Bench racing...zj vs wj mild trail rig

shocker998md

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Location
grantsboro nc
Hey guys,

Ive been doing some reading and would like to throw this out there. Next year I'll be watching for a cheap zj or wj to pop up for a trailered mild trail rig to bring the wife and two kids up to uwharrie. Driving from new bern has made me a little un easy up there in the past worrying about making it home.

So ive daily driven both but not really wheeled either. Looking for balling on a budget. 31-33 inch tires, would try my best for a v8 in either.

Zj pros
More basic, cheap lift options for 3 inches, less electrical pickups.
Zj negatives
Vs coupler, trans depending on model

Wj pro
Nicer inside, when the options work its real nice, limited slip front and rear, more torque with the 4.7
Wj negatives
Electrical issues, ac issues, not as cheap to do a small lift.

Any thoughts or input? Mild trails, trailered, not worried about street manners.
 
Take the issue of Tcase off the list for the ZJ and just swap in a NP231. Cheap. Effective. Problem solved.
Add to the WJ list the 4.7 sucks and is good at blowing up.
 
If it's a trailered, dedicated trail rig I would skip the ZJ and WJ and just get an XJ. All those "features" won't really matter on the trail. The XJ will have the 4.0/aw4/231 so the drivetrain is basically bulletproof. Avoid the 2000-2001's and it will have a high pinion d30. Quick glance under the back will help you find one with the 8.25 rear axle which is plenty for 33's.
 
3" on the WJ will be reasonably cheap. All you'll need is springs. You can keep the stock arms. Look up Kolak Performance. Nick can help with whatever you need for ZJ/XJ/WJ and has some good prices on IRO/JKS/OME, etc.

I love my 4.7 for a few reasons and it's more about the package: It's skrong! it comes with the double cardan front drive shaft, 242HD TC, and D44a out back. Still has a little D30 LP up front. Mine has 130k on it and hasn't blown yet and is showing no signs (yet). Though I did red line it in Big Creek last weekend. Oops...I've read the 4.7 doesn't like that.

I also second the XJ. You'll lose a little interior space, but it's well suited for the 4.0 and aftermarket is cheaper. Ditto on the 2000-2001...low pinion and the heat sink issue. Not a killer but annoying.
 
My 4.7 wj had 230k on it and I sold it. Needed a gas sipper for the wife to commute in. I didnt have issues with it, but some people have.

Wj wise it looks like I could try and score some overland springs cheap and then do a 2inch spacer. Cut the fenders and hammer anything out of the way. Then figure out some cheap shock.

Honestly it will probably be whatever comes up cheap when the time is right.Theres two wjs in the 1k and under range locally but right now ive got house stuff to spend my time and money on.

I guess stock vs stock minus lift and tires the wj has it on the factory limited slip.
 
Not all have the LSD. Just the varilock equipped versions. (i think)
 
I vote Zj mostly cause I have two sitting in my driveway that I want to get rid of. One good and one for parts. Let me know if you want them.
 
My 4.7 wj had 230k on it and I sold it. Needed a gas sipper for the wife to commute in. I didnt have issues with it, but some people have.

Wj wise it looks like I could try and score some overland springs cheap and then do a 2inch spacer. Cut the fenders and hammer anything out of the way. Then figure out some cheap shock.

Honestly it will probably be whatever comes up cheap when the time is right.Theres two wjs in the 1k and under range locally but right now ive got house stuff to spend my time and money on.

I guess stock vs stock minus lift and tires the wj has it on the factory limited slip.
 
I'm definitely trying for either a zj or a wj. Ive had an xj and would rather have the cushy inside of a grand. Plus a v8 is always nice even though I know the 4.0 is tough.
 
After having a xj with 4.0 and zj with 5.2 and wj with 4.0 wouldn't be scared of any and enjoyed them all. My prefrence drive train wise would be the 4.0 engine also not crazy about awd trannys in the v8 model I had.
 
You can swap the awd tc for the np231 part time case.. just have to change a few misc things along with the case. I wonder if the cv axleshafts are any stronger than the ujoint ones..
 
a_kelley said:
You can swap the awd tc for the np231 part time case.. just have to change a few misc things along with the case. I wonder if the cv axleshafts are any stronger than the ujoint ones..
Click to expand...

I can definitely say they are not. Broke several CV shafts in my first zj before I put 297 shafts in it.
 
I had a WJ for years. 4.0 selectable 4x4. Bought it with 3 years old with 80k and a knock in the motor for dirt cheap. Rod exited the motor at 210k, replaced motor. Drove another 150k totaling 360k. It still drove and looked like it had 50k . I had a lifted 4.0 ZJ ...biggest POS I've ever owned, I would never consider fooling with another one. After having both I think the best option is an XJ, it by far outperformed anything I've been in with a tiny lift and 31" tires.
 
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