Iowa Anyone in Iowa recognize this Jeep? I'm considering an out of state purchase

F

Fargo

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Jan 20, 2021
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Fargo, ND
Yeah I know this is a long shot, I'm looking at buying a Jeep that is at a dealership in Iowa. Its obvious the guy who owned it set it up for some overlanding. So I was hoping to find the owner to see what kind of shape the vehicle is in.

Also how bad is the Des Moines area for road salt and car rust? Is it best to avoid vehicles from IA or are they pretty rust free. I'm in ND so really don't know much about the area.

Items to note:

Stinger, Hood tie downs replaced,

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Custom shelf in the rear with some strange brackets behind the seat and a strange cable next to the tailgate

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DIY backup lights in the bumper, missing 3rd brake light (might be ring behind tire)

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GPS mount on grab handle. It also has bright red grab handles on the A pillar and B pillar
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Its really hard for me to tell how well the jeep has been cared for. Let me know your thoughts. Especially if you know this Jeep.
 
I would say it has been well used. It's a Recon. Need to see pics of the underside
 
mrjp said:
I would say it has been well used. It's a Recon. Need to see pics of the underside
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Thanks. Thats kind of what I thought too. Its probably and OK Jeep but I think I want something a little cleaner. I asked for pictures of the underside but the salesman has not sent them out yet. Maybe they will tell more of the story.
 
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Would you consider traveling to get a Jeep that was a road salt virgin? Just a thought.
On another note- the only 2 states in the entire country- Alaska and Hawaii included- that I have not driven through are North Dakota and Minnesota.
 
Although it is a Recon (which is literally the the best package you can get on a JK), with it being from the rust belt I don't think I would go for it unless I knew it had never touched salt, which is unlikely. *Coming from a Recon owner*

I would travel somewhere to find one. There are a few around, but you will pay a nice price for it.
 
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Anybodyhome said:
Would you consider traveling to get a Jeep that was a road salt virgin? Just a thought.
On another note- the only 2 states in the entire country- Alaska and Hawaii included- that I have not driven through are North Dakota and Minnesota.
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Yeah, for the right Jeep at the right price I will travel. The Recon in the photos is about 8 hours from me. But my brother lives about an hour from there so that makes it easier. For my current Jeep I flew out to Washington state to pick it up. I was really nervous about purchaseing something site unseen, but fortunately, I found someone on jeepforum who checked it out for me before hand. You gotta love the Jeep community. So although its a scary deal, I do consider traveling for Jeeps. But like I said, it has to be the right Jeep at the right price.

Thats crazy that you have been to every state including Alaska and Hawaii but never ND or MN. You really should get out here some time to check them off your list. No grand sites like the Rocky Mountains, but MN has a lot of nice wooded areas and lakes. And you will never see a more beautiful sunset than you will in ND. Especially in the fall when the fields are being harvested. The ND Badlands are also very pretty. Unfortunately there is not much for wheeling out here.

My list of states visited is quite limited, but I have been through NC. Made a stop at Ashville on a drive back to ND from a wedding in FL.
 
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IndominusHuman said:
Although it is a Recon (which is literally the the best package you can get on a JK), with it being from the rust belt I don't think I would go for it unless I knew it had never touched salt, which is unlikely. *Coming from a Recon owner*

I would travel somewhere to find one. There are a few around, but you will pay a nice price for it.
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Yeah I really like the Recon. I'm pretty sold on getting a Recon if I can afford it. Unless I decide to get a JL. The price of a JL Rubi is about the same as a Recon and each has pros and cons. But I have concerns about all the electronics in the JL. So the Recon is at the top of my list.

Is IA pretty bad for rust? My brother just moved out there a couple years ago so he doesn't have too much experience with cars out there yet. Then again I have never even asked him about rust. I didn't think they got the snow we did.
 
IndominusHuman said:
What is the mileage and price on it?

I also just saw the photos where they are showing the rear area, there is a ton of salt creep so....😅
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It has 52,000 miles for $35,000.

I saw that area by the tail light and wondered if that was road salt. Did you see something else as well? Or is that what you are referring to.
 
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The biggest problem I'm having in my search for a Recon is that it appears any Recon ordered with an automatic transmission also received 3.73 gears. I've only found a couple that then checked the box and paid the extra money go get the 4.10 gears. I'm open to a manual transmission, but they are just as hard to find.

EDIT: I find it extremely frustrating that a Jeep with a big decal on the hood bragging about 4.10 gears actually has 3.73 gears.
 
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Fargo said:
The biggest problem I'm having in my search for a Recon is that it appears any Recon ordered with an automatic transmission also received 3.73 gears. I've only found a couple that then checked the box and paid the extra money go get the 4.10 gears. I'm open to a manual transmission, but they are just as hard to find.

EDIT: I find it extremely frustrating that a Jeep with a big decal on the hood bragging about 4.10 gears actually has 3.73 gears.
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Where did you see this? All recons were equipped with 4:10 gear ratios (not all rubicons were, but all recons are).

