Quote from: Lori Dee on October 08, 2025, 05:33:31 PMHow can you own a Jeep that does NOT have hail damage, rock chips, and scratches? That stuff comes as "standard equipment" unless you are a "wannabe Jeeper". I see them driving around in their 4x4 trucks with pristine paint jobs and not a speck of dust.

Really? Why have it if you don't USE it?

I'm guilty of that when I owned a Cherokee, 😁

QuoteThey said it should be in by Friday!

Nice, congrats 🎉


~ Lilis 🌷🦇

Quote from: Lilis on October 08, 2025, 07:39:44 PMI'm guilty of that when I owned a Cherokee, 😁

Some Jeeps are made for the highway, like my Patriot, Compass, Wagoneer, and Cherokee. They are great for that purpose.

But a stereotypical off-road 4x4 (especially with big tires and a lift kit) should have some sign that it has been... I dunno... off-road?

Just throw some dirt on it for appearances. 🤪

Quote from: Lori Dee on October 08, 2025, 07:51:13 PMSome Jeeps are made for the highway, like my Patriot, Compass, Wagoneer, and Cherokee. They are great for that purpose.

But a stereotypical off-road 4x4 (especially with big tires and a lift kit) should have some sign that it has been... I dunno... off-road?

Just throw some dirt on it for appearances. 🤪

I love this! Hehehehe 💋

Around here there are a lot of Range Rovers, you meet one on a single track road and they wont give way or move over in case they get their tyres muddy!!!! My Skoda Yeti is a workhorse ,skip runs, car parts what ever gets thrown in and it gets washed once a year whether it needs it or not!!

Congratulations Lori! I hope your new chariot arrives as promised. I know it won't take long for you to break it in properly.

Love always -- Jess

I have already ordered some "personalization" flair. 😁
Things like decals and window stickers.

The onboard AI computer systems are way more advanced than what I am used to, so that will take some learning. I downloaded the Owner's Manual, and the first 100 pages are just explaining the 3,000 warning symbols and how to unlock the doors.

One of the indicators is a "Traffic Sign Recognition Error". What?
This thing can "recognize" traffic signs? Isn't that the driver's job?

Yeah. I have some learning to do... like how to disable annoying "features".
😄

Watch out for the lane tracking system/deviation that can be fooled and most folks think as dangerous ,also if it has proximity braking that can smash the brakes on if it thinks you are going to run into something. TBH most of the newer "driver aides" have to be turned off so you have control.

Quote from: davina61 on October 09, 2025, 09:22:40 AMWatch out for the lane tracking system/deviation that can be fooled and most folks think as dangerous ,also if it has proximity braking that can smash the brakes on if it thinks you are going to run into something. TBH most of the newer "driver aides" have to be turned off so you have control.

Thanks, Davina. I read that it has a "forward Collision Avoidance" but I am still investigating if it brakes, slows down, disengages the cruise control, or just sets off a bunch of alarms.

I'm a control freak. Although I don't mind if a system warns me of something, the final decision on what action to take is mine alone. I do not want a machine acting on my behalf when I am ultimately responsible for any decisions and actions taken.

Which is one of my pet peeves with Windows. It continously does things that I specifically told it not to do.

This is how the machines will take over the world. Many people will allow them to act without any supervision, and those of us who oppose it will be driven insane, constantly turning off and disabling "features" that get turned back on "for our own protection". 🤪

@Lori Dee

Dear Lori:

When you are ready....
.... all of your readers and followers including
 myself want to see some pictures of your new "ride."

HUGS, Danielle

Quote from: Northern Star Girl on October 10, 2025, 12:46:30 PM@Lori Dee

Dear Lori:

When you are ready....
.... all of your readers and followers including
 myself want to see some pictures of your new "ride."

HUGS, Danielle

I had to make a shopping run down to Lowe's to get some bigger pots. The Eastern Annex of @Susan_Rose's Botannical Gardens is expanding.

Jessica and Susan have left me with some plant scraps (branches that broke off during moving), and I have had them in water. They have sprouted roots, so I needed to get them potted.

We are playing what we call Cactus Roulette. Susan has many different varieties of Christmas Cactus that bloom in different colors. We have no idea which plant the scraps came from, and won't know until they actually bloom. I have three potted now in the same pot. I am hoping all three are from different plants so they display a variety of colors when they bloom (hopefully blooming at the same time).

I took a few pics of the new ride while I was out. On Monday, I have quite a few accessories arriving, so I will post pics when those are installed. So far, I am really enjoying driving it. It is more different from the Patriot than I expected, so there is stuff I am adjusting to.

Such as, the power window switches are not on the doors. They are on the dashboard. That is because the doors are removable. So if I remove the front doors only, I can still raise and lower the back windows.

More to follow on all that with more detailed pics. 😁

You will enjoy lots of time in your new vehicle.  I am glad it all worked out.

Chrissy

Congratulations on the new wheels, Lori!!!  Looking forward to the photos.

Today was an interesting day.

FedEx was to deliver my cargo rack today, so I decided to stay home and work on stuff here. Jessica gave me some modular shelf units they didn't need (they are remodeling their walk-in closet). I planned to get those assembled and put in place, then I would have someplace to put books and things to get them off the floor.

Then I would get back to processing the black sand sample that I have been working on (off and on) for almost a month.

