internal storage ideas

[dangerousdave]

I always thought you weren't supposed to operate CO2 when the tank is on its side?

Good call..... But it works for paintball. What would the difference be?

[BigDaveZJ]

I think the flow is a little higher for our application than for paintball, maybe that has something to do with it? When I bought mine I asked the guy about it and he was pretty adamant about it being upright.

[FortCollinsZJ]

Thats what Ryan said... (arlo). I can always take it out to use it... It just fit so good where it is.

[FortCollinsZJ]

"Storage on its side is fine, but you'll have to take it out of the bracket to use it. Liquid CO2 in the regulator/valve/hose would be a bad thing.

It's my understanding that you can use it immediately after standing it up."

Jim karlin quoted from JF.

[BigDaveZJ]

Always consider the source of information when determining its validity.

[FortCollinsZJ]

hahaha! I hope he sees that, Jim may seem crazy, he may look crazy, he may drive crazy, and say some crazy shit from time to time... but I believe him.

I think that crazy kite flyer may know a thing or two...

[AgitatedPancake]

yeah you don't have to worry about waiting once you have it upright like you do with acetylene, you can rotate it to vertical and use it instantly. The only reason it's a nono to use on its side is because co2 in liquid form will insta freeze and dry out all o rings and seals leading to failure, just like in a paintball gun. Maybe if it was rigged with an anti-siphon tube that was aimed at the top of the tank according to how you have it mounted you can make it work, but right now all you have to do is stand it up and you're good to go.

[albersondh]

I just got back from Australia and NZ. These guys are expedition rig nuts and have been that way forever. I made the old lady stop off at all the 4x shops I saw and I picked up a bunch of brochures and catalogs. This is a link to an ausie based shop that does 4x interior solutions (just for some ideas): http://www.4wdinteriors.com/index.htm

[fpkites]

"Storage on its side is fine, but you'll have to take it out of the bracket to use it. Liquid CO2 in the regulator/valve/hose would be a bad thing.

It's my understanding that you can use it immediately after standing it up."

Jim karlin quoted from JF.

Always consider the source of information when determining its validity.

hahaha! I hope he sees that, Jim may seem crazy, he may look crazy, he may drive crazy, and say some crazy shit from time to time... but I believe him.

I think that crazy kite flyer may know a thing or two...

Yeah, that guy's fuckin' nuts - he wanted to stack TB spacers for fuck sake!


wait...what?

I have no idea who told me about tanks, but I do remember him/her saying don't use it on its side, but you can use it as soon as you have it upright. I thought you had to have it upright for 20 minutes or so, but I was corrected.

May have been Jerry Bransford or somebody...dunno

[OverlandXJ]

Been wanting to make a rear cargo storage system in my rig, this my favorite design i'v come across so far. It's in an FJ-80 i found at IH8MUD.com.

[MoonyJohn]

I have already started drawing out a plan for a rear interior storage thing. Has anyone put a subwoofer on top of the system itself? I was thinking of having the system be bolted down, and then cover it with sub box material. Then put my sub on the pass. side and bolt it down so then it doesnt move or get stolen..

[BigDaveZJ]

My thought with a sub and a box like that is the sub would just rattle everything in the box and make the sub sound like ass.

[Katesdad]

Ive seen lots of great ideas here for storage. When Kates old/big enough for the front seat Im probably ditching the back seats and and leveling off the back with storage where the seats should be. I use my ZJ like a truck way too much to loose the space.

[Jacked UP ZeeJay]

I built this the other day, cost me 42 bux and my friend was working at Home Depot at the time and we cut all the pieces and planned it out right on the floor in the middle of Home Depot haha.

I tried it, didnt come out too great. I want to perfect it though. Get some better doors on it, and line it up better. Nothing special, but it will do the job

[BigDaveZJ]

Make sure you secure it to the floor somehow too.

[FivePoint2]

Definately some cool ideas fellas! Obviously the possibilities are endless!

I've been debating the whole storage thing for years. Currently I have a lined canvas bag (roughly the same size as the seat back) attached to the frame work of the driver-side rear back seat. It works pretty good for holding tools, a 4 way, flashlight, fluids and other small items. I've thought about building a box made from MDF that would run from the floor to roughly the height of the seats. The box wouldn't be much more than 12-18" deep (front to back), maybe devided left to right, with access to shelves or built in compartments in the "front" of the box being gained by folding down the seat backs and access to the backside of the box via doors or slide-up panels that would hold larger items.

[Cue-Ball]

Great thread.

I personally LOVE the drawer idea and have been thinking about it for a long time. I agree with Dave that $1500 is probably NOT that bad considering what you get. I also think that it could be built cheaper at home, but you have to know something about cabinetry (so that leaves me out, hahaha).

Who knows if I ever get the rest of the shit on my Heep finished I might move on to doing some storage in the back of mine, time will tell.

[BigDaveZJ]

I think I'm leaning now towards a smaller drawer system in Pam's rig, maybe only have it take up half the back, and then leave room for a kitchen box in the other section.

[FivePoint2]

^ That's what I was thinking... something with enough storage that didn't completely eliminate the entire cargo area. At one point I was considering just buying a Smitty TJ box & the raised rack system they offer and fitting both to the ZJ... but that kills any hope of carrying a spare inside.

[BigDaveZJ]

Somethin like this: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=22041

[Cue-Ball]

Dave, I LOVE that!!!!!!!!!!!

[FivePoint2]

Somethin like this: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=22041

There's something to be said for "KISS", my biggest problem is over-engineering. I have to keep in mind that it is my daily driver.

Cool site by the way. I've thumbed through the pages over the past few years & I'm impressed by many of the rigs you guys & gals have built. I've only recently registered because of this new expedition section - never really felt worthy of posting beforehand, lol. The wife and I do a lot of camping & fishing so that's what building my ZJ has revolved around vs. being a hardcore crawler.

[jsteves]

I really like what Stan built and I think I will be building one as well. I am going to make my dimensions to fit 2 footlockers under it and have lashing points on the top for camping gear, cooler, or another foot locker for long trips.

I also like that it easy to remove. Until I find the truck I want I will continue to use the ZJ as one so it needs to be removable.

[FivePoint2]

Well, my mind has been made up for me. The wife adopted a 6wk old Boxer/Pit mix from a co-worker - now I need room to tote our new dog around as well. So, it looks like I'm going to go with the double slide out drawer idea to keep it low enough to make room for a crate or at least keep some floor space so she has a place to hangout.

Anyone else toting around dogs on a regular basis?

[BigDaveZJ]

FivePoint2, that's been a consideration for us as well as we have a 4 y.o. lab mix. In the past he's hung out in the cargo area of Pam's ZJ, but with the boxes back there what we're thinking about doing is laying the back seats down and letting him hang out there since we rarely use the back seats. We usually leave him at home when we do the harder trails, but he seems to really enjoy camping so we want to make sure he can go with us on the easier trips. If it comes to it, he can always ride in the front seat with me in my Jeep too. As big of a PITA as it is to have 2 rigs sometimes, it does make some things easier too.