Jeep Wrangler TJ Review and Test drive from a NON Jeep Person
Вставка
- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Here's a fun review and test drive of a Jeep Wrangler from someone who's never owned or driven a Wrangler.
Follow me on
/ malcolmv8builds
/ malcolmv8builds
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
uppbeat.io/t/m...
License code: KKESDXXOI2LPCH9J - Авто та транспорт
And that’s how the addiction begins
Very true!!
@@MalcolmV8 welcome to the group.
@@FOFBASS1 :)
Just got a 2024 4xe and can confirm, as someone who never had a particular interest in any specific company, fuckin love jeeps now. I've been binge watching jeep videos for the last 2 weeks straight
Giggled the entire time. They really are so much fun. I still get giddy when I see a mud puddle!
That was an awesome honest review..
My Jeep does 0 to 60 in 3 days I love my TJ it’s the only vehicle that makes me smile when I see it.
Lol 0-60 in 3 days is about right 😂but I've also found a different kind of enjoyment with it.
That's the reason of their existence; to make you smile: ZJ, XJ, TJ, WJ, JK, JL all make you smile... put some dogs on it and double smile!
0-60 a bit exaggerate my 4 banger tj does in 10-15 second from 50-60😂
My Tj with the 4.0 has crazy acceleration. You either have big tires or a 4 cylinder
I have the same thing, 33" tires with 3spd auto and 3.07 gears and it is a D O G dog! Finally had the cash for my axle swap with 4.56 gears and it will be the good life after that!
Mine has all worn out bushings as well and it drives SO much better now with new bushings and quality control arms (Johnny joints on both ends).
So cool seeing this video from a non-jeep person perspective! Thanks for the good content. One of my favorite features with the TJ is that you don't even necessarily need the hood prop rod, the whole hood can hinge back and rest on the roof. EASY to work on!
You're welcome and thanks for the kind words. I only discovered how the hood goes all the way back to the windshield later so it didn't make the video. Too bad it would have been a great addition. You'll see in follow up videos where I fixed the blown head gasket I made great use of the hood against the windshield :)
Makes me happy to see someone smiling and having fun with a tj, this was my first car and I still have it
What an awesome first vehicle. Too much fun.
Tjs are the best. Pro tip, just leave the back window in, roll it up, then put the top down. Don't have to zip it in every time
That sounds like a great idea. I'll have to give that a shot.
Looks just like my yellow 2004. Have had it for 10 years. Old jeeps with no monthly payment are the BEST Jeeps!
TJ’s are the best!
Jeep tj 4 cylinder is good, where can buy one.
Get the 6 cylinder better for hills and highway the 2.5 is okay for bone stock it's kinda of weak for a engine
The 4.0 with a six speed manual and low 4.11 gearing is much more fun to drive. Still slow compared to most cars, but super fun!
I wish this was a manual but the intent was for my wife to drive it too and she can only drive automatics. However she got her own Jeep now so I may switch things around on this one.
I love how this guy is driving a Jeep in his back yard like it’s a go kart lmao
Living the dream 😂
For a non jeep person he “figured” out everything immediately.
Thanks, I got most of it I think. Didn't realize I could open the hood all the way till it leans on the windshield till a few days later :) lol
One of the best simple and honest reviews on the net. 🇬🇧🇺🇸👍
Much appreciated :)
It's funny how I had the same reaction with mine. I felt like a lil girl with her toys. I am obsessed with old jeeps. 💛🥰 Mine is also a 2000 wrangler. 🤘
They are a ton of fun, basically like a toy to play with :)
The smile when you were riding in the backyard. This is what Jeeping is about
They are definitely fun to play around in :)
I have a 2000 TJ its the 5-speed manual version (NV3550). I regeared it to 4.56. Quick and Spunky with 33"' tires. The gearing makes a big difference with the power. I lifted it to 3.5". Might go up to 35" tires when its time to get new tires. They are definitely a fun project to own and pretty easy to work on. Always something to upgrade and they can take you anywhere. The 4.0L Engine is iconic and will last a long time if you take care of it. Great video man. Hope to see you make more videos.
Thanks for the feedback and kind words. It sounds like you've got it running pretty good. I'm planning on re-gearing this one to make it a little more spunky and fun. The suspension in general could use some TLC too but once that's done it should be a lot of fun to drive.
@@MalcolmV8it's a fuse for the interior lights that you pull
@@mark5251993 that should help :)
The floorboards are also really deep to keep water out !! I have a
2002 red Jeep Tj.
LOVE IT TO DEATH !!!
Interesting point, hadn't thought of that. It does buy you a couple inches or so extra.
The child like excitement around how simple and amazing Jeep’s are is why I want one 😂
Agreed that simplistic nature is the charm. Almost like a toy than a real vehicle.
