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Mein Gott, what have I done (No option Wrangler)

SuedeGopher

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Hi all, made some other intro posts but figured I'd do a dedicated intro and pick the collective's brain on what I've gotten myself into.

A little backstory: I am in AZ splitting time between Flag and the Valley. During the apocalypse, I have found myself outdoors with increasing frequency. I've been enjoying kayaking and mountain back riding along with some gentle off-roading in a Volvo SUV. The missus and I got to talking about how much fun it might be to go a bit deeper on some of the trails we find up North and in the middle of the state which got us round to looking at Jeeps for sale.

We wanted to add a third rather than replace (as so many couples do to keep things fresh), so I initially was looking at used, but dang if these things don't hold their value. That, and we drive manuals in this here family and quite frankly, there ain't a lot in the used market. I went and drove every engine and transmission combo aside from the diesel (eTorque decidedly does not suck) but am inherently found of three pedals and settled that way.

Long story a bit shorter, a local dealer hasn't been able to move a new JL Sport with literally one option - a/c and so we have been picking at that wound for a couple months before finally agreeing to a price for the Jeep with a receiver installed. Next week I take delivery of my latest round of mid-life crisis.

So a few questions for y'all:

  • How sad will I be with no 'anti-slip'?
  • I'm not the most experienced off-roader in the world and don't anticipate having a specialist need for mud bogging or rock climbing - do you folks figure Mr. Bone Stock will be able to handle general trails without mods?
  • Any recommended first mods to the Jeep with a high cost/benefit ratio?
  • I know yeaaaars ago manuals were preferred for wheelin, but that has largely changed. No question there just a comment I guess.
  • Has, uh, anyone else bought one of these things unequipped? I suspect 5+ years from now, there's a niche market that will salivate for it as it is now. No power windows is delightfully nostalgic.
  • How many people pretend they're MacGyver whenever they turn the key?

Nice little community you've got here. Be a shame if an idiot who knows absolutely nothing joins and makes a mess of it. :)
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av8or

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Sounds like an excellent purchase. Congratulations! That thing will go wherever you point it just the way you bought it. No need for lsd..........unless itā€™s your thing. ;)
 

Oldbear

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Remember that up until the Rubiconā€™s came out there were NO factory Jeeps with lockers, and limited slips were not all that common, yet folks took Jeeps pretty much everywhere, and those are the Jeeps that BUILT the reputation Jeep enjoys today! I personally have been in some pretty nasty places with my old TJā€™s back in the day, and neither of them has limited slip or anywhere neat the capability your new JL will havešŸ‘. Get out there and enjoy it. If itā€™s just you and the missus, take along some self recovery equipment just in case. As a minimum, a shovel, a come-along, a tree strap and a pull rope. If you can afford( or want) a winch, even better, but an old fashioned come along Will get you unstuck. Iā€™ve used my gear to get other folks out far far more than I ever have to self rescue, but if your ā€œaloneā€ itā€™s a real comfort to have. Also pack some food and water (or water filter if thereā€™s ground water available.). Through in a couple space blankets as well. So equipped you can go pretty much anywhere a reasonable person would try to go, and if by misfortune you should get stuck you can still extricate yourself and stay ā€œcomfortableā€ while youā€™re doing so. Good luck and enjoy that new Jeep, itā€™s far more capable than most driversšŸ˜Š
 

av8or

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Remember that up until the Rubiconā€™s came out there were NO factory Jeeps with lockers, and limited slips were not all that common, yet folks took Jeeps pretty much everywhere, and those are the Jeeps that BUILT the reputation Jeep enjoys today! I personally have been in some pretty nasty places with my old TJā€™s back in the day, and neither of them has limited slip or anywhere neat the capability your new JL will havešŸ‘. Get out there and enjoy it. If itā€™s just you and the missus, take along some self recovery equipment just in case. As a minimum, a shovel, a come-along, a tree strap and a pull rope. If you can afford( or want) a winch, even better, but an old fashioned come along Will get you unstuck. Iā€™ve used my gear to get other folks out far far more than I ever have to self rescue, but if your ā€œaloneā€ itā€™s a real comfort to have. Also pack some food and water (or water filter if thereā€™s ground water available.). Through in a couple space blankets as well. So equipped you can go pretty much anywhere a reasonable person would try to go, and if by misfortune you should get stuck you can still extricate yourself and stay ā€œcomfortableā€ while youā€™re doing so. Good luck and enjoy that new Jeep, itā€™s far more capable than most driversšŸ˜Š
Awesome advice here! I will add to his list a first aid kit and a gps/satellite communications.
 

