Is your full size Jeep your full time ride?

[trixie deluxe]

Hi all,

i'm in the market for a GW and planning to swap out for a diesel engine. i don't have a lot of money, so the plan is to make this my primary ride. my brother is arguing against this move, saying that a vintage GW is not going to be reliable and also less safe with no airbags.

i'm still searching for the right waggy, but this has me wondering -- how many folks here drive their FSJ for their main ride? am i crazy to plan on depending on one as my daily driver?

trix

[smearig]

I am using my Cherokee as a DD right now. I'd prefer to be on my motorcycle @ 40 mpg, but it refuses to run.

[Dmntxn77]

My J20 is my DD..

It does not have air bags, but it IS a big tank.. I am sure that it would just rip through most of the plastic cars on the road today. I feel plenty safe!

[SkylinePCG]

Once my GW lost its primary-driver job, I got into a Silverado and now an F150, and all I can say is nothing else Ive ever been in feels anywhere near as safe and solid as that Jeep did.

As previously described, it is a TANK.

[scorpio_vette]

my 84 grand wagoneer shares daily driver duty.

personally i prefer old solid steel over plastic and airbags.

and as far as being reliable.......i'll say the same thing that i tell my customers.

there is no way of telling. my $400 grand wagoneer hasn't really caused me to many problems other than making up for years and years of neglected maintenance. and there are plenty of people out there that have new vehicles and have nothing but problems with them. if new vehicles where "so reliable", the dealerships wouldn't be so **** busy. hell i just had a customer with an 04 ford superduty diesel that i just put 2 engines in within 2 months because both engines broke connecting rods. mmmhhh.........yeah.....those new vehicles are sooo much more reliable.

[KaiserMan]

I daily drive my 71 Gladiator and 82 J10. They are both reliable, and I've always felt plenty safe.

[Jeepstress]

4 of ours are essentially daily drivers depending on what we feel like driving. Air bags are over rated. :rolleyes: Especially when you are surrounded by 5000 pounds of steel. Other cars are a Wag's crumple zone. After having my neck broken in a car wreck in an econobox with an airbag, I can tell you that I feel MUCH safer in my Wag.

[hampton123]

i DD my 90 GW and only hing that left me stranded was the starter going out. and runnign out of gas!

[chrisnsarah]

My J10 is my DD, for now. When summer rolls around, I alternate between the J10 and Jeepster. Hoping to have one of the Cherokees going shortly. The J200 is just for property chores, until I get the oil-burning 230 fixed.

[spaulding]

'82 wag - bone stock is our daily driver. Althought now everyday, because we live where we work. If either my wife or I had a daily commute the fuel would eat up a lot of $$. Maybe enough to warrant a second car. Plenty safe on and off the road. The only saftey concern I would have is the fact that rolling it on the top gets pretty scary.

[710 Burner]

Airbags??? Airbags were invented in California to protect other drivers from US. :cool:
edit: No disrespect to our brothers in Californian intended.

[TealJ]

my 84 grand wagoneer shares daily driver duty.

personally i prefer old solid steel over plastic and airbags.

and as far as being reliable.......i'll say the same thing that i tell my customers.

there is no way of telling. my $400 grand wagoneer hasn't really caused me to many problems other than making up for years and years of neglected maintenance. and there are plenty of people out there that have new vehicles and have nothing but problems with them. if new vehicles where "so reliable", the dealerships wouldn't be so **** busy. hell i just had a customer with an 04 ford superduty diesel that i just put 2 engines in within 2 months because both engines broke connecting rods. mmmhhh.........yeah.....those new vehicles are sooo much more reliable.

Thats a 6.0 for you :thumbsup:

[stumpjumper3]

My cherokee is my daily driver. Its only 30 miles round trip and ya cant beat the looks you get when driving down the road.:thumbsup:

[firecaptain13]

My '88 is my daily driver. I use it for everyday stuff day-in, day-out. My other two vehicles are more of weekend driver status. It has never left me stranded (knock on fake wood)

[Gambler68]

Yes, but for you in the city keep in mind they are absurdly easy to break into... so I wouldn't leave anything worth anything in view or drop big bux on audio equipment. Tight parking is also fuuun. People tend not to loiter in crosswalks though when you're sitting there waiting and creeping forward.....:rolleyes:;)

[misfittom138]

My 81 is my DD. I love driving it eveywhere. :drivin:

[DieselSJ]

My diesel powered Waggy is my daily driver. I have about 13K miles since the swap. Other than grenading the transfer case, it has been extremely reliable.

That being said, A LOT of work has gone into it to make it reliable. It is a 20 year old vehicle, and just about EVERYTHING mechanical has been reworked to get it reliable.

