That's some good info there guys, thanks for sharing! It sounds like a JK can really fill the void from mild to wild, depending on how you set it up. I like hearing about how comfortable they are on the trail, that is a huge thing for the guys with family's who still want to spend time out on the trail. Sounds like Jeep really did their homework with this one. Hearing about how weak the V6 is with 37's is too bad, I think they look great with 37's.
For the folks that have JK's, how would you set one up for exploration-type wheelin? Say you're spending 4-5 days driving to different destinations, lots of highway time and many miles of mild offroading.
For me personally, I want to spend time down in Baja, MEX exploring. The vehicle I'd take down there has to be capable of driving thru the mountains, maintaining freeway speeds over 800 miles down, one way. The off-road driving isn't extreme, but big tires, good wheel travel and a good ride would all be helpful. I'm thinking a JK with 3" of lift that has been re-geared for 35's would be best for all that freeway driving and still provide enough ground clearance offroad. What do you think?
We've been doing a lot of exploratory wheelin with our FJ80 and I think it's somewhat comparable to a JK. I really enjoy getting out with the wife and dog to see places that we haven't been to before. I like that stuff just as much as a hardcore trail.