It Crossed the Line...

[MELKORsXJ]

so... let me start of by saying, i absolutely love my Cherokee!
it all began when i went searching on autotrader and cars.com to find a more practical vehicle for a teenage highschool guy... i ended up finding my current XJ: in this condition -
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/72/l_956941a7d6b919a304da6fa3868ba659.jpg
...i drove it for awhile stock. blew a headgasket, and began doing research...
and stumbled across NAXJA !!!
...it wasn't long before i had a budget 3" lift on it, and some 30" BFG A/Ts. Then came some armor... and wheeling trips.
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/20/l_d34f1cdf19b576c16090c734699ba736.jpg
keeping up with the big dogs...
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/111/l_b75f2b5cd5ae63342be3cc2d0b4f8079.jpg
learning how to feather the throttle to maximize two open differentials...
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/24/l_010f2fb411fef1f344e78dd07ecbd638.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/13/l_1738fbddd03818e85827ff055cabc8ca.jpg
after following the bigger jeeps, i realized i needed to be bigger!
so... after some more wheeling, i realized a low COG is good to have. so i stuck with my 3" lift, trimmed fenders, and went with some 32"s...
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/107/l_90d4e231ffbd4f1ba568f1c3c1785155.jpg
absolutely loved the way it looked... low and big tires!
...it stayed looking "Mall Crawler" for awhile, because my parents would rather me wheel the Willys, and DD the XJ...
so i mall crawled a little bit...
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/81/l_8546ad1d029a446a898ad348a36a5b82.jpg
...but the curbs and walls weren't enough for me!
the XJ has been wanting to flex in the dirt for awhile... and dangit i've wanted to too!
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/86/l_37dabd11fc3542779830b63b162d675b.jpg
so i took the "mall crawler" XJ up to windrock and hit 22 with JeepAddict... and had an absolute blast!
the 32's made a huge difference!
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/76/l_3b8e96fe39c14c1da05f8e2e41c01cb1.jpg

[MELKORsXJ]

well... the XJ has been asking for some more dirt action for some time; so sorta spur of the moment, Tyler, Jarrad, and I took our Daily Drivers to Aetna at 8:30pm Tuesday...
ready for some night wheelin' on the mountain...
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/59/l_a368627a236d4d928862a46ab130fbc1.jpg
just getting up the main road to the top was quite a challenge, and quite messy! this was gonna be a heck of a ride...
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/62/l_f57b673c71db4123966821cff6cb2def.jpg
a little night flexin'...
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/12/l_5b2fb33dcfe049b0847c58138b20d5e9.jpg
just a little muddy... leaving the peanut butter hole
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/39/l_10b22678b0cf46bc831533828e8df3df.jpg

[MELKORsXJ]

made our way to 5 hills...
i had a little trouble on one of the "bypass" trails in the woods to the left...
asked tyler to give me a tug with the strap...













AND THE XJ CROSSED THE LINE!
__________________________________________________ _______________________________

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/43/l_7ac8e145aeaf4da0a1ee8fcf613242e7.jpg
as soon as i made sure my passengers were safe, i passed the camera out to tyler and jarrad :)
(would you expect anything less of me) :dunno:
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/42/l_9b602bb255a54cffb40e42da0539a0cb.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/107/l_d471c23441a9411fa47c3a180f5113c2.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/49/l_0f815917024849d3b1df9c62e92df0a9.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/74/l_29fade40a2914158a457b1dadd91ccb6.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/17/l_c077ac859ed7409faa58cf973e2cfdba.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/105/l_77856b04db0d41c7bd0c85150ed5b903.jpg

[MELKORsXJ]

