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| Brent Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: SW Colorado USA Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI Posts: 1754  | New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? It is starting to feel like spring in the rockies again. I have been away fighting tree huggers all winter over forest closures, sorry I haven't had time to post here much  We did some vehicle changing the other day and ended up with something I NEVER thought I would own. My wifes primary driver is now a 2007 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited 4-door. Never thought I would go down that road but so far we are pleased with it. Keep in mind this vehicle must have some charm to get my wife to part with the Cayenne S! The 460 type simplicity with some modern touches is neat. No power windows, locks or mirrors on this baby. It also has exposed painted metal and basic plastic interior appointments, and it appears to be nearly as slow as an old G too  I wish DC would offer similar basic choices on the vastly superior G platform. What it does have are the lockers, the 4:1 t-case, a front swaybar disconnect, off road tires, good shocks and upgraded axles. The wheelbase is rediculously long, longer than a lwb G even. This makes for impressive room inside though and with a soft top endless headroom. The truck came with ESP too, courtesy of the MB side I am sure. The G stays around, no substitute for that but I now feel more fully assimilated to my area being a Jeep owner in the Jeeping capital of the world (so they claim). It seems to ride much better than previous Jeeps and hopefully some of that carries over to the trails. So anyway.....All is well in the San Juans of Colorado. The trails will start to open up in a few months, the motel should be open in about a month. Time to change out of the winter gear and get ready for spring! Hopefully you guys have been behaving for DUTCH in my absence  | |
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| clavos Veteran  Date registered: Jul 2006 Location: Centennial, CO USA Vehicle(s): 1983 MB 300td, 1986 MB 190E 2.3-16, 1984 MB 300GD Posts: 145  | ||
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| Braingears Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: St Petersburg, FL Vehicle(s): G320 & ML320 Posts: 1450 | ||
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| Roch207 Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: Palmetto State Vehicle(s): 2005 E320 CDI, 2010 Silverado 2500HD Posts: 3749  | ||
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| DUTCH Administrator Doppelgänger Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: US, GA, Atlanta Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter Posts: 9963  | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? Glad to see you back. I was beginning to think that we were going to have to send out the Canine Rescue Team.  | |
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| PolishEagle Regular Date registered: Feb 2007 Location: New Jersey Vehicle(s): 2003 G500; 2002 CLK55 1981 380SL; 2007 R320 Posts: 66  | ||
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| Brent Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: SW Colorado USA Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI Posts: 1754 | ||
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| JamesG Regular Date registered: May 2006 Location: Conifer, Colorado Vehicle(s): 2011 G550, 2000 L.C.,1997 L.C.1987 FJ60 Posts: 98 | ||
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| T.Schuhe Elite Veteran Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: Olympia, Washington State, USA Vehicle(s): 460 1985 LWB 300GD five speed Posts: 711  | ||
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| ThorThorThor Member Date registered: Feb 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch (Denver Metro), Colorado Vehicle(s): 1992 Range Rover size L, 1995 Range Rover size M Posts: 15 | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? Brent - 3/7/2007 8:39 AM It is starting to feel like spring in the rockies again. I have been away fighting tree huggers all winter over forest closures, sorry I haven't had time to post here much So anyway.....All is well in the San Juans of Colorado. The trails will start to open up in a few months, the motel should be open in about a month. Time to change out of the winter gear and get ready for spring! Hopefully you guys have been behaving for DUTCH in my absence :boink: Thank you for all your work you mention in your first paragraph! My club will be in the neighborhood in August. We'd love to have you along. I'd love to see a G in action, as it will most likely be my next off roader. http://www.landrovernationalrally.com/ Todd | |
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| Brent Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: SW Colorado USA Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI Posts: 1754 | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? You guys don't really want to stay in Montrose do you? Bring the group on down to Ouray, the REAL heart of the San Juans. I just happen to operate a very nice little motel in town I am always up for a little trail adventure and would be happy to demonstrate the G's capabilities.....I know just the trail  KERR... We actually traded a Dodge truck for the Jeep and the Cayenne S went for a new WRX. I've never had a problem trading down at a new car dealer. Some of the independants just don't hgave the $$ to buy a premium rig for their inventory though. James... I haven't crawled around it much yet. It isn't going to be MY off-road rig, my wife will be driving it, so I haven't bothered to dig too deep. At first blush it looks as though the t-case is a little higher than the previous versions but, it isn't as well done as the G-class. I will crawl under and give you the low down shortly. | |
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| ThorThorThor Member Date registered: Feb 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch (Denver Metro), Colorado Vehicle(s): 1992 Range Rover size L, 1995 Range Rover size M Posts: 15 | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? Brent - 3/10/2007 7:14 PM You guys don't really want to stay in Montrose do you? Bring the group on down to Ouray, the REAL heart of the San Juans. I just happen to operate a very nice little motel in town I think Montrose was chosen for the access to many trails (I didn't make the choice however). We will probably have greater than 150 vehicles and 300+ people. Is your place large enough???? hahaha. What is the name of your motel? I've stayed in Ouray many times, and the High Desert Rovers of New Mexico (my other club) still do a 'Ouray' trip each year. I'd be glad to pass your motel's name to them! Which trail do you have in mind???? (just so I can check how devilish you are!) Todd | |
