Watch This BEFORE You Buy a Jeep Wrangler TJ!

[@aberhan]

This was very helpful and explanatory. This explains why the inherent rust problem, salt water gets inside the frame, stays there and rots from the inside out. Along with the external seams, joints and other obvious problem areas. It also explains why the areas of body rust and frame rust always show up in the same places. Frame and body rust issues are a bigger concern to me than mechanical issues. Probably true for most people.

[@i_dagrandpappy7230]

I appreciate the honesty and showing the various weak points!! I bought a 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2 years ago and I'm now learning this very valuable lesson!! Previous seller "covered' up these issues and didn't disclose!!! Thank you again.

[@hrndz6089]

Hello, I am not a Jeep guy.. well not a car guy period. I am looking at Jeeps because I live in Colorado and I'm looking for something fun. I started looking at videos of what to look for, and as soon as I saw this video and heard his sincerity in his advice, it was instant follow on KZbin and Instagram. Appreciate the advice and keep up the great work!

[@tomrohlfs5538]

I drilled holes, restored my frame, and fluid film it yearly. No problems. Modern safety caps do have drain holes.

[@queensapphire7717]

I just brush a thin coat motor oil on my frame a couple times a year.

[@williamdoerr5187]

Dude, this video is great. I'm looking for a jeep. Never owned one. This is a big help. thank you for your work

[@bayside6207]

I feel like I hit the lottery after watching this video. I bought a 2003 Jeep Wrangler Sport manual and didn't know about any of these potential problematic issues🤦. I got really, really lucky-- bought from an old retired army guy who had it professionally(no death wobble)modified with a nice lift. Has a brand new engine with only 15,000 miles gave me all the paperwork to the Jeep Only work garage who installed the engine and lift, it is still under warranty, I just checked underneath the floor mats and the supposed areas under the carriage that could rot out and I'm very pleased & again Lucky to say that there is no evidence of even the slightest beginning of a rust problem. My question is what can I do to keep my 2003 TJ Sport in pristine condition as it is currently in. I only paid $6,000 for this Jeep in 2021. Wish I could send you pictures of how clean this Jeep is & no this is not a 20 ft away nice looking Jeep. PS, this Jeep was a Northern New Mexico all its life Jeep so perhaps this had something to do with not accumulating rust. I also own a 1995 4X4 Nissan D21. I think I like my Nissan better=less issues & just as capable.

[@RockX_Chris]

Seems like a simple idea, but why hasn’t anyone made rubber caps for those frame holes?

[@marcgannello2923]

I have a 2004 jeep wrangler unlimited. 175 thousand miles and still going strong. Fluid film saved my jeep..I spray her down once a month. I spray in side the frame all the time. I did the screw driver check. I owned her since 2006

[@randymcalister8366]

one other spot, least on my '04 LJ, just inward of the rear bumper over the tank, there is a frame crossmember, not alot of room but if you feel the top of crossmember its open and you guessed it no where to drain, I drilled a hole on each side where the crossmember is welded to frame, sand poured out like an hourglass - if your frame is good I poured non-flamable enviro friendly rust inhibitor into the rails of LJ ( 1.5L a side - about same in quarts ) and drove around for couple weeks then drilled holes and rinsed it out, once dry hit it with eastwood frame internal coating ... on my YJ I drilled 3/8th holes many years ago along the flat pre/post skid plate area and its still perfect today ... best of luck my TJ brothers ...

[@Jason_Phillips3679]

I recently just bought my first 1997 TJ for $3300. No major rust at all. Unfortunately it’s automatic with the 4cyl, but is in really good condition.

[@rolenrodes1371]

In Phoenix, AZ I just paid $16,300 for a 2003 Jeep Rubicon with 120K miles. It's Black on Black with a Black Hard Top in great shape and no rust. Very nice all original.

[@conifergreen2]

I spray lots of WD-40 in those holes on a regular basis. I paint the frame with Tremclad rust paint and then I spray lanolin based under coating on everything.

[@TheOnlyRealMichael]

Best in-depth frame inspection I've ever seen. Good job

[@tho464]

Got my 06 LJ Rubicon with 89K miles out of California. Completely rust free, gonna hang on to it as long as I can.

[@arthurnewman3483]

Plow contractor here we battle rust from day 1 with spray rust coatings like fluid film, woolwax, blaster surface shield, and even then after 10 years the rust is a killer it affects fuel lines ,brake lines ,powersteering lines. Most bolts at that point have to be cut off

[@DECDEC1220]

All excellent points. The values of these are plummeting back down to normal values now that the used market is calming down. Low mileage, rust free rubicons can be had for 12 to 15k all day long in many places.

