New Gen 2.5 Member - Lots of Questions...
- Thread starter nwoods
- Start date
nwoods
Expedition Leader
Yeah, not bad for an iPhone pano. Got to love good natural light!
And YEAH, very glad the 4x4 system is working well!
off-roader
Expedition Leader
In terms of your Alarm, Grasscat on 4x4wire may be able to help since he's also had to deal with his gen2.5 alarm. Only issue is, he's not on the 'wire or on here as frequent since he's looking at selling his rig now. Send him a message and I'll call him and ask him to respond.
As for your rear tire, yes it's a type 74 bulb. I bought a box of them from Napa which is a bit cheaper than buying them 2 at a time. FWIW, O'Reilly's and Autozone only carry them in pairs. Not sure about the other parts stores.
Oh, as far as a stereo deck is concerned, I'd prefer one with the USB port on back so you don't have a memory stick or usb cable sticking out in front just begging to be torn off or worse broken by a falling object or me being clumsy reaching for something on the passenger side and breaking it off. Yeah, been there, done that LOL... My deck has the plug in back and came with a short usb cable which I routed into the passenger glove box. I attached a 8GB usb memory stick which has all my tunes.
I believe if it in fact has clutches then technically it's not a Locker at all but rather a Limited Slip Differential or LSD.
As for your rear tire, yes it's a type 74 bulb. I bought a box of them from Napa which is a bit cheaper than buying them 2 at a time. FWIW, O'Reilly's and Autozone only carry them in pairs. Not sure about the other parts stores.
I just remembered that those pics were from the original article which linked in my post. That original article is still active and the pictures are still there.
Oh, as far as a stereo deck is concerned, I'd prefer one with the USB port on back so you don't have a memory stick or usb cable sticking out in front just begging to be torn off or worse broken by a falling object or me being clumsy reaching for something on the passenger side and breaking it off. Yeah, been there, done that LOL... My deck has the plug in back and came with a short usb cable which I routed into the passenger glove box. I attached a 8GB usb memory stick which has all my tunes.
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off-roader
Expedition Leader
I also just fixed that thread since I had some spare time right now.
nwoods
Expedition Leader
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
Nice rig, Nathan!
We actually looked at a very, very similar one last weekend. 1998 with the winter package. White exterior, tan leather interior.
The one we were checking out had the seepy oil underneath too, and also had a brake shudder upon applying them, but otherwise seemed to go pretty well.
I just can't get around the fact that these carry my troop with nary and issue, and get such good mileage compared to both my XJ.
Still waiting for the right one to come our way, but honestly I might go with the Gen III due to lower mileage examples being available.
Hope the Monty is a good one for you!
We actually looked at a very, very similar one last weekend. 1998 with the winter package. White exterior, tan leather interior.
The one we were checking out had the seepy oil underneath too, and also had a brake shudder upon applying them, but otherwise seemed to go pretty well.
I just can't get around the fact that these carry my troop with nary and issue, and get such good mileage compared to both my XJ.
Still waiting for the right one to come our way, but honestly I might go with the Gen III due to lower mileage examples being available.
Hope the Monty is a good one for you!
off-roader
Expedition Leader
I'd hazard to suggest that with the exception of the Rubicons, only a built jeep would be able to keep up with a gen 2 Monty SR/Winter Package models.
Having said that though, I'd also add that nobody can deny how Jeeps rule the roost currently for stock built 4x4's capable from simpler over-landing to mild or even mildly difficult rock crawling right out of the box. The saying that Jeeps are built not bought has definitely been addressed.
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
The only comment I was making concerning Jeeps was that it's always so surprising to me how much more suitable something like a montero is, for carrying my gaggle of girls. Just a personal observation having been looking for a new vehicle lately. I like to think that my XJ does the job pretty well (and it has for 4 years), but when we ALL hop into a montero (all 5 of us), and are able to spread out to all three rows, its never fails to surprise me how much more enjoyable the ride is...
Just wanted to be clear on that...
SoCalMonty
Explorer
The only comment I was making concerning Jeeps was that it's always so surprising to me how much more suitable something like a montero is, for carrying my gaggle of girls. Just a personal observation having been looking for a new vehicle lately. I like to think that my XJ does the job pretty well (and it has for 4 years), but when we ALL hop into a montero (all 5 of us), and are able to spread out to all three rows, its never fails to surprise me how much more enjoyable the ride is...
Just wanted to be clear on that...
I can comment on this subject!
I had a 2001 XJ on 33's with an RE 5.5" lift. I've also owned an '89 Montero LWB w/ LSD on 32's, and now the '95 Montero SR on 31's.I have often compared the advantages/disadvantages (some of which are relative to the user or the specific purpose) between them. This is just a list of my own observations/opinions.
Jeep XJ:
- I think it's closer to mom's station wagon w/ 4WD than a "truck"...unibody, small interior, and requires a LOT of lift and trimming to get 33x12.5's to fit at full flex.
- Excellent power-to-weight ratio...190hp, 220tq, and only about 3250 lbs (about the same as a VW hatchback from the same year).
- Too shallow gearing from the factory (3.55:1) means a serious hit in performance and fuel economy when you jump to 33's; a re-gear should really be done for 33's. I returned ~11mpg on a healthy car with 80k miles on it on 33's.
Montero:
- An actual truck (body on frame).
- Stronger running gear than a D30, D35, Chryco 8.25.
- Deeper gearing.
- Heavier truck, not as good on power-to-weight ratio, but still adequate. 4.0L XJ on stock tires accelerates like most "sport compact cars" with N/A 4 cylinders.
...all in all, both of them got me where I needed to go...using different techniques. With the XJ, I was open/open, but I was on 33's that I could air down to a very low pressure, and the XJ was over 1,000 lbs lighter than a Montero. The squish of the tires helped make up for the fact I was open diff (I'd like to think the driver had something to do with this, too...) and I was able to go several places that people with lockers said I wouldn't be able to at the time. I didn't like the fact that it took a $1,000 lift kit, removal of my factory fender flares, and serious trimming of my fender sheet metal just to fit a set of 33" A/T's without rubbing.
The Montero is more "walk softly and carry a big stick." It's under rated, and I like that. People see the Montero and say things like "are you sure you want to try to go up that? I don't have a recovery strap with me...". But truth be told, in low traction situations, the Montero with the locker would get through more than the open XJ would. Yet nobody would question the XJ, because it "looks" the part.
I liked the XJ overall, but the fact that I needed to spend $1000 on a lift kit and then another $500 on gearing just so that I could turn and flex the 33's without straining made it apparent that they aren't as "hardcore" as they get credit for. On the Gen1 Montero, all I did was buy a $125 pair of rear coils and crank the T-bars to fit the same rubber. I also outgrew the XJ quickly as it's so small inside; tried a couple trips with the GF, her 2 kids, and my 110 lb dog with 3 days of gear. It was not enjoyable. If you don't have a family, and you have a bunch of money to spend to get the XJ trail worthy, than the axle layout and low weight make it a good contender once it's built up.
If you only need a moderate crawler, a Montero with a rear locker is pretty much ready out of the box...with the locker, deeper gears, and ability to fit a 32 or 33 without modification. It's only when you start to get into "hardcore" crawling that the IFS becomes an issue.
I think to myself...with a $400 Ironman lift and a $300 Aussie in the front, I know what a Montero SR could do. I think it would cost a LOT more than $700 total to get an XJ to do the same things.
They just represent 2 different philosophies and have different skill sets. They are both pretty capable, it just depends on what features are more important to you, and what resources you have available to you.
IMHO of course.
nwoods
Expedition Leader
Hmmm, don't rule out the capability of the Toyota 120 platform (4Runner/FJ Cruiser/Prado/GX470)
off-roader
Expedition Leader
For sure, but I was really comparing between Jeep XJ's and Montero's.
As SoCalMonty also pointed out, to upgrade an SR is soooo simple and cheap. 33's. Throw them on. No suspension or drivetrain mods needed.
35's? 2" BL is all. No other suspension or drivetrain mods needed.
Want to do the Rubicon trail? Install 33's and add armor for the rocker panels. Suggests trimming of the lower rear quarter panel. Dusy Ersham? 35's but nothing more than what you did for the 'con.
As has been pointed out the Mitsu's are probably the MOST underrated 4x4's in N. America.
In the early years of the gen I and gen II they won several +2k mile Dakar Rally's with nearly stock rigs. I recall from one of the Mitsu Owner's Days they brought out the 1st winning Pajero from their corp HQ in Japan to the MOD even in Cypress CA. It was a stock 2 door gen I with primarily the addition of safety gear (roll cage, passenger restraints, etc.), limiting straps on the suspension, a huge fuel cell in back, and a 3/8" thick aluminum skid plate up front.
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stioc
Expedition Leader
Nathan, have you decided on the tires yet? I'm very happy with my Duratracs but I do have a fine cut on one of the tires in its sidewall, almost like a razor blade cut but it's pretty shallow. So if you're planning to play in the rocks much those KM2s may deserve a second look. What I tried to avoid when I bought my Duratracs was the E load tires (and muds for wet traction) thinking they'll be horrible on the washboards with the stiff suspension but they may offer some additional sidewall strength especially when loaded down. I'm also not sure what I'll order for my next set: skinnies vs. fatties, c/d vs. e loads, muds vs. at.
What other plans do you have for the Monty immediate or future?
What other plans do you have for the Monty immediate or future?
