LJ Thoughts

[89 MJ]

I’m thinking of buying an LJ. Before I start looking to buy though, I want to see what people who have experienced these Jeeps think of them. 

If you own, owned, or have any experience with an LJ, what are your thoughts on them?

 

I feel like the only thing I’d miss from my Comanche is the truck bed, but I could get an LJ half cab if I missed it that much. 

[Zambeezy]

Definitely highly sought after by Jeep fans. Seems to be a great vehicle. The added cargo room is much needed for the 2-door Wranglers.

 

For me, I'd have a hard time paying what people seem to ask for them. Could easily get a newer 4-door for a similar price (not that newer is always better, but still). If you find a good deal on one, it's worth pulling the trigger.

[Pete M]

rust, rust, and rust.  just because they are "special" doesn't mean they got any special treatment from Chrysler when they were built.   

[Sir Sam]

My biggest beef with them is that people call them an LJ when its a TJ. 

 

Sort of like if all the JK Unlimited owners called theirs a LK. 

 

Not a personal dig at you, just my tilting at windmills. 

[derf]

I've never heard anyone call a 4 door an LK.  There's always "JK" and "JKU" from what I see.

[NHMJXJ]

6 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

I’m thinking of buying an LJ.

 

Did you sell the MJ?

 

[87Chief]

I own one, 2005. I haven't had any major things go wrong with it so far. Just a bad oil pressure sensor. I have 2 kids, my daughter is 4 and my son is a year old. My daughter loves ridiing in it, but i'll admit it is a pain to put my 1 year old in the back, I usually have to climb back there and buckle him in. I've kept my hardtop on ever since I bought (about a year), don't have the storage space right now to take it off, but it is fun to drive.

 

If you find one with no rust and a decent price, I would jump on it. They are hard to find.

 

Thanks for bringing this up, I haven't driven mine in about a week since I got a new daily driver, so I need to go out and drive it. :)

 

[eaglescout526]

Be warry. These TJ unlimiteds as bone stock are going up on value.

[BeaterComanche86]

I don’t know how rust is in your area is but as mentioned look out for frame rot or If it was poorly repaired. A lot of the TJ’s and the few LJ’s I see around here are rotted at the control arm mounts. I really enjoyed my TJ so I’m sure the LJ would be just as fun. 
Happy hunting 

[89 MJ]

3 hours ago, Pete M said:

rust, rust, and rust.  just because they are "special" doesn't mean they got any special treatment from Chrysler when they were built.   

 

1 hour ago, 87Chief said:

I own one, 2005. I haven't had any major things go wrong with it so far. Just a bad oil pressure sensor. I have 2 kids, my daughter is 4 and my son is a year old. My daughter loves ridiing in it, but i'll admit it is a pain to put my 1 year old in the back, I usually have to climb back there and buckle him in. I've kept my hardtop on ever since I bought (about a year), don't have the storage space right now to take it off, but it is fun to drive.

 

If you find one with no rust and a decent price, I would jump on it. They are hard to find.

 

Thanks for bringing this up, I haven't driven mine in about a week since I got a new daily driver, so I need to go out and drive it. :)

 

 

32 minutes ago, BeaterComanche86 said:

I don’t know how rust is in your area is but as mentioned look out for frame rot or If it was poorly repaired. A lot of the TJ’s and the few LJ’s I see around here are rotted at the control arm mounts. I really enjoyed my TJ so I’m sure the LJ would be just as fun. 
Happy hunting 

Thanks for the heads up. I’m in the rust belt, but have no problem traveling to get one. 

[89 MJ]

59 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Be warry. These TJ unlimiteds as bone stock are going up on value.

This is why I want one now. Similar to the MJ, it will be an investment. 

[89 MJ]

1 hour ago, NHMJXJ said:

 

Did you sell the MJ?

 

Not yet, I’m coming up with a plan for what I want to replace it with. 

[Red Mistress]

love my LJ

 

 

[89 MJ]

22 minutes ago, Red Mistress said:

love my LJ

 

 

Have you had any issues with it?

[kook911]

9 hours ago, Sir Sam said:

My biggest beef with them is that people call them an LJ when its a TJ. 

 

Sort of like if all the JK Unlimited owners called theirs a LK. 

