OP
Going wheelin again today! Buggy crowd is taking me on a secret trail. Shhhhhhh
Arizona Rock Crawling Daily Driver
- Thread starter starkey480
- Start date
OP
OP
I mostly just have pics of the other rigs and the trail that I took. I’ll post any other pics that come my way. This trail was super technical. These boulders were huge and my tires have never felt so small. I did make the entire trail without winching except for this nearly 20’ tall waterfall.
Here’s the rest. This trail was so much fun.
Here’s the rest. This trail was so much fun.
OP
My Jeep looks a little different than it did yesterday morning
OP
OP
Gonna pass down a tip Blaine gave me. I was having trouble whenever I would get out to look at an obstacle, I couldn’t put my seat belt back on because the Jeep is always off camber. A quick fix is a little clip down on the seat belt retractor and your belt will never retract when you take it off! Worked perfect yesterday
OP
I would much rather have a Jeep that shows it’s history and tells a story than one that looks like it never left the garage. Plus most everything on there represents a good learning experience to remember for next time.
OP
Your fake beadlock ring looks like it might fall off
I am on a mission to see how many fake bolts I can lose before I get new wheels
I have read many versions of this comment above, but after seeing your photos and reading the above today, something clicked and I finally understood a big portion of something that has always eluded me.
I have a pair of hiking boots that I am quite fond of. They fit me well, I have worn them for many seasons and on many, many trips going to pretty trails on the mountains. Though I am fond of them, they get used very hard, and scratches all over the leather being worn on mud, tree roots, snow, dirt and rocks. They get used, they get cleaned couple times every season and they get used again. It took me a while to find these boots, and one part of me wants to buy another set so that I don't have worry if they get discontinued and what not, but I am not too worried about it.
Your TJ (and others' TJs here that are nicely built, and get used) is kind of similar to my hiking boots. Use it long enough, hard enough, maintain it as well as you can, and it will build enough character like that flatfender you see on youtube going everywhere ("Grampa's Jeep"). It perhaps helps if the jeep is not a daily driver, but even if were one like @jjvw's, it doesn't matter.
The part that I still need to internalize, and this will take some more time .. is the resolution of my internal conflict between both wanting a nice looking TJ and also wanting to use it. Don't get me wrong, I do use mine, just not hard as others, and I do like driving mine with the imperfections I know it has.
And my hiking boot analogy gives me a potential resolution path now .. with older boots that reach end of service, I retire them, clean them up and wear them for bad weather and such. Maybe with the jeep, one path would be to not worry so much about dings and dents and scratches for now - add armor or touch up as needed for now - and then perhaps one day 20 years down the line "retiring it" from very hard trail use and nicely restoring it (or not). Now something like that, I could totally live with. I see older folks with classic old vehicles that they have had for decades and I want to be that guy with my TJ.
The other resolution path would be to do what few others do - have a dedicated trail jeep (or RZR or whatever) and another nicer jeep for a daily driver. While it is more practical, it can gets expensive and also conflicts more with my overall tendencies to not own too many "things". I feel I already have too many vehicles (TJ/XJ/3B), but something has to give in balancing practicality vs wants/needs/desires.
Or am I overthinking this crap too much, it's just a damn vehicle, just use it like you would any other tool as you need/want and simply move on with life?
Is there a AA-equivalent for Jeep related internal conflicts? Is that why Chris started this forum?
OP
I have read many versions of this comment above, but after seeing your photos and reading the above today, something clicked and I finally understood a big portion of something that has always eluded me.
I have a pair of hiking boots that I am quite fond of. They fit me well, I have worn them for many seasons and on many, many trips going to pretty trails on the mountains. Though I am fond of them, they get used very hard, and scratches all over the leather being worn on mud, tree roots, snow, dirt and rocks. They get used, they get cleaned couple times every season and they get used again. It took me a while to find these boots, and one part of me wants to buy another set so that I don't have worry if they get discontinued and what not, but I am not too worried about it.
Your TJ (and others' TJs here that are nicely built, and get used) is kind of similar to my hiking boots. Use it long enough, hard enough, maintain it as well as you can, and it will build enough character like that flatfender you see on youtube going everywhere ("Grampa's Jeep"). It perhaps helps if the jeep is not a daily driver, but even if were one like @jjvw's, it doesn't matter.
The part that I still need to internalize, and this will take some more time .. is the resolution of my internal conflict between both wanting a nice looking TJ and also wanting to use it. Don't get me wrong, I do use mine, just not hard as others, and I do like driving mine with the imperfections I know it has.
And my hiking boot analogy gives me a potential resolution path now .. with older boots that reach end of service, I retire them, clean them up and wear them for bad weather and such. Maybe with the jeep, one path would be to not worry so much about dings and dents and scratches for now - add armor or touch up as needed for now - and then perhaps one day 20 years down the line "retiring it" from very hard trail use and nicely restoring it (or not). Now something like that, I could totally live with. I see older folks with classic old vehicles that they have had for decades and I want to be that guy with my TJ.
The other resolution path would be to do what few others do - have a dedicated trail jeep (or RZR or whatever) and another nicer jeep for a daily driver. While it is more practical, it can gets expensive and also conflicts more with my overall tendencies to not own too many "things". I feel I already have too many vehicles (TJ/XJ/3B), but something has to give in balancing practicality vs wants/needs/desires.
Or am I overthinking this crap too much, it's just a damn vehicle, just use it like you would any other tool as you need/want and simply move on with life?
Is there a AA-equivalent for Jeep related internal conflicts? Is that why Chris started this forum?
I think that’s exactly it. I’m never trying to abuse the Jeep but I am not afraid to use it and allow wear and tear for what it is intended for, and that is rock crawling. I love the Jeep even with the blemishes, probably because I love its function more than the way it looks. That’s probably why I care about being a perfectionist for things like making my 3 link bracket, but don’t care about a ding on the body. Function is sexy.
Garret,
After watching your Jeep evolution and wheeling episodes, I've come to the conclusion that I'm a wheeler wannabe. I will wheel mine hard, but never hard enough to put it in a position where there is a high probability of body damage.
Even though your young, you have a lot of acquired wisdom. Life gives us one shot and you're smart enough to recognize it early in life. Kudos on the Jeep and your use of it!
OP
Garret,
After watching your Jeep evolution and wheeling episodes, I've come to the conclusion that I'm a wheeler wannabe. I will wheel mine hard, but never hard enough to put it in a position where there is a high probability of body damage.
Even though your young, you have a lot of acquired wisdom. Life gives us one shot and you're smart enough to recognize it early in life. Kudos on the Jeep and your use of it!
Thanks Rich! I think it is perfectly okay and understandable to not want to dent up your expensive Jeep you work hard on. It is not what everyone loves to do
If it helps, I still regret every single dent and scratch. Not enough to not get them, but I still wish they were not there.
OP
OP
Has anyone found windshield frame armor that they like? If not, what are your complaints about UCF and genright?
edit- I was dumb, but less dumber now after some reading. UCF is *not* the way to go.
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