Avoiding a Money Pit

I

ironcladtopedo6974

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Jan 12, 2024
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Location
Poconos, PA
Hey everyone! New to the forum and jeeps in general. I recently moved into the Poconos in Pennsylvania. Had our first real snow event last week and not gonna lie, it opened my eyes much wider than I thought. I'm no stranger to snow driving but living on top of a mountain adds another dimension (literally) to driving in the snow. This would be my backup winter vehicle and I'd like to look into doing some weekend trail riding in the summer.

So a little background, I've always been put off by the pavement princess jeeps (light bars, giant offroad tires that have never seen a trail, big, stupid lifts that scream "I have a small peepee", rgb LEDs that look like a gaming streamers studio, etc.) but in the back of my mind I've always known the great potential a correctly built rig can have. This is my first foray into the jeep scene and I want to do it right or not at all. I've read through a lot of threads here about what to look for and I feel like I've got a good foundation. My real issue is trying to fit my price point of $5-8k and hit all the wants I have.

So my wants list is 150k miles or less (slightly negotiable if maintenance records are available), 4.0L, 5 speed manual, as close to rust free as I can get in the northeast, and close to stock as possible. I don't mind wheels and tires or a small properly done lift. I'm looking for a good foundation that I can make my own with not too much effort or tons of money. From what I can tell tjs are relatively easy to work on and maintain with a little bit of mechanical apptitude. I've always been handy and try to work on my own vehicles to the extent I've had the space to do the work. Now that I own a home with a garage I have the space. Upgrading is part of the fun but as the title says, I want to avoid a money pit. I need some experienced folks to help me do that.

I guess when it comes down to it, am I living in a pipedream with my budget? Where should I be looking besides Facebook marketplace? I'm not in a rush and won't pull the trigger until I find the right jeep for me. Like I said, I'm trying to do this the right way so I don't screw myself later.

Thanks for all your help so far and I hope I can continue to learn as I get more involved.
 
Welcome to the forum first off

A jeep is going to be a money pit that is just the price of admission.

You are definitely going to struggle finding a jeep that checks all boxes for that price range. In my region you may get a 2.5 jeep with 200k for that kind of money but not often. You may get lucky and since you aren't in a rush time is on your side. Good luck
 
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Artsifrtsi said:
For a winter driver in your neck of the woods, I think a disposable car like an AWD Subaru would be better. The salt will dissolve a Jeep really quickly…
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Yes we're looking to get my better half into a Subaru sometime soon. She doesn't drive manual (yet, I'm working on it. I think tempting her with a trails/off-road rig might temp her). So this would simply be for me for now. I figure the 2 options would be better than none currently.
 
My advice...fly south or west, buy a Jeep and road trip it home.

Hit some trails along the way.

By the time you're home you'll know everything you need/want to fix.

If you find something around Oregon I'd be happy to help check it out.

-Mac
 
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This.
I live in Boston and got mine in San Antonio about three years ago and drove it the 2000 miles home.
Learned a few things along the way, like the CEL for the downstream O2 sensor that came on in Nashville. 😊
macleanflood said:
My advice...fly south or west, buy a Jeep and road trip it home.

Hit some trails along the way.

By the time you're home you'll know everything you need/want to fix.

If you find something around Oregon I'd be happy to help check it out.

-Mac
Click to expand...
 
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CreepinDeth said:
Here it goes again 🤣😂🤣
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Here what goes? I feel the same about big stupid lifted trucks and generally any vehicle that was purely built as a stutus symbol. I guess growing up around wannabe rednecks that would pretend they worked on their daddy's farms hauling hay with lifted diesel trucks with cut up beds for exhaust stacks gave me some sort of complex. It was the "cool" thing I'm my area in the mid to late 2000s. But, I mean if that's what you enjoy, do it, but I have no interest in doing that myself.
 
