Hi everybody,
Have been lurking around here for a while but haven't posted much yet. I'm finally about to move ahead with getting a BJ74. The plan is to get a 13BT with a 5-speed and a PTO winch in the next several weeks and build it up for a 3-month trip I'm making at the end of the summer and into the fall (up to northern Alaska from southern CA, then back through the Rockies and on to see family on the east coast). Having done a few of these trips before in my 2000 Cherokee (I know, I know...), I know what I need to bring in terms of equipment, supplies, etc. -- what I'm unsure of is how to implement the same types of changes on a 74.
Aside from upgrading the suspension, I want to keep the truck as stock as possible. I'd like to leave the bumpers, leave the chrome side steps -- essentially, only add things that are reversible or look "stock." I don't want to drill through the FRP (for all the obvious reasons) or mount anything to the outside of the body. But I'm not sure how to get away with the trip without either a roof tent OR a roof rack carrying an equipment case and my jerry cans (3 or 4 5L cans).
An exo cage seems like a decent option. I've seen some 74s with nice-looking cages that don't overwhelm the look of the truck. But I'm concerned that anything that bolts on won't have enough strength. Cost is also a concern. Does anyone have direct experience with building a cage for their 74? Would be curious to brainstorm on this.
I'm also considering getting a lightweight roof tent and just using the rain drip mounts on the FRP. I know it's a bad idea in the long run, but I figure if I remove the tent after the trip and don't put any other weight on top, I should be OK. I know opinions on this point vary pretty widely.
If I go that route, then I'd probably have to replace the rear bumper so that I can mount the jerry cans there. I suppose I could keep the original bumper and put it back on one day, so long as the new bumper can go on without any major modifications. Anyone know of a good bumper for these that could carry 3 fuel cans? I've seen a photo of somebody's 74 with the setup, but it looked custom (which is OK too, I just don't have my own shop and so won't be able to fab anything on my own, which makes my options limited).
Thanks everyone. Looking forward to joining the 70-series club.
Have been lurking around here for a while but haven't posted much yet. I'm finally about to move ahead with getting a BJ74. The plan is to get a 13BT with a 5-speed and a PTO winch in the next several weeks and build it up for a 3-month trip I'm making at the end of the summer and into the fall (up to northern Alaska from southern CA, then back through the Rockies and on to see family on the east coast). Having done a few of these trips before in my 2000 Cherokee (I know, I know...), I know what I need to bring in terms of equipment, supplies, etc. -- what I'm unsure of is how to implement the same types of changes on a 74.
Aside from upgrading the suspension, I want to keep the truck as stock as possible. I'd like to leave the bumpers, leave the chrome side steps -- essentially, only add things that are reversible or look "stock." I don't want to drill through the FRP (for all the obvious reasons) or mount anything to the outside of the body. But I'm not sure how to get away with the trip without either a roof tent OR a roof rack carrying an equipment case and my jerry cans (3 or 4 5L cans).
An exo cage seems like a decent option. I've seen some 74s with nice-looking cages that don't overwhelm the look of the truck. But I'm concerned that anything that bolts on won't have enough strength. Cost is also a concern. Does anyone have direct experience with building a cage for their 74? Would be curious to brainstorm on this.
I'm also considering getting a lightweight roof tent and just using the rain drip mounts on the FRP. I know it's a bad idea in the long run, but I figure if I remove the tent after the trip and don't put any other weight on top, I should be OK. I know opinions on this point vary pretty widely.
If I go that route, then I'd probably have to replace the rear bumper so that I can mount the jerry cans there. I suppose I could keep the original bumper and put it back on one day, so long as the new bumper can go on without any major modifications. Anyone know of a good bumper for these that could carry 3 fuel cans? I've seen a photo of somebody's 74 with the setup, but it looked custom (which is OK too, I just don't have my own shop and so won't be able to fab anything on my own, which makes my options limited).
Thanks everyone. Looking forward to joining the 70-series club.
![IMGP2855[1].JPG](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' width='1280' height='960' viewBox%3D'0 0 1280 960'%2F%3E "IMGP2855[1].JPG")
