Does the LJ wheelbase have an advantage over the TJ
- Thread starter senecagreen
- Start date
Says the guy who's got one of each...
The only problem is you can’t drive them both….
My wife wants to know why I need
2 ….uhhh, honey because you would throw a conniption fit if I got a third.
You know, at the end of the day the extra room is really great for some things …. I would also say it’s almost a lifestyle decision.
In a TJ you don’t even have room to carry a grudge.
37 inch tires, corporate 10 bolt axles front and rear with lockers, 6.0 lq4 v8 with built 700r4 automatic transmission.
Last edited:
The TJU has 4’ more turning radius. 5” more passenger room and 10” more cargo room. 1500# more towing. These statistics are why I went with an Unlimited. The extra room for gear, especially being able to put a full size cooler in with the back seat down, was the selling point for me. I tow a 1200# teardrop trailer and with an additional 300# of gear in the back and mine handles great going up and down the steep grades here in the West.
Which model you choose is based on your personal needs. For me the Unlimited was the perfect choice.
Fully loaded for a 5 night trip to the Desert.
Which model you choose is based on your personal needs. For me the Unlimited was the perfect choice.
Fully loaded for a 5 night trip to the Desert.
Jeepster09
Member
What gear ratio are you using? That is somewhat I am looking to do. Now I have 373's with 245/16 tires and it is okay with no trailer.
Whatever gear ratio @bucky has, he has different tires and a different transmission than you. Apples to kumquats.
What's the rest of your tire size? "245/16" only tells half of the story.
Let's talk about these measurements. What is the dimensions, on the floor, of the cargo area behind the rear seat?
If I could move the back seat forward 5" to be in the same area as a TJ, I might be able to solve my need for a back seat and cargo space requirements with a LJ. In a LJ, I would need 32" minimum of floor space in the cargo area.
Stock 4:10 6sp 2.5” lift and 32s. I have plenty of power. I can get on the freeway with no issues and pulling a long 6% grade loaded with the teardrop I maintain 50mph. Unlike others I have plenty of power. I do have to run the gears though, which I personally like. Makes me feel like I’m driving.
19” with the seat down.
39” with the seat up.
49” with the seat removed.
Measurements are taken at the height of the rear seat back and the front seats all the way back. Distances are greater at floor level.
I can fit 3 5gal water cans, my 2000W Honda generator, full size cooler, 5 bags of tools, 30’ rope bag, a bag with 30’ strap with soft and hard shackels along with my first aid kit. That’s with the rear seat up and the load at the height the folded up seat. Having stuff in bags makes packing everything in fit nicely. My clothing sits on the passenger seat in my expandable carry on and my travel cooler sits on the floor. I travel solo but I have more room in the back to pack higher if I bring a passenger. All my camping gear and dry food fit in the teardrop. Only things I can’t pack are my fire pit and firewood which sucks.
I do multiple 4-5 night trips a year and have packing fairly dialed in.
So this is measuring at the top of the tailgate to level on the seat back the farthest rearward of the rear seat? If that is the case, then moving the rear seats forward 5" won't get me the measurements I am looking for. If the LJ had the same room behind the seat with the seat moved forward as the TJ does with the seat out to the drop down in the cargo floor, an LJ would work for me.
EDIT:
I'm wanting to put this behind passenger seats in an LJ if possible.
I got this at Moab. I thought the bumper would protect the corners but it flexed into the tub and backed out to the normal positiin. No rust after 3 years. That's wax on the bumper.
I got a dent in the gas tank skid later. I dragged the bumper off an overhang at a different place a year later.
I'll probably find a different bumper and look at different tank options to gain some rear height and clearance in the future.
I've been looking for something else to build as a trail rig so I can have the LJ for street and mid level trails and something to bang around and scratch up on harder trails.
24” top of tailgate to back of seat. You lose some in the right corner with the door strap.
The cooler is 32”x22”x18” and has 3.5” to spare.
The cooler is 32”x22”x18” and has 3.5” to spare.
Do you think it would be feasible to move the back seat forward 7"? It would be kids in the back and a PRP seat so it would be custom mounted. I'd also have a front harness bar too so not sure if that'd interfere with moving the seats forward. Granted I'm short and like the driver seat closer, but that's with my manual TJ. An automatic I'd probably scoot the seat back a notch.
I’ve only sat in the back seat once and the biggest issue to me 6’ 220# was the foot room. Recently went on a challenging run with a guy slightly bigger than me. I asked him how it was and he said OK. The LJ has 5” more room than a TJ.when folded up the rear seat is right ip to the fronts back so I don’t know where the 5” goes. Secure mounts for the seat and belts would be my only concern. I’ll take a better look tomorrow when it’s light.
Good info. I appreciate you looking.
I'd have harnesses in the rear so a harness bar for harnesses and lap belts integrated into the custom seat mounts. If I do the change to a LJ, it will have a full cage installed.
Jeepster09
Member
So call them 31".
GrimmJeeper says (with your 42RLE transmission):
3.73 1953 RPM @ 70 MPH
4.10 2146 RPM @ 70 MPH
4.56 2387 RPM @ 70 MPH
4.88 2555 RPM @ 70 MPH
5.13 2686 RPM @ 70 MPH (lowest gears for Dana 30)
5.38 2816 RPM @ 70 MPH
The usual recommendation is to get the RPMs up close to 3000 at 70. That's a street driving recommendation, not just offroad.
GrimmJeeper says (with your 42RLE transmission):
3.73 1953 RPM @ 70 MPH
4.10 2146 RPM @ 70 MPH
4.56 2387 RPM @ 70 MPH
4.88 2555 RPM @ 70 MPH
5.13 2686 RPM @ 70 MPH (lowest gears for Dana 30)
5.38 2816 RPM @ 70 MPH
The usual recommendation is to get the RPMs up close to 3000 at 70. That's a street driving recommendation, not just offroad.
To get greater accuracy with GrimmJeeper you need to subtract 1" from the listed tire diameter or preferably measure from the center of the hub to the ground and double it to account for squish. Using the easiest method subtracting 1":
4.88 2669 RPM @ 70 MPH
5.13 2806 RPM @ 70 MPH (lowest gears for Dana 30)
5.38 2943 RPM @ 70 MPH
Better accuracy comes when they post up a given highway speed and RPM as accurately as possible. If they will do that, we can figure out the exact tire size.
I have a little military trailer… it makes my LJ drive incredible.. as far as straight line stability
Similar threads
