Hey everyone I just made the leap from my 80 Ramcharger 4x4 to an 89
Cherokee pioneer. Just saying hi, and to ask a few questions:

truck is:
89 Cherokee Pioneer 4dr (4wd, obviously)
124k, 4.0 Liter, 5spd manual

How good is this combination for general easy trail riding?

With proper care, what kind of life can I expect from this set up? (It was
very well maintained when I got it).

Some of you may be familiar with the trails at Evans Creek, WA. My
Ramcharger made the "Most difficult" trails easily, but suffered much body
damage. What modifications should be first on my list to be able to take
easy to moderate trails without suffering any damage?

Thanks,

Carl

89 Cherokee Pioneer
84 Celica GT-S
80 Dodge Ramcharger (For sale!)
93 Dodge Dynasty
77 Chevy Caprice Classic

 

Check to see if you have the Puegeot BA 10/5 tranny or the AX15. The
French 10/5 is a really weak sister behind the 4.0 with aluminum
synchros (that cost more than a whole new tranny of about any other
make) and some really weak counter shaft mounts. You can tell it
pretty easily since the case splits down the length (front to back).
Mechanically, that's about the weakest part of the system and they
changed over to the AX15 sometime in the 89 production run - I've seen
both used. You'll also eventually come up against the internal
hydraulic slave cylinder inside the clutch. My 88 went south at about
125k - both pieces failed within a month. Other than that - you play,
you pay. It's pretty easy to work on, tho. The engine should be no
problem. If you go big on the tires (31+ with a lift), expect rear
axle problems. They are a tad light in the D35. If you got lucky,
you'll have the D44 in the rear.

On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 03:27:31 UTC "Carl Saiyed"
<carlsaiyed@REMOVEhotmail.com> wrote:

> Hey everyone I just made the leap from my 80 Ramcharger 4x4 to an 89
> Cherokee pioneer. Just saying hi, and to ask a few questions:
>
> truck is:
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer 4dr (4wd, obviously)
> 124k, 4.0 Liter, 5spd manual
>
> How good is this combination for general easy trail riding?
>
> With proper care, what kind of life can I expect from this set up? (It was
> very well maintained when I got it).
>
> Some of you may be familiar with the trails at Evans Creek, WA. My
> Ramcharger made the "Most difficult" trails easily, but suffered much body
> damage. What modifications should be first on my list to be able to take
> easy to moderate trails without suffering any damage?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carl
>
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer
> 84 Celica GT-S
> 80 Dodge Ramcharger (For sale!)
> 93 Dodge Dynasty
> 77 Chevy Caprice Classic
>
>


--
Will Honea

 

Check to see if you have the Puegeot BA 10/5 tranny or the AX15. The
French 10/5 is a really weak sister behind the 4.0 with aluminum
synchros (that cost more than a whole new tranny of about any other
make) and some really weak counter shaft mounts. You can tell it
pretty easily since the case splits down the length (front to back).
Mechanically, that's about the weakest part of the system and they
changed over to the AX15 sometime in the 89 production run - I've seen
both used. You'll also eventually come up against the internal
hydraulic slave cylinder inside the clutch. My 88 went south at about
125k - both pieces failed within a month. Other than that - you play,
you pay. It's pretty easy to work on, tho. The engine should be no
problem. If you go big on the tires (31+ with a lift), expect rear
axle problems. They are a tad light in the D35. If you got lucky,
you'll have the D44 in the rear.

On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 03:27:31 UTC "Carl Saiyed"
<carlsaiyed@REMOVEhotmail.com> wrote:

> Hey everyone I just made the leap from my 80 Ramcharger 4x4 to an 89
> Cherokee pioneer. Just saying hi, and to ask a few questions:
>
> truck is:
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer 4dr (4wd, obviously)
> 124k, 4.0 Liter, 5spd manual
>
> How good is this combination for general easy trail riding?
>
> With proper care, what kind of life can I expect from this set up? (It was
> very well maintained when I got it).
>
> Some of you may be familiar with the trails at Evans Creek, WA. My
> Ramcharger made the "Most difficult" trails easily, but suffered much body
> damage. What modifications should be first on my list to be able to take
> easy to moderate trails without suffering any damage?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carl
>
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer
> 84 Celica GT-S
> 80 Dodge Ramcharger (For sale!)
> 93 Dodge Dynasty
> 77 Chevy Caprice Classic
>
>


--
Will Honea

 

Check to see if you have the Puegeot BA 10/5 tranny or the AX15. The
French 10/5 is a really weak sister behind the 4.0 with aluminum
synchros (that cost more than a whole new tranny of about any other
make) and some really weak counter shaft mounts. You can tell it
pretty easily since the case splits down the length (front to back).
Mechanically, that's about the weakest part of the system and they
changed over to the AX15 sometime in the 89 production run - I've seen
both used. You'll also eventually come up against the internal
hydraulic slave cylinder inside the clutch. My 88 went south at about
125k - both pieces failed within a month. Other than that - you play,
you pay. It's pretty easy to work on, tho. The engine should be no
problem. If you go big on the tires (31+ with a lift), expect rear
axle problems. They are a tad light in the D35. If you got lucky,
you'll have the D44 in the rear.

