TJ vs JL conversation.

[andrei]

I have switched from TJ to JL.
Overall nothing but regrets and nostalgic desire to go back.
However, there are some reality factors that tip into JL favor, and reason why i am still sticking around:

• Space. Space is a luxury in TJ, any long trips with or without a partner turn into a packing pita.
  • The only way id go back is to get LJ.
• Efficiency. 23 mpg with 3.6, that is roughly double of smaller and lighter TJ with 4.0. Got big adventure plans? Fuel budget + bring at least 2 jerry cans.
  • Only way to match that is $20000 diesel swap.
• Comfort. Something i don't mind much, but reality is reality:
  • This is me after a trip from MD to CA in JL
    • 
  • This is me after 240 miles in TJ
    • 
• Capability. The only way for TJ to match JL is about $20000 in todays economy investment on top of Jeep price. I am talking about proper build investment that you will live with, and not a shit hodge podge of amazon and RC garbage slapped together.
  • My TJ was sitting at about $18000, with another $5000 on to do list.
• Rabbit hole. I take it you never ran into a post regear pulsating vibrations and electrical/sensor gremlins?
  • Bend over sweetheart, dont yap, just stfu and bend over.
• Reality. Have fun finding one in good condition, the way you want it, for the price you willing to pay, and not feeling like a fool later for going back from JL to TJ/LJ

That is my take from JL to TJ perspective. A solid one can be made other way around too, question is where you currently are with two. If you already have one that is a solid step towards commitment with not much rationale to go in other direction.

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[svtrit]

I have switched from TJ to JL.
Overall nothing but regrets and nostalgic desire to go back.
However, there are some reality factors that tip into JL favor, and reason why i am still sticking around:

• Space. Space is a luxury in TJ, any long trips with or without a partner turn into a packing pita.
  • The only way id go back is to get LJ.
• Efficiency. 23 mpg with 3.6, that is roughly double of smaller and lighter TJ with 4.0. Got big adventure plans? Fuel budget + bring at least 2 jerry cans.
  • Only way to match that is $20000 diesel swap.
• Comfort. Something i don't mind much, but reality is reality:
  • This is me after a trip from MD to CA in JL
    • 
  • This is me after 240 miles in TJ
    • 
• Capability. The only way for TJ to match JL is about $20000 in todays economy investment on top of Jeep price. I am talking about proper build investment that you will live with, and not a shit hodge podge of amazon and RC garbage slapped together.
  • My TJ was sitting at about $18000, with another $5000 on to do list.
• Rabbit hole. I take it you never ran into a post regear pulsating vibrations and electrical/sensor gremlins?
  • Bend over sweetheart, dont yap, just stfu and bend over.
• Reality. Have fun finding one in good condition, the way you want it, for the price you willing to pay, and not feeling like a fool later for going back from JL to TJ/LJ

That is my take from JL to TJ perspective. A solid one can be made other way around too, question is where you currently are with two. If you already have one that is a solid step towards commitment with not much rationale to go in other direction.

Your post reminds me of the week in July I drove the YJ as a Daily while my son borrowed my normal daily driver. My wife commented as I walking in one day that I looked baked. I wanted my car back bad at the end of that week.

I always wanted the top and doors off as it was way too hot otherwise, though it needed a sun shade. I only take the freedom panels off the JL in the Spring, otherwise they stay on and the AC keeps me cool.

The YJ was SCARY to drive on I-80. It was tossed around by passing semis and required a downhill run to get the speed up to stay at speed to go up the hill.

You make some great points.

 

[Vinman]

The only things a TJ/LJ did better than a JL is fit on tight trails and small parking spots.

 

[flyer92]

Although the TJ is obviously less comfortable that the JL, I've always believed its benefits were well worth it. Yes, the JL is a comfortable ride, but the TJ was far more reliable, simpler to work on and upgrade....and more importantly, less likely to leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Sadly, I sold my '99 TJ to a co-worker in 2004, and after 180K miles, is still running strong with the original drivetrain. Pretty sure our fragile, plasticky JLs won't last as long, but only time will tell.

 

[kds71]

I’ve got a 05 sport 4.0 auto 231000miles and a 18 Sahara 3.6. Auto. 05 has 2” ome and 33” one of the best things I ever did was misch big boy seat brackets. I’m 6’ and got plenty of leg room. I love the JL but it just ain’t my tj, tj is my everyday go to…. I’m a truck driver for a dairy farm and it goes anywhere anytime no questions asked. I’m gonna do the seat slides and probably a block under front of the front seats in the JL . Tj gets 14mpg. JL gets 21 mpg with bigger tires and 10w30 pennzoil synthetic. JL is my Cadillac’ but she’s got a ways to go to be what the tj has proven to be , tj has been hit couple times with no damage. Ran through a group of 3 deer at 65miles an hour in the dark (killed one and broadsided by other 2 ) she just goes….. hope my JL lives up to the reputation the tj has given so far

 

[andrei]

Another important factor to add:
Nearly all collisions I am aware of in TJ result in a bent frame. I have not been tracking JL or JK in this department though.

