Jeep vs. Toyota

[TNnewbie]

Im looking for a 60% everyday driver / 40% offroad vehicle. Not looking to climb rocks or mud bog...just something that I can confidently navigate the TN mountains with.
I have a lead on a 4.0L '93 Cherokee with 83k miles that was fleet owned/maintained, and when it was purchased, had stock tires and rims.
Since being purchased, he has added a 3 inch BDS suspension lift, 32" tires and added a 2.5" exhaust system.

It also has a heavy duty steel bumper with low profile winch that he had the motor replaced on. All in all, over $3k in repairs.

The body is in modest condition with no noticable rust.

Now, in talking with some of the local pro's, am being steered away from Jeep because of the week suspension / axles, etc. They are suggesting an '86 Toyota due to the solid front axle...but that is getting pretty old for a daily driver.

I am looking for other opinions. For someone that is not going to be out climbing mt everest or rock crawling, would this be a viable purchase for around $5200? I figure a few good hills, few mud holes, and rough terrain would be about the extent of my initial offroad agenda.

[anothrknight]

don't think because im a toyota driver that i'm biased because i love jeeps too..

but your need for a dailey driver seems to outweigh you offroad useage...

so why go for a gas guzzling 4.0 straight six..

toyota's got a great 4 cylinder 22re engine which is pretty strong for its size.. but also has a 3.0L V6 which isn't exactly a gas saver, but either way both would be better on gas even tho all 3 engines are very capable offroad power-makers

oh.. and toyota's break less :p

[Enigma]

jeep vs toyota, chevy vs ford, my dad can beat up your dad, my dick is bigger etc etc.

It sounds like for what you want to do, that Jeep will be just fine. If you get into more serious offroading then yah, the Jeep axles are noted as weak for larger tires, and are often swapped out.

Just dont tell my 'yota friends I said this OK? :eek:


oh..and what the hell is TN?

[anothrknight]

but then again the XJ's do come stock with a solid front axle.. but you can buy a toyota pickup from 1986-1995 with a solid axle swapped into it.. its a custom job, but they're out there..

[TNnewbie]

TN = Tennessee down yonder in the US.

How hard / much is it to swap axles to a larger diameter?

Do you have to swap out the entire front end or is the axle itself replaceable?

Is 32" tires to large for that set-up? Seems 31's are a pretty popular size in regards to jeeps.

I also have a boat that I will want to tow back and forth to the lake, so I need something larger than a 4cyl.

[Enigma]

Ahh, thought it was down yonder.

Its a relatively common practice to swap in stronger axle shafts, such as chromoly, to beef up ones axle, but to actually go larger you need to change the entire front end out. I'm not a Jeep guy, but I think the common swap is to replace it with a Dana 44.

I *think* 32" tires are fine for what you have.

[lars]

Fuel economy-wise, I doubt that a Toyota v6 would be a noticable improvement over the 4.0L, but you can always Google for the actual numbers.

Axle-strength...it _might_ have the Chrysler 8.25 instead of the Dana 35. The Dana 35 is the weak axle but for casual use, it's ok. A Ford Explorer 8.8 can be installed fairly easily (just needs the old spring perch and shock mounts cut off, and new ones welded on). There's a write-up on it here: http://www.bc4x4.com/tech/2003/xj88/

Another option is to keep the Dana 35 and beef it with a Superior 35 kit.

The front axle is, imo, strong enough for most 'wheeling and isn't a problem like the D35 is when you get into bigger tires.

Of course, I'm assuming you won't be going bigger than 35" tires.




...lars

[TNnewbie]

Are there any tell tale signs for finding out what axle it has it in? I assume the D35 is the weakest of the two, when compared to the Chrysler???