...the jeep was very stable, somehow lol... so we got everyone out, and decided on the best way to go about getting the XJ on all 4 again.
fortunately i grabbed a tow/ratchet strap (they've come in handy before, and sure did this time) and we secured the lower slider to a tree on the passenger side. i had to dig out the dirt away from the body...
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/103/l_b3cf52d614ae4ad093443ca3960ed07b.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/98/l_59c23a20070e43cfb866526f9e56e958.jpg
then i finally got to use my snatchblock!!! i think they are so cool... we set tyler up to face me, and pull me from the driver side slider...
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/65/l_371ba595cb384ea4b2d542165a22a841.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/6/l_39be14a3301b4ea38eb2a59de96d58e2.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/79/l_9dab81087b4b47788ddd30b028cbf6b0.jpg
...not pictured, but we stuck a HUGE rock under the rear tire, to fill in the rut, and keep the passenger side from sliding down further, and allowing the driver side to be all that moved when we started winching.
we took our time, planned everything carefully... 10 seconds with tyler's M8000 and the XJ was on all 4 again... with minimal damage, thankfully.
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/100/l_74992d0069d74c50b70bc29ccfd209b7.jpg
...a FREAKING tree root broke my glass!
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/109/l_62afb8aa80864079b86af5882af8e6d2.jpg
ratchet strap that kept passenger side from moving...
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/58/l_b5210da1cc3e4c758bbe91a379882595.jpg
...something that could have led to the Flop was i ended up climbing up the driver side of the rut, and then about 2.5' up a tree!... and i was being pulled to the driver side due to trees in the woods limiting tyler's path...
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/111/l_722b5cdb3c624d3d82d6986b6217c86a.jpg
definetly left a mark on that tree with my Rigid Co bumper!!!
...on all 4, then checked interior, rearranged all mis-lodged parts and tools (90% were strapped down)
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/13/l_600dbd5f736244b99d4116ea30f30029.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/104/l_6b66108390ea486cb1160f3cee38825e.jpg
with everyone safe, jeep running, on all 4 tires, we decided to call it a night (about 1:00am)
...had to do something to keep mud and cold air out on the way off the mountain
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/83/l_5fbe45496e464db79aa749d6983175c8.jpg
without breaking tradition, we stopped by waffle house for some food and a recap of our adventures
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/64/l_05e99e59a8df40c18b5ad4179d2ac5a7.jpg

[MELKORsXJ]

CARNAGE!!!
-broken glass in passenger rear door (both, and center divider bar)
-cracked front passenger marker light
-slightly bent passenger fender in front (near marker)
-slightly tweaked drip rail on passenger side
-decent dent between hatch and rear glass
-cracked driver taillight
-bent receiver hitch "tabs"
-slightly bent lip on LF wheel
-leaking LF tire at bead (cleaned and reseated at work)
-lots of undercariage scrapes
-a few more scratches in the paint
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/94/l_1c03fd80a6df4ef28be880c2d199dacc.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/72/l_492c19d7ca9e4b38b9fe40a864dbf0cb.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/96/l_64b852ef32ca4be78904c7fa7866e947.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/19/l_76f2a7f8889c46bca6ce38ac5bb9c7e2.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/105/l_9480b363aef64eb2bebb824171c1bb9c.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/83/l_17b4fed0650a472dafa426cddfdff489.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/94/l_c13c98d4f1da451a87e3e7a7fea6678c.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/106/l_a58520f7af7b4ccba5cac0d0c8b1e58d.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/13/l_769eedf4a92f473895ec64702dd0f0b7.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/54/l_05a41f31c3b1489eb83b4b0292c2a610.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/67/l_e47b7b828aea444a95ca52b6eaf57528.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/93/l_eef3a98ff6da40dbb36c1b2d8514ad97.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/100/l_84018c8aa07f4082b140dc98fb31f59e.jpg



...dangling from your seatbelt: PRICELESS

[Team Willys]

Yep, definitely a night to remember. Its always important to stay calm in situations like that. Keep on you head on straight and think about ways to resolve the problem safetly and effectively without doing more damage.

We did a good recovery job and Im sure the Cherokar is grateful for it!

[LiL Timmy]

It was a full day of wheeling and a good show at the end to top it all off! Me and Tyler wheeled at the cove and had many intresting adventures there also before going to Aetna. Dan im pumped about us building your XJ now!

