I never crawled under a TJ

[Posimoto]

....to inspect the frame, and I'm surprised by what I see.

Seems the frames haven't been improved at all from the CJ's frames, in fact they appear to have declined.
Looked at a 2000 Sahara this morning for my son selling for $4000
The seller mentioned in his ad there was one small hole in the frame otherwise looked and ran good.
The seller sent me a pic of the one crack in the frame
After talking a bit on the phone had the price down to $3000 barring inspection.
We went this morning to look it over and the frame had several large holes, basically the frame was toast alone with the driver side floor pan and passenger side floor body mount.
The seller said he was a mechanic....when I pointed out the rot holes he said he didn't know there were there.
Me... how did you not notice all the frame rot when you were under the Jeep spray painting the frame rust.
Now he offers it to me for $2000
At that point I'm a little pissed, and tell him "now" that you know the rot is there make sure you tell the next guy that comes to look at it about the rot. I also told him he should change his ad (unlikely he will do either).
He seems to come off as a good guy but obviously he is trying to get over on someone.
Sad part, someone will go look at the Jeep and never crawl under it to see how bad it really is.
I could have walked away with that Jeep for $1000-$1200 but wouldn't to business with him. 
 
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/6054443451.html

Last Friday I looked at 2 yj's, same deal both had rear frame rails missing and cross members were shot.

I've seen CJ's with rotted rear frame rails, but noting like what I'm seeing with tj's and yj's

What's the deal?

Also, I thought the Sahara came with a rear 44, but this one was a 35. I guess it was an option for that model.




     

[05rckymtn]

Thin wall material coupled with no drain holes in bottom of lower frame rails. Sand gets trapped inside from the front lower control arm to rear lower control arm mount and they flake away from the inside out.  Of course there are always exceptions out there but I would accept that all 97-02 TJs will have rust issues or have had them in the past. I am seeing 03/04s starting to rust now and 05/06 still seem to be clean but it's just a matter of time if not properly maintained.

I always drill two holes in the bottom rail of each side, just in front of the lower control arm mounts. Let's me pressure wash all the debris out. Then oil the heck out of it.

[Ian]

if you ever look to buy a tj, bring a screw driver to poke the frame

[Posimoto]

Thanks for the info
Yup, CJ's have a couple sets of drain holes I'm sure that played a part.
I did bring a hammer with me this morning but didn't use it much giving the large holes I found.   

[Bluerocket]

I have a very clean 97, frame is just starting to get thin. 

[jps4jeep]

I "thought" 97 was the only year that the TJ could not come with a D44 and that it was an option for sports and standard on sahara's.

 

[jerry k]

Thanks for the info
Yup, CJ's have a couple sets of drain holes I'm sure that played a part.
I did bring a hammer with me this morning but didn't use it much giving the large holes I found.   

You should of used the hammer on the seller

[Ian]

I "thought" 97 was the only year that the TJ could not come with a D44 and that it was an option for sports and standard on sahara's.

 

my 2000 came with a d35

[SPYDER]

To the best of my knowledge, until 2003 the d44 was an option on the Sahara and sport.

[Bluerocket]

My 97 Sahara came factory with d44 limited slip

[Posimoto]

After looking at 2 more TJs that looked like new Jeeps until you crawled under them we found a keeper.
We looked at a 97 around 9 last night. We took plenty of lighting with us to inspect the frame which had been professionally repaired in the rear on both sides. The floors were original and looked new, all 8 body mounts and surrounding metal were in good shape.
We got home around 12:30  then unloaded it. We got this one for less then the others were asking for their rotten frame tj's with higher mileage.

[jps4jeep]

I "thought" 97 was the only year that the TJ could not come with a D44 and that it was an option for sports and standard on sahara's.

 

my 2000 came with a d35

Yup, and yours was neither a sport or sahara. all 4 bangers had D35 regardless of year from YJ on

[05rckymtn]

After looking at 2 more TJs that looked like new Jeeps until you crawled under them we found a keeper.
We looked at a 97 around 9 last night. We took plenty of lighting with us to inspect the frame which had been professionally repaired in the rear on both sides. The floors were original and looked new, all 8 body mounts and surrounding metal were in good shape.
We got home around 12:30  then unloaded it. We got this one for less then the others were asking for their rotten frame tj's with higher mileage.

Congrats!  Goes to show that there is ALWAYS another one around the corner. Good luck with the new rig!

[Posimoto]

Thanks Drew

[Posimoto]

I crawled under a 2017 Sahara and noticed they had drain holes on the bottom of the frame.
Looks like they corrected the problem, what year did they redesign the frames with the added drain holes?
Or is that just for JK's?