KJ Jeep...Take the Money and Run

by Jonathan Aichner
(Iron mountain Michigan )

Jeep Liberty KJ (File Photo)

There were three of us, my new to me '04 Liberty, and the dirt bike trails I hug in the summer. Dead of winter, stock KJ, rolling on blown struts and saggy bagged springs.

We ran the trail, friends a whoopin' my foot a stomping we charged the snow bank at the trail entrance and plowed like a bob cat. Trying to hold speed in fear of getting stuck in the 2 foot deep snow I substituted my e-brake as a method of moderating high speed (for the given conditions) cornering, slide in stomp the gas and the unlocked 4-wheel drive pulls its own weight on demand.

Flying down the skinny trail, oh crap!..hands white knuckled, the Jeep never stopped, it had a job to do.

Bursting through the backside of a Michigan plowed back road from the trails edge, we smashed the bump stops on landing front and back, settling quickly into the plowed road. And again we were back on track from A to B, with reliable fun in between.

No lift, sagged to the point of lowered. '04 Trail Rated Sport Liberty, mostly bald 235/75/R16 Cooper M+S tires. And an undeniable grin as the Jeep forged on as a warrior following in its father's tread marks.


Editor's Comment: Wow, Jonathan, great story! Not too sure what it means, but it certainly sounded exciting.