Jeep Wrangler

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Comments

  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    What's a drawbar? :) I just have a ball hitch I got at K-Mart for it right now. I had to drill an additional hole so I could get the pin through it okay. Since the frame won't let the hitch go too far back, I had to do this. No biggie though, I've drilled countless holes in the tub, hood, and frame of my Jeep, so one to a hitch was no big deal!

    keats, now I didn't say they were one of the best, but I do agree. I REALLY like my bumpers. Since I'm not going bigger than 32's, I wasn't going to invest in the integrated carrier. But for carrying extra stuff like jerry cans, it would have been nice. Oh well. :) I may go with a Bestop tire carrier if I can't feel comfortable with a 32 hanging off my tailgate.

    BTW, got my wheel spacers installed yesterday. I'm now ready for my 32's, whenever THAT happens! These BFG AT's are taking FOREVER to wear down! Not that there's anything wrong with that... :)

    -Paul
  • keatskeats Member Posts: 412
    Paul, I've thought several times about that Besttop tire carrier as well. My tailgate sags right now with the 31 inch tires. It's hard to notice when the soft top is on, but you can definitely tell with the hard top.
  • drh1965drh1965 Member Posts: 7
    A draw bar is the thingie that goes into the square receiver jobbie that you mount the ball on :)

    I just don't see how you can reach the pin? Is there a gap between the bumper and the frame large enough to get the pin in there?

    Anywho, I ordered the Jeeperman nerf bars last night for my unlimited. If those work out well, I'll order the bump/tire carrier.

    Thanks for the reviews guys!
  • goducks1goducks1 Member Posts: 432
    Like mtngal said, TJ's have the coil springs instead of leaf springs. Many consider that a plus; some dont. I have a 97 and issues to look for would include:

    Exhaust manifold
    Catalytic converter
    Leaking pinion seals
    Radiator WILL leak at some point if not replaced

    Anyone who doesn't consider the coil springs better than the leaf springs is either out of their mind or a masochist. I've had both. You WANT a TJ, trust me. As for Eric's list, on my 98 TJ Sport (79K miles) I've had to:

    Exhaust manifold--check, just replaced it
    Catalytic converter--not yet and I pray not ever
    Leaking pinion seals--yep, rear axle
    Radiator WILL leak at some point if not replaced--check, replaced it last year

    Also threw in a new coil at 50K miles. 98s had a problem with a faulty gauge link back behind the dash, AKA the amazing on-and-off gauges. Fixed under warranty, there was a TSB about it.
  • lsujeeplsujeep Member Posts: 11
    on your soft top in the summer? I like going without the windows, but I would like to have them available just in case a storm pops up. I don't want them to get damaged, but I don't want the inside of my jeep to get wet when a downpour comes with lightning and high winds.
  • jeff62301jeff62301 Member Posts: 310
    I take 4 beach towels, layer the windows between the towels, roll them up and wrap 3 straps around them

    or you can buy a clover patch bag
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    I clean them, place them in my Jeep window bag, place them on the shelf high up in my garage, and run a safari top. I keep the soft uppers on the lowers and have them set aside in the garage as well. If I need to have protection from the elements I have the doors and safari to protect me, but I'll still get occasionally damp.

    -Paul
  • dwpcdwpc Member Posts: 159
    There aren't any current posts on the Jeep Prices Paid forum so I thought I'd ask here about the actual Employee Discount pricing experience. At least according to Edmunds, the discount puts pricing below invoice. Do the dealers have any room for negotiation? Selection is becoming limited and we can't find a dual top model. I want to know if its reasonable to get the dealer to add a Mopar soft top kit (retail $1300+) on a Hard Top Unlimited for the difference between factory dual top price and HT price (about $550 with the emp. discount). He's also making noises about adding a few hundred bucks for secondary transport charges since the Jeep in the color we want is at a dealer 300 miles away. We're already making compromises on equipment.
  • drh1965drh1965 Member Posts: 7
    Yeah, the Employee Discount is just a rebate. So, if you take the invoice price, subtract the holdback, and then subtract the rebate, that is the break even point for the dealer (assuming they purchased the vehicle rather than financed it). We just bought our Rubicon Unlimited for 25K which was $2400 under invoice. The break-even price for the dealer would have been around invoice minus $3600 but I assume that most vehicles are financed and that it had been sitting on the lot a while. They had to recoupe interest paid to break even so I thought we negotiated a fair price.

    Good luck!
    Darrell
  • dwpcdwpc Member Posts: 159
    "...$2400 under invoice"

    Under invoice? Wow! Or did you mean under MSRP? Would you mind listing how it was equipped?
  • drh1965drh1965 Member Posts: 7
    Manual, Yellow, Security, Floor Mats, Leather Steering Wheel. I think that was everything!

