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Message
Couldn't find the old Jeep thread, questions about TJ to JKU
Posted on 1/29/18 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 1/29/18 at 1:48 pm
Long story short, I had a YJ back in the day, had to sell it in college, and always wanted another one. I bought my 2004 TJ in the summer of 2012. Thought I would drive it for a long time. But my family will be growing from 4 to 5 in a few months, and the appeal of 4 doors and a full width backseat accessible from the doors, plus the storage in the back is getting to me.
I never thought I would own a 4 door Jeep and used to say that they are an abomination. Now I'm rethinking it. I've made the TJ work when we went from 1 child to 2, and I may just end up keeping it as the times we'd have the whole family in it are probably not many. As it is now I drive my daughter to school, and this fall I'll take my son as well. So she can help unlatch him from the booster/carseat during carpool dropoff. There's just very little chance the baby will be riding with me ever. We have a minivan for that. But that emergency where I would have to put him back there is gnawing at me. I could keep a carseat stowed in the back if I needed to latch it in.
So what years should be avoided, if any? I've seen a few older JKU's for sale on local facebook sites, and the prices are reasonable. How many miles would be too high for you? There was a clean looking 2009 with around 110k miles on it. And it is a manual, which I like driving. Doesn't have a hardtop, but I live in Alabama so that only gets used about 3-4 months of the year now on my TJ, so not a deal breaker. Also saw a 2011 but it had higher miles. Not looking to buy soon, but starting to watch sites more now.
I never thought I would own a 4 door Jeep and used to say that they are an abomination. Now I'm rethinking it. I've made the TJ work when we went from 1 child to 2, and I may just end up keeping it as the times we'd have the whole family in it are probably not many. As it is now I drive my daughter to school, and this fall I'll take my son as well. So she can help unlatch him from the booster/carseat during carpool dropoff. There's just very little chance the baby will be riding with me ever. We have a minivan for that. But that emergency where I would have to put him back there is gnawing at me. I could keep a carseat stowed in the back if I needed to latch it in.
So what years should be avoided, if any? I've seen a few older JKU's for sale on local facebook sites, and the prices are reasonable. How many miles would be too high for you? There was a clean looking 2009 with around 110k miles on it. And it is a manual, which I like driving. Doesn't have a hardtop, but I live in Alabama so that only gets used about 3-4 months of the year now on my TJ, so not a deal breaker. Also saw a 2011 but it had higher miles. Not looking to buy soon, but starting to watch sites more now.
9
Posted on 1/29/18 at 2:14 pm to TU Rob
quote:
So what years should be avoided, if any?
the penstar engines have a lot more power, not sure on your budget.
The early 2007 had 4.10s available and 44 in the fronts as an option, along with most of the other rubi options except the transfer case. There were some bad engines from about 2nd qtr 07 through towards the end of '08. But you can also find take-out engines and trans pretty damn cheap as well.
The JKU rides so much nicer than the TJ's you will love it.
The market is so high on jeeps right now with them raising MSRP so much in this model
Posted on 1/29/18 at 2:31 pm to NYCAuburn
quote:
The JKU rides so much nicer than the TJ's you will love it.
Yeah, my brother in law bought one a couple of years ago. I drove it around some. Still felt like a truck, but that wheelbase is nice.
quote:
The early 2007 had 4.10s available and 44 in the fronts as an option, along with most of the other rubi options except the transfer case. There were some bad engines from about 2nd qtr 07 through towards the end of '08. But you can also find take-out engines and trans pretty damn cheap as well.
I'm looking at a 2009 and 2011 this week. Higher mileage than I would normally look at, but I don't put a ton of miles on mine now, so that's probably fine. Plus it would give us another option on trips. I could actually take the Jeep to the beach.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 3:03 pm to TU Rob
Posted on 1/29/18 at 3:06 pm to TU Rob
What you really need is a 1983 CJ7. I just so happen to be selling mine............
Posted on 1/29/18 at 3:24 pm to Coon
quote:
Coon
boudreaux35 a t gmail
please
Posted on 1/29/18 at 3:42 pm to TU Rob
I am just getting back into a Jeep and have ordered a 2018 JLU Sport S.
The JKU first came out with a FCA crate motor that was crap, in 2012 they introduced the petenstar engine. The first year was a little shaky but the issues they had were resolved and it has proved to be a great work horse.
Jeeps (unlike some would think) hold there value very well especially if they aren’t to heavily modified. I have made money on my last 2 Jeeps.
The hard top/soft top isn’t really an issue any more I had a 2009 that had a very leaky hard top and then a 2013 with a premium soft top on it that didn’t leak at all and was quieter than the hard top. I ordered my new Jeep with a soft top.
Good luck, I would buy a 2013 or later JKU if I was in the market for a used one. I would also try to find one that hasn’t been heavily modified, most guys that I wheel with do more than mall crawling. I also have 2 kids and 4 doors is a nice feature.
The JKU first came out with a FCA crate motor that was crap, in 2012 they introduced the petenstar engine. The first year was a little shaky but the issues they had were resolved and it has proved to be a great work horse.