[d0ubledown]

either or will work for what you want it to do really. that said, im a big toy fan...i find its reliablilty and very strong & problem free running gear to be my main concern. jeeps DO have solid axles, but that being said, most of those stock jeeps tend to swap out their weaker axles for beefier units. dont be afraid of the IFS front ends found in toyotas. theyre quite strong...stronger than stock jeep solid front axles. its just limited in suspension travel and flex. you can run 35's on stock toy axles..front IFS included.

fwiw...id daily drive a 15 year old stock toyota over a 15 year old stock jeep anyday. they just last longer and break less. period.

[fish4life]

either or will work for what you want it to do really. that said, im a big toy fan...i find its reliablilty and very strong & problem free running gear to be my main concern. jeeps DO have solid axles, but that being said, most of those stock jeeps tend to swap out their weaker axles for beefier units. dont be afraid of the IFS front ends found in toyotas. theyre quite strong...stronger than stock jeep solid front axles. its just limited in suspension travel and flex. you can run 35's on stock toy axles..front IFS included.

fwiw...id daily drive a 15 year old stock toyota over a 15 year old stock jeep anyday. they just last longer and break less. period.


make sure you get a good heater then, cause after 15 years those rust holes in the body get pretty big :redneck :redneck

[Tmax]

get a toyota for what ever use you need and never look back. jeep and toys are not in the same class. i always say buy a jeep if you want to upgrade your upgraded upgrades for the rest of your life.
:beer_cheers:

[lars]

Are there any tell tale signs for finding out what axle it has it in? I assume the D35 is the weakest of the two, when compared to the Chrysler???
The 8.25 has a pronounced flat spot on the bottom of the diff housing (easy to spot when you're driving behind one). D35 is oval.

BTW, I strongly disagree with anyone who says the D30 is a weak axle. I used to believe the D30 is a weak axle but after seeing so many on the trails over the past 12 years or so, I've come to the conclusion that they're actually pretty good. I've seen one D30 break on the trail, and that was Dave Warner's, and anyone who knows him knows that the D30 put up with a LOT of abuse from him. His XJ is proof of how strong the D30 is...although I should also point out that he had alloy shafts in it.

I've seen about a half dozen D35's break, though. And about a half dozen Toyota front axles break, too.

Also, the IFS Toyotas tend to require their idler arms to be rebuilt fairly regularly, especially if you've lifted the suspension. On the plus side, they have freewheeling hubs while the Jeep D30's do not.

Toyotas might have better brakes, too. I'm not 100% positive on that. But bigger front discs are nice to have if you are going to be running tires taller that 33".

BTW, I owned an '84 Toyota pickup, and a '78 Land Cruiser. Both were good trucks but absolutely horrendous for rust, and I owned them since new. And I have run across more than a few Toyotas with rusted out frames. If you look for an older Toyota, be extremely cautious when inspecting the frame rails.

I had an '88 Cherokee with the internal clutch slave cylinder which was a major PITA when it began to leak (requires that you remove the tranny to fix it). I forget what year they switched to an external unit. Your '93 will have either an AX15 5-spd manual or AW-4 4-spd auto. Both are good units.

I've 'wheeled with lots of Toyotas and lots of Jeeps. They're both good, and they both have weaknesses as well.

The only vehicles which I think have a noticable advantage are the Suzuki Samurais because of their light weight and low price (maybe not so low these days).

I'll also admit that vehicles with longer wheelbases often have advantages in climbing, so a Toyota pickup might be more advantageous than my YJ...but against an XJ, I don't think there's as much of a difference.


...lars

[wild_ride]

jeep and toys are not in the same class.

lol how many Jeeps have you owned?

They are both good vehicles, dollar for dollar the Cherokee is a better value for what you get, as they have come down in price a lot over the last few years whereas the great Toyota legend/myth has kept their values a bit higher. The Toyota is a really good reliable vehicle if you don't mind being a bit underpowered (V6) or REALLY underpowered (4cy). At $5200 I would probably be thinking twice, in US dollars that seems quite high but local market conditions may be different where you are.

