Moral Deliema

Char-Broil

Char-Broil

NAXJA Forum User
Location
PA
Alright,
I found a new spot to wheel out by my college. Old railroad land and a bunch of quad, dirtbike and 4x trails. Theres some good stuff back there, mostly just good for getting mud on my way to class. but there is some fun stuff to explore. theres a river that runs through it, and the other day my buddy and i went down by the river to see what was down there and if we could cross it. when we got there we saw a TJ wrangler down by the water, and hurried over to see if it was stuck. well, it was, but more perminently that we thought. it looks like it was stolen a while back, joy ridden, tried to cross when the river was high (if you could see where they tried to cross, you'd know the river had to be high) and they got in over their heads and ditched it. it's been rolled, and vandalized, so there is nothing left usable on the body or interior. it has no wheels, but the axles, frame and 4.0/ax15/np231 drivetrain are all still there and complete. nobody has taken anything from under the hood except the battery and air filter. If the frame is straight and the engine is not siezed, i'd like to try and recover it. my buddy and i are talking about getting our hi-lifts there, lifting it up, throwing some wheels/tires on it, and trying to haul it out. if we can, it would be awesome to throw it on a dolley and tow it home. only question is, if its stolen...are we stealing too? its obviously going to rot there the rest of its life, or if someone does get it out, it'll go to the crusher. only thing im really worried about is being linked with the original stealing...maybe they'll think we are coming back for it. not something i want to go to court over, but i'd definately argue with anyone over it who challenged me, if it meant i get a project rock buggy wrangler =D anyways, let me know what you think. im going back on wednesday to have another look, i'll take pics and post them, just for kicks. and no, i'm not telling you where it is!!
 
If it was stolen , and abandoned then it is still stolen even if you recover it. I doubt you would have an easy time of registering it if you wanted to, I'm not sure what you need to do in PA to make it legal to own it, but if you were to recover it, build it to be a buggy, then had a problem with it legally for some reason, you would be in possesion of a stolen vehicle - that would suck for you.
I'd get the vin, and try to find out more info on it - find out what you can do to recover it legally, and get a title for it.....just my opinion, but why ask for trouble.
 
sounds like a cool find and a fun project to try and extract it...

i would see if u can find a local cop that might be willing to run a check on the vin to see what the current legal status of the vehicle is.

who ever owns the jeep MAY want it back, or they may have been payed off by insurance already and called it awash. i would take it from there though...
 
if the insurance HAS paid it off...legally it's theirs, BUT...they may not want it after the cost of recovery.

A little footwork here is in order.
 
Pull the vin and do a check. Around here you can apply for a salvage title and make it all legal.
 
old_man said:
Pull the vin and do a check. Around here you can apply for a salvage title and make it all legal.
Click to expand...

IF...he brings it home...would he have to do a lien against it in CO Tom ?

In WA...you could lien it for like $40.00, and if no one comes to claim it in the alloted time...YOU WIN!
 
old_man said:
Pull the vin and do a check. Around here you can apply for a salvage title and make it all legal.
Click to expand...

old man is right, pull the vin and call the cops and give em the vin and see what shows up, you might even use carfax first , if its been there awhile then it might show up there. Under the law you have no choice here, If you take it and it is stolen then you are in possesion of stolen property, you could be charged.

steps to get a title for it

1) pull vin # and call the cops, tell them you have found it and will recover it at your expence. (this way you are covered if you recover it to atleast make a few $$$$ that will need to be paid to you before it can be taken)

2) if not stolen , the owner will be contacted and have 24 to 46 hours to remove the jeep if they dont then it is fair game for you to recover. and apply for abandoned title, msot states will give you an abandoned tiltle rather than salvaged title.

