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Don Miller
1999 Jeep Cherokee |
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Member Profile:
| Member Spotlight Article: | From the April 2003 Issue of Trail Tales |
| Personal web site: | None at present |
| Number of years off-road experience: | On 4 wheels since 1978, 14 years on two wheels before that. I bought a Scout in '78 and attended the 13th Moab Jeep Safari the next year. Participation level has varied over the years. |
| Previous off-road vehicles owned: | '77 Scout Traveler, '82 Toyota FJ60 Diesel, '84 Suzuki SJ-410 (long wheel base), '86 Bronco II, '79 Jeep CJ-5 |
| Favorite Trail(s):` | Moab Rim & Devil's Racetrack (Utah); Black Bear and Poughkeepsie (Colorado) |
| Worst Trail Experience: | Getting the FJ60 crossing the bottom of a steep banked creek bed in Colorado, the winch breaks, it's raining and the water is rising. Fortunately a couple in a pickup happened by. Unfortunately he didn't have a winch and couldn't tug me up the bank. Got a ride to the closest town (forget the name) and found a retired elderly owner of a 4x4 tow truck who, when I replied that I didn't need a receipt did the job for $20 (circa 1984 dollars). |
Vehicle Specifications:
| Year/Make/Model: | 1999 Jeep Cherokee Classic |
| Engine: | 4.0L six. Factory air box removed and replaced with K&N conical style filter |
| Transmission: | Stock AW-4 automatic |
| Transfer Case: | NV231. Advance Adapters slip yoke eliminator. CV drive shaft |
| Front Axle: | Dana 30 |
| Rear Axle: | Chysler 8.25 |
| Gears: | 4.10 |
| Traction Control: | ARB lockers, front and rear |
| Suspension: | Rubicon Express 4.5" (with new rear leaf packs, no blocks, sway bar disconnects, etc.) |
| Shocks: | Doetsch Tech DT3000 |
| Tires: | Goodyear 32 X 11.50 X 15 MT/R (5) |
| Wheels: | Stock factory alloy 15 X 7 wheels with McGard locks (one for the spare, too) |
| Recovery Equip: | Hi-Lift Jack, Bottle Jack, Warn M5000 winch on my own portable tray system; plugs into receivers on F & R bumpers, Warn snatch block, shovel, pry bar, chain, & associated accessories. |
| Navigation: | Magellan GPS Tracker |
| Communication: | Uniden CB and Wilson 1000 magnetic base antenna, plus a backup Radio Shack handheld and portable antenna |
| Interior: | Factory A/C (wonderful on those oh so hot SW days). Power windows (wonderful in the dust). For camping the rear seat is removed and a filler section of floor installed. This extends the usable length of floor in the rear and allows us to sleep back there. |
| Exterior: | Factory dark tint side and rear windows. My very own custom-made front and rear bumpers (2 X 6 X 3/16" wall steel). The rear bumper is an integral part of the tire carrier. The swing out carrier mounts on 3/4" heim rod ends and is secured with a pair of Southco adjustable, under-center toggle draw latches. Hella fog lamps in front. Auxiliary backup lights in rear. |
| Underneath: | Rock rails I made, mounted to welded-on "frame" reinforcement plates, 3 per side. Steering box brace I made with a M.O.R.E. clamp end. Tomken fuel tank skid plate. Custom T-case skid plate. |
| Misc Other: | Quickair-2 air compressor mounted under hood. Optima Red Top Battery |
| Wish List: | For the time being I'm quite happy with it. |