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Getting back into a Wrangler, a TJ

5K views 56 replies 15 participants last post by  Qomomoko 
#1 ·
Sold my 97 TJ 4 banger a couple of years back. Missed it terribly but it was to low in power to help me make it a daily car and also to haul my small motorcycle trailer to the track (MX and street).

Ideally I want an LJ,(2004-2006) with some mods. If it has half doors super great; no luck in my area (also I would be spending no less than $15k)

Then my second option is go older but a TJ still with half doors a must, manual , I6 and a lift. Here I am looking to spend between $8k and $10k. The search continues and I am Wrangless.

Been doing some dirt riding on my Kx 125 and so the wrangler spirit has awoken in me again.

My next jeep I hope stays with me for a loooooongggg time and party with it :bop:

Some of the options available have over 150k miles. The I6 can last over 250k miles if taken care of but am a bit afraid of buying an abused engine.
Cross fingers!
 
#3 ·
Thanks, just went and saw a nice 2006 Lj, 4 inch lifht, 35" tyres, well maintained, 108k miles and its $1400 OBO.

Once I expanded my miles area in autotrader, the number of wrangler LJ options quadrupletripled!!!! So must keep looking with a little patience.
 
#5 ·
Need your help..

:lmao:

now looking at an older jeep. I hope my wrangler craze does not get me a bad deal but these is what I am looking at now.


He is asking $8750. if it was the original owner cool but the story is more than that.

He took the jeep as a trade on an expensive truck. The guy sells vehicles.
The previous owner spend a ton on it; here is the description.

JEEP 1993
Truly the nicest, cleanest one I have seen.
New wheels and tires PRO COM, 35" tires goes perfectly with the 6" lift! Custom front bumper/seats/stereo/custom pedals/KC light package and everything works as should. 5 speed, great air conditioning. Over $8k recently spent 97k miles
Must sell
Please no low ball offers

Anyhow. He says the dealer offered him $7500.



I figure I dont need an LJ, especially if I need go to $14k plus.

Want a car nice on hiway, take doors off and such.

Thanks

Pics coming up
 
#10 ·
Thanks,

I will be comutting to work, 45 min at 60 mph and with the jeep (as in my previous one) I will enjoy commuting again.

off road wise, I wan to carry my mx trailer into the everglades and some dirt roads and also get the wrangler a little dirty but nothing major.

I figure I can get a roof rack. The reason I want the space the LJ has is b/c of all the gear I carry when I go to the motorcycle track.

But yes, I need be patience and not rush this one even if its the ONE!
 
#15 ·
the rear should be a D35 and front D30, "info from this forum thread on YJ"

Any quick way to check this? is the axle labeled as such?

I am not sure if it was modded for SOA.

He also said he was getting 16 mpg on hiway and 13 on city. i know its not great but I was expecting worse lol
 
#16 ·
the rear should be a D35 and front D30, "info from this forum thread on YJ" Any quick way to check this? is the axle labeled as such? I am not sure if it was modded for SOA. He also said he was getting 16 mpg on hiway and 13 on city. i know its not great but I was expecting worse lol
Those are what the axles came stock. With the big tires and the lift it is likely that the axles were swapped out for bigger, stronger ones such as the d44 or the ford 8.8. If it is still on the stock axles, many, including myself, would pass. That bigger tires simply put too much stress on the stock d30 and d35. It is likely they will break with any off-road use, or even on road with tires that big. I would also see what mods have been done to the steering and brakes. Tires that big and that much lift require modified brakes and steering to be safe on the road.

When buying a jeep with that many mods you really need to know what you're talking about. You need to make sure everything was done correctly. I don't know it all, but if I were you I would spend a lot of time on the forum to educate yourself. If you can bring someone with you who knows a lot about suspension and off-road modifications.
 
