Troopy, 109, FSJ question...

[BIGdaddy]

Looking at a two door suv. Wondering what people have done to get passengers in the back of something like an ex-MOD 109, 70 series troopy, or fullsize cherokee.(other than folding the pass. seat foward)

I know that side facing seating is an option(not too safe), but don't some series and 109 trucks have rear facing seats up against the bulkhead?

love to see some pics.

thanks!

-B

 

[BKCowGod]

There was briefly an aftermarket option for a rear-facing third row in the Wagoneer (looked like the rear seat in an old Volvo wagon). No reason it couldn't be installed in a Cherk as well.

 

[BIGdaddy]

ok. thanks!

 

[BKCowGod]

np... I think Grand Cherokees had a similar solution. Though I would NOT want to be the person stuck back there.

 

[BIGdaddy]

np... I think Grand Cherokees had a similar solution. Though I would NOT want to be the person stuck back there.

hahA!:elkgrin:

 

[Harald Hansen]

Rear-facing seats demand a strong constitution. I don't mind, but many people, even those who don't regularely become car sick, do.

I haven't seen rear-facing seats in a 3-door 109, though. A friend of mine has a 3-door ex-mil 109, and he put in two front seats from some passanger car for his kids in the rear. Entry and exit is through the rear door, which puts some limits on packing.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Thanks, Harald. Thats what I'm running into, as well. There's a good deal on a FSJ in my area, and I was thinking of adding it to our fleet, but not sure I can get around the 2 door rear seat access.

I guess if my xj and our minivan are used primarily for travel the fsj need not be modified to heavily for seating.

 

[BKCowGod]

BigD - one of the most frustrating weak points in the Cherokees is the tailgate - that motor and window were the bane of my existence for about a year as one thing after another continuously went wrong (and I was too cheap and lazy to just restore it all in one go). Now that I have it all working, I still cringe every time I roll down the rear window because I EXPECT it to break again.

Also, from the factory you're only gonna get lap belts for the rear seat passengers - not sure if you want your kiddies to deal with that.

Otherwise, they're amazing trucks and when the wife asked me if I was gonna sell mine now that I had the Nissan I just kinda looked at her funny.

 

[BIGdaddy]

is there a delete option for that rear window?

For example: roll down tailgates on suburbans are problematic.

Solution: Some models came with "barndoor" type doors, that can
be retrofitted to any suburban.

I wonder if you could roll the window down permanantly (or remove it) and then install a topper glass or hatch from a similar vehicle. If done well, it might look close to original.

Anything like that for the Cherokee?

Brian

P.s. all my kids are going to ride in 5point harness carseats as long as possible. This makes lapbelts MORE convenient, actually. thanks for bringing it up though...

 

[BIGdaddy]

What kind of mileage can I expect from a 258? any experience? I've heard they were touted to have a 18city 25 highway rating, but that 17-18mpg's on average is achievable with a tuned, healthy motor.

Oh, and is there a lift available for the 74? its a N/T. I've searched around on Ifsja, and didn't find any info specific, nor does BJ's seem to offer anything.

 

[BKCowGod]

No tailgate delete. There were barn doors, but only like 5 of them were ever made.

258 was a great little motor, and with the right tires and tranny and gearing and in good shape and with the right right foot, you could average 16-17.

The NT should be able to take the WT lifts, as there's not ACTUALLY that much difference between them. Of course, check with BJ's to be certain. How much higher do you want to go? I have some 3" body lift blocks that'll help you clear pretty much anything you want to stuff in the wheel wells.

Before you buy a truck like this, I recommend sitting down and deciding what you plan to do with it. They make very good single purpose vehicles. You can turn one into a great off-roader, a very comfortable cruiser, a good beater transport vehicle... but it is difficult and expensive to make one into all of the above.

 

[AmericaOverland]

is there a delete option for that rear window?

For example: roll down tailgates on suburbans are problematic.

Solution: Some models came with "barndoor" type doors, that can
be retrofitted to any suburban.

I wonder if you could roll the window down permanantly (or remove it) and then install a topper glass or hatch from a similar vehicle. If done well, it might look close to original.

Anything like that for the Cherokee?

Brian

Brian, if you go to some of the Jeep web sites, you'll find articles on how to convert the electric motor set up to a manual crank system.

Stephanie