How far is too far with high miles?

[jeepguy4276]

So. It's unbelievable but I was just offered a cj for free. Yep a pretty nice cj for free. No strings attached. All I have to do is pick it up, 2000 miles away. So that leads me to my question, how many miles on the odo is too many before you retire it from long journeys?

It's an 02 with 3.7 auto 4x4 and it's got 180000 miles on it. I would need to dolly the cj back here so total trip is about 4000 miles. Jeep runs great with no ticks or noises coming from the engine.

So is this too much for the old jeep or is it something that i should look at other options?

 

[CzarKJ]

So. It's unbelievable but I was just offered a cj for free. Yep a pretty nice cj for free. No strings attached. All I have to do is pick it up, 2000 miles away. So that leads me to my question, how many miles on the odo is too many before you retire it from long journeys?

It's an 02 with 3.7 auto 4x4 and it's got 180000 miles on it. I would need to dolly the cj back here so total trip is about 4000 miles. Jeep runs great with no ticks or noises coming from the engine.

So is this too much for the old jeep or is it something that i should look at other options?

Well for FREE you can drop a new engine in for 5-6k and have a new Jeep! (rust depending)

 

[jeepguy4276]

It does have rocker panel rust. I'm also pretty broke so 5-6k could never happen. Lol

 

[tommudd]

First thing is the CJ, round trip of 4000 miles is a lot no matter what it is. It would have to be totally rust free and running good just to make a trip like that to pick it up.
I mean you're going to have 600 in gas alone, at least what 7-8 days on the road for food, hotels so now we are over 1300 or so plus the cost of the dolly
Now back to your KJ. When the 04 had over 195,000 I towed about 1000 miles total with no problems at all . BUT I knew the KJ from new and knew everything was up to the task .
But at any rate thats a long trip for anything with out going over every inch of it before hand
AND...if you are renting a tow dolly most places will not let you tow with the KJ unless its a very small lightweight car

 

[profdlp]

Fly down, drive it back. Camp along the way. If it breaks down, have a contingency plan for a Greyhound ticket or something and leave it where it dies. You could do it for not too much money that way and by the time you get home you'll probably have a good idea as to whether it's worth it to sink any more money in it down the road.

 

[CzarKJ]

Fly down, drive it back. Camp along the way. If it breaks down, have a contingency plan for a Greyhound ticket or something and leave it where it dies. You could do it for not too much money that way and by the time you get home you'll probably have a good idea as to whether it's worth it to sink any more money in it down the road.

I have always wanted to do something like that...

 

[CactusJacked]

It does have rocker panel rust.

Of course it does, that's a "feature" Jeep built into those models. By the way, 1986 was the last year for the CJ series, an 02 would be a Wrangler TJ. Another popular feature of these models is severe frame rust. My old Wrangler nearly folded in half from a rusted out frame. I'd want to see good pictures of the frame, front and back, before heading out on a long road trip, so that you don't end up bringing home a surprise parts Jeep. This is assuming it lived in a winter climate with an abundant supply of road salt.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

My KJ has 157k miles on it and I'd trust it to take me anywhere. I'd tow with it. Ditto my 96 XJ with 120k on it.

 

[jeepguy4276]

Of course it does, that's a "feature" Jeep built into those models. By the way, 1986 was the last year for the CJ series, an 02 would be a Wrangler TJ. Another popular feature of these models is severe frame rust. My old Wrangler nearly folded in half from a rusted out frame. I'd want to see good pictures of the frame, front and back, before heading out on a long road trip, so that you don't end up bringing home a surprise parts Jeep. This is assuming it lived in a winter climate with an abundant supply of road salt.

It's a cj. My Libby is an '02. It has some rust but not bad. It's from a friend and I've driven it many times. It looks good as is and is pretty original. I can't just drive it back (would be my first choice) it runs, drives, etc and is dependable but it's an old jeep and has no top that I know of.

 

[CactusJacked]

Mine didn't have much body rust either, and it drove well, but the frame was toast. What state is the CJ coming from?

 

[tommudd]

No top needed , rain suit, goggles and go

 

[profdlp]

Mine didn't have much body rust either, and it drove well, but the frame was toast. What state is the CJ coming from?

2000 miles from ND it's either the north pole or somewhere in the south. :hmm:

 

[Conundrum2006]

4000 round trip on a on a 180k KJ?
Really depends on you maintenance and what you know of it history.
Me I probably do it , preparing in the back of my mind for problems. But the safest way might be (fly in?)rent a truck and bring it home.

Um, you might be able to get it hauled for a decent price. That's a lot of your time to drive 4K.


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[TwoBobsKJ]

So. It's unbelievable but I was just offered a cj for free. Yep a pretty nice cj for free. No strings attached. All I have to do is pick it up, 2000 miles away. So that leads me to my question, how many miles on the odo is too many before you retire it from long journeys?

