Jeep Wrangler

01r1 · December 2003

Stephen- Yes, the tree lighting ceremony sure is fun, really wish I could have made it this year. Too bad there wasn't more snow. But it's pretty easy to find snow, like you said, on the side roads or head up some of those forest roads.

Maybe this summer we can meet up in the central Cascades for some exploring, etc... I'd like to do it as an over-nighter since we both will have a couple hour drive each way. There's nothing like getting way out there away from those normal campgrounds and setting up camp where only a Jeep can take you.

It would be great if we could get a few more Washington/Northern Oregon Jeepers to join us. Maybe shoot for July or August? The snow should be gone by then in the upper elevations.

-Pete

01r1 · December 2003

Thanks for all the info. If you don't mind, how much did they charge you for that swap? I was quoted about $2600 for gear change to 4.56, axle upgrade to Super-35, and air lockers front and back.

And yes, 3.07's with 33" tires is so slow it's not even funny. But the worst part is 1st gear is so high that I feel like I have to drop into low range to start out on some steep city streets. I really have to slip the clutch a lot to get it moving. That never smells goods

-Pete

tsjay · December 2003

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin!!!!

Give up your Jeep for a woman???? You are a sick man! Get some help NOW!

Seriously, Kev, congratulations on your engagement! When's the big day gonna be?

Hope you figure out a way to have the new family AND keep the new Jeep. Get an older but safe and dependable vehicle for the family needs??? No one says the family car has to be new, right? As long as it is safe and dependable.

Too bad they don't still make the XJ! That would be the best of both worlds: a family wagon that would still wheel like a demon. Maybe you could get one of them with low miles?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay · December 2003

You guys talkin' about gearing vs. tire diameter haven't mentioned one important factor so far, or at least I don't remember any mention of it: crawl speed.

If you are geared too high with your gear and tire combination, your crawl speed will be too fast for going down steep trails, causing you to use your brakes too much. Man, I have been in spots where I wished I had even lower crawl speed, and I have 3.73 gearing with 31" tires. In those situations, 3.07 gearing and 33" tires would have been AWFUL!

You can always go with a Tera Low conversion for the T-case to get a higer ratio low range, but that's fairly expensive, I guess. That would allow you to select a street-friendly gearing for your highway driving and still have good 4WD low range gearing.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

bamatazz · December 2003

Hope i can do this link..

http://www.itsajeep.org/PhotoPost/showphoto.php?photo=806&pas- sword=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1

Gotta do a dad proud

congrats KEVIN!

Keep Jeepin
Happy New Year
BAma

embeeduece · December 2003

For my 30" GSAs, the label inside the driver door suggests 29 psi for both front and back tires. 29 seems a little low. Should I abide by this recommendation, or do you guys have other ideas?

-Mike

mullins87 · December 2003

Yep, you gotta love that little girl and her Barbie Jeep. When I got home from work today, Barrett was so upset that the battery had run down in his Jeep. When I finally got him settled down, I explained to him that he could drive it again tomorrow after the battery charges.

tsjay · December 2003

That 29 lbs is probably fine. I run my BFG 31 x 10.50's at 28 psi.

There is a huge difference in the ride when I go over 30 lbs in those BFG's: it gets MUCH rougher.

You want the pressure that gives you the best "footprint." This means getting ALL of the tread down on the road across the width of the tire. Over inflation wears out the center tread, and under inflation wears out the edges. You have the factory tires on your Jeep right? If so, I would go with the recommended pressure.

For a given tire, a LOT depends on the weight that the tire will support on a particular vehicle. You divide the weight of the vehicle by four to get the weight each tire will see, and then ratio the pressure based on the percentage of the maxium load that the tire will actually see. For example, if the maximum load for a particular tire is 1500 lbs, and the maximum pressure is 50 psi, then you would use 25 psi if the tire sees only 750 lbs (half the maximum pressure for half the maximum load). It's not quite that simple, but that gets you in the ball park.

