Mackenzie Trail Preparations

Mostly customizations, but a few repairs along the way. Does it count as a repair if you're fixing a customization? I'm preparing for the Rover-Landers August trip along the Alexander Mackenzie Trail, eastward from Quesnel, BC.
This time (we previously traversed this trail west-east in 2002) we are making this our summer vacation, so in addition to 9 days on the trail, we'll be adding a few days front and back to make it a full 2 weeks. Pamela and Oliver are coming along and 11 other trucks.

I started my preparation with picking up a roof rack from Gregg Porter. Then went out and purchased 5 plastic military surplus jerry cans. Then decided that 250 lbs. of fuel was too much for the roof. So I spent last weekend manufacturing a jerry can holder to fit in place of where the spare tire usually goes on the back. Of course, the spare tire will now have to ride on the bonnet. And 3 jerry cans will still go on the roof rack. I figure my total weight on the roof rack, including 5 various size tote boxes, lawn chairs and table, and 3 cans of fuel will be about 400 lbs. And, since fuel will be consumed at a frightening rate on this trip, it wont be long till we're down to 250 lbs on top.
I spent some time last month creating some A-frames to replace the normal sides of the hard top. As most of you know, I am an addict of the soft top with its sides rolled up and lots of fresh air flowing through. However, its really tough to put a roof rack up above a canvas top. So my plan was to fabricate some supports at the back and put the hard top in place, suspended by the windshield — as normal, then a reinforcement on the roll bar, and two a-frames at the rear. See the pics. It worked very well. I am awaiting canvas so I can make side curtains, which will normally stay rolled up, but will provide a little bit of protection if the weather turns on us.
I had a bit of time last night, so I reinstalled the hitch mount/recovery bracket at the rear — now heavily reinforced. And put the grab handles back on that had been sitting on the bench since April. Speaking of sitting on the bench, the metal for the rock sliders has been sitting on the bench for way too long. So I cut everything to size, and was able to finish one side last night. Too bad I had recently scraped the crap out of that side. Should have done the sliders sooner! Later this week I'll finish the other side.
Defender hinges and mirrors happened somewhere along the line. Only my wallet knows for sure when it was.
My springs had been doing a fair bit of creaking of late, Wise Owl Parabolics with some pretty extreme use on them, so I ordered new bushings, which arrived today. Ripped out the springs during dinner hour, and they're off to the spring shop in the morning. The guy is going to rebush, re-curve and install teflon shims to stop the constant squeaking that is characteristic of thes springs. I will remount tomorrow evening. Of course, I don't expect these new bushings to outlast the old, so if I get 3 years out of them I'll be happy. I do stress the springs to the max articulation quite often, which is kind of hard on bushings. The neoprene ones I installed in the frame are holding up well, though.
I'm now down to a short list of things to do, but as usual, the time will catch up with me real fast and I'll be wondering why I didn't get everything done.
Last thing on the agenda of fabrications it to make som spring plate sliders for the rear. I would have put this job off, except that one of my rear spring issues was that the spring/ubolt plate on the left side was cracking, and getting worse. So on the drawing board is a simple desing of a spring slide, which you'll see photos of when its done. I'll only do the back two for now as time is creeping in on me.

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