Hello from Toronto

[zeindelf]

Hey folks,

Just want to drop by and say hello to the community as I shop for my first Jeep, decided I'd go the TJ route after a lot of researching.
I'm no mechanic, but have always been working and performing maintenance on my own cars. So the plan was that I'd maintain the TJ myself.

Quick Q if I may, is there anyone or anywhere in our forums where I can consult when it comes to pricing of TJs?

Thanks again for having me!

 

[TJuser]

Hey folks,

Just want to drop by and say hello to the community as I shop for my first Jeep, decided I'd go the TJ route after a lot of researching.
I'm no mechanic, but have always been working and performing maintenance on my own cars. So the plan was that I'd maintain the TJ myself.

Quick Q if I may, is there anyone or anywhere in our forums where I can consult when it comes to pricing of TJs?

Thanks again for having me!

Welcome!

I'm not an expert by any means, I've been out of the market for a bit but I might be able to help you on finding something decent. First and foremost, avoid the rust lol

 

[zeindelf]

Welcome!

I'm not an expert by any means, I've been out of the market for a bit but I might be able to help you on finding something decent. First and foremost, avoid the rust lol

Thanks @TJuser,

Appreciate it. Yeah! All of the YouTube videos I've found about TJ wranglers talk about rusting on the frame, so I'm trying to be real careful.

Will send you a message if you don't mind.

 

[TJuser]

Thanks @TJuser,

Appreciate it. Yeah! All of the YouTube videos I've found about TJ wranglers talk about rusting on the frame, so I'm trying to be real careful.

Will send you a message if you don't mind.

Yep no worries. Watch not only the frame, but the floor pans and torque boxes. I find especially with the body sealant near where the roll cage mounts in the tub, it tends to rot pretty bad. Southern Ontario is just a horrible place for buying older vehicles with the amount of salt on the road. To be completely honest, I would rather a clean vehicle with mechanical issues than a rusty one with a solid drivetrain. With the new laws for safeties, it makes it much more difficult to get on the road than it used to be.

 

[zeindelf]

Yep no worries. Watch not only the frame, but the floor pans and torque boxes. I find especially with the body sealant near where the roll cage mounts in the tub, it tends to rot pretty bad. Southern Ontario is just a horrible place for buying older vehicles with the amount of salt on the road. To be completely honest, I would rather a clean vehicle with mechanical issues than a rusty one with a solid drivetrain. With the new laws for safeties, it makes it much more difficult to get on the road than it used to be.

Thanks! That's great insight, and yeah it's been a while since I got a car in for a safety inspection. I will keep that in mind.

 

[TJosh02]

Toronto here as well. I am currently going through safety hell, it is not fun. Things that passed safety back when I imported this Jeep in '14 aren't passing safety now. E.g. daytime driving lights I didn't have to add back then, I do now. They are balking at my rear anti-rock instead of stock sway-bar. Lots of other little nitpicks.

I know a lot of guys in my Jeep club with TJs/LJs, but they all bought their long back and have kept them off the roads during winter, or bought from someone else who didn't drive in winter. Any winter driven Jeep of this era is almost certain rotted out, or has major rot in areas, even if they were good at washing and fluid film. I have friends who bought their from southern US states and imported, but I think the safety changes would make that a risky gamble and more complicated.

When I bought this Jeep off my dad (original owner, in Washington state where I grew up, they don't salt in Washington) it wasn't a huge deal to import. Yeah I had to do safety, but he maintained it well even though it was modded and off-roaded. I did a lot more mods since and our trails are a bit harsh (water crossings, deep puddles everywhere which is abrasive), so it takes work to keep it road worthy.

Another thing to consider is that many insurance companies nowadays in the GTA are saying that 20+ year old vehicles are non-conforming to standard insurance policies so you have to pay a hefty premiums to insure and quite often limited to how many miles you can drive per year. This is for new policies, not existing policies when it eclipses 20 years. And from what I've learned (I have to get new insurance, so I am going through it) every insurance company starting a new policy with a 20+yo vehicle requires the safety to have been performed in the last 20 or 30 days, I forget which.

Things to keep in mind.

I am an American living here for work and a woman but considering buying retirement property down in southern Utah. If I pull the trigger, I might bring the Jeep down there and say to heck with trying to keep it insured in Ontario.