[DieselSJ]

Yes, but for you in the city keep in mind they are absurdly easy to break into... so I wouldn't leave anything worth anything in view or drop big bux on audio equipment. Tight parking is also fuuun. People tend not to loiter in crosswalks though when you're sitting there waiting and creeping forward.....:rolleyes:;)

Truth on the security. I have locked my keys in 3 times, and it has taken less than a minute to get in each time.

[Lindel]

For a long time my 79 Cherokee was a daily driver, for the most part it was reliable, and I never felt that I was going to be the victim in an auto accident (but some folks gave me a wide berth).

I don't drive an FSJ daily now (aside from the fact that they aren't registered at the moment) because of the price of gas and a 130 mile round trip to work and back.

[Kali]

my j-10 is my DD in the summer. it gets parked for the winter during which time i steal whatever else is in the driveway ;)

[91G-Dub]

My 1991 GW is a DD a few days a week.

[fulsizjeep]

am i crazy to plan on depending on one as my daily driver?Maybe if it only gets 6 mpg, but you should be able to get at least 12 with some tuning.

[shimniok]

Hi all,

i'm in the market for a GW and planning to swap out for a diesel engine. i don't have a lot of money, so the plan is to make this my primary ride. my brother is arguing against this move, saying that a vintage GW is not going to be reliable and also less safe with no airbags.

trix

I agree about the reliability. If you luck out and get a good one, it can hold together fairly well. But most of 'em cause trouble every so often. They require a lot of constant maintenance to keep things up. I'd be leery of making one a daily driver. I've had nothing but trouble with mine over the last 10 yrs despite a lot of fixing etc.

As for safety, they are old iron and I think mass wins in most wrecks. I've heard of a lot of FSJ wrecks here where people walk away. I trust mine as being pretty safe. I wouldn't want to roll it tho, as the A-pillars are weak but I know of a couple or three rollovers where the folks walked away. I think front airbags are overrated (I understand they were originally designed for stupid 18 yr old boys that wouldn' wear their seatbelt). Side airbags are for protecting the people in cars that FSJs and similar sized vehicles broadside. :(

Michael

[swampedge]

40-50 miles every day! Drive it like I stole it.............

[woodironman]

i drive my 86 wagoneer everyday although i think i work just to put gas it i would not trade it for any of the newer car/trucks on the road today, i find they lack personality. we as fsj owners chose not to follow, but to be individuals. as far as safety goes i t boned a dumbass last year that ran a stop sign and a hood,2 fenders, grill, bumper and i was back on the road and the 90 grand prix i hit well lets just say RIP, this is one time size does matter.

[newwagwheeler]

Oh you bet. I use my 88 GW as a much as I can. In fact, the wife and kids prefer to ride in the GW more than the 2004 freestar. I just need to add a step so they can get in and out a little easier. As far as MPG, well, what does that really stand for anyway?

[Mudd27]

Drive it everyday and feel safe as can be. The only time it left me stranded was when the stupid ignition control mudule went out. That was easily fixed with a HEI dizzy. I love this truck more than any car I have ever had. Gas mileage is not that good but has lots of power and 4 wheel drive. Some of my friends have F250 V8's and V10's you think they get any better gas mileage. Plus they look just like every other truck on the road. These rigs have style and grace like no other.

Mitch

[Tad]

Truth on the security. I have locked my keys in 3 times, and it has taken less than a minute to get in each time. I can break into my wag with a pair of sunglasses:(
But yes, even in it's current form it gets driven at least 4-5 days a week.
Does it have issues?
Sure, but it's always limped home.
Sometimes from a very long way away.

[DieselSJ]

I can break into my wag with a pair of sunglasses:(
But yes, even in it's current form it gets driven at least 4-5 days a week.
Does it have issues?
Sure, but it's always limped home.
Sometimes from a very long way away.

You will have to show me that one!

[18cherokee]

31 mile round trip DD :)

[willam]

My '63 (status - not on the road, awaiting $$$) will be my DD some day.

Be sure to take into account emmisions in your area. You may not be able to do a diesel swap if the rig is to new, or the laws just to restrictive in regards to a repower. Get a runner and try to gather all your parts before you start. If it stays down to long it'll never get done. Thats been the killer on lots of projects. Good luck, you have a lot of ambition.

[Wagoneerlover]

I have owned two rigs in my lifetime and both of them were my daily drivers. At the time I owned my 83 wagoneer I also owned a jeep cherokee, and an acura integra. Had I not been dating someone at the time the acura would have never gotten used. The cherokee rarely saw road time and it sat for so long that everyone thought it was a broken down vehicle and it got a red sticker on it citing that it would be towed if not moved. (The tow truck guys were so suprised to see me fire it up and move it as proof that it wasnt immobile) That 83 ran like a dream until someone stole it. If you are planning on making it a daily driver take a few steps to at least hamper efforts of others trying to steal it. (Kill switches alarms etc) these rigs are unimaginably easy to get into and you dont have to break any windows or anything.