    And, yes, under Invoice.
  • jeepbuckspajeepbuckspa Member Posts: 3
    Hello all!

    Has anyone else with a dual top option on their Unlimited experienced difficulty getting the soft top up? It was warm enough today, but I still had to "jerryrig" the setup just to get the soft top up and the windows in. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Also, is it ok to mention that I have something related to the above situation that I may or may not be trying to get rid of? The "Rules of the Road" clearly state no soliciting, but then I am seeing posts with information on parts and where to buy them. Thanks for the clarification!! ;)

    Thanks!!
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Hi jeepbuckspa - I have an Unlimted and got it with dual tops. When I first raised and lowered the soft top it was a bit challenging but as I had seen in earlier posts here, it got much easier each time I did it. Now, it seems as if the fabric has stretched to its "maximum" point and it goes up and down quite nicely and doesn't need any "muscle" to latch it down or put the windows back on. Have you had your soft top up on any really hot sunny days? I suspect my soft top really got nicely stretched after leaving it up on some of Summer's really hot days in the baking sun of my work parking lot. Give it a little time and it should get easier.

    Happy Jeepin',

    Jim
  • jeff62301jeff62301 Member Posts: 310
    be sure the straps (that keep the bows from going to far ) aren't tangled around anything.

    follow the steps in the video tape. It will feel like you are pushing it pretty hard the first time. It will get easier. I swear the one they used in the video must have been put up and down 100 + times. it was very loose.

    jeff
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    The soft top does get easier as time goes on. I find the hardest thing to do is work the zippers now. Before it was getting the drip rails out of their keepers. The first couple of times I just opened the Sunrider option, I had to use a screwdriver to get them started. Now it doesn't take quite so much. Yesterday we took the windows out because we were unloading some big boxes, and left them out on our way home. I love having the windows out when I'm driving up in the mountains, but trying to carry on a conversation with someone else while traveling about 60 in heavy, tail-end of rush hour traffic in Los Angeles is very difficult. My other half would rather have a convertible where all you do is push a button. I, on the other hand, would rather tug on a bunch of zippers and risk scraped knuckles!
  • tireguytireguy Member Posts: 200
    First I wash the dust off each of them with a damp cotton cloth. Then I lean the half doors against my workbench, and drape the rear and side windows over various objects in my garage, cushioned by towels. I don't roll them and I don't even handle them if they're dirty. Then I bring the top down, smoothing the kinks out as it folds into itself, and neatly tuck the "C-pillars" in so they won't flap like my Black Lab's ears when he runs. My Sailcloth top is four years old and still looks brand new because I've taken care of it.

    Have you ever actually gotten caught with nothing but the roof to protect you? It's not that bad. I've been in serious rainstorms (Pensacola, FL) with no side protection and you stay surprisingly dry. As the wind hits that big, flat windshield, the low pressure area around the driver and front passenger stays pretty rain free (the trick is to choose routes where you won't have to stop or drive slowly). Of course the rear area gets a little wet, but if you fold and tumble the seat, what's back there that can't get wet? Well, passengers, maybe. Toss a couple emergency ponchos in the storage console for them. You can pull out the rear carpet to dry it out without pulling out the whole thing, if you still have it in there. The dashboard stays dry-except for a little water near the a/c vents. But the electronics are protected with the top in place.

    The safari top is good insurance for hardtop owners who want a little fresh air, but I don't see the need when you already have a soft top. It's pretty open with the sides removed. I mean that's pretty much the whole point of the soft top--you can fold it up and bring it with you.

    Hope that helps.

    Chris
  • goducks1goducks1 Member Posts: 432
    The safari top is good insurance for hardtop owners who want a little fresh air, but I don't see the need when you already have a soft top. It's pretty open with the sides removed. I mean that's pretty much the whole point of the soft top--you can fold it up and bring it with you.

