How do the TJ guys do it?

[Daniel_187]

I've driven a few at the auto auction I work at on occasion. Those high door sills are a total leg buster!

They must care more about the "cool" factor than the utility of the vehicle they drive.

+1 I hate the door sills I had to get my big ass in the back of one and what a pain, and busted up my shin too. And the guy who had it had no roll bar so not much to grab onto to get in

 

[Ranger Kip]

how did you flip it end over end?

 

[Hopman]

how did you flip it end over end?

Easy. You just need a few explosives and the right timing.

 

[gcfishguy]

2004 Saab 95 2.5 turbo aero. THAT was a good handling car. And comfortable.

How's it work on the trails?


I had a Grand that I wheeled on stock-friendly runs. Wanted to get a TJ.
Everybody in the club said the same thing:
1 - Don't buy it for the ride.
2 - Don't buy it for the cargo space.
2 - Don't buy it for the gas mileage.

It is what it is. The short wheelbase is usually great on the trails, not so much on the roads. Nice high sills, nice on the trails, not so much for getting in and out.

3 of us went fishing the other weekend, a JK, a caravan and my 2wd Ranger. (We all had to head in different directions when the trip was over so took our own vehicles)

We took what's usually good dirt road, but we had lots of rain the week before. Steep downhill, then a long steep uphill. The gravel was really loose from being washed down the hill and the JK idled right up. 4wd, naturally.
The caravan spun and had to back up 10 feet and take a different line.
I had to try 5-6 times, not even get as far as the mini-van, and finally back all the way to the bottom and get a hard run at it to make it to the top.

I have good aggressive tires, but with no weight/traction in the rear, I was out-wheeled by a dodge caravan. ....

Apples/oranges...

I've seen a stock TJ be gently taken through trails that you wouldn't believe. SWB, next to no overhang...they're great wheelers right out of the box.

On the other hand, if you want to carry more cargo than box of cereal and still leave your rear seat in, you're screwed.

They're fairly easy to build, fairly easy to lift, tons of aftermarket parts available, lots of clubs, and they're fun.
No better way to make a torrential downpour show up than to head out for a nice afternoon drive with the top off. LOL

They don't handle that bad at all, unless you start lifting them. Even with a small 2" lift, the handling gets....interesting...unless you start making them wider too.

Sure the one you were driving wasn't disconnected or had a broken sway bar link? (broken sway bar link = disconnected anyway...no torsion)
Even stock, with a broken sway bar link they feel like they're going to lay right over on their side in a corner.

 

[Ranger Kip]

yeah.... missed that bit of info =P

 

[Spitfire1975]

How's it work on the trails?

I rolled it.

 

[adsm08]

how did you flip it end over end?

Got cut off by a BMW at 80 MPH and slammed the brakes.


Anyway, I didn't drive the Jeep like it was a sports car, I drove it like a small SUV, same as I would have driven an Escape, a Tracker, anything like that.

I think it's just the lack of tail swing/tail weight that gets me, every time I feel that rear end hop I think it's gonna roll.

 

[Ranger Kip]

ouch, and for a second there I thought you mean your ranger, and I was thinking they are a little to LONG for that XD

 

[adsm08]

No, I was talking about the Ranger. Almost any vehicle with that weight distribution, if you get it up to 80, and then slam the brakes to the floor as hard as possible, your rear wheels are coming off the ground.

 

[Ranger Kip]

wow.... well.... nvm then, haha