Alternate transportation (Jeep alert)

[riderjgs]

Didn't have time to come back from Crested Butte yesterday via Schofield Pass, but did get close in the old family Jeep that took us on our honeymoon nearly 44 years ago. Here are a couple of pics, one with its more modern cousin and another at the top of Schofield after a Saturday evening cruise over Paradise Divide.
Something to be said for simpler vehicles. The '56 CJ5 hadn't been fired up on three years. Didn't even need to charge the 6-volt battery. Just squirted some starter fluid in the carb, cranked it over briefly and it roared back to life. Washed off the dust, topped off the tank, put on the new (used) shoes and off we went to 11,200 feet.
Third pic is from the Great Sand Dunes visitor center parking lot after a drive from Westcliffe over Medano Pass on Thursday. The brief rain shower was welcome, as was the surprise double rainbow.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

That's back when a Jeep was a Jeep, not some silly Fiat.

 

[45Kevin]

I'd love to own an older jeep like that.

Cool, except that they all have a home made cab on them that looks like it came from a commercial ride on mower.

 

[riderjgs]

Cab on this one was manufactured by an outfit called Koenig. It was a pretty common add-on back in the day.

 

[riderjgs]

Ace...even you might appreciate the "EarthRoamer" conversion on a new XJ chassis we saw at the Sand Dunes. Pretty pricey at about $110k. Sorry I didn't take a pic.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Nah, I owned a Sportsmobile 4x4 van for about three years and that cured me from wanting a big, heavy, clumsy toy for trail use.

 

[riderjgs]

Almost exactly the same length and width as your FJ Cruiser and a little more than a foot higher, about the same height as a FJ Cruiser with a rack and rooftop tent. Discontinued, according to the company, in 2011 because Jeep didn't come out with the rumored diesel and to concentrate on building the big Ford-based Roamer's that start at a quarter mil. Pretty nifty self-contained package, if $110k was no problem. White one we saw at Sand Dunes was lifted with different tire/wheel combo.

http://www.earthroamer.com/jpg/xvjp loftop_0321.jpg

http://earthroamer.com/employees-facilities/previous-designs/xv-jp/

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

I missed the XJ part of your post. Was thinking of the big rig.

Two other companies are building very similar conversions so that concept is not gone.

But anyway I am very happy with my current set up. No plans to change anytime soon.

Ace