Bat for the Other Side!
After lavishing a pound or two on my Bobtail Range Rover I decided it was not for me anymore.
So after a lot of soul searching and bank account searching I finally came out and changed over to “Jeep”. After reading an advert in 4X4 Off Road Magazine, I travelled to Nottinghamshire from Bristol to purchase a standard TJ Wrangler 4.0 litre manual in “hair dresser blue”(Jade green).
"My newly aquired pride and joy!"
Not wanting to damage my new toy I followed a friend with a lifted CJ7 Jeep to Jeepfest at Tong near Leeds.
Well you no how it is, you have been a serious off roader for many years where nothing can get in your way, so plodding around the mundane, standard vehicle, blue routes was not for me. So when I saw this easy looking red route through the trees, and nobody was looking, of I went to my doom. The incline steepend the trees narrowed and the ruts weaved their menacing way like a mini Grand Canyon. Slowly I dropped two wheels into a deep rut and lent over at some degree, approaching a tree and taking as much care as possible I was through and out no problem. Unfortunately the rut next to the second tree was a lot deeper and combined with the knowledge that I would make it “no problem” it was all go. The tranquil silence of the woodland was soon shattered by the bang and scrape as my window pillar smashed into the tree, bending the pillar and doorframe. I was stuck deep with my wings resting on the embankment. After climbing out of the window and being towed out it was back to the campsite for the expected round of ridicule.
All of this ensured a visit to the trade stand of FTE 4X4 to by some goodies, only a few though, as money is tight!!
I think I got a bit carried away; 3 ½ inch Rubicon suspension lift with quick disconnects 1 inch body lift Front and Rear ARB locking diffs air compressor and 4.10 ring and pinion the later being necessary because of the 33x12.5 Wrangler MT/R tyres fitted to chrome 8 spoke wheels. The whole vehicle looks and drives fantastically now and I can’t wait to test it all in anger on the up and coming Welsh safari.
Hopefully more to follows plus more new bits added, possibly snorkel, short shaft conversion, hardtop, engine mods (more speed). Also the Warn 8274 will be a must so I can pull myself out. Plus anything else I might see in those damned American magazines.
More self control needed I think.
Watch this space for more as the TJ develops into the real offroader that it so wants to be!
Cheers from Tony Smith
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