Ifs kind of sucks...
but their rear axle is pretty beefy.

 

Do you plan to use it offroad much? If so go with the commander, I was in one at a camp jeep on the road tour, it seemed very smooth on the off road course. I've had a rental tahoe and it was one fine vehicle, wicked fast and great mpg, but I don't see it making very far off road.

 

I thought they had an 8.25?

 

It does

 

Probably no off-roading. It will be a soccer mom car most of the time, but will go to camp grounds and pull a pop-up trailer.

In general, I like what I see about the Commanders...but the seem a little pricey. A 4-5 year old Durango is $10K or less, The Commanders seem to be closer to $15K at that age.

When you got 4 kids, you ain't got much money in the bank!

 

I knew this was out there. Came across it a few days ago so it's there if you want it.. http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

But your right the commanders have done a decent job of holding some of there value and you can probably get just as much out of a durango for your purposes for less.

 

Some do. Some dont.
American Axle & Manufacturing 830 axle is another axle that was used.

 

http://www.quadratec.com/jeep-replac...k-825-rear.php

 

I know this is several months old but maybe it will help some people. My 1 year old was in the back seat on the passenger side. My husband was in the front. I was driving. Husband was hurt the worst - fractured rib. There wasn't a whole lot of room left in the front passenger side. But considering we got t-boned by an older pickup doing about 50mph we were lucky. Guy ran a red-light, we never saw him coming. I was impressed how solid this Jeep is taking that kind of hit. See my pic of my poor Jeep I thought about other vehicles but couldn't find anything like my Commander so I bought another!

 

I like the way they look

 

Commander would have made more sense as to the cherokee's replacement, not the liberty...