New Guy, Old Jeep

[smfulle]

Found this forum looking for trails to ride. I haven't seen any other flat fenders on here, but I like what I have seen so far in how forum members treat each other and also seem to be responsible riders.
My rig is a 48 CJ2A, all stock except for a locking rear end. I have not added any safety stuff like roll bars or seat belts, but I still like to take on challenging terrain if I can do it safely. Part of the fun for me is seeing what my 65 year old rig can do without all the added modern tech.
This jeep was my Grampa's hunting rig and I brought it back from the dead rebuilding everything mechanical from the radiator back to the rear axle. The body I haven't touched and I probably won't as long as the rust keeps holding together.
I live in Plain City near Ogden.
Here we are on John's Trail in the Sand Hollow OHV area near St. George.
Stan

 

[Herzog]

Welcome Stan! That is an awesome flatty you have there. We definitely need more photos of it.

 

[mbryson]

Yes, more flattie photos LOVE the patina

 

[Stephen]

Man, that thing looks awesome!

 

[Kiel]

I like the personal plate

 

[sixstringsteve]

awesome rig stan

 

[OB1]

I want one of them. Nothing like old school. Welcome!

 

[TJDukit]

That's awesome. Love the wheel what you got attitude. Those old rigs really are as capable as they were made out to be.

 

[smfulle]

I tried to post some more pictures and a video that never came up. There was a message about a moderator having to approve or something. Did I do something against the rules?

 

[Greg]

I tried to post some more pictures and a video that never came up. There was a message about a moderator having to approve or something. Did I do something against the rules?

Not sure why you'd get that message, perhaps there were too many pics in one post? I don't remember what the limit is, but I think it's about 10. Feel free to try again.

 

[smfulle]

Welcome Stan! That is an awesome flatty you have there. We definitely need more photos of it.

Asking me for more pictures of my jeep is like asking me about my grandson, you might get more than you bargained for.

So here's a couple of the jeep and my grandson.
This kid is hooked. Every time he comes over he asks me "Can we go for a jeep ride grampa."


When I'm working in the garage he is right there with me. If the hood is up on the jeep, he climbs up and gets right in there. I often have to move his head a little to see what I'm doing. Here he is telling me how the fan works.


Last summer we went up Providence Canyon in Cache valley. Here Grampa's Jeep (that's his name) is posing after a climb in the rock quarry.


This year during spring break we went down to the St George area and spent three days on the trails down there. Here's a video of the steepest climb I dared try without safety stuff. I think it's on John's Trail. All of the trails down there at the Sand Hollow area are hard for me to identify.
[video=youtube;vyhucqNGz6Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyhucqNGz6Q[/video]

I sometimes tow my jeep with my other old pile of rust, a 59 Chevy pickup.

 

[smartass_kid]

awesome pics and love the 59, but please make some time to add a roll cage or bar. it's something simple and your family would be very upset if something happened to you.

 

[benjy]

Love it! Keep the pics coming!

awesome pics and love the 59, but please make some time to add a roll cage or bar. it's something simple and your family would be very upset if something happened to you.

I was gonna say the opposite. Leave it as is! Love the original look it has.

 

[smfulle]

Some more pics

When we drove down from Ogden to St. George on spring break, this is the rig we traveled in. My cousin took an old boom truck and put a flatbed on it, then stripped down an RV and made a vehicle trailer. He has the old Wrangler with Chevy axles and springs. His 15 year old son drives the Samurai. Both those rigs have the differentials welded up front and rear. I was really impressed with what the Samurai could do. It was just as good as me or better on the rocks and way better than me in the sand.


My vintage NTD tires are terrible in the sand.


One of the trails we ran over spring break was the Barracks Trail, just west of Coral Pink Sand Dunes near Kanab, UT. I highly recommend this trail. It has lots of fun river crossings and great scenic views. Here' we are at the first river crossing.
[video=youtube;q3ocLRZ9lnw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ocLRZ9lnw[/video]

One of the river crossings was a little bit too steep for me and I had to go downstream to an easer spot.
[video=youtube;ISETFc4EWSY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISETFc4EWSY[/video]

After we came up out of the river bottoms we made a big circle back on a different trail that for a little ways was right above the river gorge.


When we were loading up at my house we did a dumb thing and didn't lock the ramps in very well. Before we got Grampa's Jeep up on the trailer one of the ramps fell down. No real harm done, and you get to see the old guy has a little bit of flex in him.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Awesome. Barracks trail is on my short list.

 

[Houndoc]

awesome pics and love the 59, but please make some time to add a roll cage or bar. it's something simple and your family would be very upset if something happened to you.

Had both the same thoughts

 

[TurboMinivan]

So glad you found us here on RME. I hope to someday hit a trail with you.

please make some time to add a roll cage or bar. it's something simple and your family would be very upset if something happened to you.

While I love the way the Jeep looks as is, your life--and certainly that of your grandson--is much more important than a period-correct style. Please consider adding belts and a sturdy (even if somewhat basic) roll bar/cage of some sort.

 

[jackjoh]

Welcome on behalf of RME and the U4WDA.
Be sure to read all the instructions in "Introductions & using the Forum".

