rollingstone

Since I chopped my xj, Ive gotten into kayak fishing..
3ft of factory rack is not conducive to transporting a kayak.
Here's my solution:

Jeep XJ Truck w/ dogbox/roofrack combo.

Above is about four hours into the build.


And thats after another six hours or so.
Now I have a good, long surface for transporting my kayak and other random things I'm sure to transport. Also, once the back of the dogbox is complete, I have a safe place for my labs to be when we're going to the beach, river, woods, grocery store, etc.

The rack is made out of aluminum 1x1 (.093 wall) tubing.
The compound angles on the back were a real pain to begin with, but once I got going, it really kind of fell together.
My plan for the back is to cut the center of the "tailgate" out (about a 20" section), bring the uprights around and down to whats left of the "tailgate", and the all the way to the bed at the center section. The center section will be the door.

rollingstone

Like this:

rollingstone

The only thing I don't like about this rack is that with it on my jeep, my 31's seem too small..

01xjMontucky

Pretty sick. I'm a hardcore utilitarian, and I definitely see the utility in that. If the zombie apocalypse comes and any family members "turn" you can keep the dogs in the car and put your family zombies in the back. In case there's ever an antidote.

I do like it. Functional.

zingablaxj

thats awesome, can tell you put some time in on it.

have one question tho.. isnt it pretty much like a normal xj now before the chop? just bars instead of body and hatch

crimsondragon

You sound like Hershel Greene.

BrofessorXJ

Looking really really good. Is that the stock top half of the tailgate to close off the cab? Got any inside pics? I'd like to see em or a write up on how you did it. Do you have the back seats in still? I just chopped mine and I'm trying to figure out how to close the back up.

rollingstone

It is, but it really isn't..
Having that small bed is awesome. I can throw anything back there (trash, fishing tackle/bait, gas, etc.) and not worry about cleanliness or smell in the cab. Not to mention my dogs love it. Even before I started this box/rack build I would drive around with my dogs in the back. They love it!
And lastly, it is by far a normal xj.. It's chopped and has a dogbox

rollingstone

I'm going to post a few more pics on this build of what I've done on the inside, but heres a link to my build.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/beach-build-84885/

ZombieResponseJeep

I like the way you think! I imagine a zombie would break out that back glass though.

01xjMontucky

Um. Mines a normal xj. It has four doors and a hatchback.

rollingstone

Haha.. Correction- It is far from a normal xj.

zingablaxj

Totally agree. I wanna chop mine for the usefulness of a bed. I just saw the profile of it. And it reminded me of a stock hatch.

I admire your fab work. And follow through tho.

rollingstone

-Thanks!
I considered making the dogbox more boxy. It would have been easier and there would be a bit more room in the box (more than an unchopped xj's hatch). But I love that it has the same profile as it did before and who likes doing things the easy way??

Carnutcertifies

are the driver side bars vertical?