TJ, Rubi; JK, CRD; Defender 90/120

[MOAK]

OK heres the deal, I just need some feedback. As some of you know, we just finished our trip to Moab back in May. My wife and I will be making many more excursions like this for the rest of our healthy retirement lives. We may even retire to the 4 corners region in 2016. Nonetheless, being brutally honest with ourselves, we have discovered that the TJ Rubicon, is not quite an excursion vehicle. Great off road, but we are in Pennsylvania, and even if we retire to the 4 corners, Alaska is in our plans.. The TJ is just lousy on the interstates,,,,period. (poor mileage,, no power) We have a KJ CRD, gets 29 hwy mpg, lots of torque for dragging a trailer, and for around 3k, it can be locked, and lifted. My question is this----- Why aren't these CRD's talked about, or at all popular with our expedition folks? Are they so unreliable that we just should NOT be trusting them in the wilderness? It is just a shame that no TJ diesels were built for us, here in the lower 48.. Any comments will be appreciated, as I always weigh all sides of jeep issues before making any rash decisions. Thanks .... ( oh defender 90/ 120 diesel,, in my dreams!)

 

[Warhead]

If your TJ is already setup to your liking & power is the only problem why not do an engine swap? GM LSx motors are a great option, I am gathering parts to put a 5.3L in my MJ, 350+ horsepower and the mid to upper 20s for MPG. What more could you ask for?

 

[debo75]

I think the issue is less the Common Rail Diesel, and more with the Liberty. I have no experience with it offroad, but after sitting in one I can say that it's just too small for me. I'm 6'3", and it was uncomfortable for me to sit in the passenger seat for more than a couple of minutes. I don't think many people would consider the 1st Gen Liberty big enough for an expedition vehicle. I think the engine has possibilities, take a look at this.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/news/?p=172

 

[BeerMonkeY]

take your tj to jeff daneils jeep (in PA) and have a diesel put in it. they use the 4bt i belive

 

[matthewp]

I think the issue is less the Common Rail Diesel, and more with the Liberty. I have no experience with it offroad, but after sitting in one I can say that it's just too small for me. I'm 6'3", and it was uncomfortable for me to sit in the passenger seat for more than a couple of minutes. I don't think many people would consider the 1st Gen Liberty big enough for an expedition vehicle. I think the engine has possibilities, take a look at this.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/news/?p=172

Really? As a Liberty owner, I would care to disagree. it has about as much room as a Wrangler Unlimited 4-door. I think a problem is the Liberty has more of a mall-crawler stigma. My wife and I (and a 100lb. dog) have used it for camping without any issues. I find a roof rack indispensable though, and am planning a trailer when I get back to the States just to make carrying all the gear we like to take a little easier.

There are a couple of good Liberty forums (I'm a member of both), but I want to be a polite newbie and not link them here. I'll say from recent experience, to lift them is not as financially feasable in regards to lift you get for the cost of it, compared to a lot of vehicles (Especially the Wrangler series). I have a quality 2 1/2" lift and 31" tires under mine with a rear locker. It cost me about 4 grand when all was said and done. As for engine reliability, etc. I can't speak of the CRD's track record, but from what I have read, I'd be a little careful.

I'll agree it may not be the best, but it's no slouch either when it comes to off-road. Once again, to reitterate, I think the major issue is the "barbie Jeep" stigma the truck has. I'm 6' 5" by the way, and my wife is 5' 11".

 

[x32792]

If your TJ is already setup to your liking & power is the only problem why not do an engine swap? GM LSx motors are a great option, I am gathering parts to put a 5.3L in my MJ, 350+ horsepower and the mid to upper 20s for MPG. What more could you ask for?

Mid to upper 20's mpg with a 5.3L GM LSx? WOW! 350+ horsepower and gawd only knows how much torque... Is this a DIY project or is there a shop somewhere specialized in making Jeep conversions with this engine?

John

 

[MOAK]

point made;;; i think

Really? As a Liberty owner, I would care to disagree. it has about as much room as a Wrangler Unlimited 4-door. I think a problem is the Liberty has more of a mall-crawler stigma. My wife and I (and a 100lb. dog) have used it for camping without any issues. I find a roof rack indispensable though, and am planning a trailer when I get back to the States just to make carrying all the gear we like to take a little easier.

