My Search & Rescue XJ Build.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Year: 95
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Houston, TX
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Hello!
My name is Rich. Thank you for checking out my SAR XJ build. I'll start at the beginning. I am a painting contractor in Olympia, Washington. I have always loved the outdoors, Hunting, Fishing you name it. My hunting partner had an 88 xj and I loved hitting the trail come hunting season because I knew that meant Wheeling to and from where ever we hunted. So I was hooked! My hunting partner told me he knew of a new Search And Rescue unit starting up and the first meeting was tonight. He asked me if I would be interested in joining. We went to the meeting and I was a new member of South Puget Sound Mobile Search And Rescue.
I thought SAR would be a great way to give back to our community and at the same time, enjoy the outdoors, my jeep and be able to help someone who may be in trouble. Putting my XJ to use for a great cause.
I bought a 95 Cherokee SE bone stock as my search and rescue/ hunting rig in 2004.
I then lifted it in 05. We installed a Rough Country 4.5" lift with full leaf packs.
And now here it sits looking really funny
. and this little girl did all the work. 
This is my hunting partner and great friend Jason and his daughter (our little helper)!
So now its off to Discount Tires to get some wheels and tires. I went with 32x11.5 BFG A/T and MB Motoring wheels.
Then some DIAMOND PLATE!
Please keep in mind I dont have a bender or any fancy fabrication tools. Just my two hands and the wet noodle between my ears. Lol
This project took me two days the first day was to cut the templates, setup my cutting area and to get a feel for how it will go. The second day I did the rest. Ok here we go! I bought 4 1/8"x 24x48 plate's on EBay here's a link. http://cgi.ebay.com/Aluminum-Diamond...item19b6b43e2f
I used most of three of them on the rockers and used what was left and the 4Th one to do my and my son's front bumpers and my rear license plate area.
CUTTING: Where safety goggles when cutting.
You will want to do all your marks and cuts from the back. Just remember that your looking at the back of it and the shapes will be backwards when looking at it from the back. I marked my cut lines on the back of the plate with a Sharpie and used a sheet of plywood as my cutting area. Use a factory cut edge of another piece of ply as a straight edge to run your grinder against. Use wood screws to clampdown your diamond plate. Use a hand file to round the cut edges.
BENDING: I would recommend using a sheet metal bender if you have access to one. I did not have access to one so this is what I did.
Mark your bends after you have cut and filed the edges on the piece. This will keep you from accidentally cutting on a bend line, and so you don’t get cut while bending.
Score along the bend line with steady speed with the grinder, be careful not to cut to deep. I have a heavy wooden bench that I used to secure the plate to. The same way I secured the plate to the plywood to cut it. Clamp the straight edge to the bench loosely and slide your plate under and line up your bend line with the outer edge of the straight edge with the other part you want to bend hanging over the edge of the bench. Now clamp it down tight. Lay a 2x4 on the part, bend it down over the edge the bench and then take out and dry fit. Then repeat as needed.
FASTENING THE DIAMOND PLATE:
I used pan head Philips screws to fasten my new diamond plate to my XJ. I also used a thin sheet of toolbox tray liner as a gasket to keep the moisture out. You can pick them up at Fred Meyers for a buck a piece.
Just lay the liner on the back and if it’s the same liner that I bought it should stick to the new diamond plate like glue. If not you may want to get some spray on glue to secure it. Once you have it secured, then just trim with a razor blade.
Pre drill the holes and screw into place.
My name is Rich. Thank you for checking out my SAR XJ build. I'll start at the beginning. I am a painting contractor in Olympia, Washington. I have always loved the outdoors, Hunting, Fishing you name it. My hunting partner had an 88 xj and I loved hitting the trail come hunting season because I knew that meant Wheeling to and from where ever we hunted. So I was hooked! My hunting partner told me he knew of a new Search And Rescue unit starting up and the first meeting was tonight. He asked me if I would be interested in joining. We went to the meeting and I was a new member of South Puget Sound Mobile Search And Rescue.
I thought SAR would be a great way to give back to our community and at the same time, enjoy the outdoors, my jeep and be able to help someone who may be in trouble. Putting my XJ to use for a great cause.
I bought a 95 Cherokee SE bone stock as my search and rescue/ hunting rig in 2004.
I then lifted it in 05. We installed a Rough Country 4.5" lift with full leaf packs.
