Ken Block and the beauty of all wheel drive....

[Masherbrum]

4WD does not = automatic skill.  Ask the many folks with a "4x4" that I've yanked out of snowbanks around here in the winter, or out of a mud pit in the NJ pine barrens.

The jeep is for going wherever I want to go, regardless of terrain.  It may not be the fastest means of getting there, but I WILL undoubtedly get there.

If I want to go fast, I use the appropriate tools............

(Image removed from quote.)

"Getting there" is the easy part, it's trying not to break anything to drive it home (I don't trailer my watermelon and never will), that is the challenge.

[VonMessa]

Trailers are for sissies.

OTOH, with a 4.56 rear end, the farthest I will go is Maple Grove, or Englishtown, NJ.  Highway cruising is not a strong point of that car, these days.

Been toying with adding overdrive, but I'm afraid I'll have to be dead before I get rid of the Muncie Rock Crusher.

[OOZ662]

Also interesting that everyone locked into my "skill" side comment as if I'd just insulted the whole pack of people.

What I meant was that if I had the choice of being a retard with glittery paint and the biggest piece of steel I can find sticking out of the hood revving at a grandma in a Volvo, or just a guy in an everyday car, I'd be the latter. However, if I gained the skills to actually USE one of the high-performance ricers, I'd be in it in a minute.

[Masherbrum]

Also interesting that everyone locked into my "skill" side comment as if I'd just insulted the whole pack of people.

What I meant was that if I had the choice of being a retard with glittery paint and the biggest piece of steel I can find sticking out of the hood revving at a grandma in a Volvo, or just a guy in an everyday car, I'd be the latter. However, if I gained the skills to actually USE one of the high-performance ricers, I'd be in it in a minute.

I know you meant and was supporting your comment.   Don't be so defensive.   

[Masherbrum]

Trailers are for sissies.

OTOH, with a 4.56 rear end, the farthest I will go is Maple Grove, or Englishtown, NJ.  Highway cruising is not a strong point of that car, these days.

Been toying with adding overdrive, but I'm afraid I'll have to be dead before I get rid of the Muncie Rock Crusher.

Should be ordering my new water pump (going to an all-aluminum, high flow one and the current one works) I'll be looking at this upgrade http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=rustys&Product_Code=RK-LT10-ZJ&Category_Code=sus_zj_kit for my ZJ.   I blew the radiator last year and can now focus on it.   But I figured while I'm replacing the Radiator, might as well gut the entire cooling system and redo it.   T stat, hoses, the works.   

Call up junkyards and try to find an NV4500.   My buddy still has one in his garage and was going to drop it in his YJ with a CJ body.   Until he shipped it to Belgium when he sold it last year.

[VonMessa]

I know you meant and was supporting your comment.   Don't be so defensive.   

What he said.

Don't get me wrong.  I would jump in one and drive it like I stole it if offered the chance.

It's just that I have seen too many tards with Jeeps, "4x4's" (mostly H3's), and imports with a fart can strapped to the back, get stuck, crash into something, or grenade their ride in some fashion due to the lack of skill.  Having the equipment doesn't exactly translate into having the skill to drive it.

[Roundeye]

Rally Cars = single purpose built

Jeeps (especially older ones)   = multi purpose.  hence the original GP (General Purpose) moniker for the military which phonetically wound up as (you guessed it)............ Jeep

Your analogy stymies me.  You are telling me that a Jeep could not make it through a WRC course?  Perhaps not at rally car speed , but nonetheless, it could cross the finish line.  Not nearly as embarrassing as it would be trying to crawl, ford, or climb any terrain that would require an off-road vehicle with any clearance in a Subaru.

Besides, where would you mount a winch on a Subaru?   

(Also, the Subaru would look silly without doors)       

You seem to be reading too far into my posts.   Where did I say that a Jeep could not make it through a WRC course?  I look but cannot find that or any reference thereto.  I said trying to RUN a WRC course would end in disaster and embarrassment.   I did not say crawl or drive.  RUN.  Attempting to corner at any competitive speed in a Jeep would not go as planned (if you try this please record it for youtube). 

BTW You are talking to a Jeeper from way back.  I've owned and loved Jeeps for years and am looking for another one now. 

As for the winch and door reference:  look up some Ozified Subarus.  You may be surprised.

I just find it wierd that anyone would throw a Jeep reference into a post about Gymkhana.

