What lessons learned did Jeep incorporate on each generation going forward from the TJ?
- Thread starter senecagreen
- Start date
I've always wondered, had the YJ been received better (yeah yeah, square headlights, but there were other reasons), if Jeep would have produced them for longer. They could have just continued the CJ philosophy of making more or less the same vehicle for forty years with slight improvements over the years and different variations.
That said, with safety and emissions requirements getting more strict over the past 20 years, it's almost a miracle they still can make the Wrangler, even if it is significantly different today than the YJs and TJs of yesteryear.
Yep soft springs, rear slip yoke drive shaft, add on flares and body junk. Sorry transmission, no dana 300 transfer case.
The YJ’s i see wheel hard aren’t even yj’s any more- just tubs with v8’s, tons , etc
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.
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Some day if I win the lottery I swear I will find a AMC Pacer and slap the body on a good 4x4 Chassis.
I had a Gremlin in 79 on a CJ chassis. It was a fun cool toy. That was back when everyone was putting cars on 4x4 chassis.
Yes, but it was better ON road than the CJs. That was the upgrade. And the TJ was better ON road than the YJ.
Not by much, but yes the YJ was a smidgen better on road.
That's where I'm different then most folks. On road doesn't make a lot of difference to me.
Offroad is where it counts and what Jeeps used to be built for.
Jk and JL also got a fancy little storage spot for your door and top bolts.
Unlike us TJ and older crowd were we just dump them in the console and then complain about rattles
Jk8 offering from the factory was pretty cool.
Gladiator is cool and always sort of liked them with a small lift.
Better headlights!
Unlike us TJ and older crowd were we just dump them in the console and then complain about rattles
Jk8 offering from the factory was pretty cool.
Gladiator is cool and always sort of liked them with a small lift.
Better headlights!
One of my favorites back in the 80's was a 72 Caprice wagon on a K-20 chassis with 15-38 monster mudders and an easy 12 -14" of lift. They cut the front axle tubes and rotated the knuckles to get caster while the front diff was pointed at the 205 TC . It was cool in that homemade 80's way ! I wish I had a photo !
I remember those days we had a guy put a 1970 Chevelle on 35s
It's true that the JL's are a tech nightmare, but that doesn't mean they're impossible to work on.
It's also true that reliability is a big concern with this generation, but with a catch. I own a 23 JLU Sport S and can say I've put on 56,000 trouble free miles and couldn't be happier with it so far. Here's what I've learned about the JL's in my research when buying one.
The biggest thing I see is the large majority of JL owners what to turn these things into rolling TikTok / Instagram models while bolting on the cheapest / tackiest shit I've ever seen, and it honestly makes me sad as the JL's can look pretty decent when built right.
I've taken this on the same trails I take my TJ, and for a stock vehicle, I was impressed on on how well it handled / crawled. That being said, my TJ will always be my first choice, but I have no regrets about adding this to the family.
I agree with the majority that the Wrangler has become just another SUV, and that it's slowly loosing it's roots, but not quite yet.
These are my 2 nickles now that pennies are gone. My JLU for reference.
It's also true that reliability is a big concern with this generation, but with a catch. I own a 23 JLU Sport S and can say I've put on 56,000 trouble free miles and couldn't be happier with it so far. Here's what I've learned about the JL's in my research when buying one.
- Stay away from the manual transmissions. Factory clutches suck. Stelantis never figured out the materials / tuning and have had multiple recalls for clutches exploding / catching fire. Almost 10 years later, they still suck. I also test drove a manual JL and have never hated a 6 speed more than that one.
- The V6 is okay. The usual slew of problems were carried over from the JK.
- The 2.0T IMO is a great engine. That being said, there have been a decent report of early engine failures, but not enough to write it off.
- The 8 speed ZF auto is fantastic. It's one of a very few transmissions that I can say does what it's supposed to when it's supposed to. In manual mode, when I ask for a gear, it gives it to me, no...."Oh, you want third? Hmmmmm, let me see, where did I put it,) This paired with the 2.0T makes for a very nice driving experience.
- The additional complexities with added computer modules does limit what the average Joe can do, but there has been a large amount of effort put in by the community to reverse engineer the CANBUS using commonly available components that is helping to open the system up for everyone.
- 4Xe's should have never been attempted. Period. Garbage, trash, other synonyms for poor quality.
- FSM's are available to purchase, and more people are uploading tech documents every day.
- Ignore the factory service schedule and change the 8 speed fluid every 60,000 as noted by ZF. Jeep states the fluid is "Lifetime" and never needs to be changed. Bullshit.
- Upgrading the mechanical systems is still pretty straight forward (Springs, shocks, brakes, arms, steering and so on)
The biggest thing I see is the large majority of JL owners what to turn these things into rolling TikTok / Instagram models while bolting on the cheapest / tackiest shit I've ever seen, and it honestly makes me sad as the JL's can look pretty decent when built right.
I've taken this on the same trails I take my TJ, and for a stock vehicle, I was impressed on on how well it handled / crawled. That being said, my TJ will always be my first choice, but I have no regrets about adding this to the family.
I agree with the majority that the Wrangler has become just another SUV, and that it's slowly loosing it's roots, but not quite yet.
These are my 2 nickles now that pennies are gone. My JLU for reference.
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I knew I'd seen that car somewhere before...
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me
What bugs me is what Jeep did not learn.
Power. We wanted more. They swore it could not be done for wrinkle zone and other hogwash reasons - then when Ford rears it’s head a 392 goes in with no issues.
Like my client who wanted to return her “new in the box stove”….then she complained it was a floor model and didn’t even have a box. Uh mam, please pick a line and run with it.
That said, a 392 is more power than needed to delight buyers. A V6 ain’t.
Deeper stock gears.
A less blingy model with beefier axles, rubber mats and a good drive train as a build base would be a hit with market. Offer it in 3-4 masculine colors (magenta is not masculine @John Cooper, regardless of your thong)
Power. We wanted more. They swore it could not be done for wrinkle zone and other hogwash reasons - then when Ford rears it’s head a 392 goes in with no issues.
Like my client who wanted to return her “new in the box stove”….then she complained it was a floor model and didn’t even have a box. Uh mam, please pick a line and run with it.
That said, a 392 is more power than needed to delight buyers. A V6 ain’t.
Deeper stock gears.
A less blingy model with beefier axles, rubber mats and a good drive train as a build base would be a hit with market. Offer it in 3-4 masculine colors (magenta is not masculine @John Cooper, regardless of your thong)
Dump the FUCKING ELECTRONICS! And adopt a manual transmission similar to the Bronco's.
I know some good mechanics in town that will not even touch one that has seen mud and water. To many gremlins.
Dang it, stay out of my drawers..........dresser drawers........
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