Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ Off Road - How good is it?

[@bowtech1020]

Own a 04 wj overland since 05. Had a 98 Zj that I wheeled a lot before it. The qudradrive is really great 4wd feels like it could handle anything. I have kept it stock. It’s got 131,556 miles on it but runs great. Love to hang onto it. Best 4x4 I have ever owned

[@joegriffin6699]

Well done Tom, great video. I've had a 2002 2.7crd for 11 yrs, paid £3,750 for it. Used it as my car in France for a few years, recently brought it back & decided to off road it.. Put a 6cm budget lift kit on, £80, chopped out the sills, which were like new with solid metal, giving extra ground clearance, put big rock sliders in, mud terrain tyres and finally, because it had open diffs, unlike the Overland ,I could put an Aussie Lokka in the rear. which was about £350. Wasn't to difficult once i got my head around it. Removed the rear sway bar. Its brilliant. Goes everywhere. Not bad on fuel and very comfy. A mate once described the ride and capabilities as a 'magic carpet'. The only negative is that you cant get a snorkel for the diesel.. the yanks make them for the petrol but the air intake is on the opposite side. A very underrated car , at least in the uk.

[@charlenesakala1732]

I have one back in Zambia and it use it to go in the bush. Handles well and never disappoints. What a beauty!

[@philipjooste9075]

She's definitely a keeper - good looks, lots of fun and will never let you down........the WJ, I mean!

[@BeardieD]

My stock 2002 WJ Jeep rescued 4 uprated land rovers on a snowy hill many years back! They didn't want to accept my help so i had about an hours laugh until they gave in and took my help!

[@rockymountboy]

Those trails were a walk in the park for an Overland WJ. I took mine on more difficult trails (steeper, muddier, rockier, more off camber) in stock form on all-season tires, and was doing just as well as the TJ Rubicons. And I was much more comfortable! You got a great deal for 1K pounds!

[@ApexGears]

Yes! So good to hear you’ve used yours properly whilst it was stock too 🥳 just fitted some AT’s to mine this week. Love the quadra drive system

[@GTStuning-]

The WJs with front and rear variloks or aftermarket or even welded diffs lol, are truly a sleeper of the suv world. I could not believe how well a friend's 03 WJ limited 4.7 HO did the other day wheelin, it was nuts, and we drove it home an hour away, zero broken parts or any issues and we were wheelin extremely hard for 8 hours

[@charliedee9276]

Nice ride. I live in the states, strange seeing RHD. I have an 04 with the HO and a few mods. Left the Vari Lok in the rear axle but put a Tru Trac in the front. Swapped the transfer case for a 242HD, put a 3" lift on it with 265/75-16 tires, and have 4.10 gears in the axles. Goes pretty much anywhere I put it, I live in the snowy in winter part of the US, the thing is a riot in the snow.

[@ApexGears]

Wow, thats some serious changes man, it's not that simple to change the WJ up in the UK, parts are mega expensive. But I love driving it, they're so good

[@team_suv7778]

I have a 99 Wj I bought it 2wd and after about a year of owning it wanted 4x4 well I worked at a junkyard so I went thru and sourced everything I needed and worked Saturday’s for free until I worked all the parts off now I have a 99 Wj with a 4 inch short arm lift with front and rear axles out of a Jeep overland with the Varilock I pulled all the interior out of it and put it in mine I have a tranny out of a 2001 4x4 grand Cherokee a 231j transfercase out of a v8 Dodge Durango shift linkage out of a 2005 Jeep Liberty

[@GTStuning-]

I had a chance to go to a local winter wheeling get-together in Canada yesterday in my friend's 2003 wj limited with the 4.7 HO Quadra trac II. Unsure on the front diff but the rear is locked. 32 inch tires and 3 inch lift, and other than a higher flowing muffler it is all stock. Anyways, WHAT AN ANIMAL! It went up stuff that nobody would bet it getting up. On top of that and a heavy aftermarket roof rack, it hauled about 700 lbs worth of passengers, yet made it up icy snow covered extremely steep hills. The last time I was in something that capable and fast/torquey when having to get up long steep inclines, was a duramax turbo diesel swapped H1 hummer. This is one of if not the best older 4x4 vehicles around in terms of offroad capability and massive power for the weight.