[james]

Didn't mean to thumb my nose at you guys with my picture. Any vehicle purpose built that leaves the pavement is a fellow off-roader to me. I'm NOT the redneck tearing up the trails and tossing beer cans. Usually the group of us that goes out will trail into the area and set up the camp, mark it on the gps and hit the trails until we hit half a tank of fuel. That means we go back to camp or to the gas station for fuel and coffee. Alot of us are in daily drivers so no trailers. Get back to camp and eat. Hang out for a bit and hit the trails again. We are taking more pictures of animals and the area almost as much as going over obstacles. This is going on for a weekend at a time. We have alot of rules that keep us from messing up the area as well as getting hurt. The "hey ya'll watch this" idea is not part of our idea to have fun. We pack out more than we pack in as far as trash and leave no foot print. Saw the episode of top gear where the guy goes to finland to learn to use a rally car. Saw how they teach kids how to drive in that country. I wish they did that in the states.  Took alot of time to learn rock crawling and obstacles. Still learning since the terrain constantly changes. The reason I commented about jeeps in the first place here with jeep stuff is because I see rally car racing, baja 500, and off road running as having the same sense of getting outside and off pavement but using a different vehicle to have the fun.

My set up:
2006 tj 65th anniversary edition I-6 automatic
4" teraflex longarm lift
ARB snorkel
4:56 gears 33" bf goodrich mud terrains
SYE transfer case kit
Belly up skid plate
Quick front end disconnects
Mile marker 9500lb winch
Stock axles
Truespeed detector
A bunch of stuff like neoprene seat covers, fire extinguisher, overhead console, cb, etc.

[Masherbrum]

Didn't mean to thumb my nose at you guys with my picture. Any vehicle purpose built that leaves the pavement is a fellow off-roader to me. I'm NOT the redneck tearing up the trails and tossing beer cans. Usually the group of us that goes out will trail into the area and set up the camp, mark it on the gps and hit the trails until we hit half a tank of fuel. That means we go back to camp or to the gas station for fuel and coffee. Alot of us are in daily drivers so no trailers. Get back to camp and eat. Hang out for a bit and hit the trails again. We are taking more pictures of animals and the area almost as much as going over obstacles. This is going on for a weekend at a time. We have alot of rules that keep us from messing up the area as well as getting hurt. The "hey ya'll watch this" idea is not part of our idea to have fun. We pack out more than we pack in as far as trash and leave no foot print. Saw the episode of top gear where the guy goes to finland to learn to use a rally car. Saw how they teach kids how to drive in that country. I wish they did that in the states.  Took alot of time to learn rock crawling and obstacles. Still learning since the terrain constantly changes. The reason I commented about jeeps in the first place here with jeep stuff is because I see rally car racing, baja 500, and off road running as having the same sense of getting outside and off pavement but using a different vehicle to have the fun.

My set up:
2006 tj 65th anniversary edition I-6 automatic
4" teraflex longarm lift
ARB snorkel
4:56 gears 33" bf goodrich mud terrains
SYE transfer case kit
Belly up skid plate
Quick front end disconnects
Mile marker 9500lb winch
Stock axles
Truespeed detector
A bunch of stuff like neoprene seat covers, fire extinguisher, overhead console, cb, etc.

You flip the top of the snorkel around when driving on the freeway?   

No offense swung my james.   I used to sit on the Board of the Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Association and we promote Safe and Legal Wheeling.    My club alone maintains almost 60 miles of trail, two time a year.   

I have a lifted ZJ.   3.5", 31" Trexxus M/T's.   I overkill on tools and am looking to get a HAM license later on this year, so I can use the repeater up north. 

[Roundeye]

*snip*....

Quick front end disconnects

What kind?  I like the JKS Quicker Discos.  Worth every penny.  You do not have to be perfectly level to disco/install.  Ever forgot to hook em back up before driving on hwy?  You'll only do it once.


You are very lucky to have somewhere to ride.  Every place around here got shut down because of idiots doing donuts, mowing trees down, digging up mudholes and throwing trash all over.  No respect .  Now we have nowhere to ride

I sold the following rides because of nowhere to enjoy them: 

1987 XJ  4", discos, 31" TSL Super Swampers. 

2003 TJ  3", discos, 31" MTs, tube bumpers, Warn rock sliders.

1987 Subaru GL Wagon dual range 4WD (yes true 50/50 split 4WD, not AWD) 4" Ozified lift, 27" TSL Super Swampers.



I'm in the market for a stock TJ again.  Gonna leave it stock because there is no use to modify for off road with nowhere to go.  I miss the no top no doors driving .

 

[james]

I leave the snorkel facing forward all the time. In winter I disconnect it due to ice clogging up the drain holes and not letting water flow the right way when it rains. I use teraflex discos. I've had to drive home discord from losing a pin. Wow that sucks. Used to ride in Florida at the ocala national forest. That was the spot!

[VonMessa]

*snip*....
What kind?  I like the JKS Quicker Discos.  Worth every penny.  You do not have to be perfectly level to disco/install.  Ever forgot to hook em back up before driving on hwy?  You'll only do it once.

 

Nah, we love driving a vehicle that feels like a half-full can of soup .   

 

(you are correct, you will only forget once) 

[zoozoo]

ken block ftw