burkett.j

I'm looking at buying my first Wrangler and was looking for some advice. I've had a few Cherokees so I know what to look for and what to avoid with them, but since I've never had a wrangler before I'm not sure what to look for. I just want to get some advice on this rig and see if it's fixable or if I should steer clear. Any advice helps!
https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/d/deerfield-1998-jeep-wrangler/6815271617.html

dmill89

Anything is fixable with enough money and effort, but that one looks pretty bad. At least one body mount is completely rusted off the body, just about every visible panel has rot (which means the floors are probably Swiss-cheese as well, and the frame looks pretty crusty (if you tap on it with a hammer there is a good chance it will go through in spots) and if you pull the skid-plate there is a good chance you'll find the bottom of the frame rail gone underneath it (TJs are famous for rusting out there). What you're willing to deal with is up to you but personally I'd buy a vehicle with major mechanical issues (bad engine and/or transmission, etc.) before I'd buy one with that much rust, mechanical fixes are generally easier than major rust repair.

caged

i agree with what dmill said. i've owned a few wranglers, tj's to be exact, and this one appears to have been sitting on a grassy hill for a very long time.
body wise, it has the typical tj rust, (top of fenders, rear sill plate under rear door). and i'm willing to bet right in front of the rear flares, down in the corner it will be soft, as with around the fuel filler plastics.

but once the body mount rots out like that, she's done. leave it, as dmill said, there will be much more rot under the tub. and that frame looks really scabby.

look for another. you don't want this headache.