Project Apache- TJ/T3C Adventures

  • HTML tutorial
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
After daily driving a couple different jeeps throughout the years i quickly tired of the wheel on Saturday, fix and clean all day Sunday, drive to work on Monday routine so I sold off my last JK and went years without one. Eventually the bug bit again but this time I sought out to find a fairly stock, clean TJ that would be used as a secondary vehicle. As anyone living in the rust belt knows, finding a clean vehicle nearly two decades old is quite the endeavor, taking over a year and dozens of rusty frames and fenders. Finally I came across a promising craigslist ad which would become my next obsession.
View attachment 112108
The day I test drove her
2002 TJ Apex Ed.
3” zone lift
3.73 gears
265/70R17 Toyo AT2s
LineXed tub
Metalcloak front/rear bumper
Infinity sound system

View attachment 112109View attachment 112110View attachment 112111View attachment 112112
Removing all the stickers

View attachment 112113
Cleaning her up
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shamu, Sarge368 and Willys_2014
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
At this point I didn’t really have a build plan as I didn’t want to mud or rock crawl with it and I didn’t even know overlanding was a thing so we just started exploring local hiking spots with it.
View attachment 112114
It became an immediate hit with the fam, almost too popular, because we couldn’t all fit! After debating selling for a 4 door, I decided to double down and pick up a trailer instead.
View attachment 112115View attachment 112116
A friend of mines grandfather was selling this Bantam T3C #143 so I picked it up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shamu, RoarinRow and Willys_2014
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
At some point around this time I discovered the world of overlanding and my plans quickly began to take shape. With a long weekend coming up I made plans to head south to Summersville/New River Gorge WV to do some hiking and kayaking and give the new rig a thorough shakedown. View attachment 112124View attachment 112125View attachment 112126
Ghost town of Thurmond

View attachment 112127View attachment 112128View attachment 112129
Hiking to the new river bridge overlook

View attachment 112130
View attachment 112131
Kayaking summersville lake

View attachment 112132
Our cabin for the weekend (I wanted to tent but the prego GF won out)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sarge368 and Willys_2014
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
View attachment 112134View attachment 112135
Traversing the original route before the new bridge was built

Overall the trip was fantastic and my overlanding lifestyle was beginning to find its legs. The rig did great minus a few shortcomings I set forth to correct.
1. The AC wasn’t working which meant windows down on the freeway for 5 hours and terrible fuel mileage.
2. The ride quality is less than desirable. I wouldn’t call it jarring but it’s definitely a little harsh and hurts my lower back on long stretches of rough roads
3. The trailers tailgate is bolted shut so getting things in and out with the kayaks on is not possible.
4. Backing the trailer with a short tongue isn’t fun.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Willys_2014
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
I decided that the trailer issues could wait until winter when I had time for a full overhaul so I started with the Jeep. First I had the AC serviced which ended up needing 4 O-rings replaced. I also installed some rancho RS5000Xs in place of the zone shocks.
View attachment 112231
While I was on Amazon I grabbed a Viair 400P portable air compressor.
View attachment 112232
And the Currie Antirock system which I’m in the process of installing.
View attachment 112233
I couldn’t stand the polished rims so I threw some plasti dip on to see how they looked. At some point I may end up reverting back to 15” wheels because of the lack of C rated tires in 17 but these work for now
 
  • Like
Reactions: RoarinRow and 13ADVXterra
1

13ADVXterra

Rank 0

Contributor I

60
PA
First Name
Aaron
Last Name
Moores
Nice jeep. I like the idea of seeing all the national parks. how many have you knocked off the list?
 
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
13ADVXterra said:
Nice jeep. I like the idea of seeing all the national parks. how many have you knocked off the list?
Click to expand...
We’ve done Mammoth cave and Cuyahoga valley so far along with some national rivers and seashores. Plan is to hit Shenandoah on my daughters spring break. I visited Virgin Islands NP years ago but the GF informed me it doesn’t count so we have to go back lol. The goal is to build a rig/camp trailer and hit 3-4 at a time during a weeks vacation in the next couple years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WAYAWAY and 13ADVXterra
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
  • Like
Reactions: WAYAWAY
Dustinfromohio

Dustinfromohio

Rank III

Enthusiast II

693
Wooster, OH, USA
First Name
Dustin
Last Name
Parsons
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom