Jeep and IFS

wendell · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:31 pm

I just got off jeep unlimited and had been reading the new platforms forum. I never heard such crying and complaining in all my life. Weather it be the patroit, compass, kj, GC or comander all they did was whine about the ifs on these vehicles, I like them but........they have ifs, there not a jeep , thier junk. They sound like paroits, one repeating the other, like they can't wheel unless they have a straight front axle. They sound like a bunch of spoiled kids. They need to get a grip, ifs is the wave of the future, it's here to stay and they better get use to it. I've wheeled rangers for years with ifs a long with my wranglers with out a hitch. I find the kj to be just as capable. I like the principle, you run what you brung. I understand that some folks are into hardcore and need the added strength for boulders and such. I would bet that 90% of the complainers do more wheeling on the internet than in the woods. They act like it makes them look cool to gripe about ifs and it will fool everyone into thinker thier so hardcore. Thats why I like it here, we wheel and have fun with what we have and improve upon it for our own individual needs with out MFing jeep to death. Those who need a straight front axle just swap one in and go on. The ifs works fine for the kind of wheeling I do and some of it gets pretty hairy at times. I have fun on the trails and have a nice comfortable ride home. Visiting other forums makes me appreciate you guys all the more. Heck, I would wheel a compass if it wasn't for beating the fenders off of a new ride and take it to the limits to whatever it's capable of and still have fun. The old willys might of had straight front axles, but they had no lockers and some weak componetes. We didn't complain about it, we just wheeled the fenders off and had a good time and when it broke, we fixed it and went on. They sound like a bunch of baby paroits over there, it's rediculious. You guy's are all right even with ifs ha ha.

Jeger · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:41 pm

Good post wendell.

I am actually looking forward to see what kind of lifts are developed for the patriot. With the rear Diff mounted in the center and the control arms as long as they are I think it could be made to have a fairly articulation in the rear. Its too bad we cant move our front diff to the center...then we would have something to work with.

There are a bunch of great people here that have better things to do than whine or try to irritate each other. Thanks for keeping lost such an awesome place.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:04 pm

I know this is not related to the thread, which I totally agree with, but I'm test driving the Patriot tonight!

I'm going to park my liberty right next to the tester and start comparing.. I also found this article on line about the Patriot: http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipmen ... /index.htm & this: http://www.rockcrawler.com/reviews/jeep ... rst_drive/

IFS ROCKS for the common Folks!

BVCRD · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:21 pm

Our Jeep CRD is very capable offroader. I wheel with it often out here in Colorado exploring old ghost towns and mines as well as hunting. It is usually rocky and not much mud above tree line and as long as I go slow and use common sense, I haven't had to turn back yet. I took a big hit in the cross member once, and just got through installing skids. I know this isn't the rock crawler of old, but this is a good looking, comfortable, fuel efficent rig that can just about do it all. All I want to do anyway. And yes, there are squall bawls just about everywhere.

USPLibby · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:29 am **Posts:** 377

Even those old Willy's jeeps weren't all that strong. They didn't box the frames in those days so when you articulated the frame would turn the radiator into a trapazoid leaking fluid all over the place. My friend has a mid 40's Willy's Truck and is always breaking motor mounts and the extra crossbars he added to the front. And just because you have a solid axle in front doesn't mean you aren't going to break stuff. These guys that whine about IFS always alter their solid axles to the point that they are no longer anywhere close to stock and you could pull a house with it.

For the desert offroading I do, IFS is perfect. It rides great on washboard roads and still gets me over the big bumps. I just wish that we got the steel front diff like the new Grand Cherokees get with the auto swaybar disconnectors.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:50 pm

sleeve84028 wrote:

I know this is not related to the thread, which I totally agree with, but I'm test driving the Patriot tonight!

I'm going to park my liberty right next to the tester and start comparing.. I also found this article on line about the Patriot: http://www.expeditionswest.com/equipmen ... /index.htm & this: http://www.rockcrawler.com/reviews/jeep ... rst_drive/

IFS ROCKS for the common Folks!

