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Jeep Backbone rear security enclosure (trunk)

88K views 328 replies 83 participants last post by  Lloydrage 
#1 ·
It seems like most of the Aries/Smittybilt/Tuffy threads include a mention of the new Jeep Backbone, and everyone always asks if anybody has one.

Well, I do, on my '14 Willys Wheeler 2-door. First, the pix: (snapped in the parking lot of my office, so not very artistic :()


As you can tell, I opted to install some steel tie-downs in the pre-drilled holes. The company offers a Cargo Bar, that is a 3-sided tube (about like a skinny tubular bumper) -- it mounts on risers and goes across the back and up both sides. Sits about 10" above the deck, and gives you a good fence to hold cargo up there, and tie it off. I didn't want to have that piece in the way, so I bought the tie-down eyes at Home Depot. The eyes are actually 2 pieces -- the bottom part stays in the panel but you can unscrew the eye and the receiver for it only sticks up about an eighth of an inch. They come unfinished and I Plastidipped them black. The deck comes with these holes drilled for the Cargo Fence -- I had to open them up a little (I think they're 1/2" and I needed 5/8".) The front edge of the deck has a grooved channel as you see -- that is for a Jeep Backbone rear windshield if you want to run a bikini and seal the back of your cockpit.



The front is 2 pieces, attached together on the inside. It does not attach to anything at the bottom. An enterprising thief could get a clawed crowbar down there and pull it up, but the seatbacks would stop movement after a bit. The solution (I haven't done it yet) is to run a bolt in from the outside, with a small D Ring attached to it from the inside. Then just a small cargo strap to one of the seat tiedowns.


I bought several different cargo nets. This is one for the back of an SUV, where you use it to go over bags of groceries so they don't slide around. It's light duty. I also have a heavy duty one that has grids more like 5x5" for large, heavy items.

Okay, I went ghetto on the cargo bar. :) That's a wooden broom handle I had in the basement. It fits perfectly, as in, you have to force it through the rings by using a hard twisting motion. I just Plastidipped it also, and left the threads on the end in a sort of ironic tip-of-the-hat to my recently-passed father who jury-rigged pretty much everything he ever worked on, using whatever he found in his shed. :)


I installed two of the little Home Depot stick-on LED lights on the "ceiling" of the trunk. I velcroed them up. (One is sitting on the carpet in the foreground) Just fumble around till you feel them and they turn on with a push. The Shittybilt (and I mean that spelling in the most literal sense) rear cargo bag Molle panel thingy fits great with the Backbone.


I really think the look is first rate. Every single Jeeper who has seen it has asked me about it and vowed to buy one. They make one for the TJ also. And here's the website: Jeep Backbone Home Page


So far I've found nothing to complain about. I've offered the suggestion of making a pass-through door in the center of the front panel, so longish package (2x4s, skis, shovels, hoes, etc) could fit in there and stick up into the cockpit. Without it you can strap them on top of the Backbone, but a passthrough door would let you put things down low.

We got a heavy rain yesterday. It let some water in, but they say you can adjust the seals around the rollbar, so I'll work on that with my hose out this weekend. Frankly, it was barely enough to worry about, not much more than gets into the front of my new Wrangler through the OEM top! :)

One note: You can still lower the top just fine, but the lower "elbow" of the frame now rests on the Backbone, rather than dropping down into the cargo bay. So the top stack doesn't rest on the Backbone, but sits up in the air a few inches (maybe 8"? I've only had it down once and I didn't measure it.) Doesn't hurt anything but it blocks the rear view pretty handily. I think the best use for this deck is either

a) leave the softtop installed, and just run without windows when you want the open feel. That's what I do. I've owned convertibles for the last 19 years, and have another currently, so I don't need to have the literal open top thing going on. But I love having the windows out 24/7, so this works great for me. Add a rear windshield if you don't want to install windows when it rains. Or remove rear carpets and say ta hell with it. (my plan.)

b) remove the softtop and install a Besttop Safari Bikini and just run that all summer. Add a rear windshield if you feel you need more protection.
 
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#2 ·
The backbone is pricey, but you have sold me on it. You did some excellent mods to it as well. Come to think of it I have a spare old broom handle in the garage to incorporate that as well. Great write-up.
Suwanee and Savanna great towns BTW
 
#3 ·
The backbone is pricey, but you have sold me on it. You did some excellent mods to it as well. Come to think of it I have a spare old broom handle in the garage to incorporate that as well. Great write-up.
Suwanee and Savanna great towns BTW
Yeah, pricey compared to the Tuffy and Smitty at least. But man, the quality is top flight. Several people with older Jeeps have commented that they didn't realize the new ones came with that rear trunk. It totally looks OEM.

And shoot, if you already have the broom handle, look at the money you'll save. :)

That said, the Backbone cargo rail is really nice -- I just thought I'd rather not be lifting things over it and seeing it in the rearview.
 
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#5 ·
Never owned a HT, so I have no idea how they attach. Sorry -- I suppose you'd want to shoot an email to the website on that one.
 
