Am I nuts?

[Ghost]

OK this might be a little long winded but I wanted some honest opinion's here from the ones that know me and have wheeled with me and that know my twins. That being said feel free to voice your opinion on this from your point of view also. OK here goes. I am about to try and put 2 jeeps on the road for my twin boys. They will be 15 in May. I recently picked up a 98 Limited in really good shape but with 230K miles on it. It runs really good too. I am going to build an MJ with a 3" lift and 31's for them too. The XJ is getting just a few things and will be kept stock for now. It has the upcountry package on it. My questions are as follows. One, is it practical to have these two vehicles for them as teens to drive? Should I go find a diesel Jetta, which is one of the cars I drove as a teen in the 80's, or do you think these are reliable enough for them? Second, Glenn really wants to bring one of them to the crawl. It is a possibility but not definite yet. It will depend on if I can get someone to go with us this summer that can drive it up with him. Which I have a nephew that I have talked to about this. I know I am not going to drag him with me. I don't know that I feel right about letting them go with the smaller guys for the fire roads running without me. It is not a trust thing its more of a me feeling like I'm pushing them off on someone else which is not the case at all. Maybe its an leaving the nest thing. IDK. Lets discuss...

 

[jeepgeek2002]

other than no air bags on the mj... i'd say its fine. I'd get a older ford ranger or focus.. something that if they wreck it the 1st month you wont feel so bad..
just my opinon

 

[iluv83vettes]

I had an 89 XJ as my first vehicle. Learned how to work on it with my dad as I went. Drove it until my senior year of college. By that point it wasn't very road worthy, but that was because of stuff I had done to it, not because anything stock was bad. Obviously I don't know you or your sons personally, but I would guess that you have a better working knowledge of the XJ/MJ platform than I do and I never had any major problems. For reference I would take it on road trips to go camping etc quite often. The only time it left me stranded was when the rear driveshaft lost a u-joint at the axle yoke and sheared the bolts off so I couldn't just swap it out.

ETA

It was the one in my avatar pic.

 

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

95 XJ was my first. I beat the crap out if it and learned how to fix it real fast or I was walking to work and riding the bus to school. Maybe after a few repairs they can show you a few things

 

[shortxjdoug]

Glenn my honest opinions are as follows. Both vehicles are great for first vehicles, your first vehicle is what you learn on, I drove shop trucks until I was 18 and before I bought my first jeep I was well versed in keeping a vehicle running with a craftsman set of wrenches and my own 2 hands. My folks were small business owners so this was a necessity, no money for brand new cars and I couldn't just drop things off somewhere to get them fixed. They need to understand as well that these are the vehicles you've provided for them and if they ignore maintenance or choose modification over maintenance they are SOL and they get the ever popular ride with the parents. If they get bored and want something else or decide they need something with efficiency they can learn how to sell and buy too.

As far as the crawl if your comfortable getting it there I'm sure people wouldn't have an issue with them joining but they need to understand fully and completely that jeeping entails real danger with real consequences and they need to treat it as such, plus they need to drive it home.

Just my .02 cents.... But I've always got extra opinions lying around

 

[043500]

I'd go for it. They are what YOU know and since YOU are teaching them it's a no brainer. Why do you think I have a jeep already sitting in my yard intended for my 10 year old son? I look at it like this...kids should NEVER get what they want for their first car but what you think is good and what can be afforded. It seems in your case it just so happens both things are happening so all the better. If they end up not liking them...the rule is YOU get them back OR give them permission to trade/sell them when they can afford to buy their own car.

Either way...bring them all to the crawl! If for some reason my MJ can't make it (no reason why it won't) the CJ5 will be coming. It will only hit the MILDEST trails but I'd still bring it.

 

[Lowrange2]

The real question is this:

Do they drive anything like you?

 

[Cnickgo]

Glenn you and I have talked about this some already, but I do want to say that we will take care of the boys in the group and look after them. I have enjoyed little Glenn ride with me the last two years and would love for him to join the group as a driver. You have been teaching them well, and they are in good hands.

 

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

The real question is this:

Do they drive anything like you?

Hahaha! If so maybe bumper cars would be an idea.

 

[xjtrailrider]

After raising two boys and another almost at that age, here is my take;

For the road, get them something that is safe, cheap, dependable. The XJ is in this category as well as Rangers, Honda Civics, and a few more

As for the trail rides at the crawl. You know any Jeeper will take care of them and not let them get in over their head or do something stupid. We had a 17 year old kid from Roanoke go to the crawl last year BY HIMSELF! His parents told me that he was treated very well by all of you all and learned a great deal about his Jeep and the proper way to wheel. Its a Jeep thing, all of us that live the lifestyle do a great job of promoting the lifestyle.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

Glenn my honest opinions are as follows. Both vehicles are great for first vehicles, your first vehicle is what you learn on, I drove shop trucks until I was 18 and before I bought my first jeep I was well versed in keeping a vehicle running with a craftsman set of wrenches and my own 2 hands. My folks were small business owners so this was a necessity, no money for brand new cars and I couldn't just drop things off somewhere to get them fixed. They need to understand as well that these are the vehicles you've provided for them and if they ignore maintenance or choose modification over maintenance they are SOL and they get the ever popular ride with the parents. If they get bored and want something else or decide they need something with efficiency they can learn how to sell and buy too.

As far as the crawl if your comfortable getting it there I'm sure people wouldn't have an issue with them joining but they need to understand fully and completely that jeeping entails real danger with real consequences and they need to treat it as such, plus they need to drive it home.

Just my .02 cents.... But I've always got extra opinions lying around

Exactly. My old man was a full time mechanic growing up, so I spent my younger days in and out of shops with him learning a lot. I bought my Jeep at 15 as a junior in High School. 4 years of making payments to the bank later, and it was mine. Pretty much got thrown into the world of responsible payment making while still in High School. You might consider having them pay the insurance on their Jeeps, since they're both already paid for in full. That was my trade off from my mom...she took care of the insurance every month, and I took care of the Jeep payment every month.

I say they've got great first vehicles. New? Nope. Fuel efficient? Hell no. Drop dead reliable, easy to work on, and great learner vehicles? Absolutely! Mine's still going strong today....got me through the last year and a half of high school and all 4 years of college, plus some. All of which had wheeling mixed in the middle. Not to mention, you want something big and sturdy for WHEN they have an accident. Remind me sometime and i'll show you the pictures of all the ones mine's been through....

Glenn you and I have talked about this some already, but I do want to say that we will take care of the boys in the group and look after them. I have enjoyed little Glenn ride with me the last two years and would love for him to join the group as a driver. You have been teaching them well, and they are in good hands.

Indeed. We won't let them do anything you wouldn't do Glenn....ohh, wait....

Hahaha! If so maybe bumper cars would be an idea.

Air bags....lots and lots of air bags!

 

[043500]

Indeed. We won't let them do anything you wouldn't do Glenn....ohh, wait....

Does this include or exclude the RTI ramp?

Sorry Glen...had to!

 

[Ghost]

Does this include or exclude the RTI ramp?

Sorry Glen...had to!

Ah yes that picture is still floating around here somewhere. Thanks guys. This is kind of what I was thinking I just wanted some other opinions. IDK yet if either jeep will be ready for the crawl and getting a second jeep there would be awesome but it will all depend on a few factors. My biggest concern with letting Glenn or Ben off on their own would be not wanting anyone to feel like they could not say no. Ben would likely ride with me but then again you never know. They have been at each other a good bit this year. IDK if its the divorce and their different opinions about their mom or if its the age or all of it.

 

[shortxjdoug]

I can say no to anyone.... Try me