Best year and trim for budget adventure off-road build

[WheelNut]

Hey guys,

I sold my ‘05 Liberty Sport earlier this year and we bought a new Mazda CX-5 as our camping car, but now that we have it I don’t want to scratch it up! For the cost of a PPF job I can buy another Jeep. So, I’m thinking about buying another Liberty (or a Land Rover LR3 if I can get a mega deal on one). This would be a third vehicle so it wouldn’t get many kilometers on it every year.

What I’m wondering is what year, trim, and engine/transmission is the ultimate starting point for a family adventure and mild offroad rig? Go for a Renegade? Is it true that you can’t put an Aussie locker in an 06/07?

My basic outline is a small 2” lift, 30” Falken AT4Ws, rear aussie locker, recovery points, engine skid plate, rooftop tent, full time 4wd TC ideally, ABS (good for when the wife is driving!), no silver or white units, and it needs a sunroof (I can’t stand not having one). Mostly it would be used for camping trips and mountain bike shuttles around southwest BC, so fire service roads and a the occasional mild trail.

My old KJ didn’t have a sunroof so this one *must* have that. Thats pretty well the main reason I sold my old one.

 

[KJowner]

100% avoid a Land rover 3 like the plague! And I say that as an English, ex many land rover owner.
I'd go CRD Ltd with the LSD and not bother with the leaky sunroof.

 

[OPSLED]

100% avoid a Land rover 3 like the plague! And I say that as an English, ex many land rover owner.
I'd go CRD Ltd with the LSD and not bother with the leaky sunroof.

CRD isn’t budget.

 

[OPSLED]

Buy a 2002 or early 2003 Limited with the 3.7 auto. They have the 45RFE trans (it is superior to the later 42RLE) and the transfer case has 2 wheel, 4 wheel full or part with shift on the fly from 2 to 4 and also 4X4 low range. Most will have the good leather interior with power seats and many are heated too. Sun roofs are also more prevalent on a limited. 02 had rear drum brakes. 03 had rear disc. I have and like both. Limited will do anything a Renegade or Sport will it just has more comfort built into it. Any lift or off road additions will go right on and perform the same way.

We have 4 2002 Limited’s. All have heated power leather seats and sun roofs. All are 3.7 autos. 2 have 3” lifts, factory Renegade light bars added, rear disc brake conversion from 2003 donors and Meyer snow plows. Great go anywhere in any weather comfortable honey badgers. The other two are daily drivers for the wife and I.

My daily has 249,800 miles right now. The wife’s daily has 190,000. The other two are at 202k and 230k.

Service and maintenance is key to life on them.

Parts are everywhere and cheap for the 3.7 auto combination. 4 cylinder gas, diesel and stick shift versions are the exact opposite. Trouble and expensive.

 

[OPSLED]

Both are 2002 Limited’s. 3.7 auto, Renegade light bars, lifted, full power heated leather, sun roofs. The silver is 4:10 gears with rear locker.

 

[KJowner]

CRD isn’t budget.

Mine was £800 two years ago! Good simple old Jeep that can tow unlike the new stuff.