Let's talk about Wranglers

timwinters said:
:rofl:

There's a lot of off-road heritage in that aluminum transfer case. :rolleyes:

Jeep hasn't made a real jeep since they eliminated the CJ series.

Don't get me wrong, I like 'em...but they're no longer a capable off-road vehicle stock... like they used to be. Just like with most things in life (including me), they're not a pimple on the butt of their former self. ;)
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Dana 44s, 4:1 transfer case, 4.10s, rock sliders, lockers, electronic swaybar disconnect.... The only people who say they aren't capable are the ones that have never taken one off road.
 
cowman said:
Soon as I finish moving and get my new shop built I'm going to start working on this:

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=39920&stc=1&d=1434063589

hoping for a finished product that looks mostly like this:
14953SSS_Picture_2.JPG


I just like scouts plus it's a convertible and 4x4....and will be unique if I want to take it to car shows.
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IHC FTW:yes:
 
ktup-flyer said:
Dana 44s, 4:1 transfer case, 4.10s, rock sliders, lockers, electronic swaybar disconnect.... The only people who say they aren't capable are the ones that have never taken one off road.
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Stock?

I've owned a lot of Jeeps, but admittedly not lately.

My favorite was the late '70s Wagoneer with the Borg-Warner transfer case and a Quadra-Trac. That thing would climb a wall. It was a beast. The '83 CJ7 was a fun ride too.
 
I am the proud owner of a 1945 Willys MB! The most fun you can have in a vehicle, everywhere I go i am always stopped by people wanting to talk about old Army Jeeps.

Real Jeeps have round headlights by the way, glad to see that Chrysler figured that out.
 
I bought my son a 2 door jk when he turned 16. I got the base radio with Bluetooth. I believe it was part of the connectivity package. I didn't want to get too fancy because he had plans to drive to school with the doors off. I was worried about rain getting in the car and messing up a fancy stereo. I did insist on the power package for window and locks. I know it's anti jeep but imo very nice to have. The newer engine introduced in 2012 is decent but adding 20" tires made it noticeably slower in acceleration. Overall it's a very fun car. I drove it to Atlanta to pick up my daughter before the tires were changed. It wasn't bad but it would be awful to do now.
 
timwinters said:
Stock?

I've owned a lot of Jeeps, but admittedly not lately.

My favorite was the late '70s Wagoneer with the Borg-Warner transfer case and a Quadra-Trac. That thing would climb a wall. It was a beast. The '83 CJ7 was a fun ride too.
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Yep. They climb up pretty much anything. Especially the 4 door ones.
 
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Z06_Mir said:
I'm getting ready to order a Wrangler. Well, I was ready to order one and then decided to wait a couple weeks to get a 2016. I have the big things decided on but have questions about the little things.

Model: Unlimited (so 4 door)- Rubicon
Color: Hydro Blue Pearl Coat, because everything else in my house is blue so why not.
Transmission: Manual, because we don't drive autos here.


What I need help with
Radio: Do I get the 430 or the 730? Is the 730 really that much cooler?
Connectivity package: Do I need that with the 430 or 730 if I want to use my phone for bluetooth music?
Airbags: Should I go with the side airbags? How are these vehicles in crashes anyway?


Anything else I need to know? I've never ordered a car before, or actually purchased a new car. Wranglers have such low depreciation I've also considered leasing but we'll see.
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I thought you wanted to talk about Wranglers...
...but you didn't mention anything about gear ratio
...or tire size
...or axle upgrades
...or diff lockers
...or roll cages
...or lift kits


Are you sure you're not asking about your minivan? :D :D :D :D

Current ride: 2003 TJ 4.0 5-spd / 33" ATs (had to get rid of the MTs this time :() / Front LockRight / 4" S4T springs

Former ride: 1990 Grand Wagoneer / AMC 360 / Stock
 
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timwinters said:
:rofl:

There's a lot of off-road heritage in that aluminum transfer case. :rolleyes:

Jeep hasn't made a real jeep since they eliminated the CJ series.

