TJ: Tonka Jeep - 2005 Renegade Extreme Sport

[Tonka Jeep]

So it is about time I re-introduced a well known Jeep back to AJOR after a short hiatus and some cross Australia travelling on the back of a truck.

Its great when you can track the history of your car back to its original purchase. Killa from this forum, bought this Jeep new in 2006.

http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...ad.php?t=59303

In his time with it, he was able to take it from stock and build it into something pretty damn capable for a daily driver. He shipped it from WA to FNQ and then sold it to me where it was shipped to Vic.

http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...ad.php?t=91526

Killa set it up with:

- Full 2.5" Rancho Rockcrawler SA Lift kit (not the 4WD1 Moab version) including sway bar disconnects, brake lines, panhard drop bracket etc.
- Rubicon Express upper control arms front and rear
- Rancho 9000 series shocks
- SYE
- 33"x12.5” Procomp Xterrains
- Pro-Comp Series 51 Rockcrawler steel rims 15x8” -3.75BS x 5
- AEV Heat Reduction Hood
- The original JBits Rear Bar/Tyre Carrier
- ARB Body Mounted Sliders
- Detroit TrueTrac geared LSD front
- 4.56 Diff Ratios
- GME 3400 UHF Radio
- Pioneer CD Player with Kenwood speakers
- Camo safari top
- Rock Lights
- Snake Racing steering box guard

This is what it looked like when it was sitting in at CEVA ready to be sent down to me:

[Tonka Jeep]

Next on the list of things to do were remove the rear seat and build a rear storage shelf.

I took onboard a lot of the ideas already posted on this site, plus what I wanted from my storage and came up with the idea to build a shelf that hinged to allow taller items to be placed in the back of the jeep and for access.

I didn't want drawers, as I need the whole room for different things (gear bags etc). The plan is to use plastic buckets for gear when needing to pack it for a trip.

So the pics tell the story, I used a piano hinge in the middle, and to allow the hinged shelf to stay put, I installed over the top latches on the inside, so it can not be opened when the roof is off, and allows things to be tied down on top securely.

So:








I don't actually have a pic of the finished unit, all carpeted etc.
When it stops raining, I will go outside and take one!

[Tonka Jeep]

After the rear shelf, the annoying chimes were doing my head in.
But not wanting to just pull the fuse, or cut wires, I invested in a 'chime buster'.

Other than the instructions having different coloured wiring to my Jeep, 30mins, a little wire splicing, soldering and the like, it was installed with a 5 second warning. Enough to let me know somethings up, but not continuous...

[Tonka Jeep]

Next on the list was a new bar and winch.

Only Bar I liked was the minimilist design of the Warn bar, or variants of.
Wooders had the RR bar, and it was significantly cheaper, and did the job.

Had some trouble fitting it, due to the tight clearances the bar had over the ends of the chassis, and the addition of a welded brace/tab on the snake racing steering box guard.

Out came the grinder, and after a little work, it all squeezed into place.

Picked up an old XD9000 that had been used about twice then sat in a shed for 6 years. Had Mal Leslie do his work on it and bolted it up 4x4Point Winch plate... Amsteel blue has been ordered from OkOffroad, and still working on how I will set up the solenoids. The current plan is to mount everything under the hood, using a wireless controller (with hand control backup)...

I had a highmount on the old hilux, but keeping everying budget to a point at the moment, but everything is upgradable right?

Picked up an aluminium hawse and found some old generic spotties in the shed which will do in the short term. (need to finish wiring them up, the loom and switch was already there from the previous owner, so it really is about a 30sec job, but need to buy some new splade connectors.

[Tonka Jeep]

Next was the snorkel, which I picked up 2nd hand complete off AJOR.
Cleaned it all up and then went about installing it.

No real issues (ordered a new template). PS. I now HAVE a template for a Safari Snorkel TJ. So I am more than happy to make as many copies as people want, as ARB charge for them!

Only issue I had out of the whole thing is where the air tube from the snorkel runs under the spare batter tray, it is meant to run through two support panels which have holes already in them. You are meant to simply add some rubber to the edges of the support panel holes to prevent damage.
For some reason, one of the panels (under the spare battery tray) had NO HOLE!
Which meant more grinding, cutting, swearing $#%^#~! as the area is really tight and not easy to work in.
Got it done, installed a K&N filter and everything worked fine.
I did stuff up, as I was rushing this install, and mounted the bracket on the A Pillar the wrong way, its only cosmetic, but well, teaches you not to rush things!

There is nothing like drilling a 3 inch hole (minds out of gutter) into a fresh Jeep body panel... (Ps. I now have a used once, 3 inch hole saw, I am happy to lend to anyone installing a snorkel on their TJ.

[Tonka Jeep]

So Tonka Jeep, now has a couple more accessories and just to keep track of things:

- Full 2.5" Rancho Rockcrawler SA Lift kit (not the 4WD1 Moab version) including sway bar disconnects, brake lines, panhard drop bracket etc.
- Rubicon Express upper control arms front and rear
- Rancho 9000 series shocks
- SYE
- 33"x12.5” Procomp Xterrains
- Pro-Comp Series 51 Rockcrawler steel rims 15x8” -3.75BS x 5
- AEV Heat Reduction Hood
- The original JBits Rear Bar/Tyre Carrier
- ARB Body Mounted Sliders
- Detroit TrueTrac geared LSD front
- 4.56 Diff Ratios
- GME 3400 UHF Radio
- Pioneer CD Player with Kenwood speakers
- Camo safari top
- Rock Lights
- Snake Racing steering box guard
- Safari Snorkel
- Rear Stoage unit
- K&N Filter
- Scanguage and Blendmount rear vision mirror mount for scanguage
- RR Fitted Mud Mats
- RR Rockcrawler Front Bar
- Warn XD9000 winch

This is the best pic I have at the moment (taken with the iPhone).

[Hellcat]

Whoa, I've got to say that is the nicest looking TJ. Great work mate!