Pre-owned mileage in the Jeep world

[TTU03]

I found a local preowned lot that recently received a 2020 rubicon optioned similar to what I want. Its got the options I’m after with 63,000 miles on it. I would assume that new of a vehicle with that mileage would mostly be highway. 63k seems like a lot but it also seems that our newer vehicles can have great lifespans with care.

In the Jeep world is this excessive mileage? I’m going to take a look at the truck and check out what the skid plates look like. I figure if the skid plates are clean the truck should not have been through a lot of abuse.

I would lose out on the 3yr/36,000 and 5yr/60,000 warranties. Would you expect any major expenses regarding transmission or engine between buying at 60k miles and say getting to 120k miles over the next four or five years?

Rubicon was the trim I wanted when originally purchased but I could not get my budget to line up with the options I was looking for.

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[NachoRuby]

Can you get it with a CPO warranty? 7 years/ and to 100,000 miles? That's how we bought our JKU. We've had to use it a couple of times for minor issues, but issues that would have cost us out of pocket. The oil filter housing was cracked, u-joints needed replaced. That's it for warranty repairs.
We also did need a thermostat at one point, but I did that myself, since it wasn't covered by the warranty.
We've since replaced ball joints and shocks.

Unfortunately, depending on how it was used, jeeps can be hard on suspensions, But otherwise, I'd have no qualms. Get a warranty, and look after the suspension, just being an off-road vehicle.

 

[TTU03]

Can you get it with a CPO warranty? 7 years/ and to 100,000 miles? That's how we bought our JKU. We've had to use it a couple of times for minor issues, but issues that would have cost us put of pocket. The Oil filter housing was cracked, u-joints needed replaced. That's it for warranty repairs
We also did need a thermostat at one point, but I did that myself, since it wasn't covered by the warranty.
We've since replaced ball joints and shocks.

Unfortunately, depending on how it was used, jeeps can be hard on suspensions, But otherwise, I'd have no qualms. Get a warranty, and look after the suspension, just being an off-road vehicle.

Ah good question about adding a cpo warranty. Will have to check on this.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Heck, all I have to do is answer my phone when it rings and I can buy an extended warranty on the spot.

Anyway, there's a guy who last year put 100,000 miles on one, I have 26,000 miles and am retired so no daily commute, others have more miles.
Likely mostly highway - but where did they drive to?
Yes, check the suspension and STEERING and brakes. Some people have gone through brakes already.
I'm not a good one to ask "should I buy used" as I haven't for many years except collector or classic cars, but I know what to look for as that's what I did for years.
Bushings in the upper and lower control arms, important on street driving but critical to check if it's been off-road as the flexing and articulating these do really pushes bushings to their limits. It's not abuse or a bad thing, just more important to check such things on off-road vehicles. If it's all stock and there are worn or shot bushings, there's a lot of us with stuff sitting on the shelves we'd probably send you just for shipping or less. Stock suspension gets replaced so control arms and track bars with perfectly good, even new bushings, sit on shelves. So don't panic if it needs such things.

Sounds like you are already using sound logic - the skid plates will tell you a lot. I have to laugh, though, as I used to service IHP cars (Iowa Highway Patrol) and clean undersides meant they went through a lot of medians going after bad guys and sometimes hit concrete culverts and ripped things off - but dang, you could eat of the undersides of those cars the grasses and weeds kept them so polished up!

 

[TTU03]

Heck, all I have to do is answer my phone when it rings and I can buy an extended warranty on the spot.

Anyway, there's a guy who last year put 100,000 miles on one, I have 26,000 miles and am retired so no daily commute, others have more miles.
Likely mostly highway - but where did they drive to?
Yes, check the suspension and STEERING and brakes. Some people have gone through brakes already.
I'm not a good one to ask "should I buy used" as I haven't for many years except collector or classic cars, but I know what to look for as that's what I did for years.
Bushings in the upper and lower control arms, important on street driving but critical to check if it's been off-road as the flexing and articulating these do really pushes bushings to their limits. It's not abuse or a bad thing, just more important to check such things on off-road vehicles. If it's all stock and there are worn or shot bushings, there's a lot of us with stuff sitting on the shelves we'd probably send you just for shipping or less. Stock suspension gets replaced so control arms and track bars with perfectly good, even new bushings, sit on shelves. So don't panic if it needs such things.

