SUV question

[Louis XVII]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
If you plan on taking it off road the jeep is the way to go, the solid axle makes it much better off road.

Solid axle - does that mean a "lock-up" differential, and would that be front, back, or both? And is the lock-up feature permanent, or can it be turned on/off?

[GtoRA2]

Originally posted by Louis XVII
Solid axle - does that mean a "lock-up" differential, and would that be front, back, or both? And is the lock-up feature permanent, or can it be turned on/off?

No by solid axle I mean, the axle in the front is much like the one in the back with a fixed axle housing with tubes pressed on. Most new SUVs come with independent front suspension, what that means is each side has its own axle with CV joint and can move on its own.

A solid axle is one solid peace so when a wheel goes up the whole axle tilts making one wheel more likely to stay down and in contact.  

This makes lockers, what you are talking about less important.

Lockers in general are not a standard option on anything but Jeep Rubicons,  but are available in most SUVS that make claims to offroad prowess, though mostly just in the rear axle.

[wooly15]

I've had alot of experience with jeeps especially Cherokee's and I would recommend that route.  They are tough little buggers and that inline six is almost invincible.  My 87 wrangler (same engine) ran with dirt, sand, etc in the engine from the gaskets on the top of the valve cover gone and it never missed a beat.  I sold it with 220k miles on it and it was still going strong.  Be prepared to buy a new thermostat...90% of the jeeps I worked on needed new ones...pretty inexpensive.

[JB73]

well sorry to say to some:

I am buying the pathfinder.


the jeep had some fairly decent rust on the passenger side, blowback oil coming out of the top breather, 1 whole side of the engine looked like "wet" oil, tires 3/4 bald, stripped down to nothing, no power locks even, nothing, only a speedometer and fuel gauge, no other instruments, the entire weatherstripping on the driver door was missing and a breeze felt at 25 MPH, and 185,000 miles.


pathfinder: might need brakes, tires less than 1 year old, engine clean, all anemities work, though the aftermarket stereo BEEPS loud when you adjust the volume.



pathfinder was in the possession of Ali for 7 1/2 years, seems to be taken care of. jeep was a 16 year old's first car 3 years ago (who knows history before that). she kept the interior clean, but who knows what she did learning to drive in her first car.


$1900 tomorrow and I am the owner of my first import.

[Maverick]

Given the condition you just posted, yep the jeep was the second choice. Good luck with the Pathfinder.

[GtoRA2]

Well if you have to buy one of the two you should get the one in better shape.
 People even wheel pathfinders.

I have wheeled with that guy a couple of times, he has it about as far as you can take a IFS 4X4 without an axle swap. Cool guy.


If you had time to shop around and wanted a vehicle like that, I would still recommend the jeep.