Jonny

We had heavy thunderstorms roll through the watershed last night. That may help the run-off a little, as the ground is still frozen.

They said last year too that the lake level was normal at this time of year.

The run-off is much slower this year and hard to judge, but my neighbours and I who live on the lake agree that the lake level is probably going to be a problem again this year. It depends what they do with the dam. There doesn't appear to be much run-off left in the works.

Official ice-off was April 8th last year. This year we're still looking at a solid sheet of thick ice as of today. It doesn't look like there's much snow left in the bush though.

"Sportspal" canoes?

I think they're still being made. I see them at Ramako's in Sudbury.

Thanks, Raf and Harrison. I hope I've got one that will still give me a few years of use.

i work in a busy mechanic shop and the vehicles with the highest repair bills in the last few years... older Jeep Cherokee and Jimmy/Blazers!!

Maybe because they're worth fixing?

But thanks, Lovetofish. Good to know too.

Thanks again, Slowpoke.

Meanwhile, the dumbest award goes to...

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.

I took the Jeep in to a certified shop to have a safety check estimate made on it. It needed only some brake line and gas line work to pass. About $200 of work. The mechanic said it was in excellent shape for a '91.

Long and short... I bought it.

It came out at just a little more than you suggested, Slowpoke, but I couldn't pass it up. I have a feeling that one like this won't come along every day.

So, bottom line, could this vehicle still be a good buy for some bush running (nothing too strenuous, but potholes and washboard) and a bit of hauling here and there? Or is it likely to be a waste of time and money?

I think about my uncle. He once had an old tractor for sale (cheap) and a guy came to have a look at it. The guy gave him a litany of what he thought was wrong with it and finally my uncle told him, "You know what you want, buddy? You want a new tractor."

And walked away from him.

I have a 1995 Grand C 370+ km parked in my garage since last July, amazing Engine. Could not bring myself to sell it. Two small rust spots but no flor problems that I can see.

But I may. . . A good reliable vehicle all around. Good luck with your 91

Thanks, Ketch. I had a friend mention that the engine may be a European design? Anyway, good comments on the motor. This Laredo has 193 K on the clock.

Rockers are shot and so are the wheel wells. It will pass safety body-wise ...

Damn good to know, Slowpoke. Sounds like you know your stuff re: these vehicles! I'm not rough on a vehicle, 4 x 4 or not, so I might be OK. All grist for the mill though. Seller told me the rockers were re-done. I banged on them and they seemed solid, though the paint job leaves something to be desired. I won't yank on those fender flares!

Sounds like if I buy it I may be the last owner.

I had a 1995 Grand Cherokee LTD, with the inline 6 4.0L HO, the motor is absolute bullet proof, 400 to 500 thousand KM is common, sold mine with 278,000 and compression was still 120 on all cylinders, it had the selec trac transfer case made by New Process which was also flawless, the only trouble I had was water pump, a power steeering pump, exhaust manifiold crack which is common as slowpoke mentioned, and they occur in a area difficult to access, noisey when cold but when engine warms the nise from the exhaust crak will lessen. It just previously sold again, the guy wanter it for offroading and said it had the bestt frame and sub-frame hes seen

AHHH... that's kind of like some of the stuff I've been reading but having a hard time believing. I've always thought that Chrysler products were unredeemable. Seems people who have owned certain ones think different! It's an education!

Advice: Get a bike.

 

Having said that, only because it was what came to mind when I read the title, it looks good.

I've got a bike. It doesn't do jack for hauling my boat.

Don't forget about tie rod ends, ball joints, control arms, lateral control arm, steering damper and front axle U joints.

If it needs some of this stuff it can add up in a hurry.

I always suggest to my customers to have it checked before you put a nickle in it.

OK, Bernie. I've decided I'm going to take it in to a mechanic to check over. Best I can do. I'm just looking for some ideas of what people know about the model. If it can hold up for 4 -5 yrs of occasional use, I'll figure it was a good deal. I've tried it on gravel and on the highway. It runs straight, true and smooth, without any "clunks" or wobble. You can let the steering wheel go at 110 and it runs straight. The steering feels pretty tight. But I'll ask the mechanic specifically to check those things over, thanks.

Is it the one on Jocko Point Rd? West hand side.. Maroon, tinted windows?

......If so .... Looks 'kinda rough from the road...I seen it every Wednesday and Thursday morning on my way to breakfast...

 

Randy

Yep, Randy, this could be the one, but it doesn't have tinted windows. (??) All the windows are clear glass.

It might have looked dirty from road spray (I guess you know what our road is like in the spring if you're going to the community centre regularly!) but it's actually in pretty good shape.

Pic attached... winter tires mounted... it has a set of summer radials mounted on the original Jeep spoked rims...

Don't forget about tie rod ends, ball joints, control arms, lateral control arm, steering damper and front axle U joints.

If it needs some of this stuff it can add up in a hurry.

