Picked Up A Traitor Jeep (tj)

I like working on and driving the old Jeeps, but I also like to get out on trips to explore this country we live in. In spite of all the time I'v spent working on the '71, I really don't want to drive it any great distance at 70mph. 3 years into working on that thing, I still trailer it to trail runs.

I haven't been out exploring the countryside as much as I've wanted and it's been driving me a little crazy. A good deal popped up on a 77k mile 2006 TJ rubicon with a 6-speed. To me, it's the pinnacle of real Jeeps. Not a fan of the bigger clean sheet JKs and JLs.

It came with a hard top, a 4" lift, fat 34.5" tires on fake beadlocks, and a Poison Spider Rack. Stock otherwise. Everything works including the cruise control, AC, lockers, ...etc.

As I got it:


The point of this is something I can drive for miles and then do moderate offroading. The wheel/tire combo it came with was a bit much. I bought a cheap set of five new 33" 2023 Rubicon take-offs that you can mount with adapters. It drives much better with the smaller tires and they are inside the fenders:


I was planning on lowering it an inch and a half for better driveability, but it drives so well at the moment I'll gather parts as I find them and wait until the current setup wears out.

I put about 600 miles on it Thurs/Friday on a trip the the Wallowa Valley. It worked great and I'm really happy with it:


Other than adding a winch and some front recovery points, I'm just going to run it as is. It does exactly what I want it to do.

This doesn't mean I ditching the old Jeeps! The blue '68 is getting sold to free up space and I *may* sell the '69 but I'm keeping and still working on the '71 and the flatfender.

 

IMHO, new wheels and tires are so much better looking. Congrats on your new rig.
SO whaddaya want for the CJ?

 

6 speed NSG370 manual. It was only available the final year of the TJs. 4.46 1st gear, 0.84:1 OD in 6th. 4:1 Transfer case, and 4.10:1 axles for a crawl of 73:1. 44's front/rear. But the 44 front isn't as cool as it sounds. It's basically thin 30 tubes and outers stuck in a 44 center section. All the parts that break are still the same as a 30. The only real advantage over a 30 is the factory locker.

It doesn't have much overlap between high and low range. We'll see if low range is annoyingly low for non-rock crawling trails.

 

I would think that, with the 6 speed, you'll find a gear that is right in any situation.

I like the TJ years and have allowed the thought to cross my mind from time to time. You purchased a well set up version. Still the 4.0 engine?

Personally, I'd roach the Rubicon stickers on the hood.

 

Not sure yet. Maybe we can make a deal

 

The CJ and some money for the wagon?

 

600 miles would be a long trip in a cj5.

 

Very nice! I am really happy with my 04 so far. I like the rims better too. I have been sort of looking for original rims for mine.
Enjoy

 

I already miss my 04 rubicon. It was everything you want. Short wheelbase, lockers, stock, 4.0, and on and on. Just too far gone and rusty to deal with underneath.

 

Hey you’re can’t copy ours! Congrats on the purchase. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

The low ratio is a bit ridiculous even with the 5 speed manual. We still use low but the trans is usually in second except for the technical stuff. With your trans ratios, you may be in 3rd more often.

 

The most fun I've ever had in a vehicle was in my 2005 TJ Willys Edition... which I bought new.
Those things are absolute beasts and have modern comfort too! IMHO TJ's are the last True Jeep.

Don't mind the mohawk and and poor fashion choices in this photo.... it' was the early 2000's

 

Not sure what I like more...Jeep or mohawk?

 

Do you kick yourself for getting rid of the TJ?

 

A couple weeks in, I'm really liking the TJ. While it's more fun to take the dogs for a ride in one of the old Jeeps, It's nice to have a Jeep with AC, a radio you can hear, and somewhat decent ride quality for longer trips and everyday use.

 

I love my TJ Rubicon

 

Yes and no…. The trans grenaded itself 2x in the 5 years I had it. And the cat converter randomly melted and shot out the tailpipe.
Wasn’t super reliable but I was using it off-road and driving it hard all the time so it might have been me. Haha still, super fun and I’d buy one again.

now I baby my jeep.

 

which trans did you have that grenaded twice? I do clutch dumps on my 6 speed all the time, and shift without the clutch sometimes. still has the original clutch, almost 200k miles later and shifts super easy. I always offer up my TJ for anyone I know who wants to learn to drive stick, it's super easy to drive