[@charliedee9276]

@@GTStuning- Cool. Yes, they are VERY capable even stock. A couple well placed mods and they will surprise many people. On top of that there is nothing like wheeling in luxury. Heated leather seats rock in the winter.

[@rockymountboy]

How much improvement in off-road capability did you get swapping the 247 to the 242HD? You had to shorten the drive shaft, correct? How much improvement in off-road capability did you get switching to a TruTrac up front? Did you need to get a whole different axle for that? I may need to do these updates myself. :-)

[@surfferb]

Looks like fun . I had mine stock for a long time and just went full send mode and lifted it 6.5 inches haha it will treat you well.

[@bidderman1969]

one of few off roading vids i watched to the end, think it was more your style of videoing that kept me watching, and good filming technique from your assistant !!

[@Amarillobymorning777]

That footage and view is almost the same as Toluca Mexico. Greetings from Mexico. Nice Jeep. My self got a 01 WJ 4.0 L .

[@ApexGears]

Very cool!

[@felipeiturreyes3385]

Saludos hermano 👍🇬🇹

[@bc58]

Just got my 2000 grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0. 99k. Mint. Love it.

[@Brykk]

A wj with a 2” spacer lift, spring retainers, and a good set of tires is an unbelievably capable off roader.

[@jedslather]

ZJ and the WJ is an awesome platform to build a monster 4x4, it’s ok stock but it’s what you can do with it that’s interesting.

[@riverbankfisher]

Unless one intends to climb vertical rock walls in the Utah desert, modifications to the suspension of a Jeep WJ are entirely unnecessary. Matter of fact, elevating any offroad vehicle up on stilts raises the center of gravity thereby greatly increasing the risk of a rollover. My 04 WJ will remain stock and serve me well on and offroad just as it is. Superb video clip sir. I bow before the mighty WJ.

[@gordonprince4090]

Another cracking vid mate, i have to say i was behind you most of the day on those lanes and i was gob smacked at how capable that Jeep is off road.Seeing that thing cock its front and rear end on some of the big rock sections and never seem to loose traction at all, and you had its wheels well in the air. Bring on the next outing mate

[@ApexGears]

Looking forward to it mate!

[@jayschofield2472]

I watched this because I am looking for my first rig and juat found one of these £1,200. Obviously I won't wheel it in bone stock form but this video did a great job demonstrating just how capable this car is right out of the box. With a 2.5 inch lift and 33's this should be an absolute beast. Great work brother, cheers for the upload.

[@ApexGears]

You won't be disappointed man, super comfy and capable too 👌🏼 just check for those injectors having been replaced and that the gearbox works as it should.

[@JKoverland]

Great day in the lakes 👍 jeep handled it like a pro! More 4x vids 🤘

[@udontneedtoknow6816]

Props for doing it stock. I believe you can go up to 31 inch tires without trimming as long as it has a 4 inch lift....Glad to hear you had rock sliders on it. It was a little hard to tell. I have a 2001 wj with a 5 inch lift and 33 inch bfg mud tires. I have taken it places i never thought possible.

[@ApexGears]

They're mega capable, hope your enjoying it mate it's must be unstoppable on 33"s

[@a.karagiannidis4826]

Nice car Tom, I've got the same, in Greece. Excellent video too. I rarelly stay to watch videos to the end. My girlfriend loved it too because of the siteseing and the music. Keep up and thank you..

[@michaeljohn7405]

I live 20 minutes away from the factory that built it. I’m buying a 96 xj right now. I looking at a 2004 overland with a 4.7 HO engine.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Great video! I had black 04 WJ but mine was 2.7 turbo diesel and I had really great time. Also, very comfortable off road vehicle.

[@ApexGears]

Mine is a 2.7 too, great engine :D

[@williamchristy257]

Put a lift on my 04 WJ and bigger tires. Got the quadra track and the thing is a beast. It’s also the 4.7 HO v8.

[@ApexGears]

What lift and tyre size did you go for? Love the noise of the V8 😍

[@rockymountboy]

Which trim package? With the HO engine, I would think it's Quadra-Drive rather than Quadra-Trac II.

