Please do more of these budget vehicle challenges. I think myself and everyone can agree they are one of the best things to come across on your channel.
So true, as it appeals to most everyone. It shows you don't need 50 to 80k vehicle to have fun. And if it gets banged up, you can still live with it without crying. And most parts are cheap.
I know you guys went "over budget", but this definitely shows the reality of buying a cheap vehicle. Honestly fixing them up probably made it that much more satisfying.
Yup! It honestly shows how you’ll probably end up spending 50-100% of what you spent on the vehicle in the first place to get the thing running somewhat properly and safely.
@@shoveI yea ESPECIALLY when it's a cheap luxury car such as Mercedes 😂 I've done 20k worth of dealership work on my car for 1k in ebay parts and many hours of labor
If I were to choose a cheap off road vehicle, I would try to find one as analog as possible. Easier to fix on the trail with simple hand tools and you don't need a scanner lol.
Oversize tires on a TTB front is begging for breakage, they are weak in stock form, takes a lot of money to get them to hold up, its always been cheaper to rip them out and solid axle swap.
100% fact...most people going out and buying those $60k+ "Offroad" Trucks and SUV's new aren't taking them 4 wheeling...ok well I guess if driving fast over a speedbump at Walmart is offroading to them maybe LOL. I have an 88 Ford Bronco 2 that'll go anywhere offroad that I'd ever think of going, and I wouldn't feel as bad about scratching it...I just hate having to clean a vehicle after going through mud so I try and avoid offroading anymore.
@@jamescannone1425 Cool, you'll have to report back to us how it does for you...did you order the 2 or 4 door? I want a 2 door base model, given where my 88 Bronco 2 will go stock, I don't think I need any more offroad stuff, it'll just lead to you getting stuck farther from the road HAHA!!
Yes exactly, I have a $2,300 2006 Subaru forester as my first car and the same age as myself that I do a ton of offroad and etc with. It is also older and has dents, scratches, etc so it ain't pristine condition either. My next vehicle will probably be a more capable small-midsize truck or suv that is cheap. I love watching offroad or overlanding videos, but hate when it's a 50-80k vehicle plus an additional 20-40k of addons and modifications that only a few can afford and I also hate when they break the expensive truck and stuff goes wrong, but they have all the money they want to repair it. I love videos of older vehicles whether built for offroad or not that do amazing things on a small budget and that are careful enough to not break the vehicle.
I had a 2000 ZR2 Blazer and the rattling interior and the shoddy rear spare tire carrier drove me nuts. Then there were all the other mechanical issues. I'll admit it was a lemon, but I've had my Ranger longer now and with more miles and I've had far fewer issues with it than my old Blazer.
@@svpracer98 I have an aftermarket radio in my Mazda and it's in there solid. I put it in, and the previous stereo before it was also aftermarket, an Alpine single din in a double din space, but it was done right so was also solid and that Alpine replaced the factory unit. The JVC double din was chosen as it was designed to fit my space and it went in correctly, and has not come out in 9 years. I think a lot of that is user error in installation, or choosing the unit that really does not fit right for your car and then half assing it as far as installation.
Those Ford auto lockers are made of plastic internally and work purely on hope. Throw some cheap Mile Marker conversion hubs on and that D35 is pretty tough to hurt. Wheel bearings and ball joints ARE a weak point though. Edit: aaaaaaand that's exactly what you did. I'm an impatient Alice.
I have mile market hubs on my 88 Bronco 2, but I also have the manual shift transfer case as well....the original manual hubs starting making noise so I ordered new hubs so I wouldn't have any 4WD problems.
@@turbolq4 Yep, junky unit bearings. I'm going to be replacing the ones in my Jeep soon, after around 7K mls. However my Mitsubishi has all original bearings, serviced once in about 200K mls, it actually fits 33in tires stock to, I'm about $2K into getting a lift and steering on my ZJ that still requires cutting and regearing to run 33 in tires.
True that. Anything that moves under its own power is good for $2500. If it is a b3000 (didn't notice if it was a b2300 b3000 or b4000, i think the cat convs are worth $600 or so. Frankly a b4000 in that shape would likely go for $2500 wholesale.
WJs were pretty good. Came right after the ZJ that was based on the XJ Cherokee which is honestly probably the best the Cherokee ever was and one of the best offroading vehicles, even better then Wranglers in some ways having more weight to get traction with.
@@Cragified ZJ was a new platform. It was originally designed (by AMC) to replace the XJ in 93 but sales numbers kept the well loved XJ around for much longer. Either way all are great platforms to build on a budget.
Hoping the tranny doesn't die on the WJ; I'll always root for the Jeep in these kinds of things. I own a nearly-new Grand Cherokee (WK2 Trailhawk) and it kicks butt and takes names on the trails. And it does so in style and comfort. Just wish it had true locking diffs, and solid axles instead of independent front and rear. but I leave stock Wranglers in my rear-view with it.
@@W2IRT All the pre FIAT and non extreme performance Chrysler stuff is very dependable if you keep up on maintenance. Still have and drive regularly a 98 neon that people called unreliable. It has never let me down in 21 years.
I love how much each of them loves a " brand " of SUVs / Trucks. Everyone knows Tommy's loves Jeep, Andre loves Ford & Nathan seems to always like GMC / Chevy. This makes the show / channel enjoyable as you get to know more about the people.
@@UglyTheDuckling yeah the straight 6 jeep made back in the day but other then that I hate jeep I think there overpriced and like how every company is becoming poor quality
I got my wj for $1,600 and have taken it through lvl 5&6 rated trails and it eats them like a cake walk. Now I’m installing a 6.5 in lift, 35’s, air lockers & custom bumpers!
It's hilarious how it's funner to watch $2,500 20+ year old vehicles go off roading than watching $50k-$100k brand new trucks and suvs go off roading. As a 2007 Explorer v8 owner I can say it's also exciting owning one, never a dull moment when ever you drive it 😆
My front hubs were empty when I bought my 93 Ranger back in 2007. They locked up and the old owner had the guts ripped out so they were mostly just dust caps lol manual hubs were the way to go both for price and for peace of mind.