[@tho464]

In what states?

[@cyrus6692]

Great video! I had a brand new TJ Sport that I bought in 2003. My jeep was well maintained and was never taken off-road, but Death Wobble started at 20,000 miles. After several unsuccessful repairs, it turned out the factory tires were defective. I replace the tires and the violent steering wheel vibration which would happen at 50 miles an hour went away. Please, do a video only on the issue of Death Wobble!

[@idratherbewheeling]

Death wobble is a tough one! So many moving parts and if one is out of wack it throws everything off balance

[@MrJd013]

Thank you so much for this video!, I’m gonna start looking for one in the coming months

[@brucesheehe6305]

My JK has drain holes in the frame - much impoved. It also has holes in the rocker panels for drainage and flushing, If you could put the 4.0L engine in the JK, you would have a winner for sure.

[@ec6933]

Try not to get excited is the best advice.

[@toniwright1127]

gosh I'm tryn hard now not too!!! fingers crossed

[@ec6933]

@@toniwright1127 there's a 50% chance you'll shoot yourself in the foot if you do. If you don't you might not get swindled lol

[@craigdouglasmartens7037]

What about drilling a drain hole in these spots once repaired?

[@poison_ivy_jeep430]

Thanks! This was an informative video, and came at a perfect time. I'll be checking my frame tomorrow for rust.

[@andreipretorius92]

I got screwed over. Tons of rust. Well hidden too. Miss it but yeah, didn’t have money to fix it. Ended up selling it

[@sleepwalkinpyro]

Ahhhh now we know the REAL reason you hate jeeps. YOU got too excited when purchasing.

[@andreipretorius92]

I never said I hate jeeps. I love them. I have owned 4 already. Currently drive a ford and wanting to sell it and get the right Jeep. When the right one comes I’ll sell my Ford

[@ryansremark6983]

Swapping over for a frame seems like overkill especially with a safety cap already installed just cut and put the end pieces on... There is already what appears to be, some surface rust on the other jeep too. If you catch the rust early on the internal frame just take a drain auger with metal chain, whip it around and blow out the chips. Once clean, dry and degreased put a quality rust converter in there. Wait 48hrs. Then Epoxy paint, or even better fluid film/rp342. And drill drain holes in each corner of the control arm 3/8 inch, done. That's a whole lottta work for crumbs imo...

[@trialnterror]

I paid 9000 for my 04 rubicon with 65,000 miles. I agree prices went nuts

[@briancastillo8454]

Awesome video down to the main points when buying one of these jeeps .. thanks for the tips greatly appreciate buddy

[@aarongerman7857]

excellent points on the frame and the all the water collection points. thank you! I'd Stay away from "how much they're worth thoughts" For sure mention what they went for in 2019, but that's a macro issue, inflation, supply being top of the list. demand probably falls off when the off roading-overlanding craze backs off, but the supply, inflation, car shortage, that's an issue i'd rather no comments be made on, stick to what you know brotha!

[@AndrewBotticelli]

Nice video! I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rocky Mountain edition in Patriot Blue. Completely stock with 28,000 miles original owner.

[@you7uber5]

I bought a 2000 wrangler for $1400 with no rust needed brakes and a fuel pump and been dailying it since I got it couple months ago

[@idratherbewheeling]

Nice, sell it for 15k

[@you7uber5]

@@idratherbewheeling im keeping it.

[@cherokeefit4248]

Rust is a killer on these. Once a frame is touched on the inside with rust it’s only a matter of time. It’s sad to say that the best days of the tj and Xj are only in memory. Mine is goo and it’s never seeing rust ever again

[@todhollandsworth4371]

I got my tj had water in my passenger floorboard under the carpet my cowl was clogged with pine needles and mud water couldn't drain out the cowl I cleaned it

[@Galavantin]

I washed the inside of my LJ with Floyd film then went to ace hardware and bought. 1 1/4 rubber plugs to cover the side vent holes next to tires. What was that engineer on to put holes next to the tires so all the sand and road wash pours in and sits ?

[@ajbahe]

Great Video, I'm currently looking for TJ now

[@NITROUS_NU.B]

Man!!! You were 100% correct on ALL that was said on here, especially the fact that they are cool and all, but not really that well built of a vehicle 😂😂😂, I couldn't have conveyed that message better myself....

[@trialnterror]

My 04 rubicon frame is perfect, I was going to say drill drain holes!

[@markiskool]

Would you rather deal with rust and rot or the death wobble on a pristine jeep?

