You don't learn about life by avoiding it. Keep your chin up.

I actually meant that as a comment toward your father for not letting you learn these things on your own. It sounds like you're doing your best with the hand you were dealt.

 

Hey, Hubba,

When I was in high school, I found a gently-rolled, running, driveable 1958 VW bug for $100...I wanted to make it into a Baja Bug..(those were the thing to make in those days).
My dad wouldn't let me buy it. I had friends who had bugs, Bajas, etc, who would have helped me out with parts, expertise, labor, etc...( I had it all figured out).....but Dad said NO.
I was pissed at him for a while, but ended up buying a beat up Fiat for the same $100 a few months later...and just driving home with it.
I've learned since then that it is sometimes better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.
However, it seems like he holds most of the cards in your situation, so it is probably best for you to be planning your exit strategy....I'd recommend saving whatever $ you can, and going off to college...and majoring in something that makes MONEY!
Best of luck!

 

Did you pay for the jeep? Do you pay gas or insurance? If there is a no to any of these questions then I wouldn't complain. I had a 200 dollar chevy chevette for a car when I was your age and would have killed to have a Jeep Cherokee. I also paid for my own gas and insurance like most of us did. Maintenance is just one of the things you have to do when you own a rig. As long as your parents pay for stuff such as food and a roof over your head then they in a sense, own you. Sucks I know. I assume there paying for college? Try to work things out the best way possible, and like some say, plan your exit but in a good way.

One more thing. If you have the money for the lift then try and talk a deal with your dad to buy the jeep for a college rig. Find allot reasons a jeep cherokee would be a good rig to have. Take Care, Hope things get better!

 

Had the same argument with my parents (actually My Mom) ended in me taking the money i had saved and buying my own truck 77' Dodge Ram Charger. Most amazing Vehicle i ever owned. but what im getting at is if your parents own it save up some more and either buy it from him when he decides he selling it or buy another XJ when you see one. never know it could turn out better than what you had!!

 

I put some 30" A/T tires on it... seeing those puppies mounted made the bug bite back hardcore, that stacked on top of me meeting a wheeler guy in CO who I'm actually going up lefthand canyon tomorrow with
Also got hooked up on a good deal with some real armor, and not those crap nerf bars that I got (got a buyer for them too, hehe.)

Learned a couple of things:
Jeep: Just Emptied Every Pocket
Working on an XJ isn't a hobby, hobbies don't drain your income. Working on an XJ isn't a lifestyle, lifestyles don't distract and obsess. Working on an XJ is an addiction: if you try to quit, you're bound to have a relapse.

 

And you'll meet some of the coolest people along the way...who would drop what they're doing to help you when you need it.

Have fun with the XJ!

 

hey hes right, we are nice guys ^^^

 

my vehicles, which were purchased by me or fronted by my parents in small amounts, were pretty much stock when I got them.

dad said get a daily driver, a safe reliable vehicle. A to B. then have your projects on your side.

built my 86 MJ with him, ended up dumping the ****-can 2.8 liter for a 96 camaro buick 3800 series two. he said treat it nice, or you'll break ****. well, I did the entire motor swap with no help and figured I could handle anything the motor threw at me.

I was wrong. 4 transmissions later (ax5's), 4 rear axles later (dana 35's), I've blown the motor. it got something in the number three rod bearing and chewed up the crank. $750 in parts only to rebuild the motor, labor is all free from me but time consuming. also upgrading to the ax15 since the proper bellhousing finally arrived from a late 80's dakota, with an np242 case I've rebuilt, and a dana 44 rear end that I taught myself to regear. no more blowing up of parts.

but, the story goes that that vehicle was a $300 vehicle, and now has $8000 into it after the parts etc. it isn't worth a fraction of that in it's current condition, and it has body damage from someone running into it while not paying attention. He was right about EVERY single thing. I didn't drive it nice, and broke it. I upgraded when I should have treated well, and didn't. probably shouldn't have insisted on the lift kit, larger tires, camaro motor, $2k in (****ty) body work, etc.

Your dad may be everything you say he is, or he may not be. just remember that everything about him is based off of his life experiences...he's been there, and done that.

I'm 21 now by the way, and have made more mistakes than you can shake a stick at.

 

Try your hardest to see eye to eye with your dad. Take the time to explain things to him and be patient. I was the same way with my dad until I unexpectedly had a daughter on the way. After she was born and I then became a father I really began to step up to the same level as my father. I'm not saying go out and knock some girl up to chill your dad out, because it definitely won't.

Offroadnut36 - I'm taking courses at Wyotech in Blairsville and I enjoy it very much. It's a good school to go to. A ton of odd rules, but it helps develop the professionalism.

 

what kind of odd rules???

 

I wish I had some sort of financial aid program for my XJ....I really need to get my grease monkey hands on a better paying jobs.

Yes, grease monkey hands. My hands have been jeep-fluid free for about a week over xmas break...and now I've got s**t on them again?