If you want to check your footprint, take some chalk and make a line across the width of the tread. Then drive the Jeep a little ways and see if the chalk wears off evenly across the tread. I've never gone to this much trouble, myself. I just go by the way the Jeep handles and rides. I pay attention to how the tread is wearing after some time has gone by.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mac24 · December 2003

Tom gave you an excellent reply (and saved me a lot of typing). The only exception to using the factory recommended pressures is when you go offroad under certain conditions, such as sand or rockcrawling, when you need to reduce pressures to gain traction.

mac24 · December 2003

Tom, if you do the chalk test you'll probably find 24/26 psi to be indicated. Try it and see.

div2 · December 2003

Been out for a while; congrats on the new Impala! Boy, there are a LOT of sweet deals to be had these days. I've been drooling over a new Mustang Mach 1. With X-Plan and rebates you can get a 2003 for nearly eight grand off MSRP. Then there's BMW Motorcycles which is offering low APR loans as well as paying the first three payments. And don't get me started on the Viper engined Dodge Ram. By golly, I'm going to have a second childhood come Hell or high water(though most of my friends would say I haven't grown up in the first place...). Don't worry, the Sahara ain't going ANYWHERE!

tsjay · December 2003

Really? That low, huh? Might just give it a try sometime.

I was really amazed at the difference in the ride and handling when I was over 30 psi. It was AWFUL! I kind of arrived at my 28 psi by trial and error. I like the feel at 28 psi, but I have never tried lower, as you suggest. Might just have to give it a try.

There's not a heat build-up issue at highway speeds with that lower psi range?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

willie22 · December 2003

I purchased a totaled 2000 Jeep with no owners manual, its also the first jeep I have owned. How do I get the interior lights to work now that I have put the doors on for the winter.

Thanks
James

tsjay · December 2003

Thanks!

I don't know what it's gonna take to get people to start buying new vehicles again.

I was back at the dealer yesterday, and it was deader than four o'clock the whole time I was there. They let me use their clean up shop to wax the Impala, after they did the clean-up they owed me. I was there from about 10:15 AM til 3:00 PM, and I don't think they had more than one or two customers that whole time.

When people can get up to $8K or even more off sticker price and have the advantage of today's low interest rates, why in the world wouldn't they go ahead and buy?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay · December 2003

Check to be sure that fuse #4 is in the slot where it goes. Most people pull this fuse to keep the dome light from staying on when they have the doors off. It's the bottom fuse in the right hand column.

Also, you can get a factory original service manual at http://techauthority.daimlerchrysler.com

They are only $6.00.

Welcome, James. Guess this was your first post, right? Glad ya joined us!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mac24 · December 2003

That's either an expensive fuse, or a cheap manual!

:--)

wildbl1500 · December 2003

Hi Everybody.

I hope that everyone's holiday went well.

Tom, congrats on your super deal!

I have successfully installed my full-size CB into my center console, with only a small modification (or removal) of the white plastic liner. It is lockable, out of sight, and I can still easily hear the truckers telling me where the smokeys are sitting.

Question:

My '01 Wrangler Sport has a tag on the coolant bottle that says it takes a special coolant. Before I ask the parts guys downstairs and I get a wrong answer, does anyone know why it takes a special pink coolant and is there a non-mopar brand available?

-Bill

PS pray for snow in New England and for the Patriots to stomp the Buffalo Bills today.

tsjay · December 2003

The Old Tomster is gonna try to quit smoking. I'm looking at midnight, Jan 1, 2004, as my target time and date.

I got some of those Commit lozenges, and I hope the work! I got the high-powered ones, the 4 mg size. I told some of my buds in Gill's that I wish they had an IV version of them, and I would have one in each arm, plus the lozenge in my mouth. And, if they had a suppository version, I would have one of them too!

One of my buds in Gill's is going to quit at the same time, so we will have each other for moral support.

Wish me luck!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay · December 2003

Hey, good to hear from ya!

