squirrelnw

guys I am thinkin about sellin the cherokee for a wrangler. more than likely if I do it will be a rubicon. heard the tj series is the better one to go for... do they have alot of the same issues with electical that our cherokees have. its the first year for the coil spring so I see they have the death wobble issue also.. just doin research now. cant do anything till after divorce and when I have money again. may sell the 2000 cherokee, I am 2nd owner with 135000 miles. new colling system thruout and a/c also new bfg tires. stock after that. keep you all in mind if I decide to sell it. your opinions count so tell me what ya think.

caged

i like tj's. i have 2. both with budget boost and 33's. both 4.0L and 5 speed.
they are very fun to wheel, and should i say, they actually wheel easier and better for some reason, but i still prefer to take out my xj.
especially for camping, you can fit a lot more in an xj. you will soon find out just how little room you have in a tj.

tj followed the yj in 97 and was the first year for wrangler with coil springs on all 4 corners. however, the rubicon model debuted in 04, and came with some much nicer drive train options including factory air lockers, dana 44's with 4.10 gears, 4:1 t-case, 31 inch goodyear mtr. other than that, they're the same as any other tj. even some sahara models had the 44 rear.
but the front 44 is a hybrid 44/30, but still a much nicer axle than a stock 30.

i like mine, and i think you will like one too. but i will not sell the xj to build one of my tj's. i'm slowly building them anyways.

i rather like seeing a built xj on the trail anyways over a tj or even jk for that matter.

docmedpros

^X2

caronaxtr

Ya, I had a 99' TJ, it was a 4banger but had a hard targa top, full soft top, full bikini, alum rims 4" lift etc....

I was gonna buy a Rubi prior to buying my XJ, couldn't see spending that much money for the Wrangler. Honestly, i miss driving around with the top off! nothing beats that if you like it. Short wheel base, and they are easier to move around tight trails. Do what you feel is best, for me a WJ is the best all round DD & trail rig, XJ is close second, TJ last just based on price. All jeeps have pretty much the same drivetrane in them. - Long run, a rubi is your best bet if you are plannin on building it up, already has good axles/lockers. all you gotta do is lift, SYE, drive shaft.....

Good Luck..

squirrelnw

great info, thanks, I heard they put coils on the tj but I thought it was just the front. they did the back too eh?? looks like they have some of the same issues we do with the coil lifts... some weak points in there steering and rear suspension mounts too.. just doing research. cant afford one yet but think I can get like 5k or a bit more out of my 2000 xj. be a nice down payment and I will have the full frame I want.. my xj is nice though for a stock rig..

Keaton

Go for it. If i could afford to trade up right now i totally would. Ive always liked TJ's.

caged

i took my tj for a little spin today... felt good for not being in it for over a year.

zweasle

I just pulled the same trick, had an XJ for about 4 years.
I just went out and picked up a TJ in Dec. They both have plus’s and minus’s on what they can do. So I kept both!!

squirrelnw

wish I could keep both but it wont make financial sense for me at this time. however when I look around the wrangler rubicons are stupid expensive. checkin on all of them and from original cost to what they want now for any of the TJ's they havent dropped much in value for what they go for around here... hard to pay for a jeep that didnt lose value with all the miles on them.. good if you already own one though.. thinkin if I do go for it . I will have to pony up and get the rubicon TJ

gilbertxj466

And once you do shell out the big bucks for a rubicon, will you really want to take it in the trails?

wiggles

Buy a normal tj and put lockers it, you will save a lot and have the same thing

98CherokeeSport

if you buy a rubicon and actually want to wheel it you will end up changing lockers in it anyway. the stock rubicon lockers are junk and dont last at all. buy a tj and do some work to it. or find a yj for cheap and put some money in to it.

odgreen

I traded my 89 XJ for a 04 Tj. And I have never regretted my decision.

squirrelnw

true statement. I think I would though...

squirrelnw

very much a part of the thought process right now. just read the 2005 2006 have an issue with the driver gear on the distributor for the oil pump. so doin lots of research to pick the one I want. lookin like its gonna be a 2004 model..