#39 & 40

Entirely a matter of opinion
Owned some in the 70s when I was young and dumb, every dime I could rake and scrape I stuffed down the last rabbit hole I owned (74 model).
while I realize the newer models are a whole different animal and are better, for most people it's more of a cult following than anything else.

offroad ability? one of the best
reliability? still not good
mileage? sucks
cool factor? pretty high
for an old fart like me ? I'm too old to be cool, too old to work on stuff, too broke to feed one.

If I were 25 again I would likely be all over one.

Meh, not really. I've owned two Cj5's, a full custom '46 Cj2a, a Grand, and two of the newer JkU's in the Rubicon. I'd have to agree with hillbill, with the Rubicon it's pretty good offroad from the factory, with a good lift it's even better and tough to beat on trails. The rest is subjective. If they'd figure out how to avoid recalls, and up the HP a bit I'd be more apt to agree. Gas mileage sucks in every good off-roader I've ever owned.

Owned one back in high school. Wouldn't again as a daily under any circumstance.

For my general wheeling, mud and hunting - a Tacoma is the bar to beat and not many do. May not be for everyone.

Yep, BTDT. I cut my teeth learning to wrench on my Jeep but I don't miss it a bit. If I ever build another off-roader it probably won't be a Jeep.

Got a 76 Levi Edition with v8 and quadratrac. At the moment everything is functioning nicely. That was all new fluids, new plugs, new tires, new shocks, new brakes, new axles, new starter, new seats, new ignition switch and fuel filter. Its our ice cream run truck and we putz around on nice days in it. Don't think I'd take it 10 miles off road probably but it may be just fine. Never know lol.

In the second picture, is the dude with the ear ring looking for a wrench... or... ?

Lunch time. He's after his avocado toast.

I agree, you can't beat a good jeep, I have three jeeps and use them all for ranch work and hunting, 2005 LJ 176,000 ranch miles no hi-way miles, 2017 Ruby, and a 2020

Gladiator, I've tried every make of 4 wheel drive pickup you can buy in the U.S.A. the modern pickup's are made by lawyer's for little league mom's and town driver's,

That includes the Jap trucks, Tacoma's, won't last a year here, did have 1 that lasted about 1 1/2 years, out of three we bought, they wont pull a greased string out of a cats asss in the sand.

I drive a jeep every day almost all day, gas mileage sucks, but so does everything else that's in 4 wheel drive 80% the time, take care of a jeep and it will take care of you.

Rio7

I would agree that there isn't a factory built, road legal, 4x vehicle that would beat a modern Jeep. I had a '97 TJ for 20 years and had no more problems with it than any other 4x4 vehicle I've owned, and I've owned more than a few.

Fun for long highway drives - no
Good gas mileage - no

But then neither of those things were design goals.
Of the twenty plus vehicles I've owned over the years, none had a fun factor equaling the Jeep. And when I sold it after 20 years, I got more than 1/2 what I paid for it new. Match that with your Taco.

Bought a Taco with 80k on it for 6 grand. Didn't put a dime other than brake pads and wiper blades into it for another 150k miles.

Sold it for 2k.

Having owned both - there isn't anyone I know personally that has those kind of miles on a Jeep without issues. FOR ME the Taco lasts longer, more comfortable, more useful for hunting, camping etc and less expensive to own.

I'm not telling anyone what to own or drive - just that FOR ME, a Jeep would never be my daily.

In actuality, the best vehicle I've ever owned of any stripe was a CVPI.

To be faaaiiir, I love Jeeps.

But I hate them too.

I'ma jeep guy all the way, for what I do, I sold my 1993 Wrangler with 300,000 ranch miles on it for $ 6500.00 to a rancher not far away and he uses the hell out of it. most trucks or pickup's will work for most people, they just won't work for what we use them for every day.

Most of the people that hunt here on the fire, maybe hunt a couple of weeks a year some a little more, we hunt from Sept. 1 till March every year. usually about 5 day's every week, we finished this year on March 8 th. now we get a little time off, then start getting ready to hunt next year.
Rio7

Had a '96 Square-okee 4.0L 5-speed on 30" mudders.

