thinking of getting a jeep advice needed

[adventure man]

Hello, I don't mean to steal your thread but I am also thinking about getting a Jeep. It's a 1998 Grand Cherokee with the v8. It has 114,000 miles. Can you guys tell me if this is a good choice? Do Grand Cherokee's have a lot of problems? I have heard mixed things.

Thanks a lot.

 

[shogun]

Hello, I don't mean to steal your thread but I am also thinking about getting a Jeep. It's a 1998 Grand Cherokee with the v8. It has 114,000 miles. Can you guys tell me if this is a good choice? Do Grand Cherokee's have a lot of problems? I have heard mixed things.

Thanks a lot.

They're great if you do alot of shopping malls.

The running gear was diluted to cater to shopping and yet still be able to claim it was a Jeep. Most everything needs to be replaced with heavy-duty running gear (axle may say D44 but it is less robust than the D35). Less interior room, heavy and unnneccessary engine.

Look for the std Cherokee, lots cheaper, lots more capable, lots more available stuff.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

Hello, I don't mean to steal your thread but I am also thinking about getting a Jeep. It's a 1998 Grand Cherokee with the v8. It has 114,000 miles. Can you guys tell me if this is a good choice? Do Grand Cherokee's have a lot of problems? I have heard mixed things.

Thanks a lot.

I think for Expedition use a '98 v8 Grand is a great choice. The v8 comes in handy pulling passes at a decent speed while loaded up. For rock crawling use, they do require some upgrades that other jeeps may not, but even then it depends on the drivers style and the level of wheeling you want to achieve. If crawling is your bag, see www.mallcrawlin.com & www.jeepforum.com

It's probably best to start your own thread instead of Hijacking this one though :snorkel:

 

[Xjaddiction]

What? GC's are great expy rigs.

The 5.2L v-8 is fantastic, and with the light weight of the ZJ, powerfull. D-trane... The rear dana 44 a has an aluminum center section, but still much stronger than a dana 35... Dana 35, your funny... The front is an LP 30, but plenty strong for up to 31's and no lockers IMOP. Now, you have a nice v-8, and a descent tranny, and OK axles. The t-case is a 249 fulltime case. easily replaced with the part-time 231, or the better IMOP 242 part-time full-time case. I have a 231 with an sye and TW shafts behind my 5.9L grand. No problems, i love the set-up. The gears are 3:73's, and work fine with 33's, I've run up to a 35 without problem, though had it out of OD a lot. The interior is grand with many options avail. including leather, rear split seats with head rests, power heated front seats, climate control, and sunroof to name a few. They were even available in '98 only with a special limited edition 5.9L 360 V-8. In that year they were they fastest SUV period. Road and track tested the 5.9L against the new escalade, and the driver's couldn't get enough of the JEEP. The power is rediculous, I know, I have one.

The small cherokee, I've had 4 of them, is nice to wheel, and is great little off-roader, but the back seat is a joke. Straight up position, forget anybody riding back there for any period of time, including kids. The grand is a bit bigger, with much more comfortable interior, without feeling and driving like a big SUV... I also owned a Yota LC 80... a behamouth, and Slooooowwwww.

Stock, theyll do just fine with a 4" lift and 33's. 4:10 gears work well, or stick with stock.

Things that go wrong at 100,000 miles;
-climate control blend door
-CV axles in the front (can be replaced with the easily found 760ed uv joint axle shafts, better yet just grab a HP 30 out of a little cherokee for less than a $100 bucks with the shafts already in there.)
-rear dana 44A pinion bearing, you'll hear it at interstate speeds with the radio off, comming from the rear if there is a problem. Other than that, they're just a grand idea of an expedition rig.

The 44A hasn't a locker available anymore, but mine has a limited slip that works just fine. An 8.8 out of a ford works well as a complete replacement.

here is a pic of mine with ARB, MM winch, 2" lift and 255x70x16" tires on stock rims.

Here is a sweet expy rig all done up

Sorry for the HighJack, but basically, you can easily build any Jeep. Huge after market and stock part availability. Lots of power, and engines that hold up as well as the Japanese. The drive-trane can be strengthened using avail. stock parts fro other Jeeps...

Gears need to be changed on any vehicle to get the best performance out of bigger tires. That's just a fact of life for any vehicle that is lifted and bigger tires added.

