What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

pick a jeep, any jeep

put lpg or cng conversion in your k5 and burn around $2 a gallon.....:thumb:

wrangler has no rear room, cherokee on full size axles is probably bent out of shape. I would drove it to nearest shop, put it on on lift with doors open, lift it off the ground and try to close them.....I had 87 sub few years back, 350 tbi, 465 on 31" tires and was getting around 18 mpg on highways in NM and TX....

oh and those full size axles sticking way past the body will get your ticket and you would have to get creative with some wide a$$ fenders or get the original ones back in.....
 
I never have liked jeeps, there is just something about that short wheelbase that scares the crap out of me wheeling.:doah:

I dont even really like the looks of them and it seems like everyone I know that has one that is a good wheeler has stretched the wheelbase and added fullsize axles and I feel like if you are going to go through all that trouble why not just start with a fullsize. And Ive never heard anyone brag about fuel mileage, even the guys with stock jeeps and 4cyl.

My opinion is that if you want something more streetable and family friendly put your blazer back on 35s and regular lift springs. If you want something to replace your blazer find another one that is a little more mild. From my experience if you want a good wheeler, street performance is going to suffer and visa versa. I dont think that you will be making a step in the direction of better street performance with either one of those jeeps. Not saying they are built poorly, but they are built to wheel and therefore they will make better wheelers than street cruisers.
 
I dont think you would be even close to 18 mpg with either of them....i know some jeep guys did swap in 350 sbc engines to get better mileage than the 4.0. I believe you could get somewhere around 20 mpg with some modest lift and 33" tires
 
tmmby119 said:
I dont think you would be even close to 18 mpg with either of them....i know some jeep guys did swap in 350 sbc engines to get better mileage than the 4.0. I believe you could get somewhere around 20 mpg with some modest lift and 33" tires
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Jeeps are agile, but you won't find mercy at the pump.
 
It's true, a 4.0L inline 6 will not get any better fuel mileage than a small block V8.

FWIW. I used to have 42 TSL's on 15" rims. Went to 42 pitbull rockers on 17" (mind you my old rims were bent) and I drives night and day. Big TSL's bring the suck on the road, but I tow it everywhere.
 
Our 4wd club is full of Jeeps, what I've learned is yj, tj, cj guys want more room. Anyone with a 4.0l complains about fuel mileage. Rust kills them both.

As a family man, I would have to pick the Cherokee. More room, much easy getting young ones in and out of.
 
go with the cherokee if you must.i bought a smaller blazer to use as a daily driver and have the big blazer to have fun in.the xj will have more room to put the stuff you need for a family outing.the yj seems to have a better built stuff attached to it though.it is smaller and will get down smaller trails and has a solid frame.the size they are you will be lucky to get 12 mpg.both cherokees i had stock got only 17 mpg.the yj will be a lil better and more trail friendly.i bought the smaller 94 blazer and kept it stock for a dd, and it gets about 17 mpg with a 5.7L.i liked my xj a lot and it was fun,but in the end,it wasnt enough,and had to sell it and buy my current blazer.by the way your current 73 is kickarse and looks real nice.
 
My first vote is to "detune" the K5 a bit. As someone else said, some TC springs up front and a drop to 35s would be a step in the right direction. I drive mine everyday like that (up until this weekend, just picked up a $600 daily driver, but that's for another thread) and it can take on/off ramps at or just above the posted speed limit without fear. And that's with no sway bars. It's a very good driver for an old truck and a very capable wheeler.

