So, 9am this morning the TJ arrives as London Jeep Specialists for some surgery on her rear end...
8 hours later and several large boxes of stuff from RockHard4x4 and I've solved a few issues I noticed while on my road trip around Europe:
1) Previously space in the rear cargo box was used up by 2x5L fuel cans while on a long road trip. I can now carry 2x20L cans and lose no space whatsoever in the storage box.
2) If I need even more space light, low value items can be strapped to the rack above the rear tyre. I for one hate roof racks, they're a pain on a soft top Jeep and they raise the centre of gravity.
3) The big 31"+ rear tyre has been giving the rear tailgate hinges a hard time and is really too heavy for the stock location. 1 tyre carrier mounted on the bumper later and no more creaks from the tailgate.
4) Better departure angle and far stronger. You would not believe what that bumper weighs!
5) It just looks better than the natty stock UK rear bumper.
6) 2x very stout recover points
7) 2" Receiver hitch should I ever get around to building my camper trailer...
8 ) Somewhere to put the hi-lift jack (runs along the bottom of the tyre carrier below the rear tyre and has a padlock point.
9) Somewhere to mount the CB antenna so my old taillight sandwich bracket can go.
I have to say that the RockHard4x4 stuff is very well made indeed! Everything is uber heavy duty and well poweder coated. The hardware is grade 8 stainless with billet bits and it all fits together well as a quality piece.
London Jeep repurposed one of the rear number plate lights so as to attach it to the passenger side taillight to light up the bike sized number plate in the stock US location. It means losing the reverse light on the passenger side but who cares...
Thankfully there was just enough room for the stock fog lamp on the tyre carrier but drilling into that S.O.B. was not easy!
The stock centre brake light had to go so this new one sits behind the spare tyre and shines through the centre cap hole. Very trick imho!
Frame tie-in brackets for extra strength (required for 33" and larger tyres or if using the gas can holders or storage rack):
We drilled an extra hole in the top left and the rear bumper itself also requires 4 extra holes to be drilled into the rear cross-member in addition to the stock bumper mounts. It's on there good!
Back tomorrow to fit the other goodies that were in the box...