acheron800
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- FJ
- Joined
- May 27, 2020
- Threads
- 10
- Messages
- 154
- Reaction score
- 238
- Location
- California
- Vehicle(s)
- 2014 FJ Cruiser
- Thread starter
- #1
Some background.
After owning multiple vehicles over the years along with designated offroad racecars. With kids (4 and 6) racing has been put on hold.
Having a 24' RV and wanting a toad, I went shopping for a new rubicon in 2020. Test drove the hell out of them and just couldnt pull the trigger. My DD at the time was a 2014 FJ in mint condition and I have never taken it offroad and didnt want to tear up the front end setting it up for toad. Put the whole idea on hold and couldnt fall in love with the wrangler. Furthermore, at the time I did not have the funds to purchase the jeep cash and keep the FJ and I didnt have a place to store the FJ since I couldnt bear selling it.
Fast forward to May, for some reason I hopped on this forum and saw all the new features for 2024, the airbags, the uconnect, the power seats, the oem winch, factory 35s with beadlock capable, full float rearend, dash redesign, 4.56 gears etc. I instantly fell in love. I hated the red dash in the previous years, i loved the fact that most the things I wanted to do the 2020 now come in the X package and there would be less for me to add-on. I ordered through Kent at Peterson in ID on May 30.
I was leaning toward the 392 but between the gas mileage and the $30k difference I opted against it. It was close but the red seats were ultimately the deciding factor.
The goal for the 2024 is going to be lots of trail camping with my kids and also using as a toad along with a DD. I now have a 6000sq/ft warehouse to store my vehicles and swinging cash for the a new toy is less of an issue as 2020. I was also buying a new house in 2020 and dumping loads of money in it doing a full remodel which is now complete. We will be sleeping in the jeep when not in the moho and already bought the solo mats from deep sleep.
On August 24 Kent texted me and said my jeep was in. Got on the horn to some transport companies on the 25th and they were all 3 weeks out. Me being impatient called the wife at work and asked if she wanted to hop on a plane that night and go get the jeep. Landed in ID from Socal at 930pm and met at the dealership at 9am and was out of there in an hour or so. Got on the road and started heading south.
Over the next 2 days we put 900 miles on it driving home. Stopping in Mono Lake for the night.
Observations:
At first I thought i needed an alignment, didnt realize there were 30-40mph crosswinds and the remnants of a tropical storm were on the horizon. As soon as we got out of the wind it drove straight as an arrow up to 85mph. I was very surprised as it seemed this jeep on 35s drove much better on the road than the rubicons I had test driven before.
The ACC. Wow, something I never thought I would use. Works absolutely fantastic.
The truck is extremely quiet for what it is. I had them put the sunrider on for delivery. And I would say it is damn near as quiet as my FJ.
The 3.6 does pretty well. I will say the toyota 4.0 is probably better, but the 8 speed tranny outshines the 5 speed.
Uconnect is flawless, looks great and very intuitive. Even the the rectangle vents put out quite a bit of air and the dash just flows. I just wish how I knew how to change or add the little android auto shortcuts.
Power seats are great. Unbelievable that you can actually lay them completely flat.
Passing trucks or getting passed, yes you get blown around a little bit. I attribute this to the shape and being on 35s with the shorter wheelbase.
Seat comfort is pretty good, the leather is pretty nice for an American vehicle.
Needed steps so I put some GOAT sliders on, super nice.
Truck is just got done at a buddies shop:
RV Towed Charger
Mopar RV Towed Wiring Kit
Rockjock RV Tow Skid/Bar
(2) Baja Designs LP6 for front bumper
(2) Baja Designs S2s for rear bumper
What's to come:
Baja Rack with 4.5' awning and some ROAM boxes.
I'll be adding to this thread once I get it offroad and camping for our first trip.
After owning multiple vehicles over the years along with designated offroad racecars. With kids (4 and 6) racing has been put on hold.
Having a 24' RV and wanting a toad, I went shopping for a new rubicon in 2020. Test drove the hell out of them and just couldnt pull the trigger. My DD at the time was a 2014 FJ in mint condition and I have never taken it offroad and didnt want to tear up the front end setting it up for toad. Put the whole idea on hold and couldnt fall in love with the wrangler. Furthermore, at the time I did not have the funds to purchase the jeep cash and keep the FJ and I didnt have a place to store the FJ since I couldnt bear selling it.
Fast forward to May, for some reason I hopped on this forum and saw all the new features for 2024, the airbags, the uconnect, the power seats, the oem winch, factory 35s with beadlock capable, full float rearend, dash redesign, 4.56 gears etc. I instantly fell in love. I hated the red dash in the previous years, i loved the fact that most the things I wanted to do the 2020 now come in the X package and there would be less for me to add-on. I ordered through Kent at Peterson in ID on May 30.
I was leaning toward the 392 but between the gas mileage and the $30k difference I opted against it. It was close but the red seats were ultimately the deciding factor.
The goal for the 2024 is going to be lots of trail camping with my kids and also using as a toad along with a DD. I now have a 6000sq/ft warehouse to store my vehicles and swinging cash for the a new toy is less of an issue as 2020. I was also buying a new house in 2020 and dumping loads of money in it doing a full remodel which is now complete. We will be sleeping in the jeep when not in the moho and already bought the solo mats from deep sleep.
On August 24 Kent texted me and said my jeep was in. Got on the horn to some transport companies on the 25th and they were all 3 weeks out. Me being impatient called the wife at work and asked if she wanted to hop on a plane that night and go get the jeep. Landed in ID from Socal at 930pm and met at the dealership at 9am and was out of there in an hour or so. Got on the road and started heading south.
Over the next 2 days we put 900 miles on it driving home. Stopping in Mono Lake for the night.
Observations:
At first I thought i needed an alignment, didnt realize there were 30-40mph crosswinds and the remnants of a tropical storm were on the horizon. As soon as we got out of the wind it drove straight as an arrow up to 85mph. I was very surprised as it seemed this jeep on 35s drove much better on the road than the rubicons I had test driven before.
The ACC. Wow, something I never thought I would use. Works absolutely fantastic.
The truck is extremely quiet for what it is. I had them put the sunrider on for delivery. And I would say it is damn near as quiet as my FJ.
The 3.6 does pretty well. I will say the toyota 4.0 is probably better, but the 8 speed tranny outshines the 5 speed.
Uconnect is flawless, looks great and very intuitive. Even the the rectangle vents put out quite a bit of air and the dash just flows. I just wish how I knew how to change or add the little android auto shortcuts.
Power seats are great. Unbelievable that you can actually lay them completely flat.
Passing trucks or getting passed, yes you get blown around a little bit. I attribute this to the shape and being on 35s with the shorter wheelbase.
Seat comfort is pretty good, the leather is pretty nice for an American vehicle.
Needed steps so I put some GOAT sliders on, super nice.
Truck is just got done at a buddies shop:
RV Towed Charger
Mopar RV Towed Wiring Kit
Rockjock RV Tow Skid/Bar
(2) Baja Designs LP6 for front bumper
(2) Baja Designs S2s for rear bumper
What's to come:
Baja Rack with 4.5' awning and some ROAM boxes.
I'll be adding to this thread once I get it offroad and camping for our first trip.
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