I am buying a Grand Cherokee soon and was hoping for some advice. I am either buying with lift and wheels or doing it myself. What year/model and engine types are best for wheeling, adding mods and using for an everyday vehicle. Keep in mind I live in the mountains and won't use it for long highway driving. I want to get into something with lower miles so i'm thinking 2004-2005. Is this a good year performance wise? Thanks, any advice is greatly appreciated...

 

For wheeling and modding you want a ZJ with a 4.0L. An XJ makes an easier to mod, cheaper, better wheeling rig just for the record

 

ZJ.

 

So the inline six is still the best for jeeps? v8 is too much torque?

 

V-8 comes with 249 or 247 T-case. no 2hi no 4hi part time

 

Perfect for optimal gas mileage, this is why i didn't buy a 5.2 ZJ that I could have got for less than my XJ

 

IMO if you're gonna keep it with stock or a bit larger than stock tires go with a 2000+ Quadradrive (they had LSDs front and rear that work pretty well as long as you don't put large tires on.)

 

I'm assuming you've never owned a ZJ then? ZJ's are just as easy to mod, not much more on lifts, and I'm still trying to figure out why you believe the XJ is better at wheeling. Are you a "leaf springs for the win" kind of guy? The only benefit is the tranny. Everything else, the Grand is the same or better. I owned 4 XJ's before, switched to ZJ's and have owned 3 so far.

And I agree with the others above. ZJ (96-98 is my choice) is the way to go, and with the 4 liter. It may take a little while to find one with low enough miles, but they're out there.

 

XJs are cheaper to build but that's about it. I've had both and liked both. The ZJ comes with a 4 link rear and no matter what you do with leaves they will never have the articulation a link set up does and no axle wrap. And they will ride better on pavement too. ZJ is a bit bigger and has a longer wheel base and the fender wells are slightly larger. The V8s have a little more power but don't tend to last as long as the good ole straight 6. I agree with the 96-98 models mostly due to the rear disc. I had a 93 and built my brothers 96 and both did great off road, both on 33s and 4" lifts.

 

What is wrong with the 2005's? Thanks all!!!!

 

I'm not a fan of IFS for anything I'd take off road. Also some come with a single speed t-case so no low range. Basically AWD not 4WD. But too cushy for me. And the only lifts I could find are 2" budget boost and run 150+.

 

Of course my daughter's 95 Hello Kitty ZJ with 4.0L must be the best.

 

ZJ cost way to much to mod with there high priced and hard to find aftermaket bumper and ZJ lift kit r prices as well and most of them have the s***y 242 TC and they all have the Dana 35 rear end and yea i kn they have the great flexing rear coil over suspension with disc brakes and the great 4.0 engine witch is in almost ever XJ also and BTW i dont own a ZJ and prolly never will but my brother N law has a 97 with a 3" lift on it and it couldent ever shine light on my XJ.......Sorry ZJ owners

 

Now i have been looking in to getting a WJ as a non lifted DD for a family ride

 

Well, you're right about the bumpers.. Everything else you pretty much failed on though.