I think I would stay at home to. Its not often that cold here but when it has been its certainly not weather I venture out in. I expect up your way its probably much colder more regularly? Thanks for watching
Evening Mike, just wanted to say that I am currently awaiting my wife going into labour with our second child and this video has been an excellent distraction from the nerves! Keep doing what you’re doing.
The M90 Dutch army sleeping bag is top . The cortex cover is definitely good for keeping the body heat inside the sleeping bag and yes the moisture out
Yeah absolutely, I slacked off the winch but still you never know if the roots are going to pull once the weight is taken off. Seen that happen a few times back in the UK. Thanks for watching!
Diesel tanks can get water in from condensation keeping the tank full can reduce it but it is a constant issue should have a water trap in the system somewhere so you can drain it out. dont know if jeeps have a fuel tank tank drain but you can sometimes crack them open if it has one and drain the water out. good you had your buddy with you to keep you warm and the discovery to rescue you. Sat here in the uk at around about -2 thinking that looks jolly cold there but i do love the snow. a walk around of that disco would be nice have a D2 TD5 we are slowly turning into adventure truck
I have a drain on the filter but not the plastic fuel tank unfortunately. I've considered building a metal one with a low point drain. My water issue was my own dumb fault. I extended a breather to the roof that took on water in a rain channel every time I jet washed the jeep. Sorted now but its got me thinking much like you have suggested. I will get ivo to do a video with me on his Disco. He's currently building gullwing windows on it so I think he will want those finished first. Thanks for watching
Well this was real.You were well prepared even with the problems and being together made it actually work both needing each other. Lesson learnt. Excellent content. Thanks
Un grand merci pour cette video Très instructive. Vous avez très bien répondu à pas mal de mes questions concernant votre organisation et avec toujours une pointe d'humour. On vous adore 😊😊
Consider..if you have to remove your diesel, welding a 'bung/access port w/ball valve' at the lowest corner, obviously not real easy and youd have to make a protective cage for it, but then you could release the water accumulated in the tank...then throw in some 'power service 'additive, change your fuel filt. And you'd be good to go...it actually works good
Unfortunately the tank is plastic. I thought of it myself, perhaps a wine cork? Joking. I'm thinking of building my own stainless tank and if that happens a weld in tank drain is absolutely happening. Thanks for the tips and for watching
You’re evolving into a really great presenter Mike. The humor always lands great too. I’m called back to my American childhood watching Man Vs Wild and Bear Grylls and never understanding how over dramatized it was 😂😢 This is a million times better.
Well that's very kind of you! I try not to over do the talking in these videos ( which is nice for me actually ). I think most of the videography shows what's happening and the voice overs just connect the dots where needed. It feels like a healthy formula, especially for me because I can just do my thing and enjoy the experience. Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching.
Smart set up ! ... I've a Diesel XJ ( and a Voyager too) and i'm very impressed about your Jeep ... Every time before working on mine i check your videos
Ironically people always want to wear jackets and clothes in a sleeping bag but that only restricts how the heat radiates around the bag. You are better off adding a bag liner or layers outside the bag and wearing light thermals inside. Adding hand warmers or hot water tight containers or hot rocks inside the bag help enormously. As for the batteries, that’s always the challenge. Small batteries can fit in a small crush cooler and hand warmers can keep ‘em warm. For the bigger ones it’s down to the challenge of wrapping and heating. I love the cold but it does remind you how fast things can go to hell. Good video mike always a pleasure to watch.
Great tips. That's certainly a common misconception on sleeping bags. I'm in my boxers and a t shirt in mine but it's rated pretty low so I'm worried about over heating. The challenges are great fun and the environment is beautiful, but like you say things can go wrong very quickly especially if you rely heavily on luxury items. Thanks for watching
Great video again Mike When you knocking wood i would have thought woodpecker bird replied😮😂. When you making a hole the ice sound of Ocean was amazing by you was amazing. Whole video is fantastic Thanks again and take care.🙏🏽🥰
I'm glad we were together on this one. Some unfortunate mechanical issues but the first camp of winter and a reminder to get things sorted for the next one. Thanks for watching
Mike, I've been watching your videos for years. Nice job on the Jeep. I'm very jealous.lol.. As a Northern Canadian if you are going to camp at temps colder than -15c a hot tent is the only way to be civilized. It gives you a dependable place to warm and dry up.
Hot tents are definitely comfortable although I am more of an outside kind of camper despite the temps. I do have a side room for the jeep with can be heated but I found myself sitting in and not actually being outside so I don't bother anymore. I will try it next time! The jeeps been a labour of love for almost 10 years, crazy, definitely crazy 🤪 thanks for watching
Years ago I worked with a guy who was a wildlife photographer that did lots of work in the arctic. He had a thing that was like a suitcase that had a little drawer in it that you could burn charcoal in, this kept the rest of the box, which was large, really hot. The charcoal bit was completely separate to the hotbox bit. I've got a feeling it was some military food warmer. Anyway he used it to manage his battery temps when he was filming, it kept hot all week and I'm pretty sure he only used one normal sized bag of charcoal.
Thats really interesting! Sounds like something I could do with. I will have to look into more methods and try and find something. This sounds like a clever method
I really appreciate the cold starting ability of my old Toyota truck. As it is a gas engine it might be a little slow at - 20 F and below but it starts. The fuel injection works better for me. I remember an early morning drive at -50 in GM vehicle back in the carb days. The outside of the carb was icing. I had isopropel in the tank but it didn't help outside and the linkage. One wise guy told me later that I could thaw it by urinating on it. It might work but standing on top of an suv engine compartment at -50 to urinate on the carb was not for me. Parked out of the wind held the throttle open and everything thawed enought to get home. After that the radiator recieved a cardboard wind block.
Great video Mike. Happy you were not out alone in these harsh conditions! We can plan for a lot. But not every scenario. Like water in your diesel! I typically ground tent/sleep inside jeep down to about-15 /-18 c. With my -20 sleeping bag. Colder than that I ditch the gear and use the fire. Slept in a lean too shelter just big enough for me to sleep in. On spruce bows next to a 6ft long fire down to -28. When I say sleep….Well 40 min at a time between adding more logs to the fire lol. But yeah past -20 it’s no joke. Everything breaks. Water has to be kept next to the fire. Have to be super careful when getting fire wood not to get sweaty. My Jeep is the 4.0. So it’s easier to start in extreme cold. Still doesn’t like it however. But getting a few logs on the ground. Then putting some coals from the fire on a baking sheet under the oil pan sure helps warm the oil up before trying to start it. Like you say Mike. The cold 🥶 makes you go back to basics. Axe. Wood. Fire. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
The water in the fuel was a bit of a shame, my fault now I've found the source. An extended tank breather that was taking in water when jet washing. Anyway sorted for next time. Long log fires are extremely useful, like you say though it's in an in out sleep experience for sure, but it kind of needs to be. I remember waking up on one occasion and it being completely out. The 4.0 is much better in such conditions. I have an old renix and it starts so much better than this tractor lol. I need to figure out a good method for warming my engine up. All the best ones seem to cost the earth. Thanks for watching
Hey Mike, I haven't commented in a while, but I always enjoy your videos. Watching you drilling a line of holes as you get further and further from shore was like watching a cartoon of someone sawing the branch they're sitting on 😂!
If you can find a product called Diesel 100, get it. I used it in winter when living in Lapland. White bottle with a red label. Quite cheap too, maybe 60SEK or so, unless price is bumped up there as it's a Finnish product. Helps with water build up in diesel and also aids in cold starts. One bottle treats 100l of diesel.
