Well, here we go again.
For those of you who have spent any time reading my posts, I have a bit of vehicle schizophrenia over the past year...
I started with a "tragic" vehicle fire taking my beloved 2003 Jeep Rubicon from me. I had this jeep since 2004 and it was part of our family history, with multiple family camping and most importantly, wheeling trips. Those trips began with including wife, daughter and son and dwindled over the years to just me and my son, Jonah. Kid is now 17 and he and I have camped and wheeled all over the southeast in that jeep. Great times and some defining moments for us. The fire took the jeep, 2 mountain bikes, tools, camping gear and various emergency items.
I know the whole "be thankful no one got hurt" routine, but can guess that some of you have had "that" vehicle that just plain was a great friend and can understand the tailspin after that event.
I began "recovery" through the purchase of a 2000 TJ Sport, that had a good start to it, with a BDS lift, 33's and ARB's front and rear. Shortly after that, while I was away on business, my wife bought a pop up camper (yes, I am a lucky man). However, the jeep was just not very happy pulling it. Could do it, but had the feeling the trailer was in charge of that relationship...
So, again, with the wisdom of my wife, the TJ went to Jonah and I had my brief flirtation with...
1997 Landrover Discovery... well built and great fun... surprisingly capable on the trail... frankly I just could not deal with the constant irritating small things that seemed to plague that vehicle and with some substantial financial issues on the table personally I chose.. to sell.
And I realized, yet again, that I AM A JEEP GUY. Can't help it, always come back to that.
So I took what was my son's 2001 cherokee when I gave him the TJ. (yes, he is a lucky kid... and deserving)... That is the build you see here.
The other day Wife and I were talking about what if's and I talked about the cherokee and what if's... you know, future build ideas, etc... and she said, "Is that what you really want to do?" I said, "This is fine for now, but some day I'd really like to find a Rubicon LJ, 6 speed. Just like with my 2003 rubi, it is a vehicle I could stick with for a long time."
So God bless her eternally, she found one for me.
2005 Jeep Rubicon LJ, 6 spd, 24k miles! We saw it last night, struck a deal and will pick it up tomorrow. It is virtually stock but for a Big Daddy Off Road bumper, JKS disco's and a few other nice to have's. Plans are mild, including belly up, budget boost, armor, winch. Already ordered the seat risers (absolute necessity) and the trailer wiring harness.
So that means that in a few short days, you will see the 2001 XJ up for sale. xfer case skid, spartan locker in rear, HD axle shafts in rear, winch bumper, rear quarter panel armor, 92000 miles, new radiator, water pump, vac lines. I will be grabbing a few things off it for the LJ, such as the new battery, the 15" rims and new 31" tires. The XJ will get the Rubicon Moab 16" rims and the stock goodyear mtr's. I will probably take the Currie LCA's as they were a "nice to have" not needed on the XJ, or really on the LJ (might sell these or give them to Jonah).
I will post a new build threadd and intro to the new jeep when I get it and have some pics.
John
John
