Disappointing lack of headroom on JL

zaitcev · Apr 23, 2018

I checked out JL a couple of days ago, and it appears that the headroom is no better than in JK. I was able to modify the seat rails on JK to lower the seat, but on JL it appears that more room used up by the transmission or other components, so it may not be possible.

Here's the previous thread with the pictures of my head and the modified seat rails:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/i-want-to-lower-my-seats-in-my-2010-wrangler-54106.html

Looks like there's no more Wrangler for me.

ScottieD · Apr 23, 2018

I did feel as if i sat a little higher in the JL. I would have liked to been able to lower the seat down a little more.

WXman · Apr 23, 2018

Dang, you must be a tall dude. I'm 6'3" and I test drove the soft top and hard top and both had tons of head room for me.

However, the concern I have is that the "sport bar", if they still call it that, is lower than the top itself, so in a crash I could hit my head on the bar.

To summarize: Daily driving, it's perfect. In a crash, it may be terrible.

1597058 · Apr 23, 2018

Yup, I said this in another thread. I'm not even tall, average if that and I feel squat. The cut corners of the windshield on the inside give the illusion that the cabin is more cramped as well. Also, look at the knee area, the centre cluster is even closer to my right leg than in the JK. Seems the whole center area where the shifter is has widened. I find the JL feels way more cramped than the JK in those particular areas. I'm not even a big person and I find it catastrophic, to the point when I'm offroading and going over bumps, I'm starting to get slightly motion sick. Just feel like everything is so close to me and I'm going to hit my head or legs off something and I don't like it at all. Can't imagine what it's like for you taller folks!

YAHAHA · Apr 28, 2018

Dude, you should drive a TJ or a CJ... that's claustrophobic!

NullNomad · Apr 23, 2018

I might be one of the lucky ones where NOT having a JK prior to my JL has made me blind to the headroom or cramped feeling issues, among other complaints. I'm 6'2" and feel just fine on or off road (thus far). I'll just continue in my rose colored glasses view and say that I don't feel cramped or at risk of injury in an accident and that each experience is unique and will vary.

WXman · Apr 23, 2018

I will admit that my 2012 JKU was a lot more comfortable on long trips than my 2018 JLU. They did go backward in terms of overall comfort.

However, that's a separate issue from the amount of head room.

jadmt · Apr 28, 2018

I am kind of surprised. while my 2018 recon as were my prior jk's very comfortable for me on long road trips I figured the JLU would be even more so.

zaitcev · Apr 23, 2018

Remember that the front driveline is on the driver side in everything past CJ. However, in JK the transfer case bump is reasonably far forward. So, I was able to make rails taller in the front and lower in the rear, thus gaining the necessary height where my butt is. I forgot to take a picture, but it appears that JL is not going to be as easy to modify. Ironically enough, I got better with the welder in the years when I had my 2010 JK, so I'm scratching my head thinking if I can fabricate a more complicated rail for JL. But it's hard to design without actually buying the jeep first.

Believe it or not, it was a reasonably easy fit for me in TJ. It was a while back, but I think there was no sound bar there, just a roll cage.

I'm 6'5" and 36" inseam, 230 lbs.

AUSyTyIN · Apr 23, 2018

Side note, are you wearing the same shirt in your avatar as your headroom photo??

ChuffHugginLoognat · May 8, 2018

LOL but had to put the hat on the seat. Where's the rifle?

chirowolf · Apr 25, 2018

Sound obvious, but did you make sure the seat was not cranked all the way up? I was surprised how far the seat would elevate for my wife giving here a higher driving position.

1 crazy man · Apr 28, 2018

Suggestion. If you don't like it then don't buy it.

BessieII · May 14, 2018

Found the short guy

.

Hootbro · Apr 30, 2018

I am 6'4" and my problems were never head room in either the JK or JL but where my legs rested while driving. In the JK, I was always bumping my right knee against the dash/center console that made non cruise control driving pain. With the JL, that is not an issue for me.

I will say though with my JL, if I was any taller, I would not have the room for adjustment left in my instance and may not have bought it.

aqualungs · May 15, 2018

Yea I think they lowered the Sport bar for better sound acoustics maybe? The height is ok for me, but I’m 5’10” and have a forehead instead of a fivehead. I guess I got lucky this lifetime.

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spag · May 18, 2018

I could make a long list of cars that I've wanted over the years, but was unable to drive successfully because I'm 6'5", with a long torso. Some I couldn't even sit in without tilting my head the whole time, and plenty with so little leg room, that my knees were jammed against the steering wheel.

It would suck if future Wranglers get added to the list, but there will be something else to play in. I fit in my JK fine, even if it is a little cramped.

WXman · May 18, 2018

If you pull up the actual numbers, the JL has a slight increase in headroom over the JK. But it's got a decrease in hip and shoulder room. By the numbers, it's ever so slightly taller and longer, but narrower. This is what makes it feel so tight inside. I guess the headroom feels less even though it's more because the seats are different.

