Old jeep: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

[Teotwawki]

OK - I've got an old ATV (suzuki quad runner) that needs quite a bit of work.

I've been thinking (if I can manage to get my hands on one) that rather than spend the money fixing up a run-down ATV or buying a new one that I might get an old army jeep (willies) and fix it up.

I don't use the ATV for playing in the mud or anything too wild. Mostly zipping around on some old logging roads and pulling a little wagon around.

Watcha think? Good idea or bad idea?

[Rick]

I don't think you can go wrong with a jeep. You can purchase military vehicles pretty cheaply. 6X6 in the $6000 or less range depending on the shape it's in. I've seen fully refurbished M35As goes for $6K or so. The Willy will probably go for more only because it's so popular. You can certainly find vehicles going for way more but if you look around you find plenty that are not that bad.

Google military vehicles for sale and you'll get a flavor of prices. Just about anything your heart desires is for sale.

[sthrnstrong]

Being a huge fan of jeeps i would say go for it. I have owned jeeps for about 10yrs now and love them. I have a TJ now but owned 2 CJ7s. IMHO I dont think you would regret it

[BIG TONE]

Jeep? They Are Ok But Older Ones Tend To Need A Lot Of Maintence.brakes And Axles Arent The Strong Point On A Willy's.you Could Probably P/u A 1/2 Ton Chevy Or Ford A Lot Cheaper And Find Parts More Readily?
Just My Opinion

[Riverrat]

But if you are looking for somthing good on gas and go anywhere, ATV might be the answer. I have a truck and SUV, but use the bike more then either. I hunt, fish and gather with it, I use it just to go for a drive, and to go camping in the woods. We go places that a jeep or truck can not get to.

All have thier place and it would depend on what you want it for I guess.

[DOGMAN]

I wouldn't recommend fixing the old ATV up. I did the same thing a couple of years ago, I basically completly rebuilt from the ground up an early 90's Honda, and I've got plenty of use from, but I am still leary when I ride it very far from home...it has a tendency to break down. I have also done the same with an old SkiDoo Tundra snow machine. Last Fall, I thought about selling them both and updating, however, they are both only worth about $1,000 each- I have easily spent that on parts and stuff for them- so, I decided to keep them as back-ups. If you fix up an Old Willy's and ever decide to sell it, it will at least have some value and appeal for collectors, and you'll be able to get some of the money back you've put into it. But, an old atv- is just an old atv and you'll be lucky to get anything for it.

[Teotwawki]

My old atv is not worth much and I do imagine I'd spend more than it is worth trying to get it fixed and keep it running.

Like the observation that I can probably always get at least some of my money back out of a Willy's

[trax]

I'd say it's almost definite that you'd get your money back out of the Willy, of course, that depends on what condition you get it in and how much fixing up you have to do. The good thing is if it's work you enjoy, then it's more a hobby than work.

[Rick]

Here's a bunch on eBay. You can see the jeeps are drawing a premium while the m715 and M35s are a lot cheaper. The chevy's are almost being given away.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/_Militar...tsZ6038Q2c6000

The Pinzgauers are pretty cool, too. They have a portal axles so they have some pretty good ground clearance.

http://www.hummerproducts.com/Pinzgauer%20Wheels.htm

[GVan]

An old army jeep (M151A2) is a great buy, and well worth the price. But if it feels like it is going to roll over, because of a too tight of a turn, you can't stop it.
Good luck finding one.

[crashdive123]

Lot's of great utility vehicles out there at great prices. Thanx for the links.

[FVR]

I've owned 6 Jeeps and liked every one of them. An old wagoneer would be a good survival vehicle as it has room. The CJ's, YJ's, TJ's, and Willy's really don't have much room for gear.

My last Jeep was an 87 Wrangler, I kept the stock springs and mod. the suspension with air shocks, 1" shackles, and mod. fender wells. This worked great as it kept my center of gravity down and I surprised a few hot rod CJers climbing hills and going through mud holes.

Research the engines and tranny's before ya buy.

[Sam Reeves]

It's hard to go wrong with an old Jeep. Leaf spring suspension, manual tranny, and a nice roomy engine compartment in case you ever do need to fix something on the trail.

[FVR]

I'm back.

My first jeep was a 65 CJ with a Ford F Head 4 cyl., it had a 3 speed, max speed was 55mph going down hill with a wind on my back. But, the thing could climb a brick wall.

Many old jeeps have major rust, not only the body but the frames. Also, with the old jeeps, the frames are not made strong enough to hold an 8 if you want to swap. Major mods will be required.