[Road Dog]

The June 2007 issue of JP Magazine (www.jpmagazine.com) has a used Jeep buyer's guide. It's handy because it lists all the engine/drivetrain changes over the years (1984 - 2001).

Toyotas and Jeeps have their strengths and weaknesses and both are solid trail rigs.

[physcofreerider]

Rust holes?? what rust holes in a Toyota?? It's all about how you take care of your truck. I changed the original box to a 91 because the bed rails are ugly on the 86. Everything else body wise is original. And yes, this truck im driving has been offroaded lots. It's seen the dirt since it was bought. Kelowna, Pemberton, Prince George, Alberta, everywhere in BC. Yeah, it's all about how you take care of your truck.

[lars]

Rust holes?? what rust holes in a Toyota?? It's all about how you take care of your truck. I changed the original box to a 91 because the bed rails are ugly on the 86. Everything else body wise is original. And yes, this truck im driving has been offroaded lots. It's seen the dirt since it was bought. Kelowna, Pemberton, Prince George, Alberta, everywhere in BC. Yeah, it's all about how you take care of your truck.

I've had two Toyotas and two Jeeps. Treated all the same and the only two that had rust problems were my Toyotas.

I'm not saying that all Toyotas have rust problems, but a lot do, and they are prone to it. The OP is asking about Toyotas in general, not yours in particular, so it is useful for him to be aware of the problem.


...lars

[Suberman]

i like jeeps because right out of the factory they are ready for some pretty good wheeling, and there is a lot of knowledgeful people out there willing to give you a hand, a good thing about jeeps is their is a huge supply of used parts for them while toyota's some parts have to be ordered in. all that said, i like em both the way i see it is how the thing is done up.

[TNnewbie]

This is all great info...is there anyway to post a pic on here? I can show you what it looks like.

This rig is an '93 Cherokee with a 4.0, was owned and fleet maintenenced by TVA (Tennesee Valley Authority), had stock rims and tires, has some minor scratches and a dent in the hood. Since buying it, he had a BDS 3" lift installed professionally, heavy duty tie rod end, 32" BF Goodrich AT and an assortment of other little things. Although it has a heavy duty steel bumper and winch, with the size of the original tires, can pretty much assure its never seen any offroad time, with the exception of dirt roads leading to power line towers.

With 32", the 3" lift doesnt allow for alot of room over the wheel, but he didnt want to get into a slip yoke adjustment/replacement by going any taller (advised by local pro 4x4 shop.

Oh yeah, and it only has 87k miles on it.

His lowest offer at this point is $4850 US. I can probably still get him down to $45-4600.

Based on that...still to much???

[TNnewbie]

Try these links...if they dont work, copy and paste into your browser.

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[Suberman]

looks really good, interior is clean and you got a winch for when you get stuck, i would get tires with a little more aggressive tread though

[TNnewbie]

Worth $4500 US though?

[wild_ride]

It's a good looking Jeep but in my opinion that's a bit high...I really don't know what they're selling for in your area, but here it would be a tough sell @ 5k CAD...If the price seems appropriate in your market and fits your budget it looks pretty decent, just check it out very thoroughly as you would any vehicle before buying.

[physcofreerider]

Ok i realize, most Toyota's are prone to rusting. But i don't think theres another vehicle you could drive thats rusted to ****, missing gaskets and still have your engine start up. The 22R is an extremely reliable engine that produces a lot of power for it's size. The Toyota is great because it's narrow allowing you to do tight trails, not to long either so turns aren't a problem. Short also allowing you to turn around a narrow dead end trail. Plus, the aftermarket is amazing. Oh yeah, the 22R and RE are super easy and simple to work on.

[lars]

Ok i realize, most Toyota's are prone to rusting. But i don't think theres another vehicle you could drive thats rusted to ****, missing gaskets and still have your engine start up.