Could NOT stop it from going forward unless you ran into a tree. Low range and 2nd & 3rd gear...…...you were going SOMEWHERE. Put 180K miles on it and sold it with the original clutch/pressure plate AND exhaust still very intact. Made me 22-23 MPG around town.

Went to take a 2-man treestand down one time. Had my brother follow me on our 4WD Case-International 695 so we could lower the stand with the loader. Went up a steep woods road then cut straight up a skidder path along a REALLY steep power line. We got the stand down and went to leave. Brother (on a 60 HP 4WD tractor, mind you) said, "Now......….how do I get outta here WITHOUT going back down the way you brought me up ??? I ain't going back out THAT way !! "

That’s a range bag. Pic is from a Viktos ad I was in with my Jeep.

My first vehicle was a 2 door XJ 5 speed... I still own it 21 years later.

Very nice Cherokee!

Thanks!

Nice TJ.... wish we had terrain like that here in WI

Thanks, we had a lot of fun with that one.

Hi, I’m Chris, nice to meet you. Now you know someone personally that has owned a dozen Jeeps up to 180k and haven’t done anything besides brake pads and rotors and usually sold them sod more than I paid.

online photo and upload

This was my last TJ or TJU or LJ whatever you prefer... I was sad to see this one go but I needed 3 seat belts in the back with our latest addition.

Nice, I like the flat fender mod. 35's?

Thanks! They came black but I had them blasted and painted. 35’s on everything I own!

Had a really nice '65 CJ5 in high school (80's). Mildly built. Loved it.

Now I have an 08 grand Cherokee that's basically parked as a back up vehicle. 140,000 miles and was thinking of doing another mild build. I just hate that 3.7l in it. I like the mercedes tranny though.

For the suspension guys, I need new strut tower bushings and of course I need to cut the towers out. Are the towers and bushings stealership only?

https://www.carparts.com/details/Je...R0qLxDWYzhoCfCcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I got struts, it's the towers that connect them to the lower control arm. Mine are so rusted in there a press couldn't get them out, tried that got the t-shirt. I'm sure I'm gonna lose the bushing in the lower control arm trying to get that bolt out also.

I just hate paying stealership prices.

Solution with a side of upgrade.

I had three Jeeps. 1971 CJ5 with the V6 and 4 speed OD. No brakes and open diffs. It was a pos for reliability. Ever have a car catch fire when you shut of the ignition and took the key out?

Then a 87 Wrangler with the 258 six. Best of the Jeeps I owned for reliability but not good off road due to limited wheel travel.

Then a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8. Pretty good car except for the front end which periodically would start shaking so bad you had to pull off the road. Take off again and it wouldn't do it until the next time and you never knew when it would happen. It was a defect in the differential assembly method I was told after a year of being told it was mud on the wheels.

My take of Jeeps is that they are fun to drive, useful in certain environments, and you can dump a boat load of money into them and make them do anything you want except get good fuel mileage.

My Jeeps earn their keep. Rio7

Nothing beats a good death wobble. Fixable but a pain in the dick.

Well done sir.

Jeeps..had a few.

My 48 CJ2a and Dad's 68 CJ5 circa 1986


My 48 when I brought it home..


My 71 CJ5


My 2012 JKU


My 69 CJ6


current state


My dad and I have had 3 more Jeeps. He had a 46 CJ2a, 86 CJ7 and I had another 48 CJ2a
My brother had an 84 CJ7

Mine is a 86 cj7, 4.2 6 with 4.0 head molar fuel injection and arb front and rear lockers, 3” lift

They are a good toy. Bed is too small though.

They're a fun vehicle,but always turn into a never ending project.
Jeep= Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

Truth. Well played.

Back in the 80's, I had a co-worker who was in a Jeep offroad club. Those guys were nuts. He'd come home after an outing and start fixing. He said if you didn't spend $500 (in 80's money) in repairs, you didn't have enough fun. I couldn't afford his kind of fun. I had a family and he was single.

Love my 2015 JKUHR ruby

Yeah, every time a buddy wanted to go out 4 wheeling with his jeep, I took my yota and he would always be breaking parts. Parts would actually be falling off of that sob. He had a couple jeeps and it was always the same thing. He had old CJ's and the last one was a 90's wrangler. He finally gave up on the pos things after he couldn't go where I went in my '85 short bed yota. His was terrible, it actually went pretty good when it was in 2wd, but when you needed 4x it was absolutely useless. Pretty much stuck at that point...



