OP
I'm keeping the TJ I think. Really don't want the debt. I'm sure I could convince my dad to just let me use the 10k on improvements to Barbara. Plus... TJ's really look better.
Ya'll I'm Scared
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gg1
TJ Enthusiast
Just a little story to help. I was alone on this trip, but I had a '55 Chevy with two fours out of the hood, no windshield wipers and a very hopped up motor with solid lifters and I drove it from Pittsburgh to Orlando. I didn't make it and broke down on the boarder of FL and GA in a little town called Yulee. I got SUPER lucky and some guy got me and my car to a mechanic that raced cars and they got my car back up and running for the next day. It is a story I will NEVER forget as I was crazy enough to drive that thing down there. It was a drag car really with a tilt front end. Man what an adventure. Anyway my point is no matter what happens it will be great!
OP
Starrs
TJ Guru
If you want a more road friendly jeep you can find a much better price for one. I wouldn’t buy that new of one to begin with. You can get a nice Rubicon for far less than 42k. Keeping the TJ isn’t a bad option either it just sounds like you wanted to get something different. I wouldn’t pour 10k into your tj tho.
Kiwi TJ
I don't suffer from insanity I enjoy every minute
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
Yeah, I’m not thinking the TJ would have a hard time making the trip. They are, generally, very reliable. Most boast that the 4.0 is a bulletproof engine. They are also easy to work on. Parts are everywhere. It’s hard to question the many, many 4.0 engines on the road that lived to tell 300,000 + mile stories. Short story, reliability shouldn’t be an issue.
If you were looking at a 2007-2011 JK I’d say reliability would be an issue. As far as a 2012-2018, not as much.
If you were looking at a 2007-2011 JK I’d say reliability would be an issue. As far as a 2012-2018, not as much.
This is wise. If you can avoid debt, by all means do so. I really think you could get far more than half way to your dream TJ with $10K (especially if you do most of the work, apart from re-gearing). Here’s another place to just be smart. And yes, they do look better. I was looking at mine today and it just sits right.
Give the TJ a good going over before you make the trip and it should be good to go.
xxdabroxx
TJ Addict
Stay out of debt buy nice prp seats for the Jeep and do some general maintenance. Enjoy the ride.
gg1
TJ Enthusiast
Well that car is very close. I also had no front bumper, but no hood scoop, just the duel quads. lol Not good in rain. It was one fast car for the time. Ran 11's. Not that fast by today's standards though.Sounds like they made a movie out of your shananagins haha and named it 'Two-lane Blacktop'
Go for the TJ drive. That is a real adventure IMHO.
Please tell your dad happy Father’s Day from us , and to send us the 10,000 for safekeeping while you figure it out . You are young and we don’t want you getting taken advantage of. Be sure it’s a cashiers check.
Take the TJ, you won't regret it. Lost my Dad a couple months ago to cancer. We were supposed to take 2 months and drive all the way to Alaska from Kentucky. Saved up for 3 years to make it happen and he got diagnosed 6 months before we were supposed to go. Never got to make that trip, but he left me what I needed to buy my TJ and I think of him every time I'm in it.
There's a line in a country song titled "I hold on" that sums it up pretty well for you IMO. It says:
"It's just an old beat up truck
Some say that I should trade up
Now that I got some jingle in my pocket
But what they don’t understand
Is it's the miles that make a man
I wouldn’t trade that thing in for a rocket
What they don’t know is my dad and me
We drove her out to Tennessee
And she’s still here and now he’s gone
So I hold on"
There's a line in a country song titled "I hold on" that sums it up pretty well for you IMO. It says:
"It's just an old beat up truck
Some say that I should trade up
Now that I got some jingle in my pocket
But what they don’t understand
Is it's the miles that make a man
I wouldn’t trade that thing in for a rocket
What they don’t know is my dad and me
We drove her out to Tennessee
And she’s still here and now he’s gone
So I hold on"
I'd give my left nut to have to still have my first car. (1956 Sedan de Ville) The thrill of a first car and first love cannot be duplicated.
Neal
TJ Enthusiast
I'd have to go with the "drive the TJ with Dad" option. Back in 1989 I drove my 76 CJ-5 with 120K miles on it from Jacksonville, FL to San Diego on a PCS move while in the Navy. Fantastic road trip, I enjoyed every minute of it. It would have been even better if my dad had been along. Try to stay off the interstates and use back roads - more miles to drive, more time on the road, but less wear and tear on the Jeep and way more interesting sights and people. Never pass up an opportunity for an adventure.
JLLJ
TJ Enthusiast
Just did this same trip with my son JLsTJ
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/road-trip-in-the-tj-with-pops.15307/ CA-WA-VA
Had a great time, lots of father son bonding, would do it again in a heartbeat. Like others have said find a shop you trust, have them look at it. We spent a couple $$$ (death wobble, gears) but it made for a great trip. If you have the time take the back roads, we didn't our trip was in November between storms. Take lots of pics!
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/road-trip-in-the-tj-with-pops.15307/ CA-WA-VA
Had a great time, lots of father son bonding, would do it again in a heartbeat. Like others have said find a shop you trust, have them look at it. We spent a couple $$$ (death wobble, gears) but it made for a great trip. If you have the time take the back roads, we didn't our trip was in November between storms. Take lots of pics!
Please don’t go in debt .
A Jeep is a freedom machine , a loan ain’t .
Plenty of time for that in life later.
Debt is expensive , and carries a little bit of depression with it .
There are good reasons for it along life’s way, but avoid it if you like being carefree.
A Jeep is a freedom machine , a loan ain’t .
Plenty of time for that in life later.
Debt is expensive , and carries a little bit of depression with it .
There are good reasons for it along life’s way, but avoid it if you like being carefree.
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Based on you user name I don't see how this could even be something to think about. Just do it!
I agree.
OP
That's great. I'm hoping for the same thing. Luckily out of all the driving I've done I haven't experienced death wobble so hopefully I don't have that expense. My dad and I are big photographers so lots of pics will definitely be taken. Hopefully some will have Barbara in them
I'm with you on this. I already have a student loan I'm taking care of and I really only want a home loan to be next.
Bullitt6283
Member
I'm a bit late weighing in, but I definitely agree with this sentiment. Keep the TJ. It's a great vehicle and while JKs aren't bad, cars from the late 90s/early 2000s are a special breed of having so many good things about modern cars (air bags, increased safety, streamlined mechanics), but not the crappy or awkward stuff that has come later (touch screen "infotainment" centers that are night and day different across every different car model, massive amounts of wiring in the car, and computerization that makes is incredibly difficult to work on your own car).
At least it's a 2 door, but if you were going to get a 2018 Rubicon, I'd say at least try to get the Recon version of the Rubicon since it's a slightly upgraded version only available in 2017/2018 models of the JK and it looks pretty slick. Still, sticking with the TJ is a solid option for reasons I mentioned already.
And to touch on one point from your original post:
If you don't have cruise control in your TJ, go ahead and check out the guide Chris has on installing it. Long trips without cruise control are a pain in the ass. Outside of that, you have a hard top and tires that aren't too aggressive, so you won't have as much wind/tire noise as many other TJs out there, so it should make a good trip for you and your pops.