What To Do With Dads Tj?

I have a dilemma.

I don't need to solve it immediately. I'm just kicking ideas around here...

For those not following along at home, a couple of years ago I inherited my dad's '00 TJ Sahara. He bought it new and it was his toy. It's got a 4" lift, 33x12.50s, ARB air lockers, and 4:56 gears in the stock axles. I6/3-speed auto. Also bumpers, rocker skids, winch, high-lift, etc. It's setup to flat-tow. It has less than 60K miles on it. Paints a little nicked and scratched up but shines up nice. Frame is all solid - I only ever drove it in snow once. Not sure Dad ever did.

It was our 2nd car while we lived in Missouri. But I didn't wheel it much - I just didn't like the MO off-roading as much as sand dunes or Moab, etc. And honestly spending hours getting bashed around the inside of a vehicle is less appealing at 55 than it was at 35.

With our recent move to the big city, I figured it was time to pass it down to my son who lives back in Michigan and could go dune running. He was all over it so I planned for him to come get it in May. It's sitting back in the garage in MO - we kept our house there and it's rented out to friends using just one garage stall.

Then my son called and said they just couldn't swing it. He's getting married this fall, they just each bought new/used cars, and they have a house project.

So, now what?

No strings from my Dad - he's practical above all else so I know he won't mind if I sold it. Yet that sentimental factor remains.

There's really no other family members that it needs to go to. Sister already had a Jeep phase. Brother...well, let's just say the Jeep would never be that nice again.

It's not a great everyday driver. I can slide in, but MsBoyink has to use the step. The wide tires trash it in any kind of rain. You can't help but drag your pants over the rock sliders getting out so driving it to business meetings doesn't work.

Other thought is to put it back close to stock. With how big the newer Wranglers are I kinda like the looks of a simple stock-ish TJ. Maybe drop to a 2" lift and 32x10-ish tires that tuck inside the fenders. It'd be a nimble little around-town rig.

Just not sure how driveable it would be on the highways with the lower gears and then smaller tires. I was noodling around for OD ideas but doesn't look like anything simple there.

Dunno. Just something to noodle on.

 

Wow....I thought the 3speed auto died with the YJ....

 

Well, my Dad will tell you he's a "tight Dutchman." He was never big on owning things that only got used a few times a year...

Some of the puzzle is that we aren't sure what next year brings. We're in Tulsa on a year-long commitment, living in a downtown apartment with covered parking but no place to work on anything.

The TJ is 3.5 hrs away in MO at the house we still own and have friends renting. That situation is also temporary - the friends are building a house they'll move into eventually.

We're not sure yet if we'll stay in Tulsa and if so, do we keep renting or look to buy something here?

Don't know yet.

If I keep the Jeep I have no issue making changes to it to make it more useful to me. Never been a big fan of prioritizing resale value over enjoyment. I like owning things rather than letting them own me...

 

Thanks! Still kinda getting our bearings but looks like we're in good company.

 

I don't regret selling my CJ6, and I had way more time, blood, and emotional investment in that. The sale helped fund our 8 years of family RV travel which was life-changing for all of us. Without selling that Jeep I wouldn't have written a book.

There is sentimental value with the TJ, sure. But it's different in that I didn't build it.

 

Yea - been watching your thread and feeling bad about it. Age is another concern - just before I packed DadsTJ in the garage I had to have a new steering box, wheel cylinders, and a transmission shift level seal installed. Even though Dad put in an aftermarket radiator there's still a naggling leak somewhere. I smell it.

 

Which they aren't going to film here again...too hot..

 

With only 60k it's probably more than I want to spend but let me know if you do consider selling.

 

Haven't really looked at pricing much, but drove past a clean-looking unmodified twin on a lot here this weekend and they had $14K on the windshield....