U4WDA believes the four wheeling community is best served by:
1. Education thru the use of classes, pamphlets, and films to teach responsible conservation.
2. Use Auto Dealerships and suppliers for the distribution of information.
3. Support Utah Counties in obtaining Quiet Claims to roads within their jurisdiction.
4. Stays informed and work closely with all Government Agencies and local law enforcement.
5. Where practical uses peer pressure to keep OHV use within the law.
6. Inform local agencies and law enforcement of illegal OHV use.

We promote the following: BRC/UFWDA: National legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
USA-All:- Local legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
U4WDA: On the ground actions. Service projects, education, club training, broadcasting the needs of Usa-All, UFWDA & BRC to its member clubs. Require clubs to be members of Usa-All, UFWDA & BRC, tie it into dues.
Member Clubs: Rides, education, hats, jackets, newsletters, raffles, etc. Require membership in U4WDA
Individuals: Join a club and promote responsible use amongst fellow travelers.
BRC:- National legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
Usa-All:- Local legislation, action alerts, lobbying, etc
U4WDA: On the ground actions. Service projects, education, club training, broadcasting the needs of Usa-All & BRC to its member clubs. Require clubs to be members of Usa-All & BRC, tie it into dues.
Member Clubs: Rides, education, hats, jackets, newsletters, raffles, etc. Require membership in U4WDA
Individuals: Join a club and promote responsible use amongst fellow travelers.
http://www.sharetrails.org

http://www.nohvcc.org/
http://www.u4wda.org
http://www.usaall.org

 

[smfulle]

Thanks for the welcome.

Thanks for the great welcome here. I've been reading through some trip reports. You guys are great at sharing, and at getting me pumped up to get off road.
I also want to thank you for your concern over my safety in my old stock rig. I really do appreciate it, especially the way it is communicated. Some comments on other venues aren't quite so, umm... diplomatic.

I'm going to try and explain myself and hopefully not sound too much like an idiot.
I like old things and history. I just read a trip report about a trip on the Hole in The Rock trail. I loved the pictures and looking at the trail the pioneers cut. Reading about the hike down the cut being difficult, I imagined how getting wagons and large animals down there would have been a test of ingenuity, strength, persistence and guts.

When I was in Germany in the service, I would look around the beautiful country there and try to imagine what it really looked like when GI's were slogging there way through in the winter with artillery shells dropping all around and machine guns blasting and they kept going and took care of business.

When I drive up Weber canyon I think about the Donner party waiting at the top for Hastings to return and tell them where to go, and finally heading off on their own.

What does all that have to do with driving an old Willys with no seat belts or roll bar? Probably nothing, but in my mind I'm reliving a little bit of motor vehicle history.
These guys didn't have them and they still had a great time.
[video=youtube;vov-IPy_6NM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vov-IPy_6NM[/video]

Be assured that I will never have my grandson in the Jeep if I am trying anything that is remotely dangerous. And anytime I have worries about an obstacle I get out and walk it first. I won't try anything where I will get twisted up and I'm not too proud to ask for a strap. I passed on lots of obstacles in our recent trip to Sand Hollow because I didn't want to hurt myself or my rig.

All that having been said, how many things are there that an old fat guy can do that are pushing the edge a little bit. I don't bungee jump, I don't hang glide or wrestle alligators. I do like to test my knowledge of the capabilities of my machine against obstacles that actually test it.

I love the machines that most of you have built. They amaze me, both with your ability to build, or even imagine them, and their awesome capabilities once they are put together. But my little rig can still get a lot of things done safely, as long as I use my head and not get caught up in things. That's the challenge for me, what can I do with this old thing using just what it came with (although I have already fudged on this with the rear locker).

I really don't care about looks. I like the word "patina" because it gives a classy connotation to my old rusty junk, but I value function over form, and the "old ways" are more interesting to me than the modern ones, even though modern technology can make a big difference in life. I don't want to turn back the clock and give up my A/C for the open window my bedroom had when I was a kid, but I slept pretty good back then.

After reading back through this, I'm not sure any of it makes any sense, even to me, but I'm going to keep testing my jeep on things and trying not to hurt myself at the same time. I think I have a little bit better understanding of those guys who walk tightropes or swing on trapezes without nets. I always thought they were crazy and now maybe so am I.

 

[moab_cj5]

I love the vintage look, and I understand the desire to keep it stock, but I also like the idea of being safe regardless of the perceived risk.

There are lots of dangers that exist on and off the trail that safety gear helps with. While the WWII era GI's, and even Pioneers overcame safety concerns, they weren't surrounded by other cars going 70+ mph, pushing their Jeeps up and over obstacles, and we don't have the stats on how many perished by being thrown out of the vehicles as they rolled.

In the end, your rig, your decision, but if by chance you do get into a bad spot or wreck (rollover) on or off the trail, I would want that safety gear to help increase my chance of survival and, or at least increase my chance of surviving and still having some type of quality to my life, let alone any passengers you carry.

Sweet rig though! I love the old jeeps. Just my 2 cents.