 

[adventure man]

Wow thank you for all the information. I didn't mean to hijack the thread I just didn't want to start one and people angry saying why didn't use the search button. I found a 97 GC limited with only 100,404 miles, so I am hoping to but it. I just need to have my mechanic look at it. So will a stock GC be good for off-roading? Would anything break? Thanks again.

 

[Ranger Steve]

Not sure which model the TJ is since I dont know the little Jeeps well. The newer stretched models (stretched 2dr and 4 dr) have made the classic short wheelbase Jeep obsolete IMO. Just not enough room to carry necessary gear no less supplies. Maybe a weekend vehicle, at best and with all kinds of roof/rear racks to hold stuff. A trailer would be a must for any serious trips.

The 4.0 engine mileage at 160k is a non-issue as others have said. Not even warming up yet.

Need the slip-yoke elim; transfer case drop is bad, bad, bad.

The manual trans is a negative for serious offroading as you probably know. The aw4 auto is bulletproof, period, dot.

Need to ask the little jeep aficianodos whether coils or leafs are desired.

im sry but some of what you said is just wrong....

manual trans is fine for serious offloading and alot of people like it better.

as said earlier it never came with the aw4 and who ever said that was also wrong as grand cherokees with the I6 come with RE42 transmission.

both coils and leafs can be made to ride great and flex well but must perfer coils :smiley_drive:

 

[4Rescue]

Henestly bro nunless you're getting a SMOKING deal or trading plus cash in your pocket... Go look for a 4Runner. Plenty of room, loads of capability and everything you have swaps over and into the new truck. In the long run unless you go LJ or CJ8 I just don't see a TJ or YJ or JK for that matter fitting your style. Sure they're fun if all you want to do is go play in the rocks, but in the long run you'll spend less to sell you truck and swap things you already own to another truck you know alot about already Stick with Toyotas, get a 4Runner or if you're set on Jeeps get an LJ. I LOVE these trucks (LJ's or LWB TJ's as they are) for what they are and that's very simillar to my 4Runner: Room for gear, perfect W/B, 2 Doors, remopvable tops for summer fun. For me, if it's not an LJ or at least a CJ8 or even a 6 to build it's just not worth it. I've had XJ's and while I love the 4.0L they're pretty much disposable trucks compared to their Toyota counterparts and CJ/TJ/YJ's are just too small for multiple occupants unless you;re going back to ground tents and losing ALOT of the neat things you've built.

That said, as much as I love Toyotas I think a Diesel Swaped LJ could make me fall for a Jeep again THere's something just perfect about those trucks to me. I personaly really dislike the 4dr JK for a few reasons the motor being the first, although they really did make the Rubi something special with the Axles, S-bar disco's etc. so it's kind of a toss-up really. They got rid of some great things like the 2dr LWB and the 4.0L (although it should be noted that the 4.0L is no gas sipper no matter what you do to it...) but they improved more then a few things.

I guess what's for certain is now I'm confused. I really hope you come to youtr sences and look into a 4Runner or get an LJ, those are my votes mate. Whatever you do I'm sure it'll be built with all sorts of well thought out things and neat little tricks and dodads eh. SO happy hunting and pbviously take my opinions with a grain of salt, I'm pretty hardcore Toyota as you all well know eh

Cheers

Dave

 

[Xjaddiction]

im sry but some of what you said is just wrong....

manual trans is fine for serious offloading and alot of people like it better.

as said earlier it never came with the aw4 and who ever said that was also wrong as grand cherokees with the I6 come with RE42 transmission.

both coils and leafs can be made to ride great and flex well but must perfer coils :smiley_drive:

Some of the early ZJ's, '93 ZJ's, with the i-6 came with the aw-4... all of the XJ's with the 4.0 and an auto, had the AW-4


http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/aw4.htm

 

[4Rescue]

Yeah I'm not so sold on the "bomb-proofness" of the AW4, all but 1 of the 4 I had, had issues ranging from hunting ALOT out on the hwy. to just plain not engaging any forward gear. I really always WANTED a manual XJ, I droe a few and I thought it really made the 4.0L come alive. It's alot like Toyota Autos or just auto's in general imo, they sap power and while they have a few advantages off-road they have a few sraw-backs and potential "stranded" scenarios assosciated (can't pop-start, can loose fluid and not go into any gear etc...) with them. PLus as I've said many times before I really like rowing through the gears and will probably always be a "manual guy", my Dad is the same way and every time I had an Auto, I just wanted something with a stick in it to dricve so I could enjoy driving again... litteraly ANY CAR with a manual would do HAHAHAHAH.

