Jeep Wrangler

desno

JPK,
Can't really comment on whether or not it will fit in an unlimited, but I know my golf clubs fit in the back of my jeep with the back seat tumbled forward. I had to put it in there in an angle, but I could have easily layed it side ways with the clubs resting on the tub of the jeep. Hope that helps some.

des'

erickpl

get a rack!

-Paul

tsjay

Paul rode with me at Turkey Bay.

His Jeep is on its way to Huntsville, but it won't be there in time for this weekend's wheelin', unfortunately.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

erickpl

for the weekend after that!

-Paul

mtngal

Paul - So how long does it take to drive from here to there? I'd love to go 'wheeling with all of you, but it probably is a bit far for a weekend trip for me...

erickpl

It is being shipped out here - they picked it up on saturday and should be here this saturday (weather permitting). driving.. you could probably make it in 2-3 days or so.

-Paul

twylie

I just spent a week in Vegas and rented a Wrangler the weekend my wife came out to join me. We have a good friend with a TJ out there so we got to see some out of the way sights in the surrounding mountains. Had a really great time and the scenery was fantastic. I may try to collect some data on availability and rates for wheeling destinations around the country. After getting to explore some of NV in a Jeep, I think I'll try to plan my future business trips to locations that I'd be hard pressed to drive my Jeep to short of taking a couple weeks off.

-twylie

erickpl

have clauses though about using Jeeps for offroad purposes. That was specifically stated in my contract and to me personally when I rented a Jeep in Hawaii last year. So if you DO plan to rent and offroad, then be sure to stick to the stuff that won't cause damage (and you may want to wash it off before returning it!).

-Paul

tsjay

if not to go offroad?

mac24

Beats me. Why, I've even heard of people carrying a roll of paper towels to wipe bugs off the grille every time they stopped. It's hard to imagine someone like that taking their Wrangler off road!

;--)

stever

Now that's funny :-)

Steve, Host

erickpl

Glad I was out of the way for that one!

-Paul

mtngal

ROTFL! Isn't it funny how every time you have someone figured out, they do a 180 and change everything on you?!

tsjay

mac24

:--)

twylie

There was a clause in my agreement about off-road use, but since all the trails we took were actual NV routes that showed up on small scale maps, I felt pretty safe in keeping to the spirit of the agreement. Of course, having a buddy with a tow strap made me relatively confident I could at least get it back to pavement if something happened :-).

Note to self: try not to give Mac any material for jabs :-0

-twylie

redrocker15

If someone can point me to a previous link, or provide a good answer, I'd certainly appreciate it. My '98 TJ-SE won't give me any heat to speak of. I just replaced a leaky radiator and the thermostat at the same time. For the record, the heater was cold before this repair. I've been told by other friends that it's probably a heater control valve, but don't know where to find it or how to fix it.
Thanks in advance for any help! Still lovin' my Jeep!

mac24

There is no heater control valve as such. Coolant should circulate through the heater core all the time. The temperature of the air issuing from the HVAC system is controlled by a motorized flap in the ductwork called a blend door

Check for coolant flow through the heater core by holding the feed and return hoses, which should both be hot. If they're not, you could either have a blocked core or an airlock.

If they're both hot then the blend door is either stuck, broken, or you have a problem with the switch, motor, or the associated wiring.

redrocker15

Thanks for the input. I'll check the heater hoses tomorrow after driving to work. If it's blockage/airlock in the heater core, will flushing that out fix either problem? I assume I can disconnect both hoses and force water through the core? This is a great site, and I've been away too long! Thanks again for the help!

tsjay

Geez, Redrocker, save a little server space for someone else! You just posted a little less than four years ago, and here you go again already! Jabber, jabber, jabber!

Seriously, hope you do as you say you will, and become active in the group. It's good to hear from you.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

P.S. Let us know what the problem turns out to be with your heater. What would we do without the Old Macster around here???

tsjay

Mac, or anyone, can you tell me if the bad manifold design that caused them to crack was limited to one engine or the other, or if the manifolds are problems in both the 2.5 and the 4.0. Also, which model years for each engine have the bad manifolds, if it did effect both of them?

I just want to be able to give people the right info when I am trying to help someone buy a used Jeep.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

erickpl

I believe it is both the 2.5 and the 4.0, but more prevalent on the 2.5. I believe anything prior to 2001? should be at least checked. A routine vehicle inspection at a dealer pinpointed mine before I bought it.

I really love my Kermit, but sometimes I just wish I had that 4.0 and D44. The 4.0 inline 6 is almost as smooth as my car's. At least I can't speed on the highways like I can in my sedan and GC!