Crank the Tbars on the blazer 4 turns on each one that will give you about 3/4" lift on the front. Double check all the vacuum lines. Especially the one on the transmission. Drivers side there's one that has a check ball in with 3 vacuum lines attached Replace it.
@@dalehovland3283 Well maybe. That electric shift motor on the transfer case has its days numbered too, auto locking hubs and those electric shift motors are notorious failure points on those trucks.
Good job listening to Dan on the manual hubs, I loved mine. It was also like a mild insurance policy because I had to get out and lock them in...it gave me a chance to survey the terrain without just bouncing lol
The first couple Car Treks were good, the last bunch have been boring. You can tell those guys (who I mostly enjoy) are 'influencers' and TFL are car journos.
Rangers lock driving forward you gotta back up to unlock but that only applies if you have the reverse rotation dana 35 if you have the 8.8 front you don't have hubs at all and there is no spin free kit
or get under the truck at tap on the actuator. They basically did what the "Average" (aka, clueless) driver does...I pushed the button, I don't know why it isn't working.
@@jasonquaile2492 they arent. Like any car you need to keep up on maintenance. I drove my first 2001 jgc 300k miles. Couldve gone longer but that was my first vehicle and i let it go. Ten years later and i have another 2001 grand cherokee. Comin up on 200k miles and i paid 1500$ for it. Drives great 4x4 works. I drive it to work everyday 1hr roundtrip. My 1996 first gen with that 318 was a fun jeep. I want to get a first gen with the 5.9 one day.
@@TickleFingers you mean the vehicle that we just watched do the best? With a leather heated seat interior. You sound a lil biased. Or are a chevy blazer owner😆
@@jasonquaile2492 It's not that they aren't capable, it's just that there are so many issues with them. Transmission issues like mentioned in the video. Blend door issues for the HVAC system. You either end up with no heat or no AC and you have to remove the entire dash to fix it. It's heavy and underpowered with the 4.0. interior is not as robust. Just think about how many you see on the road and then think about how many you see on the trails too. That should answer any questions about what people think of them.
We have two 2001 grand cherokee limiteds, one is driven daily driver the other rolled over down a gully and is now a farm and snow plow truck. My daughter wants me to find another one so she can let her nice one sit and not get rusty over winter salty roads.
I had a 2000 laredo. I thought it was unteresting at first. They blow up. That was vehicle 2/12. Had pretty high miles anyway. I had a Tacoma the past almost years and it's the best thing in the world.
I absolutely love the budget challenges. I am 15 so I don't have a ton of money. I like seeing cheap mods and cars that I could buy and use to have fun
I’m 46yrs old and have a nice Tundra now but this reminds me of HS…we all had budget 4X4’s like this but older. Half the time we went 4wheeling lol we ended up 2 wheeling because the 4wd went out. Thanks for this series, brings back some good old Memories
@@greatcornholio5541 A friend of mine bought a 2 door XJ several years ago, 4 cylinder 5 speed 4x4....as he's heading towards a huge mud hole at the cycle park I ask him so does the 4WD work in this thing? "We're about to find out"...it went downhill from there LOL. Nope 4WD didn't work...luckily someone was up there with an F350 with a winch and pulled us out....I've never had a 4WD failure in any of my vehicles, I did get stuck twice...once in a 2WD pickup, and once in a 4WD pickup only because the truck was sitting on the frame with all 4 wheels off the ground (oops)...so the 4WD wouldn't engage since the front wheels couldn't spin forward far enough to get the hubs to lock (89 Mazda B2600i 4x4 with auto-locking hubs).
@@greatcornholio5541 I'm glad my Mercedes is awd full time bc it wouldn't be a simple fix if it broke like most cars😂it can go over just about anything but it gets pretty bad gas mileage
this is awesome lol!! i do think you'd do better on all 3 dropping the tire pressures until you actually see the sidewalls balloon out a bit. 12-15 PSI should do it.
Proud of you guys for doing some small work keeping it still budget friendly and still keeping it competitive. Really shows the reality of getting cheap stuff. Love my 285/75r16 ko2s, was totally stuck between ko2s and km3s ... So tell your sponsor I paid oodles on my set so they better take care of you guys XD. And Conan my bearded dragon appreciates this episode.
My WJ stock with just a set of KO2s has gotten me through so much the past few years. Mechanically its perfect but these Pennsylvania winters are finally taking there toll on the body unfortunately.
Tommy kicks ass again! I run KO2s on my 4x4 and I think they're the best all around. But knowing that his vehicle is only temporary and needs maximum offroad ability Tommy made the better choice. But, now I know where not to take my vehicles for repair. If I took three 4x4 vehicles in for assessment and the mechanic didn't find that the 4x4 wasn't working on two of them I think I'd find a different mechanic!
Well, to play devil's advocate, his task from the producers was "are these safe to drive on the road", not find every issue since their budget was 2500.
@@Frost640 Understood. If he would have missed a dirty fuel filter or a small hole in the top of the muffler or something like that it would be understandable. But to miss a 4x4's 4x4 not working......... That's like a doctor doing a physical and missing your blood pressure being 220/150! Ain't goin' back to that doctor!
I have experience with all 3 of these vehicles, and they are pretty similar. I had a '96 GMC Jimmy and I'm getting some flashbacks. It was the biggest pile of junk I think I've ever had. Only 90K miles and just about everything that went wrong with this Blazer happened to my Jimmy. Mirror even fell off on the highway, which was awesome. It was a fun little SUV but just horrible build quality. My sister had a Mazda B3000. Fun little truck, but it did have the same issue with the hubs refusing to lock. When they did lock, it would go just about anywhere. The 3.0 V6 did have the notorious head gasket issues, but that's about it. My brother currently has a '96 ZJ. This WJ is a mostly different vehicle, but shares the same basic design. The old Grand Cherokees, when taken care of, are pretty good vehicles. I love the fact that they're a unibody with solid axles front and rear. Transmissions are notorious in the WJ, as are electrical gremlins in both generations. They are shockingly good offroad though.
i had a 99 blazer and it was maintained by me and when i went to trade it in, the dealer where i was at bought it from me instead as a first vehicle for his daughter. she still has it for her son, in 2021. nothing but synthetic, Iridium plugs, factory brakes replaced with OE parts. vehicle is on track to make 500k miles. GM has expressed interested in buying it from her when it hits that mark
@@nateulpanzarella9154 I should have added, mechanically the Jimmy was solid. The 4.3 Vortec really is a decent engine when it's taken care of, as is the 4L60E. But, they do require maintenance, and are not as forgiving as some other powertrains when you start slipping on the maintenance.
