How capable is a base model wrangler?

"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes) 08/30/2016 at 22:23 • Filed to: None

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I wonder how many people buy a new jeep and immediately throw a bunch of off road crap on them when they have never even found the limits of it stock.

I think if i were rich i would still buy a base model 2 door one in mojave sand and replace things that break.

Nibby > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 22:27

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Pretty capable. They’re great for going over curbs in mall parking lots.

Die-Trying > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 22:31

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i’ll just leave this here...........

Clown Shoe Pilot > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 22:34

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Just look up the standards for “trail rated” and that’ll tell you.

Oh, it’s marketing bullshit? Never mind.

MonkeePuzzle > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 22:52

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i think this everytime i see a build. ditch the stock diffs, axles, brakes, suspension, and sometimes engine. so... jeepers just like the look of a stock jeep body? wait no, ditch the stock fenders, doors, roof, tailgate, and replace with aftermarket.

so... just the frame is desirable?

MonkeePuzzle > MonkeePuzzle 08/30/2016 at 22:53

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i’ve seen seemingly stock old jeeps happily crawl past a fully built jeep. seems to me, good tyres are the rihht upgrade, then work on your skills

Frank Grimes > Die-Trying 08/30/2016 at 22:59

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i hate it. also i wonder how many dj jobs in vegas strip clubs dude had to do to save up for that thing.

Frank Grimes > Nibby 08/30/2016 at 22:59

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how well do they park in the fire zones?

Die-Trying > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 23:08

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like someone else(monkeypuzzle) said, the only original equipment is the frame, part of the tub, and MAYBE the glass.......... be easier to start with a theft recovery............

its hard to reach the limits of the original crop...........

COMTNDRVR > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 23:17

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Had a bone stick ‘98 SE. The only upgrade from the factory was 15 inch alloys over 14 inch seelies. Drove everywhere in that thing. We added off-road lights because the dealership got confused and gave us KCs instead of stock fogs. My bro crashed it so we got a tube rear bumper. The rear diff blew so we replaced the Chrysler axle with a rebuilt Dana. But yeah, it was great for off-roading, even with the 2.5 I4.

HammerheadFistpunch > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 23:19

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People complain about mall crawlers, and stranlger (stock wranglers) and bla bla bla. Just get out and go with it, the tires will be the limiting factor and beyond that its just how much damage you are wiling to risk.

jkm7680 > Frank Grimes 08/30/2016 at 23:44

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Wranglers are crap to begin with, it would break on its own without any help from Offroading.

HammerheadFistpunch > Clown Shoe Pilot 08/30/2016 at 23:46

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there is a standard, believe it or not...but it floats based on the segment. i.e. a B segment vehicle isn’t held to the same standards as a D segment vehicle. Thats basically their way of saying that the cars that aren’t wranglers don’t have to compete on the same “trails” as the wrangler to earn the badge. Or put another way: its trail rated for what it is.

DipodomysDeserti > Frank Grimes 08/31/2016 at 00:38

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I have a base wrangler with the only “upgrade” being the 3.73 rear end and it’s plenty capable for medium duty off-roading. I’ve had the wheels completely submerged in mud and haven’t gotten it stuck yet. I do have halfway decent M/S tires on her. The serious rock climbers upgrade everything anyways, so you’re better off buying a base model and just putting aftermarket stuff on it. I used to take Subarus out into the desert and never got any of those too stuck. Compared to those my Jeep is much easier to drive in harsh terrain.

The main benefit of the Wrangler is that you can get a bare bones, body on frame truck with an integral roll cage, solid front and rear axles, and a low range for $25k. Pretty had to beat in that respect. I don’t get why people spend so much money on them. If you’re going to drop a bunch of coin, you’re better off getting a used Land Cruiser.

CRider > MonkeePuzzle 08/31/2016 at 00:47

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Is that much different than someone building a race car?

CRider > Frank Grimes 08/31/2016 at 00:54

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They’re capable enough to run the Rubicon trail with a good driver, though you might ding it up a bit. A 33'’ tire will fit on one (same size as comes on the Rubicon) without lifting it. Main differences between the Sport and Rubicon is Dana 44 vs 33 front axle, and stronger t-case. Very few people will find the limit of a 'stock’ jeep, and many will upgrade it for looks, not because they need an extra inch of ground clearance.

MonkeePuzzle > CRider 08/31/2016 at 01:09

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nope, not at all. and plenty of peoples race car builds do nothing more than mall cruise and car show

Clown Shoe Pilot > HammerheadFistpunch 08/31/2016 at 01:18

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Oh.

To be honest I didn’t do any research, I just snarked. I’m surprised that there IS a standard. I’m not surprised that not-Wranglers don’t have to meet the same standard.

Tristan > jkm7680 08/31/2016 at 04:45

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Say, chap- is that a Volkswagen roundel I see in your avatar? *Insert Volkswagen reliability joke here.*

Flman1967 > Frank Grimes 08/31/2016 at 08:11

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I’m on my 2nd JK (6th jeep overall), last one went 200k. I mildly off road, not Moab, but sand trails and rock in FL and in the mountains of NC. a stock, base wrangler is totally capable of off-roading to the limits of most people. The biggest compromise is the tires. Little skinny tires are cheap, and help fuel economy. So, that’s how they sell the base models.

I’ve typically done what you are thinking. Buy it, drive it stock until you need tires, then go bigger. Lift for clearance when the new tires go in. If you break something wheeling, upgrade. Most people immediately get jeep envy. They see a taller, more decked out jeep and feel the need to keep up. The aftermarket for jeeps is incredible, which fuels the upgrades

Jeeps carry lot of compromises, but off-road capability is a decent priority. Let's see, fit and finish, fuel economy, power, theses are the things they tend to neglect.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Die-Trying 08/31/2016 at 08:46

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The tires are 100% backwards in size with the wheels...

The Stig's former college room mate > Frank Grimes 08/31/2016 at 10:56

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My wife’s Jeep 2 days after we bought it brand new:

It actually did quite well.

Here’s what it’s evolved into:

The Stig's former college room mate > Nibby 08/31/2016 at 10:57

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That would be the soccer moms in their 4 door wranglers.

jkm7680 > Tristan 08/31/2016 at 10:58

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I've heard of more Mopar shit than Volkswagen shit.

DynamicWeight > The Stig's former college room mate 08/31/2016 at 12:03

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The Stig's former college room mate > DynamicWeight 08/31/2016 at 12:09

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I stole that pic off her facebook page. i have no idea why she took it like that.

WiscoProud > HammerheadFistpunch 08/31/2016 at 12:20

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I love mall crawlers. It keeps the vehicle in good shape for the second owner who is more likely to use it. I'm positive my land cruiser never saw dirt before I bought it, so I ended up with a relatively clean vehicle.

Die-Trying > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 08/31/2016 at 12:20

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form over function........... but at least its pretty..........*rolls eyes, walks away shaking head............

HammerheadFistpunch > WiscoProud 08/31/2016 at 12:21

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yup, me too. its 3rd owners who wheel Cruisers traditionally, so lets just keep on hoping that1st and 2nd owners do us right and keep them clean and tidy.

WiscoProud > jkm7680 08/31/2016 at 12:21

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Now now boys, they’re both shit for reliability, just in their own ways.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Die-Trying 08/31/2016 at 12:41

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I would legitimaly tell them that it looks bad. Tall vehicles are meant to have big tires. Not big wheels.

Die-Trying > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 08/31/2016 at 14:00

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let me tell you, i am THE guy that is stuck telling the rest of my friends........... “that doesnt work good together”........ keeper of unpopular opinions.......

i see so many of them, that you can tell that there is a ton of money and effort tied up into, but look like nobody took the time to step back and get a look at the overall project....... like they just kept shoveling money at it, trying to “fix” it.............

Tristan > jkm7680 08/31/2016 at 15:30

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I’ve owned many Mopars and many Volkswagens. Both are utter shit, and yes, I will buy more.

Frank Grimes > The Stig's former college room mate 08/31/2016 at 15:45

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thats what i like! evolution not take a brand new one that hasnt even been off road yet and throw all kinds of crap at it to make it look “capable”

Benzed92 > Frank Grimes 08/31/2016 at 15:56

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Had my brand new JK offroad within 60 days and 2000 miles of it being new. Pretty shocking how capable they are.

And then one year later..

jkm7680 > Tristan 08/31/2016 at 17:12

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I have owned several Audis. None of them bankrupted me.

Tristan > jkm7680 08/31/2016 at 19:37

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My Cherokee is currently bankrupting me, but to be fair-of the 7 Mopars I’ve owned, all of them were running/driving/usable vehicles, and of the 6 Volkswagens I’ve owned, 1 was reliable enough to serve as my wife’s DD for 3 years, 2 ran, but were by no means trustworthy, and 3 never ran at all. But then again, I don’t exactly buy prime examples (except the wife's MK 4 TDI Jetta... it was pretty mint when I bought it even though it had 150k miles).