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Let's get up to Speed
The Winter wasn't filled with very many projects. If anything, we explored in Judith more than anything!
I did throw on a set of Gladiator take off wheels. I had wanted to give the Falken Wild peaks a shot. I quickly discovered that I do not like the look of 17s on XJs. Gladiator take offs with 2" adapters....
Winter adventures, 4x4 101, and more
We had a Christmas tree run with our Club, and had a blast! On top of that, we had plenty of adventures! From one of our biggest Club runs, to solo adventures, and camping quite a bit. I have a small amateur Youtube channel. I am also friends with Colt, from bleepin Jeep. I ended up being able to get to take Matt from Matt's Offroad Recovery on some adventures in my backyard! We got out and explored an old mine on private property, and got to drive some trails on private land!
Then came 4x4 101. I am most thankful for our local offroad community. Last year was our first year, in which we gathered our local OHV community to help educate the local community on Treading lightly, and having responsible adventures in the Black Hills. This year's event was HUGE, with a turn out of roughly 300 people. We were able to have the UTV, Dirt bike, ATV, and Fullsize community to host the event. The event features stations such as Treadlightly and Maps, First aid, 4x4 Necessities, Winch and Recover, as well as a few others. I am proud of the turn out of the event! First Christmas Tree run together Some always needed time behind the wheel of Judith One of our biggest club runs!
Exploring an old mine on private land with the MORR team! The evening before our biggest 4x4 101 The layout of 4x4 101, it was a huge success!
Outfit, and Explore
With all the Adventures taken, Judith saw some love. New OME leaf Springs, with the Taboo Customs SRBs, Rear disc brakes, Vision Functional beadlocks, and a set of General Grabbers. So, you could say things are getting pretty serious..... Now, here we are, currently rushing into Jeep Camp head first! Wish us luck. You can keep up to date alittle better over on my humble Youtube Chanel: Judith the Jeep Swapping out Leaf springs and installing the taboo customs SRBs Firs run out with the Vision Beadlocks and he Grabber x3s Doing what we do best! I don't know why I went beadlocks, all we do is explore.... But I love them!
I am still running 33s! By the way Battle, I love both of your builds! Can always appreciate a well built XJ! 33x10.50r15 on Vision beadlocks is what I am running.
I had an absolute blast getting to wheel with so many awesome people. I got to meet some fans of the channel, and see a few guys from the past really grow when it comes to wheeling! Judith did great when it came to the rocks, performed how I wanted, besides my rock joints squeaking their way down camp 5.
Other than that, we've just been out putting on miles! From dailying Judith to work, and small weekend getaways.
Read through this whole thread that started from your Spot light quest. Now I see 3 different lighting setups. Can you explain more? I'm no where near any kind of mountains or hills for that matter. Memphis area is pretty flat considering.
And about a 18 mile drive to work out in the sticks, I see a LOT of deer and other critters that got hit. And I'd like to have a few Spot lights, but if I can't find what I like, I may end up with a light bar.
What's your opinion now that it's been a couple years?
Wow! I'm not sure how 3 years has gone by already, but time keeps marching on! First off, the question no one needs the answer to.... YES Judith the Jeep is still around. Her countless miles of adventure is starting to catch up, and the 'Ol girl is showing her age. From hail, and sun baked hood. the inevitable surface rust is turning into rust. Dents, dings, and she's put on some lbs too! On top of that, the "ran when pulled" motor we cleaned up an swapped in? Yeah failed.... So, I tried my hand at building one. Also, not a great idea! Granted, it has roughly 10,000 miles on it now, alll while holding good oil pressure. The thing is, it drinks oil like it's going out of style, and sounds like at any minute. It's going to rival SPACE X on a trip to Mars.
While I might sit here and bad mouth the rig that's been neglected. She still gets me onto the trails, and on adventures! We both have taken a stance toward being stewards of our public trails, and was recognized by Tread Lightly as ambassador of the year for 2024! Tread Lightly! Ambassador of the Year
We've gotten to do so many things, and I have no plans of letting this rig go. I have a set of JK axles off to the side to go in one day. I'd like to shed some weight through bumpers to get some speed back. Right now, 65 is about all shes got! I did add an inspired overland roof top tent. The thing weighs in at like 75lbs, and man has that thing gotten use!
Anyway. I want to say thanks to all of you here. Recently, I've found myslef going back to these old forums. Social media has become a cesspool of hate. I'm also very thankful for everyone who runs this page. To be able to come back here, and see just how far Judith has come. From all the adventures, and modifications. It's been a blessing of a ride. Some days, I wish it was still on that 2" lift, with the detours mount. Other days, I am thankful for where it's at.
Enjoy some photos
Tread Lightly! Educational Booth along our most popular rock crawling route "New" motor going in! Banks header, Extreme 4x4 comp cam, Clearwater cylinder head Achieving a bucker list. Offroad in another country! Visiting my in-laws in Poland, and had the chance to go!
Had to get a photo of Judith with Lemmon P.S. Judith has an older brother now... 1987 YJ with a 1993 XJ, AW4. 2022 JL 392 wrangler axles, stretched to 102"wb, 12" radflo coilovers, barnes 3-link, and 4-link suspension. That's a mouthful Viewing a metor shower with a good friend! I don't see the guy enough, but it's always something cool when we do Camping out as I track down an iconic photo location from over 150 years ago. We found it, and re-created the photo! Camping before going to an 1880's coal mining ghost town More Camping! Camping above an old "siding" ghost town. This was one of my favorite videos to date. Making our way to camp during a 175 mile offroad trip! Judith the Jeep, in all her Glory
Glad you're using it - I need to do the same instead of letting mine sit around.
The Polish XJ looks sweet - what are its specs?
Hey Battle! Long time no talk! I remember reading so many of your posts in your builds, it inspired some of my mods! The Polish XJ was still left hand drive, AX-15, 4" lift, and 33s. Auto locker in the rear, built very similar to mine! It was an offroad tour, but when we talked about my XJ here in the States, he let me drive his the rest of the day! It was such a fun experience!
Let's forget I even brought that up! I really just want some everyday drive ability back. I've decided to get the Core 4x4 WJ swap kit, and eventually just find a TJ or Comanche dana 44 to swap in the rear. Who knows, but 'till then. I got my door locks fixed, and now it sits waiting on parts!
Will Judith ever be done? I ended up selling the JK axles I had. Mainly because I told myself I wasn't going to go "bigger" with the XJ. The whole reason the YJ was built, was to have a dedicated crawler. I'd like to get a rear dana 44, so that I can run an Eaton E-locker in the rear. Until then, I'm just gonna use it. I keep losing the 12V outlets in the rear hatch. Not sure what is happening there... Anyway! It made it on the trails today.
Always nice to see an update on this rig. Thank you for keeping the story alive. I hear you when you said other social media platforms are becoming cesspools of hate. I still much prefer the forums for discussion.
The YJ looks pretty serious. JL axles are an awesome choice. I can see why you'd shy away from the JK axles under the XJ when you already have a rig that is built in that direction.
Now Where did I leave off?