Yeah, these aren't made to go fast to begin with. Add 33" tires to the 3.07 gearing that was standard on the TJ Sport, and you've really changed the dynamics a lot! I have not changed the gearing on mine, and run 31" tires which I would say are a good compromise if you off-road on stock gears and axles. I recently swapped back to my original tires and wheels (28" tires?) just to compare fuel mileage and power. I noticed with the first clutch release that the factory engineering is optimal for around town drivability, and gas mileage went from a consistent 14.5 to nearly 18mpg!. Unfortunately my little tires are so dry rotted I'm surprised they held air, so I stuck the 31s back on. Re-axle and re-gear in the future? Maybe, but resources are scarce. In the meanwhile the Jeep does okay like it is. I throw a winch on the front bumper whenever I make a weekend of off-roading, and it gets used.
Your gear ratios are also more optimal with a manual. I have the 3 speed auto which has really tall gears. With these 33s I'm seeing around 10 mpg on the stock 3.07 gearing. Swapping those gears is on my to do list to make this thing more drivable and fun.
I have a 99 TJ Sport, 4.0L and 5 speed manual. What is my gearing? I am on 33 and yeah its not quite as peppy as it was before, its ok for towns I guess.
Sometimes you can find a metal tag attached at the factory to a differential cover with the gear ratio stamped on it. These tags break off or get discarded over the years, so an alternate way is to remove your differential cover, turn your wheels slowly until the stamping on the ring gear comes into view. Some TJs could be ordered with a 30 inch tire and wheel package. I think all of these packages included alloy wheels and a 3.73 gear ratio. In my previous comment I didn't intend to sound critical of running 33s on 3.07 gears. One of the great things about living in America is that you still can own a TJ and run it pretty much however you enjoy it most. @@rmat9023
My yj has 360000 on the original 2.5 4 cylinder. Iron duke
This review is awesome and tells the truth! I have a '97 with 2.5L on 31" and standard gear ratio - I call it "thirsty sloth", guess why... - But I still love this vehicle, dreaming of a 4.0L or even a Rubicon though ;-)
haha thirsty sloth. They are slow and clunky but super fun in their own way. I still enjoy tinkering with it.
Cool video! 😎 Most non Jeepers will see 100+k miles and think, that thing is well past its prime. But Jeepers know the 4.0 I6 is the greatest engine ever put in any Jeep and in my humble opinion, the TJ is the greatest generation of Jeep, with apologies to the Willys MB, CJ-7 and CJ-8 Scrambler. My TJ has just over 155k miles and runs like new!
The '05 4.0 I6 TJ Rocky Mtn drives and handles absolutely amazing on and off road. As long as you have good off road instincts and common sense, a modest, high quality build will allow you and your family to have a lot of fun!
I wanted to share my build for anyone considering buying a newer '07 - present heep, and especially to those who already have a TJ. All in, I'm at $25k with my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn. And I can honestly say I'm done, build wise. I might Raptor line it since the TJ has a few rough paint spots and won't ever have to worry about off road pinstriping again. The best part is, this TJ not only keeps up, but outperforms a lot of these $40k - $75k JK's & JL' s. Due in part to people's inexperience and just "over building". The '05 TJ has a modest build, yet is extremely capable, durable and affordable.
I am not a rock crawler, I'm an adventurer who takes the family beach wheelin, beach camping and surf fishing in the Outer Banks with my wife and sons. And hit moderate trails getting to our favorite fishing holes and camp sites in the fall.
I encourage any Jeeper to search for what I have with my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn, a rust free TJ, 4.0 I6, preferably stock, not ragged out, 3.73 gears w/ lsd and a Dana 44. And to use my build as a "guide". It was a lot of trial and error but it has been worth it.
2" Old Man Emu coils
32" KO2's or 32" BFG MT's
Quadratec Baja alloy rims - perfect backspacing - no rub!
Currectlync steering
Freedom Off Road front adj track bar
M.O.R.E steering box brace
JKS quick disconnects
Freedom Off Road front lower Adjustable control arms
The rest are fixed Detroit Axles
Transfer case drop kit
Fox 2.0 Shox
Fox steering stabilizer
Professional 4x4 shop to do the alignment
And Misch big boy seat brackets for us tall people.
Also greatly improved the TJ's interior with Bartact seat covers, a Bedrug and a front set of WeatherTech floor mats. These make any TJ look top notch!
Since doing this, I have had the best experience with any vehicle I've ever had.
Staying with 32's allows us Jeepers to maintain that great 4.0 low end torque, saves us a lot of money on unnecessary aftermarket parts and still be able to wheel most anywhere. It's the best of all worlds!
