Questons about Jeeps

ramrunnr

New Member
Joined
May 4, 2005
Location
Randleman, NC
Hi, I have an S-10 and I have been goofing off with this for a little while now. I want to leave the S-10 relatively stock, so I need a new wheeling vehicle that I can modify. I have always wanted a Jeep, but I am not sure what would be a good choice. (I don’t know a CJ from a TJ from a XJ, sounds like alphabet soup to me!) I would like to have a simple setup that I can either tow behind my S-10 (If I go with a trail-only Jeep), or have as an occasional on-road Jeep to drive to and from trails. I know I don’t want a Cherokee or a Grand Cherokee, I am thinking a Wrangler with a 4.0 Liter straight 6. I know that the I6 engine is a tough motor; a buddy on mine thoroughly abused the oil change interval with his (I think he changed oil when the oil had thickened to 90W-140!). He finally killed the engine around 260k miles. Any help ya’ll can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
XJ is a Cherokee...hasn't been made for a couple years...

ZJ and WJ (and now the WK) are the Grand Cherokees...

CJ is the "old" standard Jeep, in CJ5, CJ7, CJ8 versions (and a few CJ6's out there)

YJ is the next standard Jeep, 87-95, I think...leaf springs and rectangular headlights...

TJ is the latest standard Jeep, including the Rubicon and the Unlimited...back to the round headlights, but had coil springs...

Greg
 
I personnaly think the YJ is easiest to lift, with a SOA you retian the stock ride but gain some inchs, also real jeeps have square headlights :flipoff2:

haha
RYan
 
You're not going to tow anything at all with your S-10, so you might want to either consider stepping up in DD, or keep your trail rig streetable enough to drive to and from the trails.
 
thebluyak said:
I personnaly think the YJ is easiest to lift, with a SOA you retian the stock ride but gain some inchs, also real jeeps have square headlights :flipoff2:

haha
RYan
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ya SOA is nice but sometimes its a PITA to get the steering geometery correct again
 
Rich is right, the S-10 isn't heavy enough to be a towing anything much. As far as Jeeps, Later CJ's, YJ's are excellent choices for simplicity of mods, and variety of aftermarket upgrades available. XJ's have a good bit of aftermarket stuff as well. I see many of them on the trail. IF you have a load of moo-lah to invest, a TJ is also an excellent option. They are just newer, and still have a lot of book value
 
Of couse you could allways go with a Full Size jeep they whell pretty good and are cheep to buy
j10_008.jpg
 
How about a Samurai? That S10 could probably tow a lightweight buggy Sami.

DK
 
My budget is around $2-3k for now. Now that I understand the alphabet soup I think a YJ might be what I aim for, but I don’t know what they are worth. I would like to find a stock one and modify it myself. (The modifying is part of the fun.)

I considered a full sized and a Suzuki, among others, but I have already narrowed down what I would like to get to a Jeep. I then went online to try to get further knowledge about the Jeeps. My Dad used to have an old Army Willys Jeep and I liked playing with it when I was a kid. We lived on a farm and we would drive it through the fields and up and over terraces. Maybe that is not a good reason to focus on a Jeep, but that is why I am. I would love to get a Willys, but I don’t think that would be realistic.

Talking about towing, I know I can’t pull much with my S-10, but I figured it could flat-tow or dolly a Jeep. According to my owner’s manual the truck can tow about 4000 pounds and I figured a Jeep would be under that weight.

Also what is SOA? Remember I am still a newb in here! :D

Thanks for all the replies.

:driver:
 
SOA is Spring Over Axle. As in moving the leafs above the axle. Don't rule out a cherokee. There is a plethora of aftermarket parts and many on this board with them. Even in slightly modified form they are one of the most underrated but capable offroad performers.
 
My YJ weighs in at 3700 #'s loaded on the trailer. Your S-10 won't have the stopping power to get the Jeep under control if you have to ever stop...I've flat towed behind my 83 F-250 and the Jeep wants to try and push it around...I would bet your S-10 weighs 1000-1500 pounds less than my Ford and is about 5 feet shorter...a flat towed or dollied Jeep is gonna push it all over the road...Then try to stop it...
 
Wolfpack OffRoad said:
SOA is Spring Over Axle. As in moving the leafs above the axle. Don't rule out a cherokee. There is a plethora of aftermarket parts and many on this board with them. Even in slightly modified form they are one of the most underrated but capable offroad performers.
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The Cherokee has a longer wheel base and I think they wheel al little better than a stock wrangler. They are real cheap to buy so when you roll it down a hill it will be so bad on you wallet.
 
Even marginal YJ's in this area go for 3-5k easy. I would seriously consider a Cherokee with the funds available. Good running 4.0's, auto, cosmetically ugly go for 800 to 2k.
 
Ridgerunner said:
They are real cheap to buy so when you roll it down a hill it will be so bad on you wallet.
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Yeah, and with all that glass and unnecessary metal up high, your chances of that are higher...

Underrated, huh.. hmmm.. heavier than a wrangler, far more top-heavy, and unibody? pssssh... you can keep 'em. :flipoff2:


stir, stir, stir
 
Wolfpack OffRoad said:
101" wheelbase to be precise. :flipoff2: Yes, cherokees are very cheap, look on ebay.
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which gives them the same advantage of watching a Wrangler Unlimited wheel at a place like Uwharrie...both axles are never in ruts a majority of the time, since almost all the ruts are at a stock YJ/TJ/CJ wheelbase...

Greg
 
get you a willys man.I flat tow my m38 behind my tj and it does just fine on the trails.Any of the other jeep vehicles will work but why be in the norm with things.
 
bigwaylon said:
which gives them the same advantage of watching a Wrangler Unlimited wheel at a place like Uwharrie...both axles are never in ruts a majority of the time, since almost all the ruts are at a stock YJ/TJ/CJ wheelbase...

Greg
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Most of the ruts at URE are YJ/TJ/CJ axle track or iow width.
 
lomodyj said:
Most of the ruts at URE are YJ/TJ/CJ axle track or iow width.
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I'm talking about wheelbase...

when somebody starts spinning front and rear, and digging spots out...

when an XJ or Unlimited wheels...the front axle will drop into that dug out area, but the rear will still be on flat ground...then as the front climbs up/out, the rear will "fall in"...but usually not both in the ruts at the same time...

Greg
 
That wouldn't be a rut, it would be a hole...These are ruts at URE.
 

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My Jeep wouldn't fit in those ruts..................... :D

J(stirring the pot)B
 
Rockeater said:
My Jeep wouldn't fit in those ruts..................... :D
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Your Jeep would run away from those ruts...they contain MUD...and your poser, trailer queen Jeep would wimper if it thought you were gonna get it muddy... :flipoff2:
 
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