3) If no one claims it after you can apply for the title
 
I see that you're in Reading, PA. I have a friend who's dad own's a shop in Bernville (15 mi. away) that deals with a LOT of Jeeps, including salvaged stuff. I bet they would know exactly what you need to do, and maybe even work a deal to help you do the recovery (legally) and split some of the parts. Here's there website, there should be a phone number on it: http://www.storksauto.com/default.php
 
BrettM said:
I see that you're in Reading, PA. I have a friend who's dad own's a shop in Bernville (15 mi. away) that deals with a LOT of Jeeps, including salvaged stuff. I bet they would know exactly what you need to do, and maybe even work a deal to help you do the recovery (legally) and split some of the parts. Here's there website, there should be a phone number on it: http://www.storksauto.com/default.php
Click to expand...


Just don't tell them where it is :D or it may be gone after they give you the 'information'...
Pull the vin, check it out with police. See if there is any paper work lift like a registration and call the owner.
 
I suggest that you take BrettM up on his offer to investigate the correct procedure. Here in CT the police have to know that the vehicle is abandoned, and they have to put an orange sticker on it for a prescribed period of time before THEY can order it towed. I don't know if they could authorize you to tow it -- I think not. Many years ago my brother and I got an abandoned Javelin that way, but we had to work with the police in New Haven and one of the approved towing and salvage garages. After the garage towed it, it had to sit in thier lot for another month (or maybe it was three months) before they could dispose of it. Once they applied for a title, they sold it to us for the cost of towing and storage.

PA of course may have different rules, but I very much doubt it will be as simple as just allowing you guys to haul it home. That would make far too much sense and be too easy for everyone involved.
 
This jeep isn't exactly in my back yard...its not in the reading area, its about an hour away, out where i go to school. i will have pics on tuesday night/wednesday when i go back for class.
 
hmm you may have just given too much info...
"about an hour away" from reading... puts it in a 60 mile radius...
"Down" limits it to the lower half of the state.
"school" limits it to...
ah ha, Now i have narrowed it down to a three day search... he he he
Jon, let me konw when i should open the garage door incase it has to be a quick unload... :-D
 
Narrowed my search down too, I do know where there is a Willy's sitting in the woods on private land that i would love to extract but something tells me it isn't legal.
 
muduck18 said:
hmm you may have just given too much info...
"about an hour away" from reading... puts it in a 60 mile radius...
"Down" limits it to the lower half of the state.
"school" limits it to...
ah ha, Now i have narrowed it down to a three day search... he he he
Jon, let me konw when i should open the garage door incase it has to be a quick unload... :-D
Click to expand...

you addict..what are you doign on NAXJA during work hours? you must be asking to get fired...oh wait, that wouldnt be so bad... :hang:
 
Private land is easy... knock on door and ask.
If that doesn't work distract them by sending a hooker to the house, while you pull it out...

JeepinKrannyMan said:
Narrowed my search down too, I do know where there is a Willy's sitting in the woods on private land that i would love to extract but something tells me it isn't legal.
Click to expand...

yeah getting fired today would give me a week or so off... hmm
know any good porn sites that would get me out of here quicklike...:sunshine:
wait, no no i don't want to get this site blocked too....
 
Last edited:
card company?
if that is the case, haul that piece out quick and at night...
j/k that does suck when you see somthing that is decent there just rotting away.
 
Yea it's definately rebuildable, everything is there if they didn't lock all the entrances at night i would be tempted to borrow someone's enclosed trailer. only in my dreams....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PacificEd
Mark, Travis, Jack and Ed’s Excellent Adventure - Our Crawl Saga
Replies
4
Views
70
PacificEd
PacificEd
I
2000 XJ misfire/dying while driving, no codes (4.0L AT, CA emission)
Replies
3
Views
170
ihmagellan
I
E
Dead XJ
Replies
4
Views
262
Tim_MN
Tim_MN
P
1999 XJ is getting the best of me. No Start.
Replies
13
Views
569
Anak
Anak
M
March Membership Drive 2025
Replies
15
Views
760
MEMBERSHIP
M
Back
Top