anyone have/had a jeep wrangler?

I love my Cherokee. Goes like a goat. Just be aware it takes a lot of lift to fit big rubber on 'em. I've got a 5" lift and still had to trim to fit 33"s

Rocky Road has good prices and products, but their customer service sucks and they've lost my business.

Don't know that it was mentioned, but don't get a 4cyl with an auto trans. You'll hate it.

After selling my 05 Xterra I was thinking about getting a Jeep, but I needed something that had enough room for my kid(s? may be another on the way soon) and the dogs plus camping gear and a Wrangler wouldn't cut it. I really wanted something the top and doors came off so a Cherokee is out and I'm not spending an arm and a leg for one of those Unlimited things to turn it into a trail rig. Bronco's (had a 90 it was a beast and a half) Blazers and Ram Chargers are out simply due to gas prices. CJ6's & Scramblers are either beat to shit or priced out of reach. I ended up getting a 1st generation 4Runner. Top comes off, doors come off with a simple mod to the hinges and if I slap a big enough sun roof into it its almost as open as a Jeep. Besides I've heard that the 22RE's are pretty much bullet proof and run forever.

I had a 4 cl wrangler 4x4, fun little jeep wish I still had it (except int he cold)

BUT it was a good jeep, got it as my first car with a 4 inch crack and lasted 6 months with fresh oil every week

No key to start, just fired right up and would run at 90 all day, went through a hurricane this way in Tx and was out riding in it with the soft top looking for pizza.

I had a 98 4cyl. 5-speed manual wrangler. It was fine in the city, especially in the snow. On the freeway it was terrible. I had to keep it pinned to stay at 65 mph, any wind threw it all over the place. It was like driving a big empty cardboard box. It had the bigger tires that come on the 6 cylinders, so that probably didn't help the lack of power.

My OL has an 02 Wrangler 6cyl ATM. Soft top 33" tires with a 3" lift. Taught all three of my kids to drive in that thing. It was great, if they crashed into anything it would just bounce off.

ended up getting a 93 cherokee sport, 112k, super clean inside and out, almost no rust. just had new brakes, ball joints, ton of other shit... almost $2k in work.... got it for $1900. stoked. gonna hook this shit up now.


what are some good sites for wheels/accessories/etc? recommendations?

Originally Posted by rus

roughly whats it cost to put a 3" lift and some new wheels on these? ball park?

It cost me about $500 bucks and a saturday to put a 3" lift on my 98 4cyl.

I wouldn't do a suspension lift again, I would just clearance the fenders. The TJ can clear 31" tires in stock form. That's about perfect for a 4cyl with 4.10 gears. When I first got my 4cyl with the stock tires it was geared low and was pretty good for general driving and light wheeling it was almost peppy.
I ran 31's for a few years and that was a good balance. I put 3" lift and 32"s on and it was really slow and I started breaking things... like the weak tranny that comes with the 4cyl. Save your money for a tranny swap from the 6cyl.

Best advice is go straight 6 cyl, put 31s on it and enjoy it.
This would be the best mix of fun, quickness, and reliability and cost savings.
It would give you more ground clearance, but keep your suspension and driveshafts working properly.

If you HAVE to get a 4cyl this is what I learned. I have one as my daily for the past 10 years. Don't mess with the suspension lift, it screws up the road handling, makes the ride bumpier, and makes your driveshaft angle steeper. Get the axles with 4.10 ratio. It can pull a bike on a trailer. Ive done it.
Ditch that hard top, leave the doors and spare tire at home. That stuff is heavy.

I did all the popular 4cyl engine mods... they work okay but the motor is pegged to make 70 on the highway:
Pacesetter headers
bigger exhaust
K&N cone filter
intake tube from 6cyl
bored throttle body from 6cyl
throttle body spacer
jet stage 2 chip
low temp coolant thermostat
ford taurus electric fan

oops i missed the part about you got an XJ... just go on pirate4x4 they have a whole forum for cherokees