Just a WAG, but it seems to me that posts in the modified Jeep tech sub-forum run about a hundred-to-one to posts in the trails and tales sub-forum. While it's a lot of fun to work on your Jeep, and many, most of us even, want to own the baddest Jeep in town, I want to point out that a stock Jeep, even a base model Sport, can travel a great many places that lessor vehicles cannot.

So I ask the question of you: Are you spending money on parts to the exclusion of adventure? This includes spending money you have to work extra time to earn, so then you don't have time for a trip. There should be more posts about using these awesome rigs we're building, shouldn't there? What's keeping you from your dream adventure this week, this month, this year?

 

Mark, great question. As a person who just purchased a jeep, I have a long list of upgrades I want to perform. Unfortunately the budget is currently shorter than my list.


Sure I want 35" tires, a 2.5"lift, and all the upgrades that requires... But I also want to be able to afford to take the trips I purchased the Jeep for. So I spent my limited budget on a front bumper, winch, and spring spacers.

Your right, my Rubicon is a capable vehicle as is. The long list of upgrades will need to take second priority to the reason I purchased it.

 

Good question. In my own situation, it's not about cash-flow, but more about stress. Planetary alignment of both of us being able to take vacation, not having something else going on, etc. We want to get down to see Moab. I also have a very long list of local destinations that I'm not checking off as fast as I'd like. I also need to spend a weekend or two finishing up firewood for the upcoming heating season before I can take off.

The goal is to one day not have a full-time, stressful job and to be able to tour freely in the Jeep as I please. But my goal is to not save it all until then...I think there's more value in doing some of this stuff while I'm still (relatively) young.

 

I know you have using your new Jeep as a top priority ...

Adam headed to Alta Lakes last week ...

 

Amen to that. At 65 years, I can see my days doing this are limited. I just get the sense that a lot of forum members are so focused on mods--which is just a way to spend money on stuff--that they lose out on experiences. When you're 65, experiences mean a lot more than whether your Jeep had 33s and a budget boost, or 38s and a 4" lift, with all the attendant (and expensive) goodies a 4" lift demands.

 

Best thread I've seen on any forum.

FD

 

This summer I have spent a week in Hawaii, a week in Europe, a week at a church youth camp, spoken at multiple industry conferences, four days in Texas, with my son and am now in San Diego on vacation. Except for the industry conferences, it was all recreational travel.
I am all about memories and experiences. Since I am from Arizona, wheeling season does not even really start until the end of August. Obviously, I have not hardly had any time to explore the Arizona Desert, or any other areas.
As for spending money on my jeep, instead of quality time having experiences, I would say my problem is not lack of money, but the hard part is I don't like to go off road alone. I may start getting off road occasionally by myself, just so I can escape the other things that consume my day..

 

First, if you don't limit yourself to Arizona you'll find plenty of places where off-roading is open in the summer, but not so much in the winter. Washington and Colorado come immediately to mind.

Second, suggest you participate in your area sub-forum here on FB. Find local folks who have a common interest in off-roading. Develop that into buddies you'd wheel with and get out there. If you'd like to travel somewhere, participate in those other area sub-forums and find local folks in those areas who might be interested in wheeling with you. I just returned from Washington where I spent six days driving from Hood River, OR to Nightwatch Crossing on the U.S./Canadian border. Two Jeeps from Oklahoma with three Jeeps and one GMC pick-up from Washington. Most of us had never met before we got together for breakfast that first morning at Hood River--but we spent over a year on a Facebook group developing our knowledge and friendship with each other. It was a great trip, and a ton better than another mod on my Jeep could ever be ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC9zkyXvaik