[@GTStuning-]

See I read all over the net that the Quadra drive is the most potent of what was offered on the WJ v8 as it had front and rear 'Varilok' differentials. But I was in a very capable 03 limited 4.7 HO grand Cherokee the other day and it had the 'quadra trac II' decal on the center console. People on forums are saying it is only called Quadra trac II on the v8 WJ but if it got equipped with front and rear varilok diffs, it was called the Quadra drive system. Not sure then on all this but I do know that Quadra trac II 4.7 HO jeep I was in (locked rear diff, unsure on front) was insanely good offroad and didn't seem like it could have done any better on the 32s it has

[@michaelhorn4540]

I love my hemi wk2, it will go anywhere

[@SchytexGraphics]

Great video mate! Really enjoyed watching it!

[@stevehayes3900]

Ive had 2 classic range rovers , a shogun and a stock grand cherokee wj. Now have a discovery 3. Ive enjoyed the WJ as much as the others without it costing money to greenlane. Brill vid and and old boy on the classic is priceless !

[@ApexGears]

How do you find the D3 in comparison? The WJ is the comfiest 4wd I’ve ever had, the seats are like arm chairs. It is my first ever jeep and for the past year has been brilliant. Would I have another Jeep? Probably! Will I modify this one? Probably, but only for clearance!

[@stevehayes3900]

@@ApexGears i could not fault my WJ. Great offroader and some of the modified ones look great too. But i wanted to swing back towards land rover which is why i ended up with a d3. Only done few lanes on road tyres but have terrain response which helps people like me so cant really compare yet. I too would look at lifts for a jeep if was to buy another .

[@team_suv7778]

I love my Wj I’ve owned three and will probably have the one I have now forever

[@plymouthduster1974]

@@ApexGears If you're pleased with the WJ get a WK next, even more comfort and better handling. I had a 2002 WJ 4.7HO and now have a 2006 WK 3.0crd, haven't had either offroad but have loved both. Put a remap on the WK and it's quicker than the WJ.

[@stoswe]

Hi! I'm a WJ owner from Sweden. I have a 2003 4.7 Limited, with a 2" lift and the body protection from an Overland - running on 235 Goodyear Wranglers (stock dimensions). I'm not an experienced offroader, but I'm quite happy with its performance so far. I was wondering; You say in this video and the one about the tires that you go to these tracks. Are they open for public use, or do you have the landowners permission? I just spent a week in Northumberland and Cumbria driving along small roads and taking short walks in the countryside and I saw a lot of small roads and tracks that I would have loved to explore with my Jeep (maybe not with the rented 2wd Kuga I was driving :-) ). What is the general rule in Britain (in case I decide to bring my own car sometime)? Regards, Kim

[@atuane7003]

Great video. Deciding on a WJ or WK. I think with the weight advantage might help the WJ in muddy bits. Important to me as we will be building a house on a hill with only a muddy unhardend country road going up there.

[@ashleyspencer4927]

I love my WJ 😍😍

[@andysaunders3708]

The mighty genuine Redwood steering wheel...

[@robinjohanssonmdh]

Great vid. Love the WJ, great machines!

[@ApexGears]

Yes they are!

[@kingsoutdoors4379]

04 limited with 4.7.. and so My Project Begins...

[@mattp9029]

I have a 2002 that I’m considering tricking out a bit. Beautiful countryside there in the UK. Cheers from Kansas.

[@ApexGears]

It'll be worth it Matt, it is a fantastic base! Thanks for watching 😃 Keep safe out there

[@mikehenkes]

OMG you guys are all driving around the shire. Did anyone find Frodo?

[@hasanilter2292]

I wonder which part of the Lake District is?

[@eazytoribio2695]

6 inch lift and 35 mud tires would be what you need

[@torcon10r.rosser20]

Love my 03 JCO!!

[@4x4adventure_pl]

WJ owners, tell us about your favorite off-road destinations you've explored with your Jeep.

[@kolaseak8066]

I’m thinking of buy this same model , 210,000km diesel - how does it rank amongst other jeeps? Is it worth buying at this amount of Mileage ? 2003 GRAND CHEROKEE CRD DIESEL 2.7L

[@ApexGears]

The milage won't be a worry. The blocks are strong mate just make sure the injectors have been done recently. The WJ is great!

