Marc Bryson's K30---Errrr '94 Wrangler----wait, '4x MB---I don't know what it is.....trail rig?

Marc Bryson's K30---Errrr '94 Wrangler----wait, '4x MB---I don't know... "Jeep" works

Owners Name & City-

Marc Bryson, Woods Cross, UT


Make, Model & Year of Vehicle-

Excellent question. Titled as a '80 CJ


Engine-

'89 TBI 350


Transmission-

700R4


T-Case-


D300


Axles-

Front: Chevy Dana 60, 4.56 gears, Eaton E-Locker. full width

Rear : Shaved 14 Bolt with spool, 4.56 gears. full width

Suspension-

Waggy fronts

XJ rears (reversed) 101" wheelbase


Wheels and Tires-

38" Super Swamper TSL/SX on stock H1 wheels with PVC beadlocks


Winch-

T-Max 9000

Favorite Trails-

Pritchett, Coyote Canyon, Mineral Basin


Other-

lots......

I'll get some 'action' pics next time I take it out. (it might be all one color by then, but who knows.......)

Attached are 'all one color' pics.......

 

[mbryson]

So I hit the brakes today and they were fine. While the tire was off I did notice something though....lower control arm bolt was sheared in half. 9/16” grade 8 unit.
I’ll have to keep an eye on that... so now I just need to work on the brake plumbing issue.

 

[mbryson]

ES2234R



ES2234L



ES150L



ES150R

?????

tie rod end steering part numbers that I don’t have in this thread unfortunately

 

[Hickey]

CAMPING GEAR:
I would like to get out of having to haul the big black box on the back. It carries my tent, three sleeping bags, tent mattress and three small camp pillows. I think I could get some more compact sleeping bags, likely a much smaller tent mattress (kind of a “Cadillac “ 2 person unit that fits my tent pretty well and is comfortable if I’m in there with my daughter or with my wife (probably not likely to ever tent camp again?)).

im sure there’s a camping gear thread around. I’ll search for those. I watched @mesha camp with four people in their TJ a few years ago but I think they probably had $3k in camping gear?

This is on my radar as well. I'll likely be taking the CJ Juggy unit on the next Rubicon outing and the storage issues are pretty much the same. Have you considered a low profile roof rack? That could spread the load further forward and improve your COG. We have several Plano storage boxes that are about the same area as your big black box but about 30% lower in height.

There's a ton of weight cantilevered out behind your rear suspension and mine sure seems to climb better now that I've moved a lot of it further forward and down. I put the spare on the floor of the tub and built a deck over the top of it to tie down gear/dogs.

 

[Kevin B.]

I could type up a whole bunch about how to pack small and still be comfy without breaking the bank, I've put a lot of effort into streamlining my setup over the past couple years and I'm pretty close to where I want to be I think. But honestly, if we're talking about how to stuff enough gear into the back of a Jeep without having too much, you just need to check out @DAA's setup. A small Springbar, a cot, a fridge, a stove, a chair, a little table, he's got it dialed.

 

[Hickey]

I could type up a whole bunch about how to pack small and still be comfy without breaking the bank, I've put a lot of effort into streamlining my setup over the past couple years and I'm pretty close to where I want to be I think. But honestly, if we're talking about how to stuff enough gear into the back of a Jeep without having too much, you just need to check out @DAA's setup. A small Springbar, a cot, a fridge, a stove, a chair, a little table, he's got it dialed.

I think we all strive to be more like DAA. 😎

 

[mbryson]

This is on my radar as well. I'll likely be taking the CJ Juggy unit on the next Rubicon outing and the storage issues are pretty much the same. Have you considered a low profile roof rack? That could spread the load further forward and improve your COG. We have several Plano storage boxes that are about the same area as your big black box but about 30% lower in height.

There's a ton of weight cantilevered out behind your rear suspension and mine sure seems to climb better now that I've moved a lot of it further forward and down. I put the spare on the floor of the tub and built a deck over the top of it to tie down gear/dogs.

I was actually looking for a rack. I don't put a lot of weight in the Clampett box and for how often it's needed, it might just be the best solution? I would estimate the box at about 50 lbs with at least 20 of that being the box itself. I bought those boxes from WalMart when I had my '99 F250. They are at least 13-14 years old now? Still holding together fairly well. I used them as a "trunk" when needed to haul stuff in the pickup bed that I didn't want to be out in the weather. They were then used for long term storage for sleeping bags, tents, etc. Then morphed into camp "kits" with my rooftop tent setup in my pile of turd 2004 Cummings. Since then they've just held sleeping bags/tents, sleeping pads in them in the shed.