My second rig this 89 that I currently own has been my daily driver since I got it too. There was a short period where I owned both this and the 83. Anyway I used to do a 400 mile round trip every weekend in this 89 and it never left me stranded even once. I used to drive it hard and go all over the place right after these long distance weekend trips I would go right back into the city driving that it normally saw. I did this 400 mile round trip every weekend for 8 months. Not once did the rig leave me stranded. (On the side of the road I saw a lot of newer vehicles as I cruised down 95) but alas this rig held strong. Through snow, heat whatever was thrown at it it kept on going.


If you plan on making it into a daily driver go over the points that are trouble spots and fix them properly. Do not put a band aid on them. (Some tend to put temporary band aids on the problems that may come up and then blame it on poor design or whatever else they can as opposed to blaming it on the shotty work they did or the sub-standard parts they used.

[shimniok]

I should probably add that I have used mine as a DD over the years including 36mi round rip to work (altho mostly I work at home) and I enjoy driving it. But I've always had a reliable primary car.

It has been strangely reliable the last year, so am waiting for the next thing to blow up. :D I'd be driving it now but haven't gotten it through emissions yet. Last note is: as unreliable as it is inherently, I am probably my own worst enemy too; most of the failures are due to lack of maintenance or me goofing up something.

Michael

[drlocke]

My Wag was my winter DD back when fuel costs were within reason. While I did have to make repairs here and there I'd had no issues with its overall reliability.

[yoslvr442]

i used my 90 as a DD for about a year. back and forth to work 75 miles round trip. never had any issues. i would even drive 2 hours down and back to my GF house on the weekends. the only issue was the ignition mod went and left me stranded, about 1 mile from my house.

[ne715]

Yes I drive my (newest) '89 to work everyday, before that I drove the (older) '89 to work everyday. My other option is my 2000 F-250 Powerstroke and it's not really made to be started, driven a mile and shut off. So I choose the Jeeps. Milage is about the same, truck gets a bit better but like I said I live a mile from work so who notices. I will dig out the motorcycle soon and it will become the DD weather permitting.

[Wagabond]

I used it daily for a 58 mile round trip commute. Will do so once again when the newer engine gets fully functional. 14 odd MPG is actually better than most of the guys with EFI, 300 sumthin (@6500rpm!) HP, 5 spd. trannied late model trucks get. Plus, the old school freon A/C gets them wishin.....

[Jeepstress]

The guys have made really good points about maintaining a rig this old. That is where your daily drivability comes into play. Once they are running well it's not hard to keep them going. But expect to have issues unless the previous owner was a freak like most of us and has it dialed in. This is sadly unlikely tho. :( I'll give you another testement.... we take my 77 wag on 1000 mile road trips frequently. 2400 miles from Colorado to California up the coast and back across Nevada on a two week adventure! She never missed a beat altho she did complain a little at sea level, but kept on going despite the fact we didn't retune her for the altitude. 12.5 mpg the whole way. We go on 8 hour or more trips on a regular basis. Last November was a week on and off the road and we got 14.5 mpg the whole time. :cool: These vehicles can be just as trustworthy as any other with a little TLC. It helps if you can start with a good rig and not a basket case as so many can become with neglect.

[1977cherokeechief]

You will have to show me that one!

i did it with my j10.

:banghead:

[BrianAg95]

My 88 was in a collision in April Last year. I totaled 2 cars (a 70's vw bug, ok small, and a 90's jeep cherokee) both went to scrap. While insurance "totaled" my 88. I took the buy it back option and it was the front bumper, grill, turn lights, and both front quarter panels, and one wheel.. which I fixed from a donor truck, and was back on the road for ~$400 out of pocket. I used the rest of the insurance settlement (~$4000) to buy my 91, so I had something to drive while I was fixing the 88.

91 was daily driver April through August. then it developed a problem... (which fooled me 3 times before I fixed the right thing)
88 (now fixed) took over daily driver duty.

October got a job 85 miles round trip... 88 continued DD october through March.

March 15 bought a fuel efficient car for my commute. My gas savings is making the payments... gas was killing me. with my commute I was spending over $300 a month in gas... My 88 gets 13.5 mpg.

They are tanks.. no need for airbags.. solid steel, and if you get into a front end incident, all the front just bolts on and off.

If i was driving less miles I would still be DD my trucks. The sad thing is now,I have more cars than garage and the wife wants me to sell one of my babys.. :(

[azwagoneer80]

Mine is a DD also, the mileage is terrible, but I don't have to drive too far. For the last year and a half, the only problem I had was the ignition module failed on the freeway. I had a spare, and went on my happy way. I love seeing other FSJ's on the road and waving, almost like the motorcycle guys. I also love the nasty looks from Prius drivers, those people hate these big things. Anytime I see a Prius, I expect to be cut off. But its all good :thumbsup:

[Campcar_david]

My Wagoneer WAS my daily driver until I got my 4th son and my 2nd Rottweiler. Now we both drive Suburbans daily and the Wagoneer is the "loaner" when one or the other is in service (aka my garage).