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| JamesG Regular Date registered: May 2006 Location: Conifer, Colorado Vehicle(s): 2011 G550, 2000 L.C.,1997 L.C.1987 FJ60 Posts: 98 | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? Brent, My wife and daughter and I are headed down there this fall for four or five days, about 4 or 5 hours from Conifer, we'll stop in. The San Juans are stunning in the fall. One of these days we'll make it to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival  | |
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| Brent Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: SW Colorado USA Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI Posts: 1754 | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? ThorThorThor - 3/10/2007 7:51 PM Brent - 3/10/2007 7:14 PM You guys don't really want to stay in Montrose do you? Bring the group on down to Ouray, the REAL heart of the San Juans. I just happen to operate a very nice little motel in town I think Montrose was chosen for the access to many trails (I didn't make the choice however). We will probably have greater than 150 vehicles and 300+ people. Is your place large enough???? hahaha. What is the name of your motel? I've stayed in Ouray many times, and the High Desert Rovers of New Mexico (my other club) still do a 'Ouray' trip each year. I'd be glad to pass your motel's name to them! Which trail do you have in mind???? (just so I can check how devilish you are!) Todd You are correct Todd, I couldn't do 300 people! It is the Matterhorn Motel right in the center of town. There is only one difficult trail nearby Ouray, that would be Poughkipsee Gulch. Lockers are a must on this one and even then the correct lines evade most. I have had to winch several folks over, including a friend in a new Rubicon. I would be fun to see some Rovers try it though  When the Hummer group came through they ran the trail downhill.....chickens I understand that there are some EXTREMELY difficult trails around Montrose though. "Body damage expected" type trails which means the G hasn't been there. | |
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| Brent Expert Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: SW Colorado USA Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI Posts: 1754 | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? JamesG - 3/9/2007 9:23 PM Brent, Good to hear from ya. Could you talk about the frame? I had heard it was new. I am sure it is boxed. Is it a heavy gauge? How many crossmembers and is everything tucked up high enough? Thanks man. Well, I crawled under and had a look this morning. The frame is fully boxed front to rear. It appears more substantial than previous Jeeps but is still far short of a G frame in terms of the sheer amount of material used. There is a fairly major crossmember for the trans mount, then two more for body support. None of them could possibly offer the stregnth of the G's welded through the frame tubes. The t-case sits up much higher, nearly up even with the frame now. The fuel tank has been relocated under the passenger side ahead of the rear axle and has a substantial skid plate for protection. The muffler is now filling the space behind the rear axle. The rear driveshaft uses CV's on both ends and the front shaft has a CV at the t-case and a u-joint at the differential. Definately steps in the right direction but the front shaft at the t-case is at a pretty steep angle before any lift. I would bet much more than a few inches is going to compromise that joint and likely the t-case itself if the joint fails. The front lower links are much longer than before, almost G like, with short angled upper links. Judging by the bumpstops and spring legnths there isn't going to be a lot of articulation stock but real world testing is in order to confirm this I see a much better Jeep than before. I think there is still room for substantial improvement but I am sure cost is a concern since a 4dr Rubicon is a $30k+ rig now. Hopefully I don't have to tow it around too much with the G this summer  | |
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| ThorThorThor Member Date registered: Feb 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch (Denver Metro), Colorado Vehicle(s): 1992 Range Rover size L, 1995 Range Rover size M Posts: 15 | RE: New DC purchase, a trip to the dark side? Brent - 3/11/2007 8:47 AM ThorThorThor - 3/10/2007 7:51 PM Brent - 3/10/2007 7:14 PM You guys don't really want to stay in Montrose do you? Bring the group on down to Ouray, the REAL heart of the San Juans. I just happen to operate a very nice little motel in town I think Montrose was chosen for the access to many trails (I didn't make the choice however). We will probably have greater than 150 vehicles and 300+ people. Is your place large enough???? hahaha. What is the name of your motel? I've stayed in Ouray many times, and the High Desert Rovers of New Mexico (my other club) still do a 'Ouray' trip each year. I'd be glad to pass your motel's name to them! Which trail do you have in mind???? (just so I can check how devilish you are!) Todd You are correct Todd, I couldn't do 300 people! It is the Matterhorn Motel right in the center of town. There is only one difficult trail nearby Ouray, that would be Poughkipsee Gulch. Lockers are a must on this one and even then the correct lines evade most. I have had to winch several folks over, including a friend in a new Rubicon. I would be fun to see some Rovers try it though When the Hummer group came through they ran the trail downhill.....chickens I understand that there are some EXTREMELY difficult trails around Montrose though. "Body damage expected" type trails which means the G hasn't been there. I may have stayed with you a few summers ago! I noticed Poughkipsee is on the trail list, maybe we can run it together! Glad to see you have the sense to stay off the Body Damage Trails! I have a nice kiss from a tree thanks to some questionable spotting, although I was the one at the wheel! Kinda adds to the street cred though! hahaha! My biggest problem is wheeling with rigs set up for 35 to 37" tires, while I'm on 33". | |
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| 4x4abc Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico Vehicle(s): 02 G500 | ||
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| ThorThorThor Member Date registered: Feb 2007 Location: Highlands Ranch (Denver Metro), Colorado Vehicle(s): 1992 Range Rover size L, 1995 Range Rover size M Posts: 15 | ||
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| G4Garret Veteran Date registered: Apr 2006 Location: Oak Ridge - Knoxville - Windrock Tennessee Vehicle(s): 2000 G500, U1100, SLK350, LR 101, WC-63 6x6 Posts: 243 | ||
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