My Jeep Wrangler
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The Story
I very recently became the proud new father of a Wrangler. After years of wanting this baby, I finally moved forward with plans and bought a 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport. It came with a hardtop, upgraded sound system, a 1-1/2 inch body lift, and oversized tires.
Having been a Jeep owner once before (a ‘86 Jeep Cherokee that was sold in 2000), many aspects of this car are very familiar. It feels good to have the controls and dials in the same position again. It feels good to be high off the ground again. Best of all, it feels good to be in a Jeep again.
Here are some of the more interesting specifications:
- 4.0L 6-cylinder 181hp engine
- 31 x 10.5 R15 tires
- Turning radius: 16 feet. (tiny, compared to a Hummer)
Current State
I haven’t had my Wrangler for too long yet, but I’ve already done a few modifications to it. Here they are, with some pictures after each step:
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(5/31/01) Added a T-hood cover. It’s mostly for looks, although it probably offers some protection. |
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(6/3/01) After taking the hard top off. Not an accessory, but still… |
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(6/27/01) Put on a sun bonnet (a.k.a. bikini top) to keep out the rain. |
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(7/9/01) Bought a full-size spare tire and wheel (BF Goodrich All-Terrain A/T 31×10.5R15 tire; American Racing Outlaw II 15×7 wheel). |
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(7/11/01) Installed 2 frame-mounted front tow hooks (each with 7000 lbs capacity). |
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(7/11/01) Installed 2 frame-mounted rear tow hooks (4000 lbs capacity). |
Future Plans
Now that I’m back in the Jeep owners club, the fun is about to begin. There is a variety of accessories to add to the car, and more importantly a ton of off-roading trips to be taken. These are some of the plans I have in store for my baby:
Accessories: There are those accessories that I need as soon as possible (important ones), and those that can wait awhile (the fun ones). These are all Original Equipment parts, made by Mopar.
- Important ones — Skid plates (again, off-roading)
- Fun ones — Fog lights (for that bad weather)
- Non-Mopar accessories — Diamond plates (protection/looks), CB radio (keeping in touch)
These are the accessories that I currently have: hard top, T-hood cover, sun bonnet (a.k.a. bikini top)
Off-Roading Trips: The best part of owning a Jeep Wrangler is the many Jeep-organized off-roading trips available. From the rugged Jeep Jamborees to the more social Camp Jeep, all of these events are exclusively for Jeep owners.
Jeep Jamborees are weekend adventures to explore some scenic nature and at the same time learn about off-roading. There are about 33 year different Jeep Jamborees offered each year, each one in a different location and each with varying levels of difficulty. Here are some of the ones I want to attend. The numbers in parentheses after the descriptions are the trail ratings; 1=easiest, 10=most difficult.
- Red River. Supposedly one of the most picturesque of all Jamborees, part of this trip goes up to the highest point in New Mexico. (2-6)
- Moab. One of the most popular 4×4 destinations in America, this trip goes through the red rock cliffs of Utah. (3-9)
- Rubicon Trail. The ultimate Jeep Jamboree, the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra-Nevada mountains is one of the most demanding off-road trails in America. This is a must do, eventually. (10)
In the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, Camp Jeep is a packed 3-days of driving off-road trails, biking, golfing, and other outdoor activities. This is actually more a family-oriented event, but that shouldn’t be a problem. I suppose I can just go put together a make-shift family…let’s start with a wife.
For pictures of my first time to Hollister Hills, click here.