-Paul

mac24

It's mainly, but not limited to, '97-'00 4.0s. After that the manifold changed to a cast design with twin 'coffee can' pre-cats.

The problem appeared to be one of thermal stress. The fix is a new 'header' style manifold, similar to the original, but with bellows on the #1 and #6 tubes to allow for expansion, which seems to have been generally successful.

The 2.5 rarely had problems with the manifold itself, but early ones suffered a lot with broken studs, which would shear off in the head. This was generally covered under warranty.

mac24

Yes, you can flush out the core that way. You should probably also check for a collapsed hose if you diagnose any flow restriction in the heater coolant circuit.

wheelsdown

My TJ is a 2000, 4.0. I have heard the manifold stories since I have been in this board. I thought the problem was limited to '97-'99. The only real problem I have had is with the brake rotors. After market ones took care of that. Anything else I need to worry about on a 2000?

Terry

mac24

'00 is the changeover from '99. You may, or may not, have the older style manifold. Likewise, if it's a manual, you may have an AX15 or an NV3500 transmission.

'00 models don't seem to have any particular problems you need to especially worry about. Just keep it properly maintained and serviced.

erickpl

is a different story! hehehe

Actually, the only real issues I've had since I took possession of it are:
1 - Manifold fix
2 - Catalytic converter became a maraca and rattled every time I drove it.
3 - Leaky radiator - another known issue
4 - Wacky fuel gauge - not enough to worry about

-Paul

guy21

Without a lift, how large a tire can I successfully put on a 2004 X with the standard 15 X 7 full face wheels? My thoughts are to go to a 235/75-15 but I am wondering about interference somewhere.

As measured by the roadside radars, my odometer reads about 6% slow (28 actual at 30 indicated) so that part is not a concern.

Thanks.

erickpl

you can put 31x10.5's on the Canyons without rubbing, and they are 15x8 I believe. So I would think on a 15x7, it would be that size or smaller without any problems. Do you know what the backspacing on the wheels is?

-Paul

desno

Does anyone know the dimensions of the roll bars on the jeep ('02 Wrangler X)? I bought some sport bar grab handles for my roll bars but they're the 3" ones and they're too big. DOH!!! Twylie, I thought I remembered seeing some on your jeep, but I can't remember. Quadratec sells them at 1"3/4, 2", and 3". For some reason they only show the 3" and 2". The 3" were definitely WAY too big. But I'm not sure if I should just go with the 2" or the 1"3/4. Anyone know?

des'

twylie

I have some 2" Raingler grips that work well on my '01 with the bar padding in place. They could be 1/4" smaller and fit a little better; they show a bit of the velcro when fully closed. I think the change to larger diameter bars was in '03, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I didn't measure mine, but to get the bar diameter, you could always do Circumfrence/3.14 = d for a close approximation.

These are the grips I have and they work very well: http://www.raingler.com/shop/productDetails.asp?productID=5

HTH

-twylie

erickpl

I got some handles for my Jeep, but they are a slightly different style. I think I got them from JCWhitney, Quadratec, or Edgeauto.com. They have a velcro latch that holds them on. I'll try to get some pics of my handles if you are interested (Jeep should be here on Saturday).

-Paul

erickpl

Gman, did you ever get that CB mount from www.arizonarockyroad.com? I'm curious as to how it mounted, especially in regards to antenna height. I'm thinking, that with a 4' Firestik antenna, and the mounting location/height, that if the antenna got hooked up on a low-hanging obstacle, you might bend some stuff.

If you installed it, did it mount outside of the tire carrier so that you have the sheet metal, then the carrier, then the mount?

Since I'll be wheeling at TB, I have to worry about that. Not so much of a problem in the deserts of soCal eh?

-Paul

jeff62301

Nicole seems to do great on the snow, but its only a couple inches so far and the streets are mostly slop, nothing packed hard or icy to give her a real test.

jeff

not looking forward to the 2 1/2 hour drive to my parents today. not that i worry about my vehicle or driving, its those other nuts on the road during the first snow,, and everyone in a hurry to get to their grandmothers' houses.

keats

The Raingler's are definitely the best grips you can get. I love them. It was in '03 that they went to the thicker padding, changed the seat design, lowered the seats and changed the center console.

mtngal

I thought that business about the nuts out on the road only happened after the first rainfall in SoCal! We haven't seen enough snow yet for the flatlanders who have never driven in snow to come up to our area.

