Homemade Conquest Hardtop Build Thread

[bluebruin]

ok. here are some better photos.

making tracks in the powder out front of the cabin...












and out back of cabin






My dad hanging out by the argo when we were trying to get the trailer situated in its new parking spot



the parking spot

[bluebruin]

just got home today from a successful trip to the cabin. The argo did pretty well overall. We actually used it quite a bit, had to bring about 7 or 8 loads of composite decking boards from the road up to the cabin. Got a good deal from a friend, and had to borrow a 20ft long trailer to haul the boards, so needed to get them up to the cabin before I had to return the trailer. Anway, argo did well except for the end of the first night. Kept dying on me. Seems similar to previous when I felt like I was not getting full combustion and running mostly on 1 cylinder. Wonder if my other solenoid is going bad or the used on I put in is not fully working. Seems like weak spark again... I took out the spark plugs when running and both were sparking. Guess we will see. I decided to go ahead and leave the argo up there. I had to spend about 4 hrs getting the trailer off the road over snow embankments to its parking spot on a neighbor's property. The plan it park down there where winter maintenance ends, and drive the argo up to the cabin when we arrive on friday nights for the weekends.

here is the argo parked on the trailer



the argo on the road.



I took some other photos and will post later. I am going back this weekend and hope to make a video or two if there is time.

[Noel Woods]

Would love to have snow and an environment like that to play in. Down here in Texas we've had so much rain that even Mud Creek and River Run ATV parks are flooded out and closed. And then we had a nearby tornado as well.

[thorn]

Killer job! I love the trailer. I pull an Otter sled when we go to the yurt, but the enclosed trailer is nice. We have been getting slammed with snow this past week next door in Utah and I know Colorado has been getting the same. Going to take the family for a Sunday drive in the high country today in the Argo and do some snow shoeing and sight seeing. Have a good trip.

[bluebruin]

Today was a big day. Spent about 8 hours outside in 5-10deg getting it done. I'm beat but I everything seems to be working pretty well so far. Keeping my fingers crossed.

- Added seat belts for my kids (mainly due to the violet turning/steering of the argo - they get whipped around otherwise)
- relocated small heater in back
- swapped gas can for a plastic one until I can remove the rust in the green one
- welded new heavy duty hinges for the loading ramps on the trailer

Then I test drove the cargo sled










Next installed the tracks and test drove it.









Loaded it up on the trailer

[bluebruin]

Looks sharp man. Should keep you and your crew warm and cozy in there.

Thanks! yeah, I pulled it outside today and finished it up for my cabin trip tomorrow. It was 10deg outside and felt great in there.

[philipatmaxfour]

--Conquest Hardtop--

Looks sharp man. Should keep you and your crew warm and cozy in there.

[Noel Woods]

Looks sharp man. Should keep you and your crew warm and cozy in there.

[bluebruin]

built this mount for my spare tire out of HDPE plastic.






then got the spare mounted on the roof, along with the rack.



Rack came from my old M416 offroad trailer. It was on the lid I made before I cut it off to add a roof top folding camper top


Here is the argo as it sits now. My list is finally getting shorter. Tomorrow I will put the tracks on, finish some things up, and get this thing loaded to go up to the cabin!

[bluebruin]

had an extra gas strut from the rear glass on my jeep. one lost pressure, so I ordered and installed a new set. Ended up with this extra and had some mounting plates/balls from another project that fit. installed it and its enough to hold the hatch up.

[bluebruin]

rear hatch has a rather thin frame around the window so I could keep the window large and maintain good visibility. but the wood has warped some and it does not stay flush in the frame completely. maybe 1/4" gaps here and there, but that will let in a lot of snow over time when the argo is parked in the windy snowy cold at the cabin.

I decided to add some extra latches like you have in a newer jeep to hold you hardtop in place. just swivel them around and they will keep the hatch tight.

closed



open



you can see them both here

[bluebruin]

added door "striker plates".. just some aluminum L channel to take the repeated impact of the latch as well as add a tad of thickness to keep the door drawn shut tightly.




needed a way to unlatch the doors from the inside. took some doing, but managed to drill out some metal behind the latch bolt, and drill a hole in the latch bolt, and then add this shower curtain ring. now I have something to pull from the inside and release the latch.




doors needed a limit strap. otherwise they open 180 degrees and you can't reach them if you are sitting inside the argo.

[bluebruin]

not enough real estate on the dash for the 12v socket, so I opted for this flat spot.









This is the little heater I am plugging in. Not sure it will do much, but might come in handy if its really cold. the cab is so small, don't think it will take a lot to heat it once a few warm bodies are inside



might relocate as right next two two gas cans is maybe not the ideal spot

[thorn]

Fantastic work. That top is going to come in handy when the winds are whipping! The hood looks great and should function well. I put some holes in the the front of my OME hood to give the engine compartment a bit more air like the hood scoop on the newer machines.

[bluebruin]

added interior door handles



next up, dash mounted 12v socket and a USB 12v charging port