Becoming a “Jeeper” – Inspecting a used Jeep

Making the decision to become a jeeper (a.k.a. jeep owner) is sure to be an exciting time in your life. Congratulations for deciding to enter the fold! Now let’s focus on how to find the Jeep of your dreams.  Naturally, some newbies may prefer to start with a “newborn Jeep.” If this is the case, then our choice for you would be a JK Wrangler - There’s just something about that new Jeep smell! For those who can’t afford a shiny JK, there are bound to be a few rugged individuals still in need of a Jeeper’s love, probably lurking at that small used car lot in your hometown. Finding the right Jeep for yourself will take time and energy, so any preparations you can make before you shop will go a long way.

First things first. Identify the Jeep model, engine, drivetrain, and price range that best suits you.
When your choice has been narrowed down to “the one,” start looking for it. Most Jeepers do not want let go of their beloved friend once they have found him or her, so finding your “dream” Jeep may take a while. Now I must warn you that when it does finally roll into your driveway, it will probably not be smelling like a new JK. In fact, it will probably smell of warm summer days at the beach, camping trips into vast mountain wildernesses, or it may even look (and smell) like it just took a mud bath.

For this reason, the well-informed Jeep recruiter will be aware of the fact that Jeeps have a knack for going over, under, into, and through all kinds of unimaginable places.Remember that a great memory to the previous owner may turn out to be a pain in the neck for you. Long summer days at the beach can encourage rust and corrosion and may potentially create a long term financial problem. Get down and crawl under the Jeep to inspect the frame, body, motor, interior and all other major outward components of the jeep to be sure there is minimal damage, if any. That serene mountain camping trip the previous owner took may have also involved crawling over large rocks and trail obstacles. Look for indentations or scrapes to the undercarriage, body, roll bars, and anywhere else that may have been rolled, impacted, scraped or just plain abused! A mud bath is natural for a Jeep, but mud can also act as sandpaper, degrading metal, plastic and rubber over time. Mud can also penetrate a Jeep’s worn-out, protective elements and get into the moving parts (or the belly of) your beast, creating internal damage.

This being said, when inspecting used Jeeps you must remember to be on the lookout for hints as to what your off-roading candidate has been through, as these subtle clues can help you distinguish between a Jeep that was once a “super-jeep” (rocketing through the air to save beautiful women in distress) or a “clark-jeep” (mostly sitting in news headquarters and drinking coffee). Being a detective in this manner will help you deduce whether or not this particular Jeep and you are going on another date. Remember, being a jeeper is a long-term commitment. Make sure the Jeep you take home will fit into your new Jeeper family circle. Live well, Offroad in your Jeep better!

Important Note: We highly recommend that you have the engine, transmission, and other mechanical elements of a “used Jeep for sale” examined by a professional, trusted mechanic.

Jeep Life, it’s a 24-7 thing.

This blog post was created by Live Offroad, an online store offering CJ & Wrangler Jeep Parts, including CJ & Wrangler Lift Kits, Jeep JK Wrangler Body Parts, CJ Offroad Upgrades, and many more Jeep Parts and Jeep Accessories for CJ & Wrangler.