I love the honesty here. That I so refreshing! Its not friendly to the budget but it makes this so much more interesting and sincere to watch! I love it!
These videos are great because they are relatable. While we all can enjoy a Lambo going fast and looking cool, most of us will never have that opportunity.
@@CharlieK92004 worked on all 3 of my blazers and my s-10. From 1991-2000. I didn't know about it until a GM engineer told me about it while I was wheeling my 91 blazer at the mounds scramble area in Mt Morris, MI. Since that day, I used the trick quite often.
so apparently a high mileage grand cherokee is actually a good buy. a lot of people skip over high mileage cars but so often I feel like those cars are better maintained and will still last while
The 4x4 on my 95 Blazer was actuated with a zip tie that I had hanging out of my inner fender, it worked great and was a better alternative than the air actuator.
Real transfer cases have no lock and unlock there is no center differential you have 2hi 4hi 4lo once you pull the lever it's in 4hi the front tires spin too that's it no modern center differential bullshit
I agree, car journalists think that mentioning a "center locking differential" on Land Rovers and G-wagons is a big flex. Jeeps have had that all the time, it's called the transfer case lol
I enjoyed watching the to hell and back series. I was so excited that tfl is making a new series. You guys make my day, and best of luck to your new series tfl!
What I like about the budget series is sometimes you win some sometimes you lose some. But at least that shown real world when you have to put money into things and the outcome you can have afterwards.
You just better have deep pockets in the real world...because once you own a pile of junk you are gonna have to spend money to fix it right otherwise you are gonna be in a deep, deep money pit very quickly and just have a yard ornament as a result.
"You get what you pay for" Difficult to articulate that sentiment more. Wait, I said that in episode 2's comments. :P The results here are 100% what I figured. And this hill you are using, proved that "truth" is a walk in the park since that Chevy did it in 2WD on bald tires and speed. lol Need more of this. Keep it coming. Great content! :)
We got a 2000 JGC Laredo i6 for my daughter's first car last year, $1500 total (before prices got stupid) and I'm immensely entertained watching Tommy's Grand Cherokee and seeing how it relates to my kid's. This is a terrific series, guys!
Great content. The Budget series is great. It is awesome to see the new and super pricey off-road rigs. But let's be honest, most of us are buying low-cost and DIY fixes. Thank you, guys.
Fun videos! The chemistry with these guys is great. Can’t fake that! As far as the tires, they really do make the vehicles look so much better as well as performing better.
Love these budget vehicle challenges. I hope you do a series on novice off roading. A sort of how to start off roading series, with a inexperienced off roader.
if you are novice to offroading, try to find a nice light car with good ok ground clearance, throw aggressive M+S or good AT tyres at it and learn how to pick a line, conserve momemtum, etc. the basics. Then you upgrade to a 4/4 or not because you realise thtat everything you are doing is done fine by a 2wd
We just made it to the top of Pikes Peak on The BFG KO2s in our less than 24 kWh battery in our 2015 VW EGolf. We made it with only 10% remaining but at the bottom we had more than 30 miles early range remaining. Seen the folks at the mini club was looking for you with the electric mini, but you guys did not come. Well just so you know, you can make it with plenty remaining!
I think you guys should keep throwing parts at these wherever needed to keep them viable off-roaders. This is the real world for guys with small budgets that are buying these rigs and hoping for the best.
This is a great series. I love seeing all the high dollar trucks y'all test, but talk about real world. This is the real world for a lot of us. Thanks guys!
Aloha from Hawaii. Started watching you guys years ago but I kinda fell off. Just started back up with you guys and I love it. Still the same energy and fun challenges. Plus now you have so many channels it’s nice and easy to find exactly what kinda content I’m looking for. If I want truck I go to tfl truck if I want cars go tfl car. Keep up all the amazing hard work. And honestly the premiers are fine to me. Gets me excited for when it comes out. Also gets me watching more of tfl while I wait so win win for both of us.
EPIC AGAIN! Sooo glad ya'll fixed some of the items. That's all part of doing it "For A Few Bucks Less". That said...90's domestic push button anything is crap. We are really looking at 3 new Ford Broncos after 25 yrs of use. Very little will be functioning.
What a great series. Real world budget builds for the rest of us. I have a S10 Blazer so I am rooting for Nathan's rig but appreciate what the Jeep and Mazda bring to the fun as well. Love the Conan reference. Tires really did make a huge difference. Also, having the 4WD systems in working order made a difference too. Shocker!😁 Keep doing these types of "beater with a heater" challenges and I'll keep watching! Can't wait for the next episode.
This is making my recent purchase look great value, a 1999 Mitsubishi Jackaroo (Montero) for AU$1200 (US$880) unregistered. With all repairs to get registered and a year of registration it came in at about AU$2150 (US$1577). No bits falling off and everything works! I love to see the variety of vehicles you have in the USA, you really are spoilt for choice.
It seems like the electronic four wheel drives in these vehicles is letting them down this is why in my old Cherokee I'm glad it has the manual four-wheel drive
They make a kit for changing the Chevy to manual shift 4wd. It's usually the electric motor that fails. But they usually act up quite a bit before they completely stop working. I haven't had any trouble but I use mine a lot. I believe the vehicles that seldom are put in 4wd gives the most trouble.
I had a 2006 Chevy Tahoe. The 4wd stopped working and I spent thousands of dollars trying to get it fixed. Took it to multiple reputable shops. Replaced everything from the transfer case to the actuator and everything in between and never was able to fix it. Sold it!.
The budget challenges, the podcasts, the new truck comparisons on and off-road and the Ike Gauntlet towing with Mr. Truck are all great! Dare I say that TFLT crew are the American/Russian version of Top Gear and The Grand Tour. Keep up the unscripted, hilarious and excellent work guys!!!