[@steveblankenship2413]

I got my 2001 cheap and had it fixed the guy does alot of them and is good, he paints everything and puts drain holes in it ,in Ohio they rust I. half if you drive them In the rain a d snow

[@Tony-ow3if]

100% True. I have just looked at 15 TJs in Germany and every vehicle was seriously rusted at those points. A huge design and manufacturing error...sadly so as the TJ is possibly the most appealing 4wd out there. And yes...as he says - don't let your emotions get the better of you - They Love Rust

Seems that TJs are getting more and more expensive. Regularly see them advertised at $13k+ w/ 90,000+ miles in my area.

[@ujayet]

I think it's going up because people are starting to realize because new jeeps are not real jeeps they are full of fiat engines.. this drives the price of older jeeps higher because of it.

[@HereForAStorm]

now that's 17k+

[@jasontanner5656]

I have the replacement patches for now rear control arm mounts and the center sections. And all have drain holes in them already. Haven't put them on yet tho. That's coming up very soon. Passengers side rear control arm spot is rotted out.

[@idratherbewheeling]

They must have been updated since I got mine done. Goodluck with the project!

[@sirvilhelmofyonderland]

Good video! 👍👍👍 I’m looking at an 05 Rubicon for purchase this week

[@robinhanscom1882]

I have an 03 tj with absolutely no rust. There was one owner before me and he had to have garage kept it. I keep it fluid filmed and I’m sure that helps.

[@idratherbewheeling]

Nice! These things will be hard to come across one day.

[@ujayet]

I've never seen a rusty vehicle broke... I'm not saying it's ok to have rust..just never seen it's not drivable... why dont manufacturers start using stainless steele to make jeep frames?..I really want to know.

[@capttrips1523]

In a state that requires an inspection sticker tho, rusted frame will keep ya from getting neccessary sticker

[@kschaef65]

We bought a used 2004 Jeep Wrangler LJ. It's pretty clean and I think we did a good job finding and evaluating it. We are having some trouble with it running a little rough and an occasional check engine light. The local Chrysler/Jeep dealer has replaced all the O2 sensors and the fuel pump so far. We had our PCM tested and it checks out okay. Any suggestions?

[@HereForAStorm]

sounds like the PCM

[@jenniferenriquez505]

Glad to see you appreciate the Tjs. I have a 2003 Tj in mint condition with no rust and people offer me basically nothing for it. Pretty offending.

[@robinhanscom1882]

They don’t appreciate how rare you can find a tj in mint condition.

[@rtmdlawncare5774]

I have had two CJ-7’s and three YJ’s. After a long period of being a dad .... I’m looking at TJ’s. So, two to look at Wednesday. One has a R title but very very clean and accident pics show minor front damage.why it was totaled I have no clue. The other is a 4 banger but .... very very clean also. Now I am well informed and know what to look at. Thanks.

[@rappidgamer142]

Perks of living in the south is minimal rust

[@isachar2013]

Someone sold me one with rotten frame .. 😔 but my rubicon doesn't have rust problems. So I'm ok for now

[@tripleseven8361]

A great video… Thanks! You may want to mention the windshield as well… I have an 06 TJ sport that I have done my best with undercoating etc., but I still ended up with rust on the inside of the windshield frame… Discovered it too late, though it’s not showing on the outside yet… I’ve been unable to find a Mopar windshield to replace it.

[@ArtHistoryNstuff332]

I have been looking at Jeeps for months now, literally every Jeep I have looked at has rust. Even those less than 10 years old have rust. Did they install rust at the factory as standard equipment?

[@jameshambrick9977]

Thanks for the update I own a 94 jeep wrangler and I have frame rot in the right rear also on the left rear not as bad as the right how do I fix it it's at the body mount on right side

[@thomasgreen7113]

Look for Safe T Cap kit and have it welded on. Have cut out the rot first though.

[@josh3908]

A mint TJ not an LJ in the United Kingdom will set you back $25,000 easy, a real rusty beat up TJ will probably set you back at least $9,000. Love your Jeep.

[@sawyerbeck2370]

Is rust only an issue in the rust belt or anywhere?

[@idratherbewheeling]

It’s pretty isolated to the rust belt but it’s always good to check anyway.

[@Galavantin]

I put rubber plugs in the 1 1/4 holes in the frame next to the tires. To keep water and mud from entering so easy. It seem there's plenty of vent holes. What's your thoughts on this idea ?

[@idratherbewheeling]

Its a good idea to cover up the holes but if moisture does get in there you should take them out to allow some airflow

[@amx19733]

Great content!!!!

[@messix7768]

great video. not many out there that address this issue

[@bazas4290]

Good informative video 🤙🏽 what brand bead locks are you using on that TJ? And what size are they 🙏🏽

[@williambreeze2659]

Thanks for the pointers!