 

[wibornz]

The only things a TJ/LJ did better than a JL is fit on tight trails and small parking spots.

No tuer thing has been written in this thread.

 

[wibornz]

Although the TJ is obviously less comfortable that the JL, I've always believed its benefits were well worth it. Yes, the JL is a comfortable ride, but the TJ was far more reliable, simpler to work on and upgrade....and more importantly, less likely to leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Sadly, I sold my '99 TJ to a co-worker in 2004, and after 180K miles, is still running strong with the original drivetrain. Pretty sure our fragile, plasticky JLs won't last as long, but only time will tell.

I have 146,000 hard miles on my JL. If I treated a TJ the way my JLUR has been treated, it would have never been still running. I can't even imagine hooking up a 3200 camper and then filling up the TJ with gear and running 65 to 70 mph towing the camper across the country while running the AC on 37 inch tires..

 

[flyer92]

I have 146,000 hard miles on my JL. If I treated a TJ the way my JLUR has been treated, it would have never been still running. I can't even imagine hooking up a 3200 camper and then filling up the TJ with gear and running 65 to 70 mph towing the camper across the country while running the AC on 37 inch tires..

True indeed about towing capability, but that's not an apples-to-apples comparison because the TJ is most similar to a 2-door JL, also with very limited towing capacity. Guess it just depends on one's use case, but since I don't tow anything, the TJ is still a better vehicle than my 2-door JL....and never left me stranded in the middle of nowhere.

 

[2nd 392]

I was the remote until a remote control was invented.

Me too, but it wasn’t tough with a choice of channels 3… 10…. and 13 (ABC,NBC,CBS). It got a bit tougher with the first UHF channel 40 that was in an empty spot between the VHF channels on the dial and I had too scroll to their frequency, no “clicks”, then big time with channel 36 and 5 whole channel choices… with the little round antenna added.

 

[tobyw]

I love my LJ...

Completely different animal than my JL so it's hard to argue the attributes other than they both say Jeep in a few places

 

[yokramer]

The only things a TJ/LJ did better than a JL is fit on tight trails and small parking spots.

My JLR does just fine on tight trails and parking lots must just be a school bus issue.

 

[contractorkeith]

There is no reason to choose when you can enjoy both.

First, if you are comparing a 4 door JL to a TJ, they aren't even close to being in the same category, one is the last true Jeep, the other is a mall crawler.

I've put 11k miles on my 2025 Willys in 3mos since buying it. Some of those were 12-14hr long trips from NC/TN mountains to central FL, by way of Charlotte and Atlanta. I've also driven my TJ from those mountains to central FL.

I can park either in the same tight parking spot, and go down all the same trails, other than my BFGs on the JL suck in the mud compared to my 35x12.50r15 Cooper STTs on the TJ. Neither is all that comfortable, they both get shit gas mileage (4.0 5sp/2.0 8sp auto) of around 17-18mpg but I can't drive the JL soft enough to get over 20mpg, maybe it just isn't in my blood to drive like that. I also didn't buy either for comfort or gas mileage, not sure who would (2 doors, not 4).

Anyway, they are both great to me, and they both have their uses and reasons to drive, but they are different reasons. That's my take.

Oh, and you can easily put 10x more into a new JL too, so that isn't a factor.

 

[Wraif]

I love my LJ...

Completely different animal than my JL so it's hard to argue the attributes other than they both say Jeep in a few places

That is an absolute beauty.

 

[wibornz]

There is no reason to choose when you can enjoy both.

First, if you are comparing a 4 door JL to a TJ, they aren't even close to being in the same category, one is the last true Jeep, the other is a mall crawler.

I've put 11k miles on my 2025 Willys in 3mos since buying it. Some of those were 12-14hr long trips from NC/TN mountains to central FL, by way of Charlotte and Atlanta. I've also driven my TJ from those mountains to central FL.

I can park either in the same tight parking spot, and go down all the same trails, other than my BFGs on the JL suck in the mud compared to my 35x12.50r15 Cooper STTs on the TJ. Neither is all that comfortable, they both get shit gas mileage (4.0 5sp/2.0 8sp auto) of around 17-18mpg but I can't drive the JL soft enough to get over 20mpg, maybe it just isn't in my blood to drive like that. I also didn't buy either for comfort or gas mileage, not sure who would (2 doors, not 4).

Anyway, they are both great to me, and they both have their uses and reasons to drive, but they are different reasons. That's my take.

Oh, and you can easily put 10x more into a new JL too, so that isn't a factor.

I kinda went another direction.

I have a set of 37s that will be going on the Comanche in the spring.

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