So I've been lurking for a bit and found some good info. Finally got around to signing up.

Name is Jason. Living in the foothills of Mt. Hood.
Picked up a 2001 Sportage a few months ago and I have to say I dig this little beast. Wheeled an old Subaru for years (There is a pic of me in the old Soob on Firebreak 5 out in TSF in the Feb 2011 issue of 4wheel & Off Road) and I could not bring myself to buy anything that you see everyday out on the trails. Plus the local 4x4 clubs I roll with would be disappointed in me if I did buy a Jeep or anything like that.

I do some light to moderate wheeling though not afraid to bend some sheet metal and play on the rocks (my passenger side rocker panel was caved in the first week I owned it trying to push it and see what it could do).
But mostly exploring backroads and getting into remote camp spots that families in minivans can't reach.

Done a few things to it. Added some Hella 500 fogs, a CB, roof rack, better tires, made a skid plate (still need to make a better one for under the very front), tossed the back seat to make room for gear, and swapped in some Warn hubs.
Have a set of 105AA Jeep springs sitting here and need to get around to gathering the rest of the lift. Thinking I might save myself some hassle and go with the UPYOURKIA stuff.
Then I'll probably build a winch bumper for it and such.

A few pics.

So I figure I may as well use this thread to show what has been done all in one place.

It got lifted. TJ 105AA springs in the back and 2" spacers up front. (You've seen lots of pics of that on many Sportages over the years, same old same old. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

I built a winch bumper for it and such.



And tonight I moved the spare tire over about 4" and added a lockable fuel can mount.
It does not block the tail light like it looks like in the pic. From about 10' back you can fully see the light standing in the center.


Best part is the steel strap can attach in different spots so it still fits my smaller half can as well, for the closer trips where I might just need a little more range to get to gas again.

I added a piece of angle iron to the rack to give me the right mounting points. Notched it out and hammered it around the rack tube then welded all the way around.

Best part is, I can mount my plate on the can mount using the holes already there once I build a rear bumper. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hopefully soon I'll get on a rear drawer system inside. I do more "expedition style" trips and having tools and other such things not buried by camping gear and such easy to get out of the back will be nice.

Where did you find your half can???

Expedition Exchange.
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/cart/home.php?cat=287

Looks like they don't list it anymore though. And it looks like most their cans or out of stock..... Have been for awhile.
But hopefully you can use the info to hunt one down if you want.

Thanks. I will check it out.