The "hate" on Jeeps + Speed

[Badunit]

Time and place.

It wouldn't bother me if someone wants to go extremely fast on the highway in a Jeep as long as they are the only ones there. Problem is, it is nearly impossible to be sure of an absolutely empty highway. Maybe for a short stretch. I am 100% guilty of trying to "case" the speedometer a few times as a kid in the country (not in a Jeep though) and definitely drove well above the speed limit a lot so I am not judging. Been there, done that, realized over time it wasn't the smartest thing to do.

Off-road, if you are on your own private off-road trail go as fast as you like. If you are in in a sanctioned race, go faster than you like. But when it is an open trail and others might be around, maybe even coming from the other direction, slow the hell down. And no one appreciates being dusted out.

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[Zandcwhite]

Time and place.

It wouldn't bother me if someone wants to go extremely fast on the highway in a Jeep as long as they are the only ones there so no one else is around to be hurt or killed by it. Problem is, it is impossible to be sure of an absolutely empty highway. There is no place to do it where you are guaranteed to be alone.

Same with off-road. If you are on your own private off-road trail, go as fast as you like. If you are in in a sanctioned race, go faster than you like. But when it is an open trail and others might be around, maybe even coming from the other direction, slow the hell down. And no one appreciates being dusted out.

There's a hell of a difference trying to run forest trails with trees and poor visibility and hills and enough moisture in the dirt that your dust cloud isn't 30' high and doing so in the desert. No you don't need a private race course. Even at 100mph going opposite directions I can see your dust cloud for 20 minutes before we pass each other.

 

[3TV]

17 years ago, I uploaded this video of a top speed run in my 2008 Challenger SRT8. The video was disappointing because you didn't get a real sense of the speed involved, and because of the wind noise on the camera microphone (it was a windy day). Top speed for that Challenger was 163 mph. What I remember most of that top speed run wasn't really that it felt all that fast. The memorable part was when a sparrow hit the driver's side mirror. Things happen really fast at that speed. One second and all was clear. The next second that sparrow was just there, and that bird absolutely exploded on impact with the driver's side mirror. It sounded like a bomb going off.

Challenger

 

[liquids]

There is no place to do it where you are guaranteed to be alone.

I suppose it's possible that someone could have walked out of the farm fields (no man made structures anywhere around) in the dead of winter, through the roadside ditches, and onto the highway, but I CAN guarantee that there was no car within a mile of me. That's how good the visibility was on that straight road on that flat landscape. I don't know why people have to try to dispute that when they weren't there. Many have made the same, ill-informed point.

It just proves the OP's point.

 

[2nd 392]

17 years ago, I uploaded this video of a top speed run in my 2008 Challenger SRT8. The video was disappointing because you didn't get a real sense of the speed involved, and because of the wind noise on the camera mike (it was a windy day). Top speed for that Challenger was 163 mph. What I remember most of that top speed run wasn't really that it felt all that fast. The memorable part was when a sparrow hit the driver's side mirror. Things happen really fast at that speed. One second and all was clear. The next second that sparrow was just there, and that bird absolutely exploded on impact with the driver's side mirror. It sounded like a bomb going off.

Challenger

At least it stayed on the ground, my 69 GTX got front end lift between 165-170. Still accelerating hard, it might have used the whole 200 (maybe some change) speedometer had it stayed on the ground … , never heard of speed rated tires

 

[3TV]

I think the tires on the Challenger were rated at 165 mph, so it was electronically limited to 163 mph. It felt like it had more to go.

 

[Terrymo]

It would make at least 1 spark fast though? That's the problem with statements like Jeeps aren't fast. Most aren't. The 392 absolutely is in a straight line, 4.5s 0-60 is faster than even the super limited production muscle cars which @Terrymo used as the bench mark... until I pointed that out. Nobody claimed they were the fastest bricks on the planet. Nobody said they make good track cars. But fast is fast. Fast enough on the dirt that the Jeep is more capable than the fear most on this forum would ever let them find out.

I respect your knowledge and opinions on many things. I’ll even give you bonus points for showing dogged determination by posting a couple dozen times in this thread. I’ll be outside playing.

 

[2nd 392]

I think the tires on the Challenger were rated at 165 mph, so it was electronically limited to 163 mph. It felt like it had more to go.

