Hi new Jeep owner here long time admirer who finally asked the girl to dance

Mrbs71

New Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2020
Messages
18
Location
Whitby
Hi everyone,

okay, so this site is super overwhelming. I’m doing my best to try and navigate it.
I guess what I’d like to ask is...as a new and first time owner of a car I’ve wanted since I was a teenager, where do I start?!

I was able to procure a 2005 LJ in pristine condition with 99k miles on it. From what I can tell it’s pretty bone stock. Except it has brand new 30” tires on it, I think stock were smaller? Am I wrong about that?! God I have a lot to learn.
I guess my first question would be, what would be your first move? Take it to a Jeep specialist to give it a once over and tell me what I need? There’s no rust on it at all and the frame is in great shape. The chrome grill I’m iffy on but that’s easy enough to fix

Anyway I’m loving this thing so far, has a best top soft top on it and I was hoping I could find out where to get an LJ hard top ( winters are cold in Toronto😉) which I believe are hard to find.
Had the top off already and took the kids for a rip and they loved it. Unfortunately getting the top back on proved more difficult than taking it off...lol but I got it.

Again, I just wanted to reach out and say this site is a mountain of information and I’m going to dig in...but if anyone has some advice on kind of my first steps that would be greatly appreciated.
Actually I have done one mod to it, I ripped out the OEM head unit and popped in a Bluetooth enabled new radio but other than that, pretty stock.

thanks so much everyone and I’m happy to finally be in the game instead of watching from the stands.
cheers
M

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One question I definitely have is to undercoat this bad boy first thing? Wait till closer to winter? Should I rust proof the car? Would it even help a 15 year old car?

I believe this Jeep spent its winters down south pulled behind an RV. So this will be it’s first winter. I don’t want to be the one to ruin this thing after a nice life so far.
Here’s a couple shots of the frame.





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welcome and congrats 🍻


I don't have to deal with rust but someone who does should be along shortly.
 
Thanks!

does anyone run a soft top all
Year round in a cold climate or just not possible?
 
Very nice Unlimited, I dig it! Looks clean as hell too.

The frame looks clean! If you want it to last, simply don't drive it in the winter if they salt the roads.

If you absolutely have to (I really encourage you not to, or just buy a beater for the winter), make sure to liberally coat your underside with something like Fluid Film as often as possible, and always pressure wash the underside thoroughly after each outing when they salt the roads.
 
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Very nice Unlimited, I dig it! Looks clean as hell too.

The frame looks clean! If you want it to last, simply don't drive it in the winter if they salt the roads.

If you absolutely have to (I really encourage you not to, or just buy a beater for the winter), make sure to liberally coat your underside with something like Fluid Film as often as possible, and always pressure wash the underside thoroughly after each outing when they salt the roads.

Thanks!! Appreciate it. I feel lucky to have found it. I almost bought a 2002 TJ the day I found and bought this one because I didn’t think I’d ever find an LJ. They’re rare here. So I gave up and was on my way to the bank to get money for the ‘02 And I got a call back on this one to come check it out so I literally pulled out of the bank parking lot and drove 2 hours to see this baby. Bought it within a couple minutes. Could hardly contain my excitement.

I didn’t think I’d like the colour but it’s grown on me and I’m starting to like it. Anyone know this colour? Closest I’ve found online is Moss Green Pearl but I'm not 100% sure it’s a perfect match.
My wife actually loves the chrome grill, doesn’t want me to change it but I feel it looks a bit dated. Not sure though I keep going back and forth.

anyway, sorry about my rambling I’m kind of stoked. Lol seriously though you’ve give me pause, my idea was to run this in the winter but now I’m starting to think of running a beater like you said. A beater would probably be cheaper than a hard top too.
 
Thanks!! Appreciate it. I feel lucky to have found it. I almost bought a 2002 TJ the day I found and bought this one because I didn’t think I’d ever find an LJ. They’re rare here. So I gave up and was on my way to the bank to get money for the ‘02 And I got a call back on this one to come check it out so I literally pulled out of the bank parking lot and drove 2 hours to see this baby. Bought it within a couple minutes. Could hardly contain my excitement.

