Best old Jeep for Overland travel

[AlabamaWill]

I have never own a Jeep but will in the next year or two. Which one do you guys think is the best old Jeep for overland travel. Mainly 99 and older. The reason being is that Im moving to Texas very soon and plan on driving through parts of Mexico some time. Any input?

 

[2drx4]

I think your definition of old is a little umm, off? I've owned multiple 86-90 era jeeps, and I didn't (and still don't) consider them old. Old is a GPW. Or a willys truck. Or a FC.

Anyways, I guess a TJ (I guess you call them 'wranglers' in the states) is a decently platform if you don't need much space. A ZJ or an XJ (Grand Cherokee or Cherokee) are both avaliable for much less cash, and offer far better protection from the elements. I prefer the XJ myself, better visability and a little smaller so it fits places better. Beyond that, a MJ (Comanche) is a great truck if throw a small pop-up camper in it, but they're getting hard to find for a decent price and in decent shape, after all the last ones were made in 1992.

 

[SinCityFJC]

I'd have to go with CJ-6 or CJ-8 Scrambler

 

[98dango]

cj6 cj8 fsj or xj tj and yj are to small in my opinion i own a yj

 

[BIGdaddy]

If i were going someplace like mexico or the middle east, I'd say choose something without a computer-controlled engine, but buy as new as possible.

In cali that equals smog issues, but in other states, not so much. I think a jeepster commando would be a good choice, as would a CJ-6.

 

[CharlieV]

The best older jeep question depends on what you want to spend. I have a cj-8 that I am setting up for overlanding, but if you are not particular about body style, the older Cherokees seem to be a great platform. My cj-8 is far more roomy than a wrangler, but was a bit overpriced (as a generality, the 8s sell for a lot of money). I am not a fan of the soft top on my Jeep and am actively working on a full length hard top. For what its worth, I would buy a Land Cruiser if I had to make the choice again, but by no means am I arguing the capabilities of either. Good luck with your search/purchase:smiley_drive:

 

[XXXpedition]

i had an xj and was very happy with it...
i lived in it/out of it for over a year (2x6 months, 1x2.5 month and many shorter trips)

it works well space wise (if you don't schlepp around too much crap and is very reliable. gas milage is not so good, though...

 

[jeepmedic46]

For those years I would go with the xj, I have friends who have xjs and love them.:smiley_drive:

 

[kcowyo]

I've only owned one Jeep, but I can say it was the best Jeep I ever had for day trips and extended periods of travel, my 1984 CJ-7.

I was all over the San Juans in southern Colorado with it, what a blast. Long before 'expediton' and 'overland travel' were popular buzzwords, I removed the passenger seat & rear seat, built a sleeping deck along the passenger side and stored my gear underneath. Then I left town for 2.5 months and drove it all over the west. An even bigger blast...

More often than not, your imagination, not the vehicle, will be your only limiting factor.

:smiley_drive:
.

 

[4Rescue]

LJ Wrangler (LWB "Unlimited" Rubicon to be exact) or a CJ8 or 6. These are my favorite Jeeps. All of wich seem to lend them selves to overlad travel due to their great capability adn ability to haul more than the average SWB CJ Wrangler Etc.

Cheers

Dave

 

[OverlandZJ]

I would like to get my hands on a hardtop Scrambler or even an Alaskan postal edition someday, maybe even a Troopy. I'm a sucker for older styling, every time the Willy's Wagon build here gets bumped i find myself perusing ebay.. :drool:

I have owned an XJ for a long time, and it is serving me well. The 4.0L motor and AW-4 auto trans are almost bulletproof with proper maintenance. Cheap initial purchase and tons of aftermarket support. If you find a clean one it could make for a very capable vehicle for a long time.

KC touched on the SWB Jeeps. My group of friends ALL own Wranglers, and they make it work for them. Carefull consideration of what gear you realistically need may open up another avenue for you. I remember one trip to SD's Badlands where i was running the two tracks in Buffalo Gap NGL with the top down and doors off. :victory: However i must admit my friends dont seem to ever have enough room to help carry trash.. bastids.

:smiley_drive:

 

[AlabamaWill]

I was thinking about a CJ8 hard top, theres no fuel manager computer, large cargo area. I would only be putting 33-35 inch tires on it. Maybe a CJ7.

 

[proto]

If you're talking about true overlanding -- dirt roads, fire trails, across the desert, up the continental divide and down the occasional interstate -- consider a 70's era full-size jeep Cherokee or Wagoneer. They have a decent amount of room inside for equipage and supplies. Put the rear seat down (or eliminate it altogether) and you can sleep inside. And, because these things came from the age of steel, they have an honest-to-god frame like a real truck, not a uni-body.

They're pretty rugged, with Dana 44s front and rear, the famously durable TH400 transmission, inline-6 or small or large v-8 engines, and QuadraTrac full-time 4wd.

The QuadraTrac (Borg-Warner 1339 transfer case) has a limited-slip center diff, and is arguably one of the best full-time 4wd systems for loose-surface driving. (Ask Rich Severson about how he managed winning seasons driving these things 5 years running!) Just needs occasional fluid and cleaning. Chain replacement can be performed with the case on the vehicle.

Now, if your definition of 'overland' is steep-rock crawling from one mud-bog to the next, there might be better choices.

 

[roadkill]

I would go for any of the older jeeps with a frame, pick a medel based on your needs. next I'd swap out the engine and drivetrain for a Chevy one ton setup to get strength. leave the engine carbed for simplicity. I would think that you should be able to find parts or people that can service that drivetrain just about anywhere

 

[iflypropjobs]

I am currently building an '82 Cherokee (full size) as an expedition style rig. The full sizers are mechanically/electrically almost the same as a CJ. Great simple trucks, solid axles, leaf springs, ladder style frame, simple strong mechanicals, the wide track models can run 33" tires with no lift, easily adapted for most anything.

Mine is a Wide Track model, they are almost the exact same size as a Land Rover Defender 110 - just not as tall. And best of all, there are a million of them laying around & they are usually quite inexpensive to get.

A lot of info available over at www.ifsja.org - several other folks have similar builds going on.