Wisco
Observer
I currently drive a '97 SR5 and I've owned two XJ's previously. A '98 and an '01, both were lifted around 3" and had 32" MT's. Both had the 4.0L/AW4 combo with over 200k miles, with varying degrees of maintenance done. My '98 was 3/4's of the way under water at one point. It dried out and I continued to drive it for another year. They both had suspension issues (death wobble), and electrical issues. They were very capable offroad, but left a lot to be desired as a daily driver. My '01 had the dreaded 0331 head which cracked and eventually killed the engine. I replaced it with a new Mopar engine, but even then I would rather daily drive my 4runner with 232k miles on it.
If your goal is a rig that's primarily going to be an off road/weekend toy, I would recommend building an XJ. The aftermarket support is huge, they're easy to work on and are damn reliable once you work past a few quirks. If you want something that's nearly as capable off road, but has much better on road manners I would lean towards a 4runner.
Here are some pics of my old rigs to help make your decision harder:
The '98 through the ice about a mile from shore. That was a fun day...
After it dried out.
The '01
Finally, my 4runner.
If your goal is a rig that's primarily going to be an off road/weekend toy, I would recommend building an XJ. The aftermarket support is huge, they're easy to work on and are damn reliable once you work past a few quirks. If you want something that's nearly as capable off road, but has much better on road manners I would lean towards a 4runner.
Here are some pics of my old rigs to help make your decision harder:
The '98 through the ice about a mile from shore. That was a fun day...
After it dried out.
The '01
Finally, my 4runner.
