Rear swing out and lights part 1

[VVjeepfreak]

I need a swing out for the spare tire on the old YJ. I looked at alot of diffrent types but most of them required me to change bumpers or were alot of $$$.I like the bummpers I got so I decided to build my own. I started with 1/4 in plate (I Think I over built it) and cut them to fit the rear panels. (I did't get any pic's of the cutting and welding):bonk: I also decided to change out the stock rear lights and put a set of 4in recessed LED breaklights. With the help of my buddy Scott(AVjeepfreek) we started mounting the brackets.

First we removed the stock lights and tailgate


Next we drilled the holes,matched up the plates and painted them




Then we fited the plates and marked the holes for the lights



Next the other holes were drilled

The tail gate was put back on and the light holes were cut


We missed a step and had to take the tailgate back off to fit the spacers for the hinges. With the holes drilled we mounted the lights


The lights gave us hell. They would work great then stop working for no reason. We rechecked all the grounds, fuses, wires but nothing would solve it. I left for work and Scott played with the wires a bit longer. He remounted the ground and it still cut out. All of a sudden they started working with no problem(still scraching out heads on that one)
Here was the finished product


What do ya think? I am getting read to Fab up the swingout now that I have the mounts set and ready to go. I will post them when we get done building the rack. Sorry for the long post but Im really proud of the way its turnning out and it will be like no other on the trail. Dan

[brokenujoint]

EXCELLENT!!! see this is the stuff that makes jeepers .... jeepers..

i CANT WAIT to see what your finished product is. ive been thinking about something like this for ALONG time. keep up the good work ..

[YJwonderboy]

Patent or Hide that idea! Don't want some aftermarket guys stealin' it!

[avjeepfreek]

Swingout

I can't wait to get started on the swingout! This thing is going to be awesome! Hey, keep a running total of the $ amount you spent and let everyone now what this project cost you! :wrench:

[VVjeepfreak]

So far it is less than 60 bucks. 30 for the lights and another 15 in hardware. Im guessing that is was about 20 bucks tops for the steel.( I got it free as no value scrap, helps when you do the fire and safety at a steel mill!!!) Im not going to add up what it will cost in beer to complete the whole project :beer::wink:

[avjeepfreek]

Yep!

I'll drink to that! :beer::wink:

[Shadly1]

Yeah well, if I had talent and skills and tools and steel and motivation and no x-box, I could make one of those too. :bonk:

Looks good Man!:thumbs_up

[92yj]

wow nice job. i think that i should have went that route. i made mine on the bumper. it works OK but i think that yours is a better idea. cant wait to see it finished.

[Kodiak Spirit]

oh man the stuff I could do without my X-BOX...

[Materdaddy]

WTF is that on the right? Half goat, half dog?

[VVjeepfreak]

That's our puppy. He's an Irish Wolf hound. He's only 170 lbs. and 6"5 on his hind legs.

[92yj]

wow that's an animal and i bet he is a gentle giant. wouldn't heart a fly?

[brokenujoint]

HAHA i was gonna ask if it was a donkey but i thought i wouldnt go there.

[Shadly1]

The suspense is killing me! What's the swingout going to look like?

[Roger]

Hey man, the workmanship it looks great. One teeeny-tiny little detail though. By changing out the stock lights you no longer have rear red side lights. You probably better add them or it'll be a ticket for sure.