XJ's over wranglers?

[Gnat5680]

ok i don't know what the wrangler is i think the tj but im not sure. anyways... i live in lovely bloomington,MN. i tend to look out for other jeeps(libertys,grand cherokees, wranglers, and such) i also will look to see if they are stock or have any mods done to them. i have so far seen about 15 different XJ's lifted. but i have seen 0 Wranglers modified in any way. why is the XJ now the jeep of choice? I always thoght that the Wrangler was the "best" off road Jeep.

[KarlVP]

There is no "best" off road Jeep.

They all have thier ups and downs.

[IslanderOffRoad]

XJ's are affordable, thats the big thing.

YJ's (older square headlight wranglers) were going for about 1-2k more than I got my XJ for (ones with comperable mileage and options). TJ's were about double what I was looking to spend for a wheeling toy.

The open top jeeps are nice because they're classic, what everyone thinks of first when they think of jeep, and they can get in some tight places, but they lack the cargo room of the XJ... so basically you're limited to taking one person + gear wheeling with you.

At least thats my take on it.

[Midnight Krawler]

Wranglers are what all the girls want to drive.

[Beej]

Wranglers are what all the girls want to drive. x2, wranglers are for cheerleaders...

[Bradlybob]

I used to live in WI near the border of MN and owned both an XJ and a YJ while I lived there. You will deffinately enjoy the longer wheel base of the XJ when driving in the snow. The YJ was scarey on ice/snow while the XJ just drove right along. Add to that the fact that the XJ has plenty of inside (dry) storage and it's the obvious choice. I don't know about the cheerleader/wrangler thing though. Most wrangler drivers around these parts (So Cal Desert) are old farts like me.

[Big Red]

Like what has been said....you can get a XJ very cheap and turn it into a wheeler/dd/work truck very easily with little work. I find them a lot for $300-600 or so in running/working shape because people just throw them away. The cargo space and auto trans are a good selling point for them. That is probably why you see more of them lift on the roads. Also Wranglers are more expensive and more squirely in the snow where a XJ with it's longer wheelbase really makes it easier to drive in the snow as does a auto tranny that many of them have.

Another plus is that 87'+ XJs had a fuel injected motor, the 87' being the 1st of the 4.0L F.I. where the Wrangler were carbed till 91' with the into of the High Output. The AW4 auto is a real workhorse as well and keeps going and going as does the 4.0L, the 231 or 242 t-cases are not bad either. The 87-90' YJs had the notoriously bad BA10 Peugot French tranny that is expensive to rebuild if you so choose and is not very durable. That's just my take on it, I'm sure not as many people get into the specs as much as this. The price is probably the biggest factor in seeing more lifted XJ as is the good cargo room, wheel base etc.

Troy

[Matt S.]

Call me a cheerleader... I have a warrenty (no i havnt voided it yet!). But remember this.... cheerleaders like to have their tops off... and my LJ is sweet for getting the cheerleaders. The XJ is good for... um... well.... sitting on the trailer!:shocked:


honestly, I think that a jeep is a jeep. I personally like the XJs, they look sweet and I love the way they wheel. I also really like the new jeeps too....

XJ=cheap TJ/LJ=cheerleaders

[CanMan]

Wrangler, with the lack of space, and shorter wheel base didnt cut it for me. I was looking into a TJ, but after driving them at work, I opted for something with more room and was 'different'. Now I know there are more than just the local XJ I see running around here that actually get wheeled. Plus, how many lifted, abused Cherokees do you see on the roads/trails? Id own a TJ, only if it was for free. My next Jeep is going to be a ZJ.

[Big Red]

Wrangler, with the lack of space, and shorter wheel base didnt cut it for me. I was looking into a TJ, but after driving them at work, I opted for something with more room and was 'different'. Now I know there are more than just the local XJ I see running around here that actually get wheeled. Plus, how many lifted, abused Cherokees do you see on the roads/trails? Id own a TJ, only if it was for free. My next Jeep is going to be a ZJ.


Me too, my next trail jeep is going to be a ZJ if it's not another XJ that is. :)
I've done the YJ thing and had a CJ buggy for a few months ( I would have kept the CJ buggy, but living in a gated townhouse where people constantly nag you for doing work on your vehicle and not having a trailer and tow rig made selling it a easy decision at the time). XJs are awesome and cheap, remember that. :)

[RichP]

I pretty much drive my XJ all week, DD and use the TJ on weekends, top comes off on friday and goes back on sunday nite. Now that it's mine it's getting a new stereo to go with those nice speakers we put in back in january, an OME lift, new rear bumper with both a 2" receiver and a pintle hitch and I'm going to be seriously looking for a 1/4 ton military trailer... guess I'll pull those silver stars out and stick in my CIBIE's finally....should have done that sunday when I was replacing the retaing ring on the headlight...
I actually like both, the XJ for it's comfort and the TJ for it's topless and classic jeep look, I hope my wife decides to trade in her oldsmobile on a new grand...

[the1jzahn]

i have so far seen about 15 different XJ's lifted. but i have seen 0 Wranglers modified in any way.

I live down in Shakopee (10 miles south of Bloomington) and there are a lot of wranglers that are lifted and whatnot. But I do not see many modified XJs.

[Midnight Krawler]

I live down in Shakopee (10 miles south of Bloomington) and there are a lot of wranglers that are lifted and whatnot. But I do not see many modified XJs.

Time to start a new trend! Go wheeling with a group of Wranglers and Show them what an XJ can do.

