How does the JK rate?

[Green Leader]

So now that JK's have been out and about and probably really abused. I want to get some of your feed back. I don't know if there is a thread about this already couldn't find one. What issues have you run into after making modifications? What issues with leaving somethings stock? I think you can all see where I am going with this. If you have JK lets hear what you like about it, don't like and discovered. 4 door or 2 door doesn't matter.

 

[skippy]

I love everything about my JK other than the underpowered motor, I just got back from Moab and ran the toughest trails down there including pritchett canyon and never once needed a strap or winch. The JK is a great platform!!! and the wheelbase of the 4 door is awesome

 

[pkrfctr]

My friend just had to have his engine replaced at 35k miles. Blew a rod in a 2011

 

[gertsch]

I don't think you can go wrong with a jk either way. Power isn't the best. but it will do the job. Like most vehicle they all have there quirks. I miss my wife's two door and I will eventually end up with a 4 door sometime down the road.

 

[TJDukit]

I've had mine for almost two years now and have abused the crap out of it. Like skippy said my only gripe is the motor. The wheelbase is amazing and helps more than it hurts in almost every situation I've been in. The Teraflex long arm was the single most awesome thing I've done to it.

The four door is pretty heavy and once you start adding beefy long arms, skids, bumpers and armor the weight can really get up there.

If you don't have 4.10's in the axles already anything larger than 33's will require a re-gear even the 4.10's is on the limit of acceptability for me. I'm just waiting to re-gear when I step up to 37's.

 

[Hickey]

The new motor came out in 2012, and its far better for power. A new 5 speed auto came out at the same time. I really love the new transmission.

I have a 4 door Rubicon, and it just works every where I go. I've never even needed to use the lockers, though I haven't wheeled any hard trails with this Jeep.

 

[zmotorsports]

I have had my 2011 for two years now this month and love it. Personally I think it is the best platform for an all purpose Jeep thus far. Great street manners for a daily driver and outstanding off road capabilities. The Unlimited wheelbase is close to ideal most of the time. There are a few times when it can be a bit loooonnnnnggg, but overall the pros well outweigh the few times length counts against you.

The motor is no hot rod by any means but it is not as bad as some would have you think. The four doors loaded with some armor and bumpers, tires and wheels can be heavy but if you drive it and don't lug the engine or be afraid to shift at around 3300-3500 it will surprise you, with the proper gearing. On the pre-2012 models a re-gear is an absolute must in my opinion, even in stock form as I feel they came improperly geared from the factory but especially with larger tire/wheels.

I have not even begun to work mine even close to its capabilities that I have built it for. It is my daily driver/weekend wheeler and does everything I built it for. Drive to the trails, air down, wheel the hell out of it, air back up and drive at interstate speeds back to camp.

Mike.

 

[BCGPER]

I switched from the LJ to a JK 3 years ago. The only reason I switched was the 4 doors. This is hands down the best trail/street rig I've ever owned. A lift is pretty much mandatory with the long wheelbase, and with the auto trans having such a high final drive ratio (0.69) regearing is as well. After a few mods, I think I have the perfect multi-purpose vehicle.

 

[Green Leader]

A couple of you mentioned wheels base is to long sometimes. What was it you were doing when you felt this? Being that this is also a smarter jeep electronic gadget wise. Have any of you had problems with sensors/electronics? Any comments on the transfer case and axles?

 

[mesha]

A couple of you mentioned wheels base is to long sometimes. What was it you were doing when you felt this? Being that this is also a smarter jeep electronic gadget wise. Have any of you had problems with sensors/electronics? Any comments on the transfer case and axles?

Some common issues with the axles are the front housings can bend. A sleeve kit will fix that problem or better yet a new front teraflex axle housing is a great option. The knuckles can also bend, but a gusset kit fixes that problem.

My electronic freak out on my every now and then. My BAS turns on for no reason when it is windy. It doenst effect anything and it turns off in a few minutes usually.

Other than that I love my JK. It is perfect for my family and our needs.

 

[zmotorsports]

There are some tight turns that a YJ/TJ/JK can negotiate with relative ease that with the longer JKU it may require a three point turn. However, there are times when a three point turn is simply not an option. In those situations, there have only been a few for me, I either go over the obstacle in the way or simply pick a different line. Those few times that length has been an option are heavily shadowed by the numerous times the longer wheelbase has been advantageous.

As far as electronics, I have not had any problems. My 2011 only has 27k miles on it but no issues to speak of. I think the stability control system is a joke and I am not happy these vehicles are equiped with them but if I am on a dirt road and in two-wheel drive I simply hit the switch and turn mine off. When in 4WD-low it deactivates this sensor anyway.

I have also heard of issues with the swaybar disconnect motor/actuator having issues on the Rubicon models. I have not experienced any issues but I did remove it and install the EVO manufacturing Rubicon swaybar actuator delete. My biggest complaint was you can only disengage the swaybar in 4WD-low. There are times when I want to shift into two-wheel drive such as a sandy road between obstacles. The electronic swaybar will reconnect as soon as you shift out of 4WD-low. I wanted to keep the swaybar disconnected at those times so the EVO delete was the perfect solution for me.

Also want to emphasize getting the axle sleeve and gusseted if going larger on tires. It is a very worthwhile investment in durability of these axles. The Teraflex or Dynatrac axles are a great axle but for the average off-roader are probably way overkill. I sleeved and gusseted mine for a fraction of the cost and would not worry about bending or damaging them based on the type of trails I hit and how I use my Jeep. It is a great daily driver and a very capable off-road vehicle in stock form, throw some lift and tires at them and the fun meter pegs.

Mike.

