Considering a 2004 Grand Cherokee

[hidesertwheelin]

for a daily driver/camping vehicle. It's a 2004, 4.0, auto, select trac, 4x4 w/ 43k miles on it for $10k. My plans for it are a 2" spacer lift and the biggest tire I can fit. I already own a Yakima basket I am going to stick on top. Any problems I should know about? I know the trannys behind the 4.0's can be suspect, and the Dana 35 is junk. Is a Dana 44 from a V8 GC a direct colt in if I find one with matching gears? Should I look for the V8 model? This jeep will also have to make my 45 mile each way commute, but I plan on keeping my go-kart honda and driving it 50% of the time.

 

[Root Moose]

The GC Dana 44 is aluminum and is not worth the time to swap in.

I'm partial to the 4.7: more power, same mpg, better transmission. Hard to find Select-Trac with the 4.7 though.

$0.02

 

[mhiscox]

More $0.02 worth . . .

If you truly want something to cover a wide variety of uses, the 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee (the WJ Jeeps) would seem to be worth investigating. They are a convenient size, perform and handle OK, and in Limited trim offer lots of goodies that make them comfortable. But they admittedly lack both the sophistication and reliability of something like a 100-series Cruiser.

Here's the thing, though . . . they don't cost much. Like not much more than half of the Cruiser price. I've had both a 2000 WJ and a 2000 LC100 and while there is a difference, it's possibly not worth the price difference. I'd look for a 4.7 V-8 Limited with QuadraDrive II. This traction system is all computerized black box and you don't get anything to say about when you're in 2 vs. 4-wheel drive nor anything about what gets locked up when. But check out how highly Tom Sheppard thinks of the system in The Vehicle-Dependent Expedition Guide. It's not a great wheeler drivetrain, but it strikes me as an excellent choice for overlanding in the areas where you're likely (Chrysler bankruptcies notwithstanding) to be able to get repair help if its electronic brains go wacky.

I wouldn't buy a cheap one, though. I'd look for the best combination of low mileage and condition. Edmunds.com says an 80,000 mile 2000 Limited with all options in "outstanding" condition would be $8K in a private party sale, which seems pretty reasonable.

Should be a reasonable commuting daily driver; mine had good HVAC, acceptable radio, etc. You can expect mileage in the 17-19 range if you're just cruising at 65, but figure more like 13-14 if there's a lot of stop-and-go. (Still better than a Hundy, which is 11-12 in the same situation.)

Incidentally, I think the information at the WJ Jeeps website:

http://wjjeeps.com

is pretty helpful. That's the best place, for example, to learn the differences across model years and trim levels.

 

[theksmith]

well i love mine, so i would recommend one of course!

check out this recent thread on the subject: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24649

03/04 limited or overland with v8 would be my choice again. personally, i feel the 4.0 (though a very dependable motor) is too underpowered for the WJ and is more at home in XJ's and TJ's. you get about the same mileage after a lift with either engine, so might as well have the power of a v8.

stay at 3" and 32's and you'll love the quada-drive2 system and the suspension/drivetrain. anything over 4" lift requires lots of money, and anything over 32" tires will pretty much kill the limited slip system eventually.

the wjjeeps.com resource already mentioned is great.. also go to the jeepforum.com gc section and ask lots of questions before buying anything... http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=115

 

[The Swiss]

for a daily driver/camping vehicle. It's a 2004, 4.0, auto, select trac, 4x4 w/ 43k miles on it for $10k. My plans for it are a 2" spacer lift and the biggest tire I can fit. I already own a Yakima basket I am going to stick on top. Any problems I should know about? I know the trannys behind the 4.0's can be suspect, and the Dana 35 is junk. Is a Dana 44 from a V8 GC a direct colt in if I find one with matching gears? Should I look for the V8 model? This jeep will also have to make my 45 mile each way commute, but I plan on keeping my go-kart honda and driving it 50% of the time.

Sounds like a good deal. Pretty exactly the WJ I had (except that mine was a 2001) I personally liked the 4.0 with the selec trac a lot, I think it is one of the sweetest transfer case there is at it offers both 2wd and full time 4wd. Don't worry about the dana 35; as long as you don't go above 31 to 32" tires, as long as you don't lock the rear axle and as long as you wheel with some common sense, the D35 is holding up just fine. I wheeled mine pretty hard and had no problems with the axles. With a 2" lift, you should anyhow not go above a 245/75-16 (about 31") tires if you don't want to rub off road. 265/70-16 will work but will rub under flex.