I didn’t think I’d like the colour but it’s grown on me and I’m starting to like it. Anyone know this colour? Closest I’ve found online is Moss Green Pearl but I'm not 100% sure it’s a perfect match.
My wife actually loves the chrome grill, doesn’t want me to change it but I feel it looks a bit dated. Not sure though I keep going back and forth.

anyway, sorry about my rambling I’m kind of stoked. Lol seriously though you’ve give me pause, my idea was to run this in the winter but now I’m starting to think of running a beater like you said. A beater would probably be cheaper than a hard top too.

Go here and type in your VIN:

https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing
It will give you the factory build sheet with the exact name of the color and everything. Trust me, you'll thank me!

The chrome grille does look good on some of them (yours being one of them).

And yes, you can buy a beater for less than $1500, drive it in the nasty weather, and let your TJ remain pristine and unmolested by the nasty weather (y).

It's a solid option, one highly worth considering if you plan on keeping it a long time.
 
Welcome aboard. Very nice and very very clean LJ. First thing you need to learn, is don't call your Jeep a "car". Its a " Jeep", or LJ.
Congratulations on your find!
 
I have a factory soft top and made it through the winter just fine. I've found the heater works much better than the AC; but I take cold better than heat, so maybe it's just me. The hard tops I've found have ranged from $1700-2500 and have sold at those prices. I'd rather keep the soft top and get other things for my LJ.
 
Welcome aboard. Very nice and very very clean LJ. First thing you need to learn, is don't call your Jeep a "car". Its a " Jeep", or LJ.
Congratulations on your find!
Ha ha totally fair, I think it’s more the fact I don’t feel “worthy” yet to be calling it a Jeep. It’s like I want to ease my way into the club ;)
 
I have a factory soft top and made it through the winter just fine. I've found the heater works much better than the AC; but I take cold better than heat, so maybe it's just me. The hard tops I've found have ranged from $1700-2500 and have sold at those prices. I'd rather keep the soft top and get other things for my LJ.

that’s great, thanks for the reply.
I totally agree, and being Canadian the top is more like 3k and that’s money I’d like to put into the Jeep in other areas.
I was reluctantly thinking I had to buy a hard top and dreading telling the wife I have to add an extra 3k into the mix.
But now I’m thinking I may do the winter beater thing. Problem there is, finding a place to store my LJ during the winter. 🤔

Another question, anybody have any reservations about going off roading with an essentially stock LJ? I’ve never gone off roading on the trails but would love to start, problem is I’m not sure if there’s a few things I should be doing first or I could try out the “bunny hills” of trails so to speak safely.
 
You'll be amazed at how capable your Jeep is offroad in stock trim. Make sure you have front and rear recovery points and a tow strap.
 
Ha ha totally fair, I think it’s more the fact I don’t feel “worthy” yet to be calling it a Jeep. It’s like I want to ease my way into the club ;)
Welcome... keep calling your Jeep a car and we'll never let you in, LoL.
 
I'm in western New York, and I run my soft top year round on my LJ. Havent had the hard top on in 2 years.

Oh yeah? No problems, eh? That’s great news. Thanks

any problems with salt on the frame in them snowy western NY winters? Do you get it under coated every year?

Another question? Anyone ever see a 2 inch lift with 30” tires? Look ridiculous or no? I want to raise it a bit, not too crazy but I also like these brand new tires I’m on don’t want to have to buy all new rubber when these are new. Anyone with any similar setup pics would be greatly appreciated. ( and then I get to look at cool Jeeps 😉)
Cheers
 
Congrats on a great looking LJ. Be sure to put some drain holes in that frame and clean it out good on the inside to help keep it that way. Like Chris sad I’d try to avoid the salt even if you left it outside in the weather it’s still better than driving in the salt. I think good rust free LJ’s are really going to hold their value and possibly go up at some point. Just because of the numbers made. And TJ’s in general being the last Jeep that’s really pretty simple to work on. But it’s your Jeep if you put Eastwood internal frame coating in it and take off the fender liners and fluid film it he whole underneath and reinstall the liners you should get many years of fun out of it. If you got a place to leave it hanging I actually think a hard is easier to take off and put back on than a soft top. My advice is our Jeeps are pretty capable stock. Take you time if you plan on modifying it and Research you’re plans on this forum it can save you a lot time and money.