'97-'01 XJ Cargo Cover?

[bjoehandley]

After having my '98 broken into and having a bunch of RC stuff stolen, I thought it would be a good idea to get a cover for the cargo area for added protection besides the privacy glass (well, what little it offered anyway). I found out that the factory covers were disco'd and pretty much un available at the dealer level, but Ted at Lou's thought he had one that another customer refused after ordeing (I hate people like that ), but I haven't heard back from him yet. He didn't know of anybody who made an aftermarket cover for XJ's off hand and all my recent catalogs were recycled in the past month. Have any of you found a decent, easy to use cargo cover that is compatable with full size spares (all 5 current tires are 225/70/r15)?

 

[casm]

Have any of you found a decent, easy to use cargo cover that is compatable with full size spares (all 5 current tires are 225/70/r15)?

Yup, here ya go. FWIW, I got my cover from them last year for my 2001 and was really happy with it. At the time I was running 235/70/16 tires and had to deflate the spare somewhat to make the cover fit; this was OK by me as I had a compressor under the back seat. Hopefully this works for you as well.

 

[bjoehandley]

Oooohhh, this is interesting...........Thanks Casm!!

 

[bjoehandley]

Hay Casm, how'd you mount it to the spare tire side?

 

[casm]

Hay Casm, how'd you mount it to the spare tire side?

OK, the kit basically consists of three pieces:

- A new spare tire cover
- The luggage cover itself
- A bag containing two latching points

The install pretty much goes like this:

- Remove your existing spare tire cover and place the one included with the kit on the spare. The two latching points on the cover should be parallel to the cargo area floor.

- Following the (lousy) diagram included with the kit, drill holes for the bagged latching points in the opposite panel and screw them in. I found that mine worked their way out after a few months; Krazy Glue solved this problem.

- The luggage cover has four clips: two adjustable, two non-adjustable. Attach the two non-adjustable ones to the spare tire cover first; clip the other two to the latching points you screwed in to the panel opposite the spare. Adjust the straps the clips are connected to as necessary.

And that's pretty much it. Be careful when drilling the holes for the latching points: they're not meant to screw into the metal underneath the panel, so avoid putting holes in the underbody. If you need to carry a larger load, the space between the spare and the side window makes a great spot to store the luggage cover in (after folding it up, that is). Good luck!

 

[JEEPZZ]

I really wish Jeep would have kept the retractable covers like in the pre97's. I hate the way the 97+ covers just hang (sag) in there. It's the equivelent of suspending a towel with bungee cords over your cargo. :wierd:

Has anyone tried to retrofit the older retractable cover into the newer XJ?

 

[bjoehandley]

The stuff I got was just the cover w/ straps, already had the hoops installed on it when I got the truck, but Carmax yanked the stocker for the one with their name on it. I kinda jerryrigged it today on lunch using a shoulder strap from an aluminum storage case I picked up at Menards last week wrapped around there spare, but I hung it backwards (adjustable straps on the spare tire side instead). We couldn't figure out that much with what instructions he had from Mopar (you're right, they sucked), they seemed to just skip over the spare cover part.

 

[casm]

The stuff I got was just the cover w/ straps, already had the hoops installed on it when I got the truck, but Carmax yanked the stocker for the one with their name on it.

Hang on... Does this mean you've got the cover part? I managed to salvage the spare tire cover from mine when it was totalled, but the scavengers had already taken the luggage cover. If it's grey and you'd be willing to part with it, I'd like to work something out if possible.

I kinda jerryrigged it today on lunch using a shoulder strap from an aluminum storage case I picked up at Menards last week wrapped around there spare, but I hung it backwards (adjustable straps on the spare tire side instead). We couldn't figure out that much with what instructions he had from Mopar (you're right, they sucked), they seemed to just skip over the spare cover part.

Yeah, and the diagram of where to place the latching points in the rear panel is totally useless. I ended up folding the sheet over so that I couldn't see it, then using a tape measure to translate the written placement instructions into their physical location. The one advantage is that the adjustable straps at least give some leeway for being a bit off.

