ALICE/MOLLE Storage project
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, nc
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
contributing my idea for the molle fans..
just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?
just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: MS
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0w/703 injectors
contributing my idea for the molle fans..

just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?

just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 2
From: Bentonville, AR
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
contributing my idea for the molle fans..
just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?
just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 639
Likes: 3
From: lake stevens, wa
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
mine's a 96.. and my shocks are old and tired, so they will sag a bit if I have a ton of stuff strapped to it. I planned on replacing them with some nice new ones anyway. I also don't keep anything real heavy on there.. mostly just little stuff in a few molle pouches, and a hatchet that I secure with Velcro straps
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Interior of Alaska
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
contributing my idea for the molle fans..

just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?

just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?
contributing my idea for the molle fans..

just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?

just 1/8" flat steel from home depot, some nylon spacers, and some nuts and bolts.. drilled thru the bars, then spaced them out on the cover and drilled those out too. assembled them with a 3/8" nylon spacer between the bar and cover, nuts and fender washers on the backside. then i predrilled and ran a few extra screws thru the cover into the hatch to support the extra weight. took maybe an hour or so to put together, and cost me maybe $40 said and done?
- Use aluminum, instead of steel. No "atmospheric corrosion," can anno any colour I want, and the finish wouldn't rub off on the gear.
- 3/8" spacer may be a bit much - how did you find that to work?
- After cutting to length, "break" the corners & ends, then fold back about 1/4" to keep the sharp edges out of the way (I have a bad habit of snagging on things) - or just half-round the bars & be done with it.
Apart from that, VERY cool idea! I've been thinking about taking out the plastic trim liners and replacing them with aluminum anyhow (probably retain with Dzus, or similar,) so this is something else that's going on the "Hmm...." list!
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 639
Likes: 3
From: lake stevens, wa
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
aluminum would be cool, but would have more than doubled the price.. wanted to get it done on the cheap. I also didn't care about finish myself.. most of my stuff is function > form, so painting seemed pointless. if it doesn't effect the way it works, mehh.
and I tried thinner spacers first, but the folded strap/ button thickness wouldn't fit thru without a fight.
if anyone does a modified version, please post up some pics!
and I tried thinner spacers first, but the folded strap/ button thickness wouldn't fit thru without a fight.
if anyone does a modified version, please post up some pics!


this was really easy I used lashing straps and screws to mount it to the side panels and a angle grinder to cut a old dog crate that my labs out grew took about a hour to install and cut everything to do it
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, nc
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Interior of Alaska
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO


