[KL14]

Prompted by a question by @PunkTexas in the remove rear seat thread I figured I'd reply with a separate thread so to not clutter up the original.

I still haven't came across any pictures of a platform in the back area of a Cherokee with seats removed. If you or anyone can link me or point me in the right direction for overland setup in a Cherokee please do. Thanks.

I'm still working on my setup, but this is what I have so far. I'll post more pictures as the project progresses (slowly).

I've taken out the stock trunk floor and wheel well mold and made a new plywood platform. This is a temporary, quickly bodged-together setup on to of that platform.

This is the setup I've build in the wheel well space. Up left is a compressor, 2nd battery to the right of it. Below the compressor is a water pump with a 5 gal water tank in the middle. Storage rooms to the right and below the water tank, where the air hose, fuses, and a switch to turn on the air pump is located.

Another shot of a variant of the temporary setup, with the compressor in action.

Dimmable red/white LED lighting.

Carpeted flooring with access panels to the under-floor installations (held in place by magnets glued into the floor base). The fridge, which is accessible from the right rear door (seat removed), is visible to the upper right.

Halfway getting the stove and grill arrangement built.

Cooking arrangement in it's "transport" location. Back of fridge to the left.

 

[Flybynightcru]

Prompted by a question by @PunkTexas in the remove rear seat thread I figured I'd reply with a separate thread so to not clutter up the original.



I'm still working on my setup, but this is what I have so far. I'll post more pictures as the project progresses (slowly).

I've taken out the stock trunk floor and wheel well mold and made a new plywood platform. This is a temporary, quickly bodged-together setup on to of that platform.
View attachment 211654

This is the setup I've build in the wheel well space. Up left is a compressor, 2nd battery to the right of it. Below the compressor is a water pump with a 5 gal water tank in the middle. Storage rooms to the right and below the water tank, where the air hose, fuses, and a switch to turn on the air pump is located.
View attachment 211655

Another shot of a variant of the temporary setup, with the compressor in action.
View attachment 211657

Dimmable red/white LED lighting.
View attachment 211656

Carpeted flooring with access panels to the under-floor installations (held in place by magnets glued into the floor base). The fridge, which is accessible from the right rear door (seat removed), is visible to the upper right.
View attachment 211658

Halfway getting the stove and grill arrangement built.
View attachment 211659

Cooking arrangement in it's "transport" location. Back of fridge to the left.
View attachment 211660

Wow!!! That's awesome!!! You are definitely ready for anything, great job...

 

[PunkTexas]

This is a game changer thread. Could I be so bold to ask you to make a YouTube channel showcasing your rig and the progress?

 

[Ronin38]

Outstanding! I didn't even know there was a swing-out tire carrier for the Cherokee. I wonder if it would work on a '19...?

 

[KL14]

Wow!!! That's awesome!!! You are definitely ready for anything, great job...

Thank you. It's a lot of "sitting around for hours thinking" for every hour actually building. But I think it'll be good!

This is a game changer thread. Could I be so bold to ask you to make a YouTube channel showcasing your rig and the progress?

Interesting idea. I'll have to think about that. Possibly that could be a winter project.

Outstanding! I didn't even know there was a swing-out tire carrier for the Cherokee. I wonder if it would work on a '19...?

I definitely will, as long as you have a 2" hitch receiver:

Rear Mounted Tire Carrier - Hitchgate Solo by Wilco Offroad

Wilco Off-Road now has a smaller version of the Hitchgate that is for vehicles like our KLs called the Hitchgate Solo. I picked one up and installed it over the weekend. Brings the tire much lower compared to the bigger Hitchgate and I think it looks pretty good. 3rd Brake light is easily...

www.jeepcherokeeclub.com

For those with Wilco Hitchgate Solo

Hey JCC, I have been really thinking about getting the Hitchgate Solo lately. For those with the set up, what are some of the pros and cons you have experienced? I read through another thread regarding the hitch mount tire carriers already, but would like additional information too if possible...

www.jeepcherokeeclub.com

Reading the latter thread again made me realize I should probably follow up my last post with a picture of my backup camera setup.

 

[PunkTexas]

Outstanding! I didn't even know there was a swing-out tire carrier for the Cherokee. I wonder if it would work on a '19...?

Last week I came across a swing out tire carrier that attached in the receiver hitch that also had a fold down table. A table like the Wrangler guys have on their tailgate.
Now I can't find that link anywhere. If anyone knows the manufacturer or retailer please ad a link.

 

[sqenixs]

Last week I came across a swing out tire carrier that attached in the receiver hitch that also had a fold down table. A table like the Wrangler guys have on their tailgate.
Now I can't find that link anywhere. If anyone knows the manufacturer or retailer please ad a link.

UltraSwing™ Multi-Fit Spare Tire Hitch Mount | RiGd Supply

The UltraSwing™ Multi-Fit spare tire hitch mount is a swing-out tire carrier designed for mid-size trucks and SUVs including Tacoma, Lexus GX, and Subaru.

www.rigdsupply.com

The only issue I have is that the tire carrier is not removable. I think (?) the hitchgate solo tire carrier can be removed, but the issue I have is that the reviews say that it wobbles and rattles and is not as secure as the ultraswing.