 

[zeindelf]

Toronto here as well. I am currently going through safety hell, it is not fun. Things that passed safety back when I imported this Jeep in '14 aren't passing safety now. E.g. daytime driving lights I didn't have to add back then, I do now. They are balking at my rear anti-rock instead of stock sway-bar. Lots of other little nitpicks.

I know a lot of guys in my Jeep club with TJs/LJs, but they all bought their long back and have kept them off the roads during winter, or bought from someone else who didn't drive in winter. Any winter driven Jeep of this era is almost certain rotted out, or has major rot in areas, even if they were good at washing and fluid film. I have friends who bought their from southern US states and imported, but I think the safety changes would make that a risky gamble and more complicated.

When I bought this Jeep off my dad (original owner, in Washington state where I grew up, they don't salt in Washington) it wasn't a huge deal to import. Yeah I had to do safety, but he maintained it well even though it was modded and off-roaded. I did a lot more mods since and our trails are a bit harsh (water crossings, deep puddles everywhere which is abrasive), so it takes work to keep it road worthy.

Hey TJosh02, nice to meet you!

I see, oh man I haven't put a car through safety inspection in YEARS....

I also have friends in TX, TN, AL whom advised me to purchase a car down south and import it to Canada, but I've told them that it's not that easy of a process so I discounted that option for the meantime.

But yeah, my intention is the same for the car. It will only be used during the summer then parked all winter long. I've also heard from a YT video that the TJ frames have no way of draining hence why it's susceptible to rotting right? Guess I have to be really careful and picky with my purchase, I won't rush the process and take my time finding the right car.

 

[TJosh02]

By the way, welcome and nice to virtually meet you!

I suggest, either becoming a member (iirc $50/year) or a "friend" (free) of the two biggest/most active clubs in Ontario, Central Ontario Offroad Jeep Club (COORJC, my first club and where I guide the most) and/or Central Ontario 4x4 (open to all offroaders, not just Jeeps, the oldest club here; also a member). Both are great groups of people and spread throughout Ontario. They would be an invaluable source for helping finding a good TJ/LJ as well as all the information on safeties and insurance.

https://www.coorjc.com/
http://www.co4x4.com/

Both are on FB as well, were it in easiest to ask questions to members.

Note the central Ontario is both? That is because all the legal trails are up in the Minden/Halliburton area. There are no legal trails in Southern Ontario for all intents and purposes.


Edit: P.S. that $/year goes towards advocacy, cleanup, trail-maintenance, etc. It also yields you all the maps with updates about conditions of all the legal trails. So onx, which is ok, used it, actually is [massively] lacking compared to what you get for joining a club.

I had free access to oNX, in order to map trails in our area. I mapped one lesser known and used trail and then stopped. It is better for my community for those involved and users to pay $25 for OF4WD then to pay an outsider in this case. OF4WD has boots on the ground, sort of speak. If oNyx takes over, all this will be shut down in very short order here, I am 100% certain, because their is no local advocacy. OF4WD provides all .gpx tracks with membership. (Its $50/year I think, but $25 if you are a a club member such as e.g. COORJC, CO4X4)

 

[TJosh02]

P.S. yeah, the no drain holes in the frame is a real issue. One of the first things I did when I moved here is drill two decent sized holes (5/8" iirc or maybe 3/4") in the bottom of the frame just after the front control arm mounts and just before the rear ones. Then had to do it again when I converted to mid-arms. I don't drive in winter but all the muddy water from the trails will also rot your frames.

 

[zeindelf]

By the way, welcome and nice to virtually meet you!

I suggest, either becoming a member (iirc $50/year) or a "friend" (free) of the two biggest/most active clubs in Ontario, Central Ontario Offroad Jeep Club (COORJC, my first club and where I guide the most) and/or Central Ontario 4x4 (open to all offroaders, not just Jeeps, the oldest club here; also a member). Both are great groups of people and spread throughout Ontario. They would be an invaluable source for helping finding a good TJ/LJ as well as all the information on safeties and insurance.

https://www.coorjc.com/
http://www.co4x4.com/

Both are on FB as well, were it in easiest to ask questions to members.

Note the central Ontario is both? That is because all the legal trails are up in the Minden/Halliburton area. There are no legal trails in Southern Ontario for all intents and purposes.

Awesome and thanks! I'll check it out, glad we have such an active community here in Ontario. You're right, they would be a great source of information for a newbie like myself. Thanks!

