This is my wheeling/hunting Jeep. D60/D44, Atlas, air lockers, long arm etc etc. Way too much money to add it up. It would scare me.

Nicely done. If I had a Jeep, I'd like one just like that. It's not so over the top that it looks like it belongs at a monster jam, yet you clearly have made one very capable vehicle.

Actually, you can buy a super capable Jeep by getting the Rubicon model. You don't even have to lift the 2 dr. model. E

Very nice! I myself would be afraid to wheel a $50k rig like that. Guess that's why momma's Rubicon never sees dirt, and the Scrambler always gets the nod!

To a point. I never found a Rubicon that could follow me if I got serious.

Very nice! My junk


By joecool544 at 2011-11-02


By joecool544 at 2011-11-25

MH, very nice rig. I took pics of one which looked about identical when I was in California this summer. Had dreams of wanting one, lol...

Both rigs are really sweet....

Nice Joe.

Your jacked up rig has the edge when it comes to angles of attack and departure, and even as to breakover angle, but the new Rubicons, with the latest engine, are going to leave you in the dust on the highway.
Better gas mileage too.
And, of course, they can easily be jacked up. The 4dr. Rubicon owners are doing this alot I see. E

I didn't build it for the highway. I hardly drive on the highway anyway. Ours is just a two lane road. I live in the mountains. 15 minutes from elk and muleys.

I've wheeled with many Rubicons. They always thank me when I pull them out.

laffin. That's a nice lookin rig you got there. Oh, I'm going to read a magazine article and then argue with you about what that rig will really do....

just put my 77 CJ5 in the shop for the winter.....hopefully come spring it will have a new paint job, rear locker, new seats and a new roll cage......hopefully.....

Good looking vehicles.

Awesome Jeeps guys!

NYH1!

Indeed, high levels of coolness.

I just got to ask for and would like to see pics of you getting serious. Just got my hands on a 79 ford high pinion 60 for the front of mine.

If I wanted a Jeep, I'd want one like that.

Very cool.

yeah but it has things like a stereo and a heater and AC that prolly works to distract you from the trail......why i bet that bit of overindulgence has power steering too and the gauges prolly aint lying sacks of chit....

heres a real Jeep




i really need to find an old buick to steal the power steering system off.....

I started with flat fenders, CJ5, CJ7, and finally my TJ. That's 50 years of wheeling.

You try and turn those sticky 37's with no PS. hell, I was thinking of going hydraulic. They don't want to turn in rocks.

Not a problem with your little tires.

Donno man...his looked pretty real to me.

we dont have rocks, least not enough for a dedicated rig for them....mainly have clay and USUALLY lil rain so for the most part it is fine as is to play with other than it REALLY needs a locker in the rear......mainly bought it for a mobile shooting platform for gophers spring and summer.....power steering would be nice but atleast it has power brakes.....

actually really would kinda like a rig like yours, i bought this cause it was cheaper than a quad.....

for the most part Jeepers are sorta split between 1986 and older and 87 and newer.....basically the dividing line is when Chrysler bought Jeep.....some guys like the older more rugged looking few frills rigs, some like the newer......no doubt though that the Rubicons are damn good rigs from the dealer, even better when worked over.....

just havent worked up the drive to pay the price for a Rubicon when im gonna tear it apart if i do especially when it will mainly be used for a mobile gopher shooting platform as i like my full size truck for hunting and have no need for a rock rig in the summer....lot of money for just a warm weather toy, especially when yah already have an expensive gun hobby

I would never waste my money on a Rubicon. I'd have to throw away the whole drive train like I did on my non Rubicon.

A Rubicon is a street Jeep that can be taken off road for medium wheeling. Mine was built for hard wheeling that can be driven on the street. Take your pick.

A Rubicon will be much cheaper.

btw 86 was the last CJ. From 86 to 96 were YJ's. Square headlights, still leaf springs. Goofy looking Jeeps. It's the only model i've never owned. The TJ started in 97 and is the best Jeep made in my opinion. Coil springs made a world of difference in articulation. No comment on the newer Jeeps, but you couldn't give me one. They remind me of a Hummer. Chrysler gave into what the yuppies wanted. I guess I commented after all.

