The Jeep brand of vehicles is one of the last surviving American Icon’s. If you have ever owned a Jeep you know the love affair that jeep owners have with their vehicles. There is hardly anything better than the top down fun a Jeep Wrangler can give its owner. Whether you are looking for a Cherokee, a TJ, or a classic CJ take these 5 suggestions and you will be sure to fulfill your jeep owner dream. These are my suggestions for the 5 best Jeeps under $5000.
1. The 1987-1994 XJ Cherokee. The Cherokee offers heart stopping fun while on the trail with your entire family. The XJ gives your entire family a place to sit and plenty of room to pack. The power of its 6 cylinder motor is more than ample for most off road trail rides. If you look hard enough you may even find one with working options such as air conditioning. This is truly one of the best jeeps under $5000 for you and your family.
2. 1977-1986 Jeep CJ7. This classic and iconic Jeep has been the platform that has kept the jeep enthusiast satisfied for 30 years. The CJ7 can be had on the cheap but there are some things to look for when you find the perfect cheap jeep. Make sure and crawl under to look for anywhere rust may have corroded the floor pans. Wheel wells and the frame rails are also places that these old vehicles are known to rust. Cj7s came with a variety of motor options that include the 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, and the often modified 8 cylinder. These jeeps are monsters off road and offer riders a somewhat bumpy ride, so make sure and take a test drive before plopping down your cash.
3. 1987-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ. The YJ followed the long run of the CJ and many jeep enthusiasts booed its arrival. Jeep owners felt the square headlights were a perversion of the iconic jeep. The off road abilities of this cheap jeep are very good, and the modifications market is plentiful. Slap on a set of over sized tires and you are on your way to conquering any trail you can find. Rust is usually not a problem on these vehicles, but some of the early 90 models came with less than stellar transmissions. Be listening for clanking in the transmission before you purchase.
4. 1962-1991 Jeep Wagoneer FSJ. Like the XJ Cherokee, the full size jeep offers its owner plenty of room. This is a great platform for you to make a fully custom off road beast. You will rarely find a Wagoneer with many options, and the ride will be rustic in comparison to todays SUV’s. The best thing about these vehicles is their uniqueness. Find one of these cheap jeeps and you just struck gold.
5. 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ. The TJ followed the YJ to market and was hailed as the return of the jeep. Fully optioned jeeps were often made fun of by jeep loyalists, but quickly gained respect for it’s out of the box off road ability. Make sure to look for a Wrangler that sports a Dana 44 rear axle and you won’t be sorry. The TJ ride is well suited for short to medium travel, and the dependable inline 6 cylinder will last a long time with proper maintenance. Wrangler TJ’s are getting easier to find for under $5000 but make sure and have your ride checked out before purchase.
These cheap jeeps are the best jeeps under $5000 that money can buy. Pick up your local paper or visit your favorite online car buying site for a slew of listings that will be sure to bring you to an absolute sense of Jeep Nirvana. Just don’t forget to wave.
