Wrenching On The Fat Bob And Jeep

I got up early to beat the heat and started wrenching on the Fat Bob and Jeep. Most of the work was on the Jeep, but I did install the detachables mounting points on the Fat Bob. The installation was relatively straightforward, as long as you’ve got the right tools. After installing them, I added the magnetic covers. The magnets in them are really strong, so I don’t have much concern about them falling off. Here’s some before and after pictures.

Stock Fat Bob fender

Stock Fat Bob fender

Detachables mounting points installed

Detachables mounting points installed

Detachables with covers in place

Detachables with covers in place

After I finished with the bike, I started on the Jeep. First, I started on the oil change by opening the drain plug and letting it drain while I worked on other things. I pulled apart the dash, pulled out the HVAC controls, and checked on an LED that hasn’t been lighting up. The LED in question was, in fact, burned out, so I’m going to have to order a new one. In addition to troubleshooting that LED, I also added a small wedge to keep the radio from sagging. I then put the dash back together and replaced the shifter boot and bezel, which were all but falling apart.

I then crawled back under the Jeep and finished off the oil change, which was completely uneventful. Finally, I installed the American Outlaw Gate Keeper. It’s an add-on that corrects one of the flaws in the Wrangler design. Namely that the tailgate does not lock open, which makes it really tough to put on 65 pounds of dive gear from in the cargo area. The Gate Keeper is a brace that holds the tailgate open. It mounts on the tailgate using self-tapping screws, and folds away when not in use. I’d strongly recommend that you use a drill to drive those self-tappings screws in, because doing them by hand is an exercise in frustration. Here are some pictures of it.

Gate Keeper in closed position

Gate Keeper in closed position

Gate Keeper in open position

Gate Keeper in open position