2014 Cherokee Review

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al7fi

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I do!

... waiting... lol3.gif

I know.... Picked it up Tuesday but have been running around getting insurance claim down on Liberty. She is a sweetheart thou.
Will post the dirty details ASAP and try and get the pictures tomorrow even though it is dirty. Hey it is a Jeep.

Thank you for your patience!
 

al7fi

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I just tried to post the mother of all stories and got timed out cause I did not select remember me, I guess.

Sorry but it is almost 2:30 here now so it will have to wait till much later Sat.

There are pictures but Jayme has them and said she would post them.

Life can be frustrating now and again.

Later!
 

Cherrie

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I was going to click like. But it seems like it was one of those days. I like to see pic's and waiting for story.
 

yellocoyote

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Oops... I didn't realize I was supposed to post them. Sorry! :hidesbehindsofa:

Here ya go:
You must be registered for see images


You must be registered for see images


You must be registered for see images
 

Marlon_JB2

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Co-worker just bought one. 2WD Latitude. Not really a fan of hers, but this True Blue Trailhawk is a totally different story. ;)
 

al7fi

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Ok here we go again: Once upon a time (cause all the good stuff starts out that way). Some of you may know or remember I had signed up to do the Trek Over the Top again, Snowmachine from Tok, AK to Dawson,YT. Have done it 3 times before. I packed up and hooked up the trailer, gassed the machine and the Liberty and before I left got a text from my sales dude with pictures of my TH being unloaded in ANC. Set up to come to ANC when I got back on the day after (Tues). It was a snowing like a maniac, but headed north towards Tok, some 300 miles ne. After about 100 miles in the yuck, broke out to clear skies, and road and bright sunshine . Running at 60 and had Cruise turned on (big mistake, but road was super clear). Coming up a slight grade and the 45RFE downshifts just as I hit black ice across the road. Trac Lok throws the rear to the right which whips the trailer to the right into a snow berm sending snow everywhere. Snow machine leaves the trailer breaking 3 ratchet straps and winds up in the snow in a ditch on the right side of road upside down. Trailer hitch pops off breaking one safety chain hook and straightening the other, and ends up off the road at 90 degrees to the left with just the coupler not in the snow. Liberty does a modified 180 and while sliding forward goes off the road on the left at an angle pointed back down the highway. No air bags, no one else involved, and just a bruise on my left shoulder as the Liberty rolls on her left side but then rights herself. Three vehicles stop and go into action. After making sure I was OK, they righted the snow machine, got the shredded cover and broken windshield off, fired her up and rode her up out of the ditch and across the road. Broken windshield, broken air box and broken instrument pod with the torn cover. Trailer gets pulled out with a slightly bent axle and non functional safety chains. Liberty gets pulled out by a big Dodge Ram after a young buck jumps down with an avalanche shovel and frees up the left wheel so I could turn it. Liberty never quite running and was drivable once I got up out of the deep stuff. Left hand mirror mount broken off. Left front fender flair popped off along with liner. Trim piece along rocker panel loose. Major issue was the roof now had a valley down the center due to being compressed when it went on side. Sun roof no longer fit right,. Dent in left a pillar and other places on door and front body. Got a wrecker to come 30 miles down from Glen Allen to take everything up there . They did not want to go to ANC due to wx. Spent night in hotel in Glen Allan and got a call in AM that Jeep had thawed and they test drove it and was good to drive to ANC. Bent axle looked to be safe if I kept speed down. Loaded machine , strapped her down and headed south. 10 miles from my house something started shaking so pulled over but could not see anything so started out again (on 4 lane highway), shaking got worse , trailer dropped down on left side and wheel went across road. Called a friend with a slide back from Eagle River . Came out and pulled trailer with machine onto it and took to friends shop in ER. Friend is getting parts for snow machine and will redo trailer suspension (torsion bar setup). He said he was interested in the Liberty and was pretty sure it would be totaled. Got claims going with insurance for towing, and an appt to get Liberty looked at coming Tuesday. On Monday I went to ANC and cruised dealers lots and sure enough the TH was there. Got with sales dud and started paperwork. Tuesday I went to insurance folks. They estimated 9400 to fix, with value of 6500 or so, so it was a total. I have 1K deductible which comes off the top. Plus I wanted to by it back so looks like I will see about 4500 plus whatever I get from my friend. Went to dealer, finished paper work and test drive and such and drove TH home. Sales dude brought the Liberty out when he got off work. Got new insurance for the TH. and the Friday the pictures were taken I emptied the Liberty and parked her on the side of the property. I have some of the stuff in the TH but still more to go. Friday PM it started snowing and got cold, so all the slush yuck that was there froze and got 4 inches of snow (out here - ANC got over a foot).
Tried autostart Sat afternoon - worked great. knocked most of the snow off and went down for a meeting south of here.Then out to Wasilla for dinner with old pharmacy folks. Autostart again today and down to church then back Eagle River Valley to youngest sons house. In morning off to lunch with a group of hams in ANC, over to dealer to pick up the recovery kit they could not find and then off to a trailer supply for a bar and ball for the trailer hitch.