One of my favorite mods was added a Banks cat back exhaust giving it a throaty growl, but not obnoxiously loud. Absolutely perfect for the 4.0 I6.
Most importantly, be honest with yourself, build your TJ for what you will be using it for. And know YOU CAN do most trails and so much more with a 2" lift and 32" KO2's or MT's!
DO NOT let the aftermarket pushers fool or shame you into thinking you "need" 33" - 40" tires and a 5" lift to wheel. That's 🦬💩! They know full well, once they get you at 33's, it's a freaking cash cow for them! Because you just embarked on their multi thousand dollar build conveyor belt. And it's 100% unnecessary for moderate wheelin'! Your axles, drive train, drive shafts, engine, gearing and a host of a lot of other stuff now "needs" to be upgraded. The aftermarket pushers feast on ignorant people. Don't be that guy! Like cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the misinformed.
O|||||||O
🇺🇲 Only in a 2 Dr 🇺🇲
'41- '06
I've had "Jeepers" as you put it tell me how long those 4.0 I6 motors last. I've read about them a lot too and heard. This one only had 100k miles so it'll likely go for a while longer. As for my suspension it appears to be a spring only lift which I'm sure put other things out of geometry. I'd like to research that a little and see if I can get that sorted out. Thanks for sharing your build and info :)
Facts
432,000 miles and counting. Every mile has been an adventure. Every mile has been a privilege. Our life together has been amazing! We have had amazingly great times together. We have had painfully bad times together as well. But through it all, we have always stayed together. At a devastating off road catastrophe, my dear Stargazer was dragged out of the swamp on by, of all things, a Chevrolet pickup truck. The flatbed pickup truck came and I stayed with my dear Stargazer. She was taken to my home. There, she sat dormant for just over a year as I slowly found parts, installed them, and tested them. But having a Jeep TJ is not all about the good times. It is about being together through the good and tough times. I never left her side, never. I considered retiring her to lawn art, for a moment. But my dear Stargazer is so much more than just a vehicle. She is my freedom of adventure, my freedom of spirit, and, most of all, she is my best friend. I will never leave my beautiful friend. She is my love, my life, my dream come true. This is what all Jeep Wrangler TJs should be to their partners through life. Only death can part me from my Stargazer. I will sooner part with a human than with my Stargazer.
I am sorry for the demonstration of emotion.
"the TJ is the greatest generation of Jeep" Exactly! That's why they named TJ generation that way......the TJ stands for "True Jeep" lol (I just know someone is going to come at me in the comments for that one 🙂lol)
1 year in on a bone stock 2003 TJ X. Got about 15k invested including the 7k purchase. This includes the comple replacement of the bouncy and steering things along with half doors and a new Master Top.
It ain't an off roader, but it's cool as hell to drive, in the city or out in the country.
Clean and grease the windshield gasket my frame is in bad shape due to thay fact owner before me never dropped windshield and cleaned and greased the seal water and salt penitration and it chewed the frame now frame is bowed and windshield is cracked . Need new frame and glass now . Keep that gasket clean and plush and the windshield frame will last alot longer ❤️
Good to know. I’d never heard of that before.
I love your jeep
haha thanks, it is pretty fun :)
The Rubi's come with 4.10 gears. With 33"s, it's perfect. With the five speed, mine has great power pickup at all speeds. 90 plus on freeway. The 4.0 only has 195 HP, but these jeeps are small and light. Unless you wear them down with a ton of heavy armor and huge tires, they can be quite peppy.
yeah I imagine with the right gear ratio for the tire size it would make a huge difference.
It's really beautiful jeep,,feel just like Tiger 🐅 of Road 👊👍👌👌👌🚘
nice jeep, but i deff recommend getting a manual jeep tj if you were to want more control over the gears.
100% agree. I’m a huge manual fan. However my wife bought this one primarily for herself and she can’t drive a manual. So auto it is lol
We had two jeeps parked in our driveway, both open with doors off and/ or tops off. The stick shift had the key in the ignition and the second key on that key ring would have started the next jeep, a right-hand drive postal model.
They used tech "hub key" tricks and stole my neighbor's Subaru wagon for a "Joy Ride."
That night/day analog won.
My wife don’t drive manual but taught my daughter manual first when she learn to drive and now she drives the little tj and my 95 Supra 6speed twin turbo.
There’s something you miss😊 you don’t really need a hood latch
I discovered later you can push the hood all the way to the windshield :) I posted it on my social media lol. Has worked out great for working on it.
Love that solid y2k design of the TJ! That beefy looking grille is such a beauty to look at. Absolute stunning. That dashboard also gives me hard nostalgia vibes. And I never even drove one back then or ever. Saving for a LJ in Light Khaki Metallic or Patriot Blue Pearl.
