Me, I would just keep it and use it. Hell, I used to go off-roading in a 1978 Buick Skylark!

Four wheel drive is nice to have but, even when driving off road or on trails or whatever, I rarely actually need it. Last week we got a few inches of snow in North Jersey, and there was a layer of ice underneath... and that was the first time in a year I've actually needed to put it in four (I was sliding down a hill backwards in two).

So I agree with the person who said to take it off road and find out what the limitations are. A lot of time, ground clearance is the biggest factor and actual four wheel drive isn't specifically necessary (unless you're ripping through bottomless mud pits, but... who likes mud, anyway?). The XJ, in that respect, has got plenty of ground clearance and, depending on the type of off-roading you're doing, might be plenty to get you through.

 

I dont see the point in owning a jeep if its not 4x4, hell idk why they even made 2WD xj's

 

they're fun to daily drive. I'm a cherokee enthusiast deep down. if I found a clean 2wd 5speed xj I'd DD it in a heartbeat

 

put a small lift, some bigger tires, and throw a locker in it. youll be able to go more places than you would expect.

 

expect to use lots of skinny pedal to bounce yourself over most obstacles

 

I had a 2wd and wheeled the **** out of it. Did okay with an open diff. I just floored it through everything. But then the tranny went out so I bought a 4wd and swapped everything over lol

 

My 2wd jeep is a beast. Oh that's because I converted it. build in my sig

 

Many years ago people carried tire chains to put on their vehicle when
there was much snow. The same would work on a 2wd for off road fun.
With the posi/locker rearend, should go good.
A lower geared rearend would help also.