My suggestion, CJ with the 258 straight six. It's a truck eng. and the last one I had, it was well over 250K and still going.

Watch out for trannys, many can be swapped out. Stay away from Wranglers with Peugot tranny's.

Problems with the older jeeps are the cost of replacement parts, once they were cheap. Now they are expensive.

Take into consideration what model jeep has the most available parts. If I was going to buy an old truck, it would be a Chevy, because parts are all over the place and pretty reasonably priced. Willys, parts can be hard to find and expensive.

I had a 66 CJ6, had a hard time finding the inner guts to the front four wheel drive wheel units. Luckily, I pulled the other side off and had a friend turn new parts for me in his shop. Friends and beer go along way.

I got rid of my last jeep when I got the kids. I like'm, but they are not the safest vehicles on the road.

You can drop alot of money into a jeep, big lift, big tires, lockers, hd driveshafts, tranny mods, power steering, brake conversions etc., remember after all this, how much off roading are you going to do?

[crashdive123]

My last Jeep was an '80 CJ-5. Had 40" Monster Mudders on it. (one rough ride, but fun)

[klkak]

I am replying to this post as somewhat of an expert on ATV's. If you are looking for utility in the woods? Then buying a new ATV is going to set you back about the same as trying to find a good used jeep not including the cost of making it reliable. It will be more reliable and capable in the woods. Besides if you buy a new ATV you won't have to fix up the jeep once you buy it. There are only 2 ATV's I would recommend. The Arctic Cat 500 manual shift or the Yamaha 660 Grizzly. I can give specifics on the other makes if you wish. Suffice it to say that I've tried them all and have found these two to be the most reliable, capable and comfortable to ride. As well as easiest to maintain. I put about 2000 miles a summer on ATV's as a Back country guide so I am speaking from experience.

Now, If you would just like the nostalgia of driving the back roads in an American Icon. Then by all means buy an old Willey's or military jeep and restore it. Just make sure you are ready for people to stop you and want to look at and admire it.

[DOGMAN]

Hey KlKak- do you know anything about those Chinese ATV's that are inexpensive new versions of some of the older Japanese 4 wheelers? I hear the parts are interchangeable. But the cost of getting a new Chinese one is about 1/2 the price of a Japenese one. ANy experience with those?

That Big Yamaha is niice! I have a friend that has one of those, and that thing is awesome.

[klkak]

Hey KlKak- do you know anything about those Chinese ATV's that are inexpensive new versions of some of the older Japanese 4 wheelers? I hear the parts are interchangeable. But the cost of getting a new Chinese one is about 1/2 the price of a Japanese one. Any experience with those?

That Big Yamaha is Nice! I have a friend that has one of those, and that thing is awesome.

I have a friend that sells them. I am going to buy one of the little ones for my grandkids. I would not use one for myself. They are very simple in design and are pretty easy to repair. I just wouldn't trust one with my life in the back country.

The 660 Yahama is a big and powerful machine with a good strong frame. It's one weak point, as with all belt drive machines is the belt. Eventually it will burn and break. They are much harder to replace then on a snow machine.

On the daily tours I guide. Right now I'm using a Can-Am 650 outlander XT. When I do multi-day tours into the bush I use my personal machine. An Arctic cat 500 manual shift.

[RBB]

In 1969 I bought two WW II US Army Jeeps - never been used - in cosmoline. Everything but tires and headlights for $100 apiece. I sold one of them for $200. Putting the other one together was a huge job, and when I got it out in the woods, as Gvan mentions, they can pretty easily land you upside down. They go through or over almost anything, but you'd better drive slow. On the highway with today's gas prices - forget it. They are geared extremely low.

[Dogpatch Dave]

I agree with what FVR said about an old Wrangler - If you can find one.
Living in Ohio, it sometimes gets too cold for my old bones, so I went with a 1988 Cherokee 4 liter. Being enclosed, with a heater, does have it's advantages in the winter, (my favorite time in the wild).It might sound wimpy, but it has taken me to some very out-of-the-way places. My backyard is the 63,000 acres of the Shawnee State Forest. High ground clearance and a skid plate let it survive some pretty rough terrain. If you get one as old as mine it has the advantage of U-joint front axles instead of the CV joints on newer models. So what? U-joints cost about $16 to replace, (a simple job). CV joints cost about $200,, each, if you can do it.
Good luck with your project - whichever way you go.
Seeya in da woods!