On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 03:27:31 UTC "Carl Saiyed"
<carlsaiyed@REMOVEhotmail.com> wrote:

> Hey everyone I just made the leap from my 80 Ramcharger 4x4 to an 89
> Cherokee pioneer. Just saying hi, and to ask a few questions:
>
> truck is:
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer 4dr (4wd, obviously)
> 124k, 4.0 Liter, 5spd manual
>
> How good is this combination for general easy trail riding?
>
> With proper care, what kind of life can I expect from this set up? (It was
> very well maintained when I got it).
>
> Some of you may be familiar with the trails at Evans Creek, WA. My
> Ramcharger made the "Most difficult" trails easily, but suffered much body
> damage. What modifications should be first on my list to be able to take
> easy to moderate trails without suffering any damage?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carl
>
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer
> 84 Celica GT-S
> 80 Dodge Ramcharger (For sale!)
> 93 Dodge Dynasty
> 77 Chevy Caprice Classic
>
>


--
Will Honea

 

Hi Carl,

Rocker panels are the usually the first part of a Cherokee to get mashed
when the trail gets rough. You can buy bolt-on protection such as these:

http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/armor.html
http://www.boulderbars.com/xjboulderbars.htm
http://www.rocky-road.com/xjrockrail.html
http://www.jksmfg.com/supernerfs.htm

My rocker panels were already rusted and rashed so I cut them out and
enlisted a friend with a MIG to weld in 2x6 box tube steel:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/rockers/

They stick out to protect the doors, afford higher clearance than the
original rocker panels, and double as air tanks. I've come down on them
hard with no damage and sometimes use them to pivot on trees or rocks
when the trail gets tight.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Carl Saiyed wrote:
> Hey everyone I just made the leap from my 80 Ramcharger 4x4 to an 89
> Cherokee pioneer. Just saying hi, and to ask a few questions:
>
> truck is:
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer 4dr (4wd, obviously)
> 124k, 4.0 Liter, 5spd manual
>
> How good is this combination for general easy trail riding?
>
> With proper care, what kind of life can I expect from this set up? (It was
> very well maintained when I got it).
>
> Some of you may be familiar with the trails at Evans Creek, WA. My
> Ramcharger made the "Most difficult" trails easily, but suffered much body
> damage. What modifications should be first on my list to be able to take
> easy to moderate trails without suffering any damage?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carl
>
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer
> 84 Celica GT-S
> 80 Dodge Ramcharger (For sale!)
> 93 Dodge Dynasty
> 77 Chevy Caprice Classic

 

Hi Carl,

Rocker panels are the usually the first part of a Cherokee to get mashed
when the trail gets rough. You can buy bolt-on protection such as these:

http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/armor.html
http://www.boulderbars.com/xjboulderbars.htm
http://www.rocky-road.com/xjrockrail.html
http://www.jksmfg.com/supernerfs.htm

My rocker panels were already rusted and rashed so I cut them out and
enlisted a friend with a MIG to weld in 2x6 box tube steel:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/rockers/

They stick out to protect the doors, afford higher clearance than the
original rocker panels, and double as air tanks. I've come down on them
hard with no damage and sometimes use them to pivot on trees or rocks
when the trail gets tight.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Carl Saiyed wrote:
> Hey everyone I just made the leap from my 80 Ramcharger 4x4 to an 89
> Cherokee pioneer. Just saying hi, and to ask a few questions:
>
> truck is:
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer 4dr (4wd, obviously)
> 124k, 4.0 Liter, 5spd manual
>
> How good is this combination for general easy trail riding?
>
> With proper care, what kind of life can I expect from this set up? (It was
> very well maintained when I got it).
>
> Some of you may be familiar with the trails at Evans Creek, WA. My
> Ramcharger made the "Most difficult" trails easily, but suffered much body
> damage. What modifications should be first on my list to be able to take
> easy to moderate trails without suffering any damage?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carl
>
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer
> 84 Celica GT-S
> 80 Dodge Ramcharger (For sale!)
> 93 Dodge Dynasty
> 77 Chevy Caprice Classic

 

Hi Carl,

Rocker panels are the usually the first part of a Cherokee to get mashed
when the trail gets rough. You can buy bolt-on protection such as these:

http://www.custom4x4fabrication.com/armor.html
http://www.boulderbars.com/xjboulderbars.htm
http://www.rocky-road.com/xjrockrail.html
http://www.jksmfg.com/supernerfs.htm

My rocker panels were already rusted and rashed so I cut them out and
enlisted a friend with a MIG to weld in 2x6 box tube steel:

http://xjeep.dyndns.org/rockers/

They stick out to protect the doors, afford higher clearance than the
original rocker panels, and double as air tanks. I've come down on them
hard with no damage and sometimes use them to pivot on trees or rocks
when the trail gets tight.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Carl Saiyed wrote:
> Hey everyone I just made the leap from my 80 Ramcharger 4x4 to an 89
> Cherokee pioneer. Just saying hi, and to ask a few questions:
>
> truck is:
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer 4dr (4wd, obviously)
> 124k, 4.0 Liter, 5spd manual
>
> How good is this combination for general easy trail riding?
>
> With proper care, what kind of life can I expect from this set up? (It was
> very well maintained when I got it).
>
> Some of you may be familiar with the trails at Evans Creek, WA. My
> Ramcharger made the "Most difficult" trails easily, but suffered much body
> damage. What modifications should be first on my list to be able to take
> easy to moderate trails without suffering any damage?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carl
>
> 89 Cherokee Pioneer
> 84 Celica GT-S
> 80 Dodge Ramcharger (For sale!)
> 93 Dodge Dynasty
> 77 Chevy Caprice Classic