Which is a better wheeling rig for me, Chrokee or B2?

[Flat]

Which is the best wheeling rig for me? A Bronco II or a Jeep Cherokee? I plan to keep it mostly stock and weld the diffs and add some 30" mud bogger tires. I want to do a little bit of everything with it.

About the Bronco IIs. What year had the Dana 35 front Axle and how do I tell if it has it? How do I tell which gears it has. Is the broncoII dana 35 the same as the explorer dana 35?

Which vehicle has the best stock gearing? Which transmission is better for offroad, automatic or manual?

 

[JohnnyU]

Stock-for-stock, a Cherokee.

 

[LittleBigFoot]

I'm going to agree with Johnny. I've seen some stock cherokees do some pretty hard core stuff.

I don't see many, if any, BIIs wheelin' around here

 

[Jim Oaks]

Cherokee.

I watched one at Attica. It was modified with bigger axles, tires, exo-cage and so forth, but what a beast.

I like it for the extra wheelbase if you like to climb and room inside to store your stuff.

If I ever gave up Rangers I'd get a Cherokee.

On the other hand, 351Ranger's wheelbase on his B2 was allowing him to navigate the rocky trail at Harlan KY easier than I was with the extended cab Ranger, but my Ranger won't lift up as easily climbing steep climbs. It's a matter of personal choice and what you want to do with it.

I'd still get a Cherokee though.................

 

[Maverick]

I'll agree with the Cherokee being better too. Until you get serious into wheelin, dump a bunch of money and time into it, and then their sweet unibody construction starts falling apart. If you plan on keepin it around, stick with the BII.

 

[Dishtowel]

This pains me so, but I have to agree. Cherokee's are a good machine.

Weld the diffs you say? Don't weld both, you may as well be on rails if you do. Some may disagree with me, but I wouldn't even want to try and drive rig with both diffs welded on anything but slick mud, pavement will be hell. Just choose one and weld it.

No year B2 had the Dana 35, guys swap them in form explores and rangers.

From my experience I LOVE my auto tranny for offroading, I would guess that the guys with manuals love them just as much. I drive big rigs as well as hopped up street cars with manuals so I know how to throw gears, but for offroad I would choose a auto myself. 2 feet, 2 pedals.

 

[Hahnsb2]

This pains me so, but I have to agree. Cherokee's are a good machine.

Weld the diffs you say? Don't weld both, you may as well be on rails if you do. Some may disagree with me, but I wouldn't even want to try and drive rig with both diffs welded on anything but slick mud, pavement will be hell. Just choose one and weld it.

No year B2 had the Dana 35, guys swap them in form explores and rangers.

From my experience I LOVE my auto tranny for offroading, I would guess that the guys with manuals love them just as much. I drive big rigs as well as hoped up street cars with manuals so I know how to throw gears, but for offroad I would choose a auto myself. 2 feet, 2 pedals.

No, B2s built 11/89 and later had d35s... Auto trannys are better for wheelin but in a b2 you sacrifice reliability with the crappy a4ld. A 7.5 is stronger than a heep d35 rear. Dont weld the d28, it will break, a d35 would be no problem, the 7.5 is even stronger when welded. I dunno, my buddy has a cherokee, I really dont find it impressive, I mean sure it's done things I wouldnt think it could do but I dont like the construction of it, its also not as roomy inside as a B2, its a 95 with less miles than my rig and it's had way more problems. I prefer a real frame IMHO.

 

[Dishtowel]

Ya, I was wrong about some B2's having D35's, doh.

 

[AllanD]

Neither.

If I were thinking seriously about building a trail rig on a Bronco2 I'd hire someone to slap the shit out of me then I'd go shopping for a '93-94 explorer sport.

Let's be realistic, what does everyone want to do with a bronco2?
1)Get one with a Dana 35 (Yes, it's the same dana 35 as in the '91-94 explorer)
2)swap an explorer REAR axle into it, both for "beef" and for the wider trac and stability that brings
3)Put a 4.0 into it, if not for power then for the ENORMOUSLY BETTER low end response.

Basically turn it INTO an Explorer Sport.

Yes the cherokees are suprisingly competent trail rigs, but as "nice" as their
front live axle is the links and their attaching points to the unit body are
"weak links".

Also remember that a Cherokee uses a Dana35 in the BACK (WEAK!)
while ford uses them only in the front.

AD

 

[compleckz]

the only disadvantage of the Cherokee as someone else mentioned, is its a unibody.. so no cab swaps when you roll it, if you chop top it, there goes any structural integrity the rig MAY have had (i guess that can be fixed though.. ) no body lift (if thats your thing).. and when it starts rotting, its pretty much a lost cause.. (again, unless u go crazy )...

also i did read that 4-door cherokees are where its at, for more structural integrity.. (something about the support between doors).. the 4.0's run forever, the ax15 or whatever 5 speed is a good trans.. i have a very hard time getting comfortable in my girlfriend's cherokee.. i absolutely hate the stock seats my girlfriend 96 has rust holes all up under the rockers, and its got a hole quite near the right rear front spring hanger!

i've often wanted to get into a cherokee, despite these factors, they're insane. and everyone and his brother around here has a yj/tj.. i just don't want people to think i'm one of THOSE kinds of jeepers, the ones that are like: JEEP OR NOTHING!!!!one11!!!!!11!!! and not have them approach me and talk trucks, or offer to go wheelin'.. that is why i would much prefer having an equally as capable rig like a built b2, its something different. (at least around here)

 

[Capt Jay]

Jeep or Explorer not a B11.

That's just my opinion, I cold be wrong.

Jay

 

[2manyfords]

Cherokee hands down... no Twin I Beam crap to deal with.

 

[rickcdewitt]

with only 30" tires the smaller b2 might do a little better.my family and friends are all about jeeps and i've seen cherokee's do some amazing stuff(even stock).but i think what i'de want to do is put the d30,4.0l,aisin trans, and np231 in my ford.it would probably be a great combo

the only thing i don't like about the auto trannies is that the backup light/neutral safety combo switch on the tranny that costs 300$ or more

 

[Will]

B2. Same wheelbase as a YJ but a lot heavier. I like weight. A B2 is a little tank. Just wear earplugs because the rear windows are loud when they pop.

I'm a short wheelbase guy after going from my 114" Ranger to the 94" B2. Way more manueverable. You can jockey it in for better lines on things and you don't need giant tires to keep the bottom from hitting. It's easy to change to a D35 if you need to. It's cheap and easy to dial in the front for 16+" of flex and the back already has more than that. The stock 7.5 is fine. Just weld up the rear and cut the fenders for 31s and you are done building it. The A4 LD is crappy, but C5s go right in and give you a better driveshaft angle if you want to keep the auto--or the 5-speeds are good. The engines are good enough, but the 4.0 swap really make it come alive.

I also love the erector set construction of the vehicle with a frame. It's easy to work on. You can pull the body off if you want to and switch to a different cab. The Jeep is a throw away.

 

[AgPete139]

Interesting read. I wish I had money to build a bigger rig...Allan's input was true regarding B2 builders...lol