Good point. You know, my jeep is mostly Chevy, with a little IHC thrown in for good measure. We wheel with the East Coast Rover guys (
http://www.eastcoastrover.com), and they run, obviously, Rovers. Well, the zebra-striped one is really a disguised Ford Bronco II (300/6, NP435, M20)and the blue series is really nothing more than a Toyota, right down to the 22R and Marlin Crawlers. Only the bodies are Rovers. The same with a lot of our jeeps, the 1/4 ton parts just don't cut the mustard. Sure, there are some die-hard jeepers (god bless you all) who insist on Jeep only parts, but I'm in it for the fun, not to make a challenge out of it. If that means non-jeep parts, so be it. Sure we and ECR cut on one another, but it's all for fun, and when the going gets thick, we're all just off-roaders.
I have to add this. I was wheeling with a guy in our club one day, he spent 77K (yes, I meant $77,000) on his military Rover (NOT including what he bought it for). It had everything you could imagine, right down to the NEW aluminum 3.5L V-8. He got high centered one day, so we threw the 5' hi-lift under it to help him off, jacked it the full length and the tire was still on the ground, very impressive. He still couldn't wheel, seems he had a ton of money (doctor, retired at 45), but no one ever taught him how to wheel. No matter how much money you throw at something, there is no substitute for experience.
Anyway, he, myself, and 3 other jeeps were wheeling at the Hope Expedition Center (his land just for wheeling), and we got to the end of the trail. We met up with about 30 land rovers, of all shapes, sizes, and pricetags, including one DEALER who took one off the lot to run the trail. You could have gotten a nice deal on that one by the end of the day due to the dents and dings, still had the sticker in the window (brand new). The 3 other jeeps had to leave due to prior engagements, but I stayed to run the trail backwards (easy way) with them. I can honestly say THEY SUCK! There was a lot of experience but the vehicles were incapable of wheeling. How did they ever come up with the Camel Trophy team? If they used jeeps they'd do the course in 1/2 the time. Most were impressed and liked the jeep, one guy even asked what series Rover it was. I would like to add this was when the Scrambler had only the lift and 33" Swampers, otherwise stock. One lady broke all the motor and tranny mounts (don't ask, I haven't a clue), shifted the whole thing back into the firewall, pinched the wiring harness, and burned through it with the manifold. We had to tow her all the way out.
It's a lot of fun going out, just wheeling, doesn't matter with whom. I prefer jeeps, but will go out with anyone to slog in the mud. Sure, we cut on one another, but when push comes to shove, we're all on the same side.
JEEPN
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
GM151/SM465/NP205/7" Lift/33" Swampers/D44's F&R 4.10's & Lockrights
