soewhatman
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2021
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 14
Hello.
Purchased a 2004 KJ Limited a few months back, intending to build/use it as a dedicated camping/hunting/fishing/trailhead vehicle. The vehicle was a single owner, well maintained, AZ (rust free) vehicle with 130k miles. I've been installing new parts and chasing 17 year old vehicle gremlins in order to make it as reliable as possible, as it will spend a good chunk of its time well away from pavement.
There are some things I love about the vehicle so far, some things I don't love, and one or two I really don't like but it was relatively cheap and will get the job done. I like to work on my own cars, and I think early 2000's are the sweet spot for enough technology but not too much. My newest vehicle is my 2006 F250 work truck. The Liberty is replacing a first generation Subaru Forester that I lifted slightly, installed skid plates on, and drove the dickens out of for years. It never left me stranded or let me down, but it can't take much weight even with heavier suspension. Just too much car and not enough truck. A blast to drive on graded forest service roads at 50 mph though. Hoping to get similar use/enjoyment out of the jeep, with the ability to load up 3 adults, 2 small dogs, and 10 days worth of camping food/water. I probably average 10 weeks camping a year, so the Jeep will get used hard.
I'm sure I will have plenty of questions as I work through the KJ and figure out a new vehicle.
Photos are as she sits now, with my camping trailer. I built the trailer about 5 years ago and have towed it all over AZ, CA, NV, OR, WA, and UT with my Forester. It weighs 800 lbs fully loaded with 15 gallons of water. I flipped the axle to beneath the leaf springs to better match the height of the Liberty. It will go anywhere the Liberty goes.
Purchased a 2004 KJ Limited a few months back, intending to build/use it as a dedicated camping/hunting/fishing/trailhead vehicle. The vehicle was a single owner, well maintained, AZ (rust free) vehicle with 130k miles. I've been installing new parts and chasing 17 year old vehicle gremlins in order to make it as reliable as possible, as it will spend a good chunk of its time well away from pavement.
There are some things I love about the vehicle so far, some things I don't love, and one or two I really don't like but it was relatively cheap and will get the job done. I like to work on my own cars, and I think early 2000's are the sweet spot for enough technology but not too much. My newest vehicle is my 2006 F250 work truck. The Liberty is replacing a first generation Subaru Forester that I lifted slightly, installed skid plates on, and drove the dickens out of for years. It never left me stranded or let me down, but it can't take much weight even with heavier suspension. Just too much car and not enough truck. A blast to drive on graded forest service roads at 50 mph though. Hoping to get similar use/enjoyment out of the jeep, with the ability to load up 3 adults, 2 small dogs, and 10 days worth of camping food/water. I probably average 10 weeks camping a year, so the Jeep will get used hard.
I'm sure I will have plenty of questions as I work through the KJ and figure out a new vehicle.
Photos are as she sits now, with my camping trailer. I built the trailer about 5 years ago and have towed it all over AZ, CA, NV, OR, WA, and UT with my Forester. It weighs 800 lbs fully loaded with 15 gallons of water. I flipped the axle to beneath the leaf springs to better match the height of the Liberty. It will go anywhere the Liberty goes.
