general 4x4 questions

[papaB]

I have a few general questions although they are not directly related to wheeling.
First. I have just moved out of Boone into Newland/Jonas Ridge area and have found myself with four jeeps...
The first is my 05 grand that my wife drives with hemi and QDII. Second is my 2000 grand 2wd. It only has 77k miles so I am using that as a nice weather DD. For inclement weather I bought my dad's 94 wrangler that he let me drive in high school. Wrangler has around 185k miles, has a rusty floor board, rough engine, needs new seats and now there is a rats nest I have to exterminate and clear out from the dashboard. Also for bad weather, I bought a buddy's cherokee because he got a civilian job in guantanamo bay being a gym teacher on base or something like that. Cherokee is an '87 with ~213k miles. The problem is that the cherokee only cost me $100 so it figures that it doesn't start and had a bad motor mount when I drove it to my place, and the wrangler has some terrible driveline vibrations and eats ujoints faster than I feel wranglers normally do. I'm sure the wrangler will make it to Boone and back in bad weather as often as I need it to, which is 5 days a week as I still work in boone ~30minutes away. So the actual question is, first thoughts, which should I prep for the winter weather ahead? Studded tires for reliable WJ? New tires(current tires are bald) for wrangler and hope it makes it? The cherokee is right out of the decision because the real condition of the vehicle is not know as I only drove it once and then it would not start again, and he is a dirty hippie and thought as long as it drove it was in "like new" condition. I am trying to get through this with the least amount of money spent(obviously) but I also want something for future winters and ultimately, the most reliable 4x4 DD i can have.
I appologize for the long winded question, but there is just a lot of info to fit in. The second question I guess would be, would it be feasible to mate up the axles/xfer case/trans from cherokee with the grand cherokee with minimal fabrication, (done by a shop because I can't weld and have never done anything this large scale before), or possibly just the axles/xfer case from wrangler into grand and part out everything but my grand.
just tossing around some thoughts because I just bought the 05 grand for my wife and am not quite in the position for another loan for a reliable 4x4 DD.
Last thing, if things seem too expensive, I will be selling the cherokee and most likely the wrangler and bite the bullet on another loan. So if anyone is interested, I would be glad to answer any questions about the cherokee and wrangler.

 

[dmoore714]

If all you need is a reliable 4x4 daily driver (not something for recreational wheelin') I say sell or part out the Cherokee and the Wrangler. Use the money you take in to buy something reliable and roadworthy. Less work for you, and it would minimize your driveway/garage clutter.

 

[Archdukeferdinand]

which should I prep for the winter weather ahead? Studded tires for reliable WJ? New tires(current tires are bald) for wrangler and hope it makes it?

You won't need a lot of vehicle to cope with the winters, it doesn't snow that much.

I've known plenty of people who got along with studded tires or chains for their 2wd vehicles.

keep your eyes on this site for a set of used mud terrain tires for the wrangler. A tuneup and some good shoes are cheaper than a new car payment.

Then next summer ditch the 2wd jeep...
Its not worth converting to 4wd, definitely not worth it to use that era of axles...You'd need to swap from the transmission back (2wd tranny is different length iirc) and the axles you've got aren't likely to be desirable (though the '87 XJ might have a 44 in the rear).

I'd sell the YJ, XJ, and ZJ and use the money to buy a decent shape '97-99 XJ. Bone stock those things are capable, reliable, and fit a small family comfortably. That year range has the most desirable axle combo too.

If you're committed to using a vehicle you already have, either YJ or XJ would make a decent DD.

 

[mtnman]

which should I prep for the winter weather ahead? Studded tires for reliable WJ? New tires(current tires are bald) for wrangler and hope it makes it?

Considering you live in Avery County now, I would suggest at least the studded tires and have some weight hanging out in the back. I work part time in Linville and the winters are much worse once you get into Banner Elk than in Boone. I think though if you could spend a little money on the Cherokee to get it running would be your best bet with some decent ATs.

 

[Archdukeferdinand]

I work part time in Linville and the winters are much worse once you get into Banner Elk than in Boone.

I've lived in the area for 7 years and in that time I've lived in Boone, Banner Elk, and Vilas. The winters are about the same both places, just depends on which elevation you happen to be at...Remember you can be up on howards knob and still be in Boone.

I've worked at hawksnest year round for 6 years now and have had literally countless employees who made 2wd and chains or studs work.

I grew up in the great lakes midwest and my job is making and pushing snow, the bottom line is the winters just aren't that harsh here and we don't get a whole lot of natural snow... If we did, I wouldn't have to spend 300+hours every winter making snow.


To the OP- A decent 4wd like either your YJ or XJ will be fine with some decent tires. What is honestly much worse than the snow in this area is the ice. When we have a good freezing rain or it warms up during the day then drastically freezes again at night things can definitely get zesty. Those times, I think 4wd and chains is really the only safe bet.

Those times, if you have any choice I also just suggest to stay home. No matter what kind of tires you have on, they won't keep other people from hitting you.

Personally I think studded tires are a waste, in my experience they don't do deep snow as well as a good M/T and they don't do steep ice as well as chains do.