My wife and I have a 2004 with 94,000 miles on it. Great vehicle. Holds its value. And easy to work on.
Also, check out KyleSVT. He’s a big cobra and wrangler guy!
Thanks.
Awws big sad you got the automatic model
lol if it was exclusively for me I would have got a stick shift but this was for my wife to drive too and she can only drive automatics.
You got a great Jeep!! Welcome to the family!! I have a 2003 TJ 4.0 IL6 with D44 in the rear and D30 up front. 488 gears with a 42RLE automatic and 33 inch tires and a 4 inch lift. 74k miles. I also threw a Tru-trac in both axles. Bilstein shocks all around. Love it. Goes anywhere I'm interested in going with no problems at all.
That's great and your gear ratios sound much better than my 3.07 with 31" tires. I've calculated 4.10s to go with the 31s and my 3 speed auto.
@@MalcolmV8 That sounds excellent for 31s! That will really change the power and feel.
@@loupatch4896 yeah it's high on the priority list as it's painful right now. It feels like you're stuck in 6th gear constantly lol
@@MalcolmV8 lol right!
Most likely a Dana 30 front axle with that Dana 35 rear. Definitely need a regear, I'm running 4.88s with 37s in my Dana 44s plenty of pep, but top end suffers quite a bit (that doesn’t really matter much on the trails though).
Also running a light weight low center of gravity YJ build with a 4 banger. Would hate to drive it on road, but with 5.29 gears and a 4.3 :1 transfercase, she's still a beast on the trails.
Welcome to your new addiction 😂
It's funny that you said they're the Legos of cars. I often describe them as the erector sets of cars. I just bought my second one yesterday. They're pretty much the ultimate summer time car.
Yeah super easy to work on and a lot of fun. I love the “legos” aspect of them.
i have my 2000 jeep wrangler its got 640k miles and countimh
That's amazing!! original engine and transmission still?
@@MalcolmV8 yes just did oil changes
Fixing all your ball joints, tie rod ends, u joints, trackbar, sway bar, shocks will 100% change the jeeps feel as long as you have good tires balanced. My tires had 70% tread left but we're cupped and the belt was separating(not visible) when I bought it.
I imagine it won’t even feel like the same vehicle. Everything under there has slop and the spring only lift really messed things up too.
I just got a 2000 Jeep about six months ago. New top, New tires and wheels, new lift kit, new steering system, all upgrades. I bought with 37" tires, too big for original axles, crappy lift kit and sketchy steering. But no real rust which was critical to me. I look forward to seeing what you do with your new jeep.
Sounds like a very nice Jeep. That was a huge part of me getting this Jeep as well. The underside is very clean and new looking. No rust or signs of abuse at all. It was very well taken care of and garage kept over the years so it was worth the other issues and fixing it up.
Or U hate or u Love the car.. but is the best car ever made all time... for fun the TJ
I love it 👍
That looks like absolute fun zooming around in this thing!
I will probably always stick with a Jeep other SUVs are boring and you don't get nothing for what you pay for
Definitely fun to wrench 🔧 on…
O6 owner. My only question. Why all that gas pedal if it don’t do nothing?
There is a clip available for the dome light switch to keep them off. If you put in a V8 you will want to do a WJ brake swap as well. since with 33" your brakes are gonna suck. Dana 30 is the front diff. I have a 2004 TJ and am swapping to a XJ high pinion Dana 30 in front and a Explorer 8.8 in the back both with 4.10's along with the WJ brake mod with JKS steering linkage using WJ tie rod ends. Take your beastie to an oil spray undercoating place and have them spray the inside of the frame. You will be glad you did.
I appreciate the tips and info, good to know. Decent brakes will be important with a V8 for sure.
Likely the speedo is about 10% off too with the 33” tires (ie, reading too slow… unless they swapped the speedo gear to a 26 spline)… making it seems to have slower acceleration (via the speedo) than it really does. That said, the 3spd auto is not ideal in the TJ. Much more fun to drive with a 5psd manual. With proper gearing, the 4.0L can be a blast… very torquey and fun. And durable/reliable as any engine ever made! Jeeps are not about speed and HP (despite the new Rubi 392s… which, I wouldn’t want to drive a TJ with that had that kind of power😮… they aren’t designed for that (and the trouble that kind of high HP can get you into, ie, it’s not a forgiving sports car that can let you do something stupid and still recover from). They are made for off-roading, crawling, etc. That’s their Philosophy of Use. Not saying you can’t put a powerful V8 in one (you can, I have a buddy with a YJ and a hot 350 Chevy in it)… but you definitely need to be careful and not drive it stupid. Again, it’s not a sports car. On the trail you want something that can lug at low RPM and generate good torque down low… a high-winding small-block V8 would not be ideal for doing what the TJ’s POU indicates. That said, not everybody goes wheeling in them… and that’s the beauty of the Jeep. Do what you want with it… just be careful when you’re using it outside its POU parameters. ;)
I think someone swapped speedo gears as it checked out pretty close to the GPS on my phone.
