Eight years in the wilderness with a Jeep Wrangler..
Discussion
It was not a very difficult decision eight years ago. It lives in the American South West…endless empty spaces, huge skies, roadless wilderness, huge area so remote there is no cell service, water, heat or help., so to set the background here are some pics I took of places to which it has travelled:..
Aha: a bridge, you would think…civilization. Nope, this bridge is 65 miles from any road and was constructed by shepherds in 1934 to move their sheep in the flood season. Difficult to get to.
Turkey vulture:
And so a Jeep seemed to be a worthily addition to the fleet.
Simple two box shape from its military origins, true off-road capability, no curves, flat doors, flat windshield, short overhangs, 4Low for climbing.
Brilliant performance and a magnificent V8.- sorry..that would be an AMG:
THIS would be the Jeep.
And now for the actual driving experience:
Aha: a bridge, you would think…civilization. Nope, this bridge is 65 miles from any road and was constructed by shepherds in 1934 to move their sheep in the flood season. Difficult to get to.
Turkey vulture:
And so a Jeep seemed to be a worthily addition to the fleet.
Simple two box shape from its military origins, true off-road capability, no curves, flat doors, flat windshield, short overhangs, 4Low for climbing.
Brilliant performance and a magnificent V8.- sorry..that would be an AMG:
THIS would be the Jeep.
And now for the actual driving experience:
Basically, its a penguin. Slow and vague on the highway, but superb in its natural element...off the road.
Top speed is a magnificent 96MPH, acceleration is leisurely, steering is vague and it is not a gas miser.
Interior is cheap and sturdy, no detentes on the doors make it a pain to open doors if you are facing uphill. Rear seats come from a design by Savanorola during the Spanish Inquisition. Passengers are tortured on hard benches, and in winter they tend to have cold feet. Headlights are really good for a Model T.
On the other hand the separate plastic wings and running boards mean that there is never any parking lot damage.
Off road is another matter; it is a low speed exercise and the Jeep can tackle most things. For real rock climbing there are myriad accessories., lift kits 37" wheels, snorkels, winches and so on. My needs are more modest. Trails an areas are generally rated from regular passenger vehicle, High clearance vehicle, 4x4 required, to difficult where you are advised to have the heavy duty 4x4s and lots of experience.
In terms of reliability the reputation is poor; however, apart from recalls there have been no failures apart from a horn. Windshields are disposable items ( I have had four so far), but they are cheap. Offroading is tough in tires and I have had a full replacement set plus two blown tires. Given the climate rust is unknown.
It now has 43,000 miles and will run indefinitely. About the lowest depreciation rate on any regular vehicle here, and best of all, it fits in the landscape.
Top speed is a magnificent 96MPH, acceleration is leisurely, steering is vague and it is not a gas miser.
Interior is cheap and sturdy, no detentes on the doors make it a pain to open doors if you are facing uphill. Rear seats come from a design by Savanorola during the Spanish Inquisition. Passengers are tortured on hard benches, and in winter they tend to have cold feet. Headlights are really good for a Model T.
On the other hand the separate plastic wings and running boards mean that there is never any parking lot damage.
Off road is another matter; it is a low speed exercise and the Jeep can tackle most things. For real rock climbing there are myriad accessories., lift kits 37" wheels, snorkels, winches and so on. My needs are more modest. Trails an areas are generally rated from regular passenger vehicle, High clearance vehicle, 4x4 required, to difficult where you are advised to have the heavy duty 4x4s and lots of experience.
In terms of reliability the reputation is poor; however, apart from recalls there have been no failures apart from a horn. Windshields are disposable items ( I have had four so far), but they are cheap. Offroading is tough in tires and I have had a full replacement set plus two blown tires. Given the climate rust is unknown.
It now has 43,000 miles and will run indefinitely. About the lowest depreciation rate on any regular vehicle here, and best of all, it fits in the landscape.
Trophy Husband said:
Wow!
Just Wow!
Great photos of a different world!
The Jeep looks like a brick tough thing.
I live in very rural North Wales, Snowdonia, which is a beautiful place but you cannot escape anywhere in a vehicle in the same way. It must make you feel like a pioneer?
More photos please?
I think there is a feeling of complete aloneness that is much more difficult to achieve in Europe ( in which I drive frequently). I recently did 5500Km in 3 weeks in a Panamera in Europe and its was of course different. Not worse, just different. As someone born in Ireland, a small island, I have never lost my fascination with being able to drive basically forever here, and the endless skies....Just Wow!
Great photos of a different world!
The Jeep looks like a brick tough thing.
I live in very rural North Wales, Snowdonia, which is a beautiful place but you cannot escape anywhere in a vehicle in the same way. It must make you feel like a pioneer?
More photos please?
Trophy Husband said:
Another Jeep. Oops!
The photo screams Sergeant Esterhaus's words in Hill Street Blues. "Let's be careful out there."
A lot of people die in the desert each year. It is a hostile place. It barely makes the news. I have seen people in open-toed shoes, shorts, all sorts of stuff. Not the locals.The lightest contact with one of these will ruin your day:The photo screams Sergeant Esterhaus's words in Hill Street Blues. "Let's be careful out there."
Imagine running into one of those with open toed sandals and shorts.. you’d feel a bit of a prick wouldn’t you... 
Scenery looks amazing! Have you staged (parked the car) some of those photos yourself or have you driven away from your passenger and made them walk to catch you up! And loving the holes cause by lead worm in the signs.
Are ‘gas’ stations plentiful well marked/signposted?
Scenery looks amazing! Have you staged (parked the car) some of those photos yourself or have you driven away from your passenger and made them walk to catch you up! And loving the holes cause by lead worm in the signs.
Are ‘gas’ stations plentiful well marked/signposted?
Edited by MDUBZ on Friday 25th October 18:55
MDUBZ said:
Imagine running into one of those with open toed sandals and shorts.. you’d feel a bit of a prick wouldn’t you...
Scenery looks amazing! Have you staged (parked the car) some of those photos yourself or have you driven away from your passenger and made them walk to catch you up! And loving the holes cause by lead worm in the signs.
Are ‘gas’ stations plentiful well marked/signposted?
Mostly myself actually. Scenery looks amazing! Have you staged (parked the car) some of those photos yourself or have you driven away from your passenger and made them walk to catch you up! And loving the holes cause by lead worm in the signs.
Are ‘gas’ stations plentiful well marked/signposted?
Edited by MDUBZ on Friday 25th October 18:55
There are no gas stations once you get off onto the trails.. However the main drags all have cell service and gas.I lost a Jeep Cherokee out there many years ago..tried fording what looked like shallow water and it got stuck and then washed downstream.
Spring flash flood. I had little experience at the time. Only about five miles in and had to walk out and flag down a sheep truck in order to reach civilization. Would not happen now.
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