[@michaelhastings7441]

Hi looking at getting back in to off roading and looking at one of these, is yours the diesel or petrol and what size please?

[@ApexGears]

Hey Michael, she's the 2.7 CRD Diesel, fantastic engine and being the Overland spec it came with a few nice off roading goodies.

[@michaelhastings7441]

@@ApexGears thank you i'll stop trying to stretch to the 3.0 and 3.2 crd plus the tax on the 2.7 is better at £330 cheers buddy

[@michaeljohn7405]

Absolutely beautiful country side the most beautiful thing I just want to pull over and cook a steak for diner right there on the trail.

[@roberttophan9314]

What year of jeep?

[@ApexGears]

'04

[@yorkshirepudlian]

Great vid with interesting footage! Shame you didn't know where you were? You got an overland quadra- drive for £1000??? Bargain! I've got a 2.7 crd quadra - trac. Love it!

[@ApexGears]

Ill be heading back on my own or with a few friends and pin pointing the locations on our maps, I found out one of the places was Grizedale. I got the jeep for an absolute steal, I was very unsure about it at first but it's been so good. How do you find the quadra trac system?

[@yorkshirepudlian]

Tom Burnet I haven't had any issues with it although I haven't tested as thoroughly as you have yours! My only disappointment is with the suspension . It needs better shocks, the ride is too hard and unforgiving . I thinks it's still on the original shocks! It's a 53 plate with 75k on the clock. And also the low beam headlights need upgrading! You got a great deal with yours Tom!

[@ApexGears]

I'm enjoying the power to 2.7 gives out, it's been great! It was a bargain I found and it drove over to pick it up the same day haha.

[@joegriffin6699]

I've a 2.7 crd. It has open diffs. Cross axled and it stopped. Fitted an ausi lokka, £300. It's transformed it. Easy fit and climbs everything. The overland has a different set up.

[@ErickkkR]

Any lift or all stock?

[@ApexGears]

All stock Erik.

[@brushrescue1701]

The only thing I don't like about my 2.7 CRD 2004 Reg is that there is a diesel cooler under the back left-hand side passenger seat if you're offloading and you twat that your going to have a bad day 👍🏻✅

[@ManuelLopez-mb5sb]

The is gut car and... Sory now gut spik Inglis...in Spanish... Es buen coche, pero tienes que seguir los pasos, los mantenimientos extrictos... Es un coche que si falla algo, no puedes posponer su reparación porque va en cadena más y más fallos. May car is a jeep wj 2.7 crd and jeep zj 4.0...is 2.7crd 587.000km and gut... Is zj 4.0 311.000km is the king heavy cart...

[@andysaunders3708]

More volume, bro!

[@NLJ1953]

good video ruined by loud music.

[@trevorthomas6043]

Worst v8 ever

[@rockymountboy]

No, not the worst. But it does have its issues. Just don't let it overheat, and you should be good. Replacing the head gaskets with the new "screened" versions will help a lot.

[@steven6692]

@@rockymountboy youre rigth...i have an o4 wj v8 ho and the first thing i did was to replace the radiator with an alluminum 3 row...a 180° thermostat and a 12 blade fan and clutch...i now average 185° running...and 195° at a trafic ligth...and of course no more hydraulic fan...and 1 qt. Of marvel mystery oil in every oil change to keep the lifters clean...no issues so far...cheers!

[@charliedee9276]

Nah. I live in the states, have an 04 with the HO. The trick is not to let it overheat. Mine was once with the previous owner so I put some new gaskets and rebuilt heads on it. 148,000 miles and it runs excellent. Here is a tip, louver the hood. Makes a huge difference in under hood heat and it runs cooler, with nothing else done my coolant temp dropped 20 degrees and the AC works much better in the summer.

[@steven6692]

@@charliedee9276 yep...louvers r next...thanks for the tip...cheers!

[@trevorthomas6043]

Thomas Maresh there are a few more.Running synthetic oil only hoping a valve doesn’t drop a valve and running premium gas is highly suggested.