Well that's a little extreme! The Rubicon can easily handle 35 to 36" tires and with it's 4 to 1 transfer case all it needs is a good long arm kit and you are good to go. My guess is your TJ came with a D35 and I know it had the low pinion D30 and yes you have throw all of that away.

I have a 44 and a Hi pinoin 30 in the one in the pics on 35s and its holding up.



That's funny



I agree on all of this, and I also skipped the YJ's goofy looking for sure.

When I built my Jeep. I was living in Big Bear Ca. It was just built when those pictures were taken. Look close at the licence plate. I wish it still looked like that.

Anyway, I was 30 minutes from the Hammer Trails in Johnson Valley. Probably the hardest trails (trails?) you can put a Jeep through. I was with a group that ran the Hammers every weekend. We had a couple of guys buy Rubicons. They just wouldn't hold up, and before they were done. They had drivetrains similar to mine. A Rubicon is not cost effective if you plan to do really hard wheeling. If you're going to to run easier trails like the Rubicon in No Cal. The Rubicon will be ok.

Actually, my Jeep had a D44 in the rear. I sold it. I would have broke it. Don't ask how I know this.

I think the Rubicon is a good deal for the average guy who doesn't want to build his own, or spend the money to do it. It does have it's limitations though, and if you want to go past those limits. You have to build it.

You are really funny. I've been in, and around Jeeps for over 50 yrs. I started that association back when a rebuilt Jeep was a US military surplus one worked over by those who understood them.
First of all, no 4WD will hold up when the driver doesn't know how to use it properly. No Jeep, or any other 4WD, will do what it can, again, if the driver doesn't use it properly.
That's what makes your comments about "your Jeep" vs. the Rubicons so ridiculous. Put a decent lift kit and a larger set of tires, and a Rubicon will follow you anywhere as long as it's driven by a competent driver. E

You're really funny too. I guess D44's never break? News to me. I've seen too much carnage (not mine), and know better. Now you're judging my driving too without knowing me?. LOL

I'm done on this subject. I'm not getting in a spitting contest over it.

Nice Rig.

Yes 44s do brake! thats why I'm kind of Puzzled why you put one in the front of yours if you are going to spend money on putting a 44 in the front why not do a 60 same money? Not trying to get into a pissing match with you your jeep is a nice rig. I know mine with 35's is at it's limits.

I do know when I go bigger It will have a 60 in the front and a shaved 14 bolt in the rear and will be stretched to about 107" wheel base. the stock wheel base isn't getting it any more.

MH, what are the extra levers for? To select different drive ranges? I just noticed them.

Thanks, NYH1!

You know how Jeep builds are. You go through a bunch of stages until you get it the way you want it. I did put a D60 (Rock Jock) in the front later on. I also took out the Tera 60 in the rear for a Rock Jock too.

It's an Atlas Transfer Case. (5-1) Pretty bullet proof. It gives you the option of running just front wheel drive to pull around tight stuff. So, you have the option to run front drive, rear drive, or both in high or low range.

Man, you guys are going to force me to start spending money on my Jeep again ('84 CJ7). Just when I thought I was getting my McMillan habit under control!

Jeeps are a money pit. I stopped spending money on mine two years ago. It's pretty much my hunting Jeep now.

Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

That's cool, sounds like a neat setup. Thanks for the info.

NYH1!

That we can agree on. I stopped spending alot of extra money on mine when I took a good look at what successful hunters use in the way of 4WD's.
They use pretty stock units for the most part. E

Junk
Each
Every
Piece

very nice pictures of some very nice jeeps.
im 76 years old and still enjoy reading and talking about jeeps.
i especially enjoy owning and using them for hunting and back road/off roading in the mountains of n/c pa.
the photo of the cj and the comments from its owner are what caused me to type these words.
i had a 79 cj7 for quite a few years.
it was lifted 3" to allow for 33" tires. it had a strong 252 engine with a t18 4 speed transmission.
i had purchased 44 rears for front and rear but never got around to installing them or the lockers planed for them.
it was the mistake of my lifetime.
on just a very small ammount of packed snow on a maderate grade the jeep lost traction on one wheel of each axel.
that caused foward momentum to stop and a slide rearward to begin.
faster than i could react we were over the edge of a very steep slope.
when it stopped rolling my friend of 60+ years was dead and i was injured and lucky to survive.
the stock rollbar was the only thing that saved me and that wouldnt have survived another roll.
so by all means dont put off installing lockers on any vehicle
used offroad.
traction is the most important element.
the best tires wont give traction when the wheels stop turning.