Impressions thus far? She is different but nice. Has taken a bit of getting used to so I can learn how she responds. No traction problems as yet with selector in auto. V6 has plenty of punch though I am staying off the jack rabbit stuff till she gets a chunk more miles. Ride is firm but comfortable. Tech package is a sharp learning curve but it is slick AND you cam turn stuff off if you don't want it on.Lighting seems as good or better than the Liberty. I am in love with the DRLs. Those LEDS are a kick. Fogs seem pretty good. Will start watching MPG closer on next fill up cause there is a bunch of idling on this tank.
My seat is super comfortable. My critter (PJ) likes hers too even though she can not adjust it. YC knows who PJ is. I LIKE BLUE . And "I"love the way this beast looks.I don't care much for the other models though I understand that the Limited has almost the same ground clearance and may have the same suspension, though no rear locker. I don't care for all the chrome on the Limited. I have black leather interior, comfort and convenience, tech, cold climate, block heater, cd player, hood decal, V6, tow package and 8.4AN system.
This is my 3rd "first" Cherokee. a 74 SJ bought new, a used 84 XJ, and this new KL. The 03 Liberty was in there but not a first model, but a Cherokee in Europe.

To each their own, and I understand the love each of you have for your KJs and KKs. This will almost certainly be my last new vehicle. Old folk don't really need to keep an old vehicle, once they are not able to work on them as they did when they were younger.

Make up your own minds. If you feel like it go find one and drive it. I suspect most KJ folk would not be satisfied with anything other than a Trail Hawk.

Will try and get some better pictures tomorrow and this time see if I can post them. If I can't, I will bug Jayme again!

You guys are all some kinda wonderful!!
 

Luke

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Whew... what a story!

Running at 60 and had Cruise turned on (big mistake, but road was super clear). Coming up a slight grade and the 45RFE downshifts just as I hit black ice across the road.

I did the exact same thing... talk about having to change your shorts! I was lucky my KJ survived, but not a fun feeling. Glad your OK!

Congrats on your new ride!
 

yellocoyote

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Wow!! eek2.gif SO glad you're okay. I hope your pup wasn't with you for the thrill ride.

Congrats on the new ride too, BTW. I'd say it arrived in good time!
 

Dave

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Glad you are ok al7fi and are enjoying your TH.


Dave
 

al7fi

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Wow!! eek2.gif SO glad you're okay. I hope your pup wasn't with you for the thrill ride.

Congrats on the new ride too, BTW. I'd say it arrived in good time!

Nope PJ was boarded out at the Dog Park over in Birchwood.
She was glad I came back for her early!
 

al7fi

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It all worked out and the timing could not have been better. Got a check from insurance today for 4500 and my friend bought the Liberty from me for the 1500 salvage. Just have to get new "reconstructed" Title so he can register it. She will live on under some one else's care after being re done.

Thanks to all for your patience and concerns.

Played in the snow a bit in ANC this afternoon. They got a lot more than we did.
It handles slippery different than the Liberty did but she is quite stable.
 

Marlon_JB2

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I'm still just glad that you freaking SURVIVED the mishap!

You're exactly right about that timing. Just think, had your first Jeep been built, instead of your 2nd one, you'd have been driving IT instead... and the same thing would have happened to your NEW Jeep!

EDIT: Scratch that, it wouldn't have. As soon as the stability control detected slippage, it would have disabled the cruise control immediately.
 

Jo6pak

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One of my neighbors has a white one. I usually don't like white vehicles, but the KL's body style wears it well.
 

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