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loudog3114

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You can bolt anything you need on over time. If you find you have ground clearance issues, get bigger tires. if you find you have traction issues, get a rear locker. Etc... etc. All this stuff is short money.

I always tell people either get the rubicon, or get the absolute base sport and build it the way you want it over time.
 

BillWorkbench

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I have been a long time jeeper. I just picked up a 2020 2 Door Sport S and love it. So far, the BEST thing I have invested in is the "Smittybilt 2781 5.65 CFM Universal Air Compressor" https://amzn.to/2WEJzx1

It takes just a bit longer to let the air out than to pump up the "Stock" tires with this thing.

Regarding lifts, lockers, and such. I figure that the stock Jeep won't get me back home. I should not have gone there.
 

631_Islander

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Hi all, made some other intro posts but figured I'd do a dedicated intro and pick the collective's brain on what I've gotten myself into.

A little backstory: I am in AZ splitting time between Flag and the Valley. During the apocalypse, I have found myself outdoors with increasing frequency. I've been enjoying kayaking and mountain back riding along with some gentle off-roading in a Volvo SUV. The missus and I got to talking about how much fun it might be to go a bit deeper on some of the trails we find up North and in the middle of the state which got us round to looking at Jeeps for sale.

We wanted to add a third rather than replace (as so many couples do to keep things fresh), so I initially was looking at used, but dang if these things don't hold their value. That, and we drive manuals in this here family and quite frankly, there ain't a lot in the used market. I went and drove every engine and transmission combo aside from the diesel (eTorque decidedly does not suck) but am inherently found of three pedals and settled that way.

Long story a bit shorter, a local dealer hasn't been able to move a new JL Sport with literally one option - a/c and so we have been picking at that wound for a couple months before finally agreeing to a price for the Jeep with a receiver installed. Next week I take delivery of my latest round of mid-life crisis.

So a few questions for y'all:

  • How sad will I be with no 'anti-slip'?
  • I'm not the most experienced off-roader in the world and don't anticipate having a specialist need for mud bogging or rock climbing - do you folks figure Mr. Bone Stock will be able to handle general trails without mods?
  • Any recommended first mods to the Jeep with a high cost/benefit ratio?
  • I know yeaaaars ago manuals were preferred for wheelin, but that has largely changed. No question there just a comment I guess.
  • Has, uh, anyone else bought one of these things unequipped? I suspect 5+ years from now, there's a niche market that will salivate for it as it is now. No power windows is delightfully nostalgic.
  • How many people pretend they're MacGyver whenever they turn the key?

Nice little community you've got here. Be a shame if an idiot who knows absolutely nothing joins and makes a mess of it. :)
  • How sad will I be with no 'anti-slip'? You won't be. Original Jeeps did not have the LSD option. It is good to have if you got extra money but not a requirement in my eyes if you will not be doing hardcore wheeling. My JLUR has it stock but I almost never go off road. It wouldn't have made a difference to me one way or another.

  • I'm not the most experienced off-roader in the world and don't anticipate having a specialist need for mud bogging or rock climbing - do you folks figure Mr. Bone Stock will be able to handle general trails without mods? Should have no issues handling general trails. Mods are only for looks or for those who will be in the mud or hard rocks on the regular.

  • Any recommended first mods to the Jeep with a high cost/benefit ratio? JL Tazer Mini is a must have.

  • I know yeaaaars ago manuals were preferred for wheelin, but that has largely changed. No question there just a comment I guess. Automatics of modern day have come a long way. I am also a huge fan of manuals but the 8 speed Automatic in the latest Jeeps is now considered to be as good or better than their 6 speed Manual. The Clutch on the Manual unfortunately had to be recalled about 18 months ago due to heating issues. No recalls on the Automatic so far. It is now considered one of the best Automatics in the business right now. If you want the best Manual in the business, that award belongs to Honda.