There are a couple of good Liberty forums (I'm a member of both), but I want to be a polite newbie and not link them here. I'll say from recent experience, to lift them is not as financially feasable in regards to lift you get for the cost of it, compared to a lot of vehicles (Especially the Wrangler series). I have a quality 2 1/2" lift and 31" tires under mine with a rear locker. It cost me about 4 grand when all was said and done. As for engine reliability, etc. I can't speak of the CRD's track record, but from what I have read, I'd be a little careful.
camping?? what sort of camping? 300 miles from the nearest shop? camping where your life may easily depend on the trustworthiness of your vehicle, and /or your ability to get it going again? ( I'm exaggerating a bit to make a point ) but, seems you hit the nail on the head "I'd be a little careful"
I'll agree it may not be the best, but it's no slouch either when it comes to off-road. I could care less about the "stigma" is it dependable in the outback/bush/wilderness? I like the engine swap ideas,,,,

 

[nwoods]

Mid to upper 20's mpg with a 5.3L GM LSx? WOW! 350+ horsepower and gawd only knows how much torque... Is this a DIY project or is there a shop somewhere specialized in making Jeep conversions with this engine?

John

AEV does them, I'm sure there are plenty of others also

 

[JDaPP]

I am not sure how swapping out an engine would lead to a more reliable vehicle than one that was built from the ground up with a diesel in it. As far as reliability, I have a Liberty CRD and I have went camping in it for two weeks straight and traveled coast to coast twice and I have never once worried about it. I would also say I have not had any more or less problems than any other vehicle and most issues I caused myself. I also see quite a few on the Liberty websites that are used in Australia and they seem to do okay. Calling them unreliable is probably unfair, but they do have some issues like the EGR (which there are work arounds), putting too much lift can cause problems, it is a little small and the ball joints are alittle weak. That being said there are fixes for all of these issues. I would say if it has been reliable than fix it the way you want it and go.

 

[bugnout]

I own a 2005 Liberty CRD and love it. It had a few issues from the factory, but Jeep isn't really into diesels and this was their first try. I have 90k on it and I think I'm going to drive it another 400k.

As far as interior room, I agree that it has at least as much interior room as the JK 4 door and more than a TJ for sure.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=32357

 

[matthewp]

camping?? what sort of camping? 300 miles from the nearest shop? camping where your life may easily depend on the trustworthiness of your vehicle, and /or your ability to get it going again? ( I'm exaggerating a bit to make a point ) but, seems you hit the nail on the head "I'd be a little careful"
I'll agree it may not be the best, but it's no slouch either when it comes to off-road. I could care less about the "stigma" is it dependable in the outback/bush/wilderness? I like the engine swap ideas,,,,

I would do that with my gasser in a heartbeat. That 3.7 has been a rock solid motor. You are correct though, It's only from what I have read on forums, etc., but I would have reservations about a CRD until I can get some good time with them. The CRD engine is the only thing that would give me reservations about a Liberty as an expedition vehicle.

The Lost Jeeps link theat Bugnout put up is for a great website for Liberty owners.

EDIT: Sorry if this comes across hard. I don't wnat to sound like a complete lunatic trying to defend the Liberty "at all costs."

 

[mountainsoul]

As far as interior room, I agree that it has at least as much interior room as the JK 4 door

I'm pretty sure that the JK Unlimited is bigger than the Liberty in every aspect. Admittedly, the leg/hip/shoulder room are close but they still fall in favor of the JKU. Cargo room is much bigger in the JKU. Don't hold me to this, but if I recall correctly I compared the specs side by side when doing my research a while back.

Nice Liberty btw! I checked out your build thread. Some great pics of Colorado too.

 

[ddog45]

I think you should by my lj and be happy...

 

[BeerMonkeY]

id say a 4 door wrangler has more leg room than a liberty, i havent driving my moms liberty in awhile but i remember being cramped in it. and i have a 4 door rubi so i know how much leg room that has