As one who doesn't own a Jeep I'd like to ask if they are as bad as a lot of people seem to say? Is it repairs or reliability or upgrades or what?

There hasn't been a jeep in the family for about 60 years and I've just always liked them.

I had a 4 dr Wrangler, bought it in '06 300K miles no major issues,
Finally bought a Y=Toyota truck and gave my Jeep to my son.

Jeep trucks (Gladiator) is way too much $$ for me.

Bought an 89 new, still have it, although I sold it to son in law for about a year, he needed money, so I bought it back. He had rebuilt the motor cause it had a couple tiny oil leaks. It has 160,000 miles now. It has been a great vehicle.

Someone told me they changed motors in 2013 to a better one.

Just traded off out heavily modded ‘15 Wrangler unlimited and don’t miss it. Bought a 2019 Toyota RAV4 and love it. Got tired of messing with the Jeep. You mod it you continue to mess with it. Gas mileage was so bad, twice what the RAV4 gets. But I will say we really didn’t have any issue with it mechanically.

What are you planning to do with it?

Not much, as in no serious need. A little desert/mountain area rough road and off road. There are some rough areas of the state I'd still like to see.

I've just always liked them since my dad had a 1955 or so station wagon type.

I asked primarily because I've had so many people knock them for reliability and such.

I've owned several Grand Cherokees, a couple of Cherokees, and a Wagoneer.

I don't think that they are particularly unreliable and with a few tweaks are fine for moderate off-road driving.

I've taken one of the Cherokees to places where, in retrospect, I shouldn't have, but did and didn't get stuck.

A lift kit, lockers, and a good winch are nice to have when off-roading gets rough.

Thanks very much.

I've got an '04 Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 liter 6. Bought it with 70K on it and it has about 150K on it now. No major issues in that time. Still runs perfect and uses no oil between changes.

Thanks.

My buddy works the cold weather test track here and of all the vehicles they test, the Jeeps have the most issues.

Another friend's 17 Jeep SUV just had engine replaced at 35K miles.

Thanks.

Had 2 CJ's and 3 Wranglers. Learned stick in a circa '86 Cherokee when they first came out. Jeeps are jeeps. If you are buying one and looking for a scientific reason to own it, it's the wrong vehicle for you. It's an emotional one, a want, not a need. They do however, do incredibly well at hard core 4x4ing. You're not taking a Rav4 the same places a Rubicon can go. And you're not taking the top and doors off of a 4runner. Never had any serious issues with any of the Jeeps I had beyond death wobble on an 03 Wrangler - which the dealer eventually figured out was the traction bar (IIRC).

3.8 liter isn't the greatest they switched to the 3.6L in 2012 its better,

TIPM's prone to fail on many Dodge/Jeep vehicles as well as heater core clogging.


Mike

Are you looking at a new JL or the older JK;s? The new JL's cost a lot more for mods, so I would look for the JKU 2012-2018. You can do what you want to the mild to wild. I have a 2012 JKU Rubicon, mine is for crawling but, gets around well in town and on road. But, I'm a Jeep guy.




current build


and my Jeep trailer

And been doing the Jeep thing since the 1983....

Mine was to the grocery store and back a few times.

Rubicon? Always wanted to do that trail.

Yep, fun trail.

Fun going to the grocery store, ain't it?

A few more of some of the old jeeps...




My 48, aka Filthy Beast, after I painted it.

You guys really make this site fun.

Great photos.

Jeeping is a lot of fun! Gets you out and about to a lot of areas, one may normally never see. Older jeeps do have some hard ache that go with the good/fun. But, then that is some of the fun!

My 69 CJ6 will be a pretty much do all, old school with some newer tech....with the YJ spring conversion installed.


Once I get the power brake booster installed, the body will come off and I will get to the frame and body!

Here is what my first flat fender looked like when I brought it home...went from a sand jeep to a crawler.

Love my Jeep. But Im an enthusiast. Heavily modified, and always tinkering. I offroad a fair amount and take it hunting. Jeeps can go places stock pickups and SUVs just can't go. But if you're looking for maintenance free and good gas mileage, look elsewhere. That's not what Jeeps are about.

As Quaterbore stated, one best be ready to tinker and repair.

Or pay big bucks to the off-road shop. Mine was a combination of both. I spent almost as much on mods as I did on the Jeep.
Jeeps also hold their value. I paid around $18,000 for my new TJ in 1997 and sold it 20 years later in 2017 for $8,000. And it had been well used as you can see from the previous photos.

Like the day, a Jeep is like a sore pecker... they’re hard to beat. Pictured is my 2008 Jeep Wrangler towing a ram 2500 a 20 foot enclosed trailer filled with 6000 pounds worth of lawnmowers.

Everyone should own a Jeep!!

I love em. Have had, too many actually for not keeping one around. Things get a little tight, or I''d move to a new hobby & the Jeep would be first to go. Really missing my last one, an 03 Rubicon. But just no budget for one now.

A couple I had a lot of fun with back in the day.

Got to like the Red Renegade 1970, those are pulling good numbers now!

You can buy this 1971! (not Renegade)

The Red Renegade is actually a 74. The rusted body was original when I bought it & was a factory gold or bronze color. I had to replace rockers, floors, rear panel, & the flats over the rear tires. Before paint I started cutting off the Renegade stripe & had just removed the tail part, that section would indicate year then.. Went to the local AMC dealer to see if I could get new stripes. He looked & said yes, but you don't want them. Why? He gave me the price & while I cant remember, it was crazy expensive. Therefor the butchered Renegade stripes.

It had a 304 with an Edlebrock intake with a dual line Holley & headers. I know the pick is poor, but all I got. From 1978. The tires are Goodyear X-tra track usually seen on a Ditch Witch trenching machine. 31-15.50x15 . I was young then & the full cage probably gave me way too much confidence. I treated that poor Jeep like I hated it.

Love your CJ, I drool everytime I see it. The paint reminds me of Citrus Green Metallic, a color I first saw on a new 70 1/2 Z/28 Camaro.

The butterscotch CJ is a 75 BTW, last year for that body. It was original except the wheels/tires & headers.

Is your jeep for sale? That’s a nice looking jeep you got

Yes, it is for sale..though I haven't listed it yet. Just word of mouth.

Campfire members get a discount!

My bad, missed the front fender length.