Damn here I am on OfferUp and marketplace looking for a TJ now 😬😬 looks super fun
Lol I know right. I had no idea going into this 😊
Find one yet?
For that dome light, just pull fuse #4
Someone found a toggle switch that plugs into the fuse spot so you can easily turn it off. Pretty cool.
Own a 98 Tj I like that one a auto . Owned 97 and a 2006 last model in Australia 🇦🇺. The 904 T/ Flight is a great great box .
They are so simple that they should be fairly robust and reliable.
should have Dana 30 & 35 not 40.
It’s called death wobble due to weak ball joints .
I have the 2k inline 6 manual. I haven’t changed a thing. (The guys that designed it are smarter than me so why change it.)
It can keep up with all the cars and can go on freeways with no issues. Just keep it stock. Lol
Btw I’m sure you’ve figured it out but take the bottom right fuse out behind the glove book when you take the doors off.
that's great, yeah I saw comments below about pulling the fuse. Apparently ou can even buy a switch / fuse combo to stick in there so you can just flip the switch. Jeep should have done that from the factory.
Don't get the 4 Cylinder. Get the 6..
That is also a bulletproof transmission too
That’s good. I figured it’s likely similar to GMs TH400.
Subbed, as someone who loves mustangs and especially terminators and Jeeps. Ive owned 4 LJs a procharged 04 mach 1 and a 13 5.0. This is my type of channel. Currently in another Jeep atm!
Awesome cars you've had. I'm glad your'e enjoying :)
Now that you’ve been driving it for a while , is that swerve while you’re driving normal? I am looking at a 2001 manual but I don’t want that swerve while I’m driving.
Give it a test drive and see what you think. I think mine is extra bad because of worn bushings but even when perfect it's not going to drive as good as a regular car or SUV. I recently drove a low mileage 2022 Wrangler and even on it the steering is not very tight at all. There's a bit of wiggle in the steering wheel. It didn't wonder across the road and drove fairly straight but overall these are just one step up from kit cars IMO. A little clunky and rough around the edges.
It's a jeep thing. You won't and don't understand until you actually own one yourself 👍. His endless smile as he tears it down says it all...
haha yeah something fun about the Jeeps in their own unique way. A lot of fun for sure.
When I got mine it had 33" tires and 3.07 gears.
So I put 31's on it and it's fine.
I also have a 4.0 and a 5 speed manual.
I'm pretty sure the 5 speed has more favorable gearing for larger tires than the 3 speed auto too. Making this one even worse lol
Yea the automatic 4.0 jeeps kinda suck when you put bigger tires on them the manual ones are much better even with big tires on them they are geared better since it's a 5 speed and not a 3 or 4 speed like the autos are and the 4.0 is a great robust engine as well not powerful but they are easy to work on and last forever the V6 in the JK I don't like there harder to work on and not as durable as the 4.0 straight 6 is
yeah mine is a 3 speed and really felt the big tires. It definitely needs a gear swap.
For the interior lights to be off with no doors, you need to pull a fuse on the fuse box that in the glove box. There is also a clip you can buy that keeps the button pushed down if you want to go that route.
Also, Jeep TJ's are pretty slow. The 4.0 is quicker than the 2.5, but speed is not really what they are meant for. I think the 180hp is enough for around town. If you keep up with oil changes, that engine will last 300k miles.
The fuse trick sounds like the way to go. I hear there's even a replacement fuse with a switch you can swap in to make it easier.
I agree it's not made for speed at all. I later found out it had a blown head gasket and was leaking coolant into all 6 cylinders. Doing repairs now, video to come. So it might run better now.
@@MalcolmV8 If jeeps sit for too long (months) the gaskets seem to go. I had a bad valve gasket on mine. it was leaving 12" puddles of oil over night. Everything is easy to fix though
@@attimus02 so far it's been very easy to work on (knock on wood lol). New head gasket and head repaired. Many other repairs including the valve cover gasket. Should be back running in a few days :)
ya but the best thing to do to a jeep you plan on keeping is drop a chevy v8 in it.
@@TheRedStateBlue I like the way this man thinks :)
It's not a bug, it's a quirk.
it isn't geared to go fast... its a jeep. its geared for crawling over things and out of other things. torque is the only thing that matters with a jeep. horsepower guys are gonna be disappointed in it.