I really liked the video. It didn't have an infomercial stuffed in the middle of it. Thank you. Those of us who drive in the city 99% of our lives would love to spend 2-3 grand and have an off road machine. I could drive any of these vehicles and not be worried about bushes scraping against the paint. Nicely done!
I have a lifted 99 Blazer with alot of custom overland work done to it. It still runs the stock 4wd engagement system. But that is really the only thing that gives me issue occassionally. It's always ran great and got me where I need to go. Looks sharp too. 330,000 miles on it so far.
@@pac2599 Oh yeah, I enjoy them too. Thomas and James. Same with Car Trek with Freddy, Tyler and Ed. But TFL has a certain feel to their segments, like you are watching friends and not just hosts.
My friend had a Blazer that was totaled (bent frame) so we just used as a trail toy. He had the exact same problem with the 4x4 disconnect. We just left a vice grip clamped under the hood to work the 4x4, tho we always left it in 4x4 anyway.
Please do more of these budget vehicle challenges. I think myself and everyone can agree they are one of the best things to come across on your channel.
So true, as it appeals to most everyone. It shows you don't need 50 to 80k vehicle to have fun. And if it gets banged up, you can still live with it without crying. And most parts are cheap.
Yes, it'd be nice to see some longer adventures though like a whole weekend off roading with some more challenging trails.
The cheap vehicle challenges are great. I also really liked the Jeep Comanche and Suzuki Samurai series.
I got a 96 grandcherokee. She's rebuilt junkyard wonder.
Not to mention great way to grow the chanel, without relying on the truck manufacturers to supply trucks...
The worst thing about this series, is having to wait a week for the next episode... seriously, nice work gentlemen!
😑 seriously I love this . As a Jeep fan in the market for a grand Cherokee wj or wk I'm quite happy.
True
Yeah maybe we need them to film them all and do a Netflix style binge option lol
Agreed. They need to move to Netflix style and release all at once. 😀
Agreed!
These budget challenges are the best!
Thank you for watching!
@@TFLtruck
I think a budget sports car would be a good idea for a next series.
I love this episodes
@@dillonh321 budget motorcycle too hehe
@@TFLtruck please find and test a Suzuki of the Vitara/XL-7 flavor, early 2000's! Cheap, easy to find and a two speed transfer case! And they work!
I know you guys went "over budget", but this definitely shows the reality of buying a cheap vehicle. Honestly fixing them up probably made it that much more satisfying.
Yup! It honestly shows how you’ll probably end up spending 50-100% of what you spent on the vehicle in the first place to get the thing running somewhat properly and safely.
@@shoveI yea ESPECIALLY when it's a cheap luxury car such as Mercedes 😂 I've done 20k worth of dealership work on my car for 1k in ebay parts and many hours of labor
If I were to choose a cheap off road vehicle, I would try to find one as analog as possible. Easier to fix on the trail with simple hand tools and you don't need a scanner lol.
@@stevekendra8983 I'm sure they would too, but they were limited by time and availability.
Oversize tires on a TTB front is begging for breakage, they are weak in stock form, takes a lot of money to get them to hold up, its always been cheaper to rip them out and solid axle swap.
This is closer to real world for a lot of people looking to have a little off road fun. Love it.
100% fact...most people going out and buying those $60k+ "Offroad" Trucks and SUV's new aren't taking them 4 wheeling...ok well I guess if driving fast over a speedbump at Walmart is offroading to them maybe LOL.
I have an 88 Ford Bronco 2 that'll go anywhere offroad that I'd ever think of going, and I wouldn't feel as bad about scratching it...I just hate having to clean a vehicle after going through mud so I try and avoid offroading anymore.
@@wildbill23c I wheel my truck! And I’ll be wheeling my Bronco when it shows in february
@@jamescannone1425 Cool, you'll have to report back to us how it does for you...did you order the 2 or 4 door? I want a 2 door base model, given where my 88 Bronco 2 will go stock, I don't think I need any more offroad stuff, it'll just lead to you getting stuck farther from the road HAHA!!
Yes exactly, I have a $2,300 2006 Subaru forester as my first car and the same age as myself that I do a ton of offroad and etc with. It is also older and has dents, scratches, etc so it ain't pristine condition either. My next vehicle will probably be a more capable small-midsize truck or suv that is cheap. I love watching offroad or overlanding videos, but hate when it's a 50-80k vehicle plus an additional 20-40k of addons and modifications that only a few can afford and I also hate when they break the expensive truck and stuff goes wrong, but they have all the money they want to repair it. I love videos of older vehicles whether built for offroad or not that do amazing things on a small budget and that are careful enough to not break the vehicle.
I don’t know why, but seeing the Blazer stereo rattling it’s way out of the dash was hilarious.
I had an 89 S10 Blazer and the same thing happened 😂
Why i hate aftermarket radios
That's comes standard with every Chevy of this vintage
I had a 2000 ZR2 Blazer and the rattling interior and the shoddy rear spare tire carrier drove me nuts. Then there were all the other mechanical issues. I'll admit it was a lemon, but I've had my Ranger longer now and with more miles and I've had far fewer issues with it than my old Blazer.
@@svpracer98 I have an aftermarket radio in my Mazda and it's in there solid. I put it in, and the previous stereo before it was also aftermarket, an Alpine single din in a double din space, but it was done right so was also solid and that Alpine replaced the factory unit. The JVC double din was chosen as it was designed to fit my space and it went in correctly, and has not come out in 9 years. I think a lot of that is user error in installation, or choosing the unit that really does not fit right for your car and then half assing it as far as installation.
Those Ford auto lockers are made of plastic internally and work purely on hope. Throw some cheap Mile Marker conversion hubs on and that D35 is pretty tough to hurt. Wheel bearings and ball joints ARE a weak point though.
Edit: aaaaaaand that's exactly what you did. I'm an impatient Alice.
I have mile market hubs on my 88 Bronco 2, but I also have the manual shift transfer case as well....the original manual hubs starting making noise so I ordered new hubs so I wouldn't have any 4WD problems.