I will say oddly enough (and I maintain this is my biggest issue with Jeeps: Inconsistant build quality) the one truck I had that had a completely worry free AW4 was the best of the bunch all together. it was a 99 and I NEVER had an issue with that truck. My Dad's 98 XJ has had it's share of issues and doesn't get used off-road much. it's got the Auto and thanks to the Crank-pos sensor that wiped out the ECU it now has a computer that is worth more then the truck probably is now. My last Jeep, the 99 though??? NO ISSUES. Zero, yeah I had it the shortest of all of my rigs, I thrashed on it and it was nicer inside (the new style interior versus the old) had a cool stereo feature for us load-it up guys with the overhead speakers, and the 4.0L never lacked pulling or hauling over the mountains. I loed that XJ, but it was an annomaly in my Jeep experience because as I said, Jeep's biggest issue is just inconsistant build quality. They make trucks (or used too) that work, it's a fairly simple solution: two solid axles, a torquey motor, useable space and a variety of Wheel bases and trim levels on a simillar powertrains. It's tool ad, it's a formula I and many here I know share an affinity for but it's kind of a dinosaur... really we have trucks that are more like ractors that can go freeway speeds and that's a small market of folks who want that I'm sure eh.

So yeah after all that I pretty much just had to say I kind of dissagree with the AW$ being "bomb-proof" overall. SOme may be, but it's kind of like rolling the dice. One will never fail, one may just completely lunch on you... Can't say for sure. PLus a belive you could get a Rubi LJ with a 6 Speed and the 4.0L at the end of it's life couldn't you??? That would be a great combo for a daily driver. Oh and get a Hard-Top along with the soft. 1 Winter in a buddy's soft top YJ was all either of us couyld stand and we both chipped in and bought a mis-matched color HT for it. Best 250 anyone spent on that poor Jeep ever.

Cheers

Dave

 

[winkosmosis]

The AW4 seems to be a very inefficient transmission based on anecdotes I've seen. Manual XJs will get 25mpg highway. AW4 XJs get 20.

 

[jh504]

Yeah I'm not so sold on the "bomb-proofness" of the AW4, all but 1 of the 4 I had, had issues ranging from hunting ALOT out on the hwy. to just plain not engaging any forward gear. I really always WANTED a manual XJ, I droe a few and I thought it really made the 4.0L come alive. It's alot like Toyota Autos or just auto's in general imo, they sap power and while they have a few advantages off-road they have a few sraw-backs and potential "stranded" scenarios assosciated (can't pop-start, can loose fluid and not go into any gear etc...) with them. PLus as I've said many times before I really like rowing through the gears and will probably always be a "manual guy", my Dad is the same way and every time I had an Auto, I just wanted something with a stick in it to dricve so I could enjoy driving again... litteraly ANY CAR with a manual would do HAHAHAHAH.

I will say oddly enough (and I maintain this is my biggest issue with Jeeps: Inconsistant build quality) the one truck I had that had a completely worry free AW4 was the best of the bunch all together. it was a 99 and I NEVER had an issue with that truck. My Dad's 98 XJ has had it's share of issues and doesn't get used off-road much. it's got the Auto and thanks to the Crank-pos sensor that wiped out the ECU it now has a computer that is worth more then the truck probably is now. My last Jeep, the 99 though??? NO ISSUES. Zero, yeah I had it the shortest of all of my rigs, I thrashed on it and it was nicer inside (the new style interior versus the old) had a cool stereo feature for us load-it up guys with the overhead speakers, and the 4.0L never lacked pulling or hauling over the mountains. I loed that XJ, but it was an annomaly in my Jeep experience because as I said, Jeep's biggest issue is just inconsistant build quality. They make trucks (or used too) that work, it's a fairly simple solution: two solid axles, a torquey motor, useable space and a variety of Wheel bases and trim levels on a simillar powertrains. It's tool ad, it's a formula I and many here I know share an affinity for but it's kind of a dinosaur... really we have trucks that are more like ractors that can go freeway speeds and that's a small market of folks who want that I'm sure eh.

So yeah after all that I pretty much just had to say I kind of dissagree with the AW$ being "bomb-proof" overall. SOme may be, but it's kind of like rolling the dice. One will never fail, one may just completely lunch on you... Can't say for sure. PLus a belive you could get a Rubi LJ with a 6 Speed and the 4.0L at the end of it's life couldn't you??? That would be a great combo for a daily driver. Oh and get a Hard-Top along with the soft. 1 Winter in a buddy's soft top YJ was all either of us couyld stand and we both chipped in and bought a mis-matched color HT for it. Best 250 anyone spent on that poor Jeep ever.