#8 ·
It seems like most of the Aries/Smittybilt/Tuffy threads include a mention of the new Jeep Backbone, and everyone always asks if anybody has one.

Well, I do, on my '14 Willys Wheeler 2-door. First, the pix: (snapped in the parking lot of my office, so not very artistic :()


As you can tell, I opted to install some steel tie-downs in the pre-drilled holes. The company offers a Cargo Bar, that is a 3-sided tube (about like a skinny tubular bumper) -- it mounts on risers and goes across the back and up both sides. Sits about 10" above the deck, and gives you a good fence to hold cargo up there, and tie it off. I didn't want to have that piece in the way, so I bought the tie-down eyes at Home Depot. The eyes are actually 2 pieces -- the bottom part stays in the panel but you can unscrew the eye and the receiver for it only sticks up about an eighth of an inch. They come unfinished and I Plastidipped them black. The deck comes with these holes drilled for the Cargo Fence -- I had to open them up a little (I think they're 1/2" and I needed 5/8".) The front edge of the deck has a grooved channel as you see -- that is for a Jeep Backbone rear windshield if you want to run a bikini and seal the back of your cockpit.



The front is 2 pieces, attached together on the inside. It does not attach to anything at the bottom. An enterprising thief could get a clawed crowbar down there and pull it up, but the seatbacks would stop movement after a bit. The solution (I haven't done it yet) is to run a bolt in from the outside, with a small D Ring attached to it from the inside. Then just a small cargo strap to one of the seat tiedowns.


I bought several different cargo nets. This is one for the back of an SUV, where you use it to go over bags of groceries so they don't slide around. It's light duty. I also have a heavy duty one that has grids more like 5x5" for large, heavy items.

Okay, I went ghetto on the cargo bar. :) That's a wooden broom handle I had in the basement. It fits perfectly, as in, you have to force it through the rings by using a hard twisting motion. I just Plastidipped it also, and left the threads on the end in a sort of ironic tip-of-the-hat to my recently-passed father who jury-rigged pretty much everything he ever worked on, using whatever he found in his shed. :)


I installed two of the little Home Depot stick-on LED lights on the "ceiling" of the trunk. I velcroed them up. (One is sitting on the carpet in the foreground) Just fumble around till you feel them and they turn on with a push. The Shittybilt (and I mean that spelling in the most literal sense) rear cargo bag Molle panel thingy fits great with the Backbone.


I really think the look is first rate. Every single Jeeper who has seen it has asked me about it and vowed to buy one. They make one for the TJ also. And here's the website: Jeep Backbone Home Page


So far I've found nothing to complain about. I've offered the suggestion of making a pass-through door in the center of the front panel, so longish package (2x4s, skis, shovels, hoes, etc) could fit in there and stick up into the cockpit. Without it you can strap them on top of the Backbone, but a passthrough door would let you put things down low.

We got a heavy rain yesterday. It let some water in, but they say you can adjust the seals around the rollbar, so I'll work on that with my hose out this weekend. Frankly, it was barely enough to worry about, not much more than gets into the front of my new Wrangler through the OEM top! :)

One note: You can still lower the top just fine, but the lower "elbow" of the frame now rests on the Backbone, rather than dropping down into the cargo bay. So the top stack doesn't rest on the Backbone, but sits up in the air a few inches (maybe 8"? I've only had it down once and I didn't measure it.) Doesn't hurt anything but it blocks the rear view pretty handily. I think the best use for this deck is either

a) leave the softtop installed, and just run without windows when you want the open feel. That's what I do. I've owned convertibles for the last 19 years, and have another currently, so I don't need to have the literal open top thing going on. But I love having the windows out 24/7, so this works great for me. Add a rear windshield if you don't want to install windows when it rains. Or remove rear carpets and say ta hell with it. (my plan.)

b) remove the softtop and install a Besttop Safari Bikini and just run that all summer. Add a rear windshield if you feel you need more protection.[/QUOTE


Nice Review....I will be looking into this, is it easy to remove if you want to carry larger items.
 
#9 ·
Well, I certainly wouldn't call it "easy," but it can be done. But a far better plan would be to just set the larger item on the upper deck. If it's too tall, put the roof down. If it's raining, I'd rather wait till it's not (or take my truck to pick up the larger item) than take the Backbone apart.

There's not much you could carry in a softtop JK that couldn't be carried in a softtop JK with the Backbone installed, if you leave the top down. As for super heavy stuff, I can't remember the weight limit on the Backbone, but I'm sure you could cut a 2x4 to stick in the center as a brace if you're planning to go pick up a washing machine or something and want some center support. (of course, you'll need a crane to lower it down between the rollbars :D)
 
#12 ·
Thanks for posting pics and info about the JeepBackBone - I hadn't seen this product before.

How does it install? Looks like the deck is at least 2 pieces that go around the rollbars, right?

