Making my Jeep smaller?

[Rubiconx1]

I don't consider 3.5 inches "jacked up", 3+ feet is jacked up, imo.

While I own a '22 Jeep Cherokee Trail Hawk, it offers a bit more civilization than it's hard riding brothers.

For the rest of the Jeeps, I had my fill of riding in and driving the Willey's/Jeep in my Army days. I owned a '92 JK for too long.

I realize the newer Jeeps aren't the little battle buckets I used, but the fact is, Jeeps drink gas, ride rough, are loud with engine/gear and road noise, parts are pricey and expensive to repair, but they are capable machines; but you won't see them win any prizes in the Grand Touring class.

That said, you do what you gotta do, go with what ya got, make the best of what you have.

Lots of forum spit about the best Overlanding vehicle, the truth is, it depends on where you're going. The route, destination, load, number of souls on board and your expectations will dictate the best vehicle, there is no "one vehicle does it all".

Agree, lots of vehicle bias, so folks run what fits their needs and budget.

Also agree on no one vehicle fits all needs. We take our F550 platform 4x4 motorhome close to adventure locations and use it as base camp, then switch to the jeep or adventure bike. Even running BDR trails on the Adventure bike or Jeep, we can park the motorhome somewhere in the middle, and then jump on the bike or into the jeep for the overland adventure. With this strategy, we have a nice home while traveling to the adventure location in other states, then off on the adventure.

Heck, we even get spontaneous overland trips when we are exploring away from the motorhome and it gets late and we don’t want to drive in the dark, as the Jeep is always set with overlanding gear when we travel…just in case a spontaneous adventure opportunity presents itself.

It’s nice to have adventure options…


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[alanymarce]

I realize the newer Jeeps aren't the little battle buckets I used, but the fact is, Jeeps drink gas, ride rough, are loud with engine/gear and road noise, parts are pricey and expensive to repair, but they are capable machines; but you won't see them win any prizes in the Grand Touring class.

I agree fully that we all have different perspectives, needs, and preferences. I do think it useful to add mine on these comments. I've owned four Jeeps - three Cherokees (one of which covered 176,000 km in the USA and Europe) and a JK. When deciding on our current vehicle we considered a JK and thought that its ride, comfort, and handling didn't match those of the Montero we chose to buy, although in absolute terms its capability off road is better.

When planning for the "big trip" around Canada shipping rates had gone through the roof, and shipping the Montero to Canada was out of the question; we ended up buying a JK in BC. We drove it 53,000 km around Canada (including Dempster and Trans-Labrador highways) and found the fuel consumption much better than we expected (11.9 L/100 km overall), the ride and comfort good, on all types of road, not as quiet as the Montero but quiet enough for long hours on the road. The service and maintenance cost was CAD 2979 (USD 2153) over 20 months, which I don't consider that bad (our last service on the Montero, with far lower labour cost than in Canada or the USA was USD 1507.00).

The Jeep proved to be an excellent choice, for us anyway.

Lots of forum spit about the best Overlanding vehicle, the truth is, it depends on where you're going. The route, destination, load, number of souls on board and your expectations will dictate the best vehicle, there is no "one vehicle does it all".

Absolutely! My previous comments in this post are simply to note that the Jeep worked well for us. Had rates been what they were when we shipped the Montero to Australia and back, we would have preferred to use the Montero for the Canada trip.

 

[Ozarker]

Well, we had a 2017 Cherokee TH, 4 banger, white with the blacked out hood, just replaced it with a 2022 Cherokee TH, 6 banger, white with a blacked out hood. No one even knew we traded cars! It gets better mpg than the old one!

 

[a-mechanic]

Good discussion, I personally will always stick with Jeep. I have been working for the company in some form or another since before college. Mostly as a-mechanic, now an instructor. I have never had a bad one.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Ozarker]

Good discussion, I personally will always stick with Jeep. I have been working for the company in some form or another since before college. Mostly as a-mechanic, now an instructor. I have never had a bad one.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

Being a Jeep mechanic I can understand your loyalty!

I think you mean to say you never had one you couldn't fix.....

 

[a-mechanic]

Being a Jeep mechanic I can understand your loyalty!

I think you mean to say you never had one you couldn't fix.....

That's funny! I can say that is the case as a mechanic.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Dan Grec]

No disrepect, but that is the dumbest statement I have heard in a long time.

It all depends entirely on what you mean by "Overlanding".

You are talking about staying in one country, going to some VERY iconic 4x4 destinations that have very difficult trails and having access to the best parts and repair facilities on the planet. A more modified vehicle means you can do more trails.
In that case, a highly modified vehicle makes sense and means more fun.

When "Overlanding" means driving through dozens of developing or undeveloped countries for years on end, the requirements are entirely different.
In that case, the less modified the base vehicle drivetrain the better, and will result in much higher changes of success and less headaches on the road.

There's a very, very good reason it's extremely uncommon to see "big build" 4x4s driving around the world.

Pick your poison.

-Dan

 

[a-mechanic]

It all depends entirely on what you mean by "Overlanding".

You are talking about staying in one country, going to some VERY iconic 4x4 destinations that have very difficult trails and having access to the best parts and repair facilities on the planet. A more modified vehicle means you can do more trails.
In that case, a highly modified vehicle makes sense and means more fun.

When "Overlanding" means driving through dozens of developing or undeveloped countries for years on end, the requirements are entirely different.
In that case, the less modified the base vehicle drivetrain the better, and will result in much higher changes of success and less headaches on the road.

There's a very, very good reason it's extremely uncommon to see "big build" 4x4s driving around the world.

Pick your poison.

-Dan

This is why I was considering making it smaller. I still think just waiting until things wear out is likely the best choice.

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

 

[AggieOE]

It all depends entirely on what you mean by "Overlanding".

You are talking about staying in one country, going to some VERY iconic 4x4 destinations that have very difficult trails and having access to the best parts and repair facilities on the planet. A more modified vehicle means you can do more trails.
In that case, a highly modified vehicle makes sense and means more fun.

When "Overlanding" means driving through dozens of developing or undeveloped countries for years on end, the requirements are entirely different.
In that case, the less modified the base vehicle drivetrain the better, and will result in much higher changes of success and less headaches on the road.

There's a very, very good reason it's extremely uncommon to see "big build" 4x4s driving around the world.

Pick your poison.

-Dan

Something I've learned from your travels and my own is that less is more. From an engineering background, simplicity is best. Although large lifts and tires look cool and perform well offroad, and, if installed methodically can be reliable, I've just personally listened to too many squeaks, rattles, and clunks from modified vehicles than I have from nearly stock vehicles. I am truly curious though... who out there is actually getting 19mpg on a lifted JK!? Maybe at 55mph.
Maybe its the TX/NM/CO speed limits but I'm happy if I hit