Jeep Owners vs. Jeep Lovers

Over the past week, I have been on a mission to buy a TJ as a project. Don't mistake me for a fool, I am not looking for a hole in the ground in which to throw money. No rust buckets or totaled out junkers for me.

All I really want is a honest, straight, close to stock, rust-free Texas Jeep TJ. What I have found is either dramatically overpriced or badly maintained examples of Jeepdom. This has caused me to reflect on the five Wranglers (two TJ's, one JK, and two JKUR's) that I've sold in my past.

When I sold or traded each one, it was as shiny and clean as the day I purchased it despite how it may have been used. Before I sold or traded, I aired up the tires, got the oil changed, vacuumed the carpeting, washed the windows, wiped down the dash and upholstery and removed all mu junk from door pockets, glove box and console. It was like I was preparing my loved ones body for burial.

The Jeeps I have seen have been unwashed, dirty windows, junk on the floor, crap in the door pockets, mats filthy, rusty hinges, soft top put on wrong so that the tailgate wouldn't open, oily engines, denial of oil drips despite the fact that I came out form underneath with oil on my hands.......

As a result, I told my wife tonight, that I am not buying a TJ until I find a Jeep lover who wants to sell his (or her) baby and has treated it properly.

Just venting......sorry folks.

Bob

 

My Jeep is rarely washed much less vacuumed but I gaurantee it's clean where it counts greased oil changed religiously . I don't however sweat the cosmetic stuff. I'll run it thru buckies car wash on occasion when it drops my gas price by .50 cents. Lol I do love my Jeep and will NEVER sell it.

 

But I know what you mean @The4x4Guys I'm just the exception to the rule . It's not dirty lol just rugged.

 

My expectations for a 20 year old West coast TJ is different. I would focus primarily on a solid frame, sub 120K, six cylinder, accident-free relatively clean Jeep. My plans will be a reliable off-roader so if I'm upgrading parts (axles, etc) a non-Rubi might not be an issue.

 

Have you been looking in autotrader @The4x4Guys

 

I get it dude. When I traded in my 2000 XJ for my current JK. I polished it. Cleaned up rims, and emptied out anything I thought dealership would discard. I also, true story. Put in the glove box, my maintenance records that I kept. Oil changes, tire rotation and such. Yes....I know I have an OCD . But it's not like I need to knock on doors 3 times before I enter the room....Ya know. . So anyway. I hear ya dude. I would never buy anything from some one that did not have the passion that i have for what im looking to buy from them. Especially if it was mistreated and unmaintained.

Venting??? Your amount friends. We just stick our fingers in our ears. Vent all ya want.

 

I hear you and agree completely. I didn't mean to imply that my Jeep was always spectacular looking, BUT when I posted pictures of it on line, it was clean and shiny and I had it prepped for buyers when they came to look at it. Some of these folks this past week could not have cared less what it looked like, but they were all asking for top dollar.

I've been on eBay, AutoTrader, Craigslist, etc.

I have a 2003 to look at tomorrow that is a high mileage unit, but it is priced appropriately for high mileage and my expectations are low. But I have my fingers crossed, that an $8k Jeep with high mileage could be a better deal than a lower mileage unit at $15k. I can do a lot of cleanup and upgrading for $7k!!!

 

Bingo!! This is how to treat a vehicle that you truly love but want/need to sell. When I sold my motorcycle and every Jeep, every receipt for add-on equipment, installation manual for aftermarket parts, oil change, tire rotation, warranty repair, etc was in the glove box, front seat or handed to the buyer. I don't necessarily expect the same in return, but my Mom and Dad taught me to take care of my toys and it stuck!

Bob

 

I worked in bank operations many years ago and our department head would take tours of the department of several thousand folks on occasion. I took many an ear beating as a young man for lines of equipment not exactly in a straight line or window blinds that were not all at the same height. When we would complain that these were little things and not terribly important, his stern reply was always the same "If I can't trust you to pay attention to the little things, how can I trust that you are paying attention to the big things"

Its like the old adage about "never fly on an airplane with coffee stains on the tray table" if they can't clean up a coffee stains how can you be sure that they are servicing the engines properly.

When I see a dirty, mistreated vehicle that is for sale, I have to assume that they beat the crap out it when I wasn't around.

And for God's sake fellow members of Jeepdom, when you want to sell a Jeep and need to show pictures, showing a a picture of your Jeep with mud and rocks all over it after a weekend of fun, is not inspiring. I'm glad you have fun with it, but don't remind me that it looked like it was dredged from the bottom of a swamp.......lol

 

Hey Bob, I understand...

