You absolutely should get things inspected by someone who knows....
But there's less to worry about on a TJ/YJ/CJ than there is on most vehicles, and repairs tend to cost a lot less than they do on other vehicles as well since most things are easily accessible.
Once they switched to the JK in 2007 things started to get like every other car, where the engine bay is stuffed with things, and components like starters and air filters aren't as easily accessible.
Unless something goes significantly wrong with the engine or transmission, everything else on the TJ is pretty easy to fix or replace with little more than basic hand tools. A few wrenches, a socket set and some Torx bits and you are pretty good on a TJ.
And there's not much that went wrong with the 4.0L inline six that was in Jeeps for many, many years leading up to the 3.8L in the JK. The 3.8L was so bad it only lasted a few years and part way through 2011 they started putting in the 3.6L Pentastar engine that I have. It has made the JD Power & Associates Top Ten Engines list almost every year since it was introduced- I have nothing against the 3.6L Pentastar, but it still can't hold a candle to the old 4.0L.
I have never heard of a catastrophic failure rendering a 4.0L worthless. I'm sure that it has happened, but I've never heard of it, nor seen it on Youtube or anywhere else.
The issue with a TJ is that you really don't want to take it on long trips. The short wheelbase and heavily sprung suspension means that it will beat the living smurf out of you every time you drive it, and the longer you have to go, the more pain you will be in when you arrive. I drove mine from Halifax to Portland, Maine years ago and I swear, I am still feeling it to this day!
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=6802.0It is also geared for the low end, so it struggles to maintain highway speeds for any length of time. And, if you need to pass a transport truck or something, be ready to down shift from fifth to third to have a chance, especially if there's an incline.
Of course, it's a pig on gas to begin with, and running at 70mph in third gear isn't helping....
Lastly, everyone loves Jeeps and that can be both a good thing and a bad thing. Always leave a little extra time whenever you go anywhere because more often than not, someone is going to want to talk to you about it.
It always starts with "What year is your Jeep?" or "What do you think of your Jeep?" or "Are Jeeps as hard on gas as everyone says?"
This will invariably lead to a lengthy conversation as they tell you about their friend's/Uncle's/ex's Jeep and how much fun they had in it, how much they always wanted a Jeep but never did because of family or cost or whatever.
The up side to that is you get built in, permanent free roadside assistance. No matter where you are or what the problem is, chances are another Jeep person will stop and help you out. And if they can't help, they will keep you company until another Jeep person stops to help. And if you are out in the woods somewhere and get stuck, there are Jeep groups everywhere- just post your location on one of them (probably on FB or something) and within a few hours there will be a dozen other Jeeps there, some pulling you out, some equipped to repair any damage, and some to fire up the barbecue and smoke dope.
Owning a Jeep really is like absolutely nothing else.
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