Never owned a wrangler before, but I always liked them... So now I'm looking at buying one.
I think looking over this site I should be able to answer most of my questions.
One I couldn't find is will I be able to use it as a daily driver. I work as a construction manager. It's rare that I ever use the bed for more than a few boxes and I never haul anything for work. Personally I have a 4x8 trailer and the larger thing I've hauled is a motorcycle.
I'm trying to figure out if I'll miss my truck, anyone else on here in construction and use a wrangler as a daily driver?
Nah get a Jeep. It's just too much fun. Can't say it's more "capable" than a truck but if you ever decide to offroad, you will be thankful for its small size in tight situations. And if you ever do miss having a bed, there is a conversion for that
I like having a P/U
Last 3 were 2004 Sonoma crew cab 4WD, 2007 Dodge Ram standard cab 2WD 5.7 Hemi and 2009 Toyota Tacoma standard cab 4WD. I miss the Tacoma when hauling water to the ranch, etc. However, with the Wrangler, I can haul wife plus 2 of my 12 grandkids (but not much gear). I also can lock tools under the hardtop. It takes up less room in the garage and the turning radius is unsurpassed. A wrangler is to SUVs as a sports car is to a sedan.
Negatives are MPG and cargo area.
I prefer the TJ over the newer Wranglers for full instruments (yeah, I know the oil pressure "gauge" input is from a switch, rather than a variable sensor), fuel tank to the rear and I feel at home, since this is not my first.
X2! Bought ours for a toy. Spent some time gettin' her right, now I find myself making excuses why I took the jeep and left the '13 diesel Ram Laramie (heated leather, premium sound, etc) sitting at home. I'm a project supt, for an interiors GC. Side job days are over, and so is helping everyone and their brother move across town.
Of the 3 in that inventory you posted, the only 4.0 has too high of mileage for me. The 4.0 is like my Cummins, it'll go forever if properly maintained. Problem with buying someone else's 200K miles, they may not have maintained it. Good luck and keep looking!
If you need more space you can always get an LJ. Everyone I've talked to that has one loves it. But then again... I've never talked to a Jeep owner that doesn't love their Jeep!
^Yes the LJ is basically just a "Long Jeep". They are made from 04-06 and yes they are all unlimited. The LJ was basically the TJ's generation of the JKU.
Ill keep an eye out for one, but I think a TJ should work. Ill have to go test drive one and play with it for a bit.
What should i be looking for setup wise? I'm leaning towards a manual, but what engine should I look at? There seems to be two different 4 cylinders and a 4L 6 cylinder.
Should I stay away for jeeps that have been lifted? Would like the vehicle to last awhile as a DD.
This is kinda planned to be off road when needed and maybe a little for fun.
4 vs 6 cylinders: both are great engines in general. Both are equal offroad. The 4 cylinder only has major troubles with highway power. Test drive both but I recommend the 6 cylinder.
Don't shy away from lifted jeeps, but do post them on your thread here so we can all take a look here. You just need to make sure everything is done right. I would recommend trying to stick to stock or lightly modified (no more than a 2" lift) TJs. In general also a lifted Jeep is a fine DD just make sure things are maintained. Plenty of guys on this forum DD wranglers with 37" and even 40" tires.
Both. Well the 6 cylinder isn't too much better in sense of passing speed but definitely in take off and getting to speed. 4 cylinder is just a bit of a dog on the highway and just for a note is much more effected by lifts and larger tires without a regear.
The 4 cylinders look like they are great shape and they both have pretty low miles, but if it were me I would pass simply because I prefer the 4.0. The 4.0 is very clean but would pass with that kind of milage especially as a DD. Although the 4.0 is practically bulletproof (as is the 4 banger) I just wouldn't trust one with over 200k miles not knowing the full maintenance history. Pass and keep looking.
As a DD, I would try and find one with under 150k miles and as lightly modified as possible.
Yeah i plan on still looking these are the first I found locally and also the cheapest.
I would feel safer are around 100k miles or less.
I do want to test drive these to see what a 4 cylinder is like.
Just from looking around I think Ill be spending around $10-15k to get what I want.
I have been looking at tops also... Has anyone done a dual top setup? Did you think it was worth it? My reasoning for it is I live in northeast ohio.. figured running a soft-top during warm months and switching to hardtop to hunker down during the winter months.
I live in Massillon- I checked out all they have and ended up purchasing mine in Bedford.. Something was "not right" about each one I looked at and that dealership and they always have some.. But high mileage and rust usually
It does look good. Pictures always look better than in person. Like you said, I would need to look underneath, but seems to be a pretty good price even with those miles.
My Jeep purchase story... Wife wanted one for years. I started the hunt back in July. Drove 300 miles in my 10 mpg trade in to buy the "perfect" Jeep as advertised by a dealer in Autotrader.com. Looked really sharp in the ad, 3" lift, hard top, winch, low miles and 5 speed manual. New tires even.
Turned out to be the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen. Scrapes and dents that did not show up in the photos. Add on fenders that did not fit. AC would not work, weak clutch, valve train sounded like a jar full of marbles. Needless to say I walked. Spent $200 in gas and travel expenses plus burned a vacation day. Dealer offered no apology for wasting my time.
Lessons learned: Dealerships have no conscience and nothing to lose and apparently no shame. Bought from an individual who was honest despite knowing I was driving 350 miles and probabliy would have settled rather than return empty handed. Pictures are no substitute for a hands on eval. You can fix or modify a lot of thing with enough money, but a small/bad engine, frame damage or rust can bankrupt you.
I lucked out and got a great 2001 with only 78,000 miles on the clock, already professionally lifted with new Mickey Thompson 33" tires and 4.0L engine for $10,000. Had to settle for an auto transmission, but it has grown on us. I think we got a great deal as it is mechanically sound and looks almost new.
Good luck on your hunt!
Check this one out. Seems really nice. Owner is going to send me some more pictures. It pushing my budget a bit though.
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