Weekend Wheeling Trip In The CJ7

[Harry Dawg]

Went to Sheriff's JeepFest this weekend.
Took the Blue Jeep out and did a little four wheeling. This was the hardest I had tested it, and even got it up on 3 wheels at one point. It did pretty good for being on light AT's.

Pic is coming off the trail. Unfortunately I was too focused on driving to capture the more difficult stuff.

Overall it's performance was good. It excelled at climbing steep hills.
I was impressed with manuverability and the way that the body design naturally kept itself away from obstacles such as near by trees. And y'all rocks.

Areas for improvement - Rocks coming up steep inclines were challenging, even though they were dry. Basically would just get enough wheel speed and burn out the whole way up, and several spots took 4 or 5 tries. More aggressive tires would help this I'm sure.

Lack of lockers led to decreased performance when suspension was flexed out, so I couldn't crawl through the really technical stuff. Again, just kind of hammered through it.
For the amount of four wheeling I do in this, I don't think adding lockers is worth it.

Kept wanting to stall on steep downward inclines. Definitely need to do some carb work this winter.

Might post a little more about this Jeep soon, but the 68' Gladiator is my focus currently.




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[Stuka]

Thats a clean looking CJ. Its so rare to stock height ones. Kind of refreshing.

[will e]

Good for you for getting out and wheeling! I am glad you had fun and like you I don't get many pics anymore. But I do appreciate you sharing the one you got. That's a good looking rig.

[Yeller]

Looks like fun. I like seeing stock vehicles on the trail, means you can drive! I need to get out and do some local wheeling. I’ve not been anywhere less than 800 miles from home in a couple of years.

[Harry Dawg]

This was actually my dad's Jeep. He has always been adamant that the engineers at Jeep designed them this way for a reason, so the one condition of me receiving it was that it has to remain stockish, with matching number block, axles and T-case. No lift either. Only non OE parts are the chrome bits, wheels, a radio out of a 66' mustang, Alpine speakers and I replaced the factory shocks and steering stablizer. Also repainted with a Toyota color. (Diplomat Metallic Blue)

Even though he said, "Once I am in the dirt, you can do whatever you want with it" I think I will just leave it be.

It was kind of funny seeing all these new school Jeep guys and gals on 4" lifts with stickies doubt this rig's abilities. At one point someone tried to prevent me from going on a difficult trail stating I wouldn't make it without a winch and lift.... Ended up cruising right through it!


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[Yeller]

Very exceptional looking CJ. The ones that get passed down and kept true to the desires of the original matriarch, it makes each and every drive special and memorable.

It’s amazing the mentality that the ability to go buy a new vehicle with all the offroad bells and whistles all of the sudden if you don’t have all of that stuff you can make it. Can’t replace actually knowing how to drive and knowing what you can and can’t really do.

Not saying those folks aren’t important to our sport but many have missed the learning curve of starting out in something stock, no lockers, no lift, no big tires ect. Now if they start with that and then run the wheels off of it and learn how to use all of those tools that’s fantastic, unfortunately many do not and worry about what they can do and when they do really need all of those tools they aren’t able to effectively use them. What it has done is given the aftermarket the resources to provide us with an endless list of cool parts that other wise we wouldn’t have or would have to make.

[Harry Dawg]

Alright y'all.

I'm unexpectedly back on the CJ7. My dad got me a Hooke Road Off-Road bumper for my birthday.

I bought a dual sport on Black Friday and have been talking about getting a bumper so I can pull a trailer / attach a carrier, and I guess he was taking notes!

I'm very grateful for the present, but now I'm faced with completely changing the appearance of this Jeep. I was looking at kits that would work with the steel bumper.

I always loved the stainless bumpers, accessories & aluminum wheels, and I feel like the black off-road bumper makes it look less like a classic Jeep and more like an off-road toy.

Pros of the Hooke Bumper -

1) Recovery Points
2) Hitch Receiver
3) Better body and frame protection
(From a functionality standpoint, this is the clear choice)

Cons -
1) Change the look of the Jeep.
2) Will have to purchase a matching front bumper.
(Based on appearance, this is the better option)

I've thought about painting / powder coating the new bumper to be silver metallic so It somewhat matches the chrome.

Also, if I start going down the modification rabbit hole it's going to be far enough away from the factory that I'll want to do a full build.

Lift kit, different wheels,engine work, lockers, tube fenders etc.

Ahhhhhh. I just don't even know what to do.

Looking for some feedback from my colleagues here.

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[devildog80]

Run it like you stole it.....bumpers do not make the Jeep run or perform any better, than the driver already does.

[Yeller]

I’d play with colors. Powder coat is an excellent primer.

[Harry Dawg]

Got the bumper on. I don't love it, but I don't hate it.

It's definitely more sturdy than the other one, but it kind of throws off the aesthetic.

Oh well, it's on there and is a utilitarian upgrade.

Now to find an affordable dirt bike carrier...

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