That's not really a selling point if you're comparing it to a vehicle that's not rusted to *** and that starts up just fine. ;-)


The Toyota is great because it's narrow allowing you to do tight trails, not to long either so turns aren't a problem. Short also allowing you to turn around a narrow dead end trail. Plus, the aftermarket is amazing. Oh yeah, the 22R and RE are super easy and simple to work on.
The OP is comparing Toyotas to Cherokees. Both are about the same width and length.

I will say, though, that a stock solid axle Toyota pickup is more off-road capable than a stock XJ. The rear diff is stronger and it has more lift from the factory.

...lars

[d0ubledown]

dont forget you can stuff 3"+ body lifts under toys :laugh try doing that with your xj

[fish4life]

I hate body lifts with a passion ... but i have to admit, they suit a 4Runner pretty well as it is hardly noticable at around 2" or so. sure beats a suspension lift if you just want to stuff some bigger tires under there.

[wild_ride]

dont forget you can stuff 3"+ body lifts under toys :laugh try doing that with your xj

lol great selling feature, let's all go get 5" body lifts!

[TNnewbie]

Took y'alls advise and opted to turn it down based on price. To many people telling me it was too much for that year vehicle. Many another deal out there...

Thanks for y'alls advise!

[gavman]

Hello and welcome:beer_cheers:
Just a little curious why you came so far north for advise? ( I know travel times are low with the internet but...).
I like Toyotas but have never had or driver a jeep. Oh and actually will likely stick with the Toyotas too based on my experience so far:beer_cheers:

[TNnewbie]

Was surfing for advise forums and found this site, read for a while, like the other advise threads and decided to join.

Location/Nationality of the advise is irrelevant. :-)

[RoperAB]

Welcome to the forum. Hey if your thinking about a Jeep, why not get a real one? Example TJ,CJ7 etc.
(Joke dont have a fit anybody) The only good ricer is a crushed ricer<grin>

[wile_thang]

Welcome to the forum. Hey if your thinking about a Jeep, why not get a real one? Example TJ,CJ7 etc.

A real Jeep or a real jeep? :D

[lornix]

Bah, apples and oranges.

My XJ is tough as nails and never lets me down. My breaks have been operator error and not a crappy vehicle.

I know 2 people with 'Yotas and both are often left behind because they cannot rely on their rigs to get them up the trails. One keeps breaking rear axles (running 35s broke 2 in less than a year and recently broke the diff housing on a rock) and the other has blown 2 head gaskets in 3 years and is afraid to go off road. Both 'Yotas are rusted out and look like ****e.

When I wanted a 4x4 I chose Jeep for these reasons ... best after market, the most used parts available, the best support forums, and the easiest to wrench in your driveway. I stayed away from 'Yota because of the cost of parts and repairs and the show-stopping engine problems the older 'runners have.

One last thought ... when I wheel I see mostly Jeeps, Fords, Chevys, and Landrovers on the trails. I don't see too many 'Yotas or Nissans comparatively. I see lots of lifted 4runners on the roads, but for some odd reason I don't see them much in the bush.

Get the Jeep to learn the ropes and then move into your dream rig. You might find it was a custom XJ all along ... or not. As far as people upgrading upgrades on a Jeep and getting all caught up in it ... do it right, do it once.

[lars]

One last thought ... when I wheel I see mostly Jeeps, Fords, Chevys, and Landrovers on the trails. I don't see too many 'Yotas or Nissans comparatively.
You see more Land Rovers than Toyotas on the trail?? Where do you 'wheel?

Seriously, Land Rovers are pretty rare unless you go 'wheeling with the Rover Landers.

On the Island, you'll see tons of Jeeps, Toyotas and Suzukis on the trails and very few Fords and Chevys. On the hardcore trails here, it's mostly Jeeps, Toyotas and Suzukis, too.

...lars

[d0ubledown]

thats what i was wondering too...landy's? not the norm thats for sure. fords n chevs are usually found in the mud pits. toys/zuks/heeps are mostly found on the trails...

no point to start a pissing match, as i can count just as many if not more instances where a heep has broken down..etc.

they're all good, and we all have our preferences...

[Enigma]

Took y'alls advise and opted to turn it down based on price. To many people telling me it was too much for that year vehicle. Many another deal out there...

Thanks for y'alls advise!



Well you didn't have to turn it down. Maybe the seller had his price jacked up and was hoping some kid would come along and go 'oh cool!' and hand him over gobs of cash. Lord knows I've done that, hell, I still do that!:help

Lowball him with an offer of some kind and work from there, thats always an option.

[lornix]

You see more Land Rovers than Toyotas on the trail?? Where do you 'wheel?

Seriously, Land Rovers are pretty rare unless you go 'wheeling with the Rover Landers.

On the Island, you'll see tons of Jeeps, Toyotas and Suzukis on the trails and very few Fords and Chevys. On the hardcore trails here, it's mostly Jeeps, Toyotas and Suzukis, too.

...lars

I wheel all over the Lowermainland / Fraser Valley from Whistler out to Chilliwack, Harrison. It seems like whenever I go out I see these Landrover Discoveries all over the place full of clean, white, middle-aged people. Granted I don't see them much past a certain point on the trails, but I see 'em. It is more true in the Whistler, Squamish corridor, but it is pretty hard to not see them.... seriously. You are right about the island though, I just spent 10 days over there and didn't see many at all, but go to Condo country and they are all over the place!

[Tmax]

I wheel all over the Lowermainland / Fraser Valley from Whistler out to Chilliwack, Harrison. It seems like whenever I go out I see these Landrover Discoveries all over the place full of clean, white, middle-aged people. Granted I don't see them much past a certain point on the trails, but I see 'em. It is more true in the Whistler, Squamish corridor, but it is pretty hard to not see them.... seriously. You are right about the island though, I just spent 10 days over there and didn't see many at all, but go to Condo country and they are all over the place!


no I know why you don't see any Toyota's. the same reasons why no one really see's any rovers. you gotta start getting off the pavement first. that also explains your reliable XJ.

[lornix]

thats what i was wondering too...landy's? not the norm thats for sure. fords n chevs are usually found in the mud pits. toys/zuks/heeps are mostly found on the trails...

no point to start a pissing match, as i can count just as many if not more instances where a heep has broken down..etc.

they're all good, and we all have our preferences...

I agree, no pissing match here, I love my Heep no matter what anybody say about it. My answer is always the same anyways ... "I'll wait for you at the top ..." I was just responding to similar comments that implied Jeeps are crap.

Cheers

[lornix]

no I know why you don't see any Toyota's. the same reasons why no one really see's any rovers. you gotta start getting off the pavement first. that also explains your reliable XJ.

You're kidding right? Why be a tool? :wtf:

I was not dissing on anything, just expressing my opinion just as many others had. Some one said that Jeeps break down a lot and are unreliable, so I simply answered that I know 2 guys in 'Yotas that are left behind while my Jeep gets the trail wounds. You reply by implying that I don't go off road and that's why my jeep is reliable. If it makes you feel any better, I know a third guy with a Pathfinder that had the tranny and T-case completely fail on the trail and had to be trailered home and scrapped. I am the only one in my circle with a Jeep and oddly the only one who is ready all the time. It's not because my truck is any better, it's because I'm a better wheeler and I fix it when it breaks.

I never said Jeeps don't break and I never said other vehicles are crap. I also never attacked anyone personally. I just answered back. I guess that was my mistake.

This is the one reason I have not paid money to join this site yet. Why should I pay to come here and be insulted when I can get it for free? Your "that also explains your reliable XJ." comment is just that ... a blatant insult and a personal attack. You don't even know me or anything about me and yet you spew this crud as though you do. My Jeep is reliable because I look after it and am damn good at picking the right line.

I see plenty of off road (almost every weekend) and I generally wheel off the beaten track so I don't have to wait around at the cattle call trails while someone ahead of me takes half an hour to jack their broken ass off a boulder.

