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5K views 37 replies 26 participants last post by  HRDRCK 
#1 ·
First of all, I want to say hi to everybody in this forum. I'm somewhat new in this whole Jeep world.

I plan to buy a Jeep Wrangler 2007+. I found a good deal for a Jeep Wrangler 2007 X Unlimited 4D, but after some research I found out that this Jeep wasn't 4WD. At first I thought all Jeep Wranglers were 4x4, but after finding a topic in this forum, I discover I was wrong.

I own a 1990 Geo Tracker 4WD, which I use when I go outdoors, but since it has no A/C and I live in a must-have-A/C city, that a problem for me.

I plan to use the Wrangler in the city on a daily basis, and take it to the beach, or maybe camping probably about 6 or more times a year. I always do 1 long trip a year, which involves driving more than 30 hours on a highway, and going camping for a couple of weeks.

The 4WD on my Tracker, worked very good for me, for all the trips I've done, and since the engine on the tracker is not powerful enough for me, sometimes I had to use the 4WD to go up paved hills on cities I visited.

So I was thinking maybe that I don't need the 4WD that much, since the Wrangler it self is more powerful. I've already read the specs of the engine, but I don´t really know how powerfull it is in real life.

Eventually I'd love to lift the Wrangler, and getting a good suspension system, to make it more for the outdoors.

My question is, how important would it be to have de 4WD if I decide to take the Wrangler to rocky or inclined areas? Do I really need the 4WD? These are my 2 options:

1. Jeep Wrangler Sport 2D 4x4 2011 - In case that a 4WD is what I need based in your knowledge. This is a 2 doors, wich is okay, but I would rather have the 4 doors one below.
2. Jeep Wrangler X Unlimited 4D 2WD 2007 - This would be the option if 4WD is not what I need. This one is 4 doors and is in pretty good shape, but the model is somewhat old.

I don't have a family of my own, so the Wrangler will take only me and my girlfriend. Some times friends. The extra space for the cargo on the option 2 is a +! I have a dog that I take always with me so you can see the extra space is a very good option for me.

Thanks in advance for you answers. Have a good day.
 
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#3 ·
Jeep should not be made in 2wd. I would say for you 4 wd is a must for many reasons especially if you are interested in lifting it.
I would also suggest a 2012 + Jeep as a biased participant but the 3.6 is far superior to the 3.8.
Don't sell yourself short, get the 4wd or buy a car. Not trying to sound harsh, just real.
Welcome to the Forum. Lots to learn.
 
#5 ·
To me a Wrangler without 4wd is like a stripper with no boobs, what the heck good is it?

Wrangler:
-Harsh Ride
-Poor MPG
-Limited Cargo Space ( even the 4 doors compared to like vehicle in the market)
-Expensive for what you get

The list goes on and on, but we love them anyway! The BEST part of a wrangler is 1. Going topless and doorless and 2. The offroad ability. If you get a 2wd you just took that 2nd one right out of the equation.
 
#13 ·
I found out last winter that the Jeep is not that great in 2WD in the snow, but is unbeatable in 4WD! Also, if you plan on climbing any decent incline that isn't paved, you will likely need 4WD and Low to make it up. The Wrangler will do a lot of things, but it does it TONS better in 4 Low!!
 
#15 ·
Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.

So get ready for a hurricane in the middle of a blizzard, while a volcano is erupting.

Only way you survive that is with 4WD.
 
#18 ·
4WD then

Well, it seems that a 4WD is a must by the looking of your answers. Then I think I'm going to wait until I find a proper 4WD 4D that fills my eyes. In that case, what are the differences between the type of Wrangler? I've seen there's the Sport version, the X Unlimited, the Sahara, and I don't really know if there's another. Are the differences between them only the way it looks, or the features on it, or one is more stable than the other? Thank you all for the input, I really appreciate it!
 
#22 ·
Well, it seems that a 4WD is a must by the looking of your answers. Then I think I'm going to wait until I find a proper 4WD 4D that fills my eyes. In that case, what are the differences between the type of Wrangler? I've seen there's the Sport version, the X Unlimited, the Sahara, and I don't really know if there's another. Are the differences between them only the way it looks, or the features on it, or one is more stable than the other? Thank you all for the input, I really appreciate it!
These are the various trim levels available. The Sport is the base model, then the Sport S, Sahara and then Rubicon. Each model comes standard with certain features, such as power doors and windows, Uconnect, etc. Take a look at Jeep's website to compare and then decide what you must have.
 