If you spend that little on a TJ there is nearly 100% chance it’s going to be a huge money pit-


Your statement “without too much effort or tons of money” is a little out of school- the less money you spend to set it up the more effort will be required by you.

On the average, the cheaper the base vehicle the more work needs to be done.
If you’re trying to pay less so you can afford to build it the way you want, You are in danger of getting one that is not worth building.

I’m not saying that it absolutely cannot be obtained for under $10,000, But most of the ones I see at that price point need tons of work-Just to be dependable-

Tires, brakes, steering ,fluids, plugs,unit bearings, u joints,belts, hoses, cooling system and on and on are common place repairs on older vehicles, let alone anything from a harsh environment ages faster.

The last jeep I saw sell for 9,500.00 has nearly 20,000 in it, tons of sweat, and still needs adjustable control arms, a cv rear shaft and slip yoke eliminator.

A TJ will swap ends fast in snow and ice, the short wheel base gets confused as to who needs to be in front.
 
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macleanflood said:
My advice...fly south or west, buy a Jeep and road trip it home.

Hit some trails along the way.

By the time you're home you'll know everything you need/want to fix.

If you find something around Oregon I'd be happy to help check it out.

-Mac
Click to expand...

I've never traveled more than few hours by car for a vehicle before. I don't know if I have the nerves to commit that much to buying a vehicle sight unseen, but I'll keep it in mind. What sites would you recommend I browse?
 
ironcladtopedo6974 said:
I've never traveled more than few hours by car for a vehicle before. I don't know if I have the nerves to commit that much to buying a vehicle sight unseen, but I'll keep it in mind. What sites would you recommend I browse?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately marketplace is the best avenue to buy in my area. You can check CL but it's dead for me. I would also put the word out to family and friends
 
I've bought both of my recent TJs from FB Marketplace. It's a hassle, but it's the most used by a long shot where I'm at. I think you are a little low on your budget, but I'm in Georgia so it may be different. I have an 03 Sport for sale now, but it's out of that range and an auto.

Good luck!
 
trojandawg said:
I was thinking the same thing lol

More small peepee jokes.
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Yeah, those really offend John Coop and Triton.

It reminds me of the three midgets who went to the Guinness book of world records-

One of them came out and he said I’ve got the smallest hands in the world

The other one came out and he said I’ve got the smallest feet in the world

And the last one was going to try to have the smallest PP in the world and he came out all upset and they said what’s wrong? He said I don’t know who @tr21triton is, they said nobody is going to beat him.
 
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AndyG said:
If you spend that little on a TJ there is nearly 100% chance it’s going to be a huge money pit-


Your statement “without too much effort or tons of money” is a little out of school- the less money you spend to set it up the more effort will be required by you.

On the average, the cheaper the base vehicle the more work needs to be done.
If you’re trying to pay less so you can afford to build it the way you want, You are in danger of getting one that is not worth building.

I’m not saying that it absolutely cannot be obtained for under $10,000, But most of the ones I see at that price point need tons of work-Just to be dependable-

Tires, brakes, steering ,fluids, plugs,unit bearings, u joints,belts, hoses, cooling system and on and on are common place repairs on older vehicles, let alone anything from a harsh environment ages faster.

The last jeep I saw sell for 9,500.00 has nearly 20,000 in it, tons of sweat, and still needs adjustable control arms, a cv rear shaft and slip yoke eliminator.

A TJ will swap ends fast in snow and ice, the short wheel base gets confused as to who needs to be in front.
Click to expand...

I guess I should clarify, by not too much effort I meant I am not looking to do a full body off restoration, or swapping frames and tubs, things like that. I am more than willing to put some sweat equity (and maybe a couple busted knuckles) into it and doing repairs you mentioned the right way than trusting Joe schmo to do it or paying a shop to do something I can do myself. I realize I'm going to need to correct some deficiencies and replace wear items. I can do that in my garage for a couple hundred bucks at a time over the next however many months.
 
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