fog lamps, and plastic ends on the front bumper. An AM/FM stereo with cassette player, rear speaker sound bar, unique cloth-and-vinyl high-back bucket seats, rear removable bench seat, exterior color steel wheels, and air-conditioning were all standard on this model.
• From October 1990 until 1994, the Wrangler YJ offered the Renegade Decor Group. All Renegades came in white, black, or red exterior colors. Blue and bronze were added for the 1992 and 1993 model years. The Renegade option package cost $4,266 beyond the base Wrangler for 1991 and included special alloy wheels, fender flares, and additional features. The Renegade Decor Package included a 4.0L 242-ci I-6 engine, 30x9.5R15LT OWL Wrangler all-terrain tires, exclusive five-hole aluminum wheels that were 8 inches wide, a full-size spare tire, high-back seats, off-road gas shock absorbers, power steering, fog lamps (integrated into the front fenders), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Renegade striping, floor carpeting, front floor mats, extra-capacity fuel tank (20 US gallons), color-keyed fender flares with integrated side steps, front and rear plastic bumpers, a center console with cup holders, courtesy and engine compartment lights, interval wipers, and a glove box lock.
Other YJ options include a hardtop costing $923 and required a rear window defroster at $164. Soft-top models came standard with half doors, but full-framed doors with glass windows were an option. All 6-cylinder Wranglers offered air-conditioning as an option. Renegades had the tilt steering wheel ($130) and an AM/FM/cassette stereo radio ($264). A column-shifted automatic was also available.
• The Rio Grande edition was offered in Champagne Gold, Moss Green, White, Aqua Pearl metallic, and Bright Mango with a Pueblo-themed interior trim package. This trim was only available in 1995 and was added to spice up the base 4-cylinder Wrangler S models. A cassette player, rear speaker sound bar, and cloth high-back bucket seats came standard. Air-conditioning and alloy wheels were all available on this model. Red-and-orange “Rio Grande” decals adorned both rear fenders.
• Many options available for the YJ in later years of production were the same as those available later on the Wrangler TJ. A soft top with half doors featuring soft plastic zipper windows came standard. Side windows could be removed from the doors. Full-frame doors with glass windows were an option on soft-top models. YJs ordered with hardtops came with a rear wiper and defroster. Hardtops included full-framed doors. Half-door YJs used large mirrors with adjustable arms. Full-size doors received smaller adjustable mirrors with fixed arms. Depending on year and interior color, the YJ hardtops were available with top colors in black, white, tan, and gray.
• The Wrangler YJ specifications are close to its CJ7 predecessor. The YJ exceeds the length and height of the CJ7 but is actually slightly narrower. The Wrangler TJ that followed the YJ is very similar in dimensions to the YJ. The frame and some body panels are nearly identical. Engine choices for the TJ mirror those offered in the later model years of the YJ. Many driveline components share the same heritage from the YJ to the TJ.
Today, the Wrangler YJ enjoys a surge in popularity and the resale prices reflect this. Currently, Wrangler YJs in stock, good condition sell for up to $15,000. Modified YJs can fetch up to $20,000 or more, depending on condition and the extent of modifications.
Today, YJs with a few modifications make great hard-core trail rigs. Only the headlights, the grille, and the leaf spring shackles differentiate this YJ from the later Wrangler TJ.
Aftermarket product availability for the YJ is significant. In part, this stems from the similarities with the Wrangler TJ. For example, bumpers for the YJ also fit the TJ. More than 20 companies offer nearly 100 different front bumpers. Engine and driveline components also share fitment with the TJ. The product category with limited availability for the YJ is suspension and lifts. The YJ was the last traditional Jeep model using leaf springs. While many leaf spring lift options lure the consumer, few coil spring options or coilover systems are available. A dozen companies offer YJ lifts ranging from 2 inches to 8 inches. Many of the kits use brackets to move the leaf springs to the top of the axles. Only one or two coilover kits are offered. Many product options ranging from tops to body armor allow the YJ owner great latitude in upgrades and modifications. In 1987 when the YJ hit the market, 29-inch-diameter tires were considered large. By the time the top-of-the-line YJ Renegade reached the market, it featured 30-inch-diameter tires. Today, with moderate lifts, 35-inch tires are common on YJ builds.
While not as prolific as the JK aftermarket, plenty of great products allow a YJ build to go from mild to wild!
YJ Purchasing Considerations
When shopping for a YJ, it is important to have a clear idea of how you plan to use the Jeep. If you plan a mild build, the most economical route is to find a YJ already built with 33- or 35-inch tires. An under-axle spring lift is a better way to go, although with 33-inch tires the spring-over axle lifts work well. The stock Dana 30 and 35 front and rear axle assemblies will work as long as they are in good shape, are well maintained, and you tackle moderately difficult trails. For serious rock crawling and improved reliability, upgrading to Dana 44 or 60 axles should be considered.
In order to run larger tires, upgrading the steering linkages is a good idea. A heavy-duty steering damper helps control unwanted steering inputs, such as the Fox Racing Shox steering damper here.
The stock fenders on the YJ do not offer much tire clearance. The fender extension along the rocker up to the door could be damaged in rough, rocky terrain.
Adding a high-quality battery, such as the Optima Yellow Top, improves reliability, especially when winching. The cold air intake adds a little power, which the stock YJ needs.
Our personal preference is a Jeep with an automatic transmission for both daily driving and off-road adventures. A big part of the reason for this is the quality and utility of modern auto transmissions. The 4-speed automatic found in newer JKs with the Pentastar engines (2012 and later) is a great transmission for wheeling. But for the YJ, it’s a toss-up. The automatics of that era are not very useful, but they are easier to drive off-road. The manual shift transmission may be a better way to go.
Engine choices are another story altogether. First, any carburetor-equipped engine will be problematic if you drive and wheel in both low- and high-altitude areas. Fuel injection works much better. The 4-cylinder-equipped YJ is okay for wheeling with the correct axle ratios for the tires, but the inline 6-cylinder is better. The best engine choice is the 4.0L inline-6 that appeared in the YJ beginning in 1991. The earlier 4.2L inline-6 is not as desirable. The 4.0L features 177 hp and 242 ft-lbs of torque, multiport fuel injection, and a high-flow cylinder head. Finding a 1991 or newer YJ with the 4.0L inline-6 is the optimum choice.
Another option is to swap the stock YJ engine with the 4.0L. The 4.0L inline-6 was offered in Cherokees and Comanches from 1987, in the Grand Cherokee beginning in 1993, and also in the Wrangler TJ from 1997 through 2006. There are many engine swap options to explore.
The rear door hinges are adequate for handling the weight of the stock tire and wheel. Larger tires will need more support.
The stock hood hold-downs weaken with age, allowing hood flutter on the highway and in gusty wind