"It's a jeep thing"

A well-built Jeep is an amazing trail machine. It really is. But customs can be so far removed from factory rigs that they don't necessarily reflect the brand anymore.

When I lived in AZ in the 1990's, I was wheeling with larger vehicles and had to negotiate some really tight turns that I am sure the Jeepers flew though. In particular, I remember going through a stand of trees that took forever with my lifted 71 Blazer. It just didn't fit. The trails were made by Jeepers. Can't fault them for it. They broke the trails, and everyone else followed.

That said, I hired a technician that did a fair amount of work on Jeeps. Broken axles on factory rigs, etc. And I hired an engineer that tested FCA vehicles, including Jeeps, for the manufacturer. Some interesting stories from them. None make we want to run out and buy a 2020 Jeep.

It seems like Jeep owners are loyal fans. They buy them no matter what. No matter what anyone else thinks or says. Brand loyalty is an amazing thing.

Ha! Reminds me of an old friend of mine. He had a Jeep Commando with limited slips in both ends and a 69 Bronco with 3:55 open diffs. He swore that for whatever reason that little Bronco would go places with no trouble that the Commando couldn’t even think of going. He claimed there was some combination of magic in the wheelbase and track width of the 66-77 Bronco.

My only real Jeep experience comes from having an 80 something Wrangler, whatever year was the last year for carbs on the straight six. It was a gigantic POS that nothing ever worked right on, especially the 5sp trans that was apparently made of glass or at least broke like it was. That thing cured me of ever wanting another Wrangler. I might entertain the idea of a CJ if they had room in the back for more than a pack of hotdog buns.

1989 was the last year for the carb 4.2.

CJ6 has more room. So does the CJ8. 2004-2006 LJs are longer as well.

Years ago I had a '78 Wagoneer. It just had the standard 4x4, both open diffs. It was pretty good off road but my buddy had an old Chevy 3/4 ton delivery van, 2x4 with a limited slip rear end. It was kind of like this pic. That limited slip would go places my 4x4 wouldn't go. Just having 1 locked axle made a big difference.

It originally had a 3-spd. After he burned out the 3d clutch hauling firewood, I talked him into putting a 4-spd in it. It only cost him about $100 more and he paid for it several times over in clutches.

The idea, mine at least is to build a capable trail rig. Now, depending on how extreme the trails you want to run, makes a difference in what/how one builds.

I have seen the best built Jeeps and Toyota's for that matter, broken. Sometimes it is just bad luck, mostly it is from lack of attention when on the trail, or too much skinny pedal.

When I was a kid of maybe 16 (late 60’s) I had my first Jeep adventure.
A bunch of us kids from the same work location went out to the local hill climb in the bosses B model flat fender Jeep. That thing was pure stock, as I recall. 4 cylinder and the military type tires.

He loaded three or four of us in it and we ground our way to the top of this really nasty hill climb.
It went up it like it was nothing at all. I was amazed!
Then the boss says that he smells hot brakes....? Turns out he had the hand brake on all that time, but in low range 4x4 it simply walked right up that hill without a hitch!

I was impressed enough to later own a couple of CJ7’s.
They were just OK, no room for anything and there seemed to always be something that needed fixing.
My Yamaha Grizzly 700 does all the back woods travel for me now.
Most of the gussied up Jeeps I see in town now are parking lot queens......

I grew up in a Jeep family, every ranch vehicle was a 6 cylinder 3 speed pickup and one became my daily driver. I’ve had a 1958 FC 150 for 45 years and still use it.

Pops friends were all a bunch of wheeling fanatics when I was growing up, and then I got into it also. Jeeps, blazers, broncos, FJ40's and then Suzuki Samurai's.
With a lift kit and Lock right kits in the axles, those suki's were the best of the bunch, hand down.

The FC are cool...when I'm done with my 6, one is on my list to build...

Pulled Sour Apple out this past weekend....

Sactoller,

I hope you are well.

My first car a, CJ-7, combined with highways rutted up by oilfield transport trucks cured me personally of wanting another CJ, but I can appreciate that is a GREAT CJ. I'm currently diligently looking for a TJ right now to drive around town and on our lease out near you.

