2-door vs. 4-door -- All the Things Discussion

[jespey]

For us, the 2dr soft top was the only “Jeep”. Had a 2010 then 2013 as my wife’s DD. My DD (Ford Escape and then BMW X1) was always our “trip” car. She went to a Mini Countryman for a few years but we missed the Jeep and bought a 2018 JK (then a 2018 JL) as our weekend “fun” vehicle. She later needed a more comfortable DD but the JL wasn’t practical as her DD, so traded the Mini and JL for a 2020 JLUS hardtop for her DD. Couldn’t be happier, but one day she said out of the blue that our next Jeep needed to be a Rubicon. I loved her JLUS, so we traded my BMW for her new 2020 JLUR hardtop. Now a 2 JLU hard top family. The set up works absolutely perfectly for the both of us.

TL;DR. Had 4 two door JK/JLs and now 2 JLUs, and love the 4 doors the best. Great practicality and fun factor for both of us.

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[RoadiJeff]

We had a 2-dr JK for 7+ years and traded it in on a 4-dr JLU 3 months ago. We used to make wisecracks about the 4-dr Jeeps when we'd see one on the road.

When the wife wanted a new Jeep she test drove both a JL and JLU and she said she liked the JLU better for several reasons: more carrying capacity, easier to get in and out of the back seat, a bit smoother ride. Other things like breakover angle are irrelevant since I doubt she will ever drive it off-road.

 

[blnewt]

There is one other item that I wish the 2 dr had, that gas tank w/ 4 more gallons

 

[Amaruq]

There is one other item that I wish the 2 dr had, that gas tank w/ 4 more gallons

But we can fill up on only $23.

 

[Hudson]

Only a few niggles with the 2 door:

- not as much aftermarket internal gear as the 4 door. Things like shelfs, locking trunks, storage bags.
- shorter range given the smaller tank. So far hasn’t been a concern.
- space for two is ok for lugging camp gear but no real ability to do a roof top tent or interior mattress. Also, payload can be a real challenge if you are hauling lots of heavy gear - you’ll need a lift to keep from hitting bump stops if you are loaded up.
- can’t get a diesel
- hauling passengers is fine for short hops around town but cramped for anything longer
- tow capacity is really low, like 1500 lbs, so hauling a travel trailer or even a teardrop is not really an option
But otherwise I prefer the 2 dr, and living in SF, the two door gets you into parking spaces no four door could. I would not get a 4 door - too big for my taste

 

[Outlawd]

2 door-v-4 door has been beaten to death. There is NO right or wrong, which one fits you is only up to you. The 2 door people love their Jeeps and the 4 door people love their Jeeps. I will say that Jeeps bold move to make the 4 door paid off huge financially for the company.

 

[Whisky19]

As someone mentioned earlier, Jeeps in general are not the most practical vehicle. I personally would not have purchased a Jeep with a young family. My Tahoe Z71 fit that bill far better. This is my 3rd Jeep and 2nd Rubi all of which were 2 doors. I test drove the 4 door and after owning 2drs for so long it just never felt right. Something about that Jeep “ feel” was missing. I also love the fact that you don’t see many 2drs on the road any longer ( at least by me). The turning radius on my 2020 Rubi is insane, handles great, is quick and it just looks ridiculously badass all around.

 

[Mikester86]

I would probably choose a 2 door if it was a dedicated trail rig, unless that included steep inclines, where I think the 4 door would be more stable. A 4 door with a small lift and 35's will get you in and out of more places then not.

The 4 door for longer trips will be more comfortable with the longer wheelbase and additional weight. The larger fuel tank is a bonus in this as well. It is nice having the extra 2 doors in a practical sense. Going from a 2 door JK Willys to a 4 door JLUR, you quickly realize how often the rear doors are utilized.

Personally, I love them both and would be happy with either. If you can can throw the practical side of the 4 door out the window, the 2 door is there to be had.

Best of luck with your decision, it really is a win no matter what you choose.

 

[blnewt]

Only a few niggles with the 2 door:

- not as much aftermarket internal gear as the 4 door. Things like shelfs, locking trunks, storage bags.
- shorter range given the smaller tank. So far hasn’t been a concern.
- space for two is ok for lugging camp gear but no real ability to do a roof top tent or interior mattress. Also, payload can be a real challenge if you are hauling lots of heavy gear - you’ll need a lift to keep from hitting bump stops if you are loaded up.
- can’t get a diesel
- hauling passengers is fine for short hops around town but cramped for anything longer
- tow capacity is really low, like 1500 lbs, so hauling a travel trailer or even a teardrop is not really an option
But otherwise I prefer the 2 dr, and living in SF, the two door gets you into parking spaces no four door could. I would not get a 4 door - too big for my taste

Any pics of those 914s you care to share, my dad had a 74 and that little ride was a blast!

 

[JeepDave]

LOL, from your description, you need to buy two 2-door Jeeps. Solves every problem
you listed.

 

[daveprice7]

It seems like cargo space is your only real concern. There's a ton of capacity behind the front seats in a 2dr, less so if the rear bench seat is in use. In that case, a roof rack or hitch carrier might be in order.

I have a hitch carrier that I used to bring 5 wheels & tires home... If you get one that swings away, it makes it easy to use your tailgate too. You'll want to get air springs to level your ride if you're gonna do that a lot though.

There are at least a few roof rack options for JLs, probably more for hard tops (mine is a soft top, so I haven't looked at what's available for hard tops). You could also look into a trail rack (cargo carrier above the spare tire). Trail racks usually involve changing the rear bumper with a tire carrier though.

Lots of options for cargo; get the Jeep you like the best, then configure it to work for you!

 

[aldo98229]

I loved my 2-door JKs. They were fun to drive around town, fun on the trail, fun to take camping, and fun to look at. My 2-door JKs with manual transmission were especially fun on two-lane mountain roads. But they weren’t fun to drive at speed.

Two-doors worked perfectly fine for 1-2 people with the occasional 3rd passenger. I was able to fit all my camping gear by simply tumbling or removing the rear seat. I was able to do everything with it, except pick up bulky items from Ikea, Home Depot or Best Buy.

BTW, it can be a bitch getting in-and-out of the back, but the rear seat itself is much more comfortably shaped than that in the 4-door. Once back there, the rear seat is pretty comfy.

IMO, nothing matches the feeling you get wheeling in a 2-door Wrangler.

 

[Hudson]

Any pics of those 914s you care to share, my dad had a 74 and that little ride was a blast!

I have two - both are powered by a 911 flat six. The black car is a 1971 fitted with a 3.2 Six from a mid 80’s 911 SC, and the blue car is a 1970 fitted with a built twin plug 2.7, and now being restored. They are wonderful to drive. For a long time the 914 was unloved but the past five years they have been in high demand by Porsche drivers, with staggering prices.

 

[blnewt]

I have two - both are powered by a 911 flat six. The black car is a 1971 fitted with a 3.2 Six from a mid 80’s 911 SC, and the blue car is a 1970 fitted with a built twin plug 2.7, and now being restored. They are wonderful to drive. For a long time the 914 was unloved but the past five years they have been in high demand by Porsche drivers, with staggering prices.

Sweet, another vote for 2drs!
FWIW our 914 was white w/ the 2.0
And true-that regarding prices, they've gone crazy, but you don't see many so I guess supply & demand

914 is similar the the Toyota FJ Cruiser, not much love when they were in production but can't keep 'em on the shelves now

 

[aldo98229]

My other vehicle is a 2-door

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