I had a problem with diesel from the truck pumps in Sweden which resulted in the car being recovered back to the UK (strangely nobody in Sweden could fix a Mondeo!!!). It turned out to be an algal growth jn ghe diesel known colloquially as "the bug" which is caused by moisture in the tank. Since then I only use the car pumps when in Sweden as I believe thd turnover of fuel is quicker. Hope this helps.
I'm trying to think what in this video could prompt such a thought. Water in fuel isnt isolated to XJ Cherokees and the Land Rover in this had far bigger problems, but sure happy for you. Thanks for watching.
sorry Mike yes that's a pretty useless comment... just wanted to express my disappointment with that VM engine. for the rest, congratulations... your Jeep is beautiful
@@sbandament1 I understand not everyone has good experiences wity this engine. Personally from experience and my own work I love it and it does me very well out here. Apart from water in the fuel which was my own fault from an extended fuek tank breather which was taking on water from washing the jeep. Live and learn, sorted now, thanks for watching
I'm fairly sure that a decent amount or some of your stuff is custom on your jeep, but do you have any kind of list of the parts you added onto it that were from market? I saw your amazon page, but most of what was on there specific camping out supplies/gear, mostly not listing stuff for the XJ.* I'm planning to buy an XJ soon and mod it out a little bit. I like your build a lot, and I was mostly wondering on what hood vents, snorkel, and tire carrier you use/recommend. Also the side armoring looks custom(?) but if it's not I'd love to know what the blacked out armor parts by your rear wheel and lower half of your XJ are. Thanks!
Most of these parts you mentioned I fabricated. I have build videos on the channel if your interested. I had to make them because I live in Europe and its too expensive to get parts shipped over from the USA. The rear bumper was a recent build - th-cam.com/video/ax5qxRGw_o8/w-d-xo.html Rear panel armour fender - th-cam.com/video/yRtXLB5m6Ps/w-d-xo.html Front armor panel fender - th-cam.com/video/4eOy5Vo47Pg/w-d-xo.html Armour below doors - th-cam.com/video/2olDLbCqpqY/w-d-xo.html Snorkel - www.totem4x4.es/tienda-online/snorkel/jeep_53d92ad63af7c/snorkel-adaptable-a-jeep-xj-2-5-comprar.html Hood Vents - shorturl.at/fhqVY Some of the links above wont be useful because its just videos diy builds. If you want armour thats similar you can buy it. I found these on ebay - Just rear - www.ebay.com/itm/174705743972 Full set, looks nice, similar design - dirtboundoffroad.com/en-fr/products/steel-fender-flares-full-set-jeep-cherokee-xj Check out there website, they sell pretty smart stuff for a good price considering the market. Let me know if you want any more links and stuff and thanks for watching.
I think it's one or more broken piston skirts ;). Will do an in-frame rebuild in summer. Not tea bag prices from the electronic bay. Worst I think will be the friction fit rod piston pins.
Wow beautiful spot mate and great video as usual, they have a new model mamba with better battery life now mate you may need to upgrade to the newer version for the long nights😂😂 atb mate from sunny Sunderland
@@WorkshoptoWildernessgame changer lol I’ve done a ton of snow wheeling prior to tracks. 37’s 40’s be left behind on these. I just did a rescue on my channel pulling two rigs. One has 37’s and chains on. Where ya located?
I have a jeep Cherokee , well 2 of them 93 and 95 with 318. Abit fuel hungry but it works, sure like how you set up the back of yours. Hum....you got me thinking. Like your channel, the best from BC Canada.
Couple of quick tips Mike, and not the Jimmy Savile type 😄. Put a wool blanket over your pad and under your sleeping bag. The insulation and heat retention are great. Another good one is to cover your electronics with a mylar/emergency blanket. It'll really help them function in extreme cold situations. Anyhow, another great video and really enjoyed it!
Mike love your video while here in West Australia we’re having up to 40c, interesting when you dropped tyre pressures you could here the engine relax and just cruise. I think you just proved that Jeeps are supposed to be dirty and only washed for special occasions🍻
For me it can't get any better, well it could to be fair if my family were with me, but winter is a bit harsh for them. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant Mike, the drone clips where really professional. Its a harsh unforgiving environment at minus 24 C. Looks like Old tech will win out over new tech in those conditions. If you buy a chainsaw don't buy a battery one ! : ) It's possible to get water in the fuel if you leave the tank low as condensation will form inside the tank over time. Maybe this was the cause. ATB Sandy
Thanks Sandy, it's certainly very cold, on the edge for me as this is probably the lowest I like camping in. Old tech is always on top as we both know, the foundation skills. Its my own stupid fault with the water in the diesel. I extend a fuel tank breather up to the roof and it was sat in a water channel. Every time I washed the jeep I was filling the tank.... Thanks for watching
Mike, looks like the fruits of your earlier labor paid off for this trip--at least concerning the drivetrain. Hopefully draining your fuel tank will solve the other issue you encountered, though I am sure it is not a job you are looking forward to. There always seems to be more to do when operating our equipment in extreme conditions. Your end comments about the dangers of traveling alone in such circumstances were spot on. Good thing there were two of you to help one another out. Best of luck getting the rig back in shape for another outing. Finding the source of so much water in the fuel might be prudent so there isn't a repeat of this issue. Regarding saws, the Silky Katana Boy would be a good choice for the truck. The 500 is a bit more affordable--I have the 650 and it is a beast. It is the fastest saw for cutting through logs after a chainsaw. Either would have made quick work of the trees you encountered and much less work than the axe. Looking forward to your next adventure!
I siphoned off almost 2.5 litres of water from the fuel tank. Quite a considerable amount and fortunately no damage to the engine. Its an old marine diesel so its probably use to it 😅 it wasn't a fun job though as you can imagine. Very lucky to have company on this one and nice to know you can call someone if things go south. I ended up buying a Silky Zoobat Ultimate 330. I've always loved those, not big saws but a joy to use. I dont think I can get a chainsaw, my old roots won't let me. If anything I should be carrying less. The 3 link and axle seem to be running nice, I'm really happy with it all. My next job is a stretched chain in the np231. It's growling loudly. You can hear it actually in some of the shots at the start. Thanks for watching and for the comment
The darkness is very strange. I don't seem to suffer from depression from it but I do take vitamins every day especially D. Perhaps that helps. Its soon to be darker still...
Great video guys! I have question though with an issue rarely addressed in any overlanding videos outhere, what’s the toilet situation like? I would think it’s a nuisance in normal temp and can’t even fathom putting a log out in -20°C
Its surprisingly easier to drop the bomb in the winter than the summer. The flies in the summer are relentless and it's quite challenging. I have a small folding toilet chair. Its cold to sit on though unless you have it near the fire until you use it. These temperatures are quite harsh though. I remember taking a leak in -37c. It's complicated. Thanks for watching!
@@WorkshoptoWilderness I've got a little torn cartilage in my knee and an occasional bad back, squatting in the woods is already a moderately risky move in the best of times, let alone trying to avoid thicker pants, long underwear, and trying to make sure a sweater or coat doesn't hang down, all while trying to not fall backwards 🤣🤣🤣
Would it be worth adding a diesel fueled block heater? That would get the engine up to starting temp nicely, and not require depletion of the battery bank.
Yeah more money to plough into the build, it's never ending. I'm doing the same thing with a boat at the moment. Never stops. You are a resourceful chap, I'm sure you could macgyver something out of bits and pieces that you find littered around the workshop. 😉
Woot! I watched this video while relaxing in a hot bath- Hope that’s not too much info, but it is so fun to see your adventures! I can’t wait to get out there in my XJ! I pick it up next week with a brand new 4.0 installed. Quick question- Do petrol engines also need engine heaters in the cold, or just Diesel motors?
