"RyanFrew" (ryanfrew)
01/06/2015 at 09:35 • Filed to: Fun Times
1
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"RyanFrew" (ryanfrew)
01/06/2015 at 09:35 • Filed to: Fun Times | 1
| 26 |
Situation:
I want an offroading toy! I just want to get my toes wet, so am keeping the budget limited. I'm handy, but not a mechanic - this truck will serve as a way to accelerate my learning. I'm not afraid of things breaking, but want them to be cheap and easy to fix. I'm in the Cincinnati area, and it would be convenient if it was being sold close to home. This will be dedicated for offroad, so I don't mind lockers all around, or anything else that might make the car a non-ideal prospect for road use. For reference, here are the two vehicles I'm currently considering:
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$2,500
120,000 miles
2.5" Rough Country Lift
New 31x10.50x15 Red Letter General Grabbers.
LED off road lights
Positrac rearend
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$1,800
32" KM2s on steel wheels
Fuel tank has been relocated to the back. Interior has been removed from the front seats
Differentials are welded
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So, any thoughts on those? Or any other recommendations?
TheOnelectronic
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 09:37 |
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I would avoid welded diffs or some other form of permanent diff locking. Even purely off-road, there are times you really don't want your diffs locked up, like on a loose side-slope, or while turning around.
jkm7680
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 09:38 |
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Try here! Lots of Offroad toys.
E92M3
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 09:43 |
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Can't go wrong with a XJ. Extremely reliable in it's last few years. Tons of parts available (used + new OEM and aftermarket).
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 09:44 |
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http://www.kijiji.ca/v-engines-and-…
Terrible ideas? Terrible ideas. This is just an example listing, mostly - it's probably not a 25 year old model, but those that are crop up regularly in the Great White North.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 09:46 |
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Have you thought about a Samurai? They're shockingly capable, and have a pretty solid engine. They're slow, but you're off-roading, so who cares? My brother had one for years. He never even had to engage 4WD apart from when pulling stuck Jeeps and pickups out of the mud. It's also really fun watching bros get upset and more stuck while what they consider a barbie beach mobile just bounces on by. It's like the Miata of off-roading. People bitch because it only has a four cylinder, or is a chick's car, or whatever until they get served by it.
Mattbob
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 10:07 |
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Cheap and easy to fix? The only answer is Jeep XJ. Seriously. I just replaced the head gasket, water pump, power steering pump, thermostat, and all the gaskets for under $200 on mine. A lot of it was precautionary since I was in there anyway. They are cheap and reliable.
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 10:25 |
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Both of those cherokees are great choices. I like the green a little better but stick with jeep if you want cheap and easy to work on. Except wranglers cause they hold value for some reason
OPPOsaurus WRX
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 10:26 |
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i had a 95 explorer which was pretty capable. My buddy had a 2 dr with a 5 speed. I'd recommend that.
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OPPOsaurus WRX
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 10:35 |
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http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…
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RyanFrew
> OPPOsaurus WRX
01/06/2015 at 10:47 |
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Link didn't work.
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OPPOsaurus WRX
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 10:49 |
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i clicked and it worked. it must be on your end.
http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…
Meatcoma
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 10:58 |
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Lot's of Pathfinders for less than 2k and the late 90's are bulletproof.
Fairlame
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 11:23 |
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jeep xjs are always good very capable, not the most reliable but they are easy and cheap to fix and mod. Stay away from anything gm made after the 80s. Depending on what kind of offroading your doing, if its mud the first gen ford expeditions can be had dirt cheap and make a ton of power with the 5.4 all while having all the luxuries of leather and what not. my old one i picked up for $600 cranked the torsion bars in the front and took some coil springs out of the front of a superduty ford at the wreckers($60) and put them in the back of the expedition to gain 3" lift all around threw on some 35s i picked up for $400 and i went everywhere the jeeps were going and where they couldnt, mind you if it were rockcrawling it would be a different story.
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RyanFrew
> Fairlame
01/06/2015 at 11:40 |
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How is working on those 5.4s?
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RyanFrew
> OPPOsaurus WRX
01/06/2015 at 11:42 |
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Working now. Interesting thought, but I don't know how capable it would be. Better than an XJ?
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RyanFrew
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
01/06/2015 at 11:43 |
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Love the idea, but haven't seen any local ads.
BarryDanger
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 11:44 |
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http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4833239717…
http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/4731549274…
MONTERO ALL THE THINGS!
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RyanFrew
> Mattbob
01/06/2015 at 11:45 |
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Good to know. I'm aware of the XJs reputation, which is why those two above are my top options. I disregarded this one because of the new headers. Why did it need new headers? That scares me, and maybe it shouldn't. What are the big trouble points on the 4.0/XJ frame that I should look out for?
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RyanFrew
> BarryDanger
01/06/2015 at 11:47 |
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The first one looks like an absolute blast. Great suggestion.
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Mattbob
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 11:48 |
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it needed new headers because they always crack. Seriously. I think they changed the design for my year (2000), but the headers cracking on the older models is an extremely common problem. Some aftermarket headers have expansion joints in them to ease this.
I would disregard it for the welded rear if for anything.
As far as trouble, just look for the general rocker and door rot that they get. Look for evidence of a crash too. Other than that, check for leaks I guess? Also shift it into 4WD on some dirt and make sure it works and doesn't make and bad noises.
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RyanFrew
> Mattbob
01/06/2015 at 11:58 |
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Helpful advice. Thanks. People seem to have differing opinions regarding the welded diffs. Thanks to my lack of experience, I don't know which side to join. Would you say that it's best to pursue a 2000+ MY XJ?
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Mattbob
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 12:03 |
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The 2000 and 2001 models have a better intake manifold as well, and a distributorless ignition system, so no wires to replace/worry about. This gives it a bit more power, but other than those differences, I don't think much changed from the previous years. 2001 was the last year they made the XJ.
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Fairlame
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 12:05 |
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all i ever had to change on mine was the coils, plugs and the starter which werent bad to do at all. These engines arent generally hard to work on unless you have to tear into the engine for say a timing chain or head gasket for example, then it can be a pain in the ass.
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OPPOsaurus WRX
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 12:27 |
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its body on frame so it has that going for it. parts are everywhere. The short wheel base would be a plus. I dunno if it is better or worse than the Jeep. I'd imagine the limiting factor is how much $ u can add to either of them. The 4WD is great. I never got stuck in mine (95 4dr and 04 sport trac)
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OPPOsaurus WRX
> RyanFrew
01/06/2015 at 12:28 |
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> RyanFrew
03/04/2015 at 11:46 |
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I'd say a Wrangler but they hold value insanely well, any that you'll find under $2k are gonna be literal piles of scrap.