Metcalf
Expedition Leader
Well, I went and stumbled into another project. Much like my dodge, I wasn't really planning on going this route, but sometimes you just can't pass. I'm not going to spill all the beans yet, but this will be a replacement for my 1942 Willys MB. It is going to a new home in Nevada with a trusted caretaker that has lusted over it from the day I drove it home.
This new project is going to be based off a SWB TJ. I had a 2001 back in the day that I am still kicking myself for selling. It was the only vehicle that I have ever bought new, I ordered it exactly like I wanted, but I just couldn't bring myself to heavily off road a $22,000 vehicle. Well its almost 10 years later and these things are going for chump change.
This project will be my version of the perfect crossover vehicle between the expedition world and the harder-core off road recreation scene in the USA. While the expedition world focus is on getting out for long distances over longer periods of time in somewhat difficult terrain while the recreational off road world is more about doing the harder more difficult trails. I want what everyone wants, a vehicle that can do everything. My dodge, while its great for pulling trailers, camping out of the back, and generally acting like a work truck, it will never compare to the small light weight nibble nature of a Jeep.
I have a pretty firm plan in my head about what I am going to do, but I am always open for more suggestions and comments. Here is the basic outline so far....
-Keep it affordable. Money is what drives most projects. I don't want to end up with a 30K jeep when I am done.
-Keep it simple. I'm not a big fan of rigs that look like they have the entire catalog bolted too them. I like the clean simple look. Less is more. I do like the little modifications that most people miss the first time they look over the vehicle. Being able to pull off a functional modification that no-one really notices is a big compliment.
-Keep it light. This is one of the biggest problems I see. It relates somewhat to the comment I make above about bolting on the entire catalog. I think most Jeep builders go WAY overboard when it comes to weight. This comes down to mainly material type and thickness. I'll tell you this....everything doesn't need to be made out of 1/4" steel!
-35" tires. No bigger, No smaller. This will be a point of contention with a lot of people in the expedition world, but remember that this Jeep will be used on some of the harder trails in the nation. I'm not saying you can't do hard trails without 35s, but I think its a good compromise. This jeep will also see a decent amount of very low air pressure snow 'wheeling where larger tires really help. This will also be a full bodied Jeep with legal tire coverage and a full top. This is basically the point at which the entire build-up is focusing around. One of my good friends basically challenged me to build the best SWB Jeep on 35" tires that I could. It will be interesting to compare between this Jeep and my close friends Jeeps that all run 35s.
So after reading all this rambling and letting your imagination wander, what would you do?
Thanks for reading...more this weekend.....
This new project is going to be based off a SWB TJ. I had a 2001 back in the day that I am still kicking myself for selling. It was the only vehicle that I have ever bought new, I ordered it exactly like I wanted, but I just couldn't bring myself to heavily off road a $22,000 vehicle. Well its almost 10 years later and these things are going for chump change.
This project will be my version of the perfect crossover vehicle between the expedition world and the harder-core off road recreation scene in the USA. While the expedition world focus is on getting out for long distances over longer periods of time in somewhat difficult terrain while the recreational off road world is more about doing the harder more difficult trails. I want what everyone wants, a vehicle that can do everything. My dodge, while its great for pulling trailers, camping out of the back, and generally acting like a work truck, it will never compare to the small light weight nibble nature of a Jeep.
I have a pretty firm plan in my head about what I am going to do, but I am always open for more suggestions and comments. Here is the basic outline so far....
-Keep it affordable. Money is what drives most projects. I don't want to end up with a 30K jeep when I am done.
-Keep it simple. I'm not a big fan of rigs that look like they have the entire catalog bolted too them. I like the clean simple look. Less is more. I do like the little modifications that most people miss the first time they look over the vehicle. Being able to pull off a functional modification that no-one really notices is a big compliment.
-Keep it light. This is one of the biggest problems I see. It relates somewhat to the comment I make above about bolting on the entire catalog. I think most Jeep builders go WAY overboard when it comes to weight. This comes down to mainly material type and thickness. I'll tell you this....everything doesn't need to be made out of 1/4" steel!
-35" tires. No bigger, No smaller. This will be a point of contention with a lot of people in the expedition world, but remember that this Jeep will be used on some of the harder trails in the nation. I'm not saying you can't do hard trails without 35s, but I think its a good compromise. This jeep will also see a decent amount of very low air pressure snow 'wheeling where larger tires really help. This will also be a full bodied Jeep with legal tire coverage and a full top. This is basically the point at which the entire build-up is focusing around. One of my good friends basically challenged me to build the best SWB Jeep on 35" tires that I could. It will be interesting to compare between this Jeep and my close friends Jeeps that all run 35s.
So after reading all this rambling and letting your imagination wander, what would you do?
Thanks for reading...more this weekend.....