 

Not a personal dig at you, just my tilting at windmills. 

ummm they are call a LJ bc they are a LJ and not a TJ.  The frame on the LJ is longer then the frame on the TJ.

[Sir Sam]

5 minutes ago, kook911 said:

ummm they are call a LJ bc they are a LJ and not a TJ.  The frame on the LJ is longer then the frame on the TJ.

LJ is an Unofficial name. It still has the same chassis code of TJ. 
 

jeep never made an LJ. They did make a TJ unlimited. 

 

[87Chief]

I would search for a Rubicon "TJ Unlimited" they are getting harder to find. I've heard they made a Rubicon Sahara, but I'm not entirely sure..

[Pete M]

1 hour ago, 87Chief said:

I've heard they made a Rubicon Sahara, but I'm not entirely sure..

 

 

I have my doubts.  that'd be like making a Laredo Pioneer MJ.  Rubi and Sahara are 2 different trim levels. 

[87Chief]

2 minutes ago, Pete M said:

 

 

I have my doubts.  that'd be like making a Laredo Pioneer MJ.  Rubi and Sahara are 2 different trim levels. 

 

Very odd, but I think 1000 were made, don't know the accuracy of this info though..

 

 

https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/2005-wrangler-unlimited-sahara-lj-rubicon.252042/

 

[89 MJ]

1 hour ago, 87Chief said:

I would search for a Rubicon "TJ Unlimited" they are getting harder to find. I've heard they made a Rubicon Sahara, but I'm not entirely sure..

I would love to have one, but they are out of my price range and the lockers need to be rebuilt in them semi frequently. 

[Pete M]

17 minutes ago, 87Chief said:

 

Very odd, but I think 1000 were made, don't know the accuracy of this info though..

 

 

https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/2005-wrangler-unlimited-sahara-lj-rubicon.252042/

 

 

oh, I see.  Jeeps tied to the movie "Sahara".  that makes more sense.  

[Sir Sam]

Honesty the premium for the rubicon only the TJs isn’t worth it. The front axle is stil basically a D30. Rear is fine. 
 

those TJ D44 fronts aren’t surprisingly expensive, when they aren’t much better than a dime a dozen D30. 

[derf]

10 minutes ago, Sir Sam said:

Honesty the premium for the rubicon only the TJs isn’t worth it. The front axle is stil basically a D30. Rear is fine. 
 

those TJ D44 fronts aren’t surprisingly expensive, when they aren’t much better than a dime a dozen D30. 

Yep.  The only difference between the 30 and front Rubicon 44 is the center section.

 

The first gen TJ Rubicon 44 is low pinion driving the coast side of the gears.  And the locker is "meh" at best.

 

The money you save buying a non Rubicon can go towards an aftermarket Dana 44 using JK high pinion gears along with stronger tubes and inner C's.

 

[Sir Sam]

1 hour ago, derf said:

Yep.  The only difference between the 30 and front Rubicon 44 is the center section.

 

The first gen TJ Rubicon 44 is low pinion driving the coast side of the gears.  And the locker is "meh" at best.

 

The money you save buying a non Rubicon can go towards an aftermarket Dana 44 using JK high pinion gears along with stronger tubes and inner C's.

 

Exactly. A JK d44 front would be fine in a TJ, albeit having to switch to a different lug. Pattern. If I wanted to build a TJ with strong axles I would go for a pair of JK rubicon axles. 
 

 

[derf]

48 minutes ago, Sir Sam said:

Exactly. A JK d44 front would be fine in a TJ, albeit having to switch to a different lug. Pattern. If I wanted to build a TJ with strong axles I would go for a pair of JK rubicon axles. 
 

 

JK Rubicon axles are also Dana 30 outside the differential.  They're marginally stronger than the TJ 30 but still not as strong.

 

I've been eyeing putting a late 70s F150/250 Ford high pinion front 44 in a project.  It's high pinion so gears are strong.  Its old school so the tubes and knuckles are strong.  Tons of locker options.  Sure, it's 5 on 5.5" with an option to run 6 on 5.5" or 8 on 6.5" pretty easy.  So matching rear axle would be needed.  but I'd rather do that than any factory Rubicon axle.

 

But the aftermarket axles are a good, if expensive, option as you can get them as strong or stronger than a "real" Dana 44 but built at the right width and with all of the brackets in the right place and the right bolt pattern.