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

Status
Not open for further replies.
Dmules

Dmules

Looking for nice TJ
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2024
Messages
37
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueC
Dmules said:
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
Click to expand...

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
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheBoogieman
Irun said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
tnjeepguy said:
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
Click to expand...

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!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jamesval035
Dmules said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Last edited:
Viking Jeeper said:
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.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input and offer of assistance!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Viking Jeeper
Dmules said:
Man, put your picture back up! What a sweet looking rig! Don’t need a Rubicon but want one!
Click to expand...

:)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
 
Viking Jeeper said:
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.
Click to expand...
Nice and flat in Florida. The only hill they had was destroyed by @Zorba. ;)
Zorba jeep mountain.webp
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: BlueC and Zorba
tnjeepguy said:
Anyway, may have to go up into north FL or GA or AL, lots of good non rust there.
Click to expand...

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...
 
  • Like
Reactions: dvngdg
Artsifrtsi said:
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...
Click to expand...

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
 
  • Like
Reactions: Artsifrtsi
tnjeepguy said:
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
Click to expand...

Will get car fax for sure. I’m basically looking everywhere but very hesitant about rust belt
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

O
5-speed vs 6-speed
Replies
33
Views
41,892
TJ General Discussion
YonderWalnut
YonderWalnut
mmmkam
  • Locked
SOLD 2003 TJ Rubicon - 5 Speed Manual
Replies
1
Views
970
Jeeps For Sale
mmmkam
mmmkam
T
  • Locked
SOLD 2003 Rubicon 5 Speed manual 45k miles
Replies
0
Views
1,921
Jeeps For Sale
Toby42
T
Flivver250
5 speed needs to be refreshed
Replies
7
Views
1,163
TJ General Discussion
Flivver250
Flivver250
TJim
NV1500 (5-Speed Manual) Transmission - Fluid Recommendation & Change Intervals
Replies
7
Views
18,796
TJ General Discussion
TJ2
TJ2
Jeep Wrangler PCM and module repair and replacement
Top Bottom
Back