Wheel bearings and ball joints are even weaker on the D30 Jeep front end. Lol. The Mazda/ Ranger is older, and it makes sense that it needs more work.
@@nonope1774 D30 in that WJ has unit bearings. The D30 in general is quite good for tires 33" and smaller.
@@turbolq4 Yep, junky unit bearings. I'm going to be replacing the ones in my Jeep soon, after around 7K mls. However my Mitsubishi has all original bearings, serviced once in about 200K mls, it actually fits 33in tires stock to, I'm about $2K into getting a lift and steering on my ZJ that still requires cutting and regearing to run 33 in tires.
How are mile marker hubs?
Even with the repairs needed, being into a 4x4 truck for $3500 is still a good deal in most parts of the US.
Except that it’s 4x4 with only one 4
True that. Anything that moves under its own power is good for $2500. If it is a b3000 (didn't notice if it was a b2300 b3000 or b4000, i think the cat convs are worth $600 or so. Frankly a b4000 in that shape would likely go for $2500 wholesale.
It appears the Jeep will dominate this competition. Every time you see one of those ‘tough truck events’ the grand Cherokees always do extremely well.
WJs were pretty good. Came right after the ZJ that was based on the XJ Cherokee which is honestly probably the best the Cherokee ever was and one of the best offroading vehicles, even better then Wranglers in some ways having more weight to get traction with.
Never doubted the WJ. I still miss mine.
@@Cragified ZJ was a new platform. It was originally designed (by AMC) to replace the XJ in 93 but sales numbers kept the well loved XJ around for much longer. Either way all are great platforms to build on a budget.
Hoping the tranny doesn't die on the WJ; I'll always root for the Jeep in these kinds of things. I own a nearly-new Grand Cherokee (WK2 Trailhawk) and it kicks butt and takes names on the trails. And it does so in style and comfort. Just wish it had true locking diffs, and solid axles instead of independent front and rear. but I leave stock Wranglers in my rear-view with it.
@@W2IRT All the pre FIAT and non extreme performance Chrysler stuff is very dependable if you keep up on maintenance. Still have and drive regularly a 98 neon that people called unreliable. It has never let me down in 21 years.
I love how much each of them loves a " brand " of SUVs / Trucks.
Everyone knows Tommy's loves Jeep, Andre loves Ford & Nathan seems to always like GMC / Chevy. This makes the show / channel enjoyable as you get to know more about the people.
It's like the soul child of the original 2nd run top gear.
Jeep gives you what you are expecting
@@xxsuperbirdxx which in my experience isn’t much haha. I’m just jealous of people with good experiences haha
@@UglyTheDuckling yeah the straight 6 jeep made back in the day but other then that I hate jeep I think there overpriced and like how every company is becoming poor quality
I got my wj for $1,600 and have taken it through lvl 5&6 rated trails and it eats them like a cake walk. Now I’m installing a 6.5 in lift, 35’s, air lockers & custom bumpers!
"To crush your enemies, see them driven before you and to hear the lamentation of their women".
Nathan you are truly a man of culture!
😂😂😂
but not a man with sense..... chevy II blazer, what a joke
I watched that recently and died laughing when he punched that camel
It's hilarious how it's funner to watch $2,500 20+ year old vehicles go off roading than watching $50k-$100k brand new trucks and suvs go off roading. As a 2007 Explorer v8 owner I can say it's also exciting owning one, never a dull moment when ever you drive it 😆
Yep, bought a $600 International Scout II and would beat all 3 of these trucks, with my bald 31's that came on it.
I think tommy wins just for making sure his 4wd worked beforehand
Nathan did too
@@svpracer98 not until he replaced the vacuum actuator, and then still didn't work in hi range
@@svpracer98 nathan doesn’t know what 4wd is
@@Fast4.6 nathan even acts like a bowtie man
@@IntenseBlue318 The actuator gave out as I was heading off highway. And it works in Hi and Low, it just took some adjusting.
My front hubs were empty when I bought my 93 Ranger back in 2007. They locked up and the old owner had the guts ripped out so they were mostly just dust caps lol manual hubs were the way to go both for price and for peace of mind.
Crank the Tbars on the blazer 4 turns on each one that will give you about 3/4" lift on the front. Double check all the vacuum lines. Especially the one on the transmission. Drivers side there's one that has a check ball in with 3 vacuum lines attached Replace it.
Those automatic locking hubs on the Rangers were junk. I replaced mine with manual ones doesn't take that much to do and works everytime now.
So glad I replaced and went with manual hubs!
Will be the most reliable 4x4 of all 3 now
@@dalehovland3283 Well maybe. That electric shift motor on the transfer case has its days numbered too, auto locking hubs and those electric shift motors are notorious failure points on those trucks.
Of all my ford's, not 1 has failed
@@wildbill23c keep a hammer on board, but the fact its getting low means its working
Every mans off road series like this is more real world than most. These type also will see more off road than the mall crawlers.
Yeah. This is a lot more interesting than seeing the latest $90,000 “off-roader” to roll out of a plant.
I agree with the others -- I really, really enjoy series of this type. Fantastic entertainment! Well done, lads!!
After this is finished let's see what they can do.with a few cheap mods
Good job listening to Dan on the manual hubs, I loved mine. It was also like a mild insurance policy because I had to get out and lock them in...it gave me a chance to survey the terrain without just bouncing lol
At first I thought this was gonna be a off brand Car Trek but I stuck with the series and honestly this shit is fire keep it up 👍
Thank you for the kind words.
This is far superior to Car Trek, and you don't have to listen to Ed Bolian.
I like how Car Trek is already an off-brand Top Gear, so an off-brand of an off-brand would be... interesting indeed. 😁😁
The first couple Car Treks were good, the last bunch have been boring. You can tell those guys (who I mostly enjoy) are 'influencers' and TFL are car journos.
@@chrislangstaff my favorite parts of Car Trek are when they try (and fail) to do serious car journalism.
Sometimes on older 4WD vehicles you have to go into reverse and drive backwards for a few feet to get front axle to engage.