Yes you generally want block heaters and stuff to heat up the oil of petrol cars so the engine gets sufficient oil pressure, it's one of the things that wear out engines the worst.
and there I was thinking that your Jeep was going to be towing the Landie out of the forest, how wrong can you be! Any idea how the water got into the fuel? Great video, made me feel cold just watching it, those low temperatures just aren't compatible with human life or modern electronics. I'm really glad to have discovered your new channel as I'm still missing McQ bushcraft. Thanks for making these videos. Watch out for Bigfoot!
I almost thought the same thing but fortunate we were both there. Hes got a new battery now and i've drained almost 2.5 litres of water from the tank lol. It was my fault, I extended the fuel tank breather hose up to a gap in the roof that water was collecting in when washing the Jeep. I was tanking up with water on every wash lol. Its sorted now so hopefully it will stay that way. Thanks for tuning in and watching!
Its a mechanical marine diesel engine 425 OHV. They were always very unpopular due to head cracking but these days you can just buy an aftermarket head to sort that. I have modified mine quite heavily though over the last ten years. I've put in a slightly different VE pump, fuel pin, star wheel adjustment, pump advancement, turbo, injector nozzles, manifolds, intercooler etc etc so its around 160hp 340nm torque. They are nice old engines, fully mechanical with just the starter motor and 12v fuel stop solenoid being the only operating electrical devices. I'm in Sweden. Thanks for watching!
Im not very familiar with diesel but ive heard that there is usually always water at fuel station pump tanks from condensation but its usually not a problem because it seperates to the bottem. But with that said if they are having there takes filled with new diesel it can mix it all together temporarily so if your filling up during that you can pump water into your tank. I hope that all makes sense.
Makes sense totally. There are some pretty small unmanned stations up north, I might have gotten unlucky. Although I did find the main source of water entry. An extended tank breather to the roof. Water was running down it when I washed the jeep. I'm a dumb ass but at least it's fixed. Thanks for watching
@@WorkshoptoWilderness not dumb at all! Easy mistake to make. Been watching since you did all the rust repair and frame stiffeners years back and you're actually the reason I like xjs (though I do love my tj and mj more lol) thanks for the reply though! Feels like having a famous person talk to you haha
@@SyllabicBody5 Well I appreciate you watching for so long! Haha yeah TJs are stunning though, nothing comes close to these old designs these days and if they did they would cost the earth because they cant help overcomplicating them!
Hi Get a diesel battery driven pre heater for the fuel line and/ or the filter. That can help a bit with bad fuel quality and filter clogging in cold temps. Looks like you are using Volvo truck filter pre-filter. There should be one for the US market that is 12V. If you do not find it check for a UK company Racor if volvo does not have one. Always keep new filters to a diesel. I do not know how your fuel system is built. Some trucks return warm fuel heated by the engine to the tank to heat the tank fuel so slightly. You need higher fuel flow for that.
Appreciate that information 🙏 I winter camp a lot and engine preservation is l important. The diesel filter has a warmer in it and warm diesel is returned to the tank. I think a second filter would be ideal along with a engine diesel heater for the block and cabin. Expensive but saves be pulling the engine and dropping the spare in. Thanks for watching
@@WorkshoptoWilderness I can really recommend a diesel water/cabin heater for a diesel engine. A diesel engine needs it if you are in really cold wether. I even have a petroleum heater on my petrol car today mainly to when I am up in the northern parts.The tricky part is always battery capacity that can handle the cold temperatures. I grew up close to the Arctic circle and have been working with truck fuel system earlier in my career. It is really important to have good batteries in cold temps and a healthy engine. I spent a lot more money on quality batteries when I lived up in the north. Down here I can use them 3-4 time as long. It is much more forgiving down in the “south” if you have bad batteries. Secure that you have over capacity on the batteries and that they can perform and give you what you need in cold temps. Secure that your generator can top them up in reasonable tips. Charge them to the top before you go out. Remember to start your diesel heater even in the summer and have it running for 15-20 min every month/2 months, that reduces the risk that your heater clogs up and will not start later when you really need it. More or less every brand have that issue! Do you have a diesel/ air heater for your tent today? Have you thought about using a petrol heater for the tent? I just have a feeling that they are more reliable in really cold temps. Perhaps some one out there have more information about that. One thing have yo thought about building an insulated box where you can heat your camera batteries and perhaps an aux battery for the car to get that extra juice when you need it. Check around if someone have build something like that and if it is worth doing. Water is a nightmare but so is also bad diesel quality. If I remember correct, the diesel in Sweden have been different compared to down in the continent during winter. This due to gel point on different diesel quality. Probably someone out there that is more updated on that than me. The return flow must be quite hi to heat the tank since the tank will work as a cooler for the fuel. I really enjoy your videos, keep them coming.
I drained the filter, but there were about 2.5 litres in the fuel tank, and the diesel was contaminated. I had to drop the tank and drain it all before it would run again.
The rod I use is a really cheap one from a local store. I think they are 3 Euros or something. I don't really take Ice fishing too seriously as its more of a substitute for fishing for me but it is a good way of getting some food while out. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
Its a much nicer drive on the 3 link. Also the axle work has helped a great deal. I'm very happy with hows its performing. In all honesty I will rarely need such suspension travel but the other aspects of the build are beneficial. Thanks for watching
Thanks for watching. It's a Jeep cherokee xj but a Europe export model in RHD with the 2.5 vm marine diesel engine. The engine isn't very popular due to the original heads being prone to cracking, I've modified mine with a better head, manifolds, turbo, pump and many other things so it's around the 150hp mark with 320np plus torque. I've spend the best part of ten years building the jeep and most of the big jobs are on this channel. Thanks again!
Question: Why don't you have a chainsaw? I carry a Sunjoe 12" battery chainsaw w/ 2 batteries on my Rzr for just what your doing... the batteries are kept on their tender charger until I leave cabin then I move them into my heated cab with me. My backup is a bow saw.
Well it's a long winded answer to be honest. Normally I carry a Silky Zoobat Ultimate which is my preferred saw, probably the best saw I've ever used. The blade required replacing before this outing so I only had a very small substitute on me. Otherwise It would have easily cut both these trees in minutes. The other reason is my background is working as a bushcraft instructor. I predominantly used hand tools and its ingrained in me that less is more. I already feel uncomfortable with how much I carry at the moment in the jeep, and feel like I keep adding more and more. All this aside though a chainsaw would certainly be an extremely useful tool and I am considering it. I would get a battery one of course to save on messing around. I just have so many other expenses at the moment that in the meantime I will be using my hand saw and thinking carefully about a chainsaw. Thanks for watching and the comment and I hope his makes sense.
Hey Mike, I’ve bought an XJ 2.5TD just after following your videos for months. You gave me the hope on that bad talken engine. I live in Italy with an a lot more warm weather.. I saw you did a lot of upgrades on yours engine to make it more reliable. For now my engine has 136.000km and it’s running fine but I always have my eyes on the water temperature gauges and I can’t drive longer distances without starting to overthink about overheating and head cracking lol. What would be the first upgrades you’d do to travel safe without having any overheating / heads problem? Or even upgrades to make my mind go chill.. 😂 Cheers!!!
