Ranger, or bronco II? Do either fit my needs?

[4x4junkie]

Thanks for the replies guys, it seems like lots of other website I asked about BII's on, have nothing but bad things to say. Now, I do take their opinions with a grain of salt, I have no idea of this is first hand knowledge they're passing on, or from a friend of a friend of a friend etc... Why do they get such a bad rap? Where there some years that were prone to failures? They say they "Fall apart", "... The elecrical system fried 3 times in the first month" etc...

Now, if these problems are cheap fixes, its not such a big deal

Probably because of ignorance. It seems some people assume they are junk because they heard someone else say they were junk. Pretty much ANY vehicle that's 20 years old you're bound to find something wrong on it, many times because a previous owner butchered up the wiring or failed to maintain it properly (you also may find it interesting to note how often it is people swap Ford parts into their Jeeps lol).

The best BIIs are the 1990 models with an 11-'89 or later build date. These will already have the aforementioned HP D35 front axle and a conventional front yoke on the transfercase (BW1354 case), saving you from a swap on that end.
All '86-'90 models came with the fuel-injected 2.9L V6.

For Rangers, IMO the best were the '93 & '94 models, though anything from '90-'97 having the 4.0L engine would be the first ones to look at for a trail rig.

That said, I don't think you'd go too wrong with the Cherokee either considering the use you described (at least as long as it isn't one having the GM 2.8L V6). Like had been said above, there are more aftermarket bolt-ons available for it than the BII, though if you have a welder and like to build things, this likely wouldn't be an issue (besides, you'd save a ton of $$$ building things yourself anyway).

 

[kawana]

Thanks for the replies guys, Ive decided to go with a cherokee though I found a deal I just couldn't pass up. Thanks for the helpful advice though.

 

[Frank The Tank]

Thanks for the replies guys, Ive decided to go with a cherokee though I found a deal I just couldn't pass up. Thanks for the helpful advice though.

You'll be back

Frank