looking for a real 4x4 suv discussions

[ovrszd]

to keep things clear i under stand that almost all 4x4s are open diffs with the exception of a few with lockers and lsd. I grew up with Jeeps and I know how capable they are in stock form. I would love to find a older Jeep Grand cherokee/Cherokee but around here they have over 300,000 kms and are all rusted out. Therefore the list i have in my first post are my next options so they are lower mileage and in better overall condition.

Are the AWD suvs such as Escapes, CRVs, Honda Pilots that good in snow or do they just spin and not do anything else?

I think you are counting out Jeep too quickly. The Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ platform was built from 1999 thru 2010. There's a jillion of them out there with less than 100K miles, very well equipped, that can be bought for $15K or less. My Grandson just bought a 2004 Limited with all the bells, 100K miles, $2100. Yeah, 2100, not 21000. They still use the good ole 4.0L 6cyl, solid axles on both ends. If you want a V8 they use the 4.6 I believe. Get a Limited and it'll have all the options except the latest high tech gadgetry. And it'll run until you are absolutely sick of driving it and sell it. Very common to see them approaching 300K miles with no major repairs. That my friend is why they made/sold a jillion of them.

 

[TomSeller]

I think you are counting out Jeep too quickly. The Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ platform was built from 1999 thru 2010. There's a jillion of them out there with less than 100K miles, very well equipped, that can be bought for $15K or less. My Grandson just bought a 2004 Limited with all the bells, 100K miles, $2100. Yeah, 2100, not 21000. They still use the good ole 4.0L 6cyl, solid axles on both ends. If you want a V8 they use the 4.6 I believe. Get a Limited and it'll have all the options except the latest high tech gadgetry. And it'll run until you are absolutely sick of driving it and sell it. Very common to see them approaching 300K miles with no major repairs. That my friend is why they made/sold a jillion of them.

That time span covered the ZJ, WJ, and WK models and the 4.0L was not used after 2004. I agree the 4.0L is as solid as they come. I like the WJ with the 4.0L which ran from 1999 to 2004. See attached

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Grand_Cherokee

 

[wmonroe]

I think you are counting out Jeep too quickly. The Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ platform was built from 1999 thru 2010. There's a jillion of them out there with less than 100K miles, very well equipped, that can be bought for $15K or less. My Grandson just bought a 2004 Limited with all the bells, 100K miles, $2100. Yeah, 2100, not 21000. They still use the good ole 4.0L 6cyl, solid axles on both ends. If you want a V8 they use the 4.6 I believe. Get a Limited and it'll have all the options except the latest high tech gadgetry. And it'll run until you are absolutely sick of driving it and sell it. Very common to see them approaching 300K miles with no major repairs. That my friend is why they made/sold a jillion of them.

I agree and would also go with a grand Cherokee.

 

[ovrszd]

That time span covered the ZJ, WJ, and WK models and the 4.0L was not used after 2004. I agree the 4.0L is as solid as they come. I like the WJ with the 4.0L which ran from 1999 to 2004. See attached

Jeep Grand Cherokee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yep, you are right Tom. Sorry I misquoted that. Basically the same vehicle but enough changes that they rebadged them. Sorry again for any misleading info.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I have an 07 Jeep Commander. They last made them in 2010. So a low mileage used is possible. Mine has electronic locking differentials both front and rear. This is full time 4 wheel drive. It's a great 4wd system. A similar system is still available in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. To gain ground clearance I put on a 2 inch budget lift and 32 inch tires. A 4 inch lift is available but is more costly but it allows for taller tires.

As with most vehicles it also has traction control which can be turned off. Traction control works great in normal road driving but for purposeful drives up a snow drifted driveway there are advantages to turning it off to avoid the brakes being applied by the system.

But you can get stuck in anything.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Ps. I have the Hemi but they also come with a 4.7 L v8.

Mine now has over 135,000 miles and still going strong. I plan to keep it for another 100,000 miles. Very dependable and capable vehicle.

If you look at the Commander or Grand Cherokee of the same vintage, I recommend the Quadratrac I I which has the ELSD diffs. They automatically are engaged and disengaged multiple times a second as needed determined by wheel spin sensors and other stuff.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah, I forgot about the Commander. They never sold well so they might be a little harder to find. But another example of a very capable and dependable vehicle. Has more space than the Cherokee also.

 

[TomSeller]

Yep, you are right Tom. Sorry I misquoted that. Basically the same vehicle but enough changes that they rebadged them. Sorry again for any misleading info.

