Why a TJ?

[DaveC]

1. Buddy had a CJ5 in high school we'd cruise around in with the top off; always thought they were cool and have wanted one since
2. Chicks dig 'em (more specifically, my wife)
3. Tons of fun to cruise around town or on a trail, and top down/open air in a Jeep is way better than any other convertible
4. Can drive to the trail, don't have to trailer
5. Simple, reliable, fun toy that brings back the carefree feeling of younger days

 

[AdventurePig]

Great topic, OP. For me:

• Retains classic Willys, CJ, YJ aesthetic.
• Provides heat, air, airbag, PS, PB, etc. (everything that i’d add to an older Jeep) from the factory.
• Small size for easy towing with our tow rig
• Huge aftermarket.
• Seats 4 (and in a pinch, 5) in relative comfort.
• 4.0l, NP241, Dana 44’s, lockers in stock form.
• Minimal electrical infrastructure. Just the needs, not overly loaded with “wants/fluff/complexity)
• Nimble, flexy and capable offroad. Narrow compared to newer Jeeps = advantage in many situations.

 

[jofa307]

1. Was not allowed to have one growing up
2. Best looking Jeep there is
3. Huge aftermarket
4. Easy to maintain and its very simple to work on
5. Offroad capabilities. Can do more than just a dirt road.
6. won't break the bank too much unless you want to
7. The size is great.
8. Can do everything a JK and JL can for a fraction of the price depending on the modifications etc

 

[inkedrose]

Two things I love to watch others do, but Never in Forever would I be able take those first steps

lol only one step then gravity handles the rest

 

[inkedrose]

Looks like where my friend instructed in twin falls….and where the old man died by botching his last fire jump (officially “low pulled” into the water).

Yeah thats "the bridge", only place you can jump legally year round. Most places you don't want pics for legality reasons. You can see the kicker still from where Evel Knievel tried to jump the snake river

 

[inkedrose]

Killing someone who’s also hunting you is on that level so I hear, but that’s some extreme company.

That's next level! One thing to not die, another to not die by having to killing someone else

 

[notnsuv]

I round everyone that has one I can on a Saturday every chance we get and we garage it all day -

View attachment 491328

One of my favorites also.. even JKs

 

[notnsuv]

We had another thread going and it got me to thinking with as much money as I have put into these and as basic as they are why am I so addicted?

This is not really TJ versus the JK/JL so much as what is it that I really like about the TJ that makes me keep coming back-

1. I love the looks of the vehicle. It resembles the CJ which was the jeep I really fell in love with first.

2. I’m not intimidated by the mechanics of it. I can work on the thing and that is an odyssey in itself. It is generally what keeps this forum alive...and this forum keeps the jeeps alive too.

3. I like to have something older that is well taken care of I think that is cool to do that with any vehicle and I admire others that do the same.

4. I know the engine is going to keep going.

5. Offroad I love the agility.

6. They are not a dime a dozen. It seems like everybody has a four-door but that’s not the case with this platform.

7. The price of admission is not too bad- It just concerns me when people think that that’s all they’re gonna have to pay because I feel like their expectations are going to be let down.

We can all learn to justify, rationalize or explain anything and we can learn to like about anything but I think honestly these are the main points for me- Chime in and I’ll probably see some things you say that I echo as well.

...and a next door neighbor popped by one day, walked in the shop and exclaimed, "An LJ! I didn't know you had an LJ in here!
Oh, AND A RUBICON! OH, MAN!"
as he did the walk-.

Priceless.

 

[MikeE024]

lol only one step then gravity handles the rest

The lowest my buddy jumped was 80 ft and the chute cracked open right before he hit the sand pretty hard off a bridge in Paso Robles. The Aussie dude who held his chute died a few months later back home low pulling off a tower jump.

My friend has lost some other ppl one dude from Florida is still in the mountain near Seattle the Air Force eventually got involved and still couldn’t find him using the flight data a dog teams. They were taking turns jumping out of a helo and the Florida guy never cleared the ridge, didn’t answer the radio, and then tons of snow came in that night.

Another time, a doctor died in the Grand Canyon wingsuiting too close to the ground. My buddy said he knew he wouldn’t last long bc he was too reckless.

My friend is a very smart engineer, but he’s had some close calls. His old grinding the crack stuff is better than Jeb’s OG video that started it all tbh. I'm just glad he’s chilled a bit bc he’s a great human.