Glad ya got that CB mounted.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal · December 2003

All sorts of good luck wishes. It is the hardest thing to do (spoken from experience). The hardest time (after about a week) was around 3 months. Watch out for that, and good luck! P.S. my other half said to tell you 2 things: zyban and avoid casinos...

Bill - did you mount the CB under the radio in the dash? Do you have a 5 speed or an auto - wondered about interference with a 5 speed.

willie22 · December 2003

Fuse number four didn't seem to do the trick, any other ideas on how to get the dome light on when you open the doors?

James

mac24 · December 2003

"I purchased a totaled 2000 Jeep......

I'd think the the dome light fuse would be the least of your worries. How bad is this totalled Jeep of yours?

tsjay · December 2003

Have you checked the bulb in the dome light? Have you tried turning it on manually with the light switch on the dashboard? If it works that way, obviously, the bulb is not the problem, but if it doesn't even work that way, it could be as simple as a bad bulb.

Also, someone could have disabled the contact switches in the doors to keep the light from being on while the doors were off. That would be silly, since pulling number 4 fuse would have accomplished the same thing, but some people do things the hard way.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

willie22 · December 2003

Well it was totaled and has been rebuilt. So everything seems to work accordingly. The dome lights in the interior and in the hard top both work if you turn them on manually. But dont work when you open the doors. So I believe the bulbs are ok, but then again you never can tell maybe the bulbs are only out when the doors are open.

James

wildbl1500 · December 2003

I tried to mount a small (turned out to be broken) cobra CB under the dash, but the tip 'n' slide passenger's seat would hit it.

I don't have the subwoofer in the center console, so there is lots of space in there once the white plastic liner was removed for my big (know it works) CB. The liner not only holds your small items, but protects the e-brake mechanicals. I riveted the CB's mount to the inside of the plastic console and ran the mic wire through the e-brake's brush covered access slot. I do have to make a box of some kind to regain some storage next to the CB inside the console.

I plan to borrow a co-worker's digital camera next week so I may have some pics of my Wrangler (& CB install) shortly.

-Bill

PS The Patriots won! 31-0 over the Buffalo Bills!!!

tsjay · December 2003

Forgot to answer your coolant question.

According to the factory service manual, any ethylene glycol based antifreze that has organic rust inhibitors is OK.

The factory stuff is supposedly good for five years or 100,000 miles. NO WAY! At least I ain't gonna leave any coolant in any of my vechicles that long!

I'll just use good old regular antifreeze that meets the requirements above and change it every couple years. I have already changed Thelma Jane's coolant once. Just went with Prestone.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay · December 2003

If you are only getting one top, not the dual tops, then you are doing the right thing by getting the hard top.

Heck, you might even decide that you can live without the soft top, once you have owned the Jeep a while.

It has worked out well for me having just the hard top, but Thelma Jane is not my daily driver. I can leave her top and doors off for long periods and drive my S-10 when it is raining. I have a garage that I park Thelma in, so no problem leaving the top and doors off just about all summer.

Let us know how all this turns out! Sounds like you are close to a deal!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

div2 · December 2003

Good luck on getting the TJ. If you really want to save a few dollars, install the speakers yourself. It's REALLY easy; I bought mine from a local shop. The price was under $150, including wiring harness and speaker adapters. Installation took about 90 minutes. As for a sub, I'd stick a powered Kenwood WOOX under the back seat. If you can't find a local shop then Crutchfield usually has some decent speakers on sale-and they throw in all the adapters for free. I'm probably too picky, but I would never let Best Buy, Circuit City, or the like do an install on one of my vehicles, especially since the work involved is so simple.

div2 · December 2003

HOW ABOUT THEM CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tsjay · December 2003

I just have to say this ^$&*(&*%WQ=%8W$#$!!!

mullins87 · December 2003

I'd check the door switches. I bought a very used Jeep. I didn't even realize that mine had lights under the dash until one day when I rolled the instrument panel light control knob all the way up. I then discovered that the door switches have been completely removed and the wiring tied up out of the way.