    If you've just got a hard top, go get a Rock Gear top, that's what I've got. It's basically a safari top with windows that roll out if you need them to. When you don't need them, they just zip back into pouches in the safari top. It works pretty well. No hardware on any of that stuff to deal with.
  • koolbreeze2koolbreeze2 Member Posts: 252
    During the sometimes good weather in April, I got tired of taking the windows in and out. Since May 1, I have had the windows out and don't have a garage. I removed all valuables. I also removed all the rear carpeting, took the rear seat out and thats it. During downpours, I just drive. If its sitting during a big downpour, I place a large cotton towel in the rear to soat up water and take it out as soon as the rain is over and wipe the bed with a microfiber (thanks Keats) towel for about 20 seconds and thats it. I will probably do this until the middle of Nov. and then put the hardtop on. This way, the windows are always out, its also easy to put the top down every day, unless its raining. Sometimes I get condensation inside from moist nights but hey, its a Jeep. Plus, I have the black vinal seats so any moisture just wipes off. If its really hot, I keep the top up,door windows closed and air on full. Works fine. How are your gas prices? Go Easy, John
  • guy21guy21 Member Posts: 129
    Mtngal - if you are referring to zippers that are hard to start or stick, especially in corners, I would highly recommend Mopar's Soft Top Zipper Cleaner & Lube. The part number is 05066440AA. Not all dealers carry it as they have to buy a case of 22. I paid around $8 for a bottle with applicator. A good chemical engineer could tell you exactly what is in it but, to me, the ingredients read like soap, water and anitfreeze.
  • jeepbuckspajeepbuckspa Member Posts: 3
    Hi all,

    Thank you for all your input. My last 3 TJ's all had soft tops only, so I felt kinda sheepish with my 1st post. So here's the rest of the situation... the check straps are fine... with the header resting on the windshield, the back section of the soft top frame juts up about 6 inches higher than where it should be. And this is without the top fabric being attached. So to get my soft top on and windows in, I left the soft top fabric unattached to the bows, and disconnected the check straps off the 3rd bow. The video says not to force the bows down. So I guess I could attach the fabric, and force the bows, but hesitant to do so.

    And speaking of the video, has anyone else noticed how it's a splice job of earlier TJ vehicle information? And how much effort Jeep put in to recreate the guy and the setting for the Unlimited portions!?! Too funny. :P
  • guy21guy21 Member Posts: 129
    Ingredients - Having nothing better to do at the moment, I looked up the CAS numbers given for the contents of the zipper lube. In order (most to least by quantity) they are: 1) mold inhibitor, 2) water, 3) pH stabilizer, 4) surficant (soap), 5) antifreeze. No percentages are given.
  • keatskeats Member Posts: 412
    Hey, KB2, where have you been? It's been a little dead around here lately. Gas, today, was $2.55/gallon. Can't get away with taking the windows out all summer here. I would die. It's been so hot, I haven't taken the top down in 6 weeks, and I have had the AC on full blast. My new bumper got bumped by a new dishwasher and outside AC unit-what do they call those, compressors? I dunno, but I do know it was highly expensive. I could have bought an Old Man Emu lift, front and rear bumpers and a nice winch for the price...
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Keats - you're only paying $2.55? Consider yourself lucky - we're paying $2.69 now, and that's at the cheaper stations! I haven't checked prices in L.A. in a while, so don't know if they are more or less than our hilltop stations.

    The Mopar zipper lube does help, but it isn't as easy as my jacket...
  • durability05durability05 Member Posts: 142
    I read that Mopar will start offering the Garmin Trail Guide GPS , designed for the Jeep Wrangler, it said it was introduced at Camp Jeep, Anybody know how much it will cost at my local Chrysler Jeep dealer. I have been delaying shopping for a new GPS, maybe this would be the one for my 04 TJ, plus I can use it on my other vehicles too.
  • koolbreeze2koolbreeze2 Member Posts: 252
    Hey Keats. I read the posts everyday but I guess I have had nothing to contribute lately. It has been kind of dead. Took a nice top down trip to Vermont last week. Much cooler up there.Also going to the Connecticut shoreline (45 mins) almost everyday to fish for bluefish.Top down of course. I go very early in the AM. How bad is the now not so new bumper? How did the bumper and compresser meet? Driver malfunction? If you backed into it, it was probably because you had the top up and your vision was obstructed. Come on Keats, get the top down. Life is short.Very short. Carry a spray bottle of cool water for your face for those hot days, or a squirt gun. I still have not painted my bezels black. I did pick up the paint, so I am half way there.Perhaps today? Still working on pics. So many things to do and so little time. This retirement thing is very time intensive.Go Easy. KB2
  • keatskeats Member Posts: 412
    Hey, mtngal, yeah, 2.55 is what is here in Memphis, but I was on the far side of Arkansas today and it was 2.75 a gallon. I'm talking 87 octane. It's starting to amaze me how how quickly it reaches 30 bucks...
  • keatskeats Member Posts: 412
    *lol* as always very entertaining, John. You and your wife need to come down to the Hot Springs, AR Jeep Jamboree in October. Mrs. Keats and I are planning on attending the event. Now, I realize that I have also not purchased the new CB for the trip. It is so hot here, one would melt without the AC. Today my temp guage read 102. I can't wait until the mild temperatures of late September...
  • keatskeats Member Posts: 412
    I understand that it will be offered for around $700. It looks like a very cool unit for the price. It has a cradle that fits in the shelf on top of the center console. I have often considered an in cab unit, but it seems that on the road I always know where I'm going....I have a Garmin E-trex Vista for off road....
  • durability05durability05 Member Posts: 142
    Thanks for the price imformation, I will definetely buy it, and just install it myself. That means I need to work overtime about 3 Saturdays for that , to pay cash for it and then tell the wife, I save a lot of money on DIY. Did the same for my Bilsteins, except it only needed a Saturday for it. I just can't wait for that GPS with a voice prompt! I own a Garmin E-trex legend, but it is really only good on foot. I use to prop it against the windshield while using it.
  • koolbreeze2koolbreeze2 Member Posts: 252
    My wife says I am "a yuk a minute". I guess thats good. I am always willing to entertain. I would love to go to the Jeep Jamboree in Oct. but its a bit of a gig from Conn. Are you driving the Rubi to the Jamboree? How long will you be there? Is it still haunted with noises? Should be an interesting ride. I painted my bezels black yesterday. Looks great. Now I am going to paint the chrome key entry on each door. Totally out of control. After that, there will be no chrome on Rosie. All red and black. I like the Krylon paint. Thanks for the tip. "It is quite remarkable how one good action always breeds another". O.W. Go Easy, KB2
  • keatskeats Member Posts: 412
    I think the Jamboree is a 2 or 3 day event. We'll drive the Rubi down there. From Memphis it's only a 3 hour drive. My wife and I go to Hot Springs, anyway, once every year or two. They have some historic old hotels and bath houses. We usually do an afternoon spa treatment. It's very relaxing. I hear the Jamborees are great. So we'll see.