Congratulations on the XJ, and its a 2.5td which is cool. First off don't be too put off by the negative views on the engine. Very few who comment on it have actually worked on one and most just hear something and repeat it. The main thing is the older heads are some kind of magnesium aliminium mix and they go porus and crack. My first job would be replacing all 4 of them with a AMC all aliminium equivalent with valves. While you do this use a metal multilayer gasket, not the paper single ones. Also use new head bolts. This alone makes the engine far far more reliable and able to withstand much higher temperatures. After this I would look at the cooling system. You want a good HOAT coolant 60/40 mix. This is a modern coolant that will reduce corrosion through electrolysis. It will also contribute to much lower temperatures. While doing this job changing the thermostat and water pump wouldn't hurt. Check hoses for age and replace any if need be. The radiator might be full of crap so before putting new coolant in flush the system with water and air. Using good quality oil and filters, plus you could always use an oil additive like engine restorer or ptfe will help. All of the above will give you a very reliable engine, no overheating issues also. Look at how heavy my jeep is, 2.3 tons, my tries, the engine mods I've done to bump up to 150+hp, and I drive my engine pretty hard, also today I was far from home in a remote location in deep snow, chains on the tires blasting through snow. No overheating, not even close. 350c on the pyro gage and 85c on the coolant all day ploughing away. Now you could argue I've got a different turbo, manifolds, fuel pump, intake, exhaust, intercooler lol, but its still the same engine. It can be a very solid machine if you want it to be but start with the things that were always a problem to begin with, heads and cooling system, then maintenance. After this you can go full turd polish like I have. On a side note an engine builder who specialises in engines who I talk to sometimes loves the 2.5vm. He's modded his much more than I have and it's capable of 200hp. Now that's too much for me and I think 150/160 is fine for such a machine, but it just shows what you can do.
@@WorkshoptoWilderness wow man thank you. I was not expecting a solid response like that? That’s super helpful. I will definetely follow all of yours suggestions but I think in a little different order, it makes more sense for me to start from the cooling system as I think it’s the only thing I can do it on my own and with cheap. (I’m not an expert like you) (Also because I have a couple of little leaks on the system lol) and maybe new AMC heads before the summer aswell. Thank you again for your response!!
I'd rather drive THIS than the overpriced Bronco. Looks nice too. The boxy Cherokees are VERY reliable with the 4.0 6 cylinder. I love your rear tip-up windows. It irks me that Jeep never installed one on the rear tailgate because it was not easy to close it. I always had to put my weight on it. I guess the problem was I don't weight much for a 30-something male so I'd hang off the tailgate to pull it DOWN, then lean on it the rest of the way!
Forgot to add, the 6 cylinder put out 190 hp. It never ever had trouble getting me out of the snow so you do not need a gas hog V8 Grand Cherokee for this.
A flip up window on the rear tailgate would have me been fantastic. I have 4.0 at home, just restoring it at the moment, slow progress. This one is a diesel, its an old engine design but pretty simple. The newer vehicles just don't have the same charm, also difficult to work on as they aren't very mechanical anymore. Thanks for watching
I have a couple of videos on how to make them. They are Gullwing Windows with some aluminium boxes I had made to slot into them. Tools one side and recover gear the other. th-cam.com/video/cC8-k56YXJ8/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/hHo5q983e7k/w-d-xo.html
![ILLSLICK X YOUNGOHM - We're The same [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUJNkobYR0E/mqdefault.jpg)
As a child, we were happy when it was colder than -40 C outside, we didn’t have to go to school and played outside with friends. hello from Siberia
I think I would stay at home to. Its not often that cold here but when it has been its certainly not weather I venture out in. I expect up your way its probably much colder more regularly?
Thanks for watching
We have very unstable weather, now 0c, next week they promise -30c, we are used to it
That’s cold lol
I was out this past weekend -15 but it’s not cold just yet.
Evening Mike, just wanted to say that I am currently awaiting my wife going into labour with our second child and this video has been an excellent distraction from the nerves! Keep doing what you’re doing.
Hahaha, well glad it's distracting you! Also congratulations to you both and I hope it all goes well!
Wow Scott... get your head out of your ass and be a better husband. I'm sure your wife would appreciate that.
Congrats!
@@WorkshoptoWilderness what size tires do you have
They are 35x12.50r15
Amazing film work under And above 🚙 Jeep. I'd bring a proper saw next time.
And lose the ice carrier on the rear window 🪟 😅
Thanks for watching and the comment! Yeah, those water packs do Jack shit this time of year..
Hell yeah. Literally just sat down with coffee and breakfast.
The M90 Dutch army sleeping bag is top . The cortex cover is definitely good for keeping the body heat inside the sleeping bag and yes the moisture out
感恩了解，謝謝分享！
The spring tension in those pines had me worried but it worked out nicely.
You are a very resourceful man 👍🏻
Yeah absolutely, I slacked off the winch but still you never know if the roots are going to pull once the weight is taken off. Seen that happen a few times back in the UK. Thanks for watching!
Perfect timing for a Jeep video! Thanks Mike. Happy Sunday to everyone!
Thanks for watching
I loved the old channel. This one, who knew Mike had a sense of humor? Naughty boy.
Diesel tanks can get water in from condensation keeping the tank full can reduce it but it is a constant issue should have a water trap in the system somewhere so you can drain it out. dont know if jeeps have a fuel tank tank drain but you can sometimes crack them open if it has one and drain the water out. good you had your buddy with you to keep you warm and the discovery to rescue you.
Sat here in the uk at around about -2 thinking that looks jolly cold there but i do love the snow. a walk around of that disco would be nice have a D2 TD5 we are slowly turning into adventure truck
I have a drain on the filter but not the plastic fuel tank unfortunately. I've considered building a metal one with a low point drain. My water issue was my own dumb fault. I extended a breather to the roof that took on water in a rain channel every time I jet washed the jeep. Sorted now but its got me thinking much like you have suggested. I will get ivo to do a video with me on his Disco. He's currently building gullwing windows on it so I think he will want those finished first. Thanks for watching
sounds good look forward to it@@Ivo.Outdoor
woops well least you found it before anything super nasty could happen. @@WorkshoptoWilderness
Man. The conditions are rough for sure, buddy system comes in handy!
Ah, the good'ole VM, sounds like washing machine full of stones and frozen turds under load, I love it.
🤣 thats a pretty good way of describing it
Portugal it's watching. I got a jeep xj to, a 2.1td j8s. Enjoying seeing your videos, keeping the Good work. Cheers
wile watching your video it started snowing for the first time here this year, thanks a lot
Haha sorry! Thanks for watching
There is deisel additives to put in the fuel for cold weather truckers use it
Nice to see you guys out, a good test of the kit, glad you managed to get out of the forest.
Well this was real.You were well prepared even with the problems and being together made it actually work both needing each other. Lesson learnt. Excellent content. Thanks
Yeah there were some real issues on this one, good job we were together. Thanks for watching
Awesome thinks. Building a overland right now with a old small military camper has my base for the rooftop tent lol
Un grand merci pour cette video Très instructive. Vous avez très bien répondu à pas mal de mes questions concernant votre organisation et avec toujours une pointe d'humour. On vous adore 😊😊
Consider..if you have to remove your diesel, welding a 'bung/access port w/ball valve' at the lowest corner, obviously not real easy and youd have to make a protective cage for it, but then you could release the water accumulated in the tank...then throw in some 'power service 'additive, change your fuel filt. And you'd be good to go...it actually works good
Unfortunately the tank is plastic. I thought of it myself, perhaps a wine cork? Joking. I'm thinking of building my own stainless tank and if that happens a weld in tank drain is absolutely happening. Thanks for the tips and for watching
Great video. Despite the technical issues the XJ is looking really sharp.
