Sand sled Question II - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

rocketman · 12-18-2003, 09:40 PM

I was going to buy a used Jeep Cherokee (the old style,not grand cherokee) with an auto tranny. Is this a good beach vehicle? What about tires?

I was thinking 95-97 4WD auto 4.0L Is there a thread about sand driving techniques and etiquette?

Thanks, Rocketman

Slipknot · 12-18-2003, 09:55 PM

Etiquette? = #1 Air down
2 move off the rut when you are coming on to let others by who are leaving, they have right of way.

fishaholic18 · 12-18-2003, 09:58 PM

Don't do it! A Cherokee is a money pit. At least mine was. That's why I dumped it.

Karl F · 12-18-2003, 10:17 PM

Well, I guess they can't all be good, sorry you had bad luck fishaholic, but a 4.0 Cherokee is one I would recommend. the 4.0 is one of the most reliable long lived engines made.

My son had a regular Cherokee 4.0 (stick) and had great luck with it, and now has a Grand Cherokee 4.0 (automatic), and this is a real nice ride.

Great on the beach, both of them.

Quick guide for beach use and the gear you will need:

http://www.mbba.net/Beach%20travel.htm

After rule #1, (Air Down)
I'd also suggest that anybody should take note of these simple suggestions...

http://www.mbba.net/Code%20of%20Ethics.htm

macojoe · 12-18-2003, 11:13 PM

Rocketman, I see alot of Jeep's out there!! I have a friend that has one and loves it!! It rides the sand great!
I have never owned one so I can't tell about there repair bill??
But I have a full size Blazer and there is no bigger money pit then it!! But i weould not part with it for anything!.

I have a ??? I just bought new tires and I have been told by one guy that they will never pass for use on the beach?? He says they are to aggressive?? They are:

Futura Dakota RVT, 31 X 11.5 x 15, Load Range C, the thread is about 1/2 inch deep

Karl F · 12-18-2003, 11:34 PM

macojoe, the Futura's are made for pep-boys by cooper, pretty good tire.. the HT or LT would be more suited to highway/beach use, the RVT is more of a mud tread. Depends on who looks at them when you get your sticker, I know that they would probably not let them pass at Nauset if the inspection nazi was there. You already have the sticker at P-town, that usually is good for a quick lookover when you renew, maybe the ranger will let you thru.

macojoe · 12-18-2003, 11:41 PM

I already have a sticker! So i hope that will be good?? I guess i should have thought about it better before i bought them

And yes i did get them at Pepboysm

$480 installed and Bal, air stem, and trash the old. And alingment. we will see in the spring?? I might be headed to the salvage yard and get some steel wheels and crap tires, in the spring?
Should have thought about it first!

macojoe · 12-18-2003, 11:46 PM

not my truck!! But a shot at the tires??

Karl F · 12-18-2003, 11:56 PM

I think you will be fine!
I just hi the Race's web site, and read the tire regs.. they do not mention aggresive tread as a factor!

Nauset DOES however...... "Tires must have a non-aggresive tread"

Those don't look too aggresive from the picture Joe!

macojoe · 12-18-2003, 11:57 PM

Thanks Karl!! we will see in the spring??

Red_Cherokee · 12-19-2003, 09:22 AM

Mine is a 94, 133,000 and never a problem. Keep fluids in a 4.0 and it will never fail ya. I have never been stuck either.

Mr. Sandman · 12-19-2003, 09:37 AM

red...nice vehicle but those tires do not appear to be aired down

Though the sand looks hard where you are....no excuse though.

Karl...thanks for those links!! they should be in a prominant place on this site for all to see. excellent info!

Red_Cherokee · 12-19-2003, 10:07 AM

No excuse? Excused by who? It's my Jeep and my tires. That particular beach didn't require airing down. Would you air down unneccesarily, I wouldn't.

Mr. Sandman · 12-19-2003, 10:15 AM

red, I was not trying to be hostile. If the beach does not require it then you don't air down. That beach looks rock hard.

Red_Cherokee · 12-19-2003, 11:44 AM

Yeah, that beach is pretty hard. I do pull people out alot though. Last year some moron in a AWD Subaru was buried to the hilt. I asked him where his beach pass was and he said he didn't think he needed one. I yanked him out. The idiot was below the high water mark too. 2-3 more hours and bye bye Subaru!

Mike P · 12-19-2003, 01:29 PM

FWIW---I don't air down on the north side of Montauk, because the beach is mainly gravel AND I believe that ground clearance is more important there than traction. Airing down does lower your clearance.

Cherokees are beach warriors. They're light and have a great engine and drive train. The only problem is the lack of cargo room and the fact that a full grown adult, or even a big kid, can be miserable riding in the rear seat. Most of the problem Cherokees I've heard about are those pre-1988 that had the crummy GM 2.8 aluminum block V-6 engine.

rocketman · 12-19-2003, 07:18 PM

Thanks everyone, I have some friends who have or have had 4.0L Cherokees and they have all had very favorable reviews. Every vehicle seemn to have horror story cases,but I think they are the exception not the rule. The cherokee seems to be the most bang for the buck. I think it's the dated styling that people are avoiding. I have always liked the styling. As to the back seat, It's just me and my wife, plus two dogs. We have a nice car for the times we need a back seat. I just needed to be sure it would work in the sand. Again thanks for the feedback, and I hope to be on the South County sand soon.