Looks don't mean a thing !

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:29 pm

Frequently I need to pull out my driver's license, to prove my real age.
I have told over & over again, that I look like about 47 to 49 years old. When I prove that I am really 64 ~ they almost faint. - Well, we had this here 3 feet snow-storm, beginning Sunday evening and I was exhausted after TRYING to shovel our front walk. Mind you, NOT the sidwalk, I am talking about OUR property's 10-foot long front path from our front steps TO the sidewalk that is the town's property. This is 10 feet long and 3 feet wide. I could NOT do it. Our driveway is 5 Lincoln Town Car's long, and 2-cars
w-i-d-e. Our snow removal guys showed up. The drifts were 4 & 1/2 feet high! 3 men worked on it for 30 minutes, and did a rather crummy job, but as the wife said, it was "better than nothing". $126.00 later, they left.
There simply is NO PLACE to put it all !
The only cars out there - yesterday - were 4x4 vehicles.

Which brings to mind a question.

It has been said that Jeep won the war for us, because they could go where others could not, and the enemy had nothing to combat our Jeeps.
In truth, Jeep invented 4-wheel drive, like Kellogs invented corn flakes;
like SCOTCH BRAND invented sticky tape, like Kodak invented film ~
SOooo, why do people by 4WD Hyundais, Kia, Toyota, Honda and
the like, instead just buying the real deal?
14 people parked on the street, pre-snow, to ensure they MIGHT get out, after the incoming storm, Karen & I watched from the window. All 4 Jeeps pulled out 1-2-3. As did the Hyundai. ALL of the other 4WDs were immediately stuck or got stuck within a 2 feet span.
It woulda been a fabulous commercial, just to film across from our house, but.... viewers would not believe it - they'd think it's "fake" - but we saw it.

I am so happy that it's NOT my Monday for Chemo ! Next Monday >

Kentennis · Post by **Kentennis** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:27 pm

My 1979 Chevt Suburban 4 x 4 (Which I have owned since 1982) has never been stuck. Small block 400, 4 wheel drive converted form full time to 'as needed' with the addition of the Warn lockout hubs and rework of the transfer case. The 4 wheel drive only works in the lock ranges and is not for highway use. It's a beast at pulling something!

Jeep has only been around since the 40's, as Willys Overland, AMC and now Chrysler. A 4 wheel drive system was designed and built in England in the 1890's, and in Germany by Ferdinand Porsche in the very, very 1900's. I think 1902.

Bantam Motors developed what we now know as Jeep and it was produced by Ford and Willys-Overland during WW2.

I had a 1966 Toyota Land Cruiser pick up truck in the middle 1980's. It was a carbon copy of a Chevy Blue Flame six and had a DANA 4 wheel drive system! When I worked for TRW we made many of the Dana parts at the plant I was at. Some day I'll tell you why I quit a great job at TRW because of those parts.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:02 pm

Very interesting post, Ken. But....'ya left me high & dry - at the end. Do Tell.
regarding the GM & GMC Suburbans...yes, I 4-got about them, they DO pull like Trojen Horseys

But, remember, I was watching the 4X4s across from our windows. All 4 Jeeps got right out. The Asian 4X4 s all got stuck and needed to be pushed out.
Regarding our Jeep. She is a 2001 XJ (Cherokee) 4X4. It's the tip top in the line, "The Limited" (Leather, heated dual power reclining seats, CD/Cassette/Alpine Stereo, 8 speakers, Tilt/Cruise, and 19 0ther options. She is Silver-Grey, Charcoal Interior. 66,100 miles. I have replaced some normal replacement items, but other than that, never had any problems. It's like a tank. I am thinkin of ordering a 2011 Liberty Limited in March, 2011.
But, they made the thing higher than the Cherokee and I am not sure if it will fit into our garage. Very low overhang. I looked at the Patriot, it's lower & would surelly fit, but it's junky plasticky interior exudes "CHEAP".

I wanna stay with Jeep, as my local dealer is heavenly. Five Star rated MOPAR dealer.

Post by **negusm** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:18 pm

The Jeeps possibly do tend to sit a bit higher than the other brands.

Snow tires make a world of difference. Maybe the Jeep owners are a little more serious about their winter traction and spring for the snow tires.

I had an old Escort GT that was the most worthless vehicle in the snow....until I slapped on some skinny Cooper snow tires with a blocky tread. Then I would bet you $100 I would run rings around your Jeep. That car just floated over snow and was as nimble as a goat with those tires on.

-Mike

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:38 pm

We do not have snow tires on her. Never have had them. Been in snow, many times. Never been stuck, nor skidded. Put in LOWer gear & 4WD mode, pulls like trojen horse. I have seen many GRAND cherokees stuck - but never a Cherokee.

Kentennis · Post by **Kentennis** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:52 pm

Sandy,

I was a machining supervisor for TRW and in 1974 they sent me to Acme-Gridley in Cleveland to look at a machine that was to replace 2 older machines. The machine was supposed to make over 300 parts an hour 24/7 for the Dana system. It couldn't make 50 without a crash that took hours to set back up. They sent me 3 more time and all 4 times I told them, "Don't buy the machine. It will never make what you want it to at the rate you expect. It's a pipe dream." Well, they bought it and removed the other 2 machines. Again, against my advice. We struggled with it for over ayear and in Dec. 1977 they told me they were relieving me of all my responsibilities and my sole job would be to make that machine produce the 300+ patrts an hour. In Sept '77 I had filed for divorce, was granted custody of the 3 boys, had the house sold. So I came back to Florida, got a job, went back to Michigan and quit.

TRW lost a 25 million dollar contract with Dana over that machine. But they just wouldn't listen. The men that built the machine in Cleveland told me it was not capable of producing 150 parts an hour on an extended run. They had tried everything.

Now the plant is closed, bull dozed and no longer exists. A lot of great people lost their jobs there. I still keep in touch with some of the people that worked for me and with me.

The move, to Florida, was a good one. I went to work for the US Postal Service, became the local union president and was able to retire at 59 & 1/2. Also invested in timberland and a second home by the Suwannee River. Sold everything and have a great retirement now.