Overall Driveablility of a CJ

[XJay96]

I want you guys to be completely honest. How driveable on a daily basis is the CJ with a mild lift on it? Im saying like 2in and 31's? I seem to be getting the same story from everyone I know saying that they are hairy to drive on the HWY. Input would be great! Thanks

Jason

[lajones48]

I drive my 85 CJ-7 everywhere. On the interstate at 65-70 you have to pay attention, but it's not bad. Of course my former daily driver was a 1958 GMC Suburban with NAPCO 4WD. It was about nine feet tall and took a fair amount of correction to keep it on the road. When I drive my wife's Subaru Outback, I don't feel as though I'm in touch with the road. I can also hear myself (and her) think, I never worrry about staying in my lane, and it has heated seats. Bottom line: if you really like driving a car instead of pointing it, CJ's are fun. If you just need to get somewhere safely, something else is probably better.

LJ

[sebas]

My CJ is my only vehicle...33's with a 4" lift. I drive it everywhere and its fine. Its nice to have another car though just incase, you never know when the jeep is going to start working again!

[web road runner]

I have had a 78 cj5 I6 with 31's and all stock that i drove in my early 20's as a d.d. on the high way floored doing 70 with no real problems--biggest problem was the snow in 2wd about lost it a couple of times--my next jeep and sort of current jeep is an 80 cj5 that was just about all stock except a few things and i drove it as a DD for a number of years with 31's and about 30 miles each way to work on the highway--once did 90mph racing my girlfriend then now wife in her honda (which is now mine that sucks 175k on it )--now even with all my mods and 9 years later I don't think twice about going on the highway but keep her around 55 and pay attention--she will go straight--but by no means a sports car--hey its a jeep right--I think you would be fine with that set-up if you use a little common sense and can drive somewhat

good luck

joe

[KoolBreeze]

Originally Posted by XJay96

I want you guys to be completely honest. How driveable on a daily basis is the CJ with a mild lift on it? Im saying like 2in and 31's? I seem to be getting the same story from everyone I know saying that they are hairy to drive on the HWY. Input would be great! Thanks

Jason

"everyone" doesn't seem to have a clue what they're talking about.

hairy to drive on the freeway?



what a bunch of idiots. you can quote me on that and send them over here to carry on a discussion if they want.

yes I've seen and driven some hairy driving CJ's before. all sucked because they were put together by a moron or not maintained. if a CJ is in good condition or properly built they are just peachy. there are days I wonder at the logic in my giving the CJ to my son and purchasing a new TJ for myself. I would still be totally satisfied driving a CJ as a DD. wouldn't mind it one bit.

btw my CJ when at stock height with HD 7 leaf OEM springs, RS7000 shocks and 31x11.50 tires was more stable and freindly at 115 mph than my TJ at 100. the TJ boinged and floated down the road and the CJ cruised fine. lifted about 3" with 33x12.50's and it's no longer the case but it was still ok to about 90. I think an excellent combo would be 2.5" lift and 32x11.50's for most DD use but I'm sure I could also get by fine with 35x12.50's and the appropriate set up.

old cracked frames, overly stiff spring or shocks, loose * like steering box or whatever, bad alignment, worn out bushings or * and NO, it's not going to drive properly.


THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of people have owned daily driver CJ's over the years and "everyone" needs their collective head examined.

[dillonjm]

My CJ on 35's rides just about the same as my TJ on 33's. Less tippy, but more bumpy. I guess that's the leaf springs. I've had it at 80mph and it get's a little bit tougher at that speed, but still doable.

Tracking is decent, hopefully it'll be great as soon as I do my tie rod flip. (With the RE 4.5" springs and no DPA it's a little bit of a pain).

[Getsome]

My 79 CJ7 is my DD right now and I have a 2.5" springs, SR, and 31's. It drives great and I'm on the highway doing 70 most days with out it wandering all over the road. Ruts in the road are a differant story but that is just do to wide tires and wheelbase. Biggest problem is worn out steering parts and bad bushings. I see more death trap Honda's with wobbling tires then I do Jeeps all over the road. I don't think that CJ's are good vehicals to learn how to drive if your 16, but thats just my opinion.

[SkiDog]

XJay96 it depends on what your comparing it to.
My CJ drives fine on the freeway, but my full size Ram drives much better.
I would not like having my CJ as an only vehicle, but it's a blast to take out when the weather is nice. A Jeep { any SWB Jeep } is not a Cadillac, and never will be.