#20 ·
You don't need 4WD as a DD which is why the majority of vehicles don't have it and why the majority of jeep wrangler owners have a lever to switch into 4WD when that daily drive isn't quite so normal.

Shortly after I bought my 2015 I ran into someone with an older jeep and I was asking if he ever off roaded with it. I never realized until then that jeep made a 2WD wrangler several years back.

Even if you have no immediate plans to use 4WD I think that for various reasons mentioned here that you'll be happier if you had it available in case you ever needed it.
 
#24 ·
I own a 1990 Geo Tracker 4WD, which I use when I go outdoors.

I plan to use the Wrangler in the city on a daily basis, and take it to the beach, or maybe camping probably about 6 or more times a year. I always do 1 long trip a year, which involves driving more than 30 hours on a highway, and going camping for a couple of weeks.

The 4WD on my Tracker, worked very good for me.

So I was thinking maybe that I don't need 4WD.

Eventually I'd love to lift the Wrangler, and getting a good suspension system, to make it more for the outdoors.

My question is, how important would it be to have de 4WD if I decide to take the Wrangler to rocky or inclined areas? Do I really need the 4WD?
read your own post...

of course you need 4WD.

Lifting is the unneccessary part. Wranglers with 4WD are Trail Rated.
For your use.... the factory suspension is your best choice.

AND... good luck ever selling a 2WD Wrangler...
 
#26 ·
Oh okay, so the Rubicon is the better choice for the off road. Great! Still I'm going to check every model features to get the perfect for my needs.
Ok thank you all for clearing this up for me, I'm going to keep looking then.

Have a nice day everyone.
 
#27 ·
^^^^ No the Rubicon comes with lockers and an extremely low transfer case ratio of 4:1

That does not make it a better choice off road. That only makes it a better choice for crawling over boulders or climbing waterfalls. If you wheel like most of us the other transfer case with a 2.72:1 low range is a better choice.

A lot of times the Rubicon is too slow. IE deep sand, mud, snow. The Rubi is a very specific model built to do a very specific job. I have one. It is not my first choice for daily driving or off roading.

Lockers can be added to anything. You can probably buy a Sport and add lockers for less than the Rubi costs.
 
#33 ·
I respectfully disagree about the 4:1 transfer case being only useful on rocks.

When you are on a trail, I find the 2.72:1 reduction transfer case makes 4th gear gear completely useless, and usually makes 3rd gear not very useful. The 4:1 reduction allows useful speeds out of all transmission gears. If you want to spin your wheels, the auto transmission's "auto-stick" will allow you to start from 0mph in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th when in 4-lo, the manual lets you start in whatever gear you want.

If you are going faster then 30mph while offroad then you really want 4-hi. If you have an auto then select a gear with the "auto-stick" to prevent the transmission from overheating from changing gears too often.

For the OP:

The trim levels are a little confusing on Wranglers.

There is the entry level sport.
The Sport-S is the sport + AC and power windows
The Sahara has leather seats, painted fenders, painted hard tops, and other creature comforts
The Rubicon has a beefier front axle, electronic disconnects for the front sway bar, a lower ratio transfer case, and electronic front and rear lockers. The interior can be either as stripped down as a Sport-S, or as plush as a maxed out Sahara. Most dealerships around here only stock the maxed out Rubicons and the Sport-S models.

Any of the trim levels can come with the hard top, the soft top, or both tops.

As mentioned earlier there are many "Model of the Month" special editions. Do your research on these: some are nice, some are meh. The "Dragon edition" comes to mind if you want a laugh.
 
#29 ·
Jeeps are amazingly capable. There have been times when I have headed down trails in 2wd procrastinating putting it into 4wd until I approached the areas where I knew I really needed it. A couple times I've gotten distracted and forgot to put it in 4wd yet I was still chugging along over basketball sized rocks with no problem!

Bottom line, don't even consider skipping a 4wd model, however ... I have lockers and have only really "needed" them a couple times. More than likely ... a 4wd Jeep of any model is capable of doing far more than the vast majority of us would dare to test its limits.
 
#30 ·
"Do I really need a 4WD?"

Do you really need ice cream?

Do you really need the taste of a fine whisky?

Do you really need sex?


No, but some things are just nice to have anyway.
 
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