From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

Installing a baseplate on a Jeep Wrangler is easier than on a Bronco,
but it was a little harder than I thought it was going to be. Bronco
was two pieces, Jeep is a single part. Only had to drill two 1/2" holes
in the frame. Took me about 5 hours total. I took my time and being
the first one I've done, was probably much slower than a pro would be.
They say it takes 3 about hours, so I was in the ball park.

I could not use the aftermarket bull bumper (or whatever they call them)
it had on it, and that's a shame cause I actually started liking the
look of it. Probably give it away if I find someone who wants it. The baseplate weighs just a bit more than it did, but not much.

I left the bumper off for now, so I can do all the wiring. Makes it a
little easier with it off. Gotta help a friend with brush burning out
at the shooting range, so I'll have to finish it up next week. Getting
there.

<https://i.postimg.cc/bJ8XstbC/Jeep-Baseplate.jpg>
--
Science DoesnrCOt Support Darwin. Scientists Do

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From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:57:05 -0500,
sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

Installing a baseplate on a Jeep Wrangler is easier than on a
Bronco, but it was a little harder than I thought it was going
to be. Bronco was two pieces, Jeep is a single part.

So it sounds like you pulled the trigger on a new toad. Hope you
like it!

...Only had to drill two 1/2" holes in the frame. Took me
about 5 hours total. I took my time and being the first one
I've done, was probably much slower than a pro would be. They
say it takes 3 about hours, so I was in the ball park.

When I was young, my patience was terrible. I'd get midway into a
project, something wouldn't go quite right, and I'd just get
pissed off. Painting of car models was a prime example. I'd take
great care for quite a while, then something would get smeared and
I'd just say to hell with it and finish it without any real care.

As I've gotten older I've had less tendency to do that, and there
have even been times I've been able to take my time. Good for you
for having the wherewithal to do that. For me, when I'm able to,
there's an element of pleasure in learning how to do something
new, and an element of satisfaction in knowing I accomplished it.

Installing the mantel mount and putting my 65" tv on it when
moving into our new place last year was an example. I probably
spent 3-4 hours on it, and am still pleased with the job. In
fact, there was a glitch. After making all the measurements,
marking all the hole locations, and getting the first rail bolted
to the wall studs I realized that the other rail would overlap the
edges of a couple of electrical plates. Instead of losing it, I
analyzed the situation and chose a reasonable alternative to
undoing everything and adujsting the position: I clipped off the
edges of the plates so the rail could be flush to the wall. It's
a bit of kludge, but doesn't show since it's behind the tv.

https://panix.com/~theise/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260329_0931114429283305762014691.jpg

I could not use the aftermarket bull bumper (or whatever they
call them) it had on it, and that's a shame cause I actually
started liking the look of it. Probably give it away if I find
someone who wants it. The baseplate weighs just a bit more
than it did, but not much.

I left the bumper off for now, so I can do all the wiring.
Makes it a little easier with it off. Gotta help a friend with
brush burning out at the shooting range, so I'll have to finish
it up next week. Getting there.

<https://i.postimg.cc/bJ8XstbC/Jeep-Baseplate.jpg>

I'm impressed! Looks well beyond my capability.

And I've got some bruch burning to do too. The back end of our
lot had a ~10 ft deep strip of woods running along it where it
backs up to a small outlot in the adjacent subdivision. I've
spent a fair bit of time clearing out wild plum and white
raspberry and have burned part of it, but we've been under a burn
ban for several weeks now due to wind and dryness. Maybe in a few
weeks.
--
Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
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From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On 3/29/2026 9:39 AM, Ted Heise wrote:

On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:57:05 -0500,
sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

Installing a baseplate on a Jeep Wrangler is easier than on a
Bronco, but it was a little harder than I thought it was going
to be. Bronco was two pieces, Jeep is a single part.

So it sounds like you pulled the trigger on a new toad. Hope you
like it!

Yes, I finished all the electrical and baseplate installation and have
been driving it around to get used to it and look for any problems. So
far I really like it. Gonna be much easier to tow and should be great
off road. I had to buy a drop down hitch and it should be here
tomorrow. Then I'll hook it up to the F-150 and see how she pulls.
Like I said earlier, it's 20% lighter than the Bronco, so it should be
much easier to haul.

Damn thing has a 3.6 litre V6 in it and is actually pretty quick, while
still getting very good mileage because it's so light. Very happy I got
the 2 door instead of the 4 door.

...Only had to drill two 1/2" holes in the frame. Took me
about 5 hours total. I took my time and being the first one
I've done, was probably much slower than a pro would be. They
say it takes 3 about hours, so I was in the ball park.

When I was young, my patience was terrible. I'd get midway into a
project, something wouldn't go quite right, and I'd just get
pissed off. Painting of car models was a prime example. I'd take
great care for quite a while, then something would get smeared and
I'd just say to hell with it and finish it without any real care.

As I've gotten older I've had less tendency to do that, and there
have even been times I've been able to take my time. Good for you
for having the wherewithal to do that. For me, when I'm able to,
there's an element of pleasure in learning how to do something
new, and an element of satisfaction in knowing I accomplished it.

I've always considered myself somewhat of a builder. I'll try just
about anything, after research of course. But I've just always loved
building things.

