What would be something to look for if i was to buy a used YJ or TJ jeep.

I wouldn't want something that old , but i wouldn't want to spend alot of money.

I would check on the history of the jeep , ask the owner any problems and such and what had gotten changed. I have seen a few used ones on kijiji for cheap , but the suspension on it looks really crappy. I'm not talking about stock suspension , looks like a kit someone bought and through on.

 

Whenever you buy a used vehicle, you're taking a risk. All you can do is your best at finding what looks good to you and hope for the best. If I were you I'd look for a stock jeep that's clean and doesn't look like it's been abused. It should be obvious. If it's clean inside and the owner sounds like they sincerely looked after it, then chances are you've got a good one. Then you can build it up to the level you want. If it's been built up to 4-wheel with, it's had a harder life and you might have to spend more money on it to keep it running. Also you might have to correct some shade-tree mechanics mistakes, which can be frustrating and expensive.
Finding something cheap AND in good shape is like trying to find the fountain of youth.

 

I think used sometimes is the best way to go , because then its cheap. But like you said i would be taking a risk. I guess the best thing i can do is take a good look over and see whats there.

 

Carfax is a god send... :)

Also full maintenance receipts if available, that's the reason it's always incredibly easy for me to sell a car.

 

check out the underside. If the gas tank is dented and scratched, it's been wheeled and has had a hard life.

 

I have seen ads for car fax.

How does that work , do they actually have information on ever car?

Checking underside is a good idea.

 

I'm also in the process of purchasing a used jeep. originally i was going to go new but i decided i didn't want another car to baby.
other than rust and dents in the tank what are signs that a vehicle has not been taken care of properly - im looking at tj/wranglers between 01 and 07. what should i look for cosmetically or during a test drive. im indifferent to auto/manual so i would just pick whatever the best deal would be.

 

Take the vehicle for a drive. Listen for strange sounds. Bad bearings will make noise, a rough road is good for testing springs and shocks. Get under it and look it over good. Rust is sometimes obvious, but can easily be hidden, so check the lips of the wheel wells, the floor, and behind the rear tires. Smooth boday work is usually a good sign that's it's solid or has been fixed well if it's older. If you live where they salt the roads look for something that has been undercoated, it not only slows rust, it lubricates and protects emergency brake cables, brake lines and everything else...undercoated vehicles are gonna be in better shape. A good look underneath will expose any broken parts. Pay attention to how it shifts (either auto or manual). The clutch should work smoothly, if not, it's probably toast. Pull a wheel or two to check the brakes if they'll let you. Grab each wheel and pull side to side to see if the bearings are real bad. Check the fluids, very black oil or burnt smelling tranny fluid will be obvious signs of neglect. See if the oil filter is clean...that means it's been changed fairly recently. Ask the owner what maintenance he's done...if he can't come up with anything to tell you he has no idea and probably hasn't done anything.
Try the 4WD in a parking lot, make slow sharp turns and listen for clunks or clicking...indicating worn out front end parts.
Everything is fixable, so get the best you can for your budget and then get the tools out. Jeeps are simple. Simple is good.

 

Another thing is price. If you can get get it for a great price you can't go to far wrong if its crap you can probably sell to someone who knows what they are doing and break even again if they are replacing everything anyways. Also I would peel up the carpets a bit I bought mine and under them was pretty nasty and I got the feeling the guy didn't clean ti once for the two years he had it which makes me think he didn't take much care for it. also find out if it was a family vehicle or a work vehicle. A work vehicle probably was worked alot harder and not cared as much.

 

Well teh simplest thing to do is take an experienced third person along for the purchase.