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

MNML_OVRLND

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Can't beat parallel parking it in the desert or at 13,000 feet either.:)
Hahahahah, I stand corrected, you are right, parallel parking in those places is clearly better!

Thanks for the kind words, if I didn’t have a job that required me to live in the city, I probably wouldn’t live in NY either... but I find I enjoy it as long as I get to escape and reset on the weekends. ✌
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HardSell

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but I find I enjoy it as long as I get to escape and reset on the weekends.
Certainly amplifies the alternative experiences to the city. We take much for granted out west. I can't imagine "Hamilton" being a necessary indulgence for me. We have the outdoor Santa Fe Opera here. Magic Flute and La bohéme are my favorites. No season this year.

Spent some trail time in Colorado last weekend. Introduced brother and his JLUR to Schofield. Have done it three times in my '87 XJ with 31s. First time in my little TJR. Interesting considerations concerning a JLU and 35s as pictured. The lockers were necessary to get him over the obstacle. No damage at all. A Sahara would present unwelcomed challenges. The TJR simply slid through the gap with a few inches to spare. Pearl was done the next day. Frozen margaritas every night looking over Mt Crested Butte. We live well out here and know it.

Jeep Wrangler JL 2-door vs. 4-door -- All the Things Discussion 1Approach


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Jeep Wrangler JL 2-door vs. 4-door -- All the Things Discussion 4Oops, Too wide!


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HardSell

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I've come to realize the advantage a 2 door has over a 4 door is there's simply less Jeep to beat up.
 

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zrickety

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I LOVE my new 2 door. Loaded up 3 other guys the other day, nothing but compliments on the Jeep. My kids are 6 and 9, and they get in the back seat easy. I can fit my groceries.
Have a utility trailer for the big jobs. Considering a storage rack for the receiver hitch, but haven't needed it yet. The turning radius is incredible.
2 dr Rubicons are also rare, at least in my area. And to find a manual, even harder. Mine was 1 of 50 for sale in the country a couple weeks ago. GL whatever you choose.
 

stowayman

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Hey Everyone - first, I'm sorry because I'm sure this has been discussed multiple times in some form or another, but searching through the threads I couldn't seem to find a detailed discussion on "this vs. that", just questions like "anyone have 2-door regret?"

So I'm soliciting advice, hoping to get people who have owned both and to have a serious conversation about pros and cons (mostly just pros) of owning both. I'm new here; planning on pulling the trigger on a used (new for me) JL, probably in the next 5 days, and trying to decide between 2-door and 4-door.

My heart leans 2-door but my mind raises its finger in the air to make a point and says, "eh hem, 4-door practicality, sir".

Some points and questions I've been considering:
  • I love the look of the 2-door. Pretty subjective I know, but the more I stare at 4-doors the more I like them. Could I put 33's or 35's on it, even out the proportions, and learn to love it?
  • Space, the elephant in the room (or final frontier). Mostly just my wife and I, we do a lot of car camping and some hike-in camping. I currently have a Subaru Crosstrek which on paper says there is more cargo space the 2-door JL. For car camping I wouldn't say there's barely enough room for our stuff but the car is pretty packed, and we've gotten pretty efficient with our kit.
    • Anybody with experience downsizing to a 2-door?
    • Could I do a roof rack to make up for lost space? Like this one?
    • There are times when I'd like to be able to bring a third person along (father or brother), again with the roof rack is that enough (I'm guessing no)?
    • 2-door + trailer setup just for when you have more than 2 people?
  • Also, wife and I do a lot road tripping - Bay Area to Oregon, Southern California, Arizona, etc. Is the 4-door really more comfortable/stable on-road, or is that a myth?
  • Size. Couple of points/questions here too and somewhat concerned about "capability".
    • I live in a urban environment in the Bay Area and the parkability/maneuverability of the 2-door is appealing.
    • I've heard/read that the turning radius of the JL has been improved for 4-door. My Crosstrek is actually longer than a JL and about a foot shorter than a JLU. Obviously the rear-cam is a huge boon to parking. Anybody experience maneuverability issues on-road or off with JLU?
    • I know the angles/dimensions on paper but anyone experience real-world trail limitations on JLU? Obviously I'll be less limited than I am now in a Crosstrek, I'm a JLU could take me 98% of the places I want to go.
  • Comfort of 2-door vs. 4-door for passengers? Again, I may occasionally want to bring a third person along. I've sat in both, and although I'm a shorter guy, aside from having to crawl into the backseat, I thought the back seat of the 2-door was actually pretty comfortable (surprisingly).
  • OK final point (and perhaps most important), wife likes added "practicality" of 4-door and that is her preference and I'm trying to compromise (hence going used). Is the extra space of the JLU worth the extra cost?
If you're still with me here I really appreciate it. I'm excited to get the Jeep and get out there either way! Also, by the way, Jeep will be my daily. Selling the Subi, sad to see it go (has a really great layer of mud on it right now) but can only afford one.

CHEERS!
 

stowayman

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The turning radius and breakover angle on the 4 dr make it less agile for sure... This is my 4th dr jeep... I sell the back seat as soon as I buy them.... tons of room without the back seat...

Jeep Wrangler JL 2-door vs. 4-door -- All the Things Discussion Bike in back of Jee
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