Awesome thanks for posting. Isnt technology amazing, Watching in shorts without a shirt in 33 degree c weather regards from Townsville Australia. 😊
Thats quite the contrast in weather 😄 thanks for watching
Great video. May have even convinced the little lady to head out this winter. Keep up the great content.
One of the nicer Xjs I have seen.
Omg! I have never bothered to throw my electric chainsaw in my Bronco. But, you just convinced me to. Great video!!
really enjoyable stuff ..........i've been out at minus 25 in Finland ........but there was a warm bed to go back to ..lol
That certainly makes all the difference! It was nice to get home and take a shower. Thanks for watching
You’re evolving into a really great presenter Mike. The humor always lands great too. I’m called back to my American childhood watching Man Vs Wild and Bear Grylls and never understanding how over dramatized it was 😂😢 This is a million times better.
Well that's very kind of you! I try not to over do the talking in these videos ( which is nice for me actually ). I think most of the videography shows what's happening and the voice overs just connect the dots where needed. It feels like a healthy formula, especially for me because I can just do my thing and enjoy the experience.
Appreciate the comment and thanks for watching.
Smart set up ! ... I've a Diesel XJ ( and a Voyager too) and i'm very impressed about your Jeep ... Every time before working on mine i check your videos
Thanks for watching
Knocking wood and hearing bigfoot reply. We've both seen the same documentaries I see!
Ironically people always want to wear jackets and clothes in a sleeping bag but that only restricts how the heat radiates around the bag. You are better off adding a bag liner or layers outside the bag and wearing light thermals inside. Adding hand warmers or hot water tight containers or hot rocks inside the bag help enormously. As for the batteries, that’s always the challenge. Small batteries can fit in a small crush cooler and hand warmers can keep ‘em warm. For the bigger ones it’s down to the challenge of wrapping and heating. I love the cold but it does remind you how fast things can go to hell. Good video mike always a pleasure to watch.
Great tips. That's certainly a common misconception on sleeping bags. I'm in my boxers and a t shirt in mine but it's rated pretty low so I'm worried about over heating. The challenges are great fun and the environment is beautiful, but like you say things can go wrong very quickly especially if you rely heavily on luxury items. Thanks for watching
Great video again Mike
When you knocking wood i would have thought woodpecker bird replied😮😂.
When you making a hole the ice sound of Ocean was amazing by you was amazing.
Whole video is fantastic
Thanks again and take care.🙏🏽🥰
In Australia 12 years , originally from Scotland, been following from the early Bushcraft days ! Great videos
Thanks for watching and following along for so long.
Lucky for you with such good weather, I'm stuck in LA, 70degf and sunny, its just awful 😢
Wow thats so different! Hope your staying cool. Thanks for watching
A very interesting video with the trees drawing out of the way and helping each other. It was very advantageous for both of you to be together there.
I'm glad we were together on this one. Some unfortunate mechanical issues but the first camp of winter and a reminder to get things sorted for the next one. Thanks for watching
Loved the video Mike. Brilliantly produced and it's always fascinating to get an insight into camping in extreme temperatures.
Thank you for the donation 🙏 and for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Mike, I've been watching your videos for years. Nice job on the Jeep. I'm very jealous.lol.. As a Northern Canadian if you are going to camp at temps colder than -15c a hot tent is the only way to be civilized. It gives you a dependable place to warm and dry up.
Hot tents are definitely comfortable although I am more of an outside kind of camper despite the temps. I do have a side room for the jeep with can be heated but I found myself sitting in and not actually being outside so I don't bother anymore. I will try it next time! The jeeps been a labour of love for almost 10 years, crazy, definitely crazy 🤪 thanks for watching
Years ago I worked with a guy who was a wildlife photographer that did lots of work in the arctic. He had a thing that was like a suitcase that had a little drawer in it that you could burn charcoal in, this kept the rest of the box, which was large, really hot. The charcoal bit was completely separate to the hotbox bit. I've got a feeling it was some military food warmer. Anyway he used it to manage his battery temps when he was filming, it kept hot all week and I'm pretty sure he only used one normal sized bag of charcoal.
Thats really interesting! Sounds like something I could do with. I will have to look into more methods and try and find something. This sounds like a clever method
Yeah it was really good can't remember the make but it was orange and looked a little bit like a flight case. @@WorkshoptoWilderness
Nice one Mike, hope you get it all sorted out.
Nice footage. As allways, thx for sharing
Thanks for watching
I wish there was more I could say mate but what an amazing watch well done 🥶👍🏻🏴
I really appreciate the cold starting ability of my old Toyota truck. As it is a gas engine it might be a little slow at - 20 F and below but it starts. The fuel injection works better for me. I remember an early morning drive at -50 in GM vehicle back in the carb days. The outside of the carb was icing. I had isopropel in the tank but it didn't help outside and the linkage. One wise guy told me later that I could thaw it by urinating on it. It might work but standing on top of an suv engine compartment at -50 to urinate on the carb was not for me. Parked out of the wind held the throttle open and everything thawed enought to get home. After that the radiator recieved a cardboard wind block.
Great video Mike.
Happy you were not out alone in these harsh conditions! We can plan for a lot. But not every scenario. Like water in your diesel!
I typically ground tent/sleep inside jeep down to about-15 /-18 c. With my -20 sleeping bag. Colder than that I ditch the gear and use the fire. Slept in a lean too shelter just big enough for me to sleep in. On spruce bows next to a 6ft long fire down to -28.
When I say sleep….Well 40 min at a time between adding more logs to the fire lol.
But yeah past -20 it’s no joke. Everything breaks. Water has to be kept next to the fire. Have to be super careful when getting fire wood not to get sweaty.
My Jeep is the 4.0. So it’s easier to start in extreme cold. Still doesn’t like it however. But getting a few logs on the ground. Then putting some coals from the fire on a baking sheet under the oil pan sure helps warm the oil up before trying to start it.
Like you say Mike. The cold 🥶 makes you go back to basics. Axe. Wood. Fire.
Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
The water in the fuel was a bit of a shame, my fault now I've found the source. An extended tank breather that was taking in water when jet washing. Anyway sorted for next time.
Long log fires are extremely useful, like you say though it's in an in out sleep experience for sure, but it kind of needs to be. I remember waking up on one occasion and it being completely out.
The 4.0 is much better in such conditions. I have an old renix and it starts so much better than this tractor lol. I need to figure out a good method for warming my engine up. All the best ones seem to cost the earth.
Thanks for watching
Nice outing... right up until the water in the fuel bit. That just sucks.
Yeah it was a lot of work to get it all out but I found out how it got there and sorted it 👌 thanks for watching
ive really enjoyed your content over the years, thanks for the consistency. cheers!
Thanks for watching and appreciate the comment mate!
Hey Mike, I haven't commented in a while, but I always enjoy your videos. Watching you drilling a line of holes as you get further and further from shore was like watching a cartoon of someone sawing the branch they're sitting on 😂!
Haha hopefully it would hold 😅 it's a bit of a sketchy lake to be fair. The lake I was at last week was already 50cm thick. Thanks for watching!,
If you can find a product called Diesel 100, get it. I used it in winter when living in Lapland. White bottle with a red label. Quite cheap too, maybe 60SEK or so, unless price is bumped up there as it's a Finnish product. Helps with water build up in diesel and also aids in cold starts. One bottle treats 100l of diesel.
