Anyone missing an XJ

[bass2323]

There was a modded XJ found by a few people from NWW this weekend at Reiter, the liscense plates and vin plates have been removed so I'm thinking it was stolen for a joy ride and dumped.

It's grey with cut fenders, not sure on the lift or tires but they look like 33's on stock steel wheels. Summit racing and Jegs stickers on the hatch.

[KarlVP]

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9441/img3139smjp3.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3741/img3143smdt5.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2534/xj20at20reiterfw8.jpg

[fubar XJ]

No plates, glass is missing, some douchebags likely stole it, took it for a wheeling joyride, and abandoned it when it got stuck.

That sucks. Hopefully someone will be able to ID it and go pick it up.

[KarlVP]

We are on our way to go drag it out now.

[bass2323]

Karl, Tom and I got whats left of it out.

[PornstaR]

So where you end up taking it?? Tow truck get it ?? Just wondering cause if ya just left it there its just going to end up back out there again by someone else. Next time they will prolly catch it on fire like the others on the news. Its just sad when this happens.

[KarlVP]

When Tom and I got there at about 4, it had no tires and someone rolled it down the hill. Damn shame too, we were hoping that we could just re-install the rear drive shaft (which was sitting in the rear cargo area, bungieed to the floor), hot wire it and drive it to the parking area.

Anywho, it took Tom's and my winch to get it back up the hill. Then tom's winch tripled up to get it back around the corner and up to the ridge road. Tom started yanking on it, and the rear end hit a rock. Tom spun a tube on his rear dana 60, and it broke the output shaft on his transfer case.

So I started yanking on it with my TJ, and Nick tugging on me with a tow strap. It lost ALOT of parts on the way back down to the pit, and the front end was held in by a single shock. Tom collected all the parts which we put in the rig. We left it right by the sign at the main parking area.


Tom took lots of pics, I called Kim and she said she would have it taken care of. We did find a vin plate that they forgot to remove. They had stripped the dash vin, the door vin, and the one in the glove box. But they forgot the one under the hood.

Pics will be up tomorrow when Tom figures out how to post them.

Thanks A LOT to Tom and Nick for helping us keep Reiter a great place to play.

[KarlVP]

So where you end up taking it?? Tow truck get it ?? Just wondering cause if ya just left it there its just going to end up back out there again by someone else. Next time they will prolly catch it on fire like the others on the news. Its just sad when this happens.


After the roll, it doesn't look like it did anymore. It's DONE. It did about a full ass over tea-kettle then onto it's roof down that cliff. IT was a PITA winching it back up.

When things like this happen, once we get it off the trail, we call Kim with the DNR and she jumps through the official hoops to get it taken care of.

[Rev Den]

No one stole it.

The owner dumped it.

You do not pull tags and VINs off a stolen vehicle just to get rid of it, you do that to hide ownership.....I am sure the owners story will be different.

Bravo for cleaning up trail trash.

Rev

[fubar XJ]

No one stole it.

The owner dumped it.

You do not pull tags and VINs off a stolen vehicle just to get rid of it, you do that to hide ownership.....I am sure the owners story will be different.

Bravo for cleaning up trail trash.

Rev

But the thing was sitting on a lift kit, oversize tires, and didn't look completely thrashed in the first pics. Can't see why the owner wouldn't just sell it if he wanted to get rid of it. Much more profitable and less effort than driving out to Reiter and abandoning a viable rig.

[KarlVP]

Photos of the recovery.

How it was when we got to it.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8760/xjrecovery001de3.jpg

We winched it up a bit, then rigged off to some trees for re-rigging.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/3610/xjrecovery009ut3.jpg

Almost up.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3911/xjrecovery010bh8.jpg

Only the corner left to go.

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5396/xjrecovery012yp8.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/8702/xjrecovery014nl4.jpg

Me and nick dragging it to the parking area.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9458/xjrecovery023od2.jpg

How we left it.

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/5098/xjrecovery025mb6.jpg

[TRSCobra]

I think I'd cry if I ever saw my jeep like that.

[MT Mike]

What a damn shame. Waste of a perfectly good jeep. :mad:

[PornstaR]

Looks as if the control arms and brackets have seen better days.

[bass2323]

That was from dragging it, had the wheels not been removed we would have driven it or towed it.

[ddeadserious]

shoulda taken some of the parts. someone was being stupid and left it for someone to take care of. you took care of it, you shoulda gotten something from it.

[Sniggs]

Accessory to the crime? :twak:

[KarlVP]

shoulda taken some of the parts. someone was being stupid and left it for someone to take care of. you took care of it, you shoulda gotten something from it.

That is TOTALLY WRONG!!!!!

Sure, the rest of the parts on that rig were in damn good condition. Everything: (axles, tranny, engine, xfercase, driveshafts, etc...)

BUT it is STEALING. Despite the fact that that rig was dumped in the woods, whethere it was stolen, or dumped by the owner, one can never know... IT IS STILL THEFT OF SOMETHING THAT ISN'T YOURS!!!!!

If you want to do it legally, you can call the police, let them know where it is, send in a VIN, and apply for a title. The process is FREE, and if nobody has reported it stolen after a certain period of time (30 Days in WA) then the vehicle becomes yours.

That is the right way to do it. If I EVER catch folks stealing parts off of "abannonded" rigs, I call the police.

It isn't yous, so don't mess with it.

[PornstaR]

:gee:YEA! What he said

[BPB]

my vote is for taking the parts!!!!!!

[MY92XJ]

my vote is for taking the parts!!!!!!


Think of this

Someone steals your XJ in the middle of the night.....you get a phone call a couple weeks down the road.....The police say they found it for you but theres nothing left on it because all the parts were stolen

Then how would you feel !!

[fubar XJ]

Think of this

Someone steals your XJ in the middle of the night.....you get a phone call a couple weeks down the road.....The police say they found it for you but theres nothing left on it because all the parts were stolen

Then how would you feel !!

An excellent point.

I concur. Stolen, dumped, or otherwise abandoned rigs belong to someone. They invested the time, money, and effort to build the rig, they should at least have the comfort of recovering most of the parts after their rig is recovered.

[IXNAYXJ]

my vote is for taking the parts!!!!!!Yeah...we know. You're famous nationally. Or is that infamous...?

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=914119

-----Matt-----

[jp904x4]

all i have to say is good recovery and clean up. its a shame that happend to the xj it looked like a good trail rig. i hate car jackers

[pSYChedXJ]

I think I'd cry if I ever saw my jeep like that.x2

:bawl:
shoulda taken some of the parts. someone was being stupid and left it for someone to take care of. you took care of it, you shoulda gotten something from it.:wstupid:

Right, just like we should charge folks to pull 'em out of ditches during the winter. I love the "So, what do I get?" mentality.

- Jay

[fubar XJ]

I've had a few people over the years offer me money for getting them unstuck. Twice on the trail by people who flagged me down as I was passing on an adjacent trail, and once for a car in the ditch in the snow. I'd never "charge" someone for that, but it's a sign of class to offer a stranger a little cash for saving you the time and expense of a tow truck bill.

[adamusmc2002]

That is TOTALLY WRONG!!!!!

Sure, the rest of the parts on that rig were in damn good condition. Everything: (axles, tranny, engine, xfercase, driveshafts, etc...)

BUT it is STEALING. Despite the fact that that rig was dumped in the woods, whethere it was stolen, or dumped by the owner, one can never know... IT IS STILL THEFT OF SOMETHING THAT ISN'T YOURS!!!!!

If you want to do it legally, you can call the police, let them know where it is, send in a VIN, and apply for a title. The process is FREE, and if nobody has reported it stolen after a certain period of time (30 Days in WA) then the vehicle becomes yours.

That is the right way to do it. If I EVER catch folks stealing parts off of "abannonded" rigs, I call the police.

It isn't yous, so don't mess with it.

Right on Karl! I wasn't aware of that title application process, cool info. And yes, that is the ONLY way to go about comondeering(spelling?) an abandoned rig.

Adam

[KarlVP]

I've had a few people over the years offer me money for getting them unstuck. Twice on the trail by people who flagged me down as I was passing on an adjacent trail, and once for a car in the ditch in the snow. I'd never "charge" someone for that, but it's a sign of class to offer a stranger a little cash for saving you the time and expense of a tow truck bill.


My Club (Timber Tamers) charges folks for getting pulled out. It's funny too after helping someone on the trail. After we are done, we tell them "Um, our 4x4 club charges for this" some folks get a little miffed, until we tell tham that it is only a dollar.

On club runs, even if you have to winch yourself out, you get charged a dollar. It's called "Tow Fees" and at the end of the year, we put all the members names in a hat and draw at name at the club Christmas party. That lucky person gets half the tow fees and the other half goes to the club.

[pSYChedXJ]

I've had a few people over the years offer me money for getting them unstuck. Twice on the trail by people who flagged me down as I was passing on an adjacent trail, and once for a car in the ditch in the snow. I'd never "charge" someone for that, but it's a sign of class to offer a stranger a little cash for saving you the time and expense of a tow truck bill.

Exactly. If I was stuck and needed a tug, I sure as hell would open up my wallet in appreciation. That's the way it should work. Not holding out my hand and "ah-hem"ing like the greedy bellhop waiting for his tip. It's all about class.

- Jay

[nickguy]

The other crime is the buggers who rolled it down the hill after stealing the wheels. It just blows me away that someone would do that. Sure all the oil drained out, providing grist for people opposed to wheeling.

Wankers.

[fubar XJ]

My Club (Timber Tamers) charges folks for getting pulled out. It's funny too after helping someone on the trail. After we are done, we tell them "Um, our 4x4 club charges for this" some folks get a little miffed, until we tell tham that it is only a dollar.