That second review was awesome. I hope Jeep has hit the nail on the head with this one. With the wrangler selling so well, the liberty selling decent, and now this, hopefully this will help them out! Maybe DC will make a profit this year!! :lol:

Ohh, and about the frame flexing when offroad:

BVCRD · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:54 pm

Looks like good whitetail country.

elephantrider · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:16 pm

its roger dodger!!!

no one knows, but there's an 11 month old baby strapped in the middle of that bench seat!!!

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:52 pm

Perfect pic to explain why the bed is not connect to the cab for those non-pickup people who don't understand...LOL

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:01 pm

If it wasn't for all that BS you read over at JU, Lost might not have been. Darby, Clint and a couple others are who moved away from all the JU flaming and BS to start lost and the rest is history...... but w/ a Future that is slowly evolving. :wink:

wendell · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:35 pm

People that take what jeep gives them and wheel it are true wheelers in my book. You guy's take your ifs kj's and have a ball, "heck", even some of you guy's are wheeling 2wd libs for that matter. Anybody can wheel a 50,000$ rock crushing straight axled v8 powered 10" lifted 40" tired beast. Here we wheel what jeep gives us and smile while were doing it and look forward to the next exciting product jeep puts out as we figure out where it will go and how best to get it there. You guy's have alot to be proud of, you take a jeep that most hardcores won't even except, lift it, throw on tires and a locker and show them how it's done and thats if we have gotten a good tax return. If not, we just hit the trails stock and still wheel our butts off. Never once while I've been wheeling if I said, "GEE", I wish I had a straight front axle, I don't even think about it. You have a great forum, with knowledgable polite members who have a real pasion for thier jeeps and the hobby. Going from JU over to L.O.S.T, is like going from kindergarden to high school, mentality wise. JU and jp mag should get along well, thier two of a kind. That was a good article on the patroit, I had a good feeling about the patroit and that article conferms what I thought the patroit would do. I still believe something could be done with the compass as well, If I was rich, I would buy one just to wheel and show jp and ju that it is a real jeep. I bet sooner or later one of us diehards will fix up a compass to wheel, it's just bound to happen.

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:15 pm

Blue KJ in PA wrote:

Perfect pic to explain why the bed is not connect to the cab for those non-pickup people who don't understand...LOL

Looks like some soft cab mount bushings to me. :lol:

The bed does'nt have any.Just kiddin,you can bet that frame has a little twist to it. :wink:

phxtoad · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:27 pm

If you think about it the KJ is the essence of what a Jeep is supposed to be: Since '41 they've strived to create a GENERAL PURPOSE vehicle:

The KJ is fairly inexpensive to buy and maintain.

The KJ handles moderate wheeling well and is durable if driven properly.

The KJ is excellent on the road because of the IFS.

The KJ is fairly comfortable, quiet and stable.

Can all of these areas be improved - yes. Do they need to be to make everyone happy - no.

Want a V8, better on road manners and 'extras' - go buy a Grand or a Commander

Want a better wheeling platform - go buy a Wrangler

Go out and get dirty. Break stuff. Wave at other Jeeps. Get groceries.

HAVE FUN!

TL

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:07 pm

phxtoad wrote:

Break stuff. Wave at other Jeeps. Get groceries.

I do all three ALOT...especially #3..... :oops:

This little Jeep sure has made me happy...I'm still smiling since the day I bought it!