Yep, crappy roads at speed in a CJ can be a little dicey.

Look for an LJ it is worth the extra length!

Toyota guy here.......

Never had a Jeep......

Purty popular in Utah though.....

Here's me dirty '78 CJ5 that I've owned since 1987. Replaced it's under-powered original AMC 304 V8 with a 401 V8 in 1991. Prior to that, I scattered it's semi-weak T-150 3 speed trans, then replaced it with an old Ford truck T-98 (precursor to T-18) 4 speed granny low transmission. After that, I knew the weak-azzed model 20 rear axle wouldn't last, and had a Ford Dana 60 rear-end narrowed to 52" built for the rear end, running a Powr-Lok diff. It's lifted about 3.5" and runs 33x13.50 Super Swamper TSX tires on "back-in-the-day" 15"x10" Enkei rims.


And, here's me '06 Rubicon:



Anyone know what a Dynatrac reverse rotation front Dana 44 axle looks like?:

And this is me Rubicon at Glamis sand dunes in southern CA, near Yuma, AZ a few months back. In the picture, we are at the bottom of the famous "Oldsmobile hill" for those of you've who've been to Glamis. The Rubicon struggled to get up the talcum powder-soft sand dune in 2nd and 3rd gear (of it's 6-speed) in 4-low and revving it's poor 4.0 litre 6 cylinder to RPMs that I thought would bring a rod through the side of the block! The Rubi will be staying home next time to preserve it's engine, and I'll bring me CJ5 with it's paddle tires to play in the dunes, or simply use the Canam.



And THIS is why, even in my 50s, we go to Glamis, for the scenery!!!

oh yea..........bet that seat has more than sweat on it......

Hell if ya can't, pass a first gen yota, bobbed off, any day, every day...

Ok boomer

Kiss my ass dummy... Speaks volumes of your "off-road prowess".... You must either look at "your jeep in the shop" or love working on the pile of shiit.... Either way, a Toyota will spank a jeep, hands down....🖕😎😂

Here’s a hint dummy... the only thing “Jeep” is the sheet medal.... hint

Feel better peanut? 😢

Neither of your guesses are right. I’m just not a communist.

Well now you know. Those cheeseheads are some wheelin sumbitches!!! 😂😂😂🤙

Lovely pissing contest we got going on here...

Is it really even a pissing contest? More like someone getting really fired up due to a lack of a sense of humor. 🤷🏼‍♂️

That's the best looking vehicle ever posted here, with the exception of a Northern Dave build or two. I love that thing.

I have a Camaro that was originally really close to that color. On my car, they called it Grecian Green. Thinking of going back with that just to be different.

Unfortunately, my Jeep search is now off for awhile. Had expensive issues come up yet again with my F150 so decided to go back to Toyota after a couple each of crappy Fords and GMs over the last couple of decades. Blew my Jeep money today on a new daily. Hopefully, the new Turd Pro will keep me going for a few years without the need for a new truck.

Hope you and yours are well DesertMuleDeer!

Here is my old jeep, bought it new in 89, original paint, just rebuilt the 4 banger, 161,000 miles. It’s been a great vehicle.



names that mean hidden

I have the Dynatrac 44 front axle (with5:38s and ARB air lockers) in my '09. I bought their trail leader kit.. Then I did a Rubicon transfer case and sway bar with air unlock. Probably coulda saved some money by buying a Rubicon... my lockers stay locked and sway bar stays unlocked until I flip the switch though...

I'll put up some pix when I get a better connection.

30" mudders made me laugh.

I’ve had 4. I’ve had a Jeep my entire adult life.

I had to, both 79’s. One white with a 304 I really miss the jeep. And one black with 259? Took that one up to my cabin in the Adirondacks and ran it all through the woods :-) had a blast with that damn thing. Threw a set of chains on it and it was next to impossible to stop.

Close... 258. Those inline 6’s are almost on Cummins level for being awesome.

[/quote]
Close... 258. Those inline 6’s are almost on Cummins level for being awesome. [/quote]

Except the 258s are gutless as h*ll. Fine for bouncing over rocks at 2 MPH, but try to climb a two-hundred foot sand hill!