I would think a rack would be at least that heavy? It would allow more "central" weight location as you mention. I honestly don't even notice the box back there as far as weight goes? To your point, I do notice my spare tire rack/spare tire weight but it's not super significant. I built that bumper/rack to go on the Rubicon the first time in 2013. While not perfect, it works well. I'd like to morph it to more of a Teraflex JKU spare tire rack and have the factory latch be the opening rather than have the two openings to get into the back area. Strangely, I ran across the below pics at Rubicon Springs a few weeks ago. This is lower priority than changing out my tie rod ends (ordered from Amazon last night) but may happen as my garage/house/WJ/"Jeep" projects start to get checked off the list.

Strangely, this looks a bit overbuilt. Perfect for my rig In talking to the owner, he was a mechanical engineer by trade, he didn't want to leave anything to chance.

I could type up a whole bunch about how to pack small and still be comfy without breaking the bank, I've put a lot of effort into streamlining my setup over the past couple years and I'm pretty close to where I want to be I think. But honestly, if we're talking about how to stuff enough gear into the back of a Jeep without having too much, you just need to check out @DAA's setup. A small Springbar, a cot, a fridge, a stove, a chair, a little table, he's got it dialed.

I do still want to keep the rig with a back seat. I don't think I'll have grandkids going with me for quite a few years but it's on the radar for sure. Having the extra space of the LJ vs my YJ tub is pretty nice. I've SERIOUSLY considered extending my tub/frame quite a few times now.

 

[Hickey]

That just seems like a lot of weight that's leveraging traction from your front axle in a climbing situation. The roof racks can be pretty light, and if you focus on putting things like bedding and clothing up there it would really help your COG.

 

[Hickey]

Along the way of extending though...

 

[mbryson]

That just seems like a lot of weight that's leveraging traction from your front axle in a climbing situation. The roof racks can be pretty light, and if you focus on putting things like bedding and clothing up there it would really help your COG.

I was concerned about the height and location of the weight but on a Rubicon trip, I'm not sure the 50ish lbs (I should weigh that box and junk in it--tent, sleeping bags/pillows/pads and get an accurate weight) offsets much of the weight of the Dana 60 and winch? In an extreme situation like a comp, every little thing helps but on a trail like the Rubicon, I'm not taking a ton of chances on extreme climbs and such. I just want to enjoy the area, get through without having to fix anything on my rig and have a good camping experience.

 

[mbryson]

Along the way of extending though...

View attachment 131236View attachment 131237

Now you're talking..... since you're redoing the rear anyway.... If I had yours I'd pull that wheelbase to about 108-110" and build a body around the tube work. Add a floor and fender wells and run it.

 

[Hickey]

Now you're talking..... since you're redoing the rear anyway.... If I had yours I'd pull that wheelbase to about 108-110" and build a body around the tube work. Add a floor and fender wells and run it.

It's at 106" now. I will probably get a couple more inches out of the front when I link it. The tube work now doesn't even extend back as far as the tires do, so I'll definitely extend that more and create a storage platform above the fuel cell and right behind the seats.

 

[mbryson]

Tie Rod end part numbers for posterity

 

[mbryson]

Just took a test drive. I should have done tie rod ends LONG ago

 

[BCGPER]

Just took a test drive. I should have done tie rod ends LONG ago

Are you still looking for a 300? The guy wants $400 for it with clocking ring, when did they start gold plating these turds? The Atlas is starting to look affordable to me.

 

[mbryson]

Are you still looking for a 300? The guy wants $400 for it with clocking ring, when did they start gold plating these turds? The Atlas is starting to look affordable to me.

Shawn still has that one. Needs some work but you’re right on their availability

 

[RockChucker]

Are you still looking for a 300? The guy wants $400 for it with clocking ring, when did they start gold plating these turds? The Atlas is starting to look affordable to me.

I know. It's tempting to just sell the one I've been rat-holing for my Willy's project someday. I blame the #portalrevolution on the gold plating. Well, that and the fact that they are becoming more rare....

 

[mbryson]

So I put some new tires on this thing. It kind of looks more flatfenderish

skinnier tires and all.

I have pics of diff/lock out clearances from the 14-12 psi 38” Kevlars

...and the 37” BAJA BFG.
I do think there are some different wheels in the future. BFG are at 25 psi for pictures.

front axle track width decreased by about 4” which is a LOT. I was right at 82” and now I’m at 78”. Ultimately I think I’ll find something that’s about 80”?

 

[Hickey]

I think you should look at the Battleborn wheels. They are a pretty damn good deal for a beadlock wheel. If not, maybe some soft 8's.

 

[Herzog]

I think you should look at the Battleborn wheels. They are a pretty damn good deal for a beadlock wheel. If not, maybe some soft 8's.

Soft 8s with I Lean locks

 

[mbryson]

Soft 8s with I Lean locks

Who was it that had the jig to weld the bead lock rings to the wheels?