... and I spied Roothies
test on the Jeep Cherokke Renegade in Africa, in one of my Mags.
Seems to get an okay write up.
Unless I read it wrong, I am guessing that the 2.8 litre diesel is not coming here. I am more than happy to go for the 3.7 V 6 Petrol anyway.
It would seem it has good car manners, and some not bad 4 x 4 abilities. For those who are familiar with "Sky Trek", in the
Flinders Ranges, this would be the very hardest track I wish to traverse again, in my lifetime. So, the little Jeep should be okay for the Wolf.
Maybe a small lift, around 50 mm., 6 decent wheels & tyres, nudge bar and small winch. That should cover it.
I was thinking of permanently removing the rear seats, and fabricating a mesh cargo barrier right behind the 2 front seats. In
the spot where the rear seats were, I would fabricate a rack to hold the 2 oversize spare wheels & tyres, on the passengers side, and on the drivers side, fabricate a floor level
water tank, then above that, fabricate a 3 Jerry Can Holing rack for Petrol. ( Not my fav place, but where else? ) Above the spare tyres, I would have a mesh basket, holding all my recovery stuff.
Behind all of this, like where the rear
seat head / back rests were, I would fab up another mesh barrier, which then would separate the tyres'n'stuff, from my meagre solo camping retinue. ( New word, I think it's the right one, and it looks cool...would a Jeep owner use that word??? ).
I don't know what I would do about the indentation where the original spare would have been on the rear tailgate, maybe a canvas rubbish bag or something.
I reckon possibly a small roof basket to hold my swag & chair could be the go as
well.
So, over the last year or so, on this
forum, I have read, let's say... not very favorable comments on the Jeeps.
1) The 4.0 litre inline 6 is a thirsty bugger, is the 3.7 V 6 the same?
2) The diffs are a little soft. Okay, but will they last me if I am not
rock hopping, and trying to churn through endless
miles of mud?
3) The build quality left a bit to be desired. Is this still the case?
I am aware that the resale on Jeeps is not great, but I figure I would worry about that in say 5 years or so.
Is the Cherokee a good machine in sand? It's kerb weight indicates that it seems to be light enough, and surely a V6 should give it the grunt.
Any comments will be appreciated, but please bear in mind.... I already have a more rugged 4 x 4 ( Delica ), and it hardly gets a hiding, and the Jeep will be even less, as most of my traveling is simply NOT off the beaten track.
Oh, and why not something else, like Troopy or something? I want something that is a bit smaller that say mid size, without having to sacrifice any moderate off road ability. The new Jeep sort of looks good too..........
Cheers
Wolfie