Okay I will take a look for that. Thanks for the information! Maybe OKQ8 but then it would be more like 600kr from there haha.
really enjoyed your video, I hope to see more soon
the drone views were awesome
I had a problem with diesel from the truck pumps in Sweden which resulted in the car being recovered back to the UK (strangely nobody in Sweden could fix a Mondeo!!!). It turned out to be an algal growth jn ghe diesel known colloquially as "the bug" which is caused by moisture in the tank. Since then I only use the car pumps when in Sweden as I believe thd turnover of fuel is quicker. Hope this helps.
this is one of the reasons why I swapped my XJ for a Tdi 200 Land Rover 😁. Hi Mike, thanks for these great videos!
I'm trying to think what in this video could prompt such a thought. Water in fuel isnt isolated to XJ Cherokees and the Land Rover in this had far bigger problems, but sure happy for you.
Thanks for watching.
sorry Mike yes that's a pretty useless comment... just wanted to express my disappointment with that VM engine. for the rest, congratulations... your Jeep is beautiful
@@sbandament1 I understand not everyone has good experiences wity this engine. Personally from experience and my own work I love it and it does me very well out here. Apart from water in the fuel which was my own fault from an extended fuek tank breather which was taking on water from washing the jeep. Live and learn, sorted now, thanks for watching
this is just amazing man, the footage, the adventure, everything was on point! keep it going! Subscribed
Ah, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. That's was a particularly cold outing but really enjoyable. Thanks for subscribing!
I'm fairly sure that a decent amount or some of your stuff is custom on your jeep, but do you have any kind of list of the parts you added onto it that were from market? I saw your amazon page, but most of what was on there specific camping out supplies/gear, mostly not listing stuff for the XJ.*
I'm planning to buy an XJ soon and mod it out a little bit. I like your build a lot, and I was mostly wondering on what hood vents, snorkel, and tire carrier you use/recommend.
Also the side armoring looks custom(?) but if it's not I'd love to know what the blacked out armor parts by your rear wheel and lower half of your XJ are. Thanks!
Most of these parts you mentioned I fabricated. I have build videos on the channel if your interested. I had to make them because I live in Europe and its too expensive to get parts shipped over from the USA.
The rear bumper was a recent build - th-cam.com/video/ax5qxRGw_o8/w-d-xo.html
Rear panel armour fender - th-cam.com/video/yRtXLB5m6Ps/w-d-xo.html
Front armor panel fender - th-cam.com/video/4eOy5Vo47Pg/w-d-xo.html
Armour below doors - th-cam.com/video/2olDLbCqpqY/w-d-xo.html
Snorkel - www.totem4x4.es/tienda-online/snorkel/jeep_53d92ad63af7c/snorkel-adaptable-a-jeep-xj-2-5-comprar.html
Hood Vents - shorturl.at/fhqVY
Some of the links above wont be useful because its just videos diy builds. If you want armour thats similar you can buy it. I found these on ebay -
Just rear - www.ebay.com/itm/174705743972
Full set, looks nice, similar design - dirtboundoffroad.com/en-fr/products/steel-fender-flares-full-set-jeep-cherokee-xj
Check out there website, they sell pretty smart stuff for a good price considering the market.
Let me know if you want any more links and stuff and thanks for watching.
Hey! Nice vid! My XJ engine sounds just like yours. "Get the Xj" they said. "Bullet proof engine" they said. I have the 4.0....
if your 4.0 sounds like Mike's diesel then you only have about a 100k left to run it before rebuild or replace
Could it be the flex plate? I'm no 4.0 guru but mine sounded like a diesel and thats what it was. Thanks for watching
I think it's one or more broken piston skirts ;). Will do an in-frame rebuild in summer. Not tea bag prices from the electronic bay. Worst I think will be the friction fit rod piston pins.
@@thonyonetwo Ah shit that's a shame. They seem like pretty forgiving old engines to work on so hopefully it wont be a brutal job.
That's what I'm counting on. It's a 1960s design that was supposed to be fixed in a field with a hammer and some elbow grease. ;) not like a Merlin:)
Got cold just watching this. Had to make a coffee 😅
Perfect evening you say! Man I wish I could be there.
Wow beautiful spot mate and great video as usual, they have a new model mamba with better battery life now mate you may need to upgrade to the newer version for the long nights😂😂 atb mate from sunny Sunderland
Good to see you again Mike! Love the channel
You are an amazing Forester and forest lover.
❤
"no more ski toes" 😂
Great video, mate!
Thanks for watching!
I love winter camping. Just picked up tracks and have been out a few times with it!
Great video!! 🎉
Ah that's a big upgrade. How are the tracks?
@@WorkshoptoWildernessgame changer lol
I’ve done a ton of snow wheeling prior to tracks.
37’s 40’s be left behind on these.
I just did a rescue on my channel pulling two rigs. One has 37’s and chains on.
Where ya located?
great film Mike thanks
Thanks for watching.
I have a jeep Cherokee , well 2 of them 93 and 95 with 318. Abit fuel hungry but it works, sure like how you set up the back of yours. Hum....you got me thinking. Like your channel, the best from BC Canada.
Thanks for watching! Its fairly convent for camping although a bigger fridge would be nice.
Couple of quick tips Mike, and not the Jimmy Savile type 😄. Put a wool blanket over your pad and under your sleeping bag. The insulation and heat retention are great. Another good one is to cover your electronics with a mylar/emergency blanket. It'll really help them function in extreme cold situations. Anyhow, another great video and really enjoyed it!
Great video. Nice Jeep. 😊
Thanks for watching
Mike love your video while here in West Australia we’re having up to 40c, interesting when you dropped tyre pressures you could here the engine relax and just cruise. I think you just proved that Jeeps are supposed to be dirty and only washed for special occasions🍻
Haha wow what a contrast. 40 plus us unimaginable for me now. The lower pressure makes all the difference! Thanks for watching
Crazy trip for sure. Fun to watch but maybe not so much for you. Looking forward to seeing the adjustments and next videos.
For me it can't get any better, well it could to be fair if my family were with me, but winter is a bit harsh for them. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
You are an intelligent man, especially with how you tackled those fallen trees. Good work!
Thanks for watching!
Brilliant Mike, the drone clips where really professional. Its a harsh unforgiving environment at minus 24 C. Looks like Old tech will win out over new tech in those conditions.
If you buy a chainsaw don't buy a battery one ! : )
It's possible to get water in the fuel if you leave the tank low as condensation will form inside the tank over time. Maybe this was the cause.
ATB
Sandy
Thanks Sandy, it's certainly very cold, on the edge for me as this is probably the lowest I like camping in. Old tech is always on top as we both know, the foundation skills.
Its my own stupid fault with the water in the diesel. I extend a fuel tank breather up to the roof and it was sat in a water channel. Every time I washed the jeep I was filling the tank....
Thanks for watching
@@WorkshoptoWilderness At least you found the cause!
Yeah exactly! Sorted now at least 👌
Mike, looks like the fruits of your earlier labor paid off for this trip--at least concerning the drivetrain. Hopefully draining your fuel tank will solve the other issue you encountered, though I am sure it is not a job you are looking forward to. There always seems to be more to do when operating our equipment in extreme conditions. Your end comments about the dangers of traveling alone in such circumstances were spot on. Good thing there were two of you to help one another out. Best of luck getting the rig back in shape for another outing. Finding the source of so much water in the fuel might be prudent so there isn't a repeat of this issue.
Regarding saws, the Silky Katana Boy would be a good choice for the truck. The 500 is a bit more affordable--I have the 650 and it is a beast. It is the fastest saw for cutting through logs after a chainsaw. Either would have made quick work of the trees you encountered and much less work than the axe. Looking forward to your next adventure!