 

[scrogg]

I am still loving my JK going on 7 years now. As others have mentioned, my only real gripe is the power. I haven't had any "freak" electronic issues. With exception of what has been broken/damaged from wheeling everything seems to have been working as intended. Agreed on the Teraflex LA kit as a top modification that has been done, this suspension is awesome.

It is a great multi purpose vehicle. We have driven ours to several long distance trips that were more-or-less based about hitting a trail, some pretty tough ones at that. And then drove the long trek back home with no issues. Trips have included multiple semi local trails in Moab, Price and Delta to Claw Hammer in Johnson Valley California (site of King of the Hammers race), HitR Lake Powell, John Bull Big Bear California and others.

Its a great choice but if ya have the option get a 2012 or newer for the better motor. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[Aspen Kid]

After wheeling mine for a few years on Rough Country 3.25 lift that was less than $500 installed I broke down this summer and put Long Arms and coil overs on. I made a few modifications to the axles and skids while I was at it. It has been the best of the four other jeeps that I have owned. That doesn't include the other ten or so 4x4's that I have had. It will go anywhere I want to go now. I plan to blow it at some point instead of the V8, but that's just me. I love it!

 

[flexyfool]

A good driver with a spotter can slip a 4 door JK with long arms and 37"s through a lot of tight technical places. The long wheelbase works great on climbs and ledges. The body seems to do OK with the typical armor. Kind of amazing. My 1st thought when seeing one was "These mini-Hummer-looking things are going to get eaten by any tough trail. Not true.

One note of caution: Don't flop or roll them. Last year a wife flopped one on the local trails. Flopped it on its side coming off a sand hill into sand. Maybe flopped 5'. The insurance company totaled it. The hardtop, both doors, windshield, pillar, fender, hood, grill, cowl were destroyed.

As was said earlier, the front axle needs the sleeves and gussets. Another weak point is the track bar. I've seen and heard about many aftermarket ones breaking. People are tossing in 5:13 gears. Not sure if the front diff is up to them. Saw someone strip the gears several weeks ago. Maybe a crappy install. Maybe not.

 

[flexyfool]

IMHO, the TJ Unlimited is the better package to build if for no other reason than you get the 4.0L.

 

[benjy]

One note of caution: Don't flop or roll them. Last year a wife flopped one on the local trails. Flopped it on its side coming off a sand hill into sand. Maybe flopped 5'. The insurance company totaled it. The hardtop, both doors, windshield, pillar, fender, hood, grill, cowl were destroyed.

Ouch

A 5' flop would probably total any vehicle, right? Not a huge surprise there...

 

[flexyfool]

Ouch

A 5' flop would probably total any vehicle, right? Not a huge surprise there...

Good point. I said that poorly. Not a ledge. A berm. She just laid it on its side into sand. I've seen Toyota pickups and an XJ take minor damage doing the same thing. Since a JK has no front fenders, a flop easily penetrates into the cowl, hood, grill area. Also, the pillar between the front and rear door is very vulnerable and can't be protected without an exoskeleton. I have been told that body shops won't touch the vehicle if the pillar has been trashed. It's the same deal as crushing the cab of a pickup.

 

[iamsparticus]

i dont own a JK or any jeep for that matter but i can tell you what i have had to replace on customers JK's. So far i have had several that needed ball joints with under 50000 on the rig, drivelines especially the stupid CV ones i have had to replace multiple time, stock diff covers easy are ground off on a rokc so we have upgraded those. The ABS sensors in the wheel hub are extremely fragile have had to replace them alot, no one likes the pre 2012 motor haave had several customers wanting engine swaps because of it. Other than that it has proven to be much better than previous wranglers

 

[Green Leader]

This has been a lot of really great information. Thanks for taking the time to give your opinions and experiences. A 4 Door is in my future not sure how far out but I have learned the more you plan before you buy the better of it will be. Thanks again guys I really appreciate the input. If there are others that still have their 2 cents feel free to keep it coming.

 

[BCGPER]

Allow me to intoduce myself, I'm "no body"....

I've driven a 3.8 JK for the past 3 years now, and I like it! Lets face the facts, it's a freaking mini-van engine. It does the job it was designed to do and gets decent fuel mileage, I knew I wasn't getting a tow rig from the start. The bad part is, to get that mileage Jeep put in a stupid high 0.69 overdrive ratio that kills all the power. Toss a set of 35" tires on top of that, yeah you're driving a pig.

The 3.8 needs gears BAD! While I was building this one I knew that, but it was later down the road because everything on the JK is expensive and you need to know that going into one. I drove mine for a year on stock gears and 35's, and it was okay. I let my pocketbook heal, and went for it.

Stepped up to 37"s which made gears mandatory. A wise man told me "go straight to 5.38's and you'll thank me later" (I'll thank Dusty now), and this Jeep was fun to drive again. Enjoyed driving it for a couple years then supercharged the 3.8 a couple months ago, and I must say a superchared 3.8 turning 5.38's is a blast to drive and cruises nice at 80 still!

As far as a do all on/off road vehicle, the JK is comfortable, and does both good but it's awesome at neither, which is to be expected. Trade offs have to be made.

Now, for the bad:

I changed my ball joints at 36K. Theye were still good, but I had to pull them to do the axle sleves and gusets (another weak link) so I upgraded to Synergy.

Drivelines? Meh, don't sweat em. I'm running stock, but I know I'm stressing them. I'll swap them out soon, once they start acting up.

Diff covers, really? Learn how to drive, they're stamped steel like every other diff cover (but I have changed mine because they were leaking). Yeah, I can't drive.

Pretty much any mod you do will require some sort of programer (more $$$)If you're afraid of getting into the electronic side, a JK might not be for you.

And lastly, $$$$$$. EVERYTHING on these things will cost you twice what you think.

Then again, I don't own a Toyota, what would I know...