So, I was hesitant to put together another build thread, but it seems like I can't stop myself... Much like buying Jeeps. This is Jeep #15... And my 3rd 2005 LJ!
LJ #1 I traded back in 2011 on a JKU. BB, Moabs and 265 MT/Rs.
LJ #2 I sold in 2017 and bought another JKU. 2.5" lift, 33x10.5 KO2s, Swag rear bumper, CJ tailgate
In March I traded my 2015 JKU Willys for a low-mileage VW Touareg for my wife. The plan was I would drive our older high-mileage Touareg and we'd revisit buying another Jeep in 2021. Well, after about a month I listed the old Touareg and started looking to see what was out there. After just missing on a few good options, I came across something I knew I was going to have a hard time passing up. The old Touareg sold, and surprisingly enough, my wife was on board. I even promised to not make any significant changes for a year.
2005 LJ
39k miles
24H Package, which I was OK with.
And for better or worse, a small Curtis plow.
I wasn't excited about the plow, but considering the mileage and photos, I reached out to the seller. While I waited to hear back, worked on lining up the money. Later in the day I hear back from him and went over to take a look. There's some clean up to do on the frame, though no rot... Just lots of surface scale that was likely from the limited plowing. And the body was in very good shape, with only had a couple of very small spots that need attention. I'm not sure the hard top had ever been off, and it was still on the OEM 30x9.5 Wrangler GS-As. So I committed to buy it and was able to pick it up the next week.
And of course, as soon as my wife saw it in person, she said "But it's so small... When are you going to lift it?" So needless to say, I have a very understanding partner in crime.
The day I picked it up:
And a few days later with the plow off
And so, that's where I started on May 13th.
LJ #1 I traded back in 2011 on a JKU. BB, Moabs and 265 MT/Rs.
LJ #2 I sold in 2017 and bought another JKU. 2.5" lift, 33x10.5 KO2s, Swag rear bumper, CJ tailgate
In March I traded my 2015 JKU Willys for a low-mileage VW Touareg for my wife. The plan was I would drive our older high-mileage Touareg and we'd revisit buying another Jeep in 2021. Well, after about a month I listed the old Touareg and started looking to see what was out there. After just missing on a few good options, I came across something I knew I was going to have a hard time passing up. The old Touareg sold, and surprisingly enough, my wife was on board. I even promised to not make any significant changes for a year.
2005 LJ
39k miles
24H Package, which I was OK with.
And for better or worse, a small Curtis plow.
I wasn't excited about the plow, but considering the mileage and photos, I reached out to the seller. While I waited to hear back, worked on lining up the money. Later in the day I hear back from him and went over to take a look. There's some clean up to do on the frame, though no rot... Just lots of surface scale that was likely from the limited plowing. And the body was in very good shape, with only had a couple of very small spots that need attention. I'm not sure the hard top had ever been off, and it was still on the OEM 30x9.5 Wrangler GS-As. So I committed to buy it and was able to pick it up the next week.
And of course, as soon as my wife saw it in person, she said "But it's so small... When are you going to lift it?" So needless to say, I have a very understanding partner in crime.
The day I picked it up:
And a few days later with the plow off
And so, that's where I started on May 13th.