P.S. yeah, the no drain holes in the frame is a real issue. One of the first things I did when I moved here is drill two decent sized holes (5/8" iirc or maybe 3/4") in the bottom of the frame just after the front control arm mounts and just before the rear ones. Then had to do it again when I converted to mid-arms. I don't drive in winter but all the muddy water from the trails will also rot your frames.

Interesting, and that makes sense. Thought all the drilling and so would affect the integrity of the frame, but I guess if its only four holes total it should be okay.

 

[TJuser]

Toronto here as well. I am currently going through safety hell, it is not fun. Things that passed safety back when I imported this Jeep in '14 aren't passing safety now. E.g. daytime driving lights I didn't have to add back then, I do now. They are balking at my rear anti-rock instead of stock sway-bar. Lots of other little nitpicks.

The new safety rules are BS. I think a lot of it is still up to the inspector, but they need to take photos of the vehicle and brakes for MTO so at minimum, it needs to at least look okay. They track how long the inspection took, if there are any reused photos, etc. Wonder if you got a relaxed enough inspector, you could edit the pics with ai to help with things like the wheel offset

I am an American living here for work and a woman but considering buying retirement property down in southern Utah. If I pull the trigger, I might bring the Jeep down there and say to heck with trying to keep it insured in Ontario.

Lucky. I've been out in Montana for the past few months and loving it. So sick of the bs rules and laws and general attitude in Canada now. Theres no respect here anymore

 

[Chris]

Lucky. I've been out in Montana for the past few months and loving it. So sick of the bs rules and laws and general attitude in Canada now. Theres no respect here anymore

It's just as bad any many places in the U.S. now too. Montana, Wyoming, and several other states are still very free, but you head to Chicago or New York and you'll see how bad it is. Canada is just one step ahead of the United States in regard to complete lunacy and societal breakdown.

 

[TJuser]

It's just as bad any many places in the U.S. now too. Montana, Wyoming, and several other states are still very free, but you head to Chicago or New York and you'll see how bad it is. Canada is just one step ahead of the United States in regard to complete lunacy and societal breakdown.

It frustrates me that people are so blind up here. Everything gets blamed on the U.S, and the media loves trying to divide the countries further. I have a lot of friends all over the U.S and Canada.

I find it funny that those that live in dense cities are also the ones that are completely incompetent when it comes to daily life and yet want to regulate the life of a typical American family. Then when crap gets too bad, they move away to a new place and try their ideology there.

I would say Canada is probably a couple steps ahead of the U.S when it comes to breakdown. We used to be a lot similar, but you guys have been able to put a damper on some of that crap wheras here it's still running amuck. Even when I went to L.A for a few weeks, a lot of the bs was prominent there compared to up here.

 

[TJosh02]

It's just as bad any many places in the U.S. now too. Montana, Wyoming, and several other states are still very free, but you head to Chicago or New York and you'll see how bad it is. Canada is just one step ahead of the United States in regard to complete lunacy and societal breakdown.

Preaching to the choir! I absolutely hate the nanny state institutionalization. I won't start because I won't stop the vitriol that will ensew.

 

[TJosh02]

I don't want to distract too much from zeindelf's welcoming, but I will say that TJuser is correct, in my personal experience that most Canadians are very kind and welcoming to Americans, even during all this strife. I am American, moved here for a job in 2011 and then stayed for the woman. I often will tell people when having conversations, if it is germane, that I am American and it is almost never met with animosity. At most they will have some opinions about "our" views, which I will then explain are at minimum more vast than their own and that medias is driving this angle.

 

[Chris]

It frustrates me that people are so blind up here. Everything gets blamed on the U.S, and the media loves trying to divide the countries further. I have a lot of friends all over the U.S and Canada.

I find it funny that those that live in dense cities are also the ones that are completely incompetent when it comes to daily life and yet want to regulate the life of a typical American family. Then when crap gets too bad, they move away to a new place and try their ideology there.

I would say Canada is probably a couple steps ahead of the U.S when it comes to breakdown. We used to be a lot similar, but you guys have been able to put a damper on some of that crap wheras here it's still running amuck. Even when I went to L.A for a few weeks, a lot of the bs was prominent there compared to up here.

Their goal is always division. They want to keep us fighting amongst each other to distract from the crimes they are committing (opening the borders, looting the treasury, raping children, etc.). Once people realize that we have far more in common than one would imagine, that's when people unify and start to hold our leaders accountable.

