Yea, I miss my Cherokee. I have Liberty now, and its got so many computers in the darn thing… I think Jeep has lost me as a customer. The new Jeeps coming out are way too car like for my tastes.
Just my opinion but those Jeep “Forward Control” trucks weren’t worth the cost when they were new I don’t believe 55 years has improved them any.
Under powered and an unstable wheel base/weight ratio made them pretty prone to roll over as well as flipping end over end.
They are cute though.
Ray - Having had some recent extreme off-roading experience (as a passenger) I’d suggest that if the body and frame of your current vehicle are sound you might consider having it updated with modern drive train and suspension components. You might be able to get a “new” vehicle that exactly fits your desires for similar cost to what the auto makers currently have. My son recently got a great deal on this completely trail equipped Jeep TJ. It’s not extremely pretty, but very capable…
I’d consider keeping the Trooper longer, except that it’s getting too difficult and costly to make repairs. This is especially true of anything involving electronics, as there are no new parts available for most of the electronics. For instance, a couple years ago I had to have the computer replaced that controls the engine. But merely replacing it wasn’t enough – it also had to be programmed. No one in all of San Diego county had the software necessary to do the job, so I had to have it towed up to Long Beach. That’s $500 just for the towing!
The ABS system hasn’t worked for several years now because it would cost $3000 just for the circuit board needed to fix it.
I’ve had to replace the instrument cluster three times now, and it’s getting harder to find a used one that’s the correct model.
I had to have the air conditioning fixed after my trip last year because it kept cutting out right when I needed it most. Then on this trip it goes out completely just four hours from home.
Ray,
This video from the ‘Truck Tech’ portion of the programming is what I was referencing in a dual purpose truck.
http://powernationtv.com/episode/TT2015-15/project-wild-frontier
Good luck…
Bob, other than getting onto a TV show, where can a regular person get that kind of work done??
Gee Ray, I am not sure if I could get a vehicle to pass state inspection, here in Pennsylvania, without a working ABS system.
The brakes work the same as on a vehicle that never had ABS. ABS is a nice thing to have but not essential to the function of the brakes.
Ray,
Look in the phone book/online for four wheel drive shops. You can also ask at the local parts stores if there are any shops that specialize in ‘upgrading’ 4x4 capability. Another possibility is to look for clubs, those folks are usually pretty friendly and helpful. You might also look online at the forums dedicated to off road activity or any of the Jeep specific forums. Again, those folks, like here, are pretty helpful.
i have a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 double cabin pick up. it is high, resistant, fast (100m/h).
in my eyes its got just one negative feature: for a U-turn i need five lanes.
Korm, that sounds like the Transit Connect, company issue van, that I drive for work. I joke that it has a “3 mile turning radius”. Parking spots that I could easily put my Jeep Liberty into, I have to swing at 2 and 3 times with the Transit, that I affectionately call “The Silver Beast”. Ok, maybe not so affectionately.
With my Dodge Ram 4 x 4 pickup with a crew cab, I sometimes feel like I need a tugboat to help me get alongside the pier. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Korm Kormsen said:
i have a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 double cabin pick up. it is high, resistant, fast (100m/h).
in my eyes its got just one negative feature: for a U-turn i need five lanes.
I took my 2000 Dakota 4x4 up a path made by ATVs got to the top of a knob hill and did a 32 point star u-turn. There was no way I could go around their 8’ loop!
Unlike Steve’s barge, the mid size allows me to explore more, I remember heading down a steep and highly eroded ‘road’, going around a hairpin turn I paused on 2 wheels and rocked so much it ‘felt’ like I could tumble head over heels!
Just put 1,500 miles on her in 3 days, only wanted gas.
John
That’s another great thing about the Trooper, for its size it has surprisingly tight turning radius.
John Caughey said:
Korm Kormsen said:
i have a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 double cabin pick up. it is high, resistant, fast (100m/h).
in my eyes its got just one negative feature: for a U-turn i need five lanes.
I took my 2000 Dakota 4x4 up a path made by ATVs got to the top of a knob hill and did a 32 point star u-turn. There was no way I could go around their 8’ loop!
Unlike Steve’s barge, the mid size allows me to explore more, I remember heading down a steep and highly eroded ‘road’, going around a hairpin turn I paused on 2 wheels and rocked so much it ‘felt’ like I could tumble head over heels!
Just put 1,500 miles on her in 3 days, only wanted gas.
John
That was one thing I loved about my Samurai, it could get into and back out of spaces the barges could only dream of. I miss that car.