There's not really a KJ replacement

[tommudd]

Go for 30, you'll have enough KJs.

Well I figure I have less than 20 years left in my life, ( maybe less ) so a couple more KJs should do me

 

[Big Al]

I'm praying for snow this year and haven't see any.
Never owned a 4X4 and was really looking forward for a big dump of snow to try out the select trac transfer case.
Only time I've tried it when it was raining to try to feel the difference from full time to part time. I had the front diff wind up in part time, thought something was gonna break and straightened out the wheels and removed it from part time 4X4.

 

[tommudd]

I'm praying for snow this year and haven't see any.
Never owned a 4X4 and was really looking forward for a big dump of snow to try out the select trac transfer case.
Only time I've tried it when it was raining to try to feel the difference from full time to part time. I had the front diff wind up in part time, thought something was gonna break and straightened out the wheels and removed it from part time 4X4.

Come on down, 7 inches of snow last night with that much more coming tomorrow night they say, plus still had snow from the last go around . Ill take you places where you try it out real well
Used to like snow and seeing how far we could make it, but that was over 40 years ago
There has always been at least one modified 4x4 in my driveway for over 46 years , wouldn't know how to act without one

 

[profdlp]

I try once a month during non-slippery conditions to find a very straight section of road and cycle the 4WD in and out, just to be sure it will still work when I do need it.

 

[sota]

I try once a month during non-slippery conditions to find a very straight section of road and cycle the 4WD in and out, just to be sure it will still work when I do need it.

i call it my driveway. it's gravel

 

[Big Al]

I try once a month during non-slippery conditions to find a very straight section of road and cycle the 4WD in and out, just to be sure it will still work when I do need it.

i do it when I'm crawling in rush hour traffic.
Cycle it in between FT PT and Low
I put it in neutral crawling at 2mph when cycling it.
Smooth as butter and no clunking into Low as I experienced before

 

[mercdudecbr600]

If you throw a truetrac in the front diff, you'll be damn near itching for snow to play in! With select trac and truetrac, it's a joy driving in the snow - much easier to go than stop.

 

[Duster]

I'll just keep picking up extra KJs ( from 02-05 ) , building them ( lifts/gears etc ) and putting them in the garage
hoping I'll have enough to last me until I die in 20 years

Interesting... Is there any particular reason for 02-05 preference vs 06+?

Is it just a first body style preference? Mine is an 07 which looks pretty much the same to me except bumpers, grills and rocker covers. I've only ever owned the 07. My friend had an 06 that I liked a little better than mine because it actually had a transmission dipstick. He never keeps anything long so I was planning to snag it when he got the urge to get something else. But it ended up getting totaled first. Blah!

Anyways, if there are better years than I have that might help me run across more KJ's as I keep my eyes peeled to pick one up. Like to run across grandma's liberty with low miles at a good price!

 

[duderz7]

Less electronics (gizmos and gadgets) if I'm not mistaken.

 

[tommudd]

Interesting... Is there any particular reason for 02-05 preference vs 06+?

Is it just a first body style preference? Mine is an 07 which looks pretty much the same to me except bumpers, grills and rocker covers. I've only ever owned the 07. My friend had an 06 that I liked a little better than mine because it actually had a transmission dipstick. He never keeps anything long so I was planning to snag it when he got the urge to get something else. But it ended up getting totaled first. Blah!

Anyways, if there are better years than I have that might help me run across more KJ's as I keep my eyes peeled to pick one up. Like to run across grandma's liberty with low miles at a good price!

Yep, less electronics, no ABS, seats are better
I have 03 Limited seats in both the 03 and 04 Sports , my 05 is a Limited and I absolutely hate driving it over 50 miles due to the front seats.
The seats in the 03 and 04 provide more support on the sides etc , much more comfortable .

Talk about Grandmas KJ, been chasing one for over 5 years now,
Older lady bought it new, all service done at dealership, has about 55-56,000 miles as of last fall
Heated garage kept , never out in snow, salt .
They ( the whole family ) knows I want it and have said when Mom doesn't want it anymore, it's yours !!
Plus it's the Salsa Red Pearl Limited and 2004
Daughter just doesn't understand why in the world I want that old Jeep

 

[Big Al]

much easier to go than stop.

I learned the hard way that going is easier than stopping with a 4X4.
Went a bit crazy when I hit 6" of snow last week crawling up some 6 to 8% roads. First time ever doing this in a 4X4.
Now coming down them roads, I thought I'd have the same traction when I hit the brakes. Nope, acts the same as a 2X4.
Almost had an O-Crap moment.

 

[tommudd]

I learned the hard way that going is easier than stopping with a 4X4.
Went a bit crazy when I hit 6" of snow last week crawling up some 6 to 8% roads. First time ever doing this in a 4X4.
Now coming down them roads, I thought I'd have the same traction when I hit the brakes. Nope, acts the same as a 2X4.
Almost had an O-Crap moment.

Just wait till you are going up a steep grade, and suddenly not just a little ice, but solid ice covered with snow, not even 4 wheel drive will help and you're spinning but sliding backwards
Oh and add in big ditch on one side, big drop off on the other with nothing for 500 feet but a barbed wire fence
That will make your behind pucker
Had that happen many times over the years going to my parents , going up, and down

 

[sota]

If you throw a truetrac in the front diff, you'll be damn near itching for snow to play in! With select trac and truetrac, it's a joy driving in the snow - much easier to go than stop.

studded snow tires have me driving WAY too fast in 2WD in the snow lately.

 

[turblediesel]

studded snow tires have me driving WAY too fast in 2WD in the snow lately.

Driving begins when it all goes to hell, the rest is easy.

 

[Duster]

Yep, less electronics, no ABS, seats are better
I have 03 Limited seats in both the 03 and 04 Sports , my 05 is a Limited and I absolutely hate driving it over 50 miles due to the front seats.
The seats in the 03 and 04 provide more support on the sides etc , much more comfortable .

Talk about Grandmas KJ, been chasing one for over 5 years now,
Older lady bought it new, all service done at dealership, has about 55-56,000 miles as of last fall
Heated garage kept , never out in snow, salt .
They ( the whole family ) knows I want it and have said when Mom doesn't want it anymore, it's yours !!
Plus it's the Salsa Red Pearl Limited and 2004
Daughter just doesn't understand why in the world I want that old Jeep

OK, I will start keeping my eyes peeled for older models too. I had only really been scanning for 06-07 with good miles. So that might help.

The posts after yours about ice and snow remind me to ask... do the models without ABS still have the big brake controller and wheel speed sensor setup? Mine has this and I guess you could call it a form of traction control. It seems to me that if a wheel spins it knows and grabs the brake on that side causing the other side to pull. It's very weird the first time it really gets a workout until you figure out to just keep giving it gas. It really works surprisingly well. I backed mine off in a hole one time and ended up with the left rear and right front suspended in the air, trailer hitch dug in. Came right out.

Only bad part about it is that it absolutely will go up hills you can't safely come back down in snow/ice and greasy mud. Got in scary trouble a few times.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

OK, I will start keeping my eyes peeled for older models too. I had only really been scanning for 06-07 with good miles. So that might help.

The posts after yours about ice and snow remind me to ask... do the models without ABS still have the big brake controller and wheel speed sensor setup? Mine has this and I guess you could call it a form of traction control. It seems to me that if a wheel spins it knows and grabs the brake on that side causing the other side to pull. It's very weird the first time it really gets a workout until you figure out to just keep giving it gas. It really works surprisingly well. I backed mine off in a hole one time and ended up with the left rear and right front suspended in the air, trailer hitch dug in. Came right out.

Only bad part about it is that it absolutely will go up hills you can't safely come back down in snow/ice and greasy mud. Got in scary trouble a few times.

Nope, they don't have any of that.

 

[duderz7]

Not saying it's a worthy replacement as I know next to nothing about them, but I parked next to a new Bronco today and they are similar in size and marketed as a rugged offroad capable vehicle. I imagine there's no shortage electronics and I'm sure they're expensive.

 

[Duster]

Yeah the bronco should measure up. The likely issue (for me) would be the expense. And there isn't a used market yet. Doing what I do with mine would make me sick to my stomach in a new vehicle. My KJ isn't trashed or anything. It's actually still pretty nice on the outside, just dirty at the moment. The interior is what takes the beating from getting in and out of it many times a day and hauling stuff in it like a cargo van. Drivers seat is in bad shape. Constantly tracking stuff from outside inside it. Wouldn't do it if I could afford new no problem.

How about Toyota 4Runner? I assume these might be in the same category. But I would also guess they fetch stupid used prices like the Tacoma. A friend of mine used to have a good contact with a Toyota dealer. He would buy a new one, drive it for years. then put a lift, tires and wheels on it and sell it for as much or more than he paid for it new. Then go buy a brand new one. Never had to pay for another one after he paid off the first one.

What about Nissan Xterra? I would think those would fall in the same category and not be so expensive? I am just a little leary of them. Read some stories about a radiator failure that allowed the coolant and transmission fluid to mix. Man might buy one of those thinking everything was fine with it only to find out it already happened to it when the transmission goes out.

 

[WheelNut]

In my mind one of the closer replacements for the KJ is actually the KL. Now I know the mechanics are VERY different, but the target market is similar and I would think that the KL with Trailhawk package is pretty good offroad. The KL is larger, but its not HUGE like most vehicles being sold in 2021. The closest thing out there to a KJ might be the new Bronco, but like everything else sold in 2021 it is HUGE at an eye popping 79 and a half inches wide. That's 8 inches wider than the ol' KJ. I don't think a Bronco would fit in my tiny garage. The other factor is crazy the price of new vehicles. I can't fathom spending that kind of cash on a depreciating asset. The new Bronco starts at $40,500 CAD, a new KL Trailhawk is about $35,000, and the 4runner starts at around $50,000. Its nuts!

 

[tommudd]

quote ^^^^ The new Bronco starts at $40,500 CAD, a new KL Trailhawk is about $35,000, and the 4runner starts at around $50,000. Its nuts! unquote

and with that I can buy 6-8 really nice KJs, have them lifted and built to my specs with wheels, tires, gearing etc and be good to go with a much better vehicle