1597058 · May 20, 2018

I think the fact that the centre console is higher makes it feel even more cramped than it really is as well.

dlqdobro · May 30, 2018

Well, I understand that the numbers show that there is more headroom. That said, I own a JK. I'm 6'3. I test drove a JL last week. The front of the sound bar was practically a head rest. Absolutely horrible design for a big dude...

Jbud · May 30, 2018

I am 6"5 and was excited to "trade up" to the LJ .... SUPER DISAPPOINTED my head hits the sound bar. I agree the seat absolutely sits higher than the JK. Super bummed..... debating on trying to find a left over 2 door Recon....:atomic:

Lt Dan · May 30, 2018

I test drove a JL Sahara and I'm not sure where to begin.
Hard top wind noise was unbelievable compared to my current JKU.
I assume the lighter material used in construction must attribute to the problem.

The driver seat is no where near as comfortable as the JK.

I'm 5'11" and I felt claustrophobic.
I like the seat cranked up high for comfort and in the JL when cranking the seat up, not only does it move up but forward at the same time. Once fully raised I moved the seat reward and once it was as far back as it would go I felt like I was kissing the windshield. Leg room was atrocious and the seat tilts forward and I felt like I was going to slide off into the windshield.

2cents,

Lt. Dan

ChuffHugginLoognat · May 31, 2018

My wife and I would assert there's plenty of room for head....

Bjorn · Jun 1, 2018

I’m 6’4” and I found plenty of room. When I first sat in one at the auto-show it was a concern, but I found it was the seat adjustment that made the difference. Took a few tries, but once I got it it was “room for days”!

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kbaum03 · Jun 1, 2018

6'3" here plenty of room and quite comfortable. Ten hour drive right after we picked it up no problems&#55357;&#56397;

Mankind · Jun 2, 2018

6'2" 260#s and i fit rather well. I expected a more cramped feel but there is room enough for me. My right leg would like a little more room since my knee sits against the 4wd selector handle, unless on the highway with cruise control set. I found the seats wide enough and plenty room for me to lean back some while driving and still not be in my Daughter's lap behind me. My head does come close to the Sports bar and door frame but I haven't bumped into them yet while off-road.

zaitcev · Jun 2, 2018

Attached are pictures of the left and right side on the JL4 (I presume JL2 is the same -- it's not released to dealers yet around here). You can see that the left side rail is mostly free to lower, but the right side is challenging. JK had a bump like that in the tub's bottom too, but it wasn't as obnoxious.

Hedgehog2JKU · Jun 21, 2018

Is it just me, or does it look like there are vents under the front seat for rear passenger heat? If thats all the hump is, then you should be able to remove that and then modify the seat frame lower.

zaitcev · Jun 2, 2018

I think I'm going to do this project in a completely different way from what I did on JK. Following were the problem areas:

- it took me too long - I was driving 4 years with the old seat and hurt my arms and back, not to mention a possibility to be rear-ended in that time; For JL, I'm aiming for 6 months at the most

- there was too much manual fitment on JK, I basically eyeballed everything; going to measure it now and publish a blueprint for others

- I used a spare set of rails and modified it; it introduced unnecessary difficulties and limited my options...

- in particular, because I modded stock rails, I had to move the seat rails too far back. As a result, my wife cannot reach pedals on the modded jeep. This needs to be fixed.

It should take me in line with Mr. killeroffroad's version
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/i...m.com/f274/i-want-to-lower-my-seats-in-my-2010-wrangler-54106.html#post17467386

aldo90731 · Jun 3, 2018

I test drove two JLs. I was surprised how much smaller the front feels compared to JK. I think it has to do with the windshield being more slanted and the header now sitting closer to your head.

Slumlord · Jun 4, 2018

I'm 6' and I had to crank the seat down to feel comfortable in my new JL. When I bought it I wasn't even aware until I had dicked around with a few things that the lever on the left works like a hydraulic jack. jack it up, the seat goes up, jack it down and it goes down.

I gave her a few cranks down and the seat dropped a lot and now I fit easily.

WaltA · Jun 8, 2018

Slumlord said:
I'm 6' and I had to crank the seat down to feel comfortable in my new JL. When I bought it I wasn't even aware until I had dicked around with a few things that the lever on the left works like a hydraulic jack. jack it up, the seat goes up, jack it down and it goes down.

I gave her a few cranks down and the seat dropped a lot and now I fit easily.

In reading thru this thread, that is what came to my mind. Those who are complaining about a lack of headroom, just how high (or low) have you adjusted your seat? I mean, do you have it cranked all the way as high was it will go, or do you have it cranked all the way down low to the floor?

SignalMtnVol · Jun 6, 2018

6'3" here with longer torso. I also hate the lack of headroom in the JL. I sat in a sahara and my head was touching the sound bar with the seat lowered and 80% slid back. Sightlines were also bad because I was staring at the top of the windshield and saw alot of hardtop. Felt dangerous if I was rear ended and a deal breaker. Any solitions?

Bjorn · Jun 7, 2018

I’ll say this, when I say I’m a Sahara, it seemed smaller, and I was definitely cramped. I could really maneuver the seat anymore either, but the Rubicon felt waaaay roomier! I don’t know if there is a difference in reality, but it sure felt that way!

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Disappointing lack of headroom on JL

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