On club runs, even if you have to winch yourself out, you get charged a dollar. It's called "Tow Fees" and at the end of the year, we put all the members names in a hat and draw at name at the club Christmas party. That lucky person gets half the tow fees and the other half goes to the club.

You're a Timber Tamer? You know Steve Franz? We're wheeling buddies from way back, haven't seen him for awhile though. Good guy. I also remember towing a Ford truck hulk out of Reiter a couple years ago with a Tamer, orange Jeep on coils and 38"s. Don't remember this name, nice guy though.

I'm in the Boeing 4x4 club, we do the same thing with "stuck bucks". Every time you require extraction beyond your own vehicle's engine power (winch, tug, "redneck hang" off the side rollbar, etc) or pop the hook for a mechanical problem, it's a buck. Five dollar maximum per trail run or weekend. They all go in the kitty and we raffle them off at the year end Christmas party.

[KarlVP]

You're a Timber Tamer? You know Steve Franz? We're wheeling buddies from way back, haven't seen him for awhile though. Good guy. I also remember towing a Ford truck hulk out of Reiter a couple years ago with a Tamer, orange Jeep on coils and 38"s. Don't remember this name, nice guy though.

I'm in the Boeing 4x4 club, we do the same thing with "stuck bucks". Every time you require extraction beyond your own vehicle's engine power (winch, tug, "redneck hang" off the side rollbar, etc) or pop the hook for a mechanical problem, it's a buck. Five dollar maximum per trail run or weekend. They all go in the kitty and we raffle them off at the year end Christmas party.


I don't know Steve, he was probably before my time there. I've only been a member of the Tamers for 2 years.

That orange Jeep on 38's is Mark "Dirtball"

[MY92XJ]

We at SJC (Seattle Jeep Club) Have never charged for a "tow". Years back we would go out on the weekends and pull cars outta ditches on snowy days then we would hand them what we called a courtesy card that had the name of the person that gave them a tow and something like "if in the future we need a helping hand we would appreciate the same courtesy"...or something like that. Anyone on the trails would get the same card as well.

[PornstaR]

So did anyone ever find out whos rig this was???

[Ba-Riedo]

Last december my friends xj got stuck wheelin over near maltby and he and another buddy had to leave it that night because they couldnt pull it out and when they came back the next morning every window and light had been broken and the hood was open and some drunk idiots had just started tearin things apart. it really sucks what some people will do to others property and every time i go wheelin i worry bout shit like that happening

[boise49ers]

Last december my friends xj got stuck wheelin over near maltby and he and another buddy had to leave it that night because they couldnt pull it out and when they came back the next morning every window and light had been broken and the hood was open and some drunk idiots had just started tearin things apart. it really sucks what some people will do to others property and every time i go wheelin i worry bout shit like that happening

We usually have a few rigs so we don't end up leaving anyone behind and the trailor queens will let the broke down people trailor it and drive theirs back. That is another reasom wheelin by yourself can bite you in the a**. I would be crashed if some one did that to my XJ. It would be like losing a family member. People go itsa just a hunk of metal. Yeah OK that has hundreds if not thousands of my man hours and dollars sunk into it.

[Ba-Riedo]

yeah if you have other people thats always good. but alot of guys or girls my age -18- dont always have the option of having trailer queens so i wheel with my daily driver and we try to go in pairs and ive met some guys up at reiter who have been nice enough to flip one of my frineds back over after a bad hill climb and if it break we try to fix it and if not then well we try to get creative... how do you join the northwest chapter?

[KarlVP]

Joining a chapter is as simple as paying your voluntary dues. Then just hang out here and watch for the runs.

Or, there are lots of 4x4 clubs in the area. PM me for the details.

[Metal Thrasher]

how do you join the northwest chapter?

You already did just by getting on the boards. Becoming a NAXJA member requires annual dues but also opens up the rest of the site. As most here will tell you just the technical advice is worth the annual dues. The comradaree is just a bonus. :wave1: I lurked for a year then bought an XJ and joined up properly. KarlVP has one of those two door Jeep type Jeep things (TJ ?) and we have had Range Rovers, Grand Cherokees, Scramblers and assorted others join us on our runs. Most runs are family friendly but there are also "back channel" runs for the wild ones. Take a look around and relax.

[fubar XJ]

I don't know Steve, he was probably before my time there. I've only been a member of the Tamers for 2 years.

That orange Jeep on 38's is Mark "Dirtball"

Yeah, I do remember his name was Mark now that you mention it.


Our stuck-buck policy is strictly voluntary. If you don't want to pay, you don't have to. But if you regularly abstain from paying stuck-bucks, you don't get tickets to the stuck-buck raffle, which is usually over $100.

My club has been really weak this year, too much overtime at work on top of the regular family and other time committments that keep us off the trail. I can't complain too loudly, I'm as guilty as most as far as not getting out wheeling very often.