WTB: New member in Florida looking for nice 5-speed manual TJ Rubicon

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Dmules

Looking for nice TJ
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Feb 5, 2024
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Location
Florida
Hello everyone, I recently got the idea I want a TJ to teach my 3 daughters how to drive manual. I am new to the forum and new to jeeps so am in the learning process. I’m looking for a nice 5 speed manual TJ with no rust. Stock is fine and so is modified if well done. We will used it for town driving and light off roading. Of course we could get totally hooked and do more off roading. I live in Florida but am willing to travel for the right Jeep. I have cash and am a serious buyer but I want the opportunity to have a mechanic check out any Jeep I consider. If anyone has a nice one please contact me. Thank you and looking forward to meeting others and contributing to the forum.
Derek
 
If you're planning to teach your daughters to drive a manual, and serious about doing it with a Wrangler, resist the urge to buy a modified Jeep. Find one that is as close to stock as possible and start there. This will give you time to learn more about all the things to not due when modifying one. While it may be true that you can find a Wrangler built right, the odds are more likely that you'll find one poorly put together and not realize it until after you've spent too much money.
 
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I recently got the idea I want a TJ to teach my 3 daughters how to drive manual. I am new to the forum and new to jeeps

You are 55 and old enough to know better !!

Just kidding, but depends where you are in FL. Watch out for rust, near beach or salt wind or someone riding in the surf !! Anyway, may have to go up into north FL or GA or AL, lots of good non rust there. If you find one you are really interested in, someone here would probably go take a look for you before you travel some distance. I like near to stock as well.

Welcome D
 
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If you're planning to teach your daughters to drive a manual, and serious about doing it with a Wrangler, resist the urge to buy a modified Jeep. Find one that is as close to stock as possible and start there. This will give you time to learn more about all the things to not due when modifying one. While it may be true that you can find a Wrangler built right, the odds are more likely that you'll find one poorly put together and not realize it until after you've spent too much money.

I totally understand and agree with you. It’s difficult to find original non modified ones in nice condition. I’ve seen some on bring a trailer go for big bucks. There is a nice looking one in Texas in the for sale section of this forum with low mileage. It has been modified but looks like it may have been well done. I’m looking at a local one but guy has 35’s without regearing and appears to have cheaper mods. Doubt I’ll be interested in it.
 
You are 55 and old enough to know better !!

Just kidding, but depends where you are in FL. Watch out for rust, near beach or salt wind or someone riding in the surf !! Anyway, may have to go up into north FL or GA or AL, lots of good non rust there. If you find one you are really interested in, someone here would probably go take a look for you before you travel some distance. I like near to stock as well.

Welcome D

Yeah, but gotta have some fun! Been looking on FB CL lots of junk. I’m willing to travel. Bought our last car in Indiana and drove back to Florida. My wife and I love adventures and I have vacation I need to use so I’m up for a road trip!
 
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I totally understand and agree with you. It’s difficult to find original non modified ones in nice condition. I’ve seen some on bring a trailer go for big bucks. There is a nice looking one in Texas in the for sale section of this forum with low mileage. It has been modified but looks like it may have been well done. I’m looking at a local one but guy has 35’s without regearing and appears to have cheaper mods. Doubt I’ll be interested in it.

Lots of great advice on this forum. One thing I disagree with many on is regearing. I have an 06 Rubicon with the 6 speed on 35's that has factory Rubicon 4.10 gears. Yes, I only hit 6th gear on the interstate but I dont think it needs to be regeared. If it was a 5 speed or not a rubicon I might have regeared. I even had a complete set of stock size tires and wheels that I put on to test. I viewed it as a temporary re gearing to factory to see how it did. I did not notice enough difference to make any changes and the 35's went back on. I'm in the Jacksonville area, if I can be of assistance let me know.
 
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Lots of great advice on this forum. One thing I disagree with many on is regearing. I have an 06 Rubicon with the 6 speed on 35's that has factory Rubicon 4.10 gears. Yes, I only hit 6th gear on the interstate but I dont think it needs to be regeared. If it was a 5 speed or not a rubicon I might have regeared. I even had a complete set of stock size tires and wheels that I put on to test. I viewed it as a temporary re gearing to factory to see how it did. I did not notice enough difference to make any changes and the 35's went back on. I'm in the Jacksonvill area, if I can be of assistance let me know.

Thank you for your input and offer of assistance!
 
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Man, put your picture back up! What a sweet looking rig! Don’t need a Rubicon but want one!

:)Thanks. I paid $9500 for it when it was stock, modded it, sold it, then bought it back 3 years ago.

Rubi 7 2 23 (2).jpg


Rubi 6 9 (2017_11_20 00_38_12 UTC).jpg
 
Lots of great advice on this forum. One thing I disagree with many on is regearing. I have an 06 Rubicon with the 6 speed on 35's that has factory Rubicon 4.10 gears. Yes, I only hit 6th gear on the interstate but I dont think it needs to be regeared.
Nice and flat in Florida. The only hill they had was destroyed by @Zorba. ;)
Zorba jeep mountain.webp
 
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Anyway, may have to go up into north FL or GA or AL, lots of good non rust there.

Not completely true... there are a lot of good Jeeps in S. FL. We have owned ours (2005) since brand new with less than 10 miles on it, and lived in the Ft. Lauderdale area up until 2021, when we moved to N. AL. The ONLY thing S. FL did to the jeep, was to speed up the rotting of all the rubber bushings underneath, and making some of the plastics brittle. This past fall I replaced all the rubber bushings and gave it a 2 inch lift (with 1.25" body) on 33's, and it's riding like new again.

I'd be more concerned with any Jeep that has been imported from the rust-belt... there are a ton of migrants from the snowy north that bring their rust buckets with them...
 
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I'd be more concerned with any Jeep that has been imported from the rust-belt... there are a ton of migrants from the snowy north that bring their rust buckets with them...

Good point, buyer beware. Always good to check the carfax, worth the money when buying from individual and first time Jeep buyer. Roger !!

Hint: Huntsville and Birmingham and good places to look. D
 
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Good point, buyer beware. Always good to check the carfax, worth the money when buying from individual and first time Jeep buyer. Roger !!

Hint: Huntsville and Birmingham and good places to look. D

Will get car fax for sure. I’m basically looking everywhere but very hesitant about rust belt
 
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