Gypsy, xj overland build...

J

jonb8

Adventurist
I built this xj several years ago to replace my wifes old xj. Her old xj was in rough shape from rust and a decade of trail use. This jeeps name was Tammy Faye...The bottom pic is gypsy the jeep I built to replace her...
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I started with this rust free 2wd I found and it was all fun from there...

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Here it is out of paint with the old xj behind it, I used the paint code off the old one because the wife said "It has to be Jade"


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We used this jeep this way for a couple years, as a trail rig and a tow pig for the teardrop...


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This summer I drove the xj 5300 miles round trip to California, ran the Rubicon and then back home to WV. I learned on that trip that the stock xj stuff had to go and I needed more armor. First thing was the front bumper, the winch had to go under the jeep to clean up the air flow. Pulling the teardrop is tough on the 4.0 on the long pulls and I don't want a cooling problem down the road so I cut out the front crossmember and got to work...

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The rear got quarter guards (to cover up Rubicon trail damage) and protection and a new bumper..

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Gas tank skid, the plastic tank on this thing made me nervous out west. I sit down on the tank hard several times.....

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Then I had to fix more Rubicon damage and put some armor on, so I cut out the rockers and welded 2x6 box tubing in there place..


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I had issue's with keeping all my stuff together on the trail so I built a set of drawers for the back of the jeep. 42 inches wide, 53 inches deep and 11 inches tall.

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Next up is a putting a set of 2016 JK Rubicon axles under the xj, I bought these off a friend who went to Rockjock 70's. They have 8,000 miles on them and I've welded on a set of Artec trusses to strengthen them were there weak...

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Nice build up and love the color. Nice to see another fellow XJ'er around. :)
 
Thanks guy's. I'm hoping this is the last jeep I ever have to build... it's alot different when your in the mindset that you only have to build it once...
 
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