mullins87 · December 2003

Good luck and best wishes with your new years resolution to quit smoking. I consider myself lucky to say that smoking is not one of my habits. You can bet that Saturday I'll be checking up on your progress.

mtngal · December 2003

gman - I can certainly relate to your experience on the 91 freeway. I haven't been on it for quite a few years, but I remember it as always being horrible! Good luck tomorrow - you shouldn't have any problems. The last locking gas cap I bought was at an auto parts store in Texas. Either I or my other half kept leaving the pickup's gas cap at the gas station, so I bought something like 4 of them in one year. As I remember, they aren't very expensive (at least they weren't for a full sized pickup - this was pre-Wrangler days).

You could easily be happy with just a hard top and a bikini or safari top - I know others who go that route. That's what I would probably do if I had a garage. Since I don't, the hard top has never been off mine.

Bill - thanks for the details on how you mounted the CB. I just mis-read your original post, and was thinking you put it in the dash, not the center console. Guess it's another "senior moment." I would like to see the pictures when you post them.

tsjay · December 2003

I guess all the activity we have in this message board must be a testimony to the enthusiasm we Jeep owners have for our Jeeps.

I have posted a few times over in Impala, and although people have responded, they have been very slow about it. When I go back just a page or two to read old posts, I find that the posts are dated in November or even back as far as October.

Now that Impala is a real nice car, but it certainly is not as much fun as a Jeep! I guess that's why there is so little posting going on over there.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal · December 2003

I also read a couple of other boards. I think you are right, those fun vehicles that have fanatic fans are active boards, while the run-of-the-mill cars don't. The Tacoma boards probably average of a couple of posts a month, while the Subarus are at least as, if not more than, friendly as this one.

Gotta love those FUN cars!

mac24 · December 2003

The Impala is a 'nice' car, probably well made and efficient at its job. Hard to get excited about it though.

To describe a Wrangler as merely 'nice' would be an insult.

tsjay · December 2003

And, furthermore, the excitement of any other new vehicle doesn't even last as long as the "new car smell."

Wranglers are exciting the whole time you own them! Believe me, I have owned virtually every other type of vehicle, and their excitement factors were very short-lived. Thelma Jane, however, continues to be a source of joy and excitement to me after three years.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

geepers · December 2003

Yesterday as I was bumping along a muddy, potholed, washboard forest road in the old Jeep I was thinking how great it was I had a vechicle that was, in fact, meant to do just that kind of thing. My old hiking buddy, Smokey the dog, was looking over my shoulder to make sure I stayed on the road. We made it up to snow level and messed around for a couple hours. He did the nose snowplow thing and rolled around a bunch. He's no youngster but a ride in the Jeep and a walk in the woods makes him a pup again.

Jeeps. . .they go where Impalas fear to tread.

geepers · December 2003

I think someone asked not too long ago about caring for the soft top. The top always puzzled me until I read a 303 FAQ that explained the top is vinyl and is embossed to look like canvas. So I'd recommend the 303 aerospace protectant for keeping the top in good shape. They even recommend it for the vinyl windows also.

You can do a search for 303.

oceantoad · December 2003

Wish you the best on giving up the smokes. I was one of those that had a pretty easy time quitting. I just had to finally be ready to do it and it was a piece of cake.

That was in 1985 and about 100 pounds ago. At least I blame giving up cigarettes on the weight gain and I am sticking to that story.

Could not afford to smoke at the prices they get today. Was a really heavy smoker in my time, always 2-3 packs a day and while in Spain was up to 5 packs a day. I was a chain smoker to say the least.

Who is the other person that is kicking the habit? Best of luck to both of you.

Don't hang out in the bars like you normally do and it will be a whole lot easier:)

I still consider smoking a good cigar every now and then.

Still a happy camper,

kelleyo · December 2003

Thanks for the welcome back. I really have not gone anywhere, just been lurking. You do such a good job I don't have to post!

)
I also go to the LS board and it is kinda slow there like your Impala board.