Idk why any of them didn't get something awd so they wouldn't have to worry about switching between 4 and rwd
Awd is garbage for wheeling....generally.
Rangers lock driving forward you gotta back up to unlock but that only applies if you have the reverse rotation dana 35 if you have the 8.8 front you don't have hubs at all and there is no spin free kit
or get under the truck at tap on the actuator. They basically did what the "Average" (aka, clueless) driver does...I pushed the button, I don't know why it isn't working.
@@yeabuddy6070 mine does pretty good
This makes me miss my first gen Grand Cherokee even more. Love the look of the second gen!
Yeah, but the 2nd gen is COMPLETE TRASH!
@@TickleFingers are they? I've never driven one tbh. my 93 with a 318 was fantastic especially if you compare it with other vehicles from the era
@@jasonquaile2492 they arent. Like any car you need to keep up on maintenance. I drove my first 2001 jgc 300k miles. Couldve gone longer but that was my first vehicle and i let it go. Ten years later and i have another 2001 grand cherokee. Comin up on 200k miles and i paid 1500$ for it. Drives great 4x4 works. I drive it to work everyday 1hr roundtrip. My 1996 first gen with that 318 was a fun jeep. I want to get a first gen with the 5.9 one day.
@@TickleFingers you mean the vehicle that we just watched do the best? With a leather heated seat interior. You sound a lil biased. Or are a chevy blazer owner😆
@@jasonquaile2492 It's not that they aren't capable, it's just that there are so many issues with them. Transmission issues like mentioned in the video. Blend door issues for the HVAC system. You either end up with no heat or no AC and you have to remove the entire dash to fix it. It's heavy and underpowered with the 4.0. interior is not as robust. Just think about how many you see on the road and then think about how many you see on the trails too. That should answer any questions about what people think of them.
Andre, to quote Johnny Rotten... "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" But seriously, this is an awesome series, keep it coming fellas...
We have two 2001 grand cherokee limiteds, one is driven daily driver the other rolled over down a gully and is now a farm and snow plow truck. My daughter wants me to find another one so she can let her nice one sit and not get rusty over winter salty roads.
I've had about 5 of them, and they are great vehicles. Currently have a 02 overland with the ho motor.
I had a 2000 laredo. I thought it was unteresting at first. They blow up. That was vehicle 2/12. Had pretty high miles anyway. I had a Tacoma the past almost years and it's the best thing in the world.
I absolutely love the budget challenges. I am 15 so I don't have a ton of money. I like seeing cheap mods and cars that I could buy and use to have fun
We did minimal repairs to keep the cost down...
I’m 46yrs old and have a nice Tundra now but this reminds me of HS…we all had budget 4X4’s like this but older. Half the time we went 4wheeling lol we ended up 2 wheeling because the 4wd went out. Thanks for this series, brings back some good old Memories
@@greatcornholio5541 A friend of mine bought a 2 door XJ several years ago, 4 cylinder 5 speed 4x4....as he's heading towards a huge mud hole at the cycle park I ask him so does the 4WD work in this thing? "We're about to find out"...it went downhill from there LOL. Nope 4WD didn't work...luckily someone was up there with an F350 with a winch and pulled us out....I've never had a 4WD failure in any of my vehicles, I did get stuck twice...once in a 2WD pickup, and once in a 4WD pickup only because the truck was sitting on the frame with all 4 wheels off the ground (oops)...so the 4WD wouldn't engage since the front wheels couldn't spin forward far enough to get the hubs to lock (89 Mazda B2600i 4x4 with auto-locking hubs).
@@greatcornholio5541 I'm glad my Mercedes is awd full time bc it wouldn't be a simple fix if it broke like most cars😂it can go over just about anything but it gets pretty bad gas mileage
I’ve had two of the Jeeps in this video. One lifted one not. And let me tell you, they’ve been amazing!!!
Keep doing these budget vehicles!! That's what we like to see, things EVERYBODY and ANYBODY can afford. Old or young.
Thank you for your content!!
Gotta love that WJ holding it down for the old jeeps. V8 heated leather interior 4x4 select trac. Cant ask for much more.
Jeeps are somehow underestimated for off-road even tho that's what they're made for
@@tati-anaroseee4316 especially this model. theyve been getting more attention last few years
Yeah I've got a cheapo Blazer I paid $450 for but I think the WJ was clearly the best of these challengers
this is awesome lol!! i do think you'd do better on all 3 dropping the tire pressures until you actually see the sidewalls balloon out a bit. 12-15 PSI should do it.
dont think their problem was traction but articulation. they all need a cheap lift and off road shocks.
Proud of you guys for doing some small work keeping it still budget friendly and still keeping it competitive. Really shows the reality of getting cheap stuff. Love my 285/75r16 ko2s, was totally stuck between ko2s and km3s ... So tell your sponsor I paid oodles on my set so they better take care of you guys XD. And Conan my bearded dragon appreciates this episode.
Geez, those WJ Grand Cherokees seem to run forever...!
My WJ stock with just a set of KO2s has gotten me through so much the past few years. Mechanically its perfect but these Pennsylvania winters are finally taking there toll on the body unfortunately.
I'm absolutely loving this series!!!
Tommy kicks ass again!
I run KO2s on my 4x4 and I think they're the best all around. But knowing that his vehicle is only temporary and needs maximum offroad ability Tommy made the better choice.
But, now I know where not to take my vehicles for repair. If I took three 4x4 vehicles in for assessment and the mechanic didn't find that the 4x4 wasn't working on two of them I think I'd find a different mechanic!
Well, to play devil's advocate, his task from the producers was "are these safe to drive on the road", not find every issue since their budget was 2500.
@@Frost640
Understood. If he would have missed a dirty fuel filter or a small hole in the top of the muffler or something like that it would be understandable. But to miss a 4x4's 4x4 not working.........
That's like a doctor doing a physical and missing your blood pressure being 220/150!
Ain't goin' back to that doctor!
I have experience with all 3 of these vehicles, and they are pretty similar.
I had a '96 GMC Jimmy and I'm getting some flashbacks. It was the biggest pile of junk I think I've ever had. Only 90K miles and just about everything that went wrong with this Blazer happened to my Jimmy. Mirror even fell off on the highway, which was awesome. It was a fun little SUV but just horrible build quality.
