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ColoradoMike

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After listening to several of the comments on here, I have came to the realization that the four door with two kids is definitely what I probably need to do. I am going to look at a four door Rubicon tomorrow. It too has the halogen headlights, but as I have heard from everyone here, if I do not like them an LED swap is nothing major. Kind of nervous to be honest. If I get the Rubicon, I will have quite a bit more invested in it than the Tacoma TRD Off Road. I just keep thinking what does it matter if you aren’t enjoying what you are driving, but I do not know if I want to sink that kind of money in a vehicle. Decisions. Decisions. LOL.
Don't sweat the investment as long as you can afford it initially, because resale value on a 4-door Rubicon is so strong. If, a year from now, you're not feeling good about the investment, you sell it and it's no real loss.
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keeperman13

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Hey brother, it seems that you have effectively narrowed your decision points down to 2/4-door and halogen/LED.

Looking form the outside in, test driving is probably going to be your best bet at this point concerning how many doors you want to be able to take off. The folks on the forum have tons of knowledge, wisdom and issues ?. But, go test drive one and then the other. Take your kids along and drive the buggers. I think you will be able to figure it out from one day of test driving.

As others have alluded to, the Halogens are good headlights. They will light up the road and you are not going to crash on a normal night from lack of light with them. When compared to other halogens on the market they are solid. The LED's are a white hot star inside your Jeep that are bright AF for OEM headlights. You would do fine to have either.

If you are interested in what you might be looking at to upgrade after purchase, these seem popular: Oracle LED full replacement

Best of luck and welcome, in advance!
 

The Last Cowboy

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Get what you want or you will have regrets. Take your kids and wife with you when you test drive both. Make sure every fits while driving, not just sitting in it for 2 minutes while parked.

The headlights sound like a big deal to you. Go ahead and find one with the factory LED headlights, which will include LED fog lights, and fender lights on a Rubicon. Converting all of that is expensive and often requires a Tazer. You could just use quality LED bulbs in the halogen housings, they work well and will only set you cack a couple hundred for head and fog lights.

I’m not sure, but to get factory LED tail lights may require the safety package with blind spot monitoring.
 

Albertaktm

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Since you have another vehicle, go with the 2 door. It is night and day different than the 4 door for nimbleness and handling. To me a 4 door is like a Tahoe or Expedition. Good vehicles but no giggle factor. Thats why the JK 4 door hit the market so hard as so many people that wanted a jeep but for practicality purposes, needed more room than the 2 door affords.

As for the lights. Factory non LED lights suck. All years. Spend the 300 bucks and get aftermarket LEDs. It is literally 15 minutes to change them Both out. Faster than an oil change. Not really a mod if that helps!
 

cripton805

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I also vote 4 door. I've had two door vehicles and it got annoying carrying any passengers. Your boys also will grow into their teens pretty quickly. I hated getting into my moms two door car when I was a kid. Every other kid I knew never wanted to sit in the back seats of their parents small two door car. On top of all the other benefits.

If you do get the two door. The roof rack option will need to haul your stuff or a trailer. No way it will fit everything you need inside.

If you happen to need a roof rack on the 4 door. It will be larger and it can also tow 1500lbs more if you need a trailer.
 

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The Last Cowboy

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I would advise against a roof rack on a 2 door due to center of gravity issues. A small trailer is the way to go. Take it when you need it, and no compromises when you don’t.
 

Victory

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I don’t know if you can swing it but what I am keeping my Tacoma, even a 4 door wouldn’t work for me, but since I’ve regretted selling my TJ almost 12 years ago I’ve been wanting to get another wrangler, and only a two door.
Since the Jeep will be more of a toy than anything I got a base model with no options, at barely over $30k it’s a lot different than some of these $60k rubicons price wise. You will still have everything you like about the Tacoma, the space, the headlights, whatever else you mentioned, and then have the Jeep for fun.

For me at least if I would have bought the Jeep as my only vehicle I would have needed more options which would have put me at that $50-60k price point, I would have had to trade my Tacoma at about $30k, so about $20-30k out the door after trade in, so in my case buying the base model and keeping the Tacoma was not much extra, and like you I think the 2 door is the iconic Jeep, and since my last was a TJ, I like the idea of a more basic one, plus you can always build it later.
 

gsbrockman

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unsavory

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The first time you load your family into the 4 door Rubicon with the top off, you will know you made the right choice, and will not regret your purchase.

I promise you, the Wrangler will be the funnest vehicle you've ever driven. And this comes from someone with a 911 in the garage.

Do not even consider a 2 door with 2 kids lol. The 4 door is tight enough.

Edit: Forgot to say, don't get a manual. You'll regret it. The auto is too good.
 

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Shibadog

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I’m a 2 dr guy-always have been for Jeeps. To ME they are what a Jeep should be. With that said, it’s just the wife, dog and me. Rear seat came out the day it got home and has never been back in. If you’re constantly running with 4 on board, you’ll likely be happier with a JLU. You could make a 2 dr work, but as noted you’ll need a trailer for camping gear, etc. (though with 4 on board you may still need a trailer even with the 4dr.)
 
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Jeep Wrangler JL Newbie IMG_2690

After three years, this finally happened. I just purchased this yesterday. It is a 2025 model year with the 2.0 Turbo. The Jeep was a dealership courtesy vehicle with next to no miles on it that was marked way down. It was a deal that I just couldn’t pass up. Especially since I have been wanting a Wrangler for a while. I have had a couple of XJs that I lifted and I absolutely loved them. I traded in a 2025 Subura Crosstrek Wilderness, which wasn’t a bad vehicle, but just not my style. I hope to get several years of enjoyment out of the Willy’s
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