No worries. I am in the market for a used truck based SUV of that size and vintage so I have been studying them recently. Xterra, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and 4runner are on my list, just can't narrow it down. So many of the new ones are going car based. $2,100 was a steal by the way for that vehicle.

 

[ovrszd]

It was an absolute steel. It's that dark purple with gray leather, even has a sun roof.

My youngest Son was telling me the other day that the 2014 Cherokee is based on a front wheel drive car chassis, can't remember which one he said. If you want 4x4, they add an independent drive axle in the rear. If you get a 2x4 model, it's front wheel drive!!!!

 

[Topkicker]

A good friend of mine has a 2 door older Cherokee w the 4.0L. It has a mild lift and 33 in tires. We were among the first to arrive at the plant the morning of the snow storm at around 5am. The other cars you see covered in snow are the night shifters. A lot of them had a hard time getting home that morning. I think he gave less than 3K for the Cherokee. Bought it here locally in MO. Most employees were late that morning due to the crappy road conditions and numerous wrecks.

 

[ovrszd]

That's a Jeep Commercial in the making right there!!!!

 

[Looking4new]

Those 4L motors were/are bullet proof!

 

[zzvyb6]

I have an '07 Tahoe 4x4 that I equipped with Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires. I need to pull a trailer year 'round to deliver 100 -150 bales of hay to barns where they don't plow snow, have muddy and wet trailes back to them. I can pull a jack-knifed semi out of a jam on the median (Twice last month). The truck has selectable 2wd, auto select, 4wd and 4wd-low settings on a know on the dash.

The motor has GM's 'Displacement on Demand' /Active Fuel Management which runs it on 4 cylinders under light load. In fact, out on the highway at 65 mph it will jump into 4 cylinder mode. With the Blizzaks at 40 psi, I get 22-24 mpg (with the trailer) in 2wd 4 cyl mode and 15-18 mpg when its in 8 cyl mode. You can check the mode and the instant mileage using the dash display.

I guess it depends on whether you need to pull a trailer in this decision. I also pull a 4000 lb bass boat with this same rig and tires. The truck is only used for hauling and trailering so I'm not worried about wearing the snow tires out in hot weather. After 3 years of these tires, they are still at 75%. The ride with these meats is also incredible. So, we've been known to take company in this vehicle when going out to places because their cars and trucks rattle our teeth.

And, you can put 3 complete vintage farm windmill top ends in the back with the rear seats down.

 

[TomSeller]

It was an absolute steel. It's that dark purple with gray leather, even has a sun roof.

My youngest Son was telling me the other day that the 2014 Cherokee is based on a front wheel drive car chassis, can't remember which one he said. If you want 4x4, they add an independent drive axle in the rear. If you get a 2x4 model, it's front wheel drive!!!!

The Nissan Pathfinder went car based in 2013. The Xterra is staying truck based as far as I know.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I fall in with the Subaru,Jeep bunch. They will both amaze you. My Jeep will go places in 2wd that my Ram truck won"t go in 4wd.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I've never hauled a windmill or parts there of. Lol.
But I can haul a 7500 pound trailer with my hemi powered Jeep.

Btw tires make a heck of a big difference for getting through snow regardless of vehicle.

I'm currently running Goodyear Duratracs. There are many good winter snow tires available. Do your research.

 

[wmonroe]

Btw tires make a heck of a big difference for getting through snow regardless of vehicle. I'm currently running Goodyear Duratracs. There are many good winter snow tires available. Do your research.

Probably the best advice so far. Cheap summer tires can make a very capable 4x4 look like a joke.

 

[Topkicker]

Probably the best advice so far. Cheap summer tires can make a very capable 4x4 look like a joke.

Very true. Tires are half the battle. You need a tire that cleans out well whether it's snow, mud, or even sand. I laugh when I see a capable 4x4 riding on 22in. rims w low profile street tires.

This will do nothing in mud or snow.






This will (BFG KM2's)

 

[TomSeller]

I laugh when I see a capable 4x4 riding on 22in. rims w low profile street tires.

Right. It might go up a steep concrete driveway but that is about it.

 

[foggy1111]

I have a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Overland, trail rated, with the air suspension. If you want more ground clearance…..simply hit the button and raise it up about 5" to gain height. With the right tires…..these go thru the snow…..allthough the new models do not have a front locker. Supposedly the electronic traction control does the deed up front. (or not) I just rolled over 100,000 miles on my Hemi engine. The towing capacity was a prime consideration for my needs (boat and tractor).