    Will we every see pictures of Rosie?
  • wolftimwolftim Member Posts: 34
    Does anyone know of any events coming up in the Seattle area? I have only a stock Unlimited so no rock climbing for me, but my buddy and I would like to get involved in our local area. Oh and gas is no less than 2.60/gal around here so 30.00 is just a passing fancy.
  • guy21guy21 Member Posts: 129
    Can anyone tell me if a Motorcraft FL-300 filter is suitable for a 2004 X? The Mopar filter number is 05281090, but these can only be had from a dealer. An equivalent AC filter is called out as a PF13. I can find cross-references for both the Mopar and Motorcraft numbers to the AC, but not directly from Mopar to M.craft. Other M.craft numbers also cross to the PF13. Any help would be appreciated.
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    Can't help with the specific question as I don't have a Mopar/Motorcraft cross reference in front of me, but I can confirm that the AC PF13 is correct for the 4.0. If you want to step up to a larger filter then the Motorcraft FL1-A is the one that fits.
  • guy21guy21 Member Posts: 129
    Mac - on the Motorcraft website, the AC PF13 crosses to Motorcraft filter numbers FL-200, 300, 332, 787, 842 and 5. It would appear that the FL-300 would work on my X, but what the heck would be the difference between all of those M.craft filters?
  • mac24mac24 Member Posts: 3,910
    I can only guess, but it's probably the size of the canister. The thread and sealing ring size should be the same though, as should any drain back valve.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Has anyone heard from the tomster?

    tidester, host
  • keatskeats Member Posts: 412
    I've been wondering the same thing. Haven't seen a post from Tom in a long time...
  • gdh3gdh3 Member Posts: 28
    Well I finally got the opportunity to take our new LJ Rubicon off road for the first time. Everyone talks about their off-road ability, but had I not experienced it for myself I just would not have understood. I found a grassy hill that was quite steep. It was at least at a 60 degree angle. I put it in 4wd low and in 1st gear it just literally crept up the hill with no help from the accelerator. With the windows down all you could hear was the grass tearing underneath the torque of the tires. It was not even a challenge (although my wife was white knuckled on the hand bar above the glove box). I now understand why I see pictures of jeeps in ridiculous situation and positions. Because they can.
    BTW, is there anybody out there near Sioux Falls, SD that wants to go Jeeping? :) I am hooked.
    gdh
  • koolbreeze2koolbreeze2 Member Posts: 252
    Sounds like fun. Can you do the spa treatment while sitting in the front seat of your Rubi with your favorite tunes playing from the overhead? Perhaps pics someday. I am not the greatest tech person and lack the motivation to get it togeather. But who knows. I just may surprise myself. Someday............. KB2
  • koolbreeze2koolbreeze2 Member Posts: 252
    You read my mind. No posts in awhile. John
  • dwpcdwpc Member Posts: 159
    We're ready to buy an Unlimited but we've been to three dealers in the LA area and none will get off their duffs to look for one in the color and outfit we want. Our key requirement is an automatic with hard top; we're flexible on color. One dealer had the gall to demand a signed sales contract before he'd even look! And we were prepared to pay the published employee price with out further haggling. In the mean time, D-C has apparently ended the $500 cash rebate and 05 Wrangler stocks are dwindling. This is my first dealings with a US-make dealer in many years, and they apparently haven't learned a d*** thing about customer service. I had wanted a Jeep, but I'm going to have a hard time giving my business to this bunch!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    You could broaden your search outside LA, or even California - lots of people go to northern Idaho for Daimler-Chrysler vehicles for example. And I think the Wrangler is emissions certified for all 50 states.