So, whatever.

[TNnewbie]

Ok, I started this string because I was interested in obtaining different opinions about various rides. This has turned into a "mine is bigger than yours" and "my dad can beat up your dad" argument.

Administrators, I will have no heartache if you remove this string. I got all the info I needed. :help

[Enigma]

Ok, I started this string because I was interested in obtaining different opinions about various rides. This has turned into a "mine is bigger than yours" and "my dad can beat up your dad" argument.

Administrators, I will have no heartache if you remove this string. I got all the info I needed. :help


hey...I said that right at the start! :clown

These threads are fun 'cuz it ALWAYS degenerates into some good 'ol mudslinging!
:beer

[canucksafari]

And what about asking about all the ones that are better than a Heep or Yota like the Nissan Safari/Patrol? Check out my post in the general section and you will understand. :p

BTW, like Enigma says it is all in good fun. Lornix, take it easy and don't take things so personal. Sure its not great fun being flamed but its fun to flame back when opportunity knocks - and she always comes a knocking eventually. :clown

[lars]

This is the one reason I have not paid money to join this site yet.

Um, if you think it's bad here, you clearly haven't spent enough time on other sites. ;-)



Why should I pay to come here and be insulted when I can get it for free?


You get the ability to upload pics, a larger PM mailbox, and an avatar.

So now can we have your $22?

If nothing else, I'll be nicer to you!

And for $220, I'll ban whoever you want.


...lars

[RoperAB]

Around here <southern AB>if its not a one ton diesel you get looked down at for the most part. Example me in my old gaser.

[jeeponrock]

And for $220, I'll ban whoever you want.

I've always wanted that lars guy banned. Cheque is in the mail :redneck

[Enigma]

Um, if you think it's bad here, you clearly haven't spent enough time on other sites. ;-)



...lars



There is other sites???? :wtf: :omg:

[lornix]

Ok, just to clear the record, I think my words have been misunderstood. I was not trying to flame anyone - never was. I wasn't even feeling defensive about the where I wheel questions ... a reasonable query based on my comments.

I obviously stepped in **** here without meaning too and responded to an insult I really should have walked away from (my bad). Tmax kinda starched my ginch a little to be sure, but somehow I will find the strength to survive it.

Cheers, and let's move on. (humbly backing away slowly while avoiding eye contact...)

:beer_cheers:

[Tmax]

Um, if you think it's bad here, you clearly haven't spent enough time on other sites. ;-)



You get the ability to upload pics, a larger PM mailbox, and an avatar.

So now can we have your $22?

If nothing else, I'll be nicer to you!

And for $220, I'll ban whoever you want.


...lars


how may bans do you get for $220. sounds like a deal.

[Tmax]

Ok, just to clear the record, I think my words have been misunderstood. I was not trying to flame anyone - never was. I wasn't even feeling defensive about the where I wheel questions ... a reasonable query based on my comments.

I obviously stepped in **** here without meaning too and responded to an insult I really should have walked away from (my bad). Tmax kinda starched my ginch a little to be sure, but somehow I will find the strength to survive it.

Cheers, and let's move on. (humbly backing away slowly while avoiding eye contact...)

:beer_cheers:

this is a discussion forum, not an A-$$ kissing one. I simply stated what I saw in your post. you burned yourself by bringing in the landrovers. yes they are nice but how many do you ever see? I put over 20k on my off road rig last year and didn't see one anywhere.however you do see them quite often on TV.

there is no reason to apologize. in my opinion this is what makes a forum interesting otherwise everyone will agree on the same thing and that's just to boring.

:beer_cheers: :beer_cheers:

[copeland]

My 2cents, as a jeep owner of seven years...

I would say get a Toyota. the 3.4 liter puts out similar numbers to the 4 liter for towing a boat ('ve towed my cousins 14 foot fishing boat with the 2.7 liter fine) But since it seems you are doing so much more on road driving, the Toyota will have the more comfortable ride and handling.