Here is a link to my build sheet ( https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=1C4BJWCG4HL638179 )
and window sticker https://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4BJWCG4HL638179

You can run the vin here to find out what equipment was on it. https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing

Edit: we have two recons in my family, both have 4:10 gears. One is a 17 the other is 18. I have never seen a recon without 4:10s
 
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IndominusHuman said:
Where did you see this? All recons were equipped with 4:10 gear ratios (not all rubicons were, but all recons are).

Here is a link to my build sheet ( https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=1C4BJWCG4HL638179 )
and window sticker https://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4BJWCG4HL638179

You can run the vin here to find out what equipment was on it. https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing

Edit: we have two recons in my family, both have 4:10 gears. One is a 17 the other is 18. I have never seen a recon without 4:10s
Click to expand...

The Carfax from many dealers has a link to the MSRP window sticker. I have also been checking the Vins on the website you gave above as well as here for MSRP window stickers:
https://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Number-Lookup/WindowSticker/Jeep.html


Yours definetly looks like it has the 4.10s. If you look at your MSRP sticker notice that the line item for the '5-speed Automatic Transmission $1400' includes the 3.73 Front/Rear Axle ratio? Below that you willl see it has a listing to 'Add 4.10 Axle Ratio $695' If that box wasn't check on the order form the Recon didn't get the 4.10s. OPting for the Auto gives you the 3.73. You must pay an extra $695 to get back to the stock 4.10s. Most of the Recons in my area don't have the listing for the 4.10s on the MSRP and the build sheets show 3.73.

Check these VINS out. These are the only 3 Recons available within 300 miles of my zip code. If I missed something please let me know.

1) 2017 Silver Recon (VIN: 1C4BJWFG7HL682673)
2) 2018 Gobi (VIN: 1C4BJWFGXJL893226)
3) 2018 White (VIN: 1C4HJWFG2JL804839)
 
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Fargo said:
The Carfax from many dealers has a link to the MSRP window sticker. I have also been checking the Vins on the website you gave above as well as here for MSRP window stickers:
https://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Number-Lookup/WindowSticker/Jeep.html


Yours definetly looks like it has the 4.10s. If you look at your MSRP sticker notice that the line item for the '5-speed Automatic Transmission $1400' includes the 3.73 Front/Rear Axle ratio? Below that you willl see it has a listing to 'Add 4.10 Axle Ratio $695' If that box wasn't check on the order form the Recon didn't get the 4.10s. OPting for the Auto gives you the 3.73. You must pay an extra $695 to get back to the stock 4.10s. Most of the Recons in my area don't have the listing for the 4.10s on the MSRP and the build sheets show 3.73.

Check these VINS out. These are the only 3 Recons available within 300 miles of my zip code. If I missed something please let me know.

1) 2017 Silver Recon (VIN: 1C4BJWFG7HL682673)
2) 2018 Gobi (VIN: 1C4BJWFGXJL893226)
3) 2018 White (VIN: 1C4HJWFG2JL804839)
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Da hell!?! You're right!

@Chris Im sure you'll find this interesting!
 
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IndominusHuman said:
Where did you see this? All recons were equipped with 4:10 gear ratios (not all rubicons were, but all recons are).

Here is a link to my build sheet ( https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=1C4BJWCG4HL638179 )
and window sticker https://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4BJWCG4HL638179

You can run the vin here to find out what equipment was on it. https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing

Edit: we have two recons in my family, both have 4:10 gears. One is a 17 the other is 18. I have never seen a recon without 4:10s
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They arnt all equipped with 4.10s like most think. Still had to be added on from the factory. Look up the vin and you’ll be surprised how many recons have the 3.73s
 
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Being in Iowa, that is a prime candidate for frame rust.

I will also say that 4.10 gears are not standard on Recons. You would think this would be the case, but for some reason or another it was still an option. Why on earth someone would forego that option is beyond me.
 
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Chris said:
Being in Iowa, that is a prime candidate for frame rust.

I will also say that 4.10 gears are not standard on Recons. You would think this would be the case, but for some reason or another it was still an option. Why on earth someone would forego that option is beyond me.
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Thanks for the confirmation about rust in IA. I think I will pass on that one and wait for something else.

In regards to why someone would forgo the 4.10s, I'm going to guess it was lazy dealers ordering the Recons who didn't realize selecting the Auto transmission changed the gears. The bigger question is why in the world Jeep thought selecting an automatic transmission should force a change in the axle ratio. Especially on a Jeep that was advertised to better accomodate 35" tires with the shorter rock rails and the 4.10 gears. It was a major screw up on Jeeps part.
IndominusHuman said:
I’m with @Fargo . Why the crap would you put a decal advertising 4:10 gears and not have it standard?!

I guess that just means mine is that much nicer. 😎
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4.10 gears were standard. It was adding the option of an automatic transmission that screwed it all up. The most riduculous part is you then had to pay an additional fee of $700 to go back to the standard axle ratio. I'm sure some people just kept the 3.73s because they didn't want to spend the $700. I wish I could change them back to 4.10s for that little.

Yours are definitely the nice ones. How is the rust situation in Arkansaw? Maybe I should look down there. Maybe the Recons down there have the lower gears because you have hills.
 
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