Average Highway speeds

[STW]

The '22 JL Rubicon 2door I drive feels smooth and stable at 85mph. I try to drive 70 for the mpg and to be sensible. On I-15 in my locality 85mph is the norm and sometimes I'm in a hurry, so I have plenty of experience with how it feels at 85mph. Including a few 1000 mile days on the freeway. It was smooth and stable when it was stock on 33s, it was still true when I added the Mopar lift LCAs which slowed the steering way down, slower than I like. And it was still good added 35s and it's just right--steers more slowly than stock but not at all sluggish.

People have different expectations and preferences with steering and ride. I've driven a solid front axle a long time, and the JLR is so much smoother and easier at high speeds than my TJ. Max stable speed is 25mph higher on the JLR than on the TJ regardless of whether the TJ could reach that speed or not.

Also, it seems clear that individual Jeeps can be different too, in terms of steering stability. I didn't want to believe that since equipment should be the same, model to model. And we can't know for sure unless several of us drive any given misbehaving Jeep to see if it's the Jeep or if it's a case of mismatched driver expectation / preference.

Wind is a non-issue for me in my very windy locality with a 2door on 35s. I notice wind, but I also notice wind in a sedan. Maybe that's expectation again since it's on a motorcycle where I notice sidewinds.

The short wheelbase sum-up: 1) off-road it's a toss up. There are distinct advantages for short wheelbase Jeeps, but there are drawbacks too, and in some situations a long wheelbase has the advantage. Choose the advantages you want most. 2) short wheelbase is a total plus for regular road/street driving--maneuverable, quick turning, fun to drive. 3) excellent for fast highway in my experience for what it is, but short wheelbase makes for less directional stability in absolute terms compared to a long wheelbase Unlimited; you'll notice and some will not like it, and 4) SNOW or other very slick conditions you will notice the back end can come around more easily than a long wheelbase can. I have lots of slick snow/ice driving where I am, and you notice a short wheelbase difference. There are advantages too, but you drive with awareness the backend can come around on you sooner.

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[five9dak]

I set the cruise to 67 in a 55 zone and 70 in a 65 or 70 zone

 

[JeepFiend]

Highways around here are 70mph, average traffic moves 75-80. So far no feelings of danger, just feelings of poverty when I watch the mileage drop after 75mph. Pushing a brick through the wind is bad enough. Pushing it at high speed is resource intensive. :D

 

[Zandcwhite]

Only driven a 2dr jl in short stretches, but the 4dr drives just like any other full size suv/truck. Cruise control set at 80-85mph on the freeway line everyone wise out west.

 

[mgroeger]

Hi folks! Potential 2-door owner here. Just curious what your average high speeds are or at what point does the rig started getting a little sketchy for daily freeway driving. I currently drive an Outback wilderness and I tend to drive it at around 70mph.
I’ve never driven a wrangler and I’m expecting it to be whole different beast.

All depends how you build it if you choose to do so. I have a 4 door on a 3.5" lift, on 38" tires mounted to beadlocks and I can cruise at 82 mpg with one finger on the wheel. I've gotten up to 90 to pass someone and no issues at all but I wouldn't recommend doing that

 

[Flip]

97 mph in my EcoDiesel daily, on the highways, zero issues in a straight line, and I haven't run front sway bar links for the last year, again, zero issues.

Only real downside is my average 23 mpg instead of 28 with my EcoDiesel. ?‍

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[Flip]

2 door, 33" pizza cutters. 75-80 mph or more on the interstate no problem, smooth as silk bro!

 

[Whiskeybiskit]

I'll throw mine in too. 2019 jl sport s with 33" KO2's, my commute to work is 90% freeway, average speed 70-80mph with no issues in stability, save for the occasional strong cross wind.

 

[bumpit]

Hi folks! Potential 2-door owner here. Just curious what your average high speeds are or at what point does the rig started getting a little sketchy for daily freeway driving. I currently drive an Outback wilderness and I tend to drive it at around 70mph.
I’ve never driven a wrangler and I’m expecting it to be whole different beast.

I've cruised it across 2 states at 90-95mph on 37s with no issue. It was quite comfortable actually.

Since it's been on 40s I only run it up to about 75-80 since it's still on 4.88s for cruising. Last trip was 14-15hrs and avg highway speed was prob 75ish.

 

[RangerEd]

Stock '22 Sport with the v6. Drives just like the straight axle, 1-ton pick ups I used to prefer. I typically keep speeds going with the low end of the flow of traffic and it handles like a new car should.

As for higher speeds? When I can tuck into and draft off fast flowing traffic, more than 90 mph is smooth and the mpg stays in my typical 24-ish.

 

[mgroeger]

I'll throw mine in too. 2019 jl sport s with 33" KO2's, my commute to work is 90% freeway, average speed 70-80mph with no issues in stability, save for the occasional strong cross wind.

Gotta love the cross wind when driving a brick.

 

[NWJeepr]

Borrow or rent one and drive it around the LA area, see how it does. Or ask to go on a long test drive on the freeways.

Most areas of LA you'll get run over doing 70 in open traffic. So you really need something that also feels stable at 80-ish+. The broken/uneven concrete and road seams, construction areas are the worst. It's really jarring in a 2-door. For that reason, your Outback is much, much better suited to road duty around LA.

 

[PandaJL]

For my unmodded 2 door rubicon, I would say 65/70 is the sweet spot. The cross-wind sketched me out a bit at higher speeds, and when the half-doors are in (if I have the uppers on) it gets very loud past 65.

I used to have an Audi TTRS and on more than one occasion on wide highways I'd find myself at the upper two / lower 3 digits having not realized - I don't think it was possible for that car to be bothered by anything. With that having spoiled me, I might be a bit slow on the jeep by comparison, just because I'm used to that precision. The jeep is a different beast that's fun in entirely different ways. A slow brick, but I wouldn't trade it.

 

[Chile1]

70/75 on my MT

 

[bumpit]

For everyone complaining about the crosswinds a firmer shock will help a ton. Only crosswinds I've noticed in all my trips were some strong ones on South Dakota highways and even the it was running 90+ with one hand on the wheel.

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