Agreed, slow and steady however this one had over sized tires put on and the gears in the diff were not changed to compensate so the problem is overly bad!
Is that a Saffa accent I hear?
There is a fuse in the glove box you pull for when the doors are off , look on quadratec for a dome light switch
Ah makes sense. I noticed a bunch of fuses behind the glovebox. I’ll look which is which.
Welcome to Jeep world.
More than just a car, an all terrain vehicle, and utilitarian's dream, the Jeep Wrangler TJ is a celebration of freedom, freedom of adventure, freedom of expression, freedom of spirt. No other vehicle ever created, including its predecessors has that level of freedom. I would easily put The Spirit of Freedom on the bonnet of my Jeep TJ. It is more deserving of it than any other vehicle, including a Rolls Royce. Nothing has ever given the freedom a Jeep TJ offers. A stock Jeep TJ is a beautiful, canvas for the one that chooses it to share their life together. However, stock TJs are becoming increasingly rare. Today, the artist will likely be building upon the art of another. But do not worry about who built upon your TJ before you. Only think about the life you have ahead with your TJ. It was loved before you. However, you can make it where nobody else will love it again. Dare you give your TJ a permanent home for the rest of its life. I have had mine decades.
She once suffered a catastrophic failure of the wiring loom, radiator, and front axle, all at once. Anybody else would have ended their relationship with their TJ and retired their TJ to the salvage yard for other Jeeps to continue to live from the donor parts. But my love for my dear Stargazer has no equal. With tears in my eyes, I removed the devastated front axle, destroyed radiator, all the burnt wiring, the burnt belt, the ignition coil rail, the devastated water pump, the tie rod, track bar, sway bar, and front bumper. Along the way, I found other horrible injuries, ruptured brake lines, bent lower control arms, collapsed springs, destroyed steering gear, bent front drive shaft, dented oil pan. The repairs to my beloved TJ were getting to cost more than the value of the old Jeep. I was going to work in a disgusting rental vehicle. When asked, "Why do you bother with that old fossil. Just scrap it! Why do you not just buy a new Jeep " My answer was always. "My Jeep is more than just a vehicle to me. She is my spirit of freedom. She is my friend." The person asking would often laugh when my answer was given. They may have laughed. But, I had a tear run down my face.
I love you Stargazer. I love you forever! I will never leave you.
We think very much alike
That was.. beautiful. I must buy one.
@@jacobm9697 Just remember, you are not getting a vehicle, you are gaining an ally, a way of life, a friend. Do not expect a Jeep wrangler to be a plastic clad, apologetic, economy car that can cruise the freeways while you struggle to stay awake behind rhe wheel. On the freeway, a vintage Wrangler will feel and sound like a military transport, with or without the top and doors and top. Do not expect a fast vehicle. No not expect anything similar to a car, at all. On the city roads, country roads, rural roads, logging trails, off road trails, and completely off road, is where a Wrangler more than makes up for the brutal freeway ride. With the doors amd windows removed, especially at dusk and night, you will experience nothing short of magic. On a hot sunny day, remove the doors, and windows and leave only the top on it. You will have the open air ride with no hot sun hitting you. In the rain, with the top, windows, and doors, on, you will be completely dry inside. However, if you want to have a water ride, take off the doors and windows, and you will have a water park wherever you go! If you want to get drenched, take everything off, and also remove the carpets, and floor drainage plugs. Do not worry. You can pressure wash the interior and throw the carpets in the washing machine. The vintage Jeep Wrangler is not for everyone. But if you accept one into your life, it will change you. I love my RMS Stargazer. She is, my love, my dream, my dream come true. I wanted a jeep, "Universal," since I was four years of age. When I got one 27 years ago. I knew she would be with me the rest of. Y life. Start life with a vintage Jeep this month. You and the Jeep deserve it.
@@indridcold8433 dude you’re inspiring and poetic asf. 😂 for real though. I’m 26 and my interest was peaked about a month ago for one and I’ve been watching UA-cam on them nonstop when not working. I found a 97, 4.0 5-speed with 127k that looks rust free on Fb for $12.5k. If it checks out after a thorough inspection implementing the old large flat screwdriver poke and scrape test I may just buy it. It’s one of the better looking ones I’ve ever seen and is on a stock size wheel with no lift.
@@indridcold8433 like I’m ready to marry her and join this life long commitment.
Without a regear..that tire should be a 31"...33 will make seem like its in a coma
pretty much lol. It's like it's stuck in 6th gear
LOL at 3.07. No wonder it sucks. I have a 3.73 in my TJ and it flies.
yeah horrible choice of gears with those big tires. I have no idea what the previous owner was thinking lol
Don't forget to strap the windshield down to the hood and that it's illegal to be down on the road.
