We have had this dream of driving to Alaska, discovering the wilderness and experiencing the remoteness - somewhere not everybody can go. To live this dream we knew we had to build a vehicle that could stand up to this task
Most likely, you have read about cool show trucks, marveled upon extremely built
rigs, and admired a handful of stories about expedition vehicles. But you probably
haven't seen a combination of the last two. This article describes exactly such
a vehicle. Of course there has to be a certain compromise - you cannot go rock
crawling with a full bathroom and a king size bed in the back.
After some research we decided to use a Jeep Cherokee as our base vehicle and
purchased a used one to start our custom modifications. This rig has ideal outside
dimensions, decent interior space and the aftermarket is considerable.
Some readers might recognize this
truck featured in 'Crosscountry USA' articles in earlier issues. Since then
the rig has become even more suited for our kind of traveling. It was specifically
built up for a journey through the extreme areas of Alaska and the four wheel
trails and absolute remoteness of America's northernmost state - the 2005 Alaska
XXXpedition. With the help of many sponsors we were able to modify the vehicle
to its current stage.
The interior was the first to undergo transformation. We have spent many nights
in tents and after experiencing sand, rain and snow storms we decided it was
time for a hardtop shelter. Additionally it was quite time-consuming to erect
and take down our tent every day. I took out the back seat and built two compartments:
one which fits the trunk area, and another one which can fill the void of the
removed seat. Together they create a platform for a foam mattress. The storage
compartments offer plenty of space for clothes, food and miscellaneous items,
and with the foam mattress as insulation from underneath and plenty of warm
blankets we will be ready to challenge the cold nights in the surrounding of
glaciers. Generally we prefer backcountry camping but every once in a while
the amenities of campgrounds are a welcome alternative. For more privacy in
civilization all rear windows were limo-tinted, and the back doors were equipped
with insect screens to keep out annoying bugs (we have heard that Alaska's mosquitoes
are gigantic). Air Visors allow us to open the windows about 5 inches even in
unpleasant weather conditions.
In the cockpit a ceiling-mounted CB radio helps the communication and a GPS
provides geographical information. An overhead shelf stores little items which
we like to keep handy. The ARB Airlocker controls are located in the center
console next to the parking brake for easy access. Additional switches on the
dash work the off-road lights on the bumper and roof rack. AC and DC outlets
were distributed throughout the dash and trunk area for convenience. After all,
we have to keep a laptop, camera, phones, portable fridge and all kinds of gadgets
charged and power outlets are hard to find in the wilderness.
The exterior received major modifications to tackle the rough terrain, starting
with a 6 inch Skyjacker Rock Ready Lift to gain elevation. This makes room for
33 inch ProComp Xterrain tires on black Rock Crawler wheels. Even when traction
is lost they keep spinning through ARB Air Lockers in the rear Dana 44 and front
Dana 30, both stuffed with 4.56 gears. The driveshaft angle problem was solved
by installing a Skyjacker Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit and a Tom Wood's Driveshaft.
All fenders had to be trimmed - especially the front ones - to prevent tire
rubbing which occurs under extreme flex of the Skyjacker suspension. Underside
protection is guaranteed by Skidrow and custom skid plates; the front and back
end are equipped with Durango 4x4 bumpers. The engine is mostly stock but inhales
through a Safari Snorkel and exhales through a Borla header and cat back system.
Cooling is managed by a four-core radiator and a hood-mounted heater core with
fan. Cherokee owners are familiar with the overheating issues, and since we
often play in the desert heat, this set-up is not overkill - although in the
northern regions we should not have to worry about that too much. The engine
compartment also houses two batteries and dual compressors. A third compressor
is located on the roof rack. This provides enough air for the tires and the
Air Lift Company Load Controller which keeps the truck level even if loaded
up for an XXXpedition.
The front bumper holds a Warn winch to help out in those unpreventable situations
while the rear carries a spare tire, a gas can and a Hi Lift jack. The hood
was covered with rubber paint to limit reflection when driving into the sun,
and to create a non-slippery surface for a convenient table. To top off the
vehicle a Conferr roof rack was modified by George from 4xFlyin in Chatsworth.
It provides space for a second spare tire, storage boxes, fire extinguisher
and Pro Comp lights to illuminate our surroundings once the sun goes down.
With a lot of time and effort we
were able to build a rig that fits our requirements perfectly. Our XXXpedition
2005 to Alaska will be the hard reality check for this new set-up. Look for
a full report about this upcoming trip from Los Angeles to Alaska and back.
If you want to find out more about the progress of the vehicle and our trips,
please visit our website: www.xxxpedition.com