    There's also a quote service at the top of the forum.

    Steve, Host
  • dwpcdwpc Member Posts: 159
    We've tried. The "quote" links lead to the official Jeep website link and we've received only "Call me" e-mails in response. We've tried the Jeep inventory search too, but not all dealers participate let alone update their listings, so its hit and miss. Seems internet sales aren't the hot item for dealers that they were a few years ago.
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    LA dealers in general have that attitude unless you're buying a MB, Porsche, or other high end vehicle. What about going outside LA, to Bakersfield, Lancaster, San Diego? I used to live out in that area and I had good luck with the dealerships in Bakersfield for my purchases. They know people can and do go to LA, so coming the other way from LA may be a plus...

    Just an idea.

    As for Tom, he's around. He's just been busy with stuff!

    -Paul
  • starbucksstarbucks Member Posts: 13
    Hello-

    I plan on purchasing a new Wrangler sometime in these coming months, and I wanted to know what model and what options. I have no idea what I really need, the only one I know I'm getting is the Automatic Tranny and the Air Conditioning. Thanks for the input.
  • mmb48179mmb48179 Member Posts: 5
    Hi Mac24.
    Maybe you didnt see my previous question so here it is again.

    Let me know if you have any more info. THANKS.

    Hi. Are you sure about the camshafts and gear teeth? Did the dealership inform you of the problem? Camshafts seem serious.

    I was thinking about buying a Wrangler but I am concerned about long term quality. Although DCC seems to be fixing the problem, will the engine last.
  • erickplerickpl Member Posts: 2,735
    Only you can really answer the question:
    If you are not driving on the highway much, an SE may work for you.
    Do you want hard/soft tops or both?
    Do you plan to offroad it?
    Do you plan on doing any suspension/body mods to it?
    Where do you live? North/South, East/West?
    Do you need storage space?
    Do you need or want the features a Rubicon gives you or do you just want the top of line?

    There are so many individual reasons for needing or wanting a vehicle, only you can answer those. If you tell us what your plans are for it, we may be better able to help.

    -Paul
  • tsjaytsjay Member Posts: 4,591
    Hi, Jeep Buds!

    I was just taking a little break, but I'm back now. I have pretty well kept up with the posts; I just haven't done any posting myself.

    Welcome to all of you new Jeepers and to you prospective Jeepers.

    It's been way too hot for me to go wheelin', and it would be especially hard on Ross Allen to be out in the heat that we have been experiencing lately.

    Have you hugged your Jeep today?

    Tom
  • dave__dave__ Member Posts: 80
    It's almost like asking, "I'm thinking of getting married next year, what type of woman should I be looking for?" On the other hand, when I started looking at Wranglers I had the same question and didn't know what I didn't know.

    My requirements were 4WD, convertible and able to carry my hang glider. That left me with the Wrangler and not much else unless I was willing to chop the roof off something and I wasn't.

    If I were you, I would start by going to the Jeep website and building lots of Jeeps to see what things would and would not be in my price range, even if I don't know what they are. That would get you in the ballpark.

    Then, I'd search the archives of this board to try and figure out what the things were that I didn't understand when building Jeeps at the website.

    Also, I would order some catalogs from the Jeep aftermarket companies like Quadratech and be amazed/overwhelmed by how much you can do to your Jeep, not to mention how much money you can spend but that will become irrelevant as you begin to understand how much you need all that stuff.

    All the while, read as many of the posts here as you can find time for and feel free to ask all the questions you want, even if you just want help figuring out what your questions are.

    This list is loaded with people who have forgotten more about off-roading than I'll ever know so take advantage of that to help you get off to a good start. All that's required to be accepted by this group is to think Wranglers are cool. You don't have to have one. In fact this group has been known to talk one or two people out of getting a Wrangler when it really wasn't the right vehicle for them. These events are rare but speak highly of this groups integrity.

    Yours in Jeep Coolness,

    Dave
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