My sister had a Mazda B3000. Fun little truck, but it did have the same issue with the hubs refusing to lock. When they did lock, it would go just about anywhere. The 3.0 V6 did have the notorious head gasket issues, but that's about it.
My brother currently has a '96 ZJ. This WJ is a mostly different vehicle, but shares the same basic design. The old Grand Cherokees, when taken care of, are pretty good vehicles. I love the fact that they're a unibody with solid axles front and rear. Transmissions are notorious in the WJ, as are electrical gremlins in both generations. They are shockingly good offroad though.
i had a 99 blazer and it was maintained by me and when i went to trade it in, the dealer where i was at bought it from me instead as a first vehicle for his daughter. she still has it for her son, in 2021. nothing but synthetic, Iridium plugs, factory brakes replaced with OE parts. vehicle is on track to make 500k miles. GM has expressed interested in buying it from her when it hits that mark
@@nateulpanzarella9154 I should have added, mechanically the Jimmy was solid. The 4.3 Vortec really is a decent engine when it's taken care of, as is the 4L60E. But, they do require maintenance, and are not as forgiving as some other powertrains when you start slipping on the maintenance.
I love the honesty here. That I so refreshing! Its not friendly to the budget but it makes this so much more interesting and sincere to watch! I love it!
Love cheap vehicle challenges.. That Jeep is awesome, owning it !
So awesome to see how far you guys have come over the years!!! Loving this series and hope to see more in the future
These videos are great because they are relatable. While we all can enjoy a Lambo going fast and looking cool, most of us will never have that opportunity.
Great series. Budgets are the darndest thing on a used vehicle. Real world testing and safety, on the other hand is pinnacle.
If you lightly press the brakes in that blazer while in 4wd, you'll lock the diff. Same goes with military humvees.
I think that only works with a torsion diff, which hummers have. Open diff won’t do that.
@@CharlieK92004 worked on all 3 of my blazers and my s-10. From 1991-2000. I didn't know about it until a GM engineer told me about it while I was wheeling my 91 blazer at the mounds scramble area in Mt Morris, MI. Since that day, I used the trick quite often.
@@ericlewandowskivlogs , I trust your experience then. I guess all or most came with a torsen diff then. I know it was an option.
The subtitle for this series: "A Money Pit By Any Other Name".
Even with discounts, the entertainment was worth full price. =)
The rivalry of the guys in used cars are the best!
so apparently a high mileage grand cherokee is actually a good buy. a lot of people skip over high mileage cars but so often I feel like those cars are better maintained and will still last while
Solid axles and manual 4WD selector. WJ FTW.
The 4x4 on my 95 Blazer was actuated with a zip tie that I had hanging out of my inner fender, it worked great and was a better alternative than the air actuator.
Happy Birthday to me!! I'm loving this series, this episode is the best gift ever.
That jeep is probably the only vehicle with limited slip.
The Jeep is the only one here with a real off road transfer case, 2WD / 4WD Hi Unlocked / 4WD Hi Locked / 4WD Lo Locked.
Real transfer cases have no lock and unlock there is no center differential you have 2hi 4hi 4lo once you pull the lever it's in 4hi the front tires spin too that's it no modern center differential bullshit
I agree, car journalists think that mentioning a "center locking differential" on Land Rovers and G-wagons is a big flex. Jeeps have had that all the time, it's called the transfer case lol
I enjoyed watching the to hell and back series. I was so excited that tfl is making a new series. You guys make my day, and best of luck to your new series tfl!
What I like about the budget series is sometimes you win some sometimes you lose some. But at least that shown real world when you have to put money into things and the outcome you can have afterwards.
You just better have deep pockets in the real world...because once you own a pile of junk you are gonna have to spend money to fix it right otherwise you are gonna be in a deep, deep money pit very quickly and just have a yard ornament as a result.
"You get what you pay for" Difficult to articulate that sentiment more. Wait, I said that in episode 2's comments. :P The results here are 100% what I figured. And this hill you are using, proved that "truth" is a walk in the park since that Chevy did it in 2WD on bald tires and speed. lol Need more of this. Keep it coming. Great content! :)
These guys are the best!!! They make the best videos and have the best content!
We got a 2000 JGC Laredo i6 for my daughter's first car last year, $1500 total (before prices got stupid) and I'm immensely entertained watching Tommy's Grand Cherokee and seeing how it relates to my kid's. This is a terrific series, guys!
Great content. The Budget series is great. It is awesome to see the new and super pricey off-road rigs. But let's be honest, most of us are buying low-cost and DIY fixes.
Thank you, guys.
Fun videos! The chemistry with these guys is great. Can’t fake that! As far as the tires, they really do make the vehicles look so much better as well as performing better.
The moral of this story is inflation has made it impossible to buy a decent vehicle for $2500.
thank all your friends that vote for those communists that are ruining this great country
I’ve got 35” KM3s on my Wrangler and I love them. I had KM2s on my last Jeep, and I run KO2s on my company truck. Great tires!
These series are great! Can't wait to see the end result! It's interesting to see this stuff done with cheap vehicles.
This was a fun one! I'm a Jeep guy but I was also rooting for the other two. Nathan and Andre did a good job getting them off road ready
Love these budget vehicle challenges. I hope you do a series on novice off roading. A sort of how to start off roading series, with a inexperienced off roader.
They do those all the time when they try to test these new electronic AWD junk cars on dirt roads and can't make it up a simple dirt road hill.
if you are novice to offroading, try to find a nice light car with good ok ground clearance, throw aggressive M+S or good AT tyres at it and learn how to pick a line, conserve momemtum, etc. the basics.
Then you upgrade to a 4/4 or not because you realise thtat everything you are doing is done fine by a 2wd
We just made it to the top of Pikes Peak on The BFG KO2s in our less than 24 kWh battery in our 2015 VW EGolf.
We made it with only 10% remaining but at the bottom we had more than 30 miles early range remaining.
Seen the folks at the mini club was looking for you with the electric mini, but you guys did not come.
