Jeep Cherokee or Toyota Landcruiser?

[biomed_eng_2000]

The Land Cruiser is fulltime AWD, I get 16.2 mpg 40% city 60% hwy.

A 4Runner would be more like a Cherokee in that it would be 2WD until you switch it into 4WD.

 

[Challenger71]

Cherokee has two solid axles, exceptional low curb weight in turn good power to weight ratio with the 4.0L...depending on the options (up country) you usually get the heavy duty shocks, real skid plates, and the corporate 8.25 which can easily handle most off-road situations thrown at it and can also accomodate moderate lifting and larger tire combo if you head that route. I assume the XJ you're looking at has the AW-4 which is very well regarded (same tranny as in the toyota supra tt with exception of the torque converter other small parts). 4.0L responds to power upgrades very well up to and including a stroker kit. MPG's (at least for mine) are 20+ routinely, up to 23+ long range highway drive. Maintenance is too easy, later model years had minimal to no problems previous years were not bad either. I've got 85k on mine and she drives like the day I bought her with 30 miles on it. Now you know my choice but I digress...

 

[Zaedock]

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Have you considered other options? Why not an older 4Runner? Depending on how difficult the wheeling is you plan to do, the aftermarket parts for many Toyota's is significantly cheaper than the equivalent Jeep parts.

Example: My Dual Ultimate double transfer case setup in my 89 4Runner would retail for about $1500 and gives me three sets of low range gears (2.28:1, 4.70:1 & 10.72:1). A similar t-case setup for a Jeep would likely be an Atlas II for $2,500 plus and it would only have two low range possibilities. Toyota axles are strong than Jeep axles stock. Check out www.marlincrawler.com for some excellent Toyota products and info. I'm blackdiamond on that forum as well.

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Cheaper parts for a Toy? No Way!
Your example compares two factory Toy T-cases to a heavy duty unit. Of course it will be cheaper, but not much. Besides, what good is 200:1 crawl ratio in Florida? 40:1 with an automatic is perfect for 90% of wheeling in the US.
Install a slip yolk eliminator in the NP231 and he's good to go.

 

[Greaser]

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We would be speaking Japanese on the west coast and German on the east coast.

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Not me anyway

 

[Gary Allan]

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Have you considered other options? Why not an older 4Runner? Depending on how difficult the wheeling is you plan to do, the aftermarket parts for many Toyota's is significantly cheaper than the equivalent Jeep parts.

Example: My Dual Ultimate double transfer case setup in my 89 4Runner would retail for about $1500 and gives me three sets of low range gears (2.28:1, 4.70:1 & 10.72:1). A similar t-case setup for a Jeep would likely be an Atlas II for $2,500 plus and it would only have two low range possibilities. Toyota axles are strong than Jeep axles stock. Check out www.marlincrawler.com for some excellent Toyota products and info. I'm blackdiamond on that forum as well.

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Cheaper parts for a Toy? No Way!
Your example compares two factory Toy T-cases to a heavy duty unit. Of course it will be cheaper, but not much. Besides, what good is 200:1 crawl ratio in Florida? 40:1 with an automatic is perfect for 90% of wheeling in the US.
Install a slip yolk eliminator in the NP231 and he's good to go.

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Yep. Spare 231 tcases are anywhere from $50-$100 used ..easily rebuilt and altered (SYE or 4 LOW kit) for a whole lot less than an Atlas II. The Atlas II has the advantage of being shorter and stronger ..so it works if you're wallet is thick and you're also buying a NV4500 5 speed to put in front of it ..maybe ..but a 4.0 isn't typically going to break it ..even with big meats. You may need to refresh it eventually. So?

IIRC (haven't kept up to date), the 231 and the 24(?) share the same case ..and the main difference is the number of planetary gears used. I'm sure teraflex or someone offers a kit to convert it.

Jeeps have the most extensive aftermarket supply chain in existance for just about any vehicle ever made in history. About the only thing that can top it would be if they came with SBC engines.