 

[bjoehandley]

Actually, I had no cargo cover at all, just the CarMax spare cover and the hooks in the back on the passenger side. The dealer I got it at had a couple of them in grey, both a little beat from laying around the store room for years.

 

[casm]

Actually, I had no cargo cover at all, just the CarMax spare cover and the hooks in the back on the passenger side. The dealer I got it at had a couple of them in grey, both a little beat from laying around the store room for years.

How much did he want for them? I may be needing one in the next few days. BTW, if you do need the spare cover with the hooks on it, assuming all goes to plan mine'll be available.

 

[bjoehandley]

He had one left, just not in good shape it had a largish hole nad some wear from laying where ever in the shop, PM me and I can get you the dealers number and who to talk to there I think he charged me something like $20 for it since it was just the cargo cover, the strap I'm using was just because of dumb luck and a good sale at Menards, and works extremely well to boot.

 

[jrsxj98]

Why dont you just build a deck lid. I built mine out of some scrap osb board covered it with auto carpet and was done. used to pieces of light angle iron on each side couple of barrel latches. total cost was about 5 bucks.

 

[casm]

Why dont you just build a deck lid. I built mine out of some scrap osb board covered it with auto carpet and was done. used to pieces of light angle iron on each side couple of barrel latches. total cost was about 5 bucks.

Yep. I actually thought about doing this as well, but what sold me on the cargo cover was that it can be stored in the vehicle if you're carrying loads too large to fit under it. It also offers a degree of flexibility in the size/bulk of objects it can cover due to the adjustable straps, another plus.

 

[casm]

PM me and I can get you the dealers number and who to talk to there

Cool, thanks. I'll know more tomorrow, so you'll hear from me then

 

[bjoehandley]

I'll keep my eye's open then, I'm also going to get pics of how I ran the shoulder strap for a Moparchat.com, want me to sent them to you too?


Just out of curiousity, what happened to the '01 you had?

 

[xj_chris]

My company made the original retractable cargo cover, I can get a dimension off the print if anyone is interested to see if you can fab it for your '98+ model.

Might take some digging to find the correct part number. There were 2 versions of it that I know of, one is the small spare, and one is full spare. Only the vinyl should be different.

 

[casm]

I'll keep my eye's open then, I'm also going to get pics of how I ran the shoulder strap for a Moparchat.com, want me to sent them to you too?

Yes please, or just drop the link out here. That'd be great.

Just out of curiousity, what happened to the '01 you had?

Flash flood. The XJ went swimming, then I did the same.

 

[cykaaro]

I really wish Jeep would have kept the retractable covers like in the pre97's. I hate the way the 97+ covers just hang (sag) in there. It's the equivelent of suspending a towel with bungee cords over your cargo. :wierd:

Has anyone tried to retrofit the older retractable cover into the newer XJ?

I actually got a retractable cover form a '96 grand cherokee dirt cheap, and once in will work perfectly. All I need to do is make a couple metal angle bracets to attach it too, and voila. What I love about it as well, is I can mod it to attach it to my rear hatch quite easily, like it does on the grand, and when you open the hatch, it pulls the cover up with it allowing access, than always having open it individually. Would look into seeing if you can find one and do something similar. Just with my overhead console project haven't had time to see what I can get for the brackets I need, and have no way of making them myself unfortunately.

 

[JEEPZZ]

I actually got a retractable cover form a '96 grand cherokee dirt cheap, and once in will work perfectly. All I need to do is make a couple metal angle bracets to attach it too, and voila. What I love about it as well, is I can mod it to attach it to my rear hatch quite easily, like it does on the grand, and when you open the hatch, it pulls the cover up with it allowing access, than always having open it individually. Would look into seeing if you can find one and do something similar. Just with my overhead console project haven't had time to see what I can get for the brackets I need, and have no way of making them myself unfortunately.

Your profile says you've got a 90 XJ, is that correct? I'm wanting to get one installed in a 97+. The interior and hatch panels are different than the older XJ's.

 

[cykaaro]

Yes, I've a '90 XJ, and the cargo cover is from a '96 grand cherokee. I'm altering it to fit. I find the mechanism in it much better than the cherokee ones I've come across.