Howdy from NE Ohio

shoveldog · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:41 pm

Hi to all...

Joined mainly to gain knowledge about the KJ series Liberty. We are going to buy some type of 4WD next year. We want something that is capable off road without mods & has half decent fuel mileage. In addition to being the wife's daily driver, we want to be able to access some areas where the 2WD F150 can get a little sketchy; not looking to go rock crawling. I had initially wanted to go with a '99 or older & simpler XJ Cherokee, but they may be getting too old. I don't want to get hung up waiting on parts & service.

Is a stock 4WD 3.7L Liberty a good choice? Reliable? While I'm a fair shade tree wrench, I have enough projects now, don't need another one. Are they comfortable on a daily basis? Ok on longer trips? Can they be flat-towed without drivetrain damage (we have a motorhome).

A lot of questions, I know. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Mike

TAHOE · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:21 pm

Welcome to the forum.

As for comments on the Liberty, I will keep my mouth closed :jester:

My wife loves it, I hate it, 'nuff said.

Doolop · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:26 pm

Mike to answer some of your questions my girlfriend and I drove from Columbus Ohio to pigeonforge Tennessee made a few stops for gas but otherwise straight through we felt good when we got there. It is my DD and like the ride. It can be flat towed without damage just get the hook ups installed by a professional.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:12 pm

Read through and I think you'll find the KJ makes a great DD. I make trips from NW Ohio to SE Ohio every couple of weeks, 5 hour drive and never stop, 255-260 miles well for gas but hop out for three minutes !! :wink:

If we can help you any let us know
Great group here in Ohio and lots of info on here
Welcome

shoveldog · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:48 pm

Thanks to all.

Wife kinda likes the Grand Cherokee, but they seem to have some serious electrical problems and fuel economy's not the greatest. I was beginning to think I was going to have to consider Outbacks & XTerras, but, surprisingly it seems, they appear to have more issues than the KJ.

I will continue to watch & learn. Where should I be looking for the tinworm's work?

Any chance of hooking up with someone in the Portage County area to drive a First Gen? We are not quite ready to buy now, and the dealers always try to nail your foot to the floor. Kick in some bucks for gas & or buy ya lunch?

Mike

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:22 pm

This was just a few weeks ago not far from you, should of been there :wink:

I'll be back over that way in next couple of weeks to see my step Brother in Kent. But then mine won't give you a very good view of how a stocker rides or handles :ROTFL:

shoveldog · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:42 pm

Been offline for a bit. Sorry I missed the gathering @ Summit, its really close by, Nice looking Jeep!

TAHOE · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:37 am

shoveldog wrote:

Been offline for a bit. Sorry I missed the gathering @ Summit, its really close by, Nice looking Jeep!

Please don't make his head any bigger than it is..... :ROTFL:

@ Tom

I personally am not a fan of the Libbys, my wife loves hers. They do have decent power, great turning radius, but if it has over 60-70K on it, plan on upgrading suspension, at least all new shocks. Ours has 72K and the shocks and springs are shot, got all new to replace sitting in the garage.
Like all vehicles, they have their quirks. Biggest issue, I think, is the window regulators going bad, actually it's just a plastic clip that breaks.

shoveldog · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:51 pm

I hear you, but 70K on OEM struts/shocks doesn't sound that bad, tho springs should last longer. From other posts on this site, Steiger Performance seems to have the window fix, diy with metal pieces they make.

My wife is leaning towards an Outback, but am finding late model Subarus have all kinds of headaches, including head gasket issues that seem to go on and on. Our Sebring hasn't been one of our better cars, so I'm not predisposed to a Mopar by any means. That said, Ford & Chevy don't seem to address the small suv with off-road cred market at all.

She is getting thru the mild (so far) winter with fwd, still looking at options.

TAHOE · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:29 am

I'm a Chevy guy so I am partial. We had a 95 &97 Chevy blazers, Other than normal water pump, tunes ups, they were very dependable. I lost the motor on the 95 @ 108K, but that was partly my fault, I had a leaky oil line, put off replacing and it finally blew out while driving. They quit making them in '05, not the best gas mileage either. After my sisters issues with their Trailblazers, I myself would pass on them. We had a 98 Subaru Impreza sport wagon, we only kept it 2 yrs and then got the blazers as we did not like it.
I know about Steigers, just got a complete motor/track for half of that little part :BANANA:

Good luck.

shoveldog · **Posted:** Fri Jan 27, 2012 6:21 pm

Tahoe,

As a old car guy, I know lots of folks who use Tahoes & Suburbans to trail their collector cars around (me, I drive mine). Most do not like the new generation GM full size SUVs and are having their older ones rebuilt and repainted. Not knocking GM, but apparently the current ones don't tow the same weight. Guess this is getting off topic isn't it?

TAHOE · **Posted:** Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:28 pm

Yep, looks like I will be doing motor in myTahoe soon, got a lifter not pumpin up, gotta drive it a few more years

shoveldog · **Posted:** Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:43 pm

Finally drove a KJ this am. We liked it. Dealer has a 2006 Sport with 60K on it for just under 10K. We got a look at it as it came in, before they cleaned it up. Could use tires, which they may very well do. It has a 65th anniversary package which adds a moonroof & alloy wheels along with badging inside & out. The dealer had sold it new & it was just traded back. Price includes the normal detail job & full servicing with a 100% powertrain warrantee for 90 days.
How does the price sound?

Howdy from NE Ohio

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