Jeeps (unlike some would think) hold there value very well especially if they aren’t to heavily modified. I have made money on my last 2 Jeeps.
The hard top/soft top isn’t really an issue any more I had a 2009 that had a very leaky hard top and then a 2013 with a premium soft top on it that didn’t leak at all and was quieter than the hard top. I ordered my new Jeep with a soft top.
Good luck, I would buy a 2013 or later JKU if I was in the market for a used one. I would also try to find one that hasn’t been heavily modified, most guys that I wheel with do more than mall crawling. I also have 2 kids and 4 doors is a nice feature.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 4:04 pm to swanny297
I went from a 03 tj to a 17 jku for the very reasons you state. Family of 4 with 2 car seats just didn’t cut it. I do miss my 2dr sometimes but the jku is very nice and my little girls still get just as excited when we take the top off.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 4:20 pm to gsvar2004
quote:
I went from a 03 tj to a 17 jku for the very reasons you state. Family of 4 with 2 car seats just didn’t cut it. I do miss my 2dr sometimes but the jku is very nice and my little girls still get just as excited when we take the top off.
Yeah, I never thought I would get here myself, but here it is. I had driven the "family car" for all of our marriage. Had a nice SUV for trips. My wife upgraded to an SUV, then I bought the Jeep. It is like a pregnancy magnet. Less than 3 months later we were expecting. We went round and round on whether to keep it, then she bought a van, so that was that. I paid cash for it almost 6 years ago, and haven't had too many issues with it. A t'stat went bad last summer and it blew a head gasket. Still, not too expensive. The rest is just tires, brakes, and oil changes.
Also, a guy at work just bought a new JKU last summer and showed me some pics of his. They are nice. I can't justify paying for a new one, but if I can find one that is in good shape I may jump on it then sell my TJ closer to summer time.
My oldest is way past car seat stage, but the youngest will be in a booster for another couple of years, and add in the carseat for the baby on the way. 4 seats for 5 people just doesn't work.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 4:42 pm to TU Rob
i got a smoking deal on mine its the main reason i bought it, that and we drove my TJ to the dealer and after riding in the JKU my wife refused to get back in my TJ lol
i bought my 17 sport with 8k miles on it for 31700, sold my 03 tj with the 4.0 and 101k for 10k. also sold my 10 z71 for 15k at the same time so i had a good bit to put as a downpayment.
i bought my 17 sport with 8k miles on it for 31700, sold my 03 tj with the 4.0 and 101k for 10k. also sold my 10 z71 for 15k at the same time so i had a good bit to put as a downpayment.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 4:44 pm to TU Rob
If you go JK/JKU, get a 2013 or newer. I can't recall what the problem with the engine/transmission was, but there were some legitimate issues. Definitely worth the google/forum searching to learn about.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 7:49 pm to TU Rob
We have a 17 jku. I wouldn't want it to be my only "family" vehicle. I drove it to OKC once alone and it was ok but it shines in town and short drives. Decent fuel mileage. Its my wifes car but we do long family trips in the suburban.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 7:51 pm to NELARiceGuy
quote:
We have a 17 jku
quote:
NELARiceGuy
Rich rice farmers
Posted on 1/29/18 at 8:07 pm to NELARiceGuy
Yeah we have a Sienna for long trips. But on a weekend trip or a 3-4 night trip to the beach I wouldn’t mind taking a JKU. My sister has done it in theirs and they said it was plenty of space for everything.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 8:41 pm to TU Rob
Drove mine to gatlinburg from Baton Rouge. No problems.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 9:03 pm to TU Rob
You better get stupid good money for a 04 TJ before you go to a JK.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 10:32 pm to TU Rob
quote:
I never thought I would own a 4 door Jeep and used to say that they are an abomination.
Not sure why you would think that. The JK solves the biggest weakness of the Wrangler and that is the sometimes too short wheelbase. Stick 35s on a Rubicon and you will be amazed what you can drive through in Moab. That long wheelbase let's the JK just crawl up stuff that has a TJ spinning it's wheels. Just got back from the winter 4x4 jamboree and it was 50% JK on the 7-8 rated trails we did.
Posted on 1/29/18 at 10:46 pm to TU Rob
As others have stated, get a 13 or newer. Drive the old motor then the pentastar, night and day difference
Posted on 1/30/18 at 11:29 am to DeoreDX
quote:
Not sure why you would think that.
It is one of those things that just never appealed to me. But I grew up in the short wheelbase CJ and early Wrangler days. I had a YJ at 15 that I learned to drive stick on. Loved that old Jeep.
quote:
Stick 35s on a Rubicon and you will be amazed what you can drive through in Moab. That long wheelbase let's the JK just crawl up stuff that has a TJ spinning it's wheels. Just got back from the winter 4x4 jamboree and it was 50% JK on the 7-8 rated trails we did.
I don't do a bunch of offroading as far as climbing rocks, so wheelbase wasn't a big consideration. I almost bought an LJ back in the day, it was more the 4 doors I didn't like the looks of. But after driving my brother in laws, I've changed my tune a little.
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