TJ or YJ

I'd like to buy a jeep for riding around town with my daughter for fun, but with enough capability to make a few of Colorado's 4x4 roads we drive for climbing 14ers. I don't have a large budget and don't know if I should choose a later model YJ, 95 or 96 or a TJ. I read that YJs had galvanized tubs starting in 95. I'd like to steer away from rusty rockers and floorboards.
One post I read here said TJs were not as durable as YJ's? I know the YJs have boxed frames, do TJs? I'd prefer the smoother ride of the TJ with coils and AC. Do late model YJs have AC? I don't know what a good deal is. Most Jeeps seem like Harleys, priced higher than they ought to be. I want a 6cyl with a 5 speed. I'm not a mechanic, but would like to put on a short lift, just enough to fit 33's at most. I'd like to keep it low for stability.
Your opinions will really help me make a smart decision, I appreciate it.

              Matt McClellan
              Amarillo, Tx  

the YJ will be easy to lift with some shackles or blocks. since its leaf sprung front and rear. or at least im pretty sure it is. the TJ would be easy too, with coil spacers. the ride will be a little better. both will have 6 cyl 5spds availible. there is a company that offers a kit thats spacers and a body lift that will fit 33s. i think its for the newer JKs. im not sure if its for the TJs and i think the YJs are out on that one. hope this helps. good luck  
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99 cherokee, stock engine and drivetrain. no lift with 30 x 9.5 wrangler GS/As costume tubular bumper and TJ fender flares with optronic off road lights on bumper

Thanks for the post bud.
        Matt  

your welcome. i forgot to mention that the spacers of shackles/ blocks are the cheap way. if your plan on moderate to serious off roading and/ or are going to go alot then a full lift will be the better option. this includes new coils and shocks and some misc. brackets for the TJ and for the YJ it icludes now leaf springs, shocks and and maybe some misc brackets.  
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99 cherokee, stock engine and drivetrain. no lift with 30 x 9.5 wrangler GS/As costume tubular bumper and TJ fender flares with optronic off road lights on bumper

i'd go with the tj, much easier to work with. on my stock yj, i run 30" tires. my tj has a 2" budget boost (retaining all the stock components, minus shocks) and currently on 31's. ther's enough room for 33's, but that's a future thing. like jimma said, the tj budget boost is spacers. the yj involves cutting the upper rear shackle bolts (thanks to poor engineering planning). you can get yj's with a/c, mine came with it



but if more comfort is what you're looking for, get a tj. you get better climate control, a nicer ride quality and a tad more front leg room  
I work to support my Jeep

id go with a tj also the ride alot better if your looking for a around town jeep and have a better off road manners and you can fit a set of 31s stock and for a cheep easy life a set of coil spacers!  

Thats what I'm thinking to. Thanks for your opinion.
             Matt  

The TJs will ride smoother, but both have their strong points. A YJ is siginificantly cheaper to lift. It will also have a lot lower buy-in price. But on a YJ, with the spring under set-up, you can't use blocks like the cherokees can. Shackles are the leaf spring spacer kits. Having wheeled both, I like wheeling with leaf springs over coils personally, so I won't talk about that. I do think the YJs are more stable if a lot of off-camber wheeling is in your future. The YJs do have less electronic components under the hood, so they're easier to work on space-wise. The YJs are simpler, but the TJs are a lot more refined and street friendly.  

Thanks grudd,
Good information. I appreciate that. I am somewhat afraid of buying something that far back, but if I learn what to look for maybe I can find one in good mechanical shape.
        Matt  

No problem. Just look out for anything with a lot of rust on the body and especially the frame. The YJ and TJ frame are bothed boxed though. With a YJ, you can fit 33x10.50's with minimal rubbing on the body and w/ trimmed flares with a 3 inch lift. Won't recommend any lower though. About the YJs being more durable, my guess is that's a discussion between leaf springs and coil springs. Both Jeeps are very durable, and should last a long time if mantained properly. Not rolling them helps too. Here's an article on buying a TJ that JP did awhile ago.

http://www.jpmagazine.com/featuredvehicles/154_0706_top_jeep_wrangler_tj/index.html

Most of the tips can transfer over to the YJs, but here's a link to tips on buying a YJ, also from JP.

http://www.jpmagazine.com/featuredvehicles/154_0706_jeep_yj_wrangler/index.html

My dad has a TJ and my brother and I YJs, so I know both Jeeps. YJs better obviously. I won't make a recomendation on either one since my opinion is biased, but hopefully this helps you decide. Just testdrive both and decide for yourself. Just an FYI, there is no 96 Wrangler, just leftover 95's. Just warning you. I've actually seen one advertised as such.  

bought my yj for 1100 dollars 4 years ago and other than vanity mods lift seats stuff like that i haven't needed to put a buk into it .... it's mostly a trail rig but is daily driven all over new england every summer  i usually take it off the road for the winter and do more mods to it then anyways you can find really good deals on these bad boys  altho i would recommend going with a fuel injected one  

YJ - older than the TJ, better interior, and has leaf springs