  • Has, uh, anyone else bought one of these things unequipped? I suspect 5+ years from now, there's a niche market that will salivate for it as it is now. No power windows is delightfully nostalgic. Yes. There are plenty of us in this forum. My wife and I also plan on buying our next JL stripped down significantly versus our fully hooked up Rubicon right now. The only thing it will have is an Automatic Transmission, an A/C and a Hard Top. No switches, no LSD, Mechanical Windows and no Power Locks for our next one. Whether we will get a 2 Door a 4 Door or a Gladiator is still TBD. 4 Door seems most likely as we have a 2 year daughter also now.

  • How many people pretend they're MacGyver whenever they turn the key? Umm...Who? Sorry. Millenial here (born in 1986)
 

WhiskeyChick24

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Hi all, made some other intro posts but figured I'd do a dedicated intro and pick the collective's brain on what I've gotten myself into.

A little backstory: I am in AZ splitting time between Flag and the Valley. During the apocalypse, I have found myself outdoors with increasing frequency. I've been enjoying kayaking and mountain back riding along with some gentle off-roading in a Volvo SUV. The missus and I got to talking about how much fun it might be to go a bit deeper on some of the trails we find up North and in the middle of the state which got us round to looking at Jeeps for sale.

We wanted to add a third rather than replace (as so many couples do to keep things fresh), so I initially was looking at used, but dang if these things don't hold their value. That, and we drive manuals in this here family and quite frankly, there ain't a lot in the used market. I went and drove every engine and transmission combo aside from the diesel (eTorque decidedly does not suck) but am inherently found of three pedals and settled that way.

Long story a bit shorter, a local dealer hasn't been able to move a new JL Sport with literally one option - a/c and so we have been picking at that wound for a couple months before finally agreeing to a price for the Jeep with a receiver installed. Next week I take delivery of my latest round of mid-life crisis.

So a few questions for y'all:

  • How sad will I be with no 'anti-slip'?
  • I'm not the most experienced off-roader in the world and don't anticipate having a specialist need for mud bogging or rock climbing - do you folks figure Mr. Bone Stock will be able to handle general trails without mods?
  • Any recommended first mods to the Jeep with a high cost/benefit ratio?
  • I know yeaaaars ago manuals were preferred for wheelin, but that has largely changed. No question there just a comment I guess.
  • Has, uh, anyone else bought one of these things unequipped? I suspect 5+ years from now, there's a niche market that will salivate for it as it is now. No power windows is delightfully nostalgic.
  • How many people pretend they're MacGyver whenever they turn the key?

Nice little community you've got here. Be a shame if an idiot who knows absolutely nothing joins and makes a mess of it. :)
That was fun to read. Since I donā€™t have much along the lines of useful advice I figured I would at least say that. The ā€œkeep things freshā€ and ā€œbe a shame if...ā€ especially made me chuckle. :giggle: Hope you love your Jeep when all is said and done. The vibe from your post seems as if you and the misses have a pretty darn good life. Enjoy!:please:
 

Heimkehr

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  • Has, uh, anyone else bought one of these things unequipped? I suspect 5+ years from now, there's a niche market that will salivate for it as it is now. No power windows is delightfully nostalgic.
Yep. I ordered my 2021 Sport with one option: engine block heater. Done and done. :)

My new Jeep is better outfitted than my 1995 YJ by an order of magnitude. This is why I refuse to refer to the Sport trim level as a "base" model: in comparison, it's anything but.
 

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jeepoch

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Hi all, made some other intro posts but figured I'd do a dedicated intro and pick the collective's brain on what I've gotten myself into.

A little backstory: I am in AZ splitting time between Flag and the Valley. During the apocalypse, I have found myself outdoors with increasing frequency. I've been enjoying kayaking and mountain back riding along with some gentle off-roading in a Volvo SUV. The missus and I got to talking about how much fun it might be to go a bit deeper on some of the trails we find up North and in the middle of the state which got us round to looking at Jeeps for sale.

We wanted to add a third rather than replace (as so many couples do to keep things fresh), so I initially was looking at used, but dang if these things don't hold their value. That, and we drive manuals in this here family and quite frankly, there ain't a lot in the used market. I went and drove every engine and transmission combo aside from the diesel (eTorque decidedly does not suck) but am inherently found of three pedals and settled that way.

Long story a bit shorter, a local dealer hasn't been able to move a new JL Sport with literally one option - a/c and so we have been picking at that wound for a couple months before finally agreeing to a price for the Jeep with a receiver installed. Next week I take delivery of my latest round of mid-life crisis.

