Cherokee XJ Interior Rotopax Mounting Spare Tire Area
 

Well about three years back I had some Aluminum M.O.L.L.E. / Rotopax mounting plates made to go on adventure motorcycle pannier racks and they were on the market for about 6 months...Then a much cheaper, imported from China one made with a thin sheetmetal came out...It was very similar to my design.....and as we know many buyers go for cheap not quality... So i have about 40 of these plates that have been laying around...

Well I started an XJ build last month and this weekend I was trying to figure out how I wanted to mount some rotopax for water and emergency gear on the interior of the vehicle.

My gas ones will be on the roof rack...

So here it goes..

I removed the spare tire and mounts...

Pulled the interior panels and rerouted one of the harnesses

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20009-M.jpg

removed the top tire bracket

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20006-M.jpg

I grabbed one of the plates out of the shed and mounted a rotopax mount to it, it is drilled for Kolpin mounts also.

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20007-M.jpg

Measured out my mounting holes...

predrilled it with a step bit...

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20010-M.jpg

Mounted the plate with some self tapping screws...

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20014-M.jpg

Did a single mount to see how it fit with a 2 gallon water container..

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20012-M.jpg

Then added a double mount for the water container and the firstaid / emergency kit..

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20015-M.jpg

here is a few shots of the final product

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20021-M.jpg

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20019-M.jpg

As you see if you run two containers the second sticks out just a little, a single takes up less space than the OEM spare..

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Chero...ax%20018-M.jpg

if anyone is interested in the plate let me know I will see what i have left...

Look awesome!

Thank you...I will be adding two of the to my roof rack for the gas cans and to have some more tie down areas.

YES! THAT IS PERFECT. I'd do a double mount for sure. PM me a price.

Awesome job. I like.

Very nice. I've been wanting to do Rotopax for a while and wanted to put something here. So question--why is such a big plate necessary? Is there not enough steel or unibody behind the plastic panel to support a loaded Roto?

The original design was for adventure motorcycle pannier racks and had to be very sturdy for offroad and crashes..plus it was designed for both rotopax and straps / molle.

There isnt enough steel in the Uni body if you want to mount a rotopax where the spare tire was and center it..there is to the top but not middle or lower.

they are also thick enough for counter sunk mounting hardware to keep the hardware from rubbing against teh rotopax.

So it has several purposes, hard mount for a pistol case, molle, straps, or just about anything you would like to mount.

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Other/KTM-...13%20014-M.jpg

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Other/KTM-...13%20008-M.jpg

But then I have used them on other projects..

http://jrozar.smugmug.com/Jeep/Jeep/...09%20004-M.jpg

Well just to let you know i was the one you just shipped your passenger cargo box to in Las Vegas this week so now you know what will be on the opposite side.

Great. So are you selling these plates? How much for one shipped to 17313?

I would consider selling the ones I have left but I have no plans of making any more, the cost of materials, time for a water jet etc..adds up. Let me check and see how many I have left in the shed..and I will see what is the cheapest way to ship.

Awesome and practical..... Shoot me a pm with price as well please!

Hey Jrozar, how did you remove the top tire bracket? Mine feels like its welded onto the inside of the quarter. Did you cut it off or what?

Possibly interested, pending price.

bump, still wanting to know the best way to remove

there's three bolts holding it on. take the trim panel off and you will see the bolts holding the bracket