Ah dang it...I lost my peanut butter. :lol:

4wdParakeet · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:23 pm

I will admit I love my KJ to death but I would like to be able to tackle some of the trails that I don't have the tire to run it. I have thought many times that man I want a sfa while wheeling. Wheeling my jeep tends to frustrate my fiance since everytime I come back I "have to have...". Don't get me wrong I love the way my KJ handles on and off road but I think it could be more. I would love to be able to safely run a 33"+ tire and I don't see that happening unless you swap a sfa in. When the KJ is paid off I will put a sfa under it. Mainly just to say "yea that's a liberty" and "yea those are 35's". I know I could spend the money for the sfa and buy a YJ and build it but everybody and thier grandma has a built YJ. I've said it before, I like driving a rig that not everybody wheels. I'm one of 5 lifted KJ's in the metro KC area. The offroad prowess is a lot more than most non-KJ owners expect. And like everybody else say no matter what you buy, no matter what brand, there are going to be the "purists" that don't like change. Change scares people since it's not comfy, and well know. IFS has changed the car market so much that unless you get a HD truck or a wrangler you get ifs and possibly irs. Let them talk all the smack they want and when we pass on the trails I just smile and say "Cute and cuddly boys, cute and cuddly"

Parakeet

jason thompson · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:35 pm

Guys I will be one to tell you
I can almost see why those guys say what they say it is mostly that they never see a KJ out on a trail but they see them all day "at the mall"

I wheel all the time and in a lot of different places and I can count on one hand with out using my thumb how many KJ's I have seen out on the trails
counting my own

I have been trying to show the groups that I wheel with that the KJ can go ,yeah I can not wheel the harder trails that are rated 6+ on a JJ scale but I know that the KJ was not built for that
I also know that over the past 3+ years that I have been bringing out my KJ I have changed more than a few minds
even a few of the "hard core" "big boys" have said how they were surprised at how well it does
They also ask why other dont wheel theres ,seeing as how well they do, and why is mine the only one that they ever see on the trail
the only answer is "I have no idea"
They know that I am a member here and can not beleve that I am one of only 2 yes 2 with in 100 miles of New Orleans that has a 4X4 KJ and wheels it but saidly it is very true

If you guys want them to think differently then get out and be seen
join a local club surf the web for when and where the next trail rides will be and GO
If that does not happen they the "new jeeps' will never get the respect they deserve because they will be right
I can say I have changed minds can you?
Jason

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:43 pm

I changed minds last weekend, not only some buddies from school but also some random guys on 4wheelers!! heres some pics if u wanna see what i done and the guys i wheeled with.........and i did it in a stock libbi
click herehttp://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=17603

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:19 pm

Well Wendall,since your the one who started this great thread,I deticate this story to you.....Oh yeh,and we might otta call our JU fans and non-Liberty owners to read this,for it is true.

My boss sent a co-worker out in our parking lot today to hook up to a F-250 dually deisel with a J-Hook and pull it into the shop cause it was too cold for it to start.Our wrecker is a F-350 deisel sling lift.With another co-worker in the disabled truck our wrecker driver eased out and took slack from the chain in hopes to pull the disabled truck around the building and into the shop.As soon as the slack was gone in the chain our wrecker sunk in about 6 inches of snow with hard pack below that.at this point the chain was tight and our wrecker would neither go forward or backwards.My boss turned to me and said "Do you think that little libberty of yours might be able to pull the disabled truck into the shop if we cut the chain from our wrecker?"I said "NO need to waste a good chain,Ill just hook to our wrecker and pull them both around and into the shop." At this point I was remembering a story about a man who once pulled a semi-tractor,in neutral,up a long snowy grade with his liberty.I jumped at the chance to see if this story could be true,so I hooked up to the now stuck Deisel Duo.I pulled all the way up into 4Low,eased down on the throttle,and all three vehicles were moving with what seemed to be little effort.When I got around the building and into our drive thru shop,all seven employees were standing there with their mouths wide open.I heard things like "No way","I can"t believe this" and so on.After today I can testify that the little liberty has proved to be a GREAT all purpose vehicle. :wink:

And you can quote me on this!

Ron

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:23 pm

OH man, I remember the story about the Semi and the liberty! Wow that was a while ago...

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:26 pm

lol I drive a liberty and i would have been one of those with their mouth open drooling on myself!!!

Jeep and IFS

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