I fully agree with theksmith; lifts over 4" open a completely different can of worms. I had a 2" lift for 75,000 miles and no issues what so ever. Went up to a 4.5" shortarm lift and could never make it work right. Went back down to about 3.5" of lift and all problems were gone and I drove happily another 50,000 miles. I don't agree with him regarding the motor; I never felt that the 4.0 was underpowered, but due to having a real 2wd (quadradrive 2 just has no 2wd setting), gas milage is better. I also preferred the select trac over the quadradrive as it is a lot simpler, purely mechanical system without electrickery that can attract germlins

Do yourself a favor and invest in some rockrails before you bang up your rocker pannel; it's cheaper that way

 

[Root Moose]

Agree on the Select-Trac. Best transfer case ever, IMO

(caveats about intended usage apply)

 

[hidesertwheelin]

Well I found a 2000 GC w/ a V8 and 57k miles for $9500, but the damn thing is purple. I am also looking at used Xterras, but they seem to be a few grand more expensive.

 

[Root Moose]

I'd avoid the Xterra personally. From buds that have had them, most parts are dealer only and lots of indy shops won't touch them, particularly the SC version.

I'd look at Toyota if you want to counterpoint.

There's so many Jeeps out there - just be patient and you'll find the one you want.

$0.02

 

[mhiscox]

I'd avoid the Xterra personally.

While I think the recent redesign of the Xterra is well regarded, I don't believe I'd pay a premium for a used Xterra over a similar year WJ. I had both, and thought the Xterra was a level or two below my GCherokee. Part of the problem was the driving position didn't seem nearly as good, so your opinion might vary on this. Anyway, nothing wrong with the Xterra, but I didn't find it better in any particular area than my Grand Cherokee.

And re: the advice about the preference of some for the Select-Trac over the QuadraDrive II usually found on V-8 Limiteds . . . absolutely true that the Select-Trac is simpler and would be a much easier DIY fix. But the QDII is not especially a weak point of the truck, and lots of WJs have high miles on the trucks with no problems with the system. I agree 100% that the Select-Trac is way simpler, but that isn't always a plus . . . you gotta figure that the QDII offers traction-controlled switching between 2WD and 4WD and independently acting locking on the front, center and rear differentials . . . it's a very capable system largely because of the complexity.

 

[calamaridog]

I would try and get the 4.7L that comes with 545RFE transmission. It's a better combo than the 4.0 and 42RLE.

 

[Root Moose]

And re: the advice about the preference of some for the Select-Trac over the QuadraDrive II usually found on V-8 Limiteds . . . absolutely true that the Select-Trac is simpler and would be a much easier DIY fix. But the QDII is not especially a weak point of the truck, and lots of WJs have high miles on the trucks with no problems with the system. I agree 100% that the Select-Trac is way simpler, but that isn't always a plus . . . you gotta figure that the QDII offers traction-controlled switching between 2WD and 4WD and independently acting locking on the front, center and rear differentials . . . it's a very capable system largely because of the complexity.

It's a function of expectation levels.

I generally agree with you however there is something to be said for the ability to manually lock the center and both ends. This is what a manual transfer case like the NV242 gives you when combined with manual lockers.

I must admit that I am not completely up on the QD systems. Do they still wear out their viscous couple every ~100k miles? I know this was a problem with the versions in the ZJs. Not a big deal to replace if you are used to wrenching but those that are not used to operations like pulling and repairing transfer cases may find it daunting.

FWIW, Select-Trac could be swapped in after the fact. They are an "orphaned" transfer case so don't command a lot of money at the wrecker.

$0.02

 

[mhiscox]

FWIW, Select-Trac could be swapped in after the fact. They are an "orphaned" transfer case so don't command a lot of money at the wrecker.

Well, now, that leads to an idea worth considering . . . buy a Limited with the V-8 and a lot of goodies that make daily driving nicer and see whether the QuadraDrive II works for you. If not, or if it wears out, swap in the Select-Trac.

BTW, when Root Moose says there's something for being able to manually lock the diffs, he's got an excellent point. The worst thing, to my mind, about the QuadraDrive II is that you have no freakin' idea what it's doing. No lights, no beeps, no nuthin'. So while the computers are busy giving you want you need to make it through, as the driver, you get very little sense of the surface or the amount of traction you have.