Jeeps
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 2
From: Northern Utah
Seven years ago, I got hit head-on in a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee by a Dodge Ram pickup and then immediately rear-ended by a Kia. My 6 year old daughter and I WALKED AWAY! The thing looked like an accordian- I bought a replacement 98 that was identical.
Now I drive a 03 F250 6.0 PSD but could never say a bad word about Jeeps. My wife has a 01 Grand Cherokee with "Vari Lock" quadra-Drive. All four wheels can lock if need be- My daughter always says the Jeep will be hers someday
Now I drive a 03 F250 6.0 PSD but could never say a bad word about Jeeps. My wife has a 01 Grand Cherokee with "Vari Lock" quadra-Drive. All four wheels can lock if need be- My daughter always says the Jeep will be hers someday
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 2
From: spartanburg, SC
"There's no reason to pick on Jeep, regardless of era."
I own an 100% stock '80 jeep wagoneer and still pick on them.
mine has a AMC 360, TF727 tranny, NP219, lots of motorcraft and ACdelco parts factory
heres why i pic on them
"trail rated" and "only in a jeep 4X4" yea with 26" tires, 2.73 gears, and open diffs. more like "mall rated"
most jeeps suck off road in stock form. most real good offroad jeeps have little jeep left in them.
i bought the jeep intending to wheel it in near stock form. now that i found out it needs gears to turn bigger tires (31s) its gonna stay mall rated for a while.
$300 from the goodwill lot. runs real good 28K on rebuild, needs tranny rebuild (2nd gear band and/or likage broke)
I own an 100% stock '80 jeep wagoneer and still pick on them.
mine has a AMC 360, TF727 tranny, NP219, lots of motorcraft and ACdelco parts factory
heres why i pic on them
"trail rated" and "only in a jeep 4X4" yea with 26" tires, 2.73 gears, and open diffs. more like "mall rated"
most jeeps suck off road in stock form. most real good offroad jeeps have little jeep left in them.
i bought the jeep intending to wheel it in near stock form. now that i found out it needs gears to turn bigger tires (31s) its gonna stay mall rated for a while.
$300 from the goodwill lot. runs real good 28K on rebuild, needs tranny rebuild (2nd gear band and/or likage broke)
Last edited by F150daniel; Nov 5, 2004 at 12:03 AM.
New User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: ZIP CITY AL
Just thought I'd put in my$0.02 worth on the jeeps as I have had at least one around for more than 20 years, not as a daily driver but as a fun vehicle. I now have a military M38A1 ( similar to a CJ-5) in process of restoration, another M38A1 withe a Buick V6 engine which was a popular swap and also an optional engine in the late 60's for the jeeps, and I have recently gotten a 63 Jeep Gladiator J-200 truck (3/4 ton), powered by a 6cyl. OHC engine. I have found these trucks to be tough easy, to repair, and dependable, but you just can't run in to your local autozone and get any and every part to repair them. As for the wagoneer that aint no jeep thats a station wagon with 4 WD thats all.
ZIP TO ZIP CITY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
ZIP TO ZIP CITY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 2
From: spartanburg, SC
it still says jeep on it.
the J series trucks must not be jeeps either, because j series and wagoneer are like Bronco and F150, blazer and chevy pickup. pretty much the same forward of the B pillar.
i like full size for the cargo room which the CJ TJ YJ have little of.
the J series trucks must not be jeeps either, because j series and wagoneer are like Bronco and F150, blazer and chevy pickup. pretty much the same forward of the B pillar.
i like full size for the cargo room which the CJ TJ YJ have little of.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: LAX, most of the time :)
If you're buying a CJ/YJ/TJ looking for cargo room, you need to step back on the meds 
Buy an old -8, or the new extended wheelbase TJ in the Rubicon edition.
Best SWB (short wheelbase) rigs produced - period. Early Bronco's came close (have owned a few) - had their own plusses (decent V8, D44 front/9" rear) - but still places I can get a CJ/YJ that you'll leave sheetmetal in with an EB. Aftermarket support - no comparison, the Jeeps are the "1911" of the aftermarket world.
Buy an old -8, or the new extended wheelbase TJ in the Rubicon edition.
Best SWB (short wheelbase) rigs produced - period. Early Bronco's came close (have owned a few) - had their own plusses (decent V8, D44 front/9" rear) - but still places I can get a CJ/YJ that you'll leave sheetmetal in with an EB. Aftermarket support - no comparison, the Jeeps are the "1911" of the aftermarket world.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
i have a 99 TJ and love every bit of it. it has the small axels in it but i have never gotten so stuck to have some one else help but that probly has to do with the MTR's lift and winch but i pick on them (not so much them but the people that buy one not to off road in it) you can't carry anyone confortably, they bounce around, they suck the gas down!! you have no cargo room, and they are slow. but on the trail they can't be beat!!!!!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: LAX, most of the time :)
Pirate,
99 TJ is a good start, you're right - the axles suck (at least the rear, you'll have to gear that front D30 down and put 35's on it before you really NEED to upgrade).
