The last decade or so, I’ve mostly been 4-wheeling in places such as Moab Utah by pulling a Dodge Durango behind a 40 foot diesel motorcoach. Off-roading around here is three-quarters dead due to carpet-bombing every open hillside with tract housing cracker-boxes. (But I’m not bitter, oh no)
Two months ago, I bought another Jeep, this time a Commander. It’s my third Jeep over the years, the others a ’53 high hood set up for mud racing, and a ’75 CJ. Old timers around the Tri-Cities may well remember my red Toyota Landcruiser FJ with the turbocharged straight six. Everyone called it the ‘’Toileta Landcruiser’’ because I used a chrome J-pipe from a urinal for a compressor crossover tube. (Hey! It worked, and looked good!)
So… with the Commander, I’ve been rediscovering local 4x4’ing again! I’ve played around in Hover, The Slab, the Moses Lake sand dunes, and Juniper.
I started out test driving the 4-door Wrangler, and came ‘’this close’’ to buying one, but I was ruined by a test drive of a Commander. And, I wasn’t that excited about the single engine choice of the 4-door Wrangler or its part time 4x4 system. I’ve had a couple of full time 4x4’s and there’s no going back.
I’ve already added a lift kit, roof rack, HID lights, etc. etc. The only major project left is to get the XK set up for towing behind the coach.
Hopefully, I can get back in the local 4x4 club thing, and head on trips etc. I’m a member of the Commander forums, http://www.jeepcommander.com and I’ll probably be heading to Silverton Colorado in July for a Commander owner’s trail meet.
