Jeep Build Phase 1 Complete

I’m in the middle of an 8,000 mile road trip that comes before the 80,000 mile road trip of my dreams.  There are so many modifications I want to make to my Jeep, I’ve split the work into three major phases.

I find a home in Calgary for 6 weeks, with my long-time friends Jamie and Ian. Ian has the best garage known to man, and the skills to back it all up. I can’t count how many times a little prod, or encouragement from Ian saved me a massive amount of work.

I spend many 10 hour days in the garage, slowly chipping away at everything I want to get done on the Jeep:

  • Oscar and Reg rescue me from my non-existent welding skills, with Oscar welding in a very modified roll cage.
  • I wire in a to wire all my electronics.
  • I install a very solid steel
  • I install in the entire floor of the Jeep, then cover it with lino for durability.
  • I build a false floor and permanently mount a – I’m like a little kid with excitement when I set it a couple of degrees below freezing and there are little chunks of ice in my water bottles two hours later. I can’t believe how good it is to have a fridge on board.
  • Using , lightweight and plywood, I make cabinets and a bench seat in the back of the Jeep to store all my stuff. The whole setup also converts to a sleeping platform when required.

The reasoning and rationale for everything I’ve done, and will do, is now online in the new edition of JPFreek Magazine check it out to understand my madness.

jk rear 720x480

After removing the backseat, carpet and trim

roll bar cutting 720x480

Reg cutting the roll bar – I was very hesitant and didn’t want to do it myself

roll bar finished 720x480

The modified roll bar

painless fuse block 720x480

Painless fuse block mounted

floor insulation 720x480

Heat and Sound insulation on the floor (under the front seats too)

Jeep Camper Design 621x480

The design for the cabinets my Dad and I created.

building cabinets work in progress 720x480

Cabinet work in progress – I can easily pick these up with one hand

cabinets finished right 720x480

Right hand side complete

cabinets finshed stacked 720x480

Cabinets finished, stacked as a kitchen bench

rear sleeping platform 720x480

Converted to a sleeping platform

side sleeping platform 720x480

The sleeping platform and Dometic CFX-35 fridge

Huge thanks to my Calgary family: Melissa, Reg, Jamie, Ian, Oscar and the whole crew. The saying “I couldn’t have done it without you” has never been more true.

-Dan

P.S. Checkout my spread in JPFreek Magazine!

JPFreek Magazine spread – click to view magazine

11 Responses

  1. Bryon says:

    This build is awesome! Congrats on making it happen. Hope our paths cross again soon.

  2. Mike says:

    Are you adding a camper type top? If not you may want to add some cross bracing to the cage. Or it will fold should you roll hard.

  3. Dad says:

    Top job Dan. It all looks very professional. Keep pushing the agenda. Keen to see it all finished. Dad.

    • Dan says:

      Thanks Dad, I couldn’t have done it without our late night planning sessions back at the start of the year.

      It turned out almost exactly like we planned – the only difference is that it’s all mirrored so the fridge is behind the passenger seat rather than the driver’s.

      Thanks for all the help and input!

      -Dan

  4. sareh says:

    It is very nice. Thank you dan for telling us about your trip

  5. Troy says:

    Looking awesome Dan!

  6. Sam says:

    Hi Dan,

    I love what you’re doing, but from a safety standpoint cannot stress enough that your cage is NOT structurally sound and if you should roll, you are going to have a big problem on your hands.

    The way the pipe was just welded end to end is a huge weak point and will fold very easily. Additionally, the rear cross bar will probably just tear off since it is not between the two sides that would be bearing the load. Lastly, it needs to be reinforced. Have you ever built a wooden rectangle and found it very wobbly? This is the same concept, just magnified a bit.

    I don’t mean to be the bad guy, but would hate to see a fellow Jeeper end up hurt! The money you’re putting into the venture should allow you to cheap our on a primary safety point of the very center of your trip.

    • Dan says:

      Hey Sam,

      Thanks for the input. I built the cage like primarily that to get it out of the way.
      Also remember there is no backseat in the Jeep, so I only have to worry about two people in the front in the event of a roll over.
      As long as the front is a strong as stock, I think I’m good. I didn’t modify the front at all.

      -Dan

  1. September 2, 2015

    […] including Dometic CFX-35 Fridge – which has been amazing. Tons more pictures on my site: http://theroadchoseme.com/jeep-build-phase-1-complete The whole story, pictures and reasoning for it all are in the new edition of JPFreek Magazine […]

  2. March 15, 2021

    […] Credit: All Images from The Road Chose Me […]

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