That's a good tip. It seems dangerous on the road due to bugs or rocks kicking up and hitting you in the face but I didn't know it was illegal.
Do u have the emergency brake on ???? It’s a 4.0 and it moves, i had one
lol I wish. I do believe the problem is the very tall gear ratio. The previous owner put big tires on it but never changed the gears in the differentials to match so it's constantly lugging as though it was in 5th gear the whole time.
They also sell some little springs that hold the door light switch closed when the doors are off.
We just got our 2001 TJ this week and are exploring accessories.
We bought it to tow behind a 40’ RE bus and it came with tow bar, brake system, lights wires to tow, and a 13,000 pound winch.
Just 15 miles away.
We’re stoked.
Congrats and that sounds fun. I'd never seen those door light springs. I saw another comment where someone said you can get a switch that goes behind the glove box, plugs into the fuse panel. Then you can just open the glove box and reach behind and flick the switch when you need it.
There is a fuse that you can pull to turn the lights off, too.
@@pathvalleyrailroad9277 Thanks, good to know.
#4 fuse, pull, add a switch to the wire behind it, or get a fuse with a built in switch
@@justintb96 great tip. Thank you.
I have a 2001 Cherokee. 31' tires, 3' lift, 4.0L i6 engine. Mine defiantly gets up faster than that, I also have the 4-speed auto. Love your wrangler, and great video!
I have a 97 5spd 4cyl on 31s. It wont win any races but it does make decent torque in the lower gears. I personally don't take it past 65mph. It gets sketchy at those speeds but its not that kind of vehicle. I stick to back roads where i can row throw the gears on a Sunday. When i take it on a trail i get all my power from 4 Low where it really counts :)
anyone see that red car in the back ground to that crazy slide turn.?
Crazy florida drivers 😂
eople this is what the cultivation of a Jeeper's fanaticism looks like😇
From non-Jeeper to Full on Jeeper in one video!!
I fell in love with these things in the late 90s as a high school kid learning how to drive a stick in my uncles TJ 4.0, and it was love at first sight.
20 odd years later I am blessed to have my own JL 2 door sport manual 3.6, and I LOVE IT!!!!
I drive with the top down every chance I get, and this the new Pentastar 3.6 v6 with the manual has some nice get up and go!!!
I still get pretty good mileage bc it's stock and I hover around 20mpg combined, and that's with nice acceleration. But it will get almost 30 mpg if you baby it to and from 55mph.
I love my silver Jeep with the satin black grille and the alpine subwoofer. These new jeeps are refined and are very comfortable but it still has a manual stick and transfer case lever and I love that about it.
I do want to put 33s on it and maybe a lift and re gear bc it's already geared tall. But I don't want to hurt my mileage but we will see, it's not like I'm going drastic. She's pretty much bone stock but it's clean and DIFFERENT bc every other Jeep out there is modded lol. So it's nice being different.can't wait to to get her dirty again!!!
An all aluminum 5.3 LS from an Envoy would be nice in there.
My thoughts exactly. Probably scary as hell too unless I can make this suspension work a little better lol
You plan on keeping the Jeep? I’m a mustang guy, currently on my fourth one, and I bought a ‘98 wrangler cuz my daughter loves them. And I now love the Jeep more than my mustang.
Yes we'll definitely be keeping the Jeep around for a while. It has a unique enjoyment and fun factor. It won't replace Mustangs for me but definitely a huge amount of fun.
I have a 2011 GT/CS 'vert and an '06 Wrangler (in yellow, even) and I love them both. :)
@@pathvalleyrailroad9277 that’s great. Never thought I’d ever own a Jeep & now I have two and love them lol
I just bought a couple '98 TJs and mine are P R O J E C T S. I love them though, 4.0L I6 and 5-speed manual AX-15 transmission. Legendary combo, ones lifted 3.5" with 32"s and the other is stock. Stock had a bad engone and tub, lifted had a horrendous frame. Swapping parts, it was meant to be done before the winter but theyre never what you think they are. Im having fun with the engine swap, and am going to keep the bad tub and stock suspension until the summer. Have half and full doors, and two soft tops. The tops, by the way, come off completely with a couple screws, and if you undo the hand bolts up top of the front rollbars you can remove the tubside plastic door frames and rollbars with a couple torx bolts being removed. Even though i havent driven mine a whole lot, shes definitely fun and a whole new driving experience. I love them and its always good to see new members of the family. Best of luck with your V8 swap! I suggest a 350, theres really no big reason to go bigger than that.
