I thought I would pass on this simple project for making a heavy duty tie down point for the cargo area of the XJ. These tie down points are what we developed to solve the weak tie down point problem, and to anchor the bottom of the nets we sell at: www.trailtuffnets.com. This project just requires two washers, a welder, a grinder, paint, and a 15 mm socket wrench.

Start off by welding two washers together, one larger, and one smaller. I don't have the sizes written down, but here is a picture of the two after welding and grinding, next to a tape measure. The key is that the hole in the bigger one has to be big enough to allow the bolt that the upper part of the rear seat hinges on to pass through it. The hole in the smaller one has to be large enough to accommondate a chain link of the size you want to use. You will need a total of four washers, two large and two smaller ones.


Clean up and paint the two pairs of welded washers. Now remove the two bolts on which the upper half of the rear seat hinges, run the bolt through the larger hole in the washer pair, and put the bolt back. Here is a pic of one side in place:

Now insert a chain link (one of those that you can open up (either with a spring clip or by unscrewing it) through the hole in the smaller washer. Here's a pic of the final setup:

You might want to put two chain links on either side, just so it sticks out farther into the cargo area. Now you can put a ratchet strap on this thing and crank away. Of course you need an equally strong tie down point on the other end to take the strain. I will do a later post on what I did there. I hope this is helpful.

 

I just welded a chain length to the floor on either side of the cargo area haha

 

I bought the cheap 500lb bolt on cargo tie-downs from harbor freight and welded one down in each of the four corners. Just another way of doing it, thought it requires pulling the carpet.

 

What I liked about the way I did it was that I could weld far away from the XJ and then put it in. I'm not a good enough welder to try welding to the body.

 

I used heavy duty tie downs from the back of a surburban. $5 for 6 pieces from junkyard. It takes a torx bit to remove from donor if you interested.