i now own an 06 rubicon unlimited with a warn winch and automatic transmission.
and yes i feel its better than a standard offroad.
my old cj cant be compared to this jeep in any way.
i dont do rock crawling nor will i do dangerous trails.
i dont mind mud and water up to the doors.
im also using studded tires for winter use.

Sorry about your friend. Off roading can be very dangerous, and you can get in trouble before you know it. I've had my share of close calls.

Oh crap! That would suck, sorry for your lose. I believed I told rattler at one time to put a full roll cage in his jeep. That's the first thing a guy needs to do over all else.

I can break your D60 with a sledgehammer. If you try hard enough you can break anything, and running trails like you describe is an end unto itself and doesn't have a damned thing to do with hunting. No such vehicle is necessary or even desired, as occasionally a highway is involved, and driving 2-300 miles in your rig is an act of masochism.

Like E said, if you are driving somewhere to hunt, not rock play, and you trash a Rubicon with a good quality 3in lift with 33's then you either need to learn how to drive or get your a$$ out and walk some.

Many years ago Warn manufacturing entered 4WD & Off Road's Off Road Challenge. Their Wrangler had all of the Warn/Black Diamond goodies; super 30 front/ARB, skidplate, lift kit. Nothing on that jeep broke and they completed every trail with smaller tires than the "custom" rigs like yours, most of which were continually down. I strongly suspect the Warn team knew how to drive.

I think a lot of this has to do with the "big tire, big dick" theory. I can assure you, it isn't true.

Sure is a lot of hate on this forum. Once again my driving is questioned, and none of you know me, or what i've done in the past wheeling. I don't break running gear. Never have. Even in competition.

I know all about that Challenge. I was there. It wasn't that hard. What made it hard was the time limit. They never ran the hard Hammer Trails. They ran smaller tires so they wouldn't break.

My early Jeeps had D30's and D44's. Never broke one. When I said I know about D44's breaking. It was because I had to crawl under a lot of Jeeps (not mine) to help fix them. I built my Jeep so I wouldn't have to do that. I wheeled a lot alone, and didn't feel like breaking down in the middle of nowhere.

As for my Jeep now? It's lowered down with 35's. It's my hunting Jeep. Smooth to drive on the road and gets 16mpg. I did the hard rock crawling. No interest in it anymore. My full time hobby in my retirement is hiking and hunting.

No hate here Bro, just couldn't let that crappy Rubicon comment get by without a comment. Rick Pewe, the editor of 4wd/Offroad, helped design that jeep. I can't say about the newer ones but those early models were/are bad to the bone.

If I was into the rock-crawling thing like you were I'd opt for a trailered Sammy or something of equal size. That way it could actually be used for hunting if you needed something like that. I really don't see the need for such a vehicle for most of us, especially if you are willing to quarter and pack it out on your back.

I know Rubicons aren't that bad. It's an old habit of busting the chops on Ruby owners. It was usually someone new to wheeling that would join our club, and if he couldn't take the ribbing. He didn't do well.

I did have a dedicated rock crawler buggy that I competed with. I towed it with my Jeep. My Jeep was always my street transportation. It was convenient to just drive to the club events and go wheeling. As I said I would also go out wheeling alone. I overbuilt it, because I wanted to make sure I could always get home.

As for hunting? I think it's perfect. I live in the Rockies at 8000ft. It takes me 20 minutes to be at 12,000ft. I can get into areas that the average 4 wheeler can't. It's pretty comfortable on the street. It rides like a pick up.

At 69 it's getting harder to haul out meat. The closer I can get my Jeep to the hunting area the better.