I siphoned off almost 2.5 litres of water from the fuel tank. Quite a considerable amount and fortunately no damage to the engine. Its an old marine diesel so its probably use to it 😅 it wasn't a fun job though as you can imagine.
Very lucky to have company on this one and nice to know you can call someone if things go south. I ended up buying a Silky Zoobat Ultimate 330. I've always loved those, not big saws but a joy to use. I dont think I can get a chainsaw, my old roots won't let me. If anything I should be carrying less.
The 3 link and axle seem to be running nice, I'm really happy with it all. My next job is a stretched chain in the np231. It's growling loudly. You can hear it actually in some of the shots at the start.
Thanks for watching and for the comment
Silky saw always in my trunk, for this situation
Just got a new one on the black Friday deal. They are fantastic saws.
Excellent video, sir. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Just discovered your channel! Awesome)
Thanks for watching!
Отличная сьемка, со всех ракурсов. Супер.
Thanks for watching
Just discovered your channel! Love the XJ! Great quality content.
Thanks for watching!
Great vid! I envy the snow, but not the darkness! Not sure if I could handle it.
The darkness is very strange. I don't seem to suffer from depression from it but I do take vitamins every day especially D. Perhaps that helps. Its soon to be darker still...
Great video guys! I have question though with an issue rarely addressed in any overlanding videos outhere, what’s the toilet situation like? I would think it’s a nuisance in normal temp and can’t even fathom putting a log out in -20°C
Well, one thing id avoid is the rum. I like booze, but it makes you go to the bathroom more. It sucks getting out of a warm bag when it's cold!
Its surprisingly easier to drop the bomb in the winter than the summer. The flies in the summer are relentless and it's quite challenging.
I have a small folding toilet chair. Its cold to sit on though unless you have it near the fire until you use it. These temperatures are quite harsh though. I remember taking a leak in -37c. It's complicated.
Thanks for watching!
@@WorkshoptoWilderness Good call on the toilet chair! The more layers you've got on make the risk of collateral damage go up exponentially!
@@farstrider79 🤣
@@WorkshoptoWilderness I've got a little torn cartilage in my knee and an occasional bad back, squatting in the woods is already a moderately risky move in the best of times, let alone trying to avoid thicker pants, long underwear, and trying to make sure a sweater or coat doesn't hang down, all while trying to not fall backwards 🤣🤣🤣
Happy new year Mike to you and your family.
Thanks for watching and happy new year!
Would it be worth adding a diesel fueled block heater? That would get the engine up to starting temp nicely, and not require depletion of the battery bank.
That would best thing. I need to try and source one second hand or save my penny's. They are expensive but the best option!
Yeah more money to plough into the build, it's never ending. I'm doing the same thing with a boat at the moment. Never stops. You are a resourceful chap, I'm sure you could macgyver something out of bits and pieces that you find littered around the workshop. 😉
Woot! I watched this video while relaxing in a hot bath- Hope that’s not too much info, but it is so fun to see your adventures! I can’t wait to get out there in my XJ! I pick it up next week with a brand new 4.0 installed.
Quick question- Do petrol engines also need engine heaters in the cold, or just Diesel motors?
Yes you generally want block heaters and stuff to heat up the oil of petrol cars so the engine gets sufficient oil pressure, it's one of the things that wear out engines the worst.
and there I was thinking that your Jeep was going to be towing the Landie out of the forest, how wrong can you be! Any idea how the water got into the fuel? Great video, made me feel cold just watching it, those low temperatures just aren't compatible with human life or modern electronics. I'm really glad to have discovered your new channel as I'm still missing McQ bushcraft. Thanks for making these videos. Watch out for Bigfoot!
I almost thought the same thing but fortunate we were both there. Hes got a new battery now and i've drained almost 2.5 litres of water from the tank lol. It was my fault, I extended the fuel tank breather hose up to a gap in the roof that water was collecting in when washing the Jeep. I was tanking up with water on every wash lol. Its sorted now so hopefully it will stay that way.
Thanks for tuning in and watching!
I’m new Mike ,what diesel motor are u running in Jeep? Where are u winter wheeling.?ask or us?
Its a mechanical marine diesel engine 425 OHV. They were always very unpopular due to head cracking but these days you can just buy an aftermarket head to sort that. I have modified mine quite heavily though over the last ten years.
I've put in a slightly different VE pump, fuel pin, star wheel adjustment, pump advancement, turbo, injector nozzles, manifolds, intercooler etc etc so its around 160hp 340nm torque. They are nice old engines, fully mechanical with just the starter motor and 12v fuel stop solenoid being the only operating electrical devices.
I'm in Sweden. Thanks for watching!
Im not very familiar with diesel but ive heard that there is usually always water at fuel station pump tanks from condensation but its usually not a problem because it seperates to the bottem. But with that said if they are having there takes filled with new diesel it can mix it all together temporarily so if your filling up during that you can pump water into your tank. I hope that all makes sense.
Makes sense totally. There are some pretty small unmanned stations up north, I might have gotten unlucky. Although I did find the main source of water entry. An extended tank breather to the roof. Water was running down it when I washed the jeep. I'm a dumb ass but at least it's fixed.
Thanks for watching
@@WorkshoptoWilderness not dumb at all! Easy mistake to make. Been watching since you did all the rust repair and frame stiffeners years back and you're actually the reason I like xjs (though I do love my tj and mj more lol) thanks for the reply though! Feels like having a famous person talk to you haha
@@SyllabicBody5 Well I appreciate you watching for so long! Haha yeah TJs are stunning though, nothing comes close to these old designs these days and if they did they would cost the earth because they cant help overcomplicating them!
I really like your fenders that you yourself are trying to sell
Thank you. Im not actually selling them, I just made a set for myself. Would be cool to get some made commercially from fiberglass or plastic though
Hi
Get a diesel battery driven pre heater for the fuel line and/ or the filter. That can help a bit with bad fuel quality and filter clogging in cold temps. Looks like you are using Volvo truck filter pre-filter. There should be one for the US market that is 12V. If you do not find it check for a UK company Racor if volvo does not have one. Always keep new filters to a diesel. I do not know how your fuel system is built. Some trucks return warm fuel heated by the engine to the tank to heat the tank fuel so slightly. You need higher fuel flow for that.
Appreciate that information 🙏 I winter camp a lot and engine preservation is l important. The diesel filter has a warmer in it and warm diesel is returned to the tank. I think a second filter would be ideal along with a engine diesel heater for the block and cabin. Expensive but saves be pulling the engine and dropping the spare in. Thanks for watching
@@WorkshoptoWilderness I can really recommend a diesel water/cabin heater for a diesel engine. A diesel engine needs it if you are in really cold wether. I even have a petroleum heater on my petrol car today mainly to when I am up in the northern parts.The tricky part is always battery capacity that can handle the cold temperatures. I grew up close to the Arctic circle and have been working with truck fuel system earlier in my career. It is really important to have good batteries in cold temps and a healthy engine. I spent a lot more money on quality batteries when I lived up in the north. Down here I can use them 3-4 time as long. It is much more forgiving down in the “south” if you have bad batteries.
Secure that you have over capacity on the batteries and that they can perform and give you what you need in cold temps. Secure that your generator can top them up in reasonable tips. Charge them to the top before you go out.
Remember to start your diesel heater even in the summer and have it running for 15-20 min every month/2 months, that reduces the risk that your heater clogs up and will not start later when you really need it. More or less every brand have that issue!
Do you have a diesel/ air heater for your tent today? Have you thought about using a petrol heater for the tent? I just have a feeling that they are more reliable in really cold temps. Perhaps some one out there have more information about that. One thing have yo thought about building an insulated box where you can heat your camera batteries and perhaps an aux battery for the car to get that extra juice when you need it. Check around if someone have build something like that and if it is worth doing.