The ones who live in cities are incompetent because they're the ones who are most dependent on the government. The idea of "government" in general is suicidal because true government is the ability to govern one's own self.

We've been able to put a big damper on some of it here in the U.S., but again, it's only in certain states. You get outside of some of these really deeply conservative states and you start to see just how crazy things can get.

Preaching to the choir! I absolutely hate the nanny state institutionalization. I won't start because I won't stop the vitriol that will ensew.

You and me both brother. I'm all for live-and-let-live. Leave us the hell alone and w'ell govern ourselves. I don't care what you do and you shouldn't care what I do, as long as we aren't molesting children (like our politicians) or anything heinous.

There isn't a single institution in this country anymore that hasn't lost credibility. None of them can be trusted anymore, they're all crooked and corrupt. It's unfortunate that this is where we are, but at this point we need to let it all burn down. None of these institutions can be saved. They've all been captured by radical ideologues on both sides of the political spectrum. On one side you've got the crazy Communiststs and on the other side you've got the dangerous evangelicals like Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, and so on.

 

[TJosh02]

The new safety rules are BS. I think a lot of it is still up to the inspector, but they need to take photos of the vehicle and brakes for MTO so at minimum, it needs to at least look okay. They track how long the inspection took, if there are any reused photos, etc. Wonder if you got a relaxed enough inspector, you could edit the pics with ai to help with things like the wheel offset

So maybe it isn't widespread yet, but I think it is. The new inspections are centralized and the local inspector has a tablet with a specific app, and the local guy is basically showing the central guy some things live. That central inspector(s) is trying to get older cars off the streets (my opinion). I think this works in favor of the auto manu/dealers, the insurers and the tax collectors, but against the affordability and liberty of the common person.

 

[TJosh02]

"A good deal of our problems would go away if we were to simply start executing pedophiles."

We are eliminating some in the Middle East right now, I think. --cheeky emoji--

 

[TJuser]

Their goal is always division. They want to keep us fighting amongst each other to distract from the crimes they are committing (opening the borders, looting the treasury, raping children, etc.). Once people realize that we have far more in common than one would imagine, that's when people unify and start to hold our leaders accountable.

The ones who live in cities are incompetent because they're the ones who are most dependent on the government. The idea of "government" in general is suicidal because true government is the ability to govern one's own self.

We've been able to put a big damper on some of it here in the U.S., but again, it's only in certain states. You get outside of some of these really deeply conservative states and you start to see just how crazy things can get.

Division and fear. It sells the best, it's easy to make money from it too. It works on me, I mean it makes me angry and frustrated, it affects my mood. I try to avoid the media for that reason. It's actually insane the levels of corruption that are now being revealed, and the fact that people are so brainwashed they willingly defend it. Even the fact that people think there is such thing as "free" benefits from the government.

Government is necessary, but should be as small as possible and everyone should be held as accountable as possible. It's disgusting that high profile people can get away with heinous acts, simply because they have enough money.

So maybe it isn't widespread yet, but I think it is. The new inspections are centralized and the local inspector has a tablet with a specific app, and the local guy is basically showing the central guy some things live. That central inspector(s) is trying to get older cars off the streets (my opinion). I think this works in favor of the auto manu/dealers, the insurers and the tax collectors, but against the affordability and liberty of the common person.

What the heck. I knew that they submit stuff to MTO now, but what the smack are you dealing with?? That's pretty over the top. I didn't know they'd go that far

 

[TJosh02]

Division and fear. It sells the best, it's easy to make money from it too. It works on me, I mean it makes me angry and frustrated, it affects my mood. I try to avoid the media for that reason. It's actually insane the levels of corruption that are now being revealed, and the fact that people are so brainwashed they willingly defend it. Even the fact that people think there is such thing as "free" benefits from the government.

Government is necessary, but should be as small as possible and everyone should be held as accountable as possible. It's disgusting that high profile people can get away with heinous acts, simply because they have enough money.



What the heck. I knew that they submit stuff to MTO now, but what the smack are you dealing with?? That's pretty over the top. I didn't know they'd go that far

I put my work on hold for the winter, as I knew I wouldn't drive the TJ, no need to pay $450/mo to insure it. But last year I was walked through my last attempt, and the app that they had on a tablet and told it was everywhere. I am going to try elsewhere obviously. I think they did more to hinder the safety than that, but I can't prove it. I believe they took off my factory door badge. They said you don't have a factory door badge so we can't move forward. It had one when it went in.