Speed limiters should be the vehicle’s capability, your courage and right foot. But I get it, attorneys and ignorant idgits like I was. It had the tires I got it with so likely had the rating. My profound displeasure is when set by tires, and not changed if you get higher rated ones. IE non XR 99 mph- XR ~110/12. They don’t reduce it if you get lower rated MT’s etc.

I never came within about 40 MPH of the 3 attempts to see how fast it would go again.

 

[Ratbert]

At least it stayed on the ground, my 69 GTX got front end lift between 165-170. Still accelerating hard, it might have used the whole 200 (maybe some change) speedometer had it stayed on the ground … , never heard of speed rated tires

Feeling the front end get light like that can be "a bit" unnerving, right? The front end of my Miata would get light at a mere 110. It's a feeling you don't quickly forget.

 

[gsbrockman]

Define high speed. Mine won’t go fast compared to most cars but will drive 85-90 all day long when traveling.

Are you by chance a sovereign citizen???

 

[2nd 392]

Feeling the front end get light like that can be "a bit" unnerving, right? The front end of my Miata would get light at a mere 110. It's a feeling you don't quickly forget.

Yes, the 3’rd try it was sudden and a lot at ~170, I oh F’d as it felt like the the front wheels were off the ground and was at ~172/3 before I got out of it… Enough, that’s how fast it will go. … dumb ass kid, lucky to be alive along with my buddy with me ….or in jail, did it on hwy 99….
It all started when he wouldn’t quit bugging me to race his 57 Chevy so I asked him for a $20, stuck it with my 20 halfway in the glovebox and “if you get them before I hit 4’th gear you win” …. He never bugged me to race again. I never went anywhere near that fast again either….
I bought the beer with his $20.

between 1977 and 2015 with the GC capped at 160 mph I never had any vehicle capable of speeds remotely close even if I had the inclination anyway.
edit- it just dawned on me a Wrangler with the speed limiter now disabled might be the 3’rd fastest vehicle I have owned, remarkable.

 

[Trout Slayer]

For years I've been racing both in California desert and baja sanctioned racing organizations.
I race my 86 CJ7 and have more than held my own in my class.

All I can say on this thread is yes, the wrangler can in fact fly like an eagle.
As the OP mentioned, "Speed + Jeeps aren't a bad thing."
My CJ is powered by a pumped up chevy 350 and 4 on the floor.
The power is definitely there; however, the suspension was not.
If you want to send it consistently and still land on your rubber, the suspension is where you need to look.
My 350 is moderately modified, but the suspension is full tilt modded.
I could have abandoned the front live axle and gone with IFS but felt the urge to keep it old school.
As a former forum member used to say, "keep it jeepy".

The wrangler can fly but thinking that it can perform at competitive speeds with "limited or minimal mods" is laughable at best.
A "prerunner" is not built for speed per se, it is to investigate/map out certian sections of the course. Most of the time a prerunner does not go "at speed" or even close to it.
Most of the time you are in first or second gear (or stopped) while checking out tricky parts of the course or looking for a clean line.
You won't see that while flying down a course.
Prerunners are not race trucks.
For perspective, my prerunner is a sport S.
Engine is stock and the suspension is moderately massaged.

Jeeps are fast as is, but you need much more than a better shock or a lift.
Try racing the Mint 400 or the San Felipe 250 on a slightly modded jeep and prepare to have your chase crew come and find you while you rig is on its back... or worse.

Also:
There are a time and place for sending your rig in the air.
Public trails where others are rock crawling/overlanding are definitely not it.
Folks who like to run like the wind on shared trails are Richards...

 

[Twisted10]

 

[jadmt]

Are you by chance a sovereign citizen???

No quite the opposite. but speed limits are 80-85mph in many of the places I travel.

 

[jeepingib]

The early 3.73 392’s could break 12 sec. by removing the spare while bumping the speed limiter. The video is likely still available. The fastest NA “Muscle Car” ever was the 11.7 sec. 19 Challenger Scat Pack 1320. The only one out of the top 10 to break 11 seconds, the only Classic is the Boss 9 at 12.3. Shaving another second off the 392 shouldn’t be extremely difficult. …. And still very capable off road.
Think about that Y’all.
Stats per “Top Speed”

Newer XR 4.56 equipped ones with the 33" tires from a standard model, should make the pass quicker as there is plenty of traction, and the gearing advantage should launch faster, and the 8 spd has plenty of overdrive, so not likely to run out of top end.

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