Calling Jeepers: Need Help with first Purchase

[BPTactical]

Whittling on a 79 CJ7 here...

[crashdown]

CJ's are gonna be a restoration project, or you are gonna pay for somebody else's money pit.
YJ's are good, but they are getting old enough to fall into the CJ area.
A good TJ is gonna be your best bang for the buck. Find one as stock as possible and go from there. A 4 cylinder will do just fine off road, and handle some 33's when you are ready, it just won't win any races on I-25.
What you buy needs to be determined by your ability to turn a wrench, all Jeeps need work..... Even the brand new ones.

[Goodburbon]

If you want to enjoy it in the mountains, 2 words.

Fuel injection.

That means 1991? and up for wranglers.

Deeper gears are better. (Higher numbers)

Rust is the devil. It can turn a 3hour lift kit install into an all day affair.


Armor first (rockers). wheel it with stock tires and see what you think you need from there.

An XJ (Cherokee) or a ZJ (grand Cherokee)or even WJ (grand Cherokee)now can get you there cheaper, drier, warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and without a sunburn.

As far as pricing, if it says wrangler on it, you're going to pay too much. Many other vehicles can be made to be just as effective off road for less money, but don't have a ragtop.

The drive trains on jeeps are short, lifts can get expensive. (SYE,drive shafts etc). If you stick around the 31-32" tire mark you'll be fine stock, but remember as mentioned many models came with less than ideal gear ratios.

Avoid the Dana 35 rear axle if possible. it's not worth regearing to meet your needs, most are replaced when the owners decide to upgrade.

Do not expect the older jeep 4x4 systems to do well on wet/snowy roads.

Do expect most with the 4.0 inline six to have oily air filters, this doesn't mean the engine is going bad, just that the valve cover needs cleaning. I've had them with upwards of 300k miles still running great.


Death wobble. Don't be frightened away, it is fixable, but there are so many contributors that it can be very hard to find which one. (Ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, caster, wheel balance, bent wheels, cracked frame, worn steering box, worn panhard rod, wheel bearings, shocks, dampener...)

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[Ah Pook]

Another vote for the Trail Hawk.

Bought my first Jeep this year. No my first off-road/4x4. It's a '93 Cherokee XJ. Even in stock form it is fine for light wheeling and FS roads. Holds everything for a weekend camping trip. Lots of upgrades available.

Pick a style and start reading.

http://www.jeepforum.com
http://www.colorado4x4.org

[ben4372]

I have an older Willys and what a money and time kill. Not near as easy to find parts for as you'd think. Everything is available online. Super cheap for plates, and no emissions, factory 5.38 gears. However if I were to do it again I'd go with a late 90's 4.0 6 cyl. Fuel injection and coil springs and decent seats. I wouldn't do a 4 cylinder unless it was almost free. At altitude the extra power is nice, and I hear the 4 cyl transmission is fragile. I've heard tons of issues.

[Brian]

Honestly, to answer your original question - in Colorado almost all jeeps are "marked up" meaning they hold their value really well. This is not so great when you are buying, but great when you are selling. Keep your eyes open for something that catches your eye, then drive it for a while until you get a feel for what you really want. If you have a family, consider a grand cherokee or a 4-door. Had a 2-dr YJ for a very brief period but my wife didn't like riding in it. She loves the 4 door JK though, but of course you'll pay for something that new.

Just don't overthink it - it'll resell pretty well if it turns out you don't love it.

[newracer]

Stay away from anything with a Dana 35 rear axle.

[Madeinhb]

I hear the Trail Hawk is pretty bitchin.

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/129633-...ght=Trail+hawk

Hahahaha I remember that thread. Dude got all butt hurt

[streetglideok]

How hardcore does the OP want to go? Do you want to do Carnage canyon, or nothing that hardcore? That can make a difference as well.

[rockhound]

if you can drive the dana 35 is a fine axle. 33" or smaller tires.

seeing as the 35 is the stock axle for oh i dont know, about 2.5 million jeeps, staying away from it will be almost impossible

i know plenty of guys who have wheeled the crap out of a dana 35 with no issues, you can brake any axle, i have seen 60s snap going over a 12 inch shelf


best bang for the buck is a cherokee, 1996 and newer are safer, that is when they went to a structural roof, anything older you will want a roll cage if you do ay serious wheeling at all. i know this first hand.