expand on that Larry. What was your wheelbase on the white TJ?
Why do you like the LJ more than the stretched TJ. One thing I can think of is the potential for a back seat and ability to keep a fuel tank under the rear rather than a cell in the cab. Would like to hear your thoughts.
This may be a bit long. //OLDSKOOL//
I do almost all my own work and planing on my rigs and I enjoy it. It allows me to take my rigs to a higher level faster because I am not paying someone else to do labor. I have nothing against people who are either fortunate enough to have the money to pay someone else to do the work or simply don't have the skill to do it. //cheers2// I suck at wood working. //;D//
I always wanted a CJ8 as a kid. Might be picking up a CJ8 this coming weekend if it isn't already sold. //popcorn// The LJ is modern day version of a CJ8.
I LIKE the 4 door JK's but can't afford one and build it the way I would want/need to in order for it to survive one trip let alone multiple trips. A built 4 door JK LS3/6speedauto/tons/42s would be my runner up to an LJ built the same. But who am I kidding I would V8 my weed eater if it wouldn't be to heavy to carry. //:hlp// I do prefer the smaller body of the TJ/LJ over the JK body.
This LJ build is all about second chances for me. I didn't mean to take TJ to the level it was at but I tend to play hard all the time and I break stuff. I did a lot of reading about what works/doesn't work and bunch of upgrading with the TJ. More importantly I found out through real life experience what is necessary for my rig and driving style to be road worthy and durable on the trail without going to extreme over kill.
TJ was 107 wb. I hated the fact the back tires where 8 inches past the rear of the tub.
LJ now 110.25 (lol at the .25) wb. I was shooting for 107-108 but the larger 3.75 axle tubes and the beefy link brackets got me to where I am at. The tires don't stick out past the rear of the tub!
There is always that one set of rocks on the trail that will be your current wheel base nemesis.
TJ had no AC.
LJ has AC.
Did I mention it gets hot in the south?
TJ had Full Hyro steering. Not bad on the road just not every day driver fun on the road.
LJ has Hydro assist.
TJ suspension was crazy soft and scary in curves at highway speeds. Coil springs and shocks front and rear.
LJ suspension if much firmer while still being flexable. I have coilovers on the front and coil springs and shocks in the rear and maybe go to coils on the rear the future.
Being in Harlan and driving made me miss driving my jeep everyday. Moab was the death nail for the TJ. Getting to drive my TJ for 6 days while in Moab made me need a true DD/trail rig to drive.
TJ had a fuel cell in the back cutting down on storage space and the gas smell was awful in the cab if you spilled a drop while filling up.The fuel cell and BTF ring so I could use a completely stock fuel unit was around $550
LJ stock tank was able to be pushed back for $0.
Storage is amazing in the LJ it is like having a tiny house back there. //smoke// I have room for spare parts, tools, coolers and more.
The TJ had 237K miles on the engine and body. The TJ also had a few trail damage spots because of some poor made aftermarket rock rails. Those spots and a few more got hidden by better armour. I repainted it, bed lined and replaced lots of stuff on her but she was still starting to show her age again.
The LJ has 87K on her and she looks great for a 11 year old jeep. I am armouring with the best protection that I can get before it hits a hardcore trails. I have a rail/step on the rockers this time!
Lets talk about the AW4 swap(s) for a minute. The TJ only had the Radesigns shift for controling 1-4 shifting. On the LJ I took the time to wire in the the stock TCU and a Radesigns shifter. So it will drive and shift like a "normal" jeep on the highway while still having complete control of 1-4 while rock crawling.
I put a Ford tarus fan on the TJ, I don't think they are needed or are an improvement. I have one in the garage right now but it will not go on my LJ.
I am able to tune my LJ with HP tuners. That opens up the possibility of either doing a 4.7 or a super charger without having to buy some kind of piggy back system.There is no real tuning options for the TJ.
Some of the things I have talked about I could have redone/fixed on the TJ. It is all the things that you can only get with and LJ that make the shine or in layman's terms "Anything a TJ can do an LJ does better."
Topic: Why I like my LJ better than my TJ by lt99ls1 LARRY (Read 634 times)