[84CJ]

EXACTLY what KoolBreeze said.

If your CJ is going down the road crappy, something is wrong. If all suspension and steering is in place and not worn, you will not have a problem on the highway.

[LEVE]

Just one thing to chew on... this is a Short wheel Based Jeep... so that said, on a freeway it's not always how YOU drive. The way others drive can also affect the Jeep.

Because it's a SWB vehicle it is more prone to rolling and having the rear come around on you under some conditions. One that I can think of is someone cutting you off on the freeway.

These situations can make your choices limited...so be prepared and drive defensively.

[Idledyouth]

i have my 85 cj-7 lifted 6.5' with 35's and it ride nice and straight going about 80 on the higway. I even have the ability to hold my fiances hand. i just keep my left hand restd on the wheel and im fine. Its my only vehicle and i have no complaints. You'll have to keep it very well maintained.

[1984CJ]

I have an 84 CJ-7, 2.5 " lift, 31" MT's. When I got it it was all over the road on the highway. I have since gone thru the front end and replaced tie rod ends, gotten an alignment and corrected some of the PO's "upgrades". It is MUCH better on the highway now.

I expect it to handle better than my YJ when I get through with my upgrades.

[CabelCJ8]

I remember the time I drove the Scrambler from Des Moines to Kansas City just to say a few dollars by flying out of KC's airport. It started snowing on me about midway through the trip, and with no weight in the back, I was in trouble. I did three, count them, THREE, complete 360's on the interstate, going no faster than 30 miles an hour. People were looking at me like I was crazy, and I was in four wheel drive. I left compression marks on my steering wheel from the grip I had on it.

Now, at the same time, I have driven my Scrambler 1,000 miles round trip several times with absolutely no problems.

[jstandle]

Mine isn't comfortable to drive but I don't drive it to be comfortable. It's just a toy for me, my DD is a '02 Civic.

The CJ drove a lot better before putting bias ply swampers on it, that killed most it's road manners but the trade off for offroad ability was worth it since I don't drive it on the highway that much.

Jordan

[John Brereton]

Like everyone else has said. There's nothing wrong with how they ride. People did it for a long time before the YJs and TJs came out. I think the addition of the track bar was supposed to have improved the YJ and the need for one on a leaf sprung Jeep is another topic that comes up on other boards frequently.

It all boils down to what YOU personally consider a hairy ride. My CJ 5 rides great and I don't run a sway bar. A sway bar would improve the cornering but it isn't a sports car and the nose diving in the corners remind me of that.

[Karl]

I used my '80 CJ-7 as a daily driver for several years. I agree with KoolBreeze when he said "old cracked frames, overly stiff spring or shocks, loose * like steering box or whatever, bad alignment, worn out bushings or * and NO, it's not going to drive properly."

I replaced the bushings, put BDS 2.5" springs on it and it would cruise down the interstate at 80 mph without a problem. I did this with no steering damper or swaybar but I also knew that if something came into my lane that I was going to run over/into it and would not try to avoid it. Lane changing at high speed = lots of rolls.

It's no longer a DD but a weekend warrior.

[Tractech]

I'd want a bit more info before I gave an opinion.
What year CJ?
Is it a CJ5 or a 7?
Is it wide track or narrow track?
Is it an auto or a stick?
From my experiences, CJ7's handle better than 5's. Wide track handles better than narrow. Early CJ's (75 and older) handle worse than '76 and up.
Depending on the stick, autos can handle better(less torque shifting to upset an offroad suspension).

Just my .02

Scott

[Cjeeper86]

drove mine till i tore it down (2 years) now i drive a Focus to work and what not. when im done i plan to drive mine to work every now and then. look at my sig to see how its built. im to lazy to type anymore.

[soniccj7]

Nothing wrong with a DD CJ-7 as long as there is no slop. I up until 2000 I only owned a CJ and drove it everyday. I have been up to 80-90 with all my past and current CJ's. You should have no problems using a CJ as a DD. I have a 2000 Camaro Z-28 that is better on MPG so I tend to drive it to work more often. IN the winter its my only Driver.

[dana300]

I drive an '84 CJ-7 daily every day of the year with SOA on 2.5" SUA lift springs, 35x12.50's, and Detroits front and rear......

It isn't a Porsche Carrerra S, but it ain't no deathtrap, either despite what they told you on '60 Minutes' :argru2:

Skip the regular maintainence or modify one incorrectly, however, and it could be dangerous.....just like every other wheeled vehicle out there, tricycles included.......