Mileage? I get about 12 or so, when I bother to check. Between the lift (7") and the weight of the bumpers, armor, rock rails, cage, D60 rear/D44 front, 35's - I'm fighting so much aerodynamics and sheer weight that I really don't care
If "bouncing around" is a poroblem in a TJ - you're either overinflated in the tires, running the wrong shocks, or have a lift that's got springs too stiff. TJ's ride like a car compared to us with "real springs"
99 TJ is a good start, you're right - the axles suck (at least the rear, you'll have to gear that front D30 down and put 35's on it before you really NEED to upgrade).
Mileage? I get about 12 or so, when I bother to check. Between the lift (7") and the weight of the bumpers, armor, rock rails, cage, D60 rear/D44 front, 35's - I'm fighting so much aerodynamics and sheer weight that I really don't care
If "bouncing around" is a poroblem in a TJ - you're either overinflated in the tires, running the wrong shocks, or have a lift that's got springs too stiff. TJ's ride like a car compared to us with "real springs"
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Gone but not forgotten.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Old Fart
Don't know how jeeps are on the rest of the planet, but out west most of us with jeeps have so many "other" parts in them they're not even close to what the factory gave us when they were new. My 94 Wrangler has a Ford Dana 60 rear axle (with Dodge/Ford brakes), a front axle that is a combination of Jeep (old J-10), Ford, International Harvester parts. Transmission is from an older jeep (T176) with, yep - another Ford part for the transfer case (NP205) 
Dono
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: LAX, most of the time :)
We tend to be a bit different
If most folks came out of thier house and found someone laying under their truck, they might be thinking "thief". I'd be thinking - "need to explain my driveline"
If most folks came out of thier house and found someone laying under their truck, they might be thinking "thief". I'd be thinking - "need to explain my driveline"
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Old Fart
We tend to be a bit different
If most folks came out of thier house and found someone laying under their truck, they might be thinking "thief". I'd be thinking - "need to explain my driveline"
If most folks came out of thier house and found someone laying under their truck, they might be thinking "thief". I'd be thinking - "need to explain my driveline"
Cop actually told me, "Uh, we thought maybe you were stealing the transmission or something."
I mean, really. Had there been a rash of such things?
Good times!
-Sam
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: LAX, most of the time :)
Came out of the drive through of a fast food a while back, pulled a U-turn to park. California Highway Patrol officer walks up to me (at 46, I don't normally feel that I'm an "item of interest" to the Law anymore).
He asked me - "that Detroit locker give you much trouble on the street?"
He was considering one for his CJ-5
He asked me - "that Detroit locker give you much trouble on the street?"
He was considering one for his CJ-5
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 1
From: Northern California
Originally Posted by F150daniel
it still says jeep on it.
the J series trucks must not be jeeps either, because j series and wagoneer are like Bronco and F150, blazer and chevy pickup. pretty much the same forward of the B pillar.
i like full size for the cargo room which the CJ TJ YJ have little of.
the J series trucks must not be jeeps either, because j series and wagoneer are like Bronco and F150, blazer and chevy pickup. pretty much the same forward of the B pillar.
i like full size for the cargo room which the CJ TJ YJ have little of.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 2
From: spartanburg, SC
"you sound like a real 4WD expert to me!"
well i'm not, and i'm guessing you aren't either.
my jeep wagoneer has plenty of room for me, the CJ, TJ, YJ don't.
about offroading.
i say that MOST STOCK jeeps are not the best factory 4 wheeler out there. like alot of jeep guys make them out to be. a modded jeep is very good offroad but i won't call it the best. I won't call anything the best for offroad because there is none IMO.
a stock 79 bronco has MY jeep beat offroad period.
i think a 51 dodge M36 (drove one offroad today) has a stock 79 bronco beat.
well i'm not, and i'm guessing you aren't either.
my jeep wagoneer has plenty of room for me, the CJ, TJ, YJ don't.
about offroading.
i say that MOST STOCK jeeps are not the best factory 4 wheeler out there. like alot of jeep guys make them out to be. a modded jeep is very good offroad but i won't call it the best. I won't call anything the best for offroad because there is none IMO.
a stock 79 bronco has MY jeep beat offroad period.
i think a 51 dodge M36 (drove one offroad today) has a stock 79 bronco beat.
Last edited by F150daniel; Nov 7, 2004 at 12:20 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 1
From: Northern California
If someone bought a CJ, YJ, Or TJ for "roominess", they obviously would need their head examined....that should go without saying!
As far as off-road prowess is concerned, well, if you buy any four wheeler without first considering its gear ratio, axles installed and tire type as for what your intentions are for the rig, and then blame the vehicle for its lack of ability, I'm afraid that's not exactly the rigs fault you dident do your research, now is it?
As far as off-road prowess is concerned, well, if you buy any four wheeler without first considering its gear ratio, axles installed and tire type as for what your intentions are for the rig, and then blame the vehicle for its lack of ability, I'm afraid that's not exactly the rigs fault you dident do your research, now is it?