Well just so you know, you can make it with plenty remaining!
oh cool sweet! Yeah we couldn’t make it today unfortunately
I think you guys should keep throwing parts at these wherever needed to keep them viable off-roaders. This is the real world for guys with small budgets that are buying these rigs and hoping for the best.
Agreed and then dropping coin to make them function and possibly reliable. This series is very relatable.
Tommy seems to have the best vehicle of the three. Only problem is waiting for that transmission to blow. Great series, and a ton of fun, guys!
Episode we are all waiting for
This is a great series. I love seeing all the high dollar trucks y'all test, but talk about real world. This is the real world for a lot of us. Thanks guys!
Aloha from Hawaii. Started watching you guys years ago but I kinda fell off. Just started back up with you guys and I love it. Still the same energy and fun challenges. Plus now you have so many channels it’s nice and easy to find exactly what kinda content I’m looking for. If I want truck I go to tfl truck if I want cars go tfl car. Keep up all the amazing hard work.
And honestly the premiers are fine to me. Gets me excited for when it comes out. Also gets me watching more of tfl while I wait so win win for both of us.
Welcome back and thanks for watching.
Who needs any other car show, Roman, Andre, Nathan and Tommy are hysterical!!!! Great work guys!!!
This series is definitely fun and funny to watch. Love it 😭
EPIC AGAIN!
Sooo glad ya'll fixed some of the items. That's all part of doing it "For A Few Bucks Less".
That said...90's domestic push button anything is crap.
We are really looking at 3 new Ford Broncos after 25 yrs of use. Very little will be functioning.
This is very entertaining, the off road "Top Gear" for real people with real vehicles
This is an awesome series. I still think Nathan is the winner for not going over budget even after fixing the 4wd.
love these cheap 4wd challenges, great video gentlemen
I love how unique this channel is to most other car UA-cam channels. Best job ever. You get to work with your Dad and I assume his best buddies.
Speaking as a old S-10 Owner: Take the fuse out for the dashboard and put it back in. It resets the 4x4. :/
What a great series. Real world budget builds for the rest of us. I have a S10 Blazer so I am rooting for Nathan's rig but appreciate what the Jeep and Mazda bring to the fun as well. Love the Conan reference. Tires really did make a huge difference. Also, having the 4WD systems in working order made a difference too. Shocker!😁 Keep doing these types of "beater with a heater" challenges and I'll keep watching! Can't wait for the next episode.
Nathan needs to do a Gambler500. He’s got the heart for it :-)
Good ole WJ. D44 varilok rear and limited slip in the tcase and in the front diff. 4x low i believe locks the tcase in 5050 front rear.
I love watching ur videos!!!thank u guys for all ur work!!!
This is making my recent purchase look great value, a 1999 Mitsubishi Jackaroo (Montero) for AU$1200 (US$880) unregistered. With all repairs to get registered and a year of registration it came in at about AU$2150 (US$1577). No bits falling off and everything works! I love to see the variety of vehicles you have in the USA, you really are spoilt for choice.
Best series you guys produce!
Can't wait to see you guys climb Monarch pass! Its my fav and most scenic pass in Colorado!
It seems like the electronic four wheel drives in these vehicles is letting them down this is why in my old Cherokee I'm glad it has the manual four-wheel drive
They make a kit for changing the Chevy to manual shift 4wd. It's usually the electric motor that fails. But they usually act up quite a bit before they completely stop working. I haven't had any trouble but I use mine a lot. I believe the vehicles that seldom are put in 4wd gives the most trouble.
The chevys issue is that it's vacuum actuated. 20 years later they tend to not work. They have a cable you install that makes it manual.
I had a 2006 Chevy Tahoe. The 4wd stopped working and I spent thousands of dollars trying to get it fixed. Took it to multiple reputable shops. Replaced everything from the transfer case to the actuator and everything in between and never was able to fix it. Sold it!.
Wow that jeep dominates!
As a TFL fan from nv and a nevada alum, who used to have a 1999 jeep Wj, love that Tommy jeep has a nevada sticker.
Oh the infamous vacuum actuation for front axle hubs in those years of the S10 and Blazer are one of the most troublesome, worst designs ever!
The budget challenges, the podcasts, the new truck comparisons on and off-road and the Ike Gauntlet towing with Mr. Truck are all great!
Dare I say that TFLT crew are the American/Russian version of Top Gear and The Grand Tour.
Keep up the unscripted, hilarious and excellent work guys!!!
The chevys diaphragm are prone. Just take it off and modify a pull lever to engage it manually and youll be golden
I just put a new diaphragm module on mine. I kinda like it to be like factory.
The KM3s look awesome on that WJ.
That Jeep was fine. Good budget off-road rig. The other two were complete piles.
I really liked the video. It didn't have an infomercial stuffed in the middle of it. Thank you. Those of us who drive in the city 99% of our lives would love to spend 2-3 grand and have an off road machine. I could drive any of these vehicles and not be worried about bushes scraping against the paint.
Nicely done!
Andre:I know that my Mazda can do it
Me:I know that the ford can do it
I have a lifted 99 Blazer with alot of custom overland work done to it. It still runs the stock 4wd engagement system. But that is really the only thing that gives me issue occassionally. It's always ran great and got me where I need to go. Looks sharp too. 330,000 miles on it so far.
Love this series. I prefer my off road/hunting rig pre scratched and dented. Gonna mess it up anyways!
Absolutely love these kind of series! Just a riot to watch. Thanks guys!
I got faith in the blazer 😂
I have not been as entertained by an automotive show since Clarkson, Hammond, May era Top Gear. So much fun.
Check out throttle house. It's like the old top gear bbc
@@pac2599 Oh yeah, I enjoy them too. Thomas and James. Same with Car Trek with Freddy, Tyler and Ed. But TFL has a certain feel to their segments, like you are watching friends and not just hosts.
Nathan, nathan, nathan, Wow! Sweet Conan reference.
#TFLteamWJ
My friend had a Blazer that was totaled (bent frame) so we just used as a trail toy. He had the exact same problem with the 4x4 disconnect. We just left a vice grip clamped under the hood to work the 4x4, tho we always left it in 4x4 anyway.