Grit Grinders XJ Winter Tour: The Process
 

What’s up fellow XJ enthusiasts!



My name is Dan Johnston, or Dirty Dan, if you want to get technical. Today I am posting on the forums for an opportunity to take you through my journey and vision over the following months in return for advice, knowledge, and advertisement.

As a student of Texas State University, life threw me right, left, right combo to the gonads this past semester that hasn’t been seen since Rocky took down Drago in the name of freedom. With that being stated, I have found the opportunity to come back to Houston for the semester and focus on family, finance, grades, and self-development. Since returning to the roots, I figured I would maintain the aspects of life that have always brought happiness to me and my peers around me, experiencing the outdoors, observing cultures, camping, traveling, and just having a good time. And what better way to expose these attributes of joy we call life than taking a 7 state trip from Texas-Colorado-Utah-Nevada-California-Arizona-New Mexico and filming the experience with two of my lifelong friends in a 1999 Cherokee Limited XJ I purchased in the summer of 2017.

July 26th, 2018 at 8:34 PM, the seed of Grit Grinders was planted. I know, you’re sitting there thinking what the hell is grit and what the hell is grind and what the hell is a grit grinder. Well, it’s as simple as E=MC^2 (Abraham Lincoln’s science law), when you combine the creative, ever relentless, ambitious, and witty minds of Nick, Cedrick, and myself, then you get the Grit Grinders or little man syndrome- to each his own. Here’s a very brief and most likely non-imperative summary of the 3 Grinders and how our network can benefit your company/life. Nick has accumulated quite a crowd in his time at Texas A&M by working at Aggieland Cycling and being involved in several organizations and leadership roles. For myself, I have created a network and friendships for a lifetime through my involvement in the Kappa Sigma fraternity at Texas State. Cedrick currently has his own YouTube channel and Instagram/twitter account for his cinematography and photography God given talents with videos accumulating 50,000 views total and over 100,000 twitter/Instagram engagements with each video having an average increase of 120% engagements. With each state we stop in, we will be making a video (potentially 7, maybe 6 videos) and most likely a podcast the whole way.

Of course with all Jeeps, getting them off road and 4,500 mile journey ready takes some serious tinkering and let me tell you my Cherokee was bought for $3500 with 103k miles on it if that puts you in any sort of mindset for what the exterior looks like. While I am home focusing on finance, I will be putting 3-4k into the Black Pearl. With each addition to my XJ I will be posting photos and keeping the XJ family and community updated because not only is this my journey, but I want to make it yours too. Briefly here is what will be on the agenda by the time December 26th rolls around.

- Minor frame work to the rear bumper, in order to install a rear bumper, which I have not had since purchase

- New Front Bumper

- Winch

- Radio/Stereo

- Roof Rack

- Driver door handle

- Security System

- New tires

- 4.5” lift with new leaf springs

- I will also be getting a diagnostic to see what needs to be replaced under the hood to survive the winter trip; Since purchasing I have replaced the starter, alternator, battery, air filter, several fuses, and spark plugs

o I know I will be needing new fuel injectors and more than likely a water pump because the previous owner jimmy rigged the hell out of the last one.



So, if you would like to reach out and have your product advertised for our video series- whether that be car products for off-roading XJ’s, camping gear, literally anything that could be brought about in the overlanding jeep travel world, reach out to me through my email and I will respond ASAP to help advertise for your business, regardless of if it’s a mom and pop company or a national corp!



Thanks and keep Grinding.



Without Forests There is No Growth.
Without Mountains There are no Goals.

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