[@idratherbewheeling]

Glad I could help a little bit!

[@indridcold8433]

There are no lemon Wrangler TJs. There are Wrangler TJs in different levels of modification and building readiness.

[@jenniferdarnell7231]

After all these years of making wranglers, why doesn't Jeep do something about these water gathering spots?

[@RSTI191]

If these are so great, why do they rust so easily?

[@steveblankenship2413]

so your swamping engines and drivetrains ? is the better Jeep a 4 cylinder and your wanting the 4.0 in the good Jeep ?

[@Chasitek]

No, his is a 4.0. He legit just showed us why he’s swapping it. His frame is bad and the other frame is good.

[@steveblankenship2413]

@@Chasitek yes he did show us, but what I don't understand is why swamp it out, if the good Jeep has a 4.0 why swamp them out ? just part the junk one out and add goodies to the good Jeep ?

[@Chasitek]

@@steveblankenship2413 he’s swapping it over because of the frame. there are absolutely no goodies on the new jeep besides the solid frame. Lol. He’s swapping all the goodies from his built jeep onto the clean frame of the donor jeep. He literally bought the donor jeep just for the frame basically. Maybe I missed it, but I don’t believe he’s swapping engines. Unless his jeep has less miles than the donor jeep.

[@steveblankenship2413]

@@Chasitek yeah not sure I thought he was swamping everything, we will see he has video's to come iam. sure

[@idratherbewheeling]

Steve, the new Jeep is a crusty 227k mile 4.0 with a grinding 5spd trans. I do not know how the frame is in such good condition but just about everything around it is either leaking or rusted lol

[@tracewell]

Solid video. Thanks!

[@ec6933]

I just sold mine in October after having it for 4 years it was a 2001. I thought I looked everywhere and did a good enough job but there was a pinhole on the rear shock mount I hadn't seen and after 4 years it started to form on the other side just beyond the shock mount toward the front. And then the body had a few holes around it that had grown. oddly enough it was a nightmare to own it was supposed to be dependable but I bet I put 15 grand in batteries alternators HVAC systems electronics it was horrible it took me 6 months to sell and while it was beautiful and looked amazing what a nightmare I'll never own another TJ I can't bring myself to do it I've had about 30 cars and it was the worst thing I've ever owned as far as constantly fixing stuff it baffles my mind that people daily drive is how do you have that much time and money I have no idea. Lol

[@causeuncause4059]

I haven’t had problem with mine but I just hit 100k miles

[@devo3243]

@@causeuncause4059 315'000km and I just changed the factory clutch. However, Australia isn't bad for rust so that's never really an issue here

[@75thteaster54]

Excellent video bro? Just like u said there nothing special just be patient

[@huckfu5557]

Maybe spray WD-40 in the holes every couple months

[@the_bencredible]

I wouldn’t sell my ‘98 TJ for under $15k

[@queensapphire7717]

I had the chance to buy a 2005 with 55k miles for $13k, BUT that frame was coated in that goddamn tar anti rust, I ran away. It was the worst undercoating job I saw, and stunk when the Jeep got hot, as the exhaust system had it all over the place. A lot of those frames were made with sub par steel, and even though you add drain holes, still rots away.

[@davidgriffin4401]

LJ?

[@Zavakar]

I cant find any of these for less than 12 grand

[@danphillips6606]

U mean they make them without lemons " " ?

[@austingirdner92]

About to spend $6500 on a 01 with 130k 4.0 auto

[@Sebcrab-ml1cu]

Instead of bringing stuff to dig around under those things why not just do yourself a huge favor and send it to a reputable mechanic for a professional thorough pre purchase inspection and be sure to make sure that it will include any and every concern you may have?? 😉 👌

[@saratc660]

I got my LJ for $8500 :D

[@xbpbat21x]

Sorry, but my junior high humor heard "put your fingers in all the holes that you can" 😛

[@idratherbewheeling]

You know the deal

[@d.s7741]

so the previous owner of that Jeep was pretty smart to sell it after so many miles, so he wouldn't be stuck with a rotted out Jeep

[@jamesbrown7991]

Buy ur jeep in florida...so tired of seeing salt rusts come from north

[@thomasbrustad5596]

Man, you have put the camera down. Video was difficult to watch, I move on to a different video

[@joaopedroalbernaz]

More tan a rust free Jeep you need a camera tripod. I really wanted to watch but I can't stand the movement, feels like I'm inside a washing machine. Couldn't pass over the 3 minute mark. Maybe I'm too old for those bouncy milenial videos.

[@AustinRyanBarrer]

is it bad if there is dried mud/dirt inside my frame holes?