Jeep Cherokee XJ - Contender for the Overlanding Crown?

[deniz merdano]

but...but... dont they look so handsome??
here is my 1996 Sport.tumblr_mf3jg5gX6J1r0el5bo1_500.jpg

[GregB_00XJ]

Thanks for the post - that is a great looking Classic! I like the balanced stance you have in your build and those wheels/tires - what's the combo?

That trailer is no slouch either, hope you many great trips with it - is it your own build?

Thanks for the comments... much delayed, but just saw this now.

The wheels are Cragar Soft 8's 15x8 with a 3.75" BS. The tires are 31x10.5x15" Hankook MT RT03's, and they are fantastic. The lift is (was) 3.5" rear leafs with 2" Shackles, but it has sagged down to about 3.5" from towing the BIG trailer. The front is 3" BDS coils with 1" Spacer, sitting at about 3.5" lift. The trailer is indeed my build, but I contracted a buddy to build me the lid...his design, based on my input/requirements.

Since this picture was taken I put about 100 hours into this setup! The XJ I am happy to say is nearly ready for some off road trailering fun. Only 1 shakedown run in late September as I was still working on it until then (the night before). Still needs the hot water system, tank and pump and a few other odds and sods. Check out my trailer thread here... http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...-%28finally%29

Here is it "deployed" in its near ExPo form, Jeep and all.





Jeep is great, needs work (dont they all) but I still love it! All my parts are in so soon it will be back ready to rock!

[GregB_00XJ]

New Years Day wheeling...not overland, but I was out in the woods and it was in an XJ!



My son loves this Jeep!

[Mundo4x4Casa]

I've always thought the XJ was near the top of the real Expo rigs. I've owned three of them. Jeanie's current winter car: I'm taking the cover off at the outset of winter.

There are reasons. It's simple to run, maintain, work on. Large gas tank. Pretty good mileage on regular gas. Lightweight: ours weighs 3000 pounds. Large enough to actually carry stuff on a long trip through swamps, over dunes, endless snow, endless dirt roads. A myriad of aftermarket accessories for it. Great and simple suspension system. Not too wide for narrow trails. Nimble. Has enough power to move right along on pavement. Is the best snow car I've ever driven. Ours has the AW4, wide ratio Aisin/Warner transmission which seems just right, off-road, and the great-on-snow, NV242 t. case with full and part time settings, 2.72:1 low range. They made them for 16 years: 1984-2001, R.I.P. and have a new life in China. Yes, the Chinese bought the moulds and hardware for making their own version. No dummies, they. If it were still made, I would buy another in a minute, instead of the 2011 Grand Cherokee Limited (mind boggling electronics) we just bought.

regards, as always, jefe

[Sggilbert]

I have really enjoyed this thread. As a die hard XJ fan (I've owned three) I gotta say I haven't encountered any other vehicle that suits me better. And when my current one gets too long in the tooth I'll simply find another cleaner fresher one and swap my parts over.

[cshontz]

I have really enjoyed this thread. As a die hard XJ fan (I've owned three) I gotta say I haven't encountered any other vehicle that suits me better. And when my current one gets too long in the tooth I'll simply find another cleaner fresher one and swap my parts over.

That's similar to how I feel. At a towering 5'7", I feel like the XJ was tailored around me. Spacious enough to take it with you, small enough to squeeze between the trees. I'm constantly tempted by the allure of other vehicles, but the dirt-cheap practicality of the XJ suits my lifestyle.

[88Xj]

That's similar to how I feel. At a towering 5'7", I feel like the XJ was tailored around me. Spacious enough to take it with you, small enough to squeeze between the trees. I'm constantly tempted by the allure of other vehicles, but the dirt-cheap practicality of the XJ suits my lifestyle.

I feel the same but at 6'1 lol. I cut my seat bracket by 3/4" so I sat a bit lower in the driver seat. But for me and 2 others and the dog it's fine. I really want a burb but haven't been able to let go of my xj yet. I fear an accident with kill my xj forever but then I can buy another for under 2000 and swap everything on over.
The inline 6 and ax15 keep me in mine. Honestly..nothing like shifting gears or engine breaking. And that inline 6 is so damn sweet and damn near up indestructible. And for crist sakes they are EVERYWHERE!!!

[d67u57]

had a few,really really liked them.

i'm around 6'5 so it wasn't exactly large minivan fit lol but still ok.

there's not much you have to look for with these cars,except perhaps avoid (if you can) the rear dana 35,and the cracking head years(99-01 or 00-01 as lots say)

bit my hand a few times in order not to get another one lately. cheap,real cheap. around 1k there's plenty.

though i wouldn't recommend them for lots of miles,not because of reliability,but because of the 4.0's thirst

fuel is around 1.35$ per liter around here,will probably go to 1.5$ soon. with 15 l/100km's or worse,it adds up.

if you keep it for occasional wheeling or short/medium trips, i.e. not your long range vehicle,cant beat them.

[Mundo4x4Casa]

My friend had a 1988 Jeep MJ, Metric Ton pick up. I've only seen a few of these. Yes, a 2200 pound load could drop into that 8' bed. It had a heavy duty Dana 44 rear end, with the 31 spline semi floating, thick tube axle. It had a 5 leaf main pack and a 3 leaf secondary pack for the heavy loading. The front looked just like an XJ. He did a 5" lift with a kit for the front axle (high pinion D-30, 4.56 gears and Power Lok) and a springs-over-axle for the rear (4.56 gears/ Track loc). He had 33x9.50R15 Mud Terrain's, so tall and skinny. An interesting variant on our beloved XJ's, one that I would also see in the running as a primo Expo rig. Put a shell or small pop up camper on there and see the world. jefe