Jeep Wrangler - any owners?

For this isn't a Toyota Tundra or Dodge RAM more suitable?

 

Marv I use to borrow one from a mate for camping trips. Good offload but his seemed to have quite a few issues and it was a pretty squirrelly drive in the suburbs. If you've ever driven a defender it kind of feels like that on the highway, needs constant attention.

On the bright side you can pretty must hose out the inside, I found it relatively comfortable and they're cheap second hand.

 

I drive a 2008 Wrangler Unlimited so this only applies to the JKs and not the new JLs. They're great if you're willing to accept their short comings. In the summer's they're hotter than your normal vehicle and colder in the winter even with the hard top. There is also a good bit of road and wind noise. But overall I really enjoy it and I hear the new JLs have improved on almost ever aspect of the JKs.

 

I've got a 2017 2dr JK Wrangler hardtop and love it. It's simple and there is a ton of stuff you can do to it for mods, although I haven't done much to mine except electronics upgrades. My wife is due for a new vehicle, and wants a new 4 dr. The driveability is just fine unless you lift it and start doing crazy suspension and bumper mods. Although it's never going to drive like a european sedan.

I don't think the cabin noise is bad, and you can get a headliner for the hardtop to bring the noise (and heat) down quite a bit. Although the best accessory I bought was a Blackforest Throwback top that I use in the Summer. It's easily removed in the Winter for those of us that live where it gets cold.

I've heard of several cases where someone rear ended a Wrangler at a stoplight and the Wrangler drives away with slight bumper scuffs while the other vehicle needs a tow.

 

Love my 4Runner and it's been bulletproof in some really shit situations (used to work in the oilfield in really remote locations). Surprisingly, my girlfriend and Mom both like driving it too. I think it's being up higher or something. Plus the cameras means they shouldn't smash anything while parking...

Huge modding community too.

 

Can't edit my post but, just realized you may think that's my 4R, it's not, but what yours could look like!

 

I've owned two 4Runners and wouldn't hesitate to anyone to own one; and while you can lift it and mod it with front and rear bumpers and "murder" it out, they still resemble a soccer-mom SUV in wolf attire. The built Wranglers with the same mods are just MOAR badass with higher levels of move-bitch factor, especially rolling on 37 Mud Terrains.

I'd imagine with kiddos you'd be looking for a 4 door, which I'd recommend based on the times I've driven Wrangelrs. The two door chassis having a shorter wheelbase is great for maneuvering, but tracking is a bit wonky and gets worse when lifted (though can be corrected with additional mods).

My wife's Grand Cherokee uses the same base 6 as the late-model Wranglers, and it has gobs more power, is smoother, and more efficient than the older 4.0 liters.

And if you wanted a ready-built rig with no headache, check out AEV.

 

I used to carpool with a friend who owns a Jeep. I hated that thing. Uncomfortable ride, noisy, felt like we were going to tip over around corners. His complaints were gas milage and maintenance costs. I'm not an owner though, so, grain of salt and all that.

 

Lisa has one as a daily driver. 2016 2-door soft top Willys. We took it up the Miller Jeep Trail bone stock and I just about crapped my pants--Wranglers are, hands down, the most capable offroad vehicles that you can just go to a dealer and buy.

Plus, as noted by previous posters, it's an insane modding platform. She put a cage on hers so she could easily carry some SUPs, and one of the directions on the install was "remove rear bumper." Now, if you've worked on a modern car before, you know that "remove rear bumper," means "block out the entire morning, get a 12-pack of Pacifico and your entire metric toolkit, plus spungers and pliers and cups to store the 32 bolts and 168 little plastic clips (121 of which you will break, and plan on removing the taillights and three other small body panels in order to get it done," On the Wrangler it's like 6 bolts. Bumper was off in 5 minutes.

As far as how they drive on the street? Innocuous is the best way to describe it. They are in no way scary to drive. Sure, you sit up high and the steering is rubbery, but that's pretty much the same as any modern boring SUV/crossover. And it does have an amazing turning circle.

In short, I was skeptical when she got the vehicle, now I can't imagine not having one in the family.

 

Yesterday, we took the Jeep out. California poppies first, then up Mt. Pinos, then down to Santa Barbara. Same day. No problem.

 

Yeah the turning radius of the 2 door is insane. I haven't had mine on trails yet but it's also the best 4WD I've ever driven in snow and ice.

I think the reputation of the Jeep feeling like its going to tip is from the older iterations. My buddy had an 80's CJ and it could get a little wiggy. I have absolutely no complaints with how mine handles.

Some issues...Rear visibility is crappy with the rear headrests and tire mounted on the tailgate. On a 2 door I get used to it because its short and the back up lights are bright for nighttime stuff. The newest JL comes with a backup camera from the factory on some radio options but these can be added pretty easily too.

The paint quality is not at the level of a higher end Japanese or European car.

Yeah, gas mileage is crappy. I get around 18-19 mpg. I make up for gas costs a little by riding a motorcycle a couple months a year. A lifted 4 door with big tires might be down in 12-13 mpg range. Worse if you do a re-gear for the Moab trail runs or towing.

 

We looked at the JLs. Some smart changes, mainly in making the passenger compartment more of a full unibody (no more padded bolt-on internal cage). Also should get much better mileage (the 4 cyl is essentially now a Prangler or Wranglius, light hybrid setup).

You don't have to do much, if anything, to a stock Jeep to do some insane stuff. Lisa's gotten deep in the dunes in Oceano, Miller Jeep Trail, up rainy, muddy, unmarked trails off the 1 that were just missing a big dog and a Pinto to turn them into a Steven King novel.

And that's not even with lockers or unhooking the sway bars, just limited slip. The one good thing about the pricey Rubicon model is you get lockers and sway bar hook/unhook via switches in the cabin.

 

If you do go with a used JK Wrangler I would suggest staying 2012+ since they redesigned the engine for the V6 and you can definitely feel the power difference when you are changing lanes are overtaking someone on the highway.

 

If you're going to do it, do it right.



"I'm hungry, feed me a Tesla" kind of look.