 

[Greaser]

What Gary said

 

[mcrn]

Ok you all have made some great points and I thank you all who have posted. I have not looked at the 4 runners mainly because the last year they had a SFA was in 91. Other than that I would have been considering them. I am pretty much leaning towards the Cherokee. I have not looked at any besides the one with rust on the frame. Thanks again and keep em coming.

 

[blackdiamond]

The last SFA for Toyota trucks/5Runners was 85. My 89 4Runner is a solid axle swap, there are many kits for doing the swap. If you get quality springs your handling will be fine for highway driving.

Don't get me wrong, Jeeps are pretty cool as well. I wanted a TJ prior to getting my 85 Toyota truck and now I'm sold. A big advantage for the Jeeps is the power of the engines, my 22RE does ok with 35's, but I certianly don't have any extra power.

You could look at a Tacoma Double Cab with the TRD package that has a locker in the rear, the IFS is strong enough for most peoples wheeling. Another great option might be one of the new Rubicons, they seem to have more room in the 4-door version and perform well off the highway.

 

[MNgopher]

Can't comment on any Toy product, but I will say that our Cherokee is one of those vehicles that despite not being a sports car or ultra cushy ride is one of those vehicles that just feels right when I drive it. Ours is an '88 Cherokee made in September of 1987. The repairs I have had to make are due to age and a period of lack of use. (Literally a grandpa drove to church on Sundays job - my wifes grandparents had racked up a grand total of 38,000 miles when we aqcuired it in 2002!) Parts are a piece of cake to acquire nearly anywhere (though the renix fuel injection on the 87-90 vintage holds a few quirks that can be a bit more difficult.)

Our Dana 35 is holiding up fine, but then again, no lift or "big" tires (although I am larger than stock - its a Jeep after all

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[Swift]

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Have you considered other options? Why not an older 4Runner?

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I was thinkin the same thing till I got to yer post! Good suggestion!

 

[gtx510]

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We would be speaking Japanese on the west coast and German on the east coast.

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So apparently Spanish was the lesser of three evils?

Unless you can find a really clean Land Cruiser, or something cool like a highroof model, I'd get a 4.0L Cherokee and have fun modding it. 15 years of improvements and parts interchange is an added boone.

 

[GMBoy]

My vote is for the Cherokee. GI have a 2000 Limited with leather, the AW4 and selec-trak which allows 4wd on hard pavement too. Never any problems still runs perfectly. Not to say that the Land Cruiser won't serve just as well, I just don't have any experience with them.

 

[Gary Allan]

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So apparently Spanish was the lesser of three evils?

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What are you trying to say here? Heck, without that influence we wouldn't have low riders, bouncing cars, crazy and outlandish decor schemes, Fast & Furious, small wide rims with small wide tires, dysfunctional rear spoilers... ....

..Hey, wait a minute..

 

[mcrn]

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So apparently Spanish was the lesser of three evils?

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What are you trying to say here? Heck, without that influence we wouldn't have low riders, bouncing cars, crazy and outlandish decor schemes, Fast & Furious, small wide
rims with small wide tires, dysfunctional rear spoilers...

....

..Hey, wait a minute..

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LOL I'm really glad I started this thread now.

 

[ARB1977]

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Ok so I am trying to decide between these two vehicles. Whatever I get will be my daily driver and I will want to modify it to handle some pretty good offroading. If I go with the Cherokee I can get a newer year and less miles. If I go with the Landcruiser I will probably have to find one that has at least 150K miles that I can afford right now. So please give me some opinions and first hand experience any of you might have. I just test drove a cherokee tonight and I was impressed. It had some rust on the frame so I think I am staying away. But it drove nice and is a vehicle I could be happy in every day. I have not driven a Landcruiser. I would also want a 91 to 97 landcruiser. Its the 80 series with the straight 6 and soild front axle. TIA.

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Landcrusier no dought.

 

[Shaman]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=1730391#post1730391

4runner with a 1.9 TDI. Says he gets 29-30 mpg mixed driving.