It's an 02 with 3.7 auto 4x4 and it's got 180000 miles on it. I would need to dolly the cj back here so total trip is about 4000 miles. Jeep runs great with no ticks or noises coming from the engine.

So is this too much for the old jeep or is it something that i should look at other options?

I'm only on my 2nd cup of coffee so my confusion is understandable, however...

You say you've been offered a CJ for free - but then you describe an '02 with a 3.7 and 4X4, which is a KJ. So are you going to pick up a CJ using your KJ and you're worried about the KJ being able to haul the CJ and if the CJ has too many miles to be towed by a KJ with 180,000 miles...???? :Insane:

If the free vehicle is a KJ (Liberty) with 180,000 miles that isn't unreasonable for a trip of that length. BUT, change the oil, diff fluids, transfer case fluid and maybe plugs before you drive it back - unless you're going to dolly it back in which case I'd grab it in a heartbeat since it's free. If there are problems with it that you don't want to deal with, offer it to one of us for free :happy175:

Or sell it and make a quick 2 thousand bucks.

Clarify what you're doing and I think you'll get clearer answers :gr_grin:

Bob

 

[dude1116]

I'm only on my 2nd cup of coffee so my confusion is understandable, however...

You say you've been offered a CJ for free - but then you describe an '02 with a 3.7 and 4X4, which is a KJ. So are you going to pick up a CJ using your KJ and you're worried about the KJ being able to haul the CJ and if the CJ has too many miles to be towed by a KJ with 180,000 miles...???? :Insane:

If the free vehicle is a KJ (Liberty) with 180,000 miles that isn't unreasonable for a trip of that length. BUT, change the oil, diff fluids, transfer case fluid and maybe plugs before you drive it back - unless you're going to dolly it back in which case I'd grab it in a heartbeat since it's free. If there are problems with it that you don't want to deal with, offer it to one of us for free :happy175:

Or sell it and make a quick 2 thousand bucks.

Clarify what you're doing and I think you'll get clearer answers :gr_grin:

Bob

The free vehicle is a CJ, and OP is asking if his KJ is up for the task of getting to the CJ and towing it back.

@OP - I think the KJ can do it if it's well maintained to your knowledge...but Tom is right. There is a lot of money invested in hotels, food, etc. to go get this CJ. Still may be worth it but there may be cheaper ways to do it. I would follow Prof's advice and drive it back (no top or not...maybe buy a top prior? A used soft top would do the trick...). Either that or fly down, rent something to haul it with, tow it up, and drop off the rental at an agency by you (small fee to do so.).

Hope this helps.

 

[jeepguy4276]

It's the least rusted original cj I've seen. It has some but an easily repairable amount. It looks good enough I'd drive it like it is for a year or 2 before I'd do anything. It's really a nice jeep for an old cj. Anything I can get around here is super rusty or way too expensive. I've had many cjs and restored several so I know the cjs pretty well. I don't know why I wouldn't trust the jeep if I go through it thoroughly and make sure all is good. I just can't decide if I'd be crazy doing it. The only issues with it are the cv at the transfer case that I'll fix when I get the warranty parts, and the speedo not working so I need to put the new pig tail in. I'd wire it for trailer lights as well. If I do use the Libby I'd either dolly the cj or use a tow bar as it has the mounts and everything already.

 

[jeepguy4276]

I'm only on my 2nd cup of coffee so my confusion is understandable, however...

You say you've been offered a CJ for free - but then you describe an '02 with a 3.7 and 4X4, which is a KJ. So are you going to pick up a CJ using your KJ and you're worried about the KJ being able to haul the CJ and if the CJ has too many miles to be towed by a KJ with 180,000 miles...???? :Insane:

If the free vehicle is a KJ (Liberty) with 180,000 miles that isn't unreasonable for a trip of that length. BUT, change the oil, diff fluids, transfer case fluid and maybe plugs before you drive it back - unless you're going to dolly it back in which case I'd grab it in a heartbeat since it's free. If there are problems with it that you don't want to deal with, offer it to one of us for free :happy175:

Or sell it and make a quick 2 thousand bucks.

Clarify what you're doing and I think you'll get clearer answers :gr_grin:

Bob

Sorry for any confusion. The vehicle I'd drive and tow it back with is the kj with 180k. The cj is what I'd pick up.

 

[tommudd]

IF its that nice, I'd still fly and drive personally, have done that before many times
( used to buy Chevrolet Caprices in Ga and Fla and bring them back to Ohio to resell)
Not that many tools to take along to repair along the road
Cheap bikini top , and rain suit , have driven a little over 500 miles that way pouring rain all the way in a 70 Bronco :gr_grin::gr_grin:

 

[turblediesel]

Thumb on over and get it.