What lessons learned did Jeep incorporate on each generation going forward from the TJ?

[macleanflood]

JKs come with cable shifters for the transfer case.

I also think the execution of power windows was excellent. Simple connector on the doors and switches on the dash.

Moving the gas tank also brought big advantages.

-Mac

 

[Chris]

I think the sweet spot for modern vehicles and reliability is early 2000’s into mid/late teens. The latter being more model dependent. My 11 tundra has been absolutely trouble for 10 years and 160k.

I always say that the point where things turned exceptionally crappy with autos is when they went from one ECU to multiple computers all communicating with each other. I can deal with one ECU (just keep a spare one on hand in case you ever want to rule it out). When you've got multiple computers talking to each other, that's when things get far too complicated for my liking.

 

[06TJ35's]

 

[Gilaguy23]

Build them to comply with crooked and corrupt governmental regulations, that's it.

The JKs and JLs are completely riddled with electronic problems. I know a number of people with JLs, and every single one of them gleefully turned them back in after the lease was up. In so many words they all shared with me the same sentiment; that they would never again buy a Mopar vehicle.

Unfortunately it isn't limited to just Jeep. All new cars are built this way, but I will say that new Jeeps seem to be especially problematic.

I cant say we'll ever own a JK or JL, however after 15 jeep products, some 10 other dodge built trucks, for a total of 200+ vehicles to owned date , I will say without bias, Anything produced by dodge/chrysler/fiat,stellantis/Ram, bla,bla is by far the poorer quality wise. Far as new goes, you are right, however as the former owner of 2 pre 2000's grand cherokees they were riddled with non functioning short lived electronic garbage. I wonder how models sold in other countries are compared to the bling filled electronic crap sold here. Frequenting Mexico in my younger days vehicles like Nissan crew cab 4x4 trucks were common although not even to be had in the US yet. Its a game of manufacturer manipulation of what they think will sell to Americans. How many CJ5's or FJ40ies would they sell if still sold here in the US? Would they pass emissions or DOT regs? Not a chance. I recall in about 78 when I bought my first F250 4x4, the seller, a friend had bought a new CJ5. The passenger seat was a option at that time.

 

[John Cooper]

Going forward from the TJ all Chrysler, Stellantis learned was build it slap a Jeep logo on it and sell it for all you can get. Don't worry about will it last after warranty or even it will make it till warranty ends.

The last real Jeep produced was the 1986 CJ 7.

The closest Dodge, Chrysler got to the real deal is the TJ.

The only reason we got the TJ was because the YJ was a swing and a miss and almost cost them the brand name but the non-Jeep crowd bought them.

I owned a JKU for a few months, in terms of comfort on the highway it was better, but that's all.

There is nothing wrong with the inline 6. Take a look at Ford, Chevrolet, AMC, Dodge and their inline 6 would run forever with normal maintenance.

 

[JMT]

Jeep added HiLine hood to the JK’s. Modern cars are junk and I hate working on them; hate hate hate.

 

[AndyG]

They learned 4 doors made it SUV of the year for a decade

They learned the Rubicon package was going to be extremely important to the line

The four-door platform was so successful that it has nearly made the two door obsolete

They learned an 8 speed automatic transmission was an improvement if you’re not going to upsize the engine

These are things that I can see from the outside looking in-

 

[JMT]

The four-door platform was so successful that it has nearly made the two door obsolete

I researched 2-door cars the other day out of interest. Only cars that continue to be made in 2-door are performance cars, luxury cars, and a few off-road vehicles. They cater to special interest or rich people. Aesthetically, a 2-door vehicle is usually far more pleasing.

 

[Longwhitejeep]

I researched 2-door cars the other day out of interest. Only cars that continue to be made in 2-door are performance cars, luxury cars, and a few off-road vehicles. They cater to special interest or rich people. Aesthetically, a 2-door vehicle is usually far more pleasing.

You can still get 2 door trucks but even that is limited. 4 door trucks are the new suv for most people now. Dodge also started that trend with the quad cab.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Aesthetically, a 2-door vehicle is usually far more pleasing.

Hey now! I loved my "offroad" Eagle 4x4. My Gremlin was prettier though. Not having power steering was an arm builder while trying to parallel park.

 

[John Cooper]

Hey now! I loved my "offroad" Eagle 4x4. My Gremlin was pretty though.
View attachment 655370

But those were both AMC vehicles!!!! Chrysler would never have made something that cool!!!!

 

[TheBoogieman]

But those were both AMC vehicles!!!! Chrysler would never have made something that cool!!!!

I had a Pacer spaceship too.

 

[John Cooper]

I had a Pacer spaceship too.
View attachment 655372

Why did they try to redesign the Gremlin is beyond me............

 

[AndyG]

I researched 2-door cars the other day out of interest. Only cars that continue to be made in 2-door are performance cars, luxury cars, and a few off-road vehicles. They cater to special interest or rich people. Aesthetically, a 2-door vehicle is usually far more pleasing.

The Jeep stands alone in the automotive world by design, function, and purpose. It is a solution to a military transportation problem that went viral.

 

[AndyG]

I had a Pacer spaceship too.
View attachment 655372

Toledo Window Wagon

 

[AndyG]

My Gremlin was prettier though

I don’t think that sentence has ever been strung together.

 

[srimes]

The #1 consistent improvement for each generation was better on-road driving, starting with 1st wrangler, the YJ. Each generation did better on-road than the previous.

Off-road, it's "horses for courses." As Jeeps get bigger you have to go bigger in lift and tire to get the same performance, so a lot of the "upgrades" are simply required to handle the bigger scale. My main local wheeling buddy has a JKU on 37s, which seems to do about as well off road as my TJ on 33s. No doubt his is a much better road vehicle.

 

[John Cooper]

The #1 consistent improvement for each generation was better on-road driving, starting with 1st wrangler, the YJ. Each generation did better on-road than the previous.

Off-road, it's "horses for courses." As Jeeps get bigger you have to go bigger in lift and tire to get the same performance, so a lot of the "upgrades" are simply required to handle the bigger scale. My main local wheeling buddy has a JKU on 37s, which seems to do about as well off road as my TJ on 33s. No doubt his is a much better road vehicle.

Sorry I can never see a YJ as an offroad Jeep without a ton of mods.

My CJ's in stock form out wheeled my buddies stock YJ.

Now the TJ is lots better than the CJ.

The only improvement I see in the JK on up was done for sales numbers and nothing else. That was 4 doors.

 

[lBasket]

All you LJ lovers are why the JKU happened btw

 

[ColoJeep]

But those were both AMC vehicles!!!! Chrysler would never have made something that cool!!!!

Hello John , You must have forgotten about the Dodge Aspen !!! Non stop cool bro.....