The TLC 80 is a high maintenance beast and the front axle is a PITA to work on. It's expensive, too. It's got more space than the XJ but not that much more. It isn't a convincing tow vehicle or a heck of a lot faster and anything you want to modify is going to be $$$. On the other hand, it's a more comfortable drive and an off-road beast right out of the box.
The TLC 100 is less of an offroad beast and more comfortable to drive, or at least that's how it seems to me being IFS. The engine is a lot more powerful, though, so it's better towing / highway wise. It's extra expensive, though, and I've worked on easier vehicles (though it isn't that bad)
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Either the 400 or 800 is cheaper, larger & ballsier than the TLC's, though not as off-road capable out of the box. They get similar fuel economy and to me are a much better family oriented 4x4.
The XK has been talked about enough.
The WJ, well, I kind of wish I'd started out with a WJ instead of XJ. That said, I'm hesitant now to sell the XJ & spend more money on a W. It ticks all the boxes for what I want out of a vehicle but I'd be afraid of running out of space in the thing (wife and I just had our first) and wishing I'd gone for a Tahoe.
I hear you on all this.
I seriously looked at a FZJ80 about 3-4 years ago and really the interior size was not a big upgrade. I didn't care about the third row as that wasn't on my bullet list.
Don't get me wrong, the FZJ80 is much better built than an XJ or any Jeep/Chrysler for that matter but it didn't solve my big issues: tow rating/power and rear leg room space for my boys.
The UZJ100 appears to be a good fit. I don't care about the IFS front end. I'd be building a touring machine and triple locked with 35" tires if it can't get where I want to go I'm jumping the shark. The IFS doesn't have a reputation for being fragile once the front carrier is upgraded with a locker. 265 hp, 328 kb-ft. Adequate... a Jeep I-6 stroker can make these kinds of numbers.
The URJ200 has 383 hp, 400 lb-ft. Plenty of towing power for my purposes. They are really nice, modern trucks built to a high standard. A buddy of mine in the car club has the Lexus version that he uses to tow his enclosed race car trailer. Probably a ~8000lb trailer and he has no issues. The air suspension in the back compensates for the tongue weight nicely.
Cost-wise, there's places to get TLC parts cheaper if you hook up with the vendors at ih8mud. Buy in cost is higher but you are getting a well made machine. I don't mind paying good money for good product.
Other trucks I've looked at are the first generation Toyota Sequoia and Ford Expedition. Mostly for low buy in cost and simplicity, ease of building up. While I like them my thinking lately is that they are getting too long in the tooth. There are occasionally rust free ones around here (towed behind RVs) but still old. UZJ100 is around the same age but most are much less mileage and in better nick. But, still kinda old... makes me think about the URJ200 again.
Sentimentally I really like the WJ from a packaging and performance point of view. I just don't want to go down that road for a long range truck. For day trips it'd be fine. For a few weeks out at a time I'd prefer something nicer and more roomy. So, the XJ does the short range role already... We did a four week trip in the XJ this summer towing a ~3500 lb trailer. Jeep probably weighed ~5000lbs with gear and passengers. It was painful in the mountains. I need/want a bigger machine. I'm not convinced a WJ would be much better, maybe the Overland version for towing but then it's not much bigger inside.
I'm not a fan of the GMs. I like the look of them but the interiors really bug me (I haven't looked at the latest stuff). I'm not sure if I'd trust one to go off-road much more than a forest access road. It'll all twist up and break stuff... but that could be just my biases from the past. If off-road doesn't matter then of course this stiff doesn't matter.
Too bad we don't get the Nissan Patrol here.
My rambling 2¢