[tkjeeper]

Hey all, I'm from Ontario, Canada. I am relatively new to the jeep thing and really just fell into it but now I find myself scrounging through junkyards in the pouring rain for parts for my "93 xj(my daily driver) and my '87 xj(my soon to be trail runner, with a Dana 44 rear by the way). I guess my 2 cents are that I always look sort of longingly at the old yj's etc., but I dont know why, I wouldn't trade my 2 for anything. I think I tend to agree about the girs driving the yj's and tj's though, they seem to be the ones driving the stockers up here anyways. All the best all!

[MENEZES]

I personally love TJs, i would love a Rubicon. My XJ is still the best :)

[XJ Jeepin Girl]

I love talking Wranglers vs. Cherokees.. lol. One of my good friends has a YJ ('87) and regardless of how cool I actually think it is, XJs just make more sense. I get up to 23mpg whereas Wranglers (from what owners have told me) get 10-15ish mpg. Gas mileage is a big deal in my book, so that's just one plus of an XJ. Also, as far as living in Colorado and parking outside all year, XJs totally make more sense. Unless you have a good hard top, I'd hate to have a Wrangler in the snow... I do wish I could take the top of my XJ off sometimes, but considering that it would only be good for about 3 months out of the year.. forget it. I can deal with just having the windows down. When I first started looking for a Jeep, I started out looking for Wranglers, and as everyone has said... they're way overpriced for what you're getting. I could have bought 1/4 of a nice Wrangler for what I got my whole XJ for. :)

I like having four doors and being able to take 4 other people with me and having room in the back!

[Brad M.]

I'll have to agree, the XJ is all-around unbeatable... I was looking at TJ's initially but then went wheelin with my nephew in his '92 XJ. He had 3" and 31's and open diffs and I was very impressed with where it would go down in Moab. Ended up selling my '94 yota for my first XJ shortly thereafter. The cargo space was the clincher for me. I have a friend who just bought a brand spankin new Rubicon Unlimited right off the showroom floor, then put a Teraflex LCG kit on it, plus bumpers, 35's & new wheels, regeared R&P, stereo, etc. and for what he's into it you could have 3-4 very nice, purpose-built trail rigs in the form of the trusty XJ. And I can still outwheel him anyday of the week! :) My .02

[stewie]

x2, wranglers are for cheerleaders...

i even have it plastered on my xj. i have gotten some dirty looks from insecure guys in cheerlearder jeeps though.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6894/dip15lp.jpg

[Big Red]

I like the sticker. :) YJ/TJs are o.k., but I sure do like XJs. My 1st exposure to seeing a XJ being wheeled was at the Badlands in Indiana when I hydro locked my YJ in some deep water/mud and thankfully 2 guys in YJs 4" 33's and 1 in a 3" lifted 31" XJ came to my brother-in-law's an my aid. We ended up wheeling with them for the day and the next and I rode in both the YJ and XJ. The guy in the XJ would laughingly say, wow what are my YJ friends getting me into now and he would easily get through the mud, water, obstable etc. That was so funny. I really admired the room, as well as the luxuries in this Laredo compared to the YJ I was riding shotgun in.


I still would like a CJ/YJ/TJ someday, maybe, but I just cannot give up on the XJ....maybe I'll upgrade and get a ZJ. :)

For the price of the vehicle used, you cannot beat a XJ, that and getting parts cheap and easy and having a dual purpose rig. 3" and 31's auto trans are the ticket for a real sleeper trail rig and dd. I sure miss my 1st XJ, I just got it as a dd after my YJ went down and I've never been without a XJ since then (6 years now and going strong). :)

Troy

[Lawn Cher']

Well bless your heart, Troy.

[Big Red]

Well bless your heart, Troy.

That's the nicest thing you ever said to me. Sorry I didn't mean to get so emotional :bawl: :)

[Lawn Cher']

Sorry I didn't mean to get so emotional :bawl: :)

Let it out, dim-witted one.

[fdsa487]

x2, wranglers are for cheerleaders...

And lezbo's with short hair.

[Big Red]

Let it out, dim-witted one.

It was nice to hear those kind words while it lasted. Peace out my brotha :)

How many of you guys are going to run our and get the new 4 door Wrangler that is coming out? How about the Unlimited Wrangler, do any of you XJ guys have Wrangler envy now? I do a little bit and like a wheel base around 100-106" or so like the XJ and ZJ. The new 4 door Wrangler has a 116" wb which is a bit long and will need to get some big tires on it so as not to high center.

[flexjay87]

tj is the better rig for off-road only, xj better on the street. i think many of us error on the side of compromise and xj gets the nod. if i was wealthy, i would wheel a tj and pull it with an zj. besides, tj's have a ton more aftermarket parts available than any other rig for off-road, and or bling, if your a mall crawler.

[87manche]

It was nice to hear those kind words while it lasted. Peace out my brotha :)

How many of you guys are going to run our and get the new 4 door Wrangler that is coming out? How about the Unlimited Wrangler, do any of you XJ guys have Wrangler envy now? I do a little bit and like a wheel base around 100-106" or so like the XJ and ZJ. The new 4 door Wrangler has a 116" wb which is a bit long and will need to get some big tires on it so as not to high center.
bah, 116 is short :)
come see me when you hit 120"

[Gil BullyKatz]

:yawn:

see this thread:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=89857

post #15

[Gnat5680]

:yawn:

see this thread:

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=89857

post #15

I will never look at wranglers the same way.

[Gnat5680]

i even have it plastered on my xj. i have gotten some dirty looks from insecure guys in cheerlearder jeeps though.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6894/dip15lp.jpg

where did you get it?
did you custom make it?

[87manche]

I'm gonna get one made that says
"XJ's are for soccer moms"