And now here it sits looking really funny
. and this little girl did all the work. This is my hunting partner and great friend Jason and his daughter (our little helper)!
So now its off to Discount Tires to get some wheels and tires. I went with 32x11.5 BFG A/T and MB Motoring wheels.
Then some DIAMOND PLATE!
Please keep in mind I dont have a bender or any fancy fabrication tools. Just my two hands and the wet noodle between my ears. Lol
This project took me two days the first day was to cut the templates, setup my cutting area and to get a feel for how it will go. The second day I did the rest. Ok here we go! I bought 4 1/8"x 24x48 plate's on EBay here's a link. http://cgi.ebay.com/Aluminum-Diamond...item19b6b43e2f
I used most of three of them on the rockers and used what was left and the 4Th one to do my and my son's front bumpers and my rear license plate area.
CUTTING: Where safety goggles when cutting.
You will want to do all your marks and cuts from the back. Just remember that your looking at the back of it and the shapes will be backwards when looking at it from the back. I marked my cut lines on the back of the plate with a Sharpie and used a sheet of plywood as my cutting area. Use a factory cut edge of another piece of ply as a straight edge to run your grinder against. Use wood screws to clampdown your diamond plate. Use a hand file to round the cut edges.
BENDING: I would recommend using a sheet metal bender if you have access to one. I did not have access to one so this is what I did.
Mark your bends after you have cut and filed the edges on the piece. This will keep you from accidentally cutting on a bend line, and so you don’t get cut while bending.
Score along the bend line with steady speed with the grinder, be careful not to cut to deep. I have a heavy wooden bench that I used to secure the plate to. The same way I secured the plate to the plywood to cut it. Clamp the straight edge to the bench loosely and slide your plate under and line up your bend line with the outer edge of the straight edge with the other part you want to bend hanging over the edge of the bench. Now clamp it down tight. Lay a 2x4 on the part, bend it down over the edge the bench and then take out and dry fit. Then repeat as needed.
FASTENING THE DIAMOND PLATE:
I used pan head Philips screws to fasten my new diamond plate to my XJ. I also used a thin sheet of toolbox tray liner as a gasket to keep the moisture out. You can pick them up at Fred Meyers for a buck a piece.
Just lay the liner on the back and if it’s the same liner that I bought it should stick to the new diamond plate like glue. If not you may want to get some spray on glue to secure it. Once you have it secured, then just trim with a razor blade.
Pre drill the holes and screw into place.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 505
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Year: 95
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Thanks, Ya me to, I thought it kinda changes the look, in a good way
Lol, Thanks ! The video was a lot of fun to make and cant wait to make another one
Thank you very much! lol
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
Year: 95
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Hey everyone! I hope everybody is having a great spring so far. Sorry I haven’t been on here much, but I have been very busy with SAR and since the sun started to shine, that means it's exterior house painting time of year for me. The 2011 Washington State SAR conference was held in Longview this year, and it was awesome! We met some of the 36 Icelandic SAR members that attend this year( very cool people! and there 4x4's are bad a$$) Ceck out there 4x4 gear! This one is a pdf http://www.ikar-cisa.org/ikar-cisa/d...1020000582.pdf and pictures on flicker. http://www.flickr.com/photos/53273087@N06/5109771893/ There were some great classes and venders there this year. Picked up a few cool items on sale and got some even cooler ideas for the jeep 
About 3/4 of my SAR unit made it to the conference.
Here is a shot of my awesome team!
Here is some of us test driving a $75,000 dollar aquatic tracked vehicle. Seats six.
Two short Youtube videos of the test drive. #1 http://youtu.be/t1bFFLc30mg
#2 http://youtu.be/DRO1jLNFPMk
Heres a slide show of the sar conference.
http://youtu.be/MNO-Bkzfxfw
Talk soon!
About 3/4 of my SAR unit made it to the conference.Here is a shot of my awesome team!
Here is some of us test driving a $75,000 dollar aquatic tracked vehicle. Seats six.
Two short Youtube videos of the test drive. #1 http://youtu.be/t1bFFLc30mg
#2 http://youtu.be/DRO1jLNFPMk
Heres a slide show of the sar conference.
http://youtu.be/MNO-Bkzfxfw
Talk soon!