 

I feel your pain, the jeeps I like are STOCK, I don't want someones back yard build with their gremlins.

Stock - is the jeeps that are desired and you know why.

Someone here asked what mods - my list was short for this reason.

 

For those of you that have been following my travails at finding a "project TJ" wonder no more, I finally found one. One of my favorite TV shows on the Motor Trend channel is Wheeler Dealers. I love seeing them resuscitate an oldie but goody vehicle. I enjoy watching the work progress and despite having worked on my own cars/Jeeps/sport cars for 48 years, I learn something every episode.

Mike Brewer (co-host) likes to look for "honest, straight vehicles" and that is what I was looking for in a TJ. I was reluctant to buy the 2006 Rubi with long arm lift and tons of extranneous devices to remove ($15k), the 2001 Sport with an obvious oil leak that the owner refused to admit to, a 2003 that was in so-so condition but the owner was oblivious in how to present a vehicle for sale, etc. As I told one owner who was complimenting his own additions, "this looks nice, but this is your dream not mine". I didn't want to pay for someone else's choice of lifts, wheels, tires, etc. I wanted to add my own.

Today I met the nicest guy with a 2003 TJ X, with 208k miles (yes that is a lot) but this X is 100% stock save for the aftermarket trailer hitch to tow his jet ski. He is the second Texas owner and has had it for 8 years. Yes it has the traditional oil leaks from the valve cover and possibly rear main seal, but at $8k it was the project vehicle I was looking for. It too needs vacuumed, and washed and armor all'd and the spousal unit will require the oil drips be addressed pronto, but at $4-7k less than any other vehicle I've seen it was the right one to start with.

Onward and upward with the build thread to follow!

 

That is one sharp looking ride!!!

 

looks like a winner - a blank canvas.

1st purchase - a SCANNER !!!

PS - let us follow the new jeep - what you find, it needs , what mama wants, What you do.

 

What is this vacuuming of carpets you guys keep talking about? You must have fancy Jeeps to still be running carpet
The next lucky owner of my Jeep (if I ever sell) will be getting perfect carpet that was pulled and put in storage the day he came home from the dealer when new.

Jeep fans don't need no stinkin' carpet, only Jeep owners!! LOL (as I prepare for my bashing)



On another note, congrats on the new TJ, looks like a real beauty!

 

Looking forward towards the build!

 

Funny that you pulled the carpet out. I always pull out any stock floor mats, put in rubber ones for my use and abuse, then put brand new floor mats back in when its time to sell or trade. Been doing that for thirty years.

 

That is the plan, I'll be bringing it home on Monday (seller was leaving for Easter weekend) and rather than rushing the transaction, we shook on the deal and are meeting on Monday to close the transaction. I'll be working on the "To Do" list this weekend.

As you may or may not know, I have an online store The4x4Guys.com that focuses on selling Jeep aftermarket parts and accessories. My plan is to first get all the mechanicals in great shape (oil leaks dealt with, new hoses, belts, plugs and wires. Check out the exhaust pipes and muffler, maybe do a disk brake conversion (haven't made up my mind yet)

Then I will start thinking about appearance (sun faded fender flares), a lift kit, carpet, seat covers or new skins, 35 inch tires and wheels, etc. I will be very open to comments, suggestions, brand preferences, etc. I won't be working on it daily since the online store takes up a chunk of my time, but I will be posting regular updates and photos. Sta tuned!

Thanks for all the great comments. Now time for some suggestions!

 

preferred brand - jeep.

Will modules accept 35"tires? Can you program that size?

Seat skins, I'm interested - not some pisx asx rock auto slip on but a serious replacement to OEM seat upholstery.

I think jeep has a lift kit for this year. Nice 2"

What scanner you looking at?

 

Sorry, I meant preferred brand for the various aftermarket parts, of course Jeep is my favorite brand!

That is a good question if the X axles (Dana 30/35) will handle 35" tires, luckily that mod is a bit off for now. If they can't then it will be 33's, BFG KO2's are my personal preference.

If you are asking can the speedometer be programmed for larger tires, I watched a video about changing the speedometer cable/gear to the transmission for various tire sizes, so I am assuming the answer is yes, here is the chart that was posted for what speedo gear to buy for what axle and tire size.

I am with you on skins versus covers. Might be a bit pricier but I'm suspecting it will look tons better though.

I'm unsure about a Mopar 2" lift for the TJ although I will now go investigate. I have a Mopar 2" lift on my JLUR and I love it.

As for scanner, someone did post that but not me, I was unsure of exactly what they were referring to, probably just me being dense today @Awrench

Bob