If you're just plain tired of the K5 and want something else.... I understand that too. For family comfort and room for storage, my vote would be for the XJ. Just don't expect big mileage gains. The unibody can be fixed with a full cage and is better for the family anyways. Not sure if I'd start with that XJ though. As said, the full width axles are a turn off right out of the gate. That one is probably twisted up, rattly, creaky, and who knows what else. As has been preached before, start with a clean stocker that's never seen anything but pavement and build it the way you need it. Just start with a cage to keep the body straight and solid.
 
sink the $ into the blazer. you already know everything about it, where as buying something from someone else, you know nothing about it and you could easily be surprised by what you find.

or find a K5 that hasn't been modified, you probably already have lots of spare parts for them and know what they're all about.

i have lots of respect for the jeeps but wouldn't swap out my K5 for one ever.
 
A ton of good stuff brougjt up here.

Mpg is not an issue for me. I am not complaining about gas prices, i just know either will get better than my blazer. Also both rigs are fuel injected so that blows my sucky carb out of the water.

I thought about detuning my blazer but still a few issues. Heater is weak, No ac. Wife doesn't want to be in it, and doesn't want kid in it. Really loud inside, No creature comforts. So even if I put smaller tires on it's not gonna be that much better.

I want a rig that can drive to and from the trail easily. If I could afford a tow rig the blazer would stay, but I can't.

The Cherokee has the most creature comforts but the Unibody is iffy, but I can plate it.
The yj would be my choice but since it needs axleshafts it is basically 2Wd. Amenities clue when I can afford a set of shafts
 
NorCal_Chris said:
A ton of good stuff brougjt up here.

Mpg is not an issue for me. I am not complaining about gas prices, i just know either will get better than my blazer. Also both rigs are fuel injected so that blows my sucky carb out of the water.

I thought about detuning my blazer but still a few issues. Heater is weak, No ac. Wife doesn't want to be in it, and doesn't want kid in it. Really loud inside, No creature comforts. So even if I put smaller tires on it's not gonna be that much better.

I want a rig that can drive to and from the trail easily. If I could afford a tow rig the blazer would stay, but I can't.

The Cherokee has the most creature comforts but the Unibody is iffy, but I can plate it.
The yj would be my choice but since it needs axleshafts it is basically 2Wd. Amenities clue when I can afford a set of shafts
Click to expand...
hmmmm......how bout 96 - 99 2 door Tahoe? ( or any Tahoe for that matter )..... You could use all of your spare parts and/or swap whatever you like from your current k5.....has all the comfort you want, airbags, power seats, cruise control, etc.
 
So to drop some knowledge on ya ( well at least some ramblings)

XJ or YJ getting 18 mpg. Probably if they are going off there non correct speedos.

First XJ. Problem is when XJs get wheeled hard they bend. They bend alot. If there is not substantial plating along the bottom of the unibody don't even look at it. Go twist it up. See if the rear hatch will still open. The biggest thing on those is making sure everything works. Cherokees don't seem too cheap to fix or replace certain parts on em.

The 4.0 is a great motor will last forever decent power crawls with the best of em.

I would be looking to replace that 9" though. Our wheeling is always bouldering, that driveline hangs too low for my taste. I know that 9" are strong but it is never an axle that I would run, housings can be weak, if its not a nodular center section I have seen those break. Seen them break quite a few time. Every one I know with a 9" has replaced the center section at least once.

On the XJ biggest down fall. Short arms. Thats alot of lift with short arms, I hope it has relocation brackets at a minimum. Biggest thing this causes is a rough ride on the road.

So now the YJ, same road as the blazer there buddy. Uncomfortable, rides rough, should drive alright, uncovered tires by a long ways. Front tube fenders make it easy to add too as do the gen right corners. Loud, probably doesn't handle the best on the road with a spring over and no sway bar ( it looks like no sway bar)

YJs with spring overs eats springs for lunch so plan on traction bars and alot of new front springs unless you buy custom ones.

Dana 44 front on a rig that really needs a 60 up there. Or chro mos at the very least

As far as off road use I would take the YJ every time, in this case I bet the XJ and the YJ both handle like crap ( probably better than your blazer by vurtue of tires alone) so I would take the YJ for sure. Why the YJ I would rather wheel the YJ off road. Plus I love taking the top off:D

I have rarely seen any XJ or YJ that didn't need some money thrown at it pretty much right away. Shoot I have never seen a 4x4 that is as modified as either of those that don't need some money thrown at them right away.
 