[beraad44]

Welcome to the club. I remember when i flopped mine on its side. Man i wish i was wearing a seat belt then.

[stumpXJ]

Nice job on the recovery guys. I have seen more damage caused by trying to halfass recover a vehicle than the actual flop. I have used my snatch blocks twice in the past 4 years. But they are one of those things where when you need it, you NEED it. It stays with me along with all of my recovery stuff no matter what im doing.

Dan, sorry bought the flop, but considering how good it came out you should be thankful! :) Not lik eyou gotta chop the roof off and turn it into a buggy or anything...unless you are looking for that excuse? :D

~James

[MrMom]

just left aetna sunday and it was messy coming out can't imagine after the rain sun
where was it you flopped and where is this five hills ? last weekend was the first time I have been to aetna and would like to go back and explore a little more

[mbogosia]

That's awesome you guys went at night. Glad your okay and the jeep is too.

[MELKORsXJ]

...thanks guys! and thanks a bunch to those that helped me last night...

...i'm very thankful for how everything turned out. should have everything back to normal by the end of the weekend, other than a few beauty marks of course :)
- tyler and jarrad will be going down to the PAP and picking me up an entire door for ~$40 :party:

...when i was packing the jeep for our "quick run" i was half tempted to pack "light"... but ended up basically emptying the Willys toolbox into the XJ; and i'm dang glad i did! had everything we needed...


...so by crossing the Line, i forsee the XJ seeing the trails more frequently :) and it will get a little lovin' over at RSOR before long...
The XJ is a different animal compared to the Willys... its more "tame": roof, windows, HEAT... they are each different, and much fun. i enjoy wheeling it open/open too... although i'll be coerced into lockers before long, lol.

oh by the way... my parents just got home from a 3 week mission trip in Uganda, Africa. one of the first things my mom says, "why is your black jeep all muddy?" i reply, "cause i took it offroading." ..."what are you gonna do when it breaks?" ..."fix it, like i do for the Willys"
...luckily for me, i always back my jeep in the driveway, and that hid the broken glass from them, and it was dark outside. I'm also housesitting for a fellow offroader for the holidays, so i should be able to keep my "flop" on the quiet side and get it fixed before all "heck" breaks loose...

...but if they see it, and ask, "how'd your window get busted?"
- "a part of a tree hit it, that's all" (forgetting to mention it was the ROOT!)

...although if they prod me more about it, i won't have a problem telling them. my jeep, i paid for it, and pay the insurance... i can take responsibility for my own decisions i'd say...


anyways... anyone got an M8000 layin' around? it'll be high on my list of things for the XJ, as i'll have to do some modifications to the bumper and fit the winch before i can proceed with the "XJ build"...

[Team Willys]

Heres your new sig:

'00 XJ Sport - DD/comfort trail rig, 3" Rustys, 32" BFG M/Ts, skids, sliders, bumpers, custom root beauty marks...
'53 CJ3B - Trail Rig, D44s locked F/R, 37" iRocks, 4.3L/SM420/Dana 18 twinstick, stretched... 8274

I cant wait to add the RSOR touch, its gonna be super nice to have a capable rig that can still be daily driven.

[High2by]

That is awsome Dan!!! Glad you guys are ok. The right equipment can make or break a recovery. Way to go! No more added damage from getting in a hurry and rushing things. I can't wait to get to go to Aetna. Tyler, we need to make a run there after I'm back going.

[Team Willys]

10-4 Good buddy! sounds like a plan to me!

[~Spanky~]

Yep, definitely a night to remember. Its always important to stay calm in situations like that. Keep on you head on straight and think about ways to resolve the problem safetly and effectively without doing more damage.

We did a good recovery job and Im sure the Cherokar is grateful for it!
Stop by the house and I give her a bath...:wave:

[LiL Timmy]

Hey Dano call me tomorow and let me know about your parents trip! I get off at 2 o clock

[256offroad]

welcome to the club! looks like yall had fun. i enjoy driving the tj as a capible dd its well worth being able to just go wheel and not have to load up a truck and trailer.

as for the winch. get the smitty built. just took the warn of the xj and put it on the tj and installed a brand new smittybuilt 8klbs winch. $286 shipped to the door!

[JeepAddict85]

dang dan! glad you are ok...sucks about the damage but im sure you will build it up even better than before. we should start a 'Black Jeep Former Mall Crawler Club'

[kf_chris]

Good everyone was ok. I don't know how I'd handle a flop in mine...I'd probably freak. Can't wait to get teh CJ running because with the stroker I don't know how much mine will see the fun stuff...time will tell.

[PacificEd]

Dan,

Get a picture of the XJ after washing it. The damage looks pretty light but mud can hide a lot of stuff.

Sorry about the roll and I'm glad everyone was okay. Tyler is right. When situations like that happen, be careful and patient and most times everything will come out okay.

[shortxjdoug]

so im out having a beer with my best friend from high school tuesday when my phone rings at 1045, its a text.... it reads and i quote only "laying sideways at aetna right now..... in my xj" -Dan


..... good times ;)

[Ghost]

Nice! I need to get back on mine!

[YJ-GENRAL]

hey if your going to PAP this weekend look for a good engine for me while your there... i cant make it this weekend but if one is there we can always hit it up next weekend....

[Team Willys]

Dan can't go either. Im going tomorrow with Jarrad. We will basically be stripping an XJ because we both need various parts, most of them from a Cherokee.

I will see if there are any tuned port or TBI 305s, but there is always a ton of TBI 4.3s and 350s in various Astro/Full size Chevy vans. So we can always go that route. And, unfortunately just because it is there this weekend doesn't mean it will be there next weekend, the good stuff usually goes like hotcakes and coffee on a cold winter day!

But I will take a look for you bud.

[MELKORsXJ]

Dan,

Get a picture of the XJ after washing it. The damage looks pretty light but mud can hide a lot of stuff.


...i plan to take pics after washing. i could have washed it today, since i was off work and all. but i didn't because the mud on the windows makes it harder to see through, and notice the broken one while i'm at home.
i hope to have an update this weekend, with a fixed window and a washed jeep.

[YJ-GENRAL]

need to put a black tshirt over the door... that will look like tint :D

[Team Willys]

Good idea Blake!

You know, Dan is pretty good at building tarp structures, Im half surprised the "repair" isnt more waterproof! lol.

[MELKORsXJ]

Im half surprised the "repair" isnt more waterproof! lol.

...it's not supposed to rain 'til monday. :)

KGP416 said he's got a 98 model XJ 'carcas' sitting at Ed's... and that i could use the glass, tinted too! thanks bud!
...now i just need an excuse to visit nashville :party:

although tyler is going to ATL PAP tomorrow morning... if he can't find a door with tinted glass, i might find a reason to visit our President.:wave:
(fuel costs vs. a complete door would be about the same for me)

...you gotta love NAXJA though... not sure i'd have as many friends willing to offer parts if i were driving a BMW lol

[LiL Timmy]

The damage looked minimal, nothing really besides the glass. If I was going to flop thats how id want to do it on a nice soft bank! well hopefully have some new glass in it this weekend and youll never know it happened. Dano you didnt call!

[Team Willys]

He didnt call, but I text you and invited you to join us! lol.

See you in the morning bud, we got a busy day tomorrow for sure!

[MELKORsXJ]

...well, tyler and jarrad pulled through for me :party:
they found me a nice shiny red XJ door... with tinted glass.
(this happened to be the only late model with a good door and tinted glass too :) )

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/98/l_883ac52b64ea4a26990907417cd9ada2.jpg

...so looks like i have some work to do tonight when they get back.

[KGP416]

^ thats an interesting pic, note how much bigger the individual holding the door is then the door it self, and what a small crawl space you need to pass through just to sit in the back seat.

...looks like it came off go cart, lol

congrats on finding a door, no more baggie !

[MELKORsXJ]

After dinner with the family, i headed over to my friends shop, where i'm hiding the jeep, i mean house sitting... and began tearing down my door, in preperation for my shipment.
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/78/l_eb2dca6887a944a482989f18d785bcdf.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/92/l_11488fd3be24455b9c56b34280b9a93a.jpg
found out there is still plenty of glass in the door...
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/74/l_dff2d7b00e6444dcb38822514ca32050.jpg
plenty of glass...
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/103/l_bc02fe5801774019bff20372ed17cf2a.jpg
...after i got the door all cleaned up, i stood back, and took a look at the jeep; and i think it looks pretty good with just a single large window... and then i realized that it wouldn't work because of the wheel well, oh well...
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/20/l_444f6f335fe543d6ba4790003b12f822.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/12/l_cdda29dbc6d346e5b273366920cba399.jpg

[MELKORsXJ]

...ok, i got my shiny red door, with a special 5.0 speedy delivery this evening. and quickly began tearing into it...
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/36/l_7d32b06d8b8e418b883dc2d7ba2fb75f.jpg
...such a glorious sight!
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/91/l_fbf4948318a14672b961ce00c37cfcf4.jpg
...not wasting anytime, in they went!
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/98/l_39323adfcd6e41ef926484e1c09eca3e.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/91/l_219f2ed25a7549c3823ac7f3d3ad267e.jpg

and VOILA!!!
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/58/l_4ba2422081fd41d99c2dfd503dedfaf1.jpg
XJ ready for a wash, and a safe visit home... with a few extra beauty marks probably...
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/36/l_58c84ff6368a4406a298fa7b56c642fe.jpg


...oh by the way, i got a red door for sale now, minus window glass. :)
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/5/l_5f95988f9b774d3e86f2b3718c085720.jpg

[Team Willys]

Who's that goofy lookin feller in the window? lol.

Didn't waste anytime posting the pics up huh?

Glad we were able to get it fixed bud.

[MELKORsXJ]

i got nuthin to do house sittin... so pics went up quick :)

...thanks again for you guys pullin' parts for me!

[kf_chris]

That thing looks kinda funny with the one piece of clean glass in it.
And goofy is probably the opportune word!

[shortxjdoug]

good as new dano ;) lift it lock it cage it and wheel it in the winter!

[MELKORsXJ]

got it all washed up this morning...

to reveal a few beauty marks...

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/74/l_7fa713e49edc42e5a31016e8d1188e60.jpg

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/88/l_05ade2dfd00744e5abbd74c1dca3aba8.jpg

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/106/l_4e50fc36a0a042068c1e996c145a16c5.jpg

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/106/l_3124e053a1e64baf8b4c708a0bd24bc7.jpg


...that's before i go to work, and talk to the detail manager about buffing some of those for me :)

...i also found my driver rear tire to leak down, so i musta done something on the driver side that got mud in the beads... oh well, guess i'll fix that monday too.

[YJ-GENRAL]

tyler you looked possessed lol!

dan looks good, alittle buff and your good. im still surprised that in no way did that rip the mirro off LOL

[shortxjdoug]

shitllbuffout.....

[MELKORsXJ]

dan looks good, alittle buff and your good. im still surprised that in no way did that rip the mirro off LOL

...i was making forward progress as it flopped... and the mirror folded in :)

[thechief86]

pshhht. that ain't got nothin on me.... i flopped the blue one a few times, and yep, it looks way worse. i'd just buff it and drive it. nobody will ever know... i never once broke any of the side glass on mine, just the windshield.:D

[High2by]

Glad you got the window fixed. At least you kept the same color door unlike some Jeeps I've seen.

Nice work on getting the parts for him guys!!

[MELKORsXJ]

At least you kept the same color door unlike some Jeeps I've seen.

...and own! :anon: