Question for all you Jeepers out there.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:05 pm

I think the next question is how much do you want to spend. The $6,000 range will get you a nice low mileage 2000-2001 XJ. The $9,000 range will get you a nice 2002-2004 low mileage KJ.

jeepdaddy · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:14 pm

wanting something to take out on a trailride without plastic bumpers falling off ,, get a xj ,,,, want something to krawl at the mall,, get a kj

stumpjumper_09 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:22 pm

jeepdaddy wrote:

wanting something to take out on a trailride without plastic bumpers falling off ,, get a xj ,,,, want something to krawl at the mall,, get a kj

YOU RACIST!!! THEY ARE ALL JEEPS ON THE INSIDE

EXCEPT THE PATRIOT AND COMPASS

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:48 pm

I have to say the KJ is the smoother ride and more room. taller ore head room. I never thought about it but earlier today my neighbor and I were compairing my KJ to his XJ. KJ is more stylish amd roomier. XJ body is not as high not as much room in the back and head room I think. XJ is better to lift and has more parts available, if I were biulding a trail queen I'd get a cheap XJ and lift it. for a DD and some Play KJ is very good. I have wheeled mine stock on green and some green/blue level trails at Rauch Creek with other Jeeps all of them Wranglers and XJ and I kept up very well being my first time out.

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 10:59 pm

Remember, the 4.0 if taken care of correctly dosent break in untill about 90,000 miles.... Kind of a joke

not factual, but if you talk to XJ owner they will swear by the 4.0.. myself included. Plus have you looked into the build up's for the 4.0.. engine. No doubt ILOVE my KJ and will never get rid of it, but it will never be "Old School" XJ it is considered one of the best out there besides the TJ's, and the YJ's. Just keep in mind not to go above 1999, and if you can find an Cherokee Country get it. The only issue you may have is finding one with low miles. the 93 thru 96 had some cooling issues. 2000 t0 2001 they rushed them out to produce the KJ. Oh and regarding the cooling, if you decide to get one , find one with the Heavy Duty Cooling, this model has a clutch fan and one electric.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:26 pm

LIV42DY wrote:

Just keep in mind not to go above 1999. 2000 t0 2001 they rushed them out to produce the KJ.

Not necessarily true, there are plenty 2000 and 2001 XJ’s that are hard wheelers without problems. The only major difference is the cracked 0331 cylinder head castings which is fixable. I have 180,000 miles on my 2000 XJ and she runs like new.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 11:41 pm

Okay from driving a beat up XJ for 3.5 months with 180,000+ miles(stopped counting different noises after 23) I'd take a KJ any day.That's coming from a guy that grew up driving grain trucks and 1 ton pickups(gotta love the stiff ride and I actually do).Also after working in the automotive repair biz for some time(13+years) the 4.0 just needed to die,I know the comments and trust me there not that great of a engine.No better or worse then the old 225 slant 6's and the Ford's 4.9's(now that was a I6),but there time just came and went so let them die(and fast since I hate replacing oil pan/valve cover gaskets,radiators,cracked exhaust manifolds,leaking freeze plugs,crank sensors,front diff pinion seals,t-case shift shaft seals,and rear mains on the darn things).

Sure the SFA of a KJ "may" seem better but in all reality it needs some heavy mods to live offroad and survive,no different then the KJ's IFS.The XJ's uni-frame design is far weaker then the KJ's also which now pretty much makes a XJ a "disposable" vehicle as you will tweak the uni-frame on the more hardcore stuff and then it's just done,useless.The KJ's uni-frame is somewhere about 200% stiffer then the XJ's,the KK's is about 300% stiffer then the KJ's.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 12:59 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

I hate replacing rear mains on the darn things.

Next time I come to the Springs, I'll stop by Firestone and have you replace my leaking rear main seal. :goink:

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:59 am

An important question for you:

What are your goals, plans, ideas for using the XJ or KJ? Daily driving only? Daily Driving with light off-roading? Daily Driving and hardcore trails? Off-roading mostly with some daily driving?
Goals for a lot of mods or keeping them as stock as possible?

As for the Reny lights. Since you are asking this, you must be looking at a Reny without them. Someone must have messed them up. They work great. Not sure why they would still be on there and all busted.

jeepdaddy · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:57 am

stumpjumper_09 wrote:

jeepdaddy wrote:

wanting something to take out on a trailride without plastic bumpers falling off ,, get a xj ,,,, want something to krawl at the mall,, get a kj

YOU RACIST!!! THEY ARE ALL JEEPS ON THE INSIDE

EXCEPT THE PATRIOT AND COMPASS

By jeepdaddy, shot with Canon PowerShot SX10 IS at 2010-04-04

By jeepdaddy, shot with Canon PowerShot SX10 IS at 2010-04-04

i really wheel my kj ,,, yes the bumpers have fallen off , the rear in a 2-3ft deep stream crossing , the front while getting tugged out of said stream crossing ,,,, running water and plastic push pins= lost bumpers

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:21 am

One of each is a good mix

My gf has a grand, i've got a kj, my good friend from the Corps has a TJ

The KJ makes an Excellent accessory to the TJ for camping trips

I would have alot of trouble packing what I tend to take (which really isn't much) in my friends TJ if it were mine

I have no problems what so ever packing anything and everything I need and living/operating comfortably out of it for week(s) at a time without going back to a store for resupply

The grand space wise.. eh.. there's simply alot of space there that I'd not use, the TJ.. simply not enough space.. i'd have to yank the back seats out and sell them if it were mine

The KJ fits my needs just fine, it has it's Con's just like anything else, but none of the con's have even came close to making me regret choosing it as my DD and offroad build

The only thing that I really do wish was different was that it had the grands V8 or a decent diesel

the 3.7 once armored and lifted gets about the same mpg as the 4.0

I'd certainly say that the 4.0 is a more resilient engine to things like an overheat or an oil pressure loss, where the 3.7 will set your wallet on fire if one of those occurs

but.. the XJ's can be very nice vehicles

I'd say go with the XJ if you have any question that the IFS on the KJ will keep you from doing what you want

You should be able to get a well taken care of low mileage KJ for around 7500, not much more than a low mileage XJ

If you want a stock TJ i know where there's a REAL nice one that's been taken care of and never been offroad for 7k lol

acweller · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:39 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

An important question for you:

What are your goals, plans, ideas for using the XJ or KJ? Daily driving only? Daily Driving with light off-roading? Daily Driving and hardcore trails? Off-roading mostly with some daily driving?
Goals for a lot of mods or keeping them as stock as possible?

As for the Reny lights. Since you are asking this, you must be looking at a Reny without them. Someone must have messed them up. They work great. Not sure why they would still be on there and all busted.

Top job would be DD. I'd also like to do some light - moderate of roading. By no means would i do any crawling with it.
Mod list would include lift, wheels/tires, intake, exhaust, arb bumper/ winch, and roof rack. probably in that order. :lol:

jeepdaddy · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:49 pm

then a kj would be good for you

Question for all you Jeepers out there.

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