JKU as a family overland vehicle

[p nut]

Just curious about space management in the JKU for those that travel with kids. Mine are 4 and 1, and may add another in a year or two. Without going to a trailer, how has it been doing 3-5 day trips? My current Landcruiser is packed to the gills, plus the roof rack is loaded as well, for a 5 day trip. I think I can whittle it down, though.

Just an idea of what we bring (I think a pretty standard list):

Tent (smaller 4-man tent)
Blankets/sleeping bags
Pack n play (I'm looking for a lighter/smaller option, as it's pretty bulky)
Air mattress
Stove (2-burner, gas. 1.5' x 2.5')
Dutch oven (gotta have)
Pot/pans
Cooler (maybe a fridge is in order)
Food
Water (usually, two 7-gal containters)
Chairs
Other child specific items (clothes, diapers, child carrier, etc)
Few others that I'm probably forgetting

List seems small, but the back of my LC gets full pretty quick. When I'm solo, I like to travel very light, but doesn't happen with kids. I do think, if I can shave down the list without sacrificing comfort for kids and wife, I *may* be able to get everything to fit in the JKU with maybe one of those hitch cargo racks or a small roof rack. Any experiences in this area from you JKU owners?

 

[java]

Which version LC? I see a JKU being smaller interior wise than most LC's (80's and 100's anyway)

 

[brianjwilson]

If you put together a shelf that rides on the "shelf" created by the top, this is what you end up with.

Smaller cooler, chairs, water container on the bottom. I also have a large tool bag and hi-lift on the bottom.
Top right is my food/cooking container (downsized a lot from the junk I use to carry). Mostly sandwiches, coffee, oatmeal and "just add water" food. Boiled water from the jetboil. Your cooking gear would be a little more challenging.

If you had a roof rack box you could load in sleeping bags, pillows, tent and lightweight gear. It would be tight with a family of four, but you could probably make it work if you cut back.

Edit: actually when I took this picture, the two action packers on the left had stackable pots and pans from gsi, and stackable plates/cups/bowls etc. A flexible sink, other cooking gear. I just never wanted to unpack and use it so I simplified a lot.

 

[Bennyhana]

If the back of your LC gets packed, a JKU will be absolutly stuffed without some gear reconsiderations. We have two kids 8 and 12 and just day trips to the beach can be full. We can pack all the gear and food for 2-3 days pretty good but when it comes to the clothes and "essentials", the Jeep gets uncomfortable. Bags under the feet, toys rolling around, and you have to move seven things to get to that one thing. Either a rack or trailer i'd say... We took a cross country trip last summer and our trailer made it way more comfortable.

 

[p nut]

My LC is a 100, so fairly big inside.

I'm not keen on getting a trailer. Sounds like if I get a JKU, roof rack is mandatory. Looks like no drop top action on longer trips.

Thanks for the responses.

EDIT: I like that set up, Brian. It'll at least keep things much more organized.

 

[Hilldweller]

Trailer time?

 

[Yarjammer]

I've owned an FZJ80 and can tell you with a fairly high degree of confidence that a JKU cannot comfortably handle the same amount of cargo with 4 passengers without looking like the VW in the IKEA commercials. If you are thinking of adding another child into the mix... forget about it without a trailer. If any of your children are girls, just buy a trailer now. With my wife, teenage daughter, and bulldog we have an uncomfortably full load. The great thing about the JKU is that there are plenty of load carrying options out there. With a lot of creativity & ingenuity, or just a trunkload of cash, you can make it work. Just remember to modify your suspension accordingly if you plan on loading it to the hilt.

I would suggest starting with a full coverage rack like a Gobi, Garvin, or Frontrunner and then moving on to an over-tire trail rack if need be. Hanson or LoD makes an uber tire rack the has a wrap-around in addition to the over tire section (here's where the trunkload of cash comes in to play). The choice you need to make is whether or not you want $4k in racks and "storage solutions" or an outfitted trailer you can just dump everything into and leave behind at the campsite while you play with the top off. FWIW, I opted for the former since I need a rack for my canoe and fishing kayak anyways.

I've tried the hitch rack solution and I could only recommend it as a temporary solution. It really messes with the handling if you load it up and prevents you from accessing the rear hatch without unloading it first. That doesn't seem like an issue, but it gets old REALLY fast.

 

[Hilldweller]

Trailers are much easier to live with than an overloaded JK...

 

[reece146]

I gotta ask, why would you get rid of a UZJ100 to get into a JK?

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Hi

For light things

Trasharoo bag

RPB roof net

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Four people went camping in a 2 door Jeep Wrangler 2012.

 

[hollaback55]

With 2 kids and maybe another on the way the JKU is going to be too small space wise no matter how exceptional your packing skills are. I would recommend a trailer of some sort to effectively pack your gear and be able to bring some amenities that you'll most likely need due to having small children. On the plus side, with a trailer you can leave it as a base camp setup and then take the jeep and go explore. This is what we did on our 4 month trip around the US. If you area dead set against a trailer I would either shorten your stay while out or invest in a roof rack.

 

[p nut]

I've owned an FZJ80 and can tell you with a fairly high degree of confidence that a JKU cannot comfortably handle the same amount of cargo with 4 passengers without looking like the VW in the IKEA commercials. If you are thinking of adding another child into the mix... forget about it without a trailer. If any of your children are girls, just buy a trailer now. With my wife, teenage daughter, and bulldog we have an uncomfortably full load. The great thing about the JKU is that there are plenty of load carrying options out there. With a lot of creativity & ingenuity, or just a trunkload of cash, you can make it work. Just remember to modify your suspension accordingly if you plan on loading it to the hilt.

I would suggest starting with a full coverage rack like a Gobi, Garvin, or Frontrunner and then moving on to an over-tire trail rack if need be. Hanson or LoD makes an uber tire rack the has a wrap-around in addition to the over tire section (here's where the trunkload of cash comes in to play). The choice you need to make is whether or not you want $4k in racks and "storage solutions" or an outfitted trailer you can just dump everything into and leave behind at the campsite while you play with the top off. FWIW, I opted for the former since I need a rack for my canoe and fishing kayak anyways.

I've tried the hitch rack solution and I could only recommend it as a temporary solution. It really messes with the handling if you load it up and prevents you from accessing the rear hatch without unloading it first. That doesn't seem like an issue, but it gets old REALLY fast.

Thanks, that helps. How easy are those racks to take on/off? I see some mount right at the base of the windshield. The best would be if it's something I can bolt on/off real quick.

I gotta ask, why would you get rid of a UZJ100 to get into a JK?

Good question. The LC has been great over the years and never let me down. It has accommodated us well and safely packed my wife and kids around the state. Maybe it's the unusual warm weather we're having now, but I've always wanted an open top rig. 40's are just getting too old, which really just leaves the Jeeps. Maybe it's a decision I'll regret, but there are plenty of 100's (and Jeeps) out there, if I ever decide to switch. I was also surprised to see the resale of Wranglers are really good, so the net loss won't be that much. I am still unsure if I'll go through with it. I will say if getting a trailer is the only solution, I am keeping the LC.

Omar - Thanks for the pics and vid.

 

[reece146]

Well, I can relate to the draw of an open top... personally I'd keep the 100 and get a TJ or Miata or something for bombing around town.

 

[Septu]

Well, I can relate to the draw of an open top... personally I'd keep the 100 and get a TJ or Miata or something for bombing around town.

I was just going to say this. Get a TJ and do short trips and the DD thing. Use the 100 for your road trips.