Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ: The Best Budget Off Road Vehicle?

I'll say it right here, I think that the Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ is the best budget off road vehicle, It has the great suspension from a Jeep TJ/LJ and the wheel base from a Jeep LJ, put that with disk brakes all around and a big v8 and I believe we have the best cheap jeep that people should be building and wheeling.

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[MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

ZJs are definitely the red headed step child! I remember wheeling my first ZJ over 15 years ago with a budget boost lift and 32'' tires with guys with fully built rigs and I hung with them all day! I have been off-roading the Grand Cherokee ever seen!! Great Video!

[gaborn]

Bought one few monts ago i’m, in eastern europe. 1996 Forester green, beige leather, 5.2. Limited sport utility. I just saw it and fall in love with it ., in good condition, a zj here costs around 10000-12000 $. I love it its really fun and new for me, we dont have much v8 around here. Its simple but has everything I need, probably I keep her for life.

[jameshowey]

Agree 100% but I am a bit biased having three 5.9s currently (1 stock, 1 built for mild trails and somewhere to yours, and one on Dana 60s and 37s) I first got into these ZJ‘s when they came out because of the V-8 and the room and capabilities. In my opinion one of the best Jeeps ever made with the least amount of problems.

[compacanelo]

I have a 1997 jeep grand Cherokee limited... My favorite style of jeeps ever maid!... Love my, [ollllo] jeep

[lucifermorningstar]

I have the exact same color and model and color with the 5.2 V8 with 289, 000 miles on odometer. It’s a great vehicle so far with clean interior compared to the 4th generation and 5th with interior defects and engine reliability. Now the new hurricane engine is the only thing decent in the 5th gen Grand Cherokee. Yet still the ZJ has proven still reliable.

[stormtrooper_jeep_zj]

Thanks for the shout out. Have you checked out my new MVF front fenders yet? I finally fixed the tire rubbing at full flex thanks to the new fenders. I'm hoping to hit 750 or above this year on the C.T.I. trailer.

[MatthewHardisty-kz]

I appreciate the video only because I'm an owner of the 97 Grand Cherokee limited equipped with the 249 transfer case and 5.2Ltr V8 Im currently looking to get a front end alignment soon but I'm making plans to switch the transfer case over to the 242 to save the wear n tear not only on my front tires but everything in general it's a great vehicle no joke but making the 4wD work overtime is rough

[StingerSecSol]

Mine is a 97 5.2 with a 242 swap and I love it

[FamKampskovgaard]

Super cool! What lift are you running ? 4 inch ?

[MarcoD]

Hey man good video but you should do a walk around on this jeep explaining and showing every inch it's a nice jeep

[sidstevens]

I have a 98 ZG (built in Graz Austria) Grand Cherokee Ltd. Mechanically really good. Electrically, always a problem.

[John-dp]

The ZJ is essentially a CJ-8 with a soccer mom body and coil springs. Same wheel base, same running gear, same engine (4.0) Same track width, and same reliability. But without the ridiculous stripes and huge lettering that says Scrambler.

[PrestonFarney]

I just bought a very cheap... under 1000 dollar Jeep ZJ. I'm wanting to lift it and put new tires on it. Would a 3.5in lift kit running 31/10.5/15 be good or should I do something different?

[CoreyC]

Does a 242 case make it where you can run in two-wheel drive instead of all wheel?

[tytraulich]

Do you know aeuwhy my 98 hums from the rear? If neutral on a roll the noise goes away.

A wheel bearing typically makes noise if you turn it at some speed or play in wheel. It ain’t that.

Also slams from P to Reverse

Ty
98 don’t know the diff between zj or wj

[chadsjeeps]

I would say yes and no. The ZJ's transmission are weak and seem to go out early. The D44AL spins the tubes easily. The 249 t-case isn't very desirable. The aftermarket for ZJ's vs XJ's is (or at least was) much smaller. I used to have the 2 absolute best year ZJ's. 93, had the 4.0, AW4, 242. That drivetrain, coupled with coils front and rear, AC, etc, made for a great trail rig. Also had a 98 5.9 with a ton of engine mods, swapped in a 242 for burnouts and that thing was a lot of fun!

I had always thought the ZJ's would de-throne the XJ's as the king of budget wheelers once the prices came down on used ones, but that didn't seem to happen.

[joequixotic]

WJ is kind of better, just upgraded all around except the axles. If a 4.0 is enough, it has that. The 4.7 is a reliability issue kind of.

The good news is there are more and newer WJs in the wrecking yards and a lot of them came with a transfer case that has 2wd mode (some are even 2wd only but that seems to be a weird California soccer mom thing). I think the steering setup might be a little better too.

I got mine for $2, 500 but that was a year ago. It's a limited and has about 130, 000 miles now. Prices have gone up but it might be worth it and not more than XJ money.

If you are going to go all out with a 1 ton axle swap, long arms and a beefed up transfer case, it's probably the best unit-body Jeep that's set up for a solid front axle suspension...

[jeepsblackpowderandlights]

I own two ZJs... and i will tell ya the 1st geb zj interior is really dated and ugly.. 96-98 is better.

The quadratrac on the 93-95 is also not as good as 96-98.. it has no low lock.

[TheMarshallReed]

Jesus Christ leave the sound effects at home

[KhanTena-tz]

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