Plus you only want a 31 or 32" tire, the IFS will hold up well considering the offroading you sound like you'll be in (the rear axle is way more beef then you need to worry about)

Plus if you ever need to a upgrade, a solid axle and lift kit and you'll be clearing anything up to 38's on toy drivetrain.

[suburbanpat]

i would choose the cherokee any day over a toyota. you have far more power from the 4L than a 22re, and from my experiences cherokees have been virtually bullet proof and powered through or over what ever you want. keep in mind its suspension lifts only with cherokees which can be costly. i put mine through hell and back along with the previous owner and it still ran solid with 270 000 hard kms

[fish4life]

cherokees need decent lift just to run 31s properly :(
a toy can accomplish that with a body lift pretty nicely, and body lifts on a toy are hardly noticable....

on the other hand i'd be reluctant to give up the trusty 4.0L.

besides ... do you really want photos of IFS flex??? or the lack there of ???:D :D

[kore]

toys can fit 31's stock, you had the option of the large tire package from the dealership.
and why would you want a vehicle that breaks all the time? my toy has been to hell and back through salt slime snow you name it, and has never left me stranded or broken anything. it has 434,000km and counting, and the diesel just purrs, so smooth and the power of a v6 running 10psi of boost with an intercooler. toyotas are very well engineered and built. the reason there are rusty ones that blow head gaskets is because the original owner didnt know **** about properly maintaining a vehicle. if you let your coolant system have old coolant, old thermostat, ****ty rad then its no wonder head gaskets blow out.
that being said, i have done a head gasket on my supra, but i think that had more to do with the previoius owner not knowing **** about cars, and he probably overheated it.
toyota for life, my toys have treated me very well and i will keep them forever! the truck is an unstoppable wheeling machine, and my supra is a luxurious speed machine

[82 yota 4x4]

i have an 89 4runner with the 22re, 2"bodylift chopped fenders on 35's, has never left me stranded, i beat the piss out of this thing every weekend, it won't die, imo toys are the best for cheap truck builds,paid 1200 for it and it has 430k kms

[wile_thang]

Toyotas make great off-road vehicles, the only real problem I have with the older ones is the rust.

[wile_thang]

i would choose the cherokee any day over a toyota. you have far more power from the 4L than a 22re, and from my experiences cherokees have been virtually bullet proof and powered through or over what ever you want.

The 4.0L with either the AW4 or AX15 is an excellent setup with a long life. The only real weak point with the XJ's were the D35 and later D35 c-clip axles. Fortunately there were so many Cherokees sold that used replacement parts are everywhere and upgrading a rear diff is not necessarily an expensive proposition. The other current trend is that folks seem to be putting Ford 8.8s from wrecked Explorers on their XJs these days.

[copeland]

The 4.0L with either the AW4 or AX15 is an excellent setup with a long life. The only real weak point with the XJ's were the D35 and later D35 c-clip axles. Fortunately there were so many Cherokees sold that used replacement parts are everywhere and upgrading a rear diff is not necessarily an expensive proposition. The other current trend is that folks seem to be putting Ford 8.8s from wrecked Explorers on their XJs these days.


right but he 3.4 liter is a competitive motor (comparitively I'm not sure as I've only had a 4.0 in my tj, but my buddies taco with a 3.4 was quite stout)

And the 3rz is a good motor too, much more power then a 22re and just as dependable.

[miller]

I figure a few good hills, few mud holes, and rough terrain would be about the extent of my initial offroad agenda.


:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

If you manage to actually limit yourself to that then anything will do just fine. Unfortunately not many stick to what they originally expected their limits to be. I know a toy would do the trick and I would assume a jeep would too...as would a nissan, mazda, isuzu, chev or ford with a locker in the rear diff.

The time where it matters will be when you want to get into it a bit more IMO.