Hi Jeep friends.
My wife and I are moving to Argentina for the next three years and will be able to take a vehicle per our visa. Currently, we own a 2000 XJ (with an RTT) with just over 175,000. In terms of off road capability, I have no fears. The XJ has gotten me through some harry situations here... On the other hand, Argentina is a HUGE country and we'll likely put thousands of miles on the vehicle between moving in and out of major cities and the wide-open wilderness. Some of the terrain will be rough, dry, salty, or extremally high altitude (upwards of 15,000 feet in places).
Here's the question? If you had a year to prep your XJ to make it ready for an adventure like this what would you want to focus on? What components would mostly likely fail and cause a breakdown hundreds of miles away from civilization?


Here's what's been updated recently:
-Radiator
-water pump
-battery
-3 inch suspension lift
-fuel injectors and fuel rail
The transmission and 4x4 system are in great shape.

I've personally seen XJ's all over the world, including in Argentina so I'm assuming I can get parts.
What am I missing?

 

Make sure you bring a spare tire

 

While I never took a Cherokee down to Patagonia, I have traveled Argentina all the way down to the Beagle Channel.
I have had the good fortune to have traveled all over the world, and I have to say that Argentina / Chile were my favorite places on earth.

You can't just say................ Hey! Lets take a day and drive down to Tierra del Fuego.
It is an adventure!
Chile is the longest nation on earth, and Argentina is second.
So plan Weeks, not days.
Also the weather turns really nasty the closer you get to horn.

I don't know where you will be in Argentina, but Buenos Aires is such a cool place.
I was doing a few events there, and every morning I headed to a cafe called La Beilla. It was interesting just watching the people go by outside.
The whole Recoleta is SUPER COOL! The basilica, and the cemetery are beautiful.
I was put up at the Palace Hotel, and I would recommend that even if you don't stay there to goto the little bar in there for a nightcap.
Food is awesome all over that part of the world, and if you love wine it is sooooo good.

Mind you when I was there, it was some time ago.
I don't know how the coof has changed it?

EDIT:
There is a huge Japanese population in Buenos Aires, I went to a sushi restaurant there, and ordering sushi in Japanese names in Spanish was a trip to say the least. Asking for Octopus (Tako) yo qurieo Tako?
I almost said yo quiero tako bell.
As you go south through Argentina, there are lots of places that actually speak German, and Dutch.
So COOL!

 

I went to Rancho Cucamonga once...lol

 

I envy you! Been to Argentina myself and loved it. Almost took a job there 10 years ago. Sounds like you've got your XJ in great shape so all should be good. 15,000 feet could be an adventure. Are there roads/trails at that elevation? Never had my XJ over 6000 ft, but had my Land Rover and CJ at 11000 plus without issues except no power. Best of luck and post pictures in the future when you get there.

 

I would carry spare sensors for all the sensors around the throttle body. Also the CPS. Any sensor that can stop the Jeep, I would want to have as a spare, especially in another country in far away places. I mean if you need to buy the sensors there, who knows how long it will take to get it.

If the transmission solenoids have never been changed, well they could last many more years or stop working any day now. Same thing for the gas pump. And a spare belt would be good too.

Hopefully you will never need them, but if you do, you have them.

Good luck.