More "what should I buy" questions- Grand Cherokee

[Houndoc]

Hopefully there is not a limit on how often I can ask for advice on different vehicles before being banned from RME!

As mentioned before, looking for vehicle that is primarily daily driver (80 miles/day), but also good off-road and hunting rig. My Montero Sport fit the bill well before handing it off to the kids. Now another driver coming on line means another vehicle.

Off-road use not as much as would like, but would like something easily capable of trails in the Poison Spider, Hell's Revenge, Elephant Hill etc level. Still hope sometime to get out on Hole in Rock.

Have been focused after other discussions on trying to find an Xterra with Off-Road package. Think still first choice but not a lot of them around.

It does not seem like see many Grand Cherokees in the last 10 years or so modified for off-road. Happened upon this one on KSL and would love to hear thoughts.

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/2636658?ad_cid=4

 

[Cody]

WK2's are actually pretty good trail rigs for what they are. You're not going to do Pritchett in one, but we've taken a few of them through Hells Revenge, up Hells gate etc and they do great. A mild enough build so as not to open a can of worms, and I think you've got a nice camping rig on your hands.

I'd look for a diesel personally, but that 3.6 isn't a bad motor I've heard.

 

[zmotorsports]

I have had an XJ and two ZJ's that were mildly built and did some fairly aggressive wheeling as well as being my wife's daily driver for many years.

As Cody said, don't be looking to do any of the hardcore trails without extensive mods but a mild lift and tires will net some great results yet still be very street friendly. On both my ZJ's I had 4" lift, 32" tires, Trutracs front and rear, swaybar discos and never incurred any body damage or issues on trails like Poison Spyder, Hell's Revenge, Fins & Things and some of Metal Masher.

Mike.

 

[Cody]

The XJ and ZJ are entirely different animals than the WK2 he's looking at. IFS behaves very differently, but there are 2" kits out there that allow you to fit a metric 32 (like a 265/70/17), which is plenty of tire for mild wheeling.

 

[Jay5.9L]

I'd look into a 1999-2004 WJ as it had solid axles. Seen a few with a mild lift and they look pretty good. Some say the 4.7L V8s were problematic but they also came with the indestructible 4.0L I6.

 

[zmotorsports]

The XJ and ZJ are entirely different animals than the WK2 he's looking at. IFS behaves very differently, but there are 2" kits out there that allow you to fit a metric 32 (like a 265/70/17), which is plenty of tire for mild wheeling.

Agreed, I was just giving him a comparable as far as size/body style. The WJ's have their own inherent "quirks", but are still a very strong daily driver/weekend wheeler.

I'd look into a 1999-2004 WJ as it had solid axles. Seen a few with a mild lift and they look pretty good. Some say the 4.7L V8s were problematic but they also came with the indestructible 4.0L I6.

The only issue I have seen with the 4.7's as far as engine issues have been the valve train rockers which can be time consuming to repair but not necessarily expensive, unless it kicks the keeper off and the valve drops. I have heard of a couple of them but never have seen one first hand. The couple 4.7's that I have worked on personally with valve train issues was merely the rocker popping off to the side and needed to be reassembled correctly.

Are there more 4.7 engine issues that maybe I have just not run across on these that deem them problematic?

Mike.

 

[Houndoc]

I'd look into a 1999-2004 WJ as it had solid axles. Seen a few with a mild lift and they look pretty good. Some say the 4.7L V8s were problematic but they also came with the indestructible 4.0L I6.

At this stage, and with the fact that will be DD, looking newer. Hoping whatever rig end up with to be '08 or newer.

 

[ID Bronco]

http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?110148-2000-LX470-142K-miles-lots-of-maint-items-done

This might be the ticket

 

[Cody]

I'd look into a 1999-2004 WJ as it had solid axles. Seen a few with a mild lift and they look pretty good. Some say the 4.7L V8s were problematic but they also came with the indestructible 4.0L I6.

My experience with the 4.0 powering a 5k+ lb rig was one of constant destruction, poor mileage, holding up traffic on the highway, and overall gross displeasure. I spent more trying to keep that underpowered turd running in the 1.5 years I had it than I did on all 3 of the 5.2 v8's that I had for 10+ years, combined....and I think most people would agree I was much harder on the v8's.

 

[Hickey]

Keep in mind that the 3.6 came in 2011 and newer. This year is also when the Cherokee received IRS in addition to IFS.

We bought a 2011 for my wife to commute to Draper each day. We sold it at 80k miles. My wife continues to comment that she would love another one and misses it dearly (it was her decision to sell, I wanted to keep it).

While it was an awesome road trip machine, I would not get one with the intent of offroading anything more serious than Onion Creek. It simply lacks ground clearance and aftermarket support for lift kits.

We seriously loved that car though. (yes, I consider it a car)

 

[clfrnacwby]

I think a Jeep Grand Cherokee WK has great potential. I would opt for the 5.7 Hemi, which comes with the Quadra-Trac II transfer case (although the CRD would be VERY tempting). Old Man Emu makes a 2.5" lift for it, which would be perfect (http://4xguard.com/ome-2-0-lift-kit-wk-xk.html).

More info:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...Grand-Cherokee-WK-(2005-2010)-as-ExPo-vehicle

4Wheeler article on the AEV Mojave build:
http://www.fourwheeler.com/features...rand-cherokee-the-mojave-the-next-generation/

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I would find a CRD and drive the crap out of it til it falls apart, I have been playing with the idea of replacing two of our vehicles with a CRD WK as it would handle some moderate trails as well as tow our 21 foot boat just as easily as our truck.

 

[Houndoc]

I would find a CRD and drive the crap out of it til it falls apart, I have been playing with the idea of replacing two of our vehicles with a CRD WK as it would handle some moderate trails as well as tow our 21 foot boat just as easily as our truck.

Versatility is always good!

 

[sixstringsteve]

My buddy has a commander with the hemi, and I will seriously consider one if I'm ever in the market for that type of vehicle:

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/2675526?ad_cid=5
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/2680707?ad_cid=2


He's got a little lift on it and bigger tires, and it does quite well for the mellow stuff. Here's what a lifted commander can look like:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1506-2006-jeep-commander-that-gets-wheeled-hard/

 

[Jay5.9L]

My friend has a commander with a little lift and tire combo. Does fine on the easy trails like the white rim in Moab.......and that's with the weak ass V6 and no low range.

Not a bad vehicle. Little plasticy inside and not a ton of aftermarket support.

 

[Gravy]

Commanders are sweet. I tried to sell my wife on a Hemi one a while back.

Not that you need something that big by any means.

My friend's father has a diesel WK and it's as nice of a vehicle as I've ever wanted. Amazing what a comfortable, high mpg Jeep can do.

 

[zmotorsports]

My buddy has a commander with the hemi, and I will seriously consider one if I'm ever in the market for that type of vehicle:

http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/2675526?ad_cid=5
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/2680707?ad_cid=2


He's got a little lift on it and bigger tires, and it does quite well for the mellow stuff. Here's what a lifted commander can look like:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1506-2006-jeep-commander-that-gets-wheeled-hard/

One of the guys we travel with in our RV group has a Commander that looks very similar to this one.

Like Steve mentioned, it does well on the mild to moderate stuff. Probably similar to what a WJ would do if similarly built.

Mike.

 

[Houndoc]

Commanders lack low-range, then? Big draw back but something to put some thought into.

 

[sixstringsteve]

They have a low range.

 

[Houndoc]

They have a low range.

Very good. Any idea what tire he is running or what will fit?

The more built one in the photo is a sharp rig for sure.