Sounds like you are already using sound logic - the skid plates will tell you a lot. I have to laugh, though, as I used to service IHP cars (Iowa Highway Patrol) and clean undersides meant they went through a lot of medians going after bad guys and sometimes hit concrete culverts and ripped things off - but dang, you could eat of the undersides of those cars the grasses and weeds kept them so polished up!

I had figured with the amount of inexpensive take off low mileage items on the various market places that I could swap out nearly all or even all of the bolt on suspension parts as needed or even right after a purchase for peace of mind.

 

[Erievon]

Is this in place of your willys? Other then being a rubi, are you gaining anything else you don't have? Looks like you've got skids, rubi shocks and springs, I don't know that 60k miles is a good trade for lockers and discos. That's just me.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Wanna buy mine ??! It looks great and hardly has any MILAGE and on paper says I have warranty!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

"Some assembly required" ?

 

[Maximus Gladius]

LOL! Just a couple little things. Buyer beware

 

[ShadowsPapa]

LOL! Just a couple little things. Buyer beware

In your case, should we add "Batteries not included" ?

 

[TTU03]

Is this in place of your willys? Other then being a rubi, are you gaining anything else you don't have? Looks like you've got skids, rubi shocks and springs, I don't know that 60k miles is a good trade for lockers and discos. That's just me.

Yes, exactly. Lockers in particular and the 4.10 gears would be nice for 33’s maybe 35’s in the future. The rubi is optioned close to my Willy’s. The trade off is to gain lockers but lose some life of the vehicle. I don’t think it is worth it in this case but what I’m weighing is the difference in vehicle life and maintenance. If say this pre owned rubi had 25k-30k miles at the same price then it would be much easier. We are looking at an even trade here with me wanting a new set of tires and the bed to be lined.

 

[TTU03]

Heck, all I have to do is answer my phone when it rings and I can buy an extended warranty on the spot.

Anyway, there's a guy who last year put 100,000 miles on one, I have 26,000 miles and am retired so no daily commute, others have more miles.
Likely mostly highway - but where did they drive to?
Yes, check the suspension and STEERING and brakes. Some people have gone through brakes already.
I'm not a good one to ask "should I buy used" as I haven't for many years except collector or classic cars, but I know what to look for as that's what I did for years.
Bushings in the upper and lower control arms, important on street driving but critical to check if it's been off-road as the flexing and articulating these do really pushes bushings to their limits. It's not abuse or a bad thing, just more important to check such things on off-road vehicles. If it's all stock and there are worn or shot bushings, there's a lot of us with stuff sitting on the shelves we'd probably send you just for shipping or less. Stock suspension gets replaced so control arms and track bars with perfectly good, even new bushings, sit on shelves. So don't panic if it needs such things.

Sounds like you are already using sound logic - the skid plates will tell you a lot. I have to laugh, though, as I used to service IHP cars (Iowa Highway Patrol) and clean undersides meant they went through a lot of medians going after bad guys and sometimes hit concrete culverts and ripped things off - but dang, you could eat of the undersides of those cars the grasses and weeds kept them so polished up!

I checked out the exterior truck this afternoon. Zero marks on the skids, rock rails, frame, or differentials. Paint was good except rock chips on door hinges(fairly normal). Tires look to be orginal, they would have to be changed asap. If the truck ever went off pavement it did not involve scrapping. My gut tells me the mileage is too high. It would take me another 4-5 years to get my current truck to 63k.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

In your case, should we add "Batteries not included" ?

Nope, those go with it! It’s the whole experience. This is the way.

 

[rubi2022sc]

So I would say pass on 63k in two years. I just trade in my 2014 JKU with 67k miles. Just replaced oil housing unit would have been expensive had I not had extended warranty, also replaced tires and radio nav unit before 36k. These could all be large expenses on such a new relatively young car with so many miles. Would want to see records as well.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Unless the price was too good to pass up AND it came with a bumper to bumper warranty (covering everything) well beyond 100k…I’d pass.

I looked used (I just got my new JT last week). I didn’t see anything with reasonable miles for a price that made sense. Highway miles or not…with 63k…you’re probably going to be throwing money at it in short order.

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