Last edited by Richliveshots; Jun 7, 2011 at 12:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
Year: 95
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
I like the way the bumper came out.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,581
Likes: 8
From: some small town oregon
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by Richliveshots
For 75k I was not real impressed, but they would not let us take it in the near by river so it might do better in the water.
pieced together on my iPhone using all the extra parts from my cherokee...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Year: 95
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Sad day for SAR Volunteers
One of our SAR friends to the north made the ultimate sacrifice yesterday.
Creston
Creston RCMP and BC Coroners Service confirming death of Kootenay area Search and Rescue Technician
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File # 2011-1815
2011-06-29 23:31 PDT The Creston RCMP and BC Coroners Services are confirming that a BC Volunteer Search and Rescue Technician drowned today during a Search and Rescue operation in Creston.
Late Wednesday afternoon June 29th, the Creston RCMP were called to the Goat River, just off Highway 21, south of Creston, B.C. for a report of a vehicle going off the road and submerged in the river.
Search and Rescue Team resources required to carry out an examination of the vehicle mustered at the location, with an objective of determining if there were any occupants in the submerged vehicle. At about 4:15 pm during the course of their search efforts, utilizing swift water line equipment and a swift water craft, one of the Search and Rescue members went overboard into the river and did not surface. Efforts to locate and rescue this person were not successful.
No further details are being released with respect to the identity of the deceased SAR technician nor the SAR team involved as the Creston RCMP is currently completing next of kin notifications.
“Our condolences and thoughts are with the family involved as well as with our many BC Volunteer Search and Rescue Team members.” Cpl Dan Moskaluk
Search and Rescue efforts were suspended shortly after attempts to recover their teammate were unsuccessful with the recovery operation resuming on Thursday.
Media inquiries can be directed to Cpl. Dan Moskaluk who is en route in Creston and will be available to the media in the morning, on June 30, 2011 once further information can be confirmed and released.
Cpl Dan Moskaluk
"E" Division Communications Services
Senior Media Relations Officer
Southeast/North Districts
c:250-863-7433
Released by
Cpl. Dan Moskaluk
Senior Media Relations Officer
South East and North District
1168 Main Street, Penticton B.C. V2A-5E8
Office: (250) 492-4300
Cell: (250) 863-7433
Fax: (250) 492-4851
Email: dan.moskaluk@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Follow Cpl. Dan Moskaluk on Twitter
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Creston | Death | Rescue
One of our SAR friends to the north made the ultimate sacrifice yesterday.
Creston
Creston RCMP and BC Coroners Service confirming death of Kootenay area Search and Rescue Technician
Share |
File # 2011-1815
2011-06-29 23:31 PDT The Creston RCMP and BC Coroners Services are confirming that a BC Volunteer Search and Rescue Technician drowned today during a Search and Rescue operation in Creston.
Late Wednesday afternoon June 29th, the Creston RCMP were called to the Goat River, just off Highway 21, south of Creston, B.C. for a report of a vehicle going off the road and submerged in the river.
Search and Rescue Team resources required to carry out an examination of the vehicle mustered at the location, with an objective of determining if there were any occupants in the submerged vehicle. At about 4:15 pm during the course of their search efforts, utilizing swift water line equipment and a swift water craft, one of the Search and Rescue members went overboard into the river and did not surface. Efforts to locate and rescue this person were not successful.
No further details are being released with respect to the identity of the deceased SAR technician nor the SAR team involved as the Creston RCMP is currently completing next of kin notifications.
“Our condolences and thoughts are with the family involved as well as with our many BC Volunteer Search and Rescue Team members.” Cpl Dan Moskaluk
Search and Rescue efforts were suspended shortly after attempts to recover their teammate were unsuccessful with the recovery operation resuming on Thursday.
Media inquiries can be directed to Cpl. Dan Moskaluk who is en route in Creston and will be available to the media in the morning, on June 30, 2011 once further information can be confirmed and released.
Cpl Dan Moskaluk
"E" Division Communications Services
Senior Media Relations Officer
Southeast/North Districts
c:250-863-7433
Released by
Cpl. Dan Moskaluk
Senior Media Relations Officer
South East and North District
1168 Main Street, Penticton B.C. V2A-5E8
Office: (250) 492-4300
Cell: (250) 863-7433
Fax: (250) 492-4851
Email: dan.moskaluk@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Follow Cpl. Dan Moskaluk on Twitter
Follow BC RCMP News on:
component article previous next links
component category list
Related Articles:
Creston | Death | Rescue