 

[Pondhopper]

I did not remove the rear seats but made a fold out platform for sleeping and using a liftgate tent

 

[Tom B]

 

[Tom B]

 

[Nilfix]

Prompted by a question by @PunkTexas in the remove rear seat thread I figured I'd reply with a separate thread so to not clutter up the original.



I'm still working on my setup, but this is what I have so far. I'll post more pictures as the project progresses (slowly).

I've taken out the stock trunk floor and wheel well mold and made a new plywood platform. This is a temporary, quickly bodged-together setup on to of that platform.
View attachment 211654

This is the setup I've build in the wheel well space. Up left is a compressor, 2nd battery to the right of it. Below the compressor is a water pump with a 5 gal water tank in the middle. Storage rooms to the right and below the water tank, where the air hose, fuses, and a switch to turn on the air pump is located.
View attachment 211655

Another shot of a variant of the temporary setup, with the compressor in action.
View attachment 211657

Dimmable red/white LED lighting.
View attachment 211656

Carpeted flooring with access panels to the under-floor installations (held in place by magnets glued into the floor base). The fridge, which is accessible from the right rear door (seat removed), is visible to the upper right.
View attachment 211658

Halfway getting the stove and grill arrangement built.
View attachment 211659

Cooking arrangement in it's "transport" location. Back of fridge to the left.
View attachment 211660

How did you take the back seat out? Here in Germany I cannot find any description. Thanks in advance. Nils

 

[KL14]

How did you take the back seat out? Here in Germany I cannot find any description. Thanks in advance. Nils

It was actually pretty simple. I only removed the right side but the process is the same for both.

It's been a while but if I recall correctly (right seat remove only):

1 - Pop out the cover plates in front below the seat cushion.
2 - Remove the bolt closest to the door
3 - Remove the two bolts in the center along with the center plastic cover piece.
4 - Re-mount the screw holding the left seat in place (yellow arrow).
5 - Fold the right seat back down and slide the seat it forward.
6 - Remove the two nuts in the back.
7 - Drill out the rivet (red arrow).
8 - Disconnect the airbag connector.
Note: Technically you should always disconnect the battery and wait 5 minutes before doing anything with airbags. I will admit I don't do that when I remove and put the rear seat back in. Partly because the circuit is pretty fail safe by design and partly because the computers in the KL have a significant risk going weird whenever you disconnect the battery. But I at least make sure the ignition is off and has been off for 10 minutes before messing with the seat.
9 - Fold the seat back back up and remove the seat
10 - Connect an airbag emulator pigtail to the open airbag connector if you intend to drive with the seat out. This ensures you don't get the annoying airbag alarm warning every time you turn the ignition, and it also ensures the other airbags works 100% (they should regardless but it's a little late fixing it if you end up in a crash and it turn out they for some reason didn't).

 

[KL14]

Halfway getting the stove and grill arrangement built.

Got it finished and finally got around to take pictures. So I thought I'd update my post.

I've added a 12V actuator so I can adjust the surface to level lengthwise. The control switch is to the right of the rightmost stove, and I put a little level up by the grill. The box to the left has a hinged lid and holds the cooking utensils.

The folding camping oven ended up fitting nicely between the rails. The cardboard and rubber bands are to prevent rattles.

Everything stowed in place and latched for transport. There's just room behind the stove transport boxes to store two spare butane canisters.

It took some effort getting all the rattles and squeaks eliminated from the grill, but it's pretty quiet now. At least on pavement. I haven't had the chance to take it on the trails yet. I'm using two small bungees - one is visible attached to the towel hook - to hopefully prevent the arrangement come charging right at me if I open the hatch while parked on a steep slope...

 

[KL14]

So, nine month later I've just completed the next section of the build, so time for an update.

Food storage bins and drawers for plates, cups, pots and whatever else "kitchen", with a removable cutting board on top. The drawers slide are soft close types, which have the additional advantage of having some resistance to opening so the drawers will stay closed even on an incline.

Hatches for small stuff under the food bins.

Holder for the water faucet to the left of the food bins. The water tank gauge is in the back.

Pantry drawers raised up to gain access to the space behind. To the left there's room for a bin similar to the larger of the food bins. The idea is to use it for beverages so the fridge can be re-stocked as the trip progresses. To the left of that there's also room for plastic liquor bottles, or whatever else takes our fancy. To the right the is where the pop-up canopy slides in.

The raised pantry seen from the side. The mechanism uses pneumatic springs to stay open, but they're not quite strong enough for the weight of the thing. So until I get them replaced with some stronger ones - which I need a local shop to do for me - I'm using a rubber strap to help it stay up.

 

[Trailhawk86]

Wilco Offroad Hitchgate SoloXL Spare Tire Carrier - UHG32206 | 4wheelparts.com

Also this option that is a little cheaper for the tire carrier.

 

[PunkTexas]

Just a thread bump to see if there are any new overlanding setups. Please post some pictures.

 

[Scorp]

I ain't that involved, I have a rtt and all gear necessary scaled down to fit in my th

 

[downunder]

Custom build I did a while back for my 2014 Trailhawk. Just a small kitchen area for spending the day on the beach. Was designed around my 20L fridge/freezer. Mainly I wanted it all to fit in the back without needing to drop the seats while still being able to close the sliding cover in the rear. Also designed to be able to place the fridge on top of the box and still be able to close the lift gate if I need to use the space for additional storage. Planning to use the small storage area of the box for a 2nd battery which will allow me to run the fridge for at least a day.