Sinking Creek 4WD Association

hey guys, im looking for a jeepster or commando, any year, would be nice if it ran and moved.

reason is, i would like to do a cross country trip next summer or the summer after, i think jeepsters are damn cool, and the extra space in the back (i hope) should be good for sleeping in.
and, of course, its a jeep :)

my budget is pretty low, but let me know if you know of something around here.

feel free to make any suggestions as well (such as the realisticness of my idea, i'd like to go from NH to Vegas and back)

thanx

hope u have deep pockets

I think it would be much easier and economical to find a Wag.

buy this: its in lynchburg, no affiliation

http://lynchburg.craigslist.org/car/387244736.html

tsmall07 wrote:I think it would be much easier and economical to find a Wag.

x2

i found a 73 commando up in NH for 750.

minimal rust, engine runs. it'll move but needs brakes. comes with a good looking soft top.

my uncle has one that i could probably use as a parts rig as well.

im just throwing the idea around right now.

athough wagoneers are cool, i really want a convertible.. and something older lol.... without a lift... for less than 2500...

"you may be right, i may be crazy"

You don't want to drive across the country in a vehicle like you described above. You'll end up dying of starvation in some desert some where when the thing shits out on you. I wouldn't do it in any car that I didn't have extensive personal experience/knowledge of. Just rent a pop up camper trailer and pull behind your jeep. I bet you can get a small one for the price you want to spend on a shoddy jeep.

Wagoneers are convertible with the correct sawz all blade.

well, how about we start over fomr the beginning

bottom line, i want to drive from NH to vegas and back with a freind of mine (in the same rig)

i dont want to spend much $$$

i want something simple, that i know alot about (which instantly says older jeep to me)

so, what would be the weak link? and what should i carry extra of?

if i bought a jeepster, like my original plan, i would pull apart the engine to make sure that it doesnt have any unusual wear. i would change all the fluids, check for any unusual noises anywhere.
i would carry extra coolant, oil, trans fluid, etc, and change it every 1500 miles or so (probably find a juffy lube or something) as well as air filter.

in light of recent experience i have gained, i would also carry a set of axle seals and wheel bearings, as well as a full set of tools (sockets, wrenches screwdrivers, hammers, wheel puller, torque wrench, etc, etc..)

the problems i see are:
overheating
wheel bearings (hopefully i learn how to do these right so they arent an issue)
some internal engine failure (which, of course i would thoroughly inspect beforehand)
transmission (once again, if anything feels or sounds funky, i wont use it or will open it up and check it out)

and, of course, i would like this to be an ADVENTURE. i dont think it would be too much fun to take my dads 99 thunderbird and our pop-up camper cross country, with the sissy A/C and a real bed to sleep on, with no sort of technical challenge at all.
road side repairs dont scare me, as long as its a part i can fix.

now, having said that, what precaustions would i need to take to make an older rig (assuming i thouroughly check all of the above) last the length i need it to. (stop every 2 hours for an hour?, replace fluids more often? stuff liek that)
im planning on taking a few months of test driving and such to make sure that nothing unexpected could happen drivetrain wise.

and, if its unanimous that i am absolutely crazy, ill go anyways and show you guys the pics of what happens :) haha

I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea. I could spend a week working on my truck and then be comfortable driving it across the country.

Hell, it could be a new kind of race. Buy an old beater, load it up with tools and parts, and see who makes it across the country first. I'd be in.

Me too

There is a old willys that has been sitting on 11 North when leaving Radford. Been there for a while, don't know if it is forsale or anything but is always worth asking. Amazin what people will GIVE you just by asking. Looks like a Willys wagon of some sort, all I know about it.