Installing the mantel mount and putting my 65" tv on it when
moving into our new place last year was an example. I probably
spent 3-4 hours on it, and am still pleased with the job. In
fact, there was a glitch. After making all the measurements,
marking all the hole locations, and getting the first rail bolted
to the wall studs I realized that the other rail would overlap the
edges of a couple of electrical plates. Instead of losing it, I
analyzed the situation and chose a reasonable alternative to
undoing everything and adujsting the position: I clipped off the
edges of the plates so the rail could be flush to the wall. It's
a bit of kludge, but doesn't show since it's behind the tv.

https://panix.com/~theise/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260329_0931114429283305762014691.jpg

Looks like it works to me! Now what you have to do is learn to forget
the things that didn't go perfectly and move on. Next job!

I could not use the aftermarket bull bumper (or whatever they
call them) it had on it, and that's a shame cause I actually
started liking the look of it. Probably give it away if I find
someone who wants it. The baseplate weighs just a bit more
than it did, but not much.

I left the bumper off for now, so I can do all the wiring.
Makes it a little easier with it off. Gotta help a friend with
brush burning out at the shooting range, so I'll have to finish
it up next week. Getting there.

<https://i.postimg.cc/bJ8XstbC/Jeep-Baseplate.jpg>

I'm impressed! Looks well beyond my capability.

I'm sure you could do it if you put your mind to it. I didn't think I
was going to, but in the end I was afraid of the same things as with the Bronco. Badly place wiring among the most important. I have everything inside casings or the frame and am happy with how it ended up. Probably
saved over a grand doing it myself, but I know everything is torques
properly and done to specs. Got a little sore, but it was a good test
to see if the knees could do this sort of thing. Glad it's all done.
Now it's time to just use it. I told the wife there was no reason to
take the Bronco to Alabama during spring storm weather, so we're taking
the Jeep on it's maiden voyage in a couple weeks.

And I've got some bruch burning to do too. The back end of our
lot had a ~10 ft deep strip of woods running along it where it
backs up to a small outlot in the adjacent subdivision. I've
spent a fair bit of time clearing out wild plum and white
raspberry and have burned part of it, but we've been under a burn
ban for several weeks now due to wind and dryness. Maybe in a few
weeks.

Our burn went really well. Conditions were perfect with the amount of
wind and dryness of everything. It is simply amazing how fast that burn
can move with a little wind behind it. We did know what we were doing
and had back burns completed all the way around before we went to to
side the wind was coming from. Once we lit it, man did it take off. Fortunately it ran out of fuel at our back burns and everything worked
as planned. Always nice when you don't have to call the fire department
to come bail you out!
--
Science DoesnrCOt Support Darwin. Scientists Do

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

On Tue, 7 Apr 2026 21:26:24 -0500,
sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

On 3/29/2026 9:39 AM, Ted Heise wrote:

On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 17:57:05 -0500,
sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

Installing a baseplate on a Jeep Wrangler is easier than on
a Bronco, but it was a little harder than I thought it was
going to be. Bronco was two pieces, Jeep is a single part.

So it sounds like you pulled the trigger on a new toad. Hope
you like it!

Yes, I finished all the electrical and baseplate installation
and have been driving it around to get used to it and look for
any problems. So far I really like it. Gonna be much easier
to tow and should be great off road. I had to buy a drop down
hitch and it should be here tomorrow. Then I'll hook it up to
the F-150 and see how she pulls. Like I said earlier, it's 20%
lighter than the Bronco, so it should be much easier to haul.

Excellent, so nice when things work as hoped for.

Damn thing has a 3.6 litre V6 in it and is actually pretty
quick, while still getting very good mileage because it's so
light. Very happy I got the 2 door instead of the 4 door.

With what they're doing in engines these days, a V6 sounds like it
should be more than enough. :)

As I've gotten older I've had less tendency to do that, and
there have even been times I've been able to take my time.
Good for you for having the wherewithal to do that. For me,
when I'm able to, there's an element of pleasure in learning
how to do something new, and an element of satisfaction in
knowing I accomplished it.

I've always considered myself somewhat of a builder. I'll try
just about anything, after research of course. But I've just
always loved building things.

Me too, or at least the idea of building things. Lol

<https://i.postimg.cc/bJ8XstbC/Jeep-Baseplate.jpg>

I'm impressed! Looks well beyond my capability.

I'm sure you could do it if you put your mind to it.

LOLOL. I don't think so. Well, maybe, but it would take me
forEVER! And I'd be pestering you here the whole time.

...so we're taking the Jeep on it's maiden voyage in a couple
weeks.

Sounds like somerhing fun to look forwrd to, enjoy!

And I've got some bruch burning to do too...

Our burn went really well. Conditions were perfect with the
amount of wind and dryness of everything. It is simply amazing
how fast that burn can move with a little wind behind it. We
did know what we were doing and had back burns completed all
the way around before we went to to side the wind was coming
from. Once we lit it, man did it take off. Fortunately it ran
out of fuel at our back burns and everything worked as planned.
Always nice when you don't have to call the fire department to
come bail you out!

Good job! I just finished reading a fascinating biography of a
woman who grew up on a homestead just north of Chadron, Nebraska
back at the end of the 19th century. This is the southern edge of
the Sandhills, and the prairie fires they had/have there sound
terrifying. Glad you came through it okay. I'm still waiting for
acceptable conditions to burn my little pile of brush.
--
Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
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