NorCal_Chris said:
I thought about detuning my blazer but still a few issues. Heater is weak, No ac. Wife doesn't want to be in it, and doesn't want kid in it. Really loud inside, No creature comforts. So even if I put smaller tires on it's not gonna be that much better.
Click to expand...

If mamma aint happy, aint nobody happy

Happy Wife, Happy Life
 
NorCal_Chris said:
A ton of good stuff brougjt up here.

Mpg is not an issue for me. I am not complaining about gas prices, i just know either will get better than my blazer. Also both rigs are fuel injected so that blows my sucky carb out of the water.

I thought about detuning my blazer but still a few issues. Heater is weak, No ac. Wife doesn't want to be in it, and doesn't want kid in it. Really loud inside, No creature comforts. So even if I put smaller tires on it's not gonna be that much better.

I want a rig that can drive to and from the trail easily. If I could afford a tow rig the blazer would stay, but I can't.

The Cherokee has the most creature comforts but the Unibody is iffy, but I can plate it.
The yj would be my choice but since it needs axleshafts it is basically 2Wd. Amenities clue when I can afford a set of shafts
Click to expand...

Well, I could be way off, but from the little I saw your wife, she will not get into either one either, my wife is kind of the same, she did go with me to Blazer bash in 2006 in my chalet, no lift, really smooth and quiet, has a heater and a bed and at the end of the trip, she will not go off road with me not even in a cadillac.
You probably will find out the hard way after you buy either one, but you won't be able to believe me without you finding out first hand.
Don't ask me how I know, but I do.
If you could trailer your blazer would you still want this Jeep?
Call me when you have time to talk.
 
I have an XJ and friend with moderately built XJs. I really like mine though. One friend on 36's has cracks showing up in the unibody. Even at about 4" of lift, I'd like to have long arms for the smoother ride. My XJ has about 240K on it, AC still works as does the cruise. It is a 1998 with the 4.0L and AX15 5-speed manual. It handles well enough, not as well as our IFS Suburban and no where near as good as my Camaros, but better than my K5 on 2" lift and 33" Boggers. If I was going to go any bigger on my XJ though, I'd be plating the underside "frame rails" and adding a cage for some more structure. For 31's and very mild/DD use, it does great as is. I also swapped in the 4wd/AWD t-case for a little better road manners in the winter.

If I was going to get a topless Jeep, I'd get the TJ Unlimited. Longer wheel base and still topless 2 door. I've never cared for the YJ much, looks kinda dumpy with the square head lights, but that my opinion.
 
Honestly after picking up a TJ for work the other day I wouldnt drive a wrangler on the road other than a JK. Its amazing how refined the JK is versus the old ones.
 
imiceman44 said:
Well, I could be way off, but from the little I saw your wife, she will not get into either one either, my wife is kind of the same, she did go with me to Blazer bash in 2006 in my chalet, no lift, really smooth and quiet, has a heater and a bed and at the end of the trip, she will not go off road with me not even in a cadillac.
You probably will find out the hard way after you buy either one, but you won't be able to believe me without you finding out first hand.
Don't ask me how I know, but I do.
If you could trailer your blazer would you still want this Jeep?
Call me when you have time to talk.
Click to expand...


And the funny thing is didnt you do the first part of the rubi in a caddy? or was that a lincoln :haha:

Its part not being able to trailer it, and part it not being a dd. We are at a spot right now with money that we cant really afford to have another vehicle especially one that just sits there. If i got a crap car i would be paying insurance and reg that would take from my play money for gas for wheelin.

Maybe in a few years when wife goes back to work when kid is older then we will have spare cash agian. It was nice when she was working while taking care of him but it was just too much stress.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom