Sponsored

Driving characteristics 2dr vs 4dr

DropTopGal

Active Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Threads
2
Messages
27
Reaction score
17
Location
South Florida
Vehicle(s)
TBA: 2018 JL Wrangler, 2017 GS Corvette
Vehicle Showcase
1
Hi guys...
Is there any difference in on-the-road (paved surface) driving characteristics between the 2 door vs 4 door Wrangler?
Perhaps those in the know can share some first hand experience.
Thanks... DTG
Sponsored

 

The Great Grape Ape

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
2,840
Reaction score
4,122
Location
Canadian Rockies
Vehicle(s)
2015 JKU AspenX 5spd , 2015 JK Sport 6spd
I have had a few JKs at the cottage and JKUs as my daily driver.

My personal take on it is that the 2dr is a little quicker (makes sense it weighs less), has a noticeably tighter turning radius, but I find it is a little more skittish on wet or icey pavement due to the shorter wheel base.

The 4dr can feel, a little less bouncey when encountering road imperfections, but that can be greatly affected by the spring and shock combo (even the same model can get different spring rates).

Otherwise they are rather similar to me.
 

Dackel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2016
Threads
1
Messages
114
Reaction score
44
Location
San Clemente
Vehicle(s)
2014 JKU, Ram 1500
Own the JKU, but have driven both. On pavement the JK is much less stable than the JKU due to the shorter wheelbase, lighter weight and higher center of gravity. It does get slightly better mileage but if you're spending most of your time on the road (especially highways) the 4dr is a much more stable/controlled/comfortable ride.
 

TTEChris

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
May 17, 2017
Threads
66
Messages
2,154
Reaction score
5,103
Location
Houston, TX
Website
www.tankcustoms.com
Vehicle(s)
2021 JTD & 2021 4XE
Vehicle Showcase
5
I have had both. I really enjoyed the sportier feel(If a wrangler can be that) of the 2dr around town. On the highway the 4 door was much easier to handle(Especially with bigger tires/lift etc.) I really miss my 2dr with the 6spd as a daily driver.
 

GI Jimmy

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Threads
1
Messages
21
Reaction score
7
Location
TN
Vehicle(s)
Tacoma, Waiting on next Wrangler
Hi guys...
Is there any difference in on-the-road (paved surface) driving characteristics between the 2 door vs 4 door Wrangler?
Perhaps those in the know can share some first hand experience.
Thanks... DTG
What's your use going to be like - road vs off-road?
 

Sponsored

doh

Active Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Threads
1
Messages
25
Reaction score
2
Location
mason city
Vehicle(s)
2005 wrangler
also depends how modified your jeep will be. based on what ive read, some of the differences b/w them can either be reduced or exacerbated depending on your tires and suspension mods.
 

TTEChris

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
May 17, 2017
Threads
66
Messages
2,154
Reaction score
5,103
Location
Houston, TX
Website
www.tankcustoms.com
Vehicle(s)
2021 JTD & 2021 4XE
Vehicle Showcase
5
My 2dr with 2-2.5" lift 35s and supporting mods felt less stable on the highway than my 3-4" lifted 4drs on 37s. They all would get pushed around by heavy winds, but the 2dr with the short wheelbase required more input on the highway in those situations. I briefly went up to 37s on the 2 door, but it ruined the fun of it(the big weight diff. between the 35s and 37s made a huge difference in all around driving fun on the smaller Jeep.)
 
OP
OP
DropTopGal

DropTopGal

Active Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Threads
2
Messages
27
Reaction score
17
Location
South Florida
Vehicle(s)
TBA: 2018 JL Wrangler, 2017 GS Corvette
Vehicle Showcase
1
Thanks for the reply guys. While I am sure to drive on the highway, I plan on driving the Jeep mostly for around town and along the beach (open air driving). Sounds like the 2dr would be most fun for that. This isn't my daily driver, all for fun and the 2dr sounds to be the most fun compared to the 4dr.
 

JoKer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Threads
8
Messages
149
Reaction score
25
Location
Midwest
Vehicle(s)
'13 Wrangler Sport
Thanks for the reply guys. While I am sure to drive on the highway, I plan on driving the Jeep mostly for around town and along the beach (open air driving). Sounds like the 2dr would be most fun for that. This isn't my daily driver, all for fun and the 2dr sounds to be the most fun compared to the 4dr.
Yea if you don't need the extra space and doors provided by the 4 door and it's purely for fun then definitely go for the 2 door. And since this will be your first Jeep, getting the "classic" 2 door Jeep will be a great intro to the world of Wranglers :rock:

I may be a bit biased though ;)
 

COBill

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2016
Threads
12
Messages
887
Reaction score
756
Location
Louisville, Colorado
Vehicle(s)
2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
The two door is much more bouncy and "Jeep like" in its behavior because of its shorter wheelbase, but is also correspondingly more maneuverable.

The four door has a smoother ride (due to longer wheelbase) but has a wider turn radius and feels more "truck like."

For example, you rarely will have to do a three point turn into a perpendicular parking space in a two door, in the four door it's more or less the way you pull into a space.
 

Sponsored

ArchAngel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2018
Threads
7
Messages
64
Reaction score
121
Location
Us
Vehicle(s)
Jeep
My 2dr with 2-2.5" lift 35s and supporting mods felt less stable on the highway than my 3-4" lifted 4drs on 37s. They all would get pushed around by heavy winds, but the 2dr with the short wheelbase required more input on the highway in those situations. I briefly went up to 37s on the 2 door, but it ruined the fun of it(the big weight diff. between the 35s and 37s made a huge difference in all around driving fun on the smaller Jeep.)
Very useful information. Thanks very much for sharing.
 

cosine

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Jun 1, 2019
Threads
73
Messages
13,018
Reaction score
72,917
Location
NY
Vehicle(s)
2019 Wrangler Sport jl
Occupation
Gone Postal
i have the 2 door sport jl which is my daily driver and i love it. the ride quality is not all that bad. i test drove a 4 door jl sport and couldn't see that much of a difference between the two. the 2 door is much sportier, feels fast and quick reacting. defiantly easy to move around traffic, parking, etc. in your case as being a local beach cruiser, the 2 door would be the one to grab.
 

marjamr

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mark
Joined
Dec 23, 2018
Threads
2
Messages
98
Reaction score
102
Location
Brockport, PA
Vehicle(s)
2018 Wrangler JL
Thanks for the reply guys. While I am sure to drive on the highway, I plan on driving the Jeep mostly for around town and along the beach (open air driving). Sounds like the 2dr would be most fun for that. This isn't my daily driver, all for fun and the 2dr sounds to be the most fun compared to the 4dr.
IMO a real Wrangler has to be a 2 door.
 
 



Top