Cheers

Dave

Dave I think we have had this discussion a time or two.

I'm there with Dave on most of these issues. However I do think the AW4 is an awesome trans, as long as you keep it cool! These transmission WILL overheat when they are being pushed. On the highway, on a backroad, or especially while offroading. If you are straining them they are going to get hot, and fail, no doubt about it. However the beauty of an AW4 is if you CAN keep it cool, it will treat you right. Go with an after market trasnmission cooler and forget about it. Then if one day the trans does burn up, ride up to the junkyard and pick one up for $150.00.

But as far as the sticking with Toyota goes. I am there with Dave on that one. The TJ is an awesome Jeep, with the 4.0 and AW4, but its still a Jeep. Its not a bad rig at all compared to alot of other stuff. I would by a Jeep with that engine/trans combo 2nd to a Toyota though.

 

[jh504]

The AW4 seems to be a very inefficient transmission based on anecdotes I've seen. Manual XJs will get 25mpg highway. AW4 XJs get 20.

I get 24 out of my wifes XJ with and AW4 Auto. My buddy also gets 24 out of the same. I have heard many different things about mileage in these things. Mine has always been great.

 

[winkosmosis]

I get 24 out of my wifes XJ with and AW4 Auto. My buddy also gets 24 out of the same. I have heard many different things about mileage in these things. Mine has always been great.

24mpg?? What's your secret??

 

[rynosurf]

Keep the Toyota. I traded my 89 Toyota in for a TJ and I still regret it. The Jeep was a lot of fun but I should've held onto the truck. If you really wan't a Jeep, keep the truck and find a used Jeep with less miles.

 

[roamingaz]

Thanks for all the input guys!
I am a hardcore Toyota fan I have owned several mini trucks, fj80, 2 corolla's and also have my daily driver Seqouia. I have never been a big fan of Jeeps mainly because they look like a crap magnet, most folks really overdo it and carry 500 pounds of stuff off the back.
I am really on the fence with my decision, so far I think you all have convinced me to keep my truck, I know my girlfriend is getting sick of listening to all my reason why or whynot to get teh Jeep.
So here is what I am looking at;

My truck- 1990 Toyota pickup,75K on rebuilt 22re with LC engineering parts and complete exhaust, 4.88 gears, ARB locked front, 31" tires, 14 gallon aux. fuel tank, nice stereo, cb/wilson antenna, Warn winch bumper W/ Warn 8000 winch, Procomp HID lights, rear Daystar bumper, utility camper shell.

PRO's
It's cool and unique
It's a Toyota
Alot of aftermarket parts already added
large cargo capacity for extended trips


Con's
Cab is small, not much room for me (6'3"/250)
only room for 1 passenger
underpowered/overgeared
small aftermarket support
uncomfortable




The Jeep-1998 wrangler sport, 160Kmiles, basicly stock, 3.5 inch rubicon lift, slip yolk eliminator, 33" procomp tires, linex coated tub, Tuffy console, neopreme seat covers, new bestop and half doors, sony stereo and speakers.

PRO's
It looks fun
no top / soft top / bikini top options
huge aftermarket support
more physical room/ seating for 4

CON's
It's a Jeep
no cargo capacity
crap magnet/everything has to be secured outside




Ok so yes my truck is obviously built better then the jeep and has better quality aftermarket parts. I look at the jeep as a way to carry more passengers but the more I think about it I will really miss all the creature comforts I have built into the Toyota that even if I were to build a trailer it wouldn't be the same. I am also in EMT school right now and when I graduate I plan on joining the local search and rescue, my truck would be a great basecamp for operations ( we have a very small volunteer unit here) I could provide shade, cold drinks, place to rest, etc. The jeep wouldn't be able to be used for anything more then a 4 wheel drive toy. One thing that is hanging me up on a decision is my truck is pretty common and stock they are only worth around $3000 +/- , the aftermarket parts add some value but it is only worth what someone is willing to pay. The jeep on the other hand, in stock form blue books around $6500 and they hold thier value considerably. So basicly if I do trade for the Jeep I would be breaking even on the cash I have into my Toyota.
I honestly don't know for sure what I am going to decide on, I am supposed to meet the guy around 4 corners area Saturday.