4-wheeling sure has gotten expensive!!

wendell · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:47 pm

I remember when I was youngster back in W,Va, we would take those old willys flat fenders all over the mountains. When the jeep wouldn't go forward, we would turn around and try and back up. We would run up on sapplings and use the weight of the jeep to break them down and go on (this was our family farm, we didn't destroy other peoples property). We never thought about lift kits or lockers, just air in the tires and a can of gas. It was a simpler time and alot more fun. Now when I buy a jeep, the first thing I do is start looking for lift lits, lockers, and so on. I've forgotten how to just have fun with a jeep and some gas. Now you have to have a 25,000$ jeep and 5,000$ worth of parts before even beging to think about taking it offroad, and thats a shame. I need to get back to the basics, not getting stuck isn't fun, but getting stuck, those are where the campfire stories come from. I'm not saying I won't buy parts, but I just need to remember whats important, "having fun", not how many expensive parts I can buy before it's trail worthy. It was trail worthy the day I bought it.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Yep, I agree. We started off-roading in high school with a 62 Studebaker Lark. We didn't know it wasn't supposed to be "off-road capable". Dang we had a he77 of a lot of fun. All we had was a big jack and a shovel rattling around in the trunk. If we got stuck we took turns digging. We had old pickups and such too and they went where we pointed them without any special off-road gear or mods. In fact, a great mod in those vehicles was to fix the dang heater. We learned a lot about how vehicles work and how to get out of jams and so on. I'm not that old, only forty-something, er, well OK, forty-thirteen, but a lot has changed in just a few years. I surprised myself when I was buying my KJ because I felt I needed a 6 CD changer... :roll:

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:18 pm

wendell wrote:

It was trail worthy the day I bought it.

I like to think so too, but "trail ready" can mean many different things, depending on who you talk to -- and where you wheel. I think any Jeep 4x4 is trail ready as long as the trail is gravel roads, dirt, etc. However, I don't think a new, stock KJ is mud ready or boulder ready, which is what many people on this forum find fun and challenging.

Personally, I hate mud. Give me a bumpy, loggy, rocky (not boulders) hill to climb, and I'm a happy camper.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:26 pm

I grew up in northern Indiana about 40 minutes from the beaches at Lake Michigan. There was a place at one of these beaches in southern Michigan called Tower Hill, and they had drag racing there. The sand rails would race UP the 200-ft sand dune. It was awesome. My first up-close and personal 4x4 experience was riding in my Uncle Herbie's green 1970s Ford 4x4. I remember thinking it had monster truck tires on it. Had to be at least 35-inchers. I'll never forget him parking on the beach one time and getting stuck, which I thought was impossible. He dropped one of his drive shaft that day and rode home with us. :shock:

chefdab · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:57 pm

Not to mention how expensive that can of gas is now.

WGNMANinaRENEGADE · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:59 pm

I DUNNO, BUT...
i got a 87 gr. wagoneer, worth about $5 g's to me, probably $2500 if i sold it, and a 85 Gr wagoneer, worth about $500.
i do more good off-roadin with them than i do my 03 renegade!!!

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:58 pm

WGNman...I envy you...I really want a Grand Wagoneer...I check eBay religiously to see those that are on there for sale. Ever since I say John Candy drive one in a movie (Ithink it was Yakety Yak or Uncle Buck or something like that) I have wanted one. I just love the old style bench seat in the front, large lazy back seat and a decent sized cargo area. If you ever go to sell one let me know and I'll see if I got the funds for it....sounds like a great collection....got pics?

moose · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 5:53 pm

2006KJSPORT4x4 wrote:

WGNman...I envy you...I really want a Grand Wagoneer...I check eBay religiously to see those that are on there for sale. Ever since I say John Candy drive one in a movie (Ithink it was Yakety Yak or Uncle Buck or something like that) I have wanted one. I just love the old style bench seat in the front, large lazy back seat and a decent sized cargo area. If you ever go to sell one let me know and I'll see if I got the funds for it....sounds like a great collection....got pics?

Ah, bench seats. Now that I'm about to have a teenager... I don't miss it quite as much :oops:

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 5:56 pm

Eh....what would they know.... :shock:

Then again the only car I've rideen in that hada bench seat was my Grandpas old 87 Ford F-150....that thing would go anywhere and carry/tow anything. I miss it...

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:15 pm

Agree with Wendall and snowsport 4 wheeling is not as much fun as it uesd to be . Well maybe a different kind of fun now, and a lot more expensive for sure. See the article in 4 Wheel and Sport Ultility about the group that have 4 wheeled together for 50 years,now they had fun. I wrote up something in the 4WD section.I have been four wheeling since back in 71/72 yep I am that old, then if the tires held air, and it ran you took it out and ran it everywhere. If you got stuck, there was no winch, either dug it out or walked back home to get the tractor!

4wdParakeet · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:07 pm

Hey 2006KJSPORT this wagoneer is on our clubs website and been there a while so it might still be there.

http://www.brushbeaters.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=264

Parakeet

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

I went to the dealership to get an air filter today (just happened to check mine and it was getting filthy, even though the dealer just did a "tune-up" about 2,000 km ago) and the grim bugger charged me $33 CDN! (sound of one hand slapping---my own face) what was I thinking. Could have got it cheaper at Napa I'm sure. It's definitely a pricey hobby/obsession, but it's worth every dime, usually. Unless the stealer is trying to make the dimes into dollars.... :twisted:

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:05 pm

moose wrote:

2006KJSPORT4x4 wrote:

WGNman...I envy you...I really want a Grand Wagoneer...I check eBay religiously to see those that are on there for sale. Ever since I say John Candy drive one in a movie (Ithink it was Yakety Yak or Uncle Buck or something like that) I have wanted one. I just love the old style bench seat in the front, large lazy back seat and a decent sized cargo area. If you ever go to sell one let me know and I'll see if I got the funds for it....sounds like a great collection....got pics?

Ah, bench seats. Now that I'm about to have a teenager... I don't miss it quite as much :oops:

Now there is an advantage to having a Wrangler. Bucket front seats and almost no room in the rear seat.... :lol:

wendell · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:06 am

The kj is plenty offroad capable, I took mine back home over new years. I took it alot of places we use to take the willys, however there was no running over small trees, I still owe to much on it to try that. I did take a chain saw to cut some of the old trails open. Just wheeling with a stock jeep with the family, breaking new trails and exploring old ones, reminded me just much how fun this hobby can be. The kj had it's limatations, like ground clearence and the fact that I still owe alot on it ha ha, but it was a blast. It climbed like a mountain goat. I'm not into the boulder thing, but there are plenty of rocky slatey mountain sides and once you reach the top, the view is breath takeing. Old logging roads and deer paths abound in those mountains. I still want to put a lift on the kj and some bfg's, also maybe a tru-trac, it does need a little more ground clearence, those old willys jeeps had tall skinny tires that gave them ground clearence. Buying parts is fun in it's own way, but it gets to be excessive, I don't know how much I've dumped into the ranger, it's a blast to drive on the trails, but it should be for the money invested. I guess I just wanted the new people to know that they can have fun without busting the bank, it's not about parts, it's about family, friends and fun.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

wendell wrote:

I guess I just wanted the new people to know that they can have fun without busting the bank, it's not about parts, it's about family, friends and fun.

There you go, right there. Something I need to keep in mind when I review my "future mods list". :oops:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:22 pm

Agree on the past two posts completely!! 8

FreeJeep · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:05 pm

Been on the fence with trying to decide what to do with my '67 CJ, Mod it up or keep it stock. I think this thread has helped me decide - stock it is.

Thanks!!

smitty1938 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:34 am

Nice CJ. Wish I had one.

sidewayskj · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:04 am

snowsport get your air filter at napa half the price that is what I got in my kj just every 12000 km thow it out and buy a new one don't get hosed at the dealer if you don't have to trust me most aftermarket parts are better than mopar anyways.

WGNMANinaRENEGADE · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:46 am

YO SPORT! I DO HAVE A COUPLE I INTEND TO SELL!
'87, NEEDS A NEW DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND A LITTLE HELP ON FLOOR-PAN [VERY LITTLE], AND 4-LO LINKAGE NEEDS ADJUSTING. ABOUT $2500 TAKES IT. HAS A FAIRLY FRESH MOTOR AND T-CASE, NEOPRENE SEAT UPHOLSTRY, NEW CARB, OPEN DUAL EXHAUST, NEW 32" G/Y WORKHORSE TIRES LAST SPRING, CUSTOM [BY ME] CARGO LINER AND SIDE WALLS.
OR MY $500 BEATER - GOOD MECHANICS, BUT SO UGLY IT SCARES NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS AND PETS!!!

4-wheeling sure has gotten expensive!!

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