I offroaded a JK.... Um, I really liked it!!

[Kane]

So for our honeymoom last week Patti and I went to the outer banks in North Carolina. On Thursday we decided to head to the top of the banks and do a tour to look at the wild mustangs and get some sand wheeling in. I didn't drive my truck down there so we decided to rent a JK and do a guided tour. What a better way to test drive my potential next new vehicle than to beat on someone elses in the dirt. So went got ourselves an 09 black two door with an auto (no manual option for rent) and got to wheeliing. We spent 2.5 hours on the dune and had a blast. Even in stock form with those little hoops the Jeep pulled through everything with class and the ride quality was fantastic. Patti drove for some of it and she loved the new Jeep. I must admit thought the dash is one ugly duckling. I realy cannot stand how it is laid out. After we got back to the rental place we took a look at there 4 door that had a 4 inch rubicon lift and 33x12.50 tires on it. The 4 door had a ton of room inside and I really liked the stance with the lift they had.

I couldn't have asked for a better test ride. I still think I will hold onto my truck for a bit longer though. As much as I want another Jeep I cannot come to terms with losing my bed even though I have a trailer for bigger loads. Plus the truck is paid for and in perfect shape. Oh and there is the problem with the last two Mopars I have owned had constant issues. that still hurts a bit. But damn I want another Jeep with coils!!

 

[CJKrawler]

I spoke with an owner of an '08 JK the other day, and he was less than excited about it. Granted, he did not seem to take the best care of his vehicle, and beat on morethan most, but he had quite a few issue for being an '08. I don't know whether it was the bad luck, or the hard pushing he was doing, but he had replaced the clutch 3 times, and the power steering had went out on himmultiple times as well. He had bought a base model, so that may have something to do with it also.

Anyway, hope you had fun in NC, I used to run around in that area quite a bit. We spent every holiday up north of Duck playing on the beach. Miss being able to go there whenever the feeling strikes.

 

[Old Dog]

I have driven a tj and a jk off road and I will say they ride much better than a leaf sprung jeep. The wife said it was like sitting on the couch while trail ridding. I think she would like one, but I still like my cj.
Just wanted to add, there are two jk's in the club I'm in. One rubie and one X, I'm not sure what year they are but both are a couple years old and get wheeled, their owners have been happy with them so far.

 

[BajaEdition]

Having owned a TJ, which I will class as the best Jeep I ever owned
and currently having a Rubicon unlimited, 08, I can offer a few words here.
First the TJ, best size, hp, torque and RELIABILITY package I ever had, wheel it for 5 years highly modified till it was totaled in a road accident. I would love to have it back as was but will be putting the frame and suspension under my CJ6 this summer, this was the best platform Jeep ever offered.
the JK is a great set up, it in the Rubicon package is such a great wheeling machine it makes wheeling really tough places available to anyone with the money. It with 2 inches of lift and 35s is an awesome mobile, however it has a few Achilles heels. The first is it's size, both the 2 door and the 4 door are huge beast that take up a lot of room sideways you soon notice off road, and not in a good way, the other is the NEW GENERATION D44s which are thinly tubed and have brackets on them easily torn off. I have bent the rear axle once and torn the track bar tower off 3 times. It now sites on sleeved axles with aftermarket towers for everything on the suspension.
Both are a vehicle you can be proud to own and show that Jeep is serious about evolving the Universal platform we all love.

Now saying that, they are not a CJ, the looks and feel of a CJ, the simplicity and over all aura of a CJ is just something everyone feels. I will put up with my old school behind the bar tech of my CJ just to be able to tool it around town and to wheel it as a tried and truthful friend. I do plan on finding a Street Queen Unlimited TJ Rubicon as soon as the economy improves and take my 67 CJ5 off the trail duty roster, keep my 70 TJ6 hybrid as a sort of daily driver and wheel the Rubi, But I will never let go of either CJ till it physically is no longer able to be represented as a vehicle.

 

[Kane]

Wow that's a whole lot of info. Don't worry my Cj has been with me for 20 years and it is not going anywhere. I am actually collecting parts to start yet another revamp on my baby. it needs a change yet again. Jeeps are never ever finished.