So a few questions for y'all:

  • How sad will I be with no 'anti-slip'?
  • I'm not the most experienced off-roader in the world and don't anticipate having a specialist need for mud bogging or rock climbing - do you folks figure Mr. Bone Stock will be able to handle general trails without mods?
  • Any recommended first mods to the Jeep with a high cost/benefit ratio?
  • I know yeaaaars ago manuals were preferred for wheelin, but that has largely changed. No question there just a comment I guess.
  • Has, uh, anyone else bought one of these things unequipped? I suspect 5+ years from now, there's a niche market that will salivate for it as it is now. No power windows is delightfully nostalgic.
  • How many people pretend they're MacGyver whenever they turn the key?

Nice little community you've got here. Be a shame if an idiot who knows absolutely nothing joins and makes a mess of it. :)
@SuedeGopher,

Welcome to the forum and really great introduction.

As a fellow Sport owner with minimal initial inclination to do any serious off-roading, here is my experience:

First, once you go true 4 wheeling, at least somewhere that will really require 4Lo, the bug will bite and you'll likely become addicted as well.

We (my wife and I) live in Colorado, and the more we see our state, the deeper we want to see even more of it. Breathtakingly beautiful, picturesque and where only a few people really are able to see. Only those on foot, horseback or other Jeeps are able to get to some of the places we've been within some of our National Forests near our home.

We picked up our Sport S sort of on a whim about a year ago. Ever since then, we've been investing in making it even more capable for our new off road passion, to experience even more locations of our great state.

Our 2 door Sport however has the 3.6L 8-speed Auto. I too have come from a manual only background. All I can say with this transmission is WOW! With the Auto-Stick feature, I can explicitly perform up or down shifts as I want but without the clutch. A purest would certainly say 'puke' it's not the same. From my point of view, get over yourself, the vehicle is behaving exactly the way I want it to run regardless of whether I had to tickle the toes on my left foot.

I really am enjoying this engine / transmission combination. For me, it has really made both on and off roading way more enjoyable. Riding the clutch in very demanding situations is a thing of the past. The desired gear is just available without effort. This transmission just delivers the torque and horsepower I'm expecting without any hesitation. It truly is a great compliment to this 3.6L powerplant.

Second, I did eventually decide to install the 2.5" Mopar lift and installed some really amazing 35" inch rubber. I went with the Goodyear Duratrac All-Terrain Wrangler 35x12.5x17s. Very happy with this tire.

Third, I also invested in the Teraflex Sway Bar Quick Disconnect kit for the maximum available off road articulation possible.

These three high clearance modifications have made our Sport about as capable as any Jeep ever. The only thing missing are the locking differentials. However, with the brake limited differential (BLD) assist, I've successfully accomplished several difficult to severe obstacles where some stock Rubicon's needed assistance. I get lot's of compliments when other Jeeper's realize I'm at the top of the mountain pass in a Sport with open-diffs.

Go places with it stock. Do things with it. You will be amazed at just how capable it is all by itself. However, when you do get the addiction and I fully predict you will, then and only then add the modifications you deem most appropriate.

While cliff climbing and Boulder bouncing are still not in my vocabulary, this JL is also my daily driver after all, I have every confidence that I can now accomplish whatever obstacle I care to tackle.

The extra clearance, articulation and added traction is indeed wonderful.

Jay
 

JMCCUSKEY82

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Id just buy some good tires and call it a day!
 

Mikeoso

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I started jeeping 50 years ago in AZ, with a jeep that was obsolete even then, a 1949 Willys, and went where I wanted. My most recent buy is a Sport with ac and hardtop, no other upgrades...way more competent than I am.
 

Uhdinator

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My first jeep had open diffs. I learned a lot as it forced me to pick the best line/path to keep traction/wheels on the ground. The JL is a whole different animal and a mountain goat compared to my first. My second Jeep was the first Rubicon 2003. Even it had hand crank windows.
My Sport 2 Dr only has AC/Hard top/and Window tint. The traction control system Brake Limited Diff technology works very well once you understand how it works........it will do it's thing and go more places than traditional "Open Diffs" will take you. Its kinda funny when I read complaints about the stock JL radio....:LOL:. Go look at the radio in an 89 YJ.....
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