Pepe' has the split radiator problem (dang plastic radiators). Out of warranty and dealer wants about $500 for a factory (plastic) replacement. My local jeep specialist is going to do an aluminum radiator replacement for about $350 so I think that is the way to go. Pepe' has been drivable as it is only a slow leak but I am getting fluid all over the underside (and it smells).

Have a great new years everybody.

tsjay · December 2003

The other guy is Forist (Just Jeepin) from Gill's chat room. I think you know him. He's from Massachusetts.

How come we never see you in Gill's any more and hardly ever hear from you here either? Still workin' crazy long hours? Tell Jean hi from me and Ross Allen.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mullins87 · December 2003

'cause I still get all warm and fuzzy everytime I hear my truck fire up. There's nothing sweeter than the smell of diesel exhaust on a cold morning!

My wife once asked me if she should dab a little diesel fuel behind her ears.

Well, I got my mirrors mounted today. Man, what a job! I didn't realize that the windshield would have to be lowered and the dash unbolted. But now that they're on, they look great.

bamatazz · December 2003

Glad to hear that your going to quit smoking.
I wish ya luck man. We all can be your moral support. I need to loose 15 pounds, so i guess we can help each other.
  I know what you mean by slow boards, ive posted on the Nissan board a few time. WOW they must be asleep over there.
  Well, some of you know that I work for my in-laws in thier BBQ restaurant. Well, they are retiring, my wife & I are taking over. So, I will be self-employed.
  Hope everyone has a safe & happy new year.

Keep Jeepin
  Bama

tsjay · December 2003

Man, that's great! CONGRATS!

Hope you will be posting some pics of that baby?

You are gonna LOVE that Jeep! You probably ain't gonna be able to sleep tonight, huh?

Be sure and post tomorrow night and tell us all of your first impressions.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal · December 2003

gman - way to go! Bet you will be on pins and needles until you finally get her (him?). While I'm not crazy about alarms in general, you really need something around your neck of the woods, and I'd probably go with lojack along with a club. I was going to say that we don't worry so much because we live in such an out-of-the-way spot, but I won't. There were a ton of people up here this afternoon, trying to slide down a hill that had a tiny bit of snow patches still on it. I hate to think what it will be like up here when we finally get a big snowfall!

bama - Should I say congrats or condolences? Sounds like a great opportunity, but now it is all yours, sink or swim. I think I prefer being a small cog in a huge organization. Of course, I could easily find myself out of a job at any moment. But since it won't happen next week (we are shut down between Christmas and New Years for the first time ever) I'm heading for the Sierras and the Gold Country. Don't know if I'll have access to a computer, so everyone have a happy and safe Jeepin' New Year if I don't.

tsjay · December 2003

Thanks for the well wishes.

CONGRATS on being a restaurant owner! I'm gonna HAVE to get down there for a meal "on the house."

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

stever · December 2003

Lots of New Year's Resolutions around here.

I love BBQ; may have to resolve to hit your place Bama. I manage to drive through Birmingham every couple of years, so maybe you better put my name on some chopped shoulder meat :-)

Looks like Wrangler welding is going to be farmed out to suppliers:

Pact allows DCX to move work from Toledo plant (Detroit Free Press)

Maybe that'll Rescue some more sales that otherwise would have gone to the Hummer. (Get the joke, Embeeduece?)

Steve, Host

tsjay · December 2003

Good to hear from our illustrious host! How ya been?

Stop by here on your way to b'ham and get me. We'll BOTH hit Bama up for a free meal!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

stever · December 2003

Heh, we got snow in town for a change. Bet some of y'all wish you could come play. Plenty more on the local ski hill where we've been boarding and skiing a lot. If this keeps up, our drought conditions will be much eased.

Since I usually start from Chattanooga you'll have to meet me at the base of Lookout Mountain. I used to take my CJ-5 to an abandoned strip mine north of there - maybe we could still find it!

Steve, Host
(I'll buy the ice tea at Bama's)

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