Thoughts on this TJ?

[ElNerd]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1059081644537471/What are thoughts on this listing and price? I drove it this afternoon. Pretty solid, but a little shaky at 60 MPH (no death wobble or anything - could be tires out of balance.) Some surface rust on the frame (see pics). Anything else to look for? How much would you offer? Appreciate anyone’s thoughts - thanks!

 

[Chris]

Hard pass from me.

Take en endoscope to the inside of the frame (as you should do anyways) and I guarantee you’ll see the inside of the frame has lots of rust, guarantee it.

 

[JDS123]

It probably won't fall apart tomorrow but considering your location I would try to look further south and find something with a little less rust. You could pick up a TJ with absolutely no rust just a few hours south. Unless this is a smoking deal, I would pass and get something cleaner.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Drive down my way for a rust free Jeep. You're not very far from me.
p.s. I'd stay away from 00-01' Jeeps too. Both of mine cracked the heads.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Hard pass from me.

Take en endoscope to the inside of the frame (as you should do anyways) and I guarantee you’ll see the inside of the frame has lots of rust, guarantee it.

So true!

 

[ElNerd]

Drive down my way for a rust free Jeep. You're not very far from me.
p.s. I'd stay away from 00-01' Jeeps too. Both of mine cracked the heads.

Appreciate all the feedback. I took a pass on this one. Where do you recommend finding good listings in C'ville? Craigslist? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[TheBoogieman]

Appreciate all the feedback. I took a pass on this one. Where do you recommend finding good listings in C'ville? Craigslist? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

I buy most of mine in the Fredericksburg and Richmond area.

2004 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle... (craigslist.org)

2006 JEEP WRANGLER - Autos Direct Fredericksburg (hammerwebsites.net)

 

[CharlesHS]

This one picture certainly makes you wonder what is going on inside the frame rail.
PASS.....

 

[Rubicon88]

LOL...

You guys need some time amid the shitty salted roads in the winter then you'd appreciate a frame like that.

A twenty year old Jeep near the northeast...
That frame is damn good.

While I can't see the inner frame rails nor inside that outside frame is fine.

Mush spots should be afraid of. You can find mush spots really easy.

That frame needs some PFC twice annually and you'd be good for many years.

 

[AndyG]

The deal is you can get one without problems for about the same price as you can get one that's already halfway gone... Even if I had to drive a third of the way across the country I would get something that is in really good shape to start with if I planned to put money into it... And I've yet to see one of these that the owner doesn't end up putting money in.

I saw a case on the Forum where they basically couldn't stop... And before it was over they did a frame swap.

for the same money they could have had a better marriage and a lot less headaches.

 

[CharlesHS]

The deal is you can get one without problems for about the same price as you can get one that's already halfway gone... Even if I had to drive a third of the way across the country I would get something that is in really good shape to start with if I planned to put money into it... And I've yet to see one of these that the owner doesn't end up putting money in.

I saw a case on the Forum where they basically couldn't stop... And before it was over they did a frame swap.

for the same money they could have had a better marriage and a lot less headaches.

Thank you....
Couldn't have said it better...

 

[Rubicon88]

The deal is you can get one without problems for about the same price as you can get one that's already halfway gone... Even if I had to drive a third of the way across the country I would get something that is in really good shape to start with if I planned to put money into it... And I've yet to see one of these that the owner doesn't end up putting money in.

I saw a case on the Forum where they basically couldn't stop... And before it was over they did a frame swap.

for the same money they could have had a better marriage and a lot less headaches.

Again another post from someone outside the rust belt.
The above frame is eons from a frame swap.
The jeep might be shit ultimately but that frame if it gets attention will last a very long time.
It's not my money and decision but thats a pretty good northeast frame thats 20 years old.

 

[JDS123]

Again another post from someone outside the rust belt.
The above frame is eons from a frame swap.
The jeep might be shit ultimately but that frame if it gets attention will last a very long time.
It's not my money and decision but thats a pretty good northeast frame thats 20 years old.

You’ve missed the point.

 

[Midtenn]

Again another post from someone outside the rust belt.
The above frame is eons from a frame swap.
The jeep might be shit ultimately but that frame if it gets attention will last a very long time.
It's not my money and decision but thats a pretty good northeast frame thats 20 years old.

why would you even consider that as an option when you can buy one from New Mexico and have it shipped to you? It’s like my guys in the sandbox taking turns banging 3s because that’s all was on base. Makes no sense.

 

[AndyG]

Again another post from someone outside the rust belt.
The above frame is eons from a frame swap.
The jeep might be shit ultimately but that frame if it gets attention will last a very long time.
It's not my money and decision but thats a pretty good northeast frame thats 20 years old.

I follow you 100 percent ....and if it were the last TJ on earth or they were all in that shape then he needs to pick the one with the least rust....

But since there are thousands with no rust whatsoever, I can't understand starting with rust. At all.

At the same time, I know what you guys contend with, admire the fight you give rust and commend you for not letting it scare you.

I still won't encourage anyone to buy one with rust, put 35" tires on a 4 cylinder or anything I wouldn't do myself. That's just me and what I feel good about. Doesn't even mean I'm right,smart or know what I'm talking about.

 

[cjjeepman]

I agree with the frame looking like that in the midwest of even North ,I recently purchased a 03 with vety slight surface rust in minor spots .I couldnt pass it up especially for 1k and drove it home .140 k miles .4.0 and 5 speed .SCORE ....

 

[jazngab]

I agree with @Rubicon88 here. I’m in the rust belt and it’s not terrible. The one pic would make me concerned but I wouldn’t guarantee it’s rotted in the inside. If the price is right it’s worth seeing in person (with an endoscope of course). But I’ve seen better and I’ve seen worse.

 

[Ianmark]

LOL...

You guys need some time amid the shitty salted roads in the winter then you'd appreciate a frame like that.

A twenty year old Jeep near the northeast...
That frame is damn good.

While I can't see the inner frame rails nor inside that outside frame is fine.

Mush spots should be afraid of. You can find mush spots really easy.

That frame needs some PFC twice annually and you'd be good for many years.

I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw the pics. Here in Montreal, we use more salt than any other metropolitan area in North America. there are 5 year old cars here with rust holes.
To me that frame is a long way from being "Rusty".
Buying a Jeep with a rust free frame is one thing, but swapping a frame because of this amount of rust is ridiculous, in my opinion.

 

[JDS123]

I don't think anyone thinks that frame is going to break on the way home, but I could only see buying that Jeep if you got a great deal on it. You could get a rust free one only a short drive south. Why bother with rust when you don’t have to? Especially when you can already see the inside has some amount of rust.

In addition, any judgment on the condition of the frame that is based on photos of the outside is a pure guess. My old frame looked 10 times better than that and was rotten internally. I wish I had photos of my old frame. Everyone here would tell me it was fine.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

View attachment 205746

This one picture certainly makes you wonder what is going on inside the frame rail.
PASS.....

Thats all I needed to see.