#18 ·
He might sell it for $8k

Saw the jeep but it rides to rough, the axles are stock.
The half skin doors wont come out of half doors lol but the jeep has MINIMAL rust. Great shape. It does ride very bumpy. I'll look online to verify gear radio but on 2nd gear speedshowed 35 mph but gps showed 42 mph.

Think Yj are too old even if in great shape.

Search continues for TJ.

Saw a 2000 TJ with a 5inch plus lift with 35' and half doors but it was a rust bucket, a/c buttons not work and dealer was asking $11.5k out the door.
 
#19 ·
For what you are looking for, go with a LJ...PERIOD! Skip that YJ forr sure. Look at the threads about LJ vs TJ. Most TJ owners wish they had LJs but never the other way around. You and older should be strictly enthusiast vehicles and not for real street use unless you just can't afford better.
 
#20 ·
I for one sometimes wish I had a bit more room in my TJ but not enough to trade mine in for an LJ. I'll take my short wheelbase Jeep with the 1999 4.0, 5 spd. I try to be creative in how I load up my Jeep depending upon the use. I'm pleasantly surprised how much gear I can get in my rig. I bought it for what the shorter wheelbase offers!
 
#21 ·
I would not want an LJ, nothing against them but I much prefer the more compact TJ. I have another vehicle, a Tacoma TRD, for travel. I like my TJ just as it is and do not have any regrets. I could have bought an LJ, frankly, I do not like the looks. But, I can see the attraction and they are certainly an excellent choice if you like them.
 
#25 ·
06 LJ $14k

Looking at this one but the color is not my favorite. Here is the info from seller. Drove 2 hrs to test drive it and seemed ok but those 35's are so darn loud and the ride above 60 mph was not as smooth as I had hoped. He said if I put A/T then the ride will be better.

Looking for you guys opinion.

DANA 44 rear, DANA 30 front, currie lift spring with fabtech lower control arms, 4 inches of lift, adjustable front trac bar, 35" bfg km2's, Purejeep tube fenders, custom front bumper, smittybilt rear bumper, smittybilt xrc10 winch with synthetic line, bestop trektop NX, custom flowmaster exhaust,110k miles

The guys does not seem shady, had the jeep since 2010 with 40k miles.

Minor things on jeep such as top has a tear that he is currently repairing, check engine light b/c of some exhaust/vapor xyz that he is also fixing.

edit: clean title but still at bank ;(

 
#26 ·
When I bought my jeep last year I test drove about 30 different jeeps and ended up buying a 2006 LJ with 67k. Absolutely no regrets. I would recommend going with a stock or as close to stock as possible. Lj's imo are easier to upgrade. They already have the d44 in the rear so you can go to 35's with a 4.5 lift and all you really need to do is regear and add a sye.
Just try not to over pay by $5k like I did. Lol
 
#27 ·
thanks... need learn more of such regearing and sye lol...I think if the color was tan, or white or black ( but not yellow) I would be more interested and had title in hand..

the prices on these vary so much.... so hard to be fair... assuming not buying a lemmon or somebody else head ache.
 
#28 ·
I think I found it!!!

Think I found my LJ!!!!

2006, green, manual, clean title, 60k miles, lifted on 33's, extra 5 set of 35 new, extra half tube doors.

A bit far from me, he is firm on price and asking a bit more than I was planning ($17500) but I am pretty excited about going to check this one out!

 
#29 ·
#36 ·
Shoulda bought that green one man. I'd have no issue running the D30 for what you're trying to do. The Rubicon front D44 isn't "better" enough to warrant skipping on a D30'd LJ that has everything else in place. I'd rather have a built D30 than the stock Rubicon D44 front axle.
 
#31 ·
LJ with 33's or 35's.. will need D44?

Hey guys...

if I were to get an LJ... and eventually get 33's maybe but doubt 35's... is there any one what would object to not having a D44 front and back? Not rock crawling I had heard that D30 might not survive in long run...

pretty much have saved to get and LJ Rubicon but checking in with you 'all
 
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