You might want to pose the Jeep question over on
rec.autos.makers.jeep+willys for lots of feedback on the different
'flavors' available.
I for one love my old Jeeps. My 1986 CJ7 has 180,000 miles on it and is
used as a daily driver. We did a 3000 mile camping trip in it this
summer and it only used one liter of oil. One Cherokee I have has 315K
km on it and the other has 258K km. The 315K one still only uses a
liter of oil between changes. I just got the other and am doing a bit
of rocker panel repair before I put it on the road.
I find them very reliable and take both 'way' back into the deep
Canadian Bush on a regular basis year round. I do bring a few spare
parts and tools, but need them infrequently.
Both of these Jeeps get into places that have ATV drivers with their
jaws hanging open while looking for the 'other' trail we 'must' have
found because no way could we come in the trail they just came in on.
LOL!
The biggest factor when off roading is to always have more than one
vehicle along. Running solo isn't recommended, but we all do it...
Just be prepared!
They aren't the best for gas mileage, but we get about 23 mpg in the CJ7
and well over 25 mpg in the Cherokee on the highway. The Cherokee works
out to about 18 mpg overall for us because my wife uses it as a daily
driver with work only 10 minutes away so it never really warms up to get
better mileage.
When looking for a used Jeep, or any other 4x4 for that matter, I
recommend you find one as stock as possible. The reasoning is any
vehicle with modifications tends to be driven to the limit of those
modifications which causes higher wear usually.
If you check out the links to other albums in my sig line photo album
link, you will see 'lots' of Jeeps off roading.
Here was one fun trip:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4292076845
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
"nightrider.36" wrote:
>
> Jon R. Pickens wrote:
> > Why don't you trust a Jeep?? That's one of the oldest and most proven
> > designs still in production. Sure, the brand new Wranglers are
>
> I don't trust a used Jeep because I don't know anything about Jeeps, in
> general. Right now, I simply see it as a used car that you're going to
> take out somewhere to further beat the crap out of. But I've never
> purchased a used car before, let alone--a used jeep, I don't know
> anything about them. Maybe it would be good and I just need to know
> what to look for in used jeep. It's just ignorance and my learning
> process, Jon--that's all.
>
> > different than a CJ2A, but the basic design elements are still there.
> > They're simple and functional. Jeep's 4.0L six-cylinder is a solid,
> > proven engine, and most will come with Dana axles.
>
> What's a Dana axle? Is that something that I should be looking for? I
> know from experience that a Japanese engines will outlast most other
> engines out there--I've owned two Pontiacs, one Chevy and an old Isuzu
> p'up. I treated the p'up like crap (I was young). I never changed the
> oil, never did any maintenance on it and it just kept going. Then I
> sold it to my brother for next to nothing (family discount) and he
> treated worse. The p'up wouldn't die--then he sold it--I've been
> impressed by Isuzu ever since. But I babied my 1996 Camaro and my two
> Pontiac Fieros and they both crapped out in the time that I saw the
> little p'up running around town. I bought a Toyota after that. But as
> I've stated before, I don't know anything about Jeep engines. I know
> their dependable--it's a Jeep. At the risk of starting a GM vs. Japan
> thread--which I don't indend to. By my, and only my observation, I've
> been able to trust a Japanese engine even after >100k miles and not be
> as succesful with a GM product. It's possible that I've had three
> lemons in a row. But that's what my experience has been.
>
> > I would personally get a used Jeep CJ-7, or an older SUV-type (I hate
> > the term SUV applied to the following TRUCKS, but...) such as a Chevy
> > Blazer, Dodge Ramcharger, or Ford Bronco. All of the above in their
>
> Excellent, this is good to know. Because I see plenty of those types of
> vehicles in ads going for < 4k, and that's what I'm looking for.
>
> > With any off road vehicle, a good solid drivetrain is the most
> > important thing. If the engine, transmission and axles are all in
> > sound mechanical condition, then you have the makings of a good
> > reliable off-road vehicle.
>
> How can I verify that the drivetrain is in sound mechanical
> condition--what do I look for?
>
> > The cosmetics are of no importance off
> > road, and frankly, the worse, the better. Having a well-worn vehicle
>
> I kind of like the old Scouts. I've seen a few of them advertised in
> my local Autotrader, but I don't know how dependable the engines or the
> drivetrains are?
>
> > By the way, if you spend >$20,000 for a vehicle that'll be used only
> > occasionally just to get you further out into the desert, then you'll
> > have spent about $15,000+/- too much. My rust-free 1986 Chevy K5
> > Blazer cost me around $3800 back in 2002. It was a former Police
> > truck--low mileage (around 100k at the time, not bad for a then-16yr
> > old truck), solid body, and basic interior (vinyls seats, rubber floor)
> > that just screams "get me dirty". I can practically hose it out when
> > I'm done...
>
> good, I needed to read about an example of something exactly what I'm
> looking for.
> Maybe I just need to know specifically what to look for and I'll be
> good to go.
>
> thanks, Jon