How is it secured to the Jeep? It sits on top of the Jeep's sidewalls (where the hard top sits) but most decks I've seen are bolted on using the hardtop's mounting/hardware locations. How is the JeepBackBone secured?
 
#13 ·
Sorry, I didn't check in for awhile so didn't see your questions.

It attaches by means of brackets that are like c-clamps. Maybe a dozen of them around the perimeter of the deck (not on the back obviously.) You screw them up into the underside of the tub's rail with a wrench.
 
#14 ·
I did this on the TJ, maybe it works for the JK - I don't have one to look at right now though so someone will have to report back.

The front elbow arm connects to the pillar and should have a bolt securing it there to pivot on. If you replace that bolt with a quick release or pin, similar to the quick release for the discos, then you could pull the pin and disco the elbow - allowing the soft top to drop completely.

This is what some TJ ones look like - RT Off-Road Soft Top Disconnects - Black - 4465-BL

Here's a JKU - All Things Jeep - 4 Piece Soft Top Disconnect Kit by Rugged Ridge for 4 Door Jeep Wrangler JK (07-12)

I just haven't seen a Jk version.
 
#15 ·
^^ Great idea! I never thought of that.

I don't ever take my top down (Happy with just the Sunrider top back, since I don't even have a back seat. :) But if I wanted to, that would be a smart solution. Thanks.
 
#16 ·
Okay, some updates in the last few months:

I got tired of feeling around for the feeble push-button lights and added this nice motion-activated/photocell controlled LED strip from Amazon for about fifteen bux, iirc. It only comes on when you open the door and move around AND it's not already light in there from ambient light. Batteries should last a long time. Switches off after 10 seconds of no motion.



Also, someone asked about the specifics of mounting. Here is the hardware.



Finally, I built a couple of security brackets using threaded turnbuckles that I attached to bolts I put through holes I drilled in the deck. It's not too hard to drill if you have good bits.

 
#17 ·
Backbone JKU

I love that I just found this thread. I just purchased the backbone, cargo carrier and the back windshield. They should be delivered sometime next week and if it's appropriate I can post of pics here of what it looks like on a JKU.
 
#19 ·
I love that I just found this thread. I just purchased the backbone, cargo carrier and the back windshield. They should be delivered sometime next week and if it's appropriate I can post of pics here of what it looks like on a JKU.
Looking forward to the pics. BTW, if possible, can you take a pic of what it looks like between the rear headrests and the back windshield? I'm curious if there is a foot of space or if it is much closer. Only if you get the chance. Thanks.
:beerdrinking:
 
#18 ·
Such a nice looking setup, but I just don't understand the price tag. Besides it being nice functionally and aesthetically, where does $650 come from? I'd be all over this if the kit with the cover and top tube were around $500. Obviously they can charge whatever they want, just kinda surprised, especially since you seem to be the only one that has ever purchased one.
 
#22 ·
Got it installed

So I did the install this weekend of the backbone, rear windshield and the cargo carrier. I only took a few quick pics so far as I was running late for tailgating and I'll get a few more tonight after work.





 
#23 ·
So I did the install this weekend of the backbone, rear windshield and the cargo carrier. I only took a few quick pics so far as I was running late for tailgating and I'll get a few more tonight after work.

Any updates? Based on your photo, I do not think this will work with the hard top on, unless it sandwiches in-between the rails and the hard top. Do you know for sure?
 
#26 ·
Just installed my Backbone enclosure and Backbone Rear Windshield and it was money well spent. I then finished it off with a Bestop Bikini and got rid of my soft top all together. The only thing that I found is that the bikini top "puffs" up when I am going at highway speeds and am curious how it is going to pool water when it rains, but I'll cross that bridge when it rains. Again, this was my Santa present to myself and it was quite expensive, but the product is well worth it.

Fuz
 
#27 ·
#28 ·
#29 ·
so it looks like the Jeep Backbone fully covers the back area (can't see around the edges) whereas the Tuffy Security deck only cvers up to the roll bar and stops thereby leaving the sides exposed/open to the weather and theiving eyes.

im assuming there is some sort of seal where the pieces on top come together to keep water from coming in at that seam.

I guess you could use some sort of C clamp jury rig for the back half of the top so you could accommodate taller items when occasionally needing to transport.
 
#32 ·
Got one for the holidays
Went to install it today but the gaskets were messed up and missing
The brackets on the underside were missing
I was disappointed
I'm waiting to hear back from them.
 
#34 ·
Is it just me or is it ironic that a product designed to eliminate the rear seat and add storage has cutouts for the rear seatbelts?! It seems like a better solution would be to remove the belts.



Also, It's supopsed to be a waterproof-ish solution, so why is there a gigantic cutout for a speaker in it?



I love the idea of this product, but not so much the execution. And definitely not for what they are charging.
 
#38 ·
Ah I did not realize it was a "one size fits all" application. No wonder it slants down at such a weird spot on the 2 door. There's just too many compromises for me personally to be interested in this product for $650 bucks. $200? MAYBE. It has given me some ideas if I want to fab my own up though.
 
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