Don't get me wrong, I like 'em...but they're no longer a capable off-road vehicle stock... like they used to be. Just like with most things in life (including me), they're not a pimple on the butt of their former self. ;)
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Well my stock '03 TJ Wrangler will have to disagree with you. I did many of the trails in the Colorado Rockies (Front Range side) during the years I lived there. Never got stuck, and did some of the more difficult ones also. I haven't driven a JK yet, but from what somes of my Colorado friends tell me, they are just as capable as the TJ if not more so. Of course many of them are now modified, but still.
 
In most of my world, Wrangler has to do with people riding horses pushing cows where they need to be moved. As for the car, it seems - around here, at least - to be a chick mobile.
I see far far more women driving them than men.
 
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warthog1984 said:
Either radio.

Unless you crank it to instant hearing loss levels, you won't hear the radio over the exhaust, differential and tires anyway.
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Maybe the newer ones are quieter but I thought it was interesting to read about someone considering an upgrade sound system in a Wrangler. I was lucky if I could make out the song on the cassette tape deck when going down the highway. :D
 
Wrangler?!!?
:rofl:hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha:rofl:

Sorry. I hope you have good luck with it.
 
Thanks everyone! Seems like I'm making a pretty good decision. I will be getting leather with heated seats... Gotta have some creature comforts since I'm used to the Cadillac!
 
Z06_Mir said:
Thanks everyone! Seems like I'm making a pretty good decision. I will be getting leather with heated seats... Gotta have some creature comforts since I'm used to the Cadillac!
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enjoy it. I'd still have one, if it wasn't a daily driver.
 
I've owned a CJ7, and a TJ Wrangler and taken them offroad all the time -

that said - the new ones are just not the same as the older ones - even the TJ - the inline 6 was a warhorse -

If you are ordering one now - I'd prob get a Willys rather ta Rubicon since all the offroad and rock bits are standard and little cheaper when it comes to optioning the vehicle. If you are NEVER going offroad or just staying on fire roads and trails - then you don't need the Rubicon or the nasty stiff ride it has on the road - imho. Get an Unlimited.

Now - have you sat in the back seat of an unlimited? Is anyone who might sit back 0here over the age of 65 or have any mobility problems?

If the answer is yes - then do NOT buy an unlimited. It is actually easier to get into the backseat of a regular Wrangler than it is the 4 door version.

As for standard factory radios - all of the ones from Chrysler are crap - the 730 is just slightly less crappy . . ..
 
ktup-flyer said:
Yep. They climb up pretty much anything. Especially the 4 door ones.
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Mine was a four door. Numerous times I'd have one wheel of each axle off the ground going through large ditches...think I was screwed...but it'd just keep on crawling through it. The 360 engine was a POS though. Not real torquey and an absolute gas hog.

OTOH...I've owned at least three Jeeps with the 4.0 inline six over the years. That engine is bulletproof.
 
I like them, Had a CJ and loved it. The new Wranglers are to short for my long legs, and they seem to bend more front axle housings than the CJ or TJ Same with control arms. We sell a couple every week.
 
Why does a jeep need a radio?

I know a guy who off roads in Colorado in his 25 year old jeep, and he has no doors, no roof, and he doesn't worry if it rains on a ride. Having no radio helps make it more worry-free, he says.
 
timwinters said:
OTOH...I've owned at least three Jeeps with the 4.0 inline six over the years. That engine is bulletproof.
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They were great engines, we had an '89 XJ with it. However the timing/crank sensors seemed to be the Achilles heel on them. Sensor goes bad at random, and engine just cranks, but no fire. Liked to overheat while towing a 4,500lbs boat, too, lol.

Don't think I'd own any modern Jeep except the Grand Cherokee, but not because I think it's more capable than other suv's. They just ride/drive nice and look fantastic.
 
We have towed with ours too. on several occasions.
 

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I've hated every Jeep 15 minutes after I got in it.

Noisy, drafty, no A/C heater working spine killing short wheel based evil flip over and die gawd awful driving rickety pothole finding bastages of bolts the lot of them...

I have a busted Grand Wagoneer that's waiting on me...
 
I've got a 1999 TJ with 190,000 miles on the odometer. Still runs great. Not used much, my son has it for the few times it snows around here. His 1999 Mustang (which he just traded in on a 2015 Dodge Challenger) was useless in the snow. Any amount of snow. Yes, it has that 4.0 liter I-6 engine, and that motor is bulletproof. It's like the Energizer rabbit, it goes and goes and goes. No trouble with the tranny, either. Over the years I've replaced the fuel pump and the exhaust header. Not much else. Tires, obviously. I'll take it back from him eventually. Now that I'm retired from working full time I might have time to play with the Jeep.

