What Wrangler (or Wrangler-like vehicle) to buy?

I know people who have gone through the trouble, but I wouldn't.
 

With a proper differential or two, most any 4x4 can be made into a competent off-roader. My old 4-Runner with an ARB air-locker was really good off road.

stanger_mussle (Forum Supporter) said:

It's different but the doors and roof don't come off:

https://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/d/tampa-isuzu-vehicross-ironman-for-sale/7123457669.html

A guy that works at the FIRM actually drives one of those. One odd thing I didn't realize about them is that they weigh ~4,000 lbs!

The ability to easily pull off doors and a top make the Wrangler really appealing. 

Not really a Jeep guy although we have two - when did the classic Jeep become a Wrangler? I'd always assumed the two were interchangeable but I'm seeing differentiation here. Was it the YJ?

ddavidv said:

Wrangler prices are stupid, at least around where I live. The current popularity and sky-high prices of new ones has driven the market to silly levels. They are good vehicles, but...

I see a lot of CJ's selling for more realistic money. The problem is they are old and 90% of them will have hopelessly rotten bodies and sometimes rusted or cracked frames. You have to be a careful shopper. But, you can find some out there that are good deals, even ones with replacement fiberglass tubs. If it's not something you'll use for regular daily use then a CJ is a worthy contender.

The old pre-1970s Willys and Kaiser Jeeps are going to suffer from ancient engines and really archaic steering, brakes and suspension. Those things are hardcore. And really, really old now so plan on lots of repairs.

I wouldn't buy anything that says 'Land Rover' on it unless you like wrenching more than driving.

Some land Rovers are very reliable. Signed, a land Rover owner.

Keith Tanner said:

Not really a Jeep guy although we have two - when did the classic Jeep become a Wrangler? I'd always assumed the two were interchangeable but I'm seeing differentiation here. Was it the YJ?

1986 with the YJ. 

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Yup. CJ7 and the YJ wrangler did overlap a bit but that was the change. Guy down the street has an early wrangler that came with the old carbureted 4.2 and a t5 though so aside from the body most of them are pretty interchangeable. 

1987 with the YJ, yep.  After people decided the CJ series fell over too easily.

I remember hardcore off road fans complaining about the long wheel base of the CJ7 compared to the CJ5. "You're going to high center it all the time"

Heads exploded when the Wrangler came out with the wheels sticking out 6" on each side.

Best Jeep I ever dealt with was a CJ7 Renegade with a 304 and a 3 speed. Freaking monster from the factory.

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

Chevy/Geo Tracker, Suzuki Sidekick/Vitara

Sample

+ as many +'s as I'm allowed. 

Great mileage. Soft top options, Surprisingly good off road. Cheap.

So there's some interesting and fun 4x4 options listed so far, but nothing does "Jeep things" as well as a Jeep.

Solid axle Toyota comes close, if you were going rock crawler, this would be a viable option, but short of the 1st gen 4Runner, you're not taking the roof off, without a sawzall.

All the full size suggestions are too big and just about all of the other suggestions are IFS.  Sure you can off road in all of them, but you can just about anything, I took a '90 Grand Prix on some ATV trails once, when I was younger and dumber.

If you want a Jeep, get a Jeep.

What Jeep depends on your budget and what amenities you want.  Each generation gets more and more creature comforts.

I'm may be a little biased, because I own one, but '97-'06 Wrangler TJ is probably the best mix of compact, 4x4, Jeepness, and modern enough convenience.  JK would be an acceptable alternative, but I'd have to hold out for a '12+ JK to get the 3.6l Pentastar engine, and you can get a lot of TJ for the same money.

I'd be looking for a TJ Sport with a tow package, or a Sahara, that'll get you a 4.0l and a D44 rear axle.

As has already been mentioned, there's probably not another vehicle with as larger of an aftermarket parts presence.  That TJ Sport or Sahara will get you a great starting spot, be relatively capable bone stock, and hold its resale value, if you decide offroading isn't for you.

Additionally buying something already modified can save you a lot of money, but there are a lot of Chinese parts, hack "mechanics," and bolt-on crap that really adds no offroadability value out there, so do your due diligence in looking things over and researching, or just ask us.  On that same note, I've said it many times, if it's got Rough Country parts on it, I wouldn't touch it, unless maybe it came with the stock parts to put back on, or was cheap enough to justify replacing with something else.

I'm doubling down. Plus their design screams "Radwood" more than jeeps from the era. Plus boxed fenders. The one in the video was for sale when the video was taken, I don't know of Jeep owners who would go full send on launching their vehicles while they're for sale, though I don't know what that says about Amigo owners. 

Get some

In reply to bigdaddylee82 :

Yep! That pretty much describes my rig, a near box stock '98 TJ Sport with KO2s. It has no extra fluff to break. 

No open motoring for me offroad , as I hate taste of dust 

for my needs, my FJ cruiser is perfect. Given the resale and current values it's the cheapest vehicle I have ever owned 

If you are looking for a convertible to go fire roading in then there are a lot of choices out there. I'd go with this little buggies or an old Bronco: 

https://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/d/westminster-2001-isuzu-rodeo-sport-base/7124885706.html

Ignore the price was all SUVs are stupid priced here. Almost to the point I'm going to start bring cars up from Dallas for resale. 

If you want something different, There are some traildusters and ramchargers that were removable tops in the late 70's-Early 80s. 

Good thing with a Wrangler, for the most part there is a floor price with them at 8-10K so you won't loose much in depreciation. A sahara or a sport is great for just dinking around in the back country. The Rubicon is a great rig and I love mine but they are more expensive and sound like not needed for your goals. 

Duh

bearmtnmartin said:

 

Some land Rovers are very reliable. Signed, a land Rover owner.

Rule, meet exception. I know how you feel, having been a Fiat driver for my first dozen years of license holding.

But I have yet to speak to a single mechanic who didn't hate Land Rovers with a flaming passion, nor have I spoken to a single ex-owner who didn't bemoan the repair bills even if they did like the thing.

98-99 Mitsubishi Montero with the winter package. Or a JDM Pajero with the 4M40 2.8 litre diesel.

yupididit said:

Duh

If I could find one of these in budget, I'd go this route, even though it doesn't offer open top options. My wife loves these!

I kinda want a CJ7.  A bit more room than a CJ5, and simple to fix.  I'm an old school carburetor sort of guy.  I've been sort of looking for one, but it would need to be an automatic, as I'd want Mrs. VCH to want to drive it...and she's not a fan of manual shifting. 

In reply to stanger_mussle (Forum Supporter) :

Willys Overland CJ2A

Buy a CJ that was manufactured under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, complete with turbo diesel, that gets 30mpg at interstate speeds:

Craigslist ad

(and look at that ...Patrol?...in the background!)

ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) said:

Buy a CJ that was manufactured under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, complete with turbo diesel, that gets 30mpg at interstate speeds:

Craigslist ad

 

 

(and look at that ...Patrol?...in the background!)

That's Paladin Trucks in GA. That Patrol is really cool. I want it, and I don't normally like Nissan's

In reply to Mazdax605 :

I figured someone here would know who it was. They list Blue Ridge in the ad, and there can't be many shops in Blue Ridge doing that stuff.

EDIT: I really want to buy that Jeep and go to the next local Jeep club trail ride.