[Schlagger]

I drive my 84 Waggy every third day or so. Otherwise, its a 99 explorer with airbags. I feel lots safer in the GW for sure. I feel sorry for whoever I might slam into with that thing! If I could get better gas mileage I would drive it every day. Getting like 5-7 mpg around town!:mad: :mad: :mad:

[bigun]

My cherokee ( before the birth of CROM) was not only a DD but was also my shop truck till I picked a 91 D150. I never had an issue with the motor or tranny. The rear diff how ever was missing teeth snd msde s wierd click clang noise as you went down the hyw. When we put in the J20 axles we found out the only thing holding up my feet was the carpet thus CROM was born!!!!

[bushwood44]

my 88 is my dd,ever now and then i will drive truck(90chevy1/2 ton).its about to be parked for a 454 and th400 swap :)

[jaber]

I DD a '77 J-10. I average about 150 miles a week. I do feel safer in it, good old American steel. I got an '85 GW with a blown motor and missing glass for $200. I rebuilt a motor and fuel injected it and it has been my wifes DD for over 6 years now. I feel safer with the family in a GW than anything that requires airbags to make up for cutting back on steel to save a buck. Yes there will be the occasional starter going out, but if cared for, it will be cheaper (in most cases) and easier to repair than a new one.

I have been watching the diesel swaps closely. I have a J-20 that I want to make into a powerhouse. As soon as I pick the right #'s of course.... :thumbsup:

[shooter5]

my 84' gw is my daily driver. I've had a few problems out of it mostly from neglect from the previous owners.
as for safety i have been hit twice in it. first was on the highway stopped in traffic a girl doing her makeup rear ended doing at least 40 she hit her brakes at the last sec. I saw her coming & eased off mine til i started a slow roll right as she hit me i locked them up. she bounced back off without moving me. i got away with scratches in the factory bumber hers, an oldsmobile aurora was a total. the sec time i got caught on my left corner of the rear bumber which rolled in denting my quarter panel. i dollied it out but still plan to replace the panel with a new one. the guy was driving a mitsu highlander. his damages came to over 2700.00 . I know becuse i didnt have insurance on mine so i had to pay for his.:banghead:

[Wagoneerlover]

I too was hit in my wag. This drunk driver came flying down the off ramp at at least 50. He was swerving and swaying and I knew he was going to hit me. I had no where to go. i could have ran the light and gone into oncoming traffic or just take the shot. So I took it. He hit my wag directly in the back (Rear bumper) head on and it obliterated his Nissan (Whatever make it was) my wag laughed at it and just had scratches.

[79kp]

Yep, DD for sure. My wife has her car and I love my wt. Sure gas sucks, but I love the looks, and people asking me what it is. Air bags? Thought that was faltulant old women.

[KE7DZZ]

I'll echo what someone else said, my Jeep's crumple zone is the other car. I DD in my '79 Cherokee or my '64 Gladiator. I feel safe and cozy in either one. :drivin:

[beloth]

My :drivin: wag is usually my daily driver. however for the last several months i have been driving my GMC truck...master cylinder went out on the wag weekend before thanksgiving...then it needed front brakes, then it needed rubber brake lines for the front brakes...lots of $$$ later and now my wag and my GMC have new front and back brakes and i am back to driving my jeep :fsj:

[jaber]

Air bags? Thought that was faltulant old women.

:funny: LMAO!!!!!

Hi Kieth.....

[bushwood44]

.

[Wagonforever]

My 86 GW is sort of my DD in the summer time, I also use it to tow my travel trailer. My primary driver is a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria. A few years ago I had a 90 GW that was my DD year round, it ran great! The salty winter Michigan roads destroyed the body in no time though, that's why my 86 gets put away come the first snow fall. Neither of my wags have ever left me stranded, but they do require constant attention to keep them reliable. As far as reliability, safety, driveablity, and economy goes, the Crown Vic wins HANDS DOWN! But when it comes to character and just being an enjoyable car to drive, the Wag takes the cake.

[snoopy]

Well I would call it my daily driver but I haven't driven a car in four years. My Harley is my daily driver but if I might get caught in a snow storm again this year I'm going to drive the Jeep, that totering home in a couple of inches of snow sux.

[Allen78J20]

I have driven my 78 J20 every day for about 8 years except for a year and a half when I was refeshing it a bit. Anytime that it has broke down on me its because of something I did, or failed to do :)