JT's 2003 Wrangler X (slow build kinda)

I went wheelin' today for the very first time, so I will discuss the plans for my complete build once I come down off the epic high I am on, at a later date. For now, here is a pic from today when I stopped for lunch on the trails. I'll post pics others took of me, rumor has it there is at least one video of me as well.

Right now, she is a bone stock 2003 Wrangler X, 47500 miles, 31" Mickey Thompson MTZ's, 15x8 Black Rock "Desperado" alloys.

After today, I am jonesing bad to get the new suspension installed.

nice looking tj you got there and talk about low miles and i thought my 07 with 41k was low milage. the natural high of wheeling is unlike anything else. i try to enjoy it as much as possible but never get out as much as i would like

I'm not sure who had more fun today, me or the Jeep. As only the second owner, I am almost certain today was the first time she has been off-road. She didn't even want a bath when we got home, she said it can wait til tomorrow and spending the night the same way I pulled into the driveway.

Welp, can't post the video yet.

New members are not allowed to post external links or emails for 7 days. Please contact the forum administrator for more information.

your supposed to leave the mud on there for a couple days to show that you actually use your jeep for what it is intended for

Or at the very least, drive it to work dirty once or twice, ha ha

(My favorite thing is to show up in a topless, doorless, windshieldless Jeep *covered* in mud...and then hop out dressed for a meeting, ha ha)

From my first time wheelin' last week, here is the video I am most proud of.

and here is the video I am ashamed of. I learned from this however. Most of the day, I had been crawling in low in 2nd gear and that is how I started this ascent which got me into most of the problems near the top with my #!@$&! 3.07 gears.

Tobit wrote:and here is the video I am ashamed of. I learned from this however. Most of the day, I had been crawling in low in 2nd gear and that is how I started this ascent which got me into most of the problems near the top with my #!@$&! 3.07 gears.

Ha ha, anytime you learn without rolling is a good day when wheeling!

Went wheelin' again today. I still hate the 3.07's but actually learning how to crawl with them quite well and I'm not stalling out as much as I used to when I went wheelin' the first time two weeks ago.

Good trail? PM or text me details on where it is and I'll see if we can make it a club run.

Here is another pic from today.

a few more pics from yesterdays trip.

Nice! Definitely looks like a fun run. Let's definitely figure out if it's something we'd want to run as a club!

CrawlingForward wrote:Nice! Definitely looks like a fun run. Let's definitely figure out if it's something we'd want to run as a club!

I gave Ryan some of the details on where we were. I need to sit down with the NH Gazetteer and see if all the Class 6's were on the map... some of the trails were snowmobile trails, however, and I might not be able to easily locate them again. One of these days I need to get a mapping GPS so I can keep track of all the awesomeness Matt from ExploringNH.com takes us on.

I think Ryan and I will be doing some scouting once he gets his new steering box installed.

Tobit wrote:

CrawlingForward wrote:Nice! Definitely looks like a fun run. Let's definitely figure out if it's something we'd want to run as a club!

I gave Ryan some of the details on where we were. I need to sit down with the NH Gazetteer and see if all the Class 6's were on the map... some of the trails were snowmobile trails, however, and I might not be able to easily locate them again. One of these days I need to get a mapping GPS so I can keep track of all the awesomeness Matt from ExploringNH.com takes us on.

I think Ryan and I will be doing some scouting once he gets his new steering box installed.

I've got some cool stuff to show you, speaking of Class 6 roads/mapping/gps/locating them again.

Geoff, you know what I mean

Nice Ryan.

I think I've found a good way to cure my 3.07 blues. I found a local dude who has a set of TJ 30/35's with 4.10's in them with new seals, ball joints, all ready to go. I only need to weld on a new spring perch on the rear, no big deal. He's going to let me have them for pretty cheap, well below junk yard pricing so I think I am going to grab them.

I really wanted to do an HP30 in the front but I figure if I truss the LP30 and put in some nice chromolly axles, I could get several good years out of it and it will be great now with 31's and decent when the 31's wear out and I upgrade to 33's. I will also be able to keep my low-mileage 3.07 set as spares if I were to break the 4.10's.

Tobit wrote:
I really wanted to do an HP30 in the front but I figure if I truss the LP30 and put in some nice chromolly axles, I could get several good years out of it

The famous "Idaho Jeep Build" on JF is built with 35s on an LP30, trussed. Lots of guys run them stock with 35s and have no issues.

Ryan M wrote:The famous "Idaho Jeep Build" on JF is built with 35s on an LP30, trussed.

Nice, he is running the same TnT Truss that I was going to go with.

Hah a few days the last time mine was muddy I think I waited for mother nature to wash it for me! I get lazy in the winter.

Today I installed my JKS Disconnects and a big honkin' rear tow hook. Looking forward to disconnecting the next time I go out.

Here are a couple videos from my last trip:

Have not done much lately but this past weekend I applied a Monstaliner roll-on bedliner to the tub of my Jeep. I went with their new Pyroclastic color which is a charcoal gray color. Pics below.

Today I also installed a Firestik-FL CB antenna and permanent mount to replace my temporary mag-mount setup I had prior. I also replaced my factory soft-top with a safari top and a deck lid cover. No pics of this stuff just yet.

Nice job on the monsta! That grey looks great! I got a kit of just the standard black I'm hoping to get applied in the next couple months...

Thanks brother.

Some pics from today and yes, from a crawling perspective, I realize the antenna should be on the back some place. However, I have been studying RF design and have been a radio geek for 30 years and I want it here from better RF plane/grounding (especially since I only have a 5W rig). Plus, I like having it where I can see it.

Note the flag at half-staff, have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend everyone and please remember the fallen.