Ahh... you were about 6 hours of scraping and banging from the crack then.

You'd think with all the scraping and banging we did that day we'd never do it again! For some wierd reason I can't wait to go again. Strange.

Nice pics Ian

That's exactly the way I feel. I haven't got lockers yet so I'll probably have to wait till next year but I really want to do the Crack without any tires or outside help.

I've got a picture of that Liberty going over and he had about 10 people pushing and holding him over. I'd like to get through without somebody standing on the bumper.

I can also give you a perspective from the other side. I too looked at the X when we got the Liberty. The room in the front,(hip,shoulder) is greater in the KJ. I know I compared both at the auto show. I was too cramped in the X. The X has more rear seating room and cargo room, however.
Towing: Based on what I read here, The KJ is a lot better. It's rated at 5000lbs. I tow my 20ft F/S Glastron(3600lbs), my 18ft RV(2600lbs), and my race car(4800lbs). I have gone across country with them and the KJ did much better than I would have ever thought; mainly due to the weight and power.
Offroad ability: Honestly, their both pretty close. The X has more clearance stock. The KJ better approach and departure-a big deal on the trails I go on. I think crawl ratio and flex is slightly better as well on the KJ.
Unibody vs frame? Of no advantage when your talking the small lfts. Don't forget the Cherokee is a unibody and will go places neither of these 2 vehicles will go when modified. Moreover the KJ unibody is light years ahead of the Cherokee in strength anyway. Although I do like being able to do a body and suspension lift on a framed vehicle.
KJ LCA hang lower,but are much beefier; take your pick.
Suspension: I prefer coil springs over leafs for offroading and clearance. But leafs can be made to do very well.
Axles? I believe the X to have a strong rear, but I wouldn't bet the farm the're any stronger than the 29 spline ones in the KJ. I believe the diameter is larger in the KJ. I race on the 27 spline one. You won't break it on measely 32s.
Quality? Side-by-side I thought the KJ used better materials throughout.
Reliability? Anyone's guess. The drivetrain is proven in the KJ, but you may get nickle and dime stuff. I'll say maybe the X for overall dink stuff because it's a Nissan.
Tom

I'll go point by point w/ you (but more briefly)

Interior: Subjective, pick for yourself.
Winner: Too subjective to pick

Towing: KJ has more power, so will pull loads easier. Both rated at 5000 lbs, though, and Xterra has a truck frame.
Winner: KJ

Offroad Ability: Pretty much the same, but I'd say the Xterra ('cause I'm not a neutral observer).
Winner: Too close to call

Suspension: KJ has coils, so more "car-like" on road ride. Xterra has leaf/torsion. Flex is similar. Up front the KJ's LCA's are literally less than 6" off the ground stock.
Winner: Ehh, why split hairs, neither one handles very well and flex is similar.

Axles: If memory serves me, the KJ is a D35. The Xterra's axles are more comparable to a D44 (I think I saw somewhere they were a bit beefier, but still close).
Winner: Xterra

Frame: KJ is unibody, so it's weaker. Xterra is truck frame, so it's more durable.
Winner: Xterra

Reliability: Crap shoot if you're unlucky, but your odds are much better w/ an Xterra.
Winner: Xterra

Overall winner: You decide.

Thanks for swinging by Tom!

If you really want a off-road machine get a Toyota Land Cruiser and get it over with.





And a quick look in action: Fun Race Venezuela

I owned a 2003 Jeep Liberty with the Offroad Package (bigger tires, skids, Trac-Loc Differential,tow hooks & aux. transmission cooler). I also went to Jeep's Route 2003 demos and test drives. I am selling my Jeep and buying an Xterra for the following reasons: 1. Jeep's ground clearance IS LESS than Xterra. Specifically, I have scraped many rocks in the Jeep especially at the front arms which hang quite low (look beneath a Jeep). The skid plates on the Jeep are very tough, but I got sick of bottoming out when my friends in 4-Runners drove right over the same rocks. 2. Jeep does have excellent 4-low gearing (4-Runners got stuck, not Jeep), however I will take the Xterra's superior ground clearance. 3. Jeep is unibody construction and not frame construction. Altough Jeep is great on the highway, the frame strength is not the same as the Xterra. How do I know this? My Jeep was hit on the front/side by a compact car at very low speed and the Jeep frame was twisted like a pretzel. What should have been a $1,000 fix cost $6,000. 4. Jeep offers ABS as an option, but it is not normally available with the Offroad Pkg. Jeep people say that "true offroaders" don't want ABS. ABS is necessary for highway driving an has saved my ass plenty of times. 5. Liberty's back seats do NOT fold flat! This is a source of constant annoyance since I haul quite a lot of stuff & DOGS. DOGS LOVE NISSANS!

FYI. the backseats in the Xterra don't exactly fold flat either. There is a slight "tilt" to the cargo area when the seats are down. There is also the little problem of where to put the seat cushions once you do have the seats down.

Amen to that. My newly adopted pooch loves going for rides in the truck. I just picked up my keys and he jumps up and down.

Truck... frame....

only way to go.

Whew! It was tough waiting nearly 6 months for someone to sum it up!