Been driving and modding TJ's implicitly since 97 and counting so with all the world's TJ owners in one place it's time to buckle here for the ride before my latest 01 TJ build hits the 20 year mark.
I reside in “Straya”! At almost 55 and 20 years of TJ ownership, you could say I'm a little rough around the edges. I use humour to help me deal with the addiction and consequences of running oversize tires on a TJ - I want to apologize for that in advance...
...first and foremost, this forum is a stella example of how a forum should be; simple, uncluttered, functional and without the need to download apps for mobile devices! Nice work Criss, you really have achieved what you set out to do and thanks for your efforts. Or perhaps Katie, Claire and Chatlotte do all the work while you play guitar and ride your motorcycle? Either way, I hope to bring to this forum ones trials, tribulations and aspirations (not to mention shenanigans), resulting from punishing the two TJ's I've wed since new and yes TJ ownership might have left some scars that won't ever heal but nun so much as the one left behind after having been bitten by that wretched Jeep bug all those years ago where it began.
Marjorie: 1997 Jeep TJ 4.0L Sport auto Magenta Hardtop/Soft Top full/half doors. (aka Purple people eater)
I wed her in Shod her with a cheap set of falken 31x10'' AT's sandals and hit the high country with the fiancée for a little shenanigans.
Me with the fiancee when we were much younger, nowadays she makes me shave
A year later Marj got a good deal by USA4X4 with a discount on mods in exchange for making the car available for a show and other advertising opportunities, so on went 33x12" Coopers and a 3" lift with quick disconnects among other mods, you could say that got the party started with a subsequent article in 4x4 monthly - A big shout out there for the team at USA4X4, they were the first on the block in Australia and the first in the development of aftermarket products for the TJ, no one knows more about the TJ in oz and that continues to this day.
There was nowhere that car wouldn't travel, Back then I was a young man with an ambition to go where no man's been in the toughest of conditions I could find, when you looking for it you will eventually find it and we found plenty.
We put 100.000 hard k's on it, real hard k's! Fully locked and loaded trucks from Land Cruisers to Patrols, you name them, we left them at the bottom of the trail, and I loved every minute of it, our TJ with 33's was a unique king of the trail back then but I wanted more, I wanted a five speed manual.
When the 2000 TJ came out with the NV3550 I knew I had to have her, unfortunately, when I started courting June, Marge became very jealous so I had to divorced Marjorie in 2001, then I married her off to a good friend and although we captured the moment in time it didn't work out as just a few years latter Marge ended up with his Girlfriend after they parted company.
June: 2001 4.0L Sport Manual Silverstone Soft Top with CD/Stacker option.
Wed in November 2001. June got shod with 31" BFG AT KO's within 48 hours after delivery and away I went again.
Within a year I'd saved up for a Warn Blackdiamond 3" lift with a set of 33x10's, I've been running that lift and tire combo ever since.
It's been a long journey that taken us to places others really see with unparalleled reliability, it's one I wouldent change for anything, although these days I'm concentrating more on comfort then off road prowess as a result of age, health and yep, I never thought it would happen to me but, I got old....
Nevertheless, I can't bring myself to upgrade to a JK as it's going to cost me a heap and it's not like am going to get better fuel economy, I will get a less reliable minivan engine coupled to a six speed that pops out of gear among other known issues, sure I'll get a better ride quality to help the old back last longer with the JK specification but I decided to try and build what I'm going to coin as a TK, and what's a TK you might ask? well it's TJ build to ride with an emphasis on comfort and just one other major requirement... 33's.
I hope to provide a stack of build history relating to June the "TK" in future posts with the methodology behind my choices vs compromises including how it affects on and off road capabilities and costs. I've also learnt a few things through trial and error, not to mention blood sweat and tears that I hope to pass onto others.
G'day!
I reside in “Straya”! At almost 55 and 20 years of TJ ownership, you could say I'm a little rough around the edges. I use humour to help me deal with the addiction and consequences of running oversize tires on a TJ - I want to apologize for that in advance...
...first and foremost, this forum is a stella example of how a forum should be; simple, uncluttered, functional and without the need to download apps for mobile devices! Nice work Criss, you really have achieved what you set out to do and thanks for your efforts. Or perhaps Katie, Claire and Chatlotte do all the work while you play guitar and ride your motorcycle? Either way, I hope to bring to this forum ones trials, tribulations and aspirations (not to mention shenanigans), resulting from punishing the two TJ's I've wed since new and yes TJ ownership might have left some scars that won't ever heal but nun so much as the one left behind after having been bitten by that wretched Jeep bug all those years ago where it began.
Marjorie: 1997 Jeep TJ 4.0L Sport auto Magenta Hardtop/Soft Top full/half doors. (aka Purple people eater)
I wed her in Shod her with a cheap set of falken 31x10'' AT's sandals and hit the high country with the fiancée for a little shenanigans.
Me with the fiancee when we were much younger, nowadays she makes me shave
A year later Marj got a good deal by USA4X4 with a discount on mods in exchange for making the car available for a show and other advertising opportunities, so on went 33x12" Coopers and a 3" lift with quick disconnects among other mods, you could say that got the party started with a subsequent article in 4x4 monthly - A big shout out there for the team at USA4X4, they were the first on the block in Australia and the first in the development of aftermarket products for the TJ, no one knows more about the TJ in oz and that continues to this day.
There was nowhere that car wouldn't travel, Back then I was a young man with an ambition to go where no man's been in the toughest of conditions I could find, when you looking for it you will eventually find it and we found plenty.
We put 100.000 hard k's on it, real hard k's! Fully locked and loaded trucks from Land Cruisers to Patrols, you name them, we left them at the bottom of the trail, and I loved every minute of it, our TJ with 33's was a unique king of the trail back then but I wanted more, I wanted a five speed manual.
When the 2000 TJ came out with the NV3550 I knew I had to have her, unfortunately, when I started courting June, Marge became very jealous so I had to divorced Marjorie in 2001, then I married her off to a good friend and although we captured the moment in time it didn't work out as just a few years latter Marge ended up with his Girlfriend after they parted company.
June: 2001 4.0L Sport Manual Silverstone Soft Top with CD/Stacker option.
Wed in November 2001. June got shod with 31" BFG AT KO's within 48 hours after delivery and away I went again.
Within a year I'd saved up for a Warn Blackdiamond 3" lift with a set of 33x10's, I've been running that lift and tire combo ever since.
It's been a long journey that taken us to places others really see with unparalleled reliability, it's one I wouldent change for anything, although these days I'm concentrating more on comfort then off road prowess as a result of age, health and yep, I never thought it would happen to me but, I got old....
Nevertheless, I can't bring myself to upgrade to a JK as it's going to cost me a heap and it's not like am going to get better fuel economy, I will get a less reliable minivan engine coupled to a six speed that pops out of gear among other known issues, sure I'll get a better ride quality to help the old back last longer with the JK specification but I decided to try and build what I'm going to coin as a TK, and what's a TK you might ask? well it's TJ build to ride with an emphasis on comfort and just one other major requirement... 33's.
I hope to provide a stack of build history relating to June the "TK" in future posts with the methodology behind my choices vs compromises including how it affects on and off road capabilities and costs. I've also learnt a few things through trial and error, not to mention blood sweat and tears that I hope to pass onto others.
G'day!