Currently I am building by XJ. It's got a 3.5 RE lift, 31s, a couple skid plates, front spartan locker, no bumpers and a few other minor things. In total, I have a little over $6,000 into it and it is no where close to where I would want it.

A couple days ago I found this cherokee in my local area and got to thinking that for what I would pay for it it is well worth the money considering I could spend another 5-10K on my jeep and it still wouldn't be where this one is. I am trying to look at this from a financial perspective. This cherokee seems like a great deal. Of course its probably not perfect like everything else out there and I would want to tinker with it like everyone else wants to with their jeep but the expensive stuff has already been taken care of. Obviously if I got this one I would just sell mine. What do ya'll think?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/4809817940.html

 

Go look at it. Test drive it. Talk to the guy. That ad is a little vague. He posts all the good, but none of the bad, which makes me leery. For what it is, it is a good deal, if it is what he says it is. Find out who did the work. ASK MANY QUESTIONS. Do it in person, not via texts or over the phone. If it checks out, it's totally worth it IMHO. The one problem with buying modded vehicles is to make sure the work was done right. Also, see if he'll let you take it to a local mechanic to have it checked out. If he refuses, walk away. Best I got.

EDIT: are you still in Montana? Looks like that ad is for Sacramento CA.....and his contact info is for email only...

 

Booger welds... Doesn't make me think quality build. The rear shackle area looks sketch. Not enough good pictures of what he's done. Not enough info. Yeah... I'd keep building what you got.

 

The welds i can see are middle of the road not the best looking or the worse.The tires are old the wrangler mtr haven't ran that tread pattern for 4 or 5 years so the tires are trash.The rear tire carrier dont look strong enough to hold a 40 inch tire.

 

Now its too late to make it financially better. You already baught an xj and modded it to the tune of 6k. This one is 8k. You will get 3k for yours , so your backwards on the money anyways , no matter how you look at it. If you feel like building, go ahead. If you just want a rig thats ready because you lack mechanical knowledge, tools, time etc. go ahaed and buy a built one. Thats what I should have done. But it wont save you money if you are already invested into yours. Also IMO anything you buy will need some kind of work on your part soon if not asap anyway.

 

I have been asking him multiple questions over email so far and he has always answered back quick. He is sending me more pictures today and if it still checks outs over pictures I am going to take a look at it. I have all the tools, welder, metal working material but it would take me a long time to get where this one is. If I were to get this one I can fix anything that is not 100%. I've been a vehicle mechanic for about 5 years now so I feel confident checking it out. Like I said I just wanted to get someone else's opinion. Will definitely check it out here within the next week or so.

 

Buy it and combine the two into a new, monster XJ. Sell spare parts/pieces.

 

Not to be a wise **** but it sounds like you've found a way to justify buying ANOTHER jeep.


It happens. It's like buying ANOTHER motorcycle, because one just isn't enough. Ah, the years I spent convincing my wife (and myself) that I needed just one more.......




Good Luck With It.




Didn't they already build the one you want......Ah....I think it's called a HUMMER !

 

Most of the people in this forum would rather be shot dead than be caught driving a hummer, LOL

 

You DO understand what the word "enthusiast" means, right?

 

hummers are over rated lol

 

I wish I had some of the pictures... they were posted up in my unit with some message about responsiblity on them. There is a 4x4 course here called "Wild Bill". It is manmade but has trails all over the place- probably about 50 miles worth. It is actually pretty challenging and really tests your departure and approach angle repeatedly. I smashed my exhaust and had a few other dings the last time I went through.

Anyways, one of the local USAR units wanted to do a "confidence course" for their humvees... (not uparmored- just soft top) They took 4 of them to Wild Bill... only one came out. Two of them blew apart their differentials. One of them broke their transfer case and all of them had body damage (mirrors, bumpers etc). They had to use a m88 to get two of them out and I was told a helicopter to get the third. Everyone who went said it was a nightmare- that they had to constantly winch over every obstacle (hundreds on this trail). Why they didn't turn around at the beginning... I dont know.

My grandfather made it through with his TJ 2" lift and 31s winching off me about 8 times. I think humvees are way too big/heavy to be any good in most situations.


Sorry to side track... Jeep looks nice man! I would check it over really good and go for it!

 

One is enough, that's why I'm going to sell my old one.

 

Ended up picking this bad boy up for $6800. Really happy with the purchase. Besides minor maintenance stuff I want to put new springs front and rear because OF COURSE the rough country leafs on the back are sagging and a hydro assist set up, and fix the rear quarter pannels in the near future.

 

Big-*** heavy-duty-*** Jeep is a good Jeep.

Nice job!