HUSKY HAULER IS HEADED TO THE PAINTBOOTH

I SET THE BED UP TO HAUL 2 BIKES IF NEEDED. ALL THE BODYWORK IS DONE SO ITS BEING HANDED OFF TO THE PAINTER. IT SHOULD BE QUITE A SIGHT ALL PAINTED UP AND HAULING 2 DIRT BIKES. THE 5.7 VVT TRUCK ENGINE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEMS HAULING THIS LOAD AROUND.

The rear half doors will double as tool/recovery gear storage. Using a composite board that is sandwiched by 2 layers of thin aluminum we made a “tool box” that will fit inside each half door. We will glue these pieces into place once the doors are painted. Several more anchor points were also welded in to help out with tying gear down. Next I am adding two more wheel chocks on either side of the main center chock. Two dirtbikes will fit in here (just barely) so I will have some options if I want to bring a buddy along.

REAR STORAGE DOORS

WE STARTED WORKING ON THE REAR HALF DOOR STORAGE DOORS. I WILL CARRY ITEMS LIKE TOW STRAPS AND TREE SAVERS IN THESE. NOTHING TOO HEAVY. I WILL ADD AN ELECTRIC SOLENOID TO EACH DOOR TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE HALF DOORS.

THE BIKE FITS AND IS SECURELY TIED DOWN. NEXT IS PAINTING AND MAKING THE REAR STORAGE ORGANIZED AND ACCESSIBLE.

THIS JK HAS THE 400 HORSE 5.7 VVT TRUCK HEMI WITH THE GETRAG 238 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE HEMI CONVERSION WAS OF COURSE THE FIRST UPGRADE WE DID ON THIS JK.

WE BOXED THE REAR HALF DOORS IN USING SOME LEFT OVER TRAILER FENDERS WE HAD AT THE SHOP. THIS WAY THE HALFDOORS WILL BE CLOSED OFF FROM THE ELEMENTS. WE ALSO ROLLED A PIECE OF 14 GUAGE STEEL INTO A CURVE THAT MATCHES THE DIAMETER OF A 21 INCH FRONT TIRE. THIS ALONG WITH 2 ADDED BARS WILL HOLD THE FRONT TIRE IN PLACE. SEVERAL TIE DOWN POINTS WILL ALSO BE ADDED.

SINCE THE BED OF THIS JK IS DEDICATED TO HAULING A DIRTBIKE I WANTED A POCKET TO HAUL THE GAS CAN IN.

A SWAG DROP TAILGATE WAS ADDED TO ALLOW THE EXTRA LENGTH WE NEEDED FOR THE REAR TIRE OF THE HUSKY. IT BARELY FITS.

I BOUGHT A BED FLOOR FROM A CREWCAB DAKOTA TO USE AS THE FLOOR OF THE JK. A LITTLE TRIMMING AND IT WENT RIGHT IN. WE TACK WELDED AND USED 3M PANEL BOND ADHESIVE TO HOLD IT ON.

I DECIDED TO KEEP REAR HALF DOORS ON THE JK TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ACCESS EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS BEHIND THE BACK SEAT. THE INSIDES OF THE HALF DOORS WILL ALSO BE MADE INTO TOOLBOXES. IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR BODY AFTER THE REAR ROLL BAR WAS REMOVED, WE BENT UP SOME 1.5” ROLL BAR TUBE TO CAB THE BED RAILS WITH AND TIED THAT INTO THE FRONT B PILLAR. WE MODIFIED THE HARDTOP TO ATTACH WITH THE B PILLAR IN PLACE AND NOT REMOVE THE PILLAR LIKE THE TOP WAS INTENDED TO DO.

I DECIDED TO CHANGE DIRT BIKE BRANDS THIS YEAR AND WENT WITH A NEW HUSQVARNA TE449 ENDURO. AFTER SOME QUICK MEASUREMENTS I DETERMINED THAT THE 58 INCH WHEELBASE OF THIS BIKE WOULD JUST FIT IN THE BACK OF A 4 DOOR JK THAT WAS MADE INTO A PICKUP. DIGGING INTO MY PILES OF SPARE PARTS I FOUND A LEFTOVER TMD HALFCAB AND WENT INTO MODIFYING THE JK RIGHT AWAY.