for a Jeep Wrangler. It comes with a cradle that’s designed for mounting on top of the Jeep’s dash in place of the small pen tray and it is hard-wired to the Jeep’s ignition. Garmin also offers topographic maps for all the states in the U.S., which you’ll need a computer to download into the TrailGuide. The unit itself—slightly smaller than a pack of cigarettes—can be stored inside the “roll top” of the cradle when not in use (which hides it from prying eyes). The GPS unit’s onboard rechargeable battery has a 19-hour life for those of you who enjoy hiking. In addition, for those of you who don’t drive TJs or tow theirs with a motorhome, Garmin offers a portable cradle for the TrailGuide that plugs into the lighter and is equipped with a suction cup for attachment to a window or windshield. In my opinion, if you own a TJ—and use it a lot, as we do—you should seriously considers a TrailGuide. With the proper topo section downloaded, I can select the ghost town I wish to find and the TrailGuide will lead me right to it. For high-speed highway traveling, you can zoom out to see several states at once. For trail riding, you can zoom in to see just feet of the trail on both sides of the arrow point representing your vehicle.
A hot water shower from R & M Specialty Products is another one of those features that may not be any help getting you back, but if you use it, you’ll be much more welcome when you do return. The kit is complete with a 12-VDC marine/RV water pump, a well-made copper heater tank that utilizes the vehicle’s hot radiator coolant—via one of the heater hoses—to heat the incoming water (without mixing the two fluids), all hoses, high-quality brass fittings, shower and siphon heads, clamps, and hardware. An optional kit includes a pair of mounted remote quick-disconnect couplers. Whether you use a Jerry can, bucket, lake or stream, with your vehicle’s engine at idle and the heater turned on, the shower gives you 1.2 to 1.5 gallons per minute of temperature-controlled hot water (heat is adjusted via the water flow). www.hotwatercampingshowers.com
The Engel MT35 is a medium-sized fridge/freezer capable of freezing almost anything. It is ideal for long or short term freezing. As a refrigerator it can hold a steady interior temperature. They are great for people on the move—as this unit can be taken anywhere—all you need is either a 12-VDC power source, like a car battery, or household 110-VAC supply. It can easily work off solar power as well and only draws 2.5 amps. It weighs in at 46.3 pounds empty, so you’ll need a strong support and strap to keep it in place and it operates at angles up to 30° off level.
Tuffy glovebox and center console. A Tuffy armored and locking steel glovebox and/or console may not directly help you “get back”, but no matter where you are, Tuffy will protect your paperwork and valuables, even if your vehicle is lidless (top down or hardtop removed). And each unit has its own key.
Surprised to see blue lights on the rear of this Unlimited? Well, so was I until my wife hit the brakes and they flashed red just like they were supposed to. They also matched the color of the flames painted on the hood. From Craig R Sales, the ASL8200 oval stop tail & turn light with a clear lens and blue reflector sports a designer look when off to blend in with custom paint jobs, yet exhibit the correct color when on. They are of a 12-LED design that is an ultrasonically sealed polycarbonate lens and housing with an operating range of 12-38 volts. The patented reflector and optical lens enables a 180 degree viewing angle and meets both FMVSS 108 and ECE “E” photometric requirements and does not require “TOP” positioning. Isolated standard plug and wiring eliminates connector corrosion at the housing. Crusher Corners are pieces of Jeep corner armor that are built for the off-road enthusiast who likes to play in the big rocks. Poison Spyder corner protection is an excellent component in avoiding body damage to your Jeep. Choose from their standard corner or design your own to fit your crawler’s unique needs. Jeep armor is precision cut from 3/16-inch laser plate steel and formed on a roller die for a smooth unscored surface. Corner protection is soundly fastened by 3/8-inch counter-sunk stainless hardware, which is evenly placed around the outer edges. www.spydercustoms.com and www.craigrsales.com
Buchanan 1-1/2 inches TJ Seat Risers are installed on the Unlimited’s front seats. They help the driver and passenger see obstacles better. From the factory, TJ seats are actually lower than seats in previous model Jeeps because of the Wrangler’s air bags. The Buchanan Seat Risers bring your eyes back up to where you can see over the hood easier. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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