Hi all. First post here and hoping that I can get some advice.

I'm new in the world of offroading, Never owned anything that I took off pavement except for my quads. I am starting to look for a toy that I can take by two boys and go have fun on weekends. I have sort of narrowed it down to two canitidates and was hoping for everyone's opinion on which one might be better.

For reference I live in Washington and plan on using it in the hills around here with an occasional trip to the sand dunes in Oregon (I know I won't be doing anything crazy there, just a safe way to get the boys out in the sand). I don't really think I want to go crawl up a cliff (or down for that matter) but do want to be able to play in the mud and snow.

so here goes.

Jeep 1:
1993 Cherokee 2 door 8.5" long arm Rusty's off-road lift kit with D30 front axle with an OX locker and 4.10 gears D44 rear with spool and 4.10 gears and has been converted to disc brakes. It ha a 4.5:1 crawl box in the transfer case and a Smittybilt 8000lb. Winch it's sitting on 36" Irocs with roughly 75% tread left. It has the 4.0 HO engine that was replaced and has 90k on it and the AX-15 manual transmission

jeep 1 by Timbre Bjornson, on Flickr

Jeep 2:
1994 Jeep Cherokee
Custom built Jeep from C ROK in Arizona
Lockers front and rear
Chrome Ollie axle shafts front
4 wheel drive works excellent
Auto transmission, shifts excellent all gears
Custom full roll cage
Custom spare tire carrier
Custom winch bumper
All built and fabricated at CROK in Arizona
Brand new 33" Mud terrains

This one is unique in that it was a 4 door that has had everything above the window sills cut off and a complete custom cage installed including a new roof. Seems to have original windshield and thats about it. Windows for doors are plexi inserts that drop into place.

jeep 2 by Timbre Bjornson, on Flickr

 

Imo I would find one that wasn't so modified

 

Especially if you're new to this. Both of those *appear* to be WAY more vehicle than a beginner needs and could host a nightmarish number of future problems if you don't know all the different things to inspect to see if they were built correctly.

 

I agree with Martlor but Jeep 2 is pretty badass!

 

I guess I should have prefaced my original post with a few things. While I am new to offroading I am far from new to fabrication and the like. I have built and driven race cars for a number of years. Also spent many summers in the sand dunes with rails and quads. I have a full shop at my disposal. My brother in law is heavy into offroading. He runs CJ on 1 tons and 44's

So with either one I would be taking him along with me on a purchase. I'm just trying to get the feel of the masses before making a decision

 

If that's the case then I even more strongly recommend getting one not modified. If you have a shop and can fabricate yourself, why pick up someone else's project? You will have no idea what was really done to it. Get a clean one and make it your own.

 

I've thought about that. There are some really cheap clean ones up right now. The issue I have is I have a couple other projects in line that need finishing. I was hoping for something that I could hop in, put the kids in the back and enjoy a saturday afternoon.

At the same time I do understand the enjoyment of the build and the hunt for parts... but that would put me well into summer before I could get out and play

 

You'd be surprised how capable a stock Cherokee is...

 

So more something along the lines of one of these two?




1989 Jeep Cherokee with a 3-inch lift on 33's. 5-speed manual with the 4.0L straight 6. I just recently re did the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder, new front and rear drivelines from Drivelines NW, new flowmaster and some others I can't name right off the top of my head. Super clean interior

Cons- Currently the jeep has a death wobble, I'm assuming due to tie rod ends or loose track bar bushing. Would more than likely have to be towed. Also, the driver door mechanism broke due to the cold weather so that door sways open as well..

or




1986 Jeep Cherokee. Bought as a project for the winter and just have to many now.
Interior is 9 out of 10. Inline 4.0 with a 5 speed runs great! Comes with full lift kit ready to install. Just needs longer u bolts and break lines. Everything else is there. Have receipts from previous owner for lots of work done. I replaced the slave and main cylinders as well as the ignition module since I have owned her

I really didn't want a project right away and was hoping to keep the expense down at least at the start. But I do see the point of doing most of it myself and being able to know exactly what has gone into the project.

 

Get a stock xj and throw a locker in it and some good tires. You can go anywhere you want to and you wont be getting someone else's headache

 

I would look for a 91-99 xj as virgin and as clean as you can afford.Anything modded your taking a chance on it being drove hard and beat in the ground and now it because your problem when things break left and right.The white one death wobble is caused by two things wore out parts that need to be changed or its been lifted wrong either way i would pass unless its under 1500 bucks and has no rust at all.The 86 you do not want at all,84-86 xj came with two engines a 2.5 4 cylinder and a 2.8 gm v6 which is crappy and slow.The inline 6 4.0 came out in 87 and is the engine you want.

 

Hell go with #1 and load it up and have some fun right now Badass all the way and would cost an arm and a leg to build plus a long time to get to that point. If all the fab work/welding looks good the parts list sounds right.


I wish that I had went that route instead of building from stock over time.

 

I'm really torn. I really like the idea of building my own rig. I enjoy taking the time and making everything just how I want it. With this I was just hoping to avoid that. I know it's not the best route to go but might be easier. Also buying a complete rig someone else has spent all the $$$ on the parts. You never get that back from a build. (I should know from the stack of parts in my garage from my camaro, Which still isn't done and another reason that I was hoping for something almost complete)

 

Just look for rust, engine noises/leaks, suspension problems, noises when you hit bumps, death wobble, and did I mention rust? Also, look for obvious electrical issues, such as all the lights working, radio working, test 4wd, and once again look for rust. Rust is a big issue on the unibody cherokee.

 

I will look for rust... and more rust. I'm going out to look at #1 in a hour or so today. I won't come home with it tonight becasue I have to sell another toy first... but at least it's a start