Just remember one key point, however. JEEP stands for Just Empty Every Pocket. If you get into modifications you will learn the truth of this. :D

Have fun!
 
ktup-flyer said:
It's Consumer Reports.... Your point isn't valid.
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How about this: I owned one. It was a piece of crap. It was always broken. It was hot\cold\noisy\leaked like a sieve in the rain\rusted out\not enough leg room\not enough headroom\no room at all in the back.
I will say this on it's behalf. The old inline 6 was bulletproof, and it could go in the snow.

The only reason I bought it was to get my son out from under the financial burden it was causing him.
 
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Shepherd said:
How about this: I owned one. It was a piece of crap. It was always broken. It was hot\cold\noisy\leaked like a sieve in the rain\rusted out\not enough leg room\not enough headroom\no room at all in the back.
I will say this on it's behalf. The old inline 6 was bulletproof, and it could go in the snow.

The only reason I bought it was to get my son out from under the financial burden it was causing him.
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I owned one. I was smart, and got a hard top with AC/Heat. I bought a JK, not a TJ/YJ/CJ. LJ's had room in the back.
 
I know a guy who had a $40k Grand Cherokee Limited in about 98 or so - he took it on a Jeep Jamboree - a guided ride - and he caught the side rocker panel on a tree 'nub' and tore it completely off - which caused the rear of the vehicle to lever itself onto the rest of the tree bashing in the fender pretty good and scratching the hell out of the whole right side of the rig. I pulled him off the tree - from the back - and he tried it again and got through - we just tossed his parts in the rear and bought him a beer later. He was pretty good about it - 2500 miles on the truck.
 
ktup-flyer said:
enjoy it. I'd still have one, if it wasn't a daily driver.
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I have the Cadillac still, and they'll share in driving duties. People told me I was crazy for daily driving a Z06 too. And most people don't daily drive their CTS-V either... I'm a little crazy.


After the Commander though, I don't want anything without a warranty, especially a Mopar product.
 
Z06_Mir said:
I have the Cadillac still, and they'll share in driving duties. People told me I was crazy for daily driving a Z06 too. And most people don't daily drive their CTS-V either... I'm a little crazy.


After the Commander though, I don't want anything without a warranty, especially a Mopar product.
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I would love to DD a Z06. TVS2300 is in the future for my SS.
 
Z06_Mir said:
I don't want anything without a warranty, especially a Mopar product.
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Boy, you got that right!

From about 1980 to 2007 I was a "green sheet" buyer...employee cost...BiL worked at the Fenton plant.

I bought at least 8 or 10 vehicles at cost but in about '98 I quit. Even at cost I got tired of MOPAR's crappy quality, especially since back then the warranties sucked and most of the break downs wound up costing...one way or another.
 
ktup-flyer said:
It's Consumer Reports.... Your point isn't valid.
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How can a Jeep and a 750iL end up in the same ranking ?

These idiots complain about the long wheelbase in the long wheelbase version of a car :mad2:
 
since this is a Wrangler thread, this isn't a hijack ....

I have to put new tires on the '98 TJ ... currently have 32x12.5x15 Goodyear Wrangler MTs ... thinking about 33x10.5x15 ATs as a replacement

so other than the obvious math results of "1 inch" ... what's the real overall difference in height and width? I'm intentionally going a little narrower (I think) with the 10.5 vs 12.5 ... and is the overall height really, physically 1 inch between the 32 and 33?
 
Depending on the tread, I've send some 32s that stand taller then 33s.

I'm running 33s BFGs TAs on my TJ, personally if I ever wear those tires out, which at 3k a year ain't going to be for a while, I'd just go to 35s with a nice little lift.
 
35s would be too tall for the 2.5L 5 speed manual without regearing - it does have a 2" lift ... this jeep has been demoted to mostly daily driver commuter since my son stole - uh - "is using it" until he can afford something of his own.

My offroading has degraded into hunting trips in the fall on forest service roads with no time for anything more extreme.
 
Glad to see the little white Jeep is being put to more use than holding down my garage floor...
 
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