I got a call from my salesman at the Jeep dealership. He was just checking to see how I liked the vehicle and if I had any questions. Nope, all is good. I told him about the stowage systems I ordered and agreed to show him once I have them installed and gear stowed.

Then he asked if I was interested in a set of rock rails. Umm, YES! I was surprised that this Jeep did not come with any installed. If you look at the photos above, the rock rail mounts under the body between the front and back wheels. It is like a running board, but beefed up to protect the body while rolling over boulders. He said a customer donated them, and his manager wants them out of the garage. He will give them to me if I am interested.

I think I pulled into their parking lot before he could hang up the phone. 😄

It took both of us to carry each one to my Jeep one at a time. We laid it out and checked to make sure the bolt pattern matched. The problem is that he lost the bolts. We loaded them in the back of the Jeep, and I gave him $20 to buy lunch.

The Mopar Wholesale Parts Warehouse website lists these at over $1,000 for a set.
https://www.moparwholesaleparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-jeep-reg-performance-parts-rock-rails-82215165ac 🔗

Granted, these are used and are missing the mounting bolts. The cheapest I saw them online was for $279. Even if the bolts cost me $200 (for six bolts), I am still way ahead.

Then FedEx tells me they have my cargo rack.
Umm, yeah, so give it to me!
Nope.
Now it is scheduled for delivery on Thursday.
Why? Why not bring it now? I'm home. Come on over.

Then Amazon tells me they delivered a small package to my front porch, and showed a picture of someone else's front porch. Really? You couldn't see the big number 2 on the front of the building? You can't count from Lot 1 to Lot 2? They are in numerical order.

Jeez, Louise.

Sounds as if you got a nice gift.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on October 13, 2025, 05:31:25 PMSounds as if you got a nice gift.

I think so. 😀

Result!!

I ran over to the home improvement store this morning to get the bolts and washers I need to mount the rock rails. I forgot that it took me and the salesman to move them one at a time. H.E.A.V.Y.

Fortunately, my neighbor was up and willing to help out. We each grabbed an end and then hung it on the frame. I rolled underneath and put in some bolts to keep it from falling out, then we went and did the other side. He had errands to run, so I just started bolting it down. 12 fixed studs (6 per side) align with holes in the pinch-weld (M6 flat and lock washers), then 6 M8-1.25 x 30mm bolts (3 per side) that bolt it to the undercarriage.

After getting the 12 alignment nuts tight so everything got pulled into place, I began tightening the large undercarriage bolts. And my flat washers are too small! The tab that bolts underneath is slotted, and the slot is exactly the same width as my flat washers, so they just got pushed into the slot. So I'll have to make another run to get larger flat washers.

By this time, the sun is baking me. My phone says it is 53, but it feels like 83. Must be Daylight Temperature-Saving Time or something. I was inside, taking a break, when I heard a knock on the door. My cargo rack, which was scheduled for delivery yesterday and rescheduled for Thursday, was at the base of my steps. No rest for the wicked. I tried to lift the box and... nope. I opened the box and brought all the parts inside.

Now I can work on it out of the sun, but now I have more "stuff" covering my floors. I still haven't moved the shelves that Jessica gave me, nor any of my Jeep stuff that will be stowed in the Jeep when I get the racks mounted. The bucket of black sand is still waiting to be processed, and my plants probably need water.

Sometime today, I should probably eat something too. 😄

Hi Lori

Quote from: Lori Dee on October 08, 2025, 07:51:13 PMJust throw some dirt Mud on it for appearances

Fixed that for you.

Hugs
Sarah B

Quote from: Sarah B on Yesterday at 05:13:59 PMHi Lori

Fixed that for you.

Hugs
Sarah B

Thank you!  😄

Quote from: Lori Dee on Yesterday at 03:21:06 PMI ran over to the home improvement store this morning to get the bolts and washers I need to mount the rock rails. I forgot that it took me and the salesman to move them one at a time. H.E.A.V.Y.

Fortunately, my neighbor was up and willing to help out. We each grabbed an end and then hung it on the frame. I rolled underneath and put in some bolts to keep it from falling out, then we went and did the other side. He had errands to run, so I just started bolting it down. 12 fixed studs (6 per side) align with holes in the pinch-weld (M6 flat and lock washers), then 6 M8-1.25 x 30mm bolts (3 per side) that bolt it to the undercarriage.

After getting the 12 alignment nuts tight so everything got pulled into place, I began tightening the large undercarriage bolts. And my flat washers are too small! The tab that bolts underneath is slotted, and the slot is exactly the same width as my flat washers, so they just got pushed into the slot. So I'll have to make another run to get larger flat washers.

By this time, the sun is baking me. My phone says it is 53, but it feels like 83. Must be Daylight Temperature-Saving Time or something. I was inside, taking a break, when I heard a knock on the door. My cargo rack, which was scheduled for delivery yesterday and rescheduled for Thursday, was at the base of my steps. No rest for the wicked. I tried to lift the box and... nope. I opened the box and brought all the parts inside.

Now I can work on it out of the sun, but now I have more "stuff" covering my floors. I still haven't moved the shelves that Jessica gave me, nor any of my Jeep stuff that will be stowed in the Jeep when I get the racks mounted. The bucket of black sand is still waiting to be processed, and my plants probably need water.

Sometime today, I should probably eat something too. 😄

Are these fasteners of the required stress specs?  Some cheapo bolts cannot carry the load.
But perhaps you do not need tank strength!