I always suggest to my customers to have it checked before you put a nickle in it.

OK, Bernie. I've decided I'm going to take it in to a mechanic to check over. Best I can do. I'm just looking for some ideas of what people know about the model. If it can hold up for 4 -5 yrs of occasional use, I'll figure it was a good deal. I've tried it on gravel and on the highway. It runs straight, true and smooth, without any "clunks" or wobble. You can let the steering wheel go at 110 and it runs straight. The steering feels pretty tight. But I'll ask the mechanic specifically to check those things over, thanks.

Is it the one on Jocko Point Rd? West hand side.. Maroon, tinted windows?

......If so .... Looks 'kinda rough from the road...I seen it every Wednesday and Thursday morning on my way to breakfast...

 

Randy

Yep, Randy, this could be the one, but it doesn't have tinted windows. (??) All the windows are clear glass.

It might have looked dirty from road spray (I guess you know what our road is like in the spring if you're going to the community centre regularly!) but it's actually in pretty good shape.

Pic attached... winter tires mounted... it has a set of summer radials mounted on the original Jeep spoked rims...

Thanks, Fisherman. So there's another reason for living this far north.

Sometimes in winter it's hard to remember the reasons, especially when paying heating bills.

Very hard on gas in the city, highway mileage is average.

Known for exhaust manifolds blowing out.

Rusty floors can not be avoided; they rust over the frame channels. Easy fix.

Rust around the windshield is common. It will rain inside the day after it rains outside.

Expect to put fuel lines/brake lines on for a safety.

Thanks for the reply, SP.

I know the gas mileage isn't great. If long drives were in the cards, that would be a major concern but the vehicle would probably seldom go more than 20-30 km from home, and it won't be used as a commuter. I checked the windshield seal as part of the first look-over and it looks tight. I don't see rust and I asked the owner specifically about leaks. He says there are none, but I'll look closer.

I'll check on the manifold to try to find out if it's been replaced. Brake and fuel lines - also a good tip, thanks. I'll see what problems develop there. To my eye, the floor looks passable, but again thanks for the heads-up.

I haven't bought a used vehicle for a long time. I wonder if used vehicles have to pass an emissions test for a safety?

Hans, I had a 1995 Jeep Cherokee Sport with the 4 litre High Ouput engine and it was the absolute best vehicle I ever owned. I had to replace the floor after 175K but it never let me down. My wife hated it so I sold it.

Ain't that the way of it, Blair! If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

The motor is the 4.0 L high output 6. The vehicle seems pretty solid. It was rustproofed, so that may have helped.

I've got my eye on a 1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo straight six . Looks like I can make a deal for it.

Great shape for a '91, runs well, and I want it for a "beater" to do some gravel roads, boat launching, light hauling, nothing too far from home.

Anybody got any helpful comments?

There may still be a few feet of ice out there, but that big moon rising seems to be responsible for a whole lot of rumbling going on tonight.

There's been a crack or rumble at least every second for a couple of hours now.

American beer could be 2% and it would still be cheaper than ours for getting a buzz on.

Don't be too quick to fall for anything. This article included.

Good point.

The article may have its own bias, but it does seem to expose some major flaws in the "anti-farming" drive. As always, environmentalists are not above fudging the facts any more than anyone else. Look at the whole anthropogenic global warming debate!

If we assume that environmentalists are telling the unvarnished truth because of their "altruistic" motives, we can easily be led down the garden path.

Suzuki makes a lot of money preaching the things he does. That makes him a vested interest too.

Man, to think I fell for this too...

http://www.financialpost.com/news/features/Suzuki+fish+story/4439810/story.html

Looks like the wild salmon industry and Suzuki have been running a pretty big scam.

Good to know that if you send your kids to camp the one inspected boat is the one the guide is in.

If all the others sink he can rescue the kids.

I get the sarcasm, but the boats are never inspected. I've bought and sold quite a number of registered boats and nobody has ever inspected one. They just want the money.

We always knew it... we just couldn't prove it.

http://www.nationalpost.com/life/health/Sorry+teetotalers+little+drinking+good+your+heart/4346517/story.html

So Alberta's got it right, where a senior can get a free 26'er of liquor every month under their health plan. Do they still do that?

Read the TC regs before going off half co cked guys.

It may be something that's been around for a bit, but it looks like most people don't know about it.

It's just the idea of it being done at all --- the thin edge of the wedge. Have you ever heard of a regulation being scrapped?

Another way of tracking legitament businesses....

Leading one to ask... WHY?

Legitimate businesses can be tracked by business registration and income tax.

This would be a much better country if we had a law that says... for every new regulation that's made, two others have to be taken off the books.

I wonder if I'll have to register my pontoon boat?!?!? lol

Judging by ever-expanding bureaucracy and taxation (fees), you'll have to register an air mattress that you float around on. (And they'll be able to fine you if you're found floating around without carrying an instant patch kit.)