The heater in the Unlimited does quite well when the temps are in the 20's. Yes, Paul, that's what it's been the last couple of mornings. And even in the mountains the overhead clearance isn't as important as the side-to-side brush clearance, even in the mountains.

desno

Thanks everyone for the responses. Those rainglers look pretty good and they seem smaller in terms of not hanging down very far. Not to mention, they look a lot sturdier. So what I think I'll do is put the ones I have now in the back since they won't be used as much. And then put the rainglers up front. Thanks again!

des'

erickpl

I don't doubt those lower temps - it's been that way in Tehachapi too.

I have no doubts about the width for Jeeps. That desert brush will tear up a side and go through tires - it happened on our GC during a Boy Scout campout. But with the antenna sticking up so far, I'm worried about it getting hung up on a branch, getting bent back far as I go forward, and bending the sheet metal on the tailgat (not to mention the whip effect when it comes forward)!

In other words, I'm worried about the antenna/mount being so stiff that the sheet metal is the easiest part to flex/bend.

With the rain we've had here, I'm really wishing I had the Jeep today, instead of our sedan. Some of these puddles are getting really deep and the Jeep would be more fun to drive through them with! hehe

-Paul

tsjay

Guy21:

TJ's with no lift can handle 31 x 10.50 tires on the factory wheels. Your backspacing should be five to five and a half inches on those factory wheels.

If you are unfamiliar with the term "backspacing," just type that word into the search window. You should find one of my posts with a diagram that explains backspacing.

Some folks find it necessary to install a washer or two on their steering stops with the 31 x 10.50 tires to keep the tires from rubbing on the control arms, but most people don't. It's no big deal, if you do have to install the washers.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

wheelsdown

Many times, I like to take my soft top off in the summer. The OEM hardware is getting a little beat up. Has anyone had experience with the ones from Quadratech (PN 11033.02)? Do you know of others which may be better?

Terry

erickpl

I made my own by simply drilling out the core of the attachment point and getting a bolt/cotter ping setup from the local hardware store. I think it cost all of about 3.00 and 10 minutes time to do it.

My end pieces are still the plastic, so if they do go, I'd end up getting the endpieces from Quadratec. Those pieces are pretty much the same from any online vendor (JCW, 4wd.com, etc).

-Paul

jeff62301

pulled into the mall parking lot tonight, i had a friend with me, the piles left by the plows were just so inviting I just had to jump over one of them. he thought it was funny,, he doesn't get a chance to do anything like that in his hondas. it was so much fun we had to do it on the way out too...

jeff

tsjay

Now bring that puppy down here and wheel with me Friday and Saturday at Turkey Bay! You can meet Gill. He's coming all the way up from souther AL to wheel.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay

div2

And let's be especially thankful to/for all those brave men and women who are defending our country all over the world!

tsjay

Thanks to all of you service men and women. We appreciate all that you do for our country, and we are very proud of you.

Get the job done, and then come home safe and sound!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

div2

As you may recall, the manifold on my 1999 Sahara cracked last week. The initial plan to weld up the crack was aborted when we discovered that we would still have to pull the manifold to get at the crack. Soooo... I called Quadratec and bought a Banks Torque Tube for $399.95 delivered(they gladly price-matched another web store that was offering free shipping). I decided to have my local shop install the header since I still have to replace the timing chain tensioner in my track rat-and one auto repair on Thanksgiving is enough, thank you. Anyway, the shop only charged me $246 to install it(they gave me a good price because I'm a good customer AND I also let them use my BMW code grabber/reset tool). Once the old header was removed we discovered that the header was not only cracked at the collector but also at the union of the #$ and #5 pipes. The shop remarked about how well the Banks header was constructed and how well it fit. And boy, is it quiet! Now I can't wait until spring; I'm going to fit the Banks Stinger exhaust.

mtngal

Have a safe and filling holiday weekend! For everyone hitting the trails today or tomorrow - take care and have a great time.

tsjay

Well, Jeep Buds, I am set up to go wheelin' tomorrow and again on Saturday. Now, that's what I call a NICE weekend!

I'll be staying in a motel about 20 miles from Turkey Bay with some of my Jeep Buds from Alabama. I have folks driving over 8 hours to wheel with me!

Now, does that make a certain individual who could be here in about five hours feel bad because he has not made it down here yet? Said person could be wheelin' this weekend with me, if he would just hop in his new, red Unlimited and drive it down here. Who is this masked man that I am speaking of??? Why, it's the Loan Arranger!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal

Sure wish you were closer than 2,000 miles away, I'd love to bring GiGi down to play with you. Even though she's stock, she's quite capable. I'll be thinking of all of you having fun on the trails while I'm wandering around the casinos.