Had a POS 258 in our 83 CJ7. The factory carb on it was a joke. Cajon Pass in so Cal at 35 MPH in 2nd! Got tired of it and stuffed in an AMC 401 V8, pretty much a direct bolt in except motor mounts, which bolt to the frame. What a difference! The 85 MPH speedo could be buried and brought back up the other side! LOL

Oh, and on our '03 Rubicon, it's 4.0L inline 6 pitched a rod out the side of the block at 115,000 miles, going up a highway grade and "driving it like a white man". This was in 2nd gear of it's auto trans. Impeccable maintenance on it since we bought it new.

I'm just not sold on inline 6s, of course I'm not into slow-going rock crawling. I like to be able to have some acceleration, like getting onto a freeway without getting rear-ended by an 18-wheeler!! Give me a V8 any day!

Bummer... I’ve had over 250k on a few, beating the hell out of them, neglecting oil changes, and just being a douchebag 🤷🏼‍♂️

V8’s are cool, I’ll probably put a hemi in my JK if I can manage to blow it up.

"Had a POS 258 in our 83 CJ7. The factory carb on it was a joke. "

I had an 83 or 5, can't remember, but the carb on it's 258 screwed up & I put one of those progressive two barrel Webbers on it. That pepped things up quite a bit, really impressed.

I did that to my 87 YJ (I know I know YJ) but you’re right it’s a game changer.

Do we even call a TJ a Jeep?

I put parenthesis!

I left the tops off my CJ's a lot, just a wet seat, YJ's good spring packs, that's all. TJ's, get the CJ's out of the way on the trail. Just do't treat the T's like the old ones. Leave the top off for a few days in the rain. ERROR codes, chit not working, great suspension, but, the good with the bad I guess.

Put YJ springs on my 69 CJ6...Great option if not going coils.

I had an 86 CJ7- biggest POS I have ever owned. Bought it in 90 with 60k miles. The top had already been replaced, it leaked like a sieve around the cowl, had numerous oil leaks, and needed a carb rebuild. Paid $3500 and sold it for $4500 6 months later. I had Geo Tracker for a while too-basically an overgrown street legal UTV. It got killed when an oak tree fell on it. Bought a FJ Cruiser in 14 and still have it. It will go anywhere the Jeep would and us dead reliable, but you couldn’t pay me to take it on a cross country trip.

when you have time

Seems I recall a thread where you were changing the spring mounts to the wider ones. Curious then as to why you didn't do a shackle reversal when you had the chance. Has that cone out of favor?

I'm not a fan of the shackle reversal. It is good off road, but the street handling is funky. I did it on my CJ2a and my brother's CJ7, we both decided that it didn't give enough advantage off road to be worth the sketchy road handling.

My first one, circa 1980, did not last long.

I like a jeep as much as anybody. Currently shopping for another. But...

They're not very good quality. Owning one for normal use is a minor hobby in itself.

Are you looking for a newer Jeep or an older?

The older Jeeps started out as farm equipment so yes, always need tinkering. Newer Jeeps are better daily drivers and quality has improved greatly, but trying to retain some of the old usability.

Looked local and nearby for a CJ5 project.
Damn I shoulda kept my '82.

My 71 is for sale...

Just a few items left to do...easy project.

There is a turn key ready to drive CJ on The Hull Truth- trucks and trailers for sale section- $8000

1985 CJ7 did a complete frame off on it. Ford 5.0, Ford T18 4 speed, Ford 9" Currie front and rear axles. I never painted using anything other than a rattle can or brush until this project. Learned as I went. It's almost like a brand new Jeep except with some refinements.












Using it last fall to take my deer stand to the woods, as I intended to use it for many years.

A big Jeep thing was the ability to keep all the fragile stuff up above the frame. I had one of these '77 Wagoneers. For a station wagon, it had amazing clearance, much better than most pickups even.

Well done!

This one has been a fun project. May need to sell it this spring to fund a new bigger tractor.

Damn that’s sexy

They were useful to serve as inspiration for the Land Rover.

🙄

Still doing a 78 Toyota Landcruiser here. Need to sell it though, as it's not getting much use. Spending more on insurance than fuel.

Very nice! But is it really a Jeep when all the stuff that makes it go comes from a Ford?

I don’t understand crossbreeding but to each their own.

Cuz some folks thought jeeps were just too reliable.

Actually it was the Landcruiser..