Water is a nightmare but so is also bad diesel quality. If I remember correct, the diesel in Sweden have been different compared to down in the continent during winter. This due to gel point on different diesel quality. Probably someone out there that is more updated on that than me.
The return flow must be quite hi to heat the tank since the tank will work as a cooler for the fuel.
I really enjoy your videos, keep them coming.
nice to see the lack of snowmobile infestation like we have in canada
There are a lot here also, mostly on weekends. Thanks for watching
Great video. A little confused though. Why not drain the water out of the filter?
I drained the filter, but there were about 2.5 litres in the fuel tank, and the diesel was contaminated. I had to drop the tank and drain it all before it would run again.
Sthil ms250 compact , light and 3.5 hp , put a yellow chain on it and you’ll cut faster than guys and it’s 400’s
Appreciate the information!
Hope the Jeep is okay, Mike
Great video! Very entertaining and I love your set up. What kind of fishing rods are you using?
The rod I use is a really cheap one from a local store. I think they are 3 Euros or something. I don't really take Ice fishing too seriously as its more of a substitute for fishing for me but it is a good way of getting some food while out. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
Mike, looks like the jeep is performing very well. Are you satisfied with all of your suspension work?
Its a much nicer drive on the 3 link. Also the axle work has helped a great deal. I'm very happy with hows its performing. In all honesty I will rarely need such suspension travel but the other aspects of the build are beneficial. Thanks for watching
Have you thought about a webasto heater for the engine coolant?
I have, it is actually what I need given I winter camp a lot. They just cost a load but I will see what I can do.
First time seeing your channel, very interesting. I have to know what kind of jeep is that and what diesel, never seen anything like it. Thank you
Thanks for watching. It's a Jeep cherokee xj but a Europe export model in RHD with the 2.5 vm marine diesel engine. The engine isn't very popular due to the original heads being prone to cracking, I've modified mine with a better head, manifolds, turbo, pump and many other things so it's around the 150hp mark with 320np plus torque. I've spend the best part of ten years building the jeep and most of the big jobs are on this channel.
Thanks again!
@@WorkshoptoWilderness amazing thanks for sharing
Question: Why don't you have a chainsaw? I carry a Sunjoe 12" battery chainsaw w/ 2 batteries on my Rzr for just what your doing... the batteries are kept on their tender charger until I leave cabin then I move them into my heated cab with me. My backup is a bow saw.
Well it's a long winded answer to be honest. Normally I carry a Silky Zoobat Ultimate which is my preferred saw, probably the best saw I've ever used. The blade required replacing before this outing so I only had a very small substitute on me. Otherwise It would have easily cut both these trees in minutes.
The other reason is my background is working as a bushcraft instructor. I predominantly used hand tools and its ingrained in me that less is more. I already feel uncomfortable with how much I carry at the moment in the jeep, and feel like I keep adding more and more.
All this aside though a chainsaw would certainly be an extremely useful tool and I am considering it. I would get a battery one of course to save on messing around. I just have so many other expenses at the moment that in the meantime I will be using my hand saw and thinking carefully about a chainsaw. Thanks for watching and the comment and I hope his makes sense.
You should get you a battery powered chain saw a lot of overlanders get the Dewalt
I've been considering one but I'm still not sure yet. They do look very useful though, thanks for watching
Hey Mike, I’ve bought an XJ 2.5TD just after following your videos for months. You gave me the hope on that bad talken engine. I live in Italy with an a lot more warm weather.. I saw you did a lot of upgrades on yours engine to make it more reliable. For now my engine has 136.000km and it’s running fine but I always have my eyes on the water temperature gauges and I can’t drive longer distances without starting to overthink about overheating and head cracking lol. What would be the first upgrades you’d do to travel safe without having any overheating / heads problem? Or even upgrades to make my mind go chill.. 😂
Cheers!!!
Congratulations on the XJ, and its a 2.5td which is cool. First off don't be too put off by the negative views on the engine. Very few who comment on it have actually worked on one and most just hear something and repeat it.
The main thing is the older heads are some kind of magnesium aliminium mix and they go porus and crack. My first job would be replacing all 4 of them with a AMC all aliminium equivalent with valves. While you do this use a metal multilayer gasket, not the paper single ones. Also use new head bolts.
This alone makes the engine far far more reliable and able to withstand much higher temperatures.
After this I would look at the cooling system. You want a good HOAT coolant 60/40 mix. This is a modern coolant that will reduce corrosion through electrolysis. It will also contribute to much lower temperatures. While doing this job changing the thermostat and water pump wouldn't hurt. Check hoses for age and replace any if need be.
The radiator might be full of crap so before putting new coolant in flush the system with water and air.
Using good quality oil and filters, plus you could always use an oil additive like engine restorer or ptfe will help. All of the above will give you a very reliable engine, no overheating issues also.
Look at how heavy my jeep is, 2.3 tons, my tries, the engine mods I've done to bump up to 150+hp, and I drive my engine pretty hard, also today I was far from home in a remote location in deep snow, chains on the tires blasting through snow. No overheating, not even close. 350c on the pyro gage and 85c on the coolant all day ploughing away.
Now you could argue I've got a different turbo, manifolds, fuel pump, intake, exhaust, intercooler lol, but its still the same engine. It can be a very solid machine if you want it to be but start with the things that were always a problem to begin with, heads and cooling system, then maintenance.
After this you can go full turd polish like I have.
On a side note an engine builder who specialises in engines who I talk to sometimes loves the 2.5vm. He's modded his much more than I have and it's capable of 200hp. Now that's too much for me and I think 150/160 is fine for such a machine, but it just shows what you can do.
@@WorkshoptoWilderness wow man thank you. I was not expecting a solid response like that? That’s super helpful.
I will definetely follow all of yours suggestions but I think in a little different order, it makes more sense for me to start from the cooling system as I think it’s the only thing I can do it on my own and with cheap. (I’m not an expert like you) (Also because I have a couple of little leaks on the system lol) and maybe new AMC heads before the summer aswell.
Thank you again for your response!!
Genial 👍🤩
I'd rather drive THIS than the overpriced Bronco. Looks nice too. The boxy Cherokees are VERY reliable with the 4.0 6 cylinder. I love your rear tip-up windows. It irks me that Jeep never installed one on the rear tailgate because it was not easy to close it. I always had to put my weight on it. I guess the problem was I don't weight much for a 30-something male so I'd hang off the tailgate to pull it DOWN, then lean on it the rest of the way!
Forgot to add, the 6 cylinder put out 190 hp. It never ever had trouble getting me out of the snow so you do not need a gas hog V8 Grand Cherokee for this.
A flip up window on the rear tailgate would have me been fantastic. I have 4.0 at home, just restoring it at the moment, slow progress. This one is a diesel, its an old engine design but pretty simple. The newer vehicles just don't have the same charm, also difficult to work on as they aren't very mechanical anymore.
Thanks for watching
Good thing your vehicles aren't electric 😂
That's for sure. It was -44c last week, and quite a few electric vehicles got stranded.
Hey Mike, just wondering, what is the mpg or km/l of your rig with all the equipment ?
25mpg or 1 in 11 is the average when warmed up and not short drives.
Any information on those compartments you have where your old back quarter glass was?
I have a couple of videos on how to make them. They are Gullwing Windows with some aluminium boxes I had made to slot into them. Tools one side and recover gear the other.
th-cam.com/video/cC8-k56YXJ8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/hHo5q983e7k/w-d-xo.html