You should try driving my international Scout… 😂. My first TJ Jeep had a loose track bar. I drove it 200 miles home in a wind storm and the steering wheel had 1/2 a turn of play in it… talk about white knuckle!
lol that sounds even worse 😂I think a few suspension tweaks, alignment and fiddling should hopefully make it a little better.
@@MalcolmV8 also, tire pressure. Think of the weight those tires are capable of carrying. Likely only need 20psi to run down the highway even though they are capable of 50psi. I ran my 32” 16’s at 22 front and 18 rear for road driving.
@@greasemonkey4god that's a good point. I haven't even had a chance to check what's in them yet. Still a lot to go over and figure out.
Great video ! I have a modified Z06 in garage yet this is the toy of choice ! Love my TJ !
The first time you get a chance to off road with it… you’re hooked 🎣….!!!!
Omg I need to do that on my new to me 2 door 2020
Nice purchase. I wouldn't mind a newer one some day.
Thank goodness jeep went to a full cage roll bar with windshield down
Oh they’re not just open like this on the newer ones?
The front where the windshield flips
Up to is really roll bar.. not that I’m
Intended on rolling it anytime soon 🤣
And another jeeper was born
:) doesn't take much to get hooked
One word "utilitarian" not a word around people that can't fix anything
Best modified jeep,,soft hood system is excellent,,👊🥗👌👌👌👌👌
I have a 1997 TJ and the whole duck thing is beyond corny. As for it not having good pick up nobody chooses a jeep bc they wanted a race car. Someone chooses a jeep for fun of having a jeep.
I believe this one is extra lazy because it has really tall gears combined with very large diameter tires. So it feels like you're stuck in over drive even when pulling off. It needs new gears in the differentials to fix that.
I would say it has 3:07 gears in it.
@@bobnickelson221 Yup sure does.
Great video, the hood also goes all the way up to the windshield and gives you more room to work
I finally just discovered that a few days ago. Too cool and gives me lots of room to work on it. Thanks for passing along.
In addition, the bonnet (hood) is easily removed for big jobs.
Lol I was ducked..!! It’s a jeep thing
Definitely an odd thing lol
The “wave “ or✌️ is the other..
I ride motorcycles so I’m familiar with
The Wave thing…
My 2000 TJ helps me not to get speeding tickets. 😉 I say someone can pay a shrink $100 and hour for therapy once a week, and I can just go do some jeep cruising with the dog in the back and with the top and doors off and all is right as rain. I love my jeep, always have since the day I bought it. This was a great review to see someone never own or drive one to get a little taste of what we get everyday. They just put a smile on your face plain and simple. Have an awesome day everyone! ✌️
I have a front wheel drive jeep patriot . But I would love to have a wrangler
I'm a little late to the party but since you mentioned all the different customizations and aftermarket parts...... if you haven't figured out what JEEP stands for yet its "Just Empty Every Pocket"
lol compare to my other hot rods that empty every pocket I thought the jeep was really cheap to work on? maybe I'll find out as I get more into it.
You have a good one after two thousand six they Are all junk and they're not really even jeeps anymore
What happens after 2006?
@@MalcolmV8 They turned in To computerized s u v's
@@markremillard5135 I see. Lots of electronics inside I take it?
If you remove the doors again there is a fuse you need to pull out of the fuse box under the hood and the tire size is messing with you speed
yeah I saw some people replace that fuse with a switched fuse so you can just flip the switch on it each time. But yeah just pulling the fuse seams easiest.
Also if you are going keep the Jeep get some after market mirror brackets that mount to the windshield frame that was first thing I did on my Jeep. I have had my Jeep for 15 yrs now just went over 250,000 miles on her and she is still running strong
@@Sarge0311 Ah clever. Then you still have side mirrors when you take the doors off :)
I got my 99 TJ a couple years ago. Most fun I’ve had in a vehicle. The 4.0 strait 6 such an awesome engine.
That's great, you don't find it underpowered?
The giddy laugh of excitement reminds me when I got my TJ (2.5L) in high school
😁👍
...and yes, I still have it!
That's pretty cool :) They are like toys as much as anything and certainly make you chuckle and have fun.
I drive my TJ through the carwash. Not the kind with brushes, though. It's pretty scary and water does squirt through the zippers.
oh I'm sure. I just spray mine with the hose and sometimes pressure washer from a distance at home and I find all kinds of water inside.
It’s not a car.🙄
lol nope it's a jeep
I enjoy your some things should not go and get her without a seatbelt
I miss my half doors!
Not the most practical when you left the top half at home and it starts raining on you :) but man they're fun.
6:54
Yeah, Jeep finally upgraded to an automatic 4 speed in 2004, but the best Wranglers up until then (and even a little after) were the ones that had a 5-speed manual transmission which was WAY better.
I much prefer manuals but this is still kind of fun for what it is.