 

[inkedrose]

The lowest my buddy jumped was 80 ft

That's dirty low!! We have a lot of cool rock faces here with long flights out. Google BradleySlums, he's a friend doing MotoBASE. The guy that taught me rigged up the chute for Brads bike. There's no hard numbers because it tends to be a little more off grid sport but I've heard average lifespan of most base guys is around 7ish years. You leave the sport one way or another. When you feel like it's time to stop you probably should. Death happens, it's a big part of it. No friends or family were sad when I sold my rig

 

[inkedrose]

@MikeE024 If you go down the google hole they are doing Tandem BASE out of Moab now. So far no one has gone in but seems so gnarly!

 

[MikeE024]

That's dirty low!! We have a lot of cool rock faces here with long flights out. Google BradleySlums, he's a friend doing MotoBASE. The guy that taught me rigged up the chute for Brads bike. There's no hard numbers because it tends to be a little more off grid sport but I've heard average lifespan of most base guys is around 7ish years. You leave the sport one way or another. When you feel like it's time to stop you probably should. Death happens, it's a big part of it. No friends or family were sad when I sold my rig

Just watched one of his videos that looks like an awesome time lol

 

[Rickyd]

It's a convertible. It'll carry 4 adults. Weather won't stop it. Don't need paved roads. Dead simple to work on. A zillion of them made and a robust aftermarket. The only American sports car (according to Enzo). The coolest looking vehicle on or off the road.

Amen

 

[AndyG]

One of my favorites also.. even JKs

We do that- bring a JK guy and get a free lunch.....we make him pay for it

 

[MikeE024]

We had another thread going and it got me to thinking with as much money as I have put into these and as basic as they are why am I so addicted?

This is not really TJ versus the JK/JL so much as what is it that I really like about the TJ that makes me keep coming back-

1. I love the looks of the vehicle. It resembles the CJ which was the jeep I really fell in love with first.

2. I’m not intimidated by the mechanics of it. I can work on the thing and that is an odyssey in itself. It is generally what keeps this forum alive...and this forum keeps the jeeps alive too.

3. I like to have something older that is well taken care of I think that is cool to do that with any vehicle and I admire others that do the same.

4. I know the engine is going to keep going.

5. Offroad I love the agility.

6. They are not a dime a dozen. It seems like everybody has a four-door but that’s not the case with this platform.

7. The price of admission is not too bad- It just concerns me when people think that that’s all they’re gonna have to pay because I feel like their expectations are going to be let down.

We can all learn to justify, rationalize or explain anything and we can learn to like about anything but I think honestly these are the main points for me- Chime in and I’ll probably see some things you say that I echo as well.

I picture this sorta stuff going on at your house.

 

[BC Moto]

True this. I sold my Road Glide about a month after I got the TJ....Didn't see the point. I can carry a passenger and more stuff in the TJ, we're not screaming at each other to be understood, no helmets, gloves, or other riding gear necessary, we can bring the dog, etc.

I still have my Night Train, but I have the feeling that it's not going to last out the spring.

Its funny I sold my streetglide to get my TJ but the wife says she misses riding so she said lets get another one later down the road

 

['05Train]

Its funny I sold my streetglide to get my TJ but the wife says she misses riding so she said lets get another one later down the road

I'm leaving that door open. But I've gotta say that the last time I was out on the Night Train, I realized I'd modified it to the point that it wasn't as comfortable as I needed it to be. And that my body simply doesn't take the pounding as well as it used to. Honestly, if I get another one, I'd look at either a BMW GS or a Triumph Tiger SC.

 

[BC Moto]

I'm leaving that door open. But I've gotta say that the last time I was out on the Night Train, I realized I'd modified it to the point that it wasn't as comfortable as I needed it to be. And that my body simply doesn't take the pounding as well as it used to. Honestly, if I get another one, I'd look at either a BMW GS or a Triumph Tiger SC.

We loved our streetglide but I wasnt riding as much due to an accident... If my wife would ride her own bike I would maybe get 2 africa twin bikes instead another harley

 

['05Train]

We loved our streetglide but I wasnt riding as much due to an accident... If my wife would ride her own bike I would maybe get 2 africa twin bikes instead another harley

The Africa Twin is a fun, fun bike.

My ex-wife got her license but never transitioned from passenger to rider. Probably a good thing, as I would have been nervous she'd crash.....until the last couple of years we were together.....Then I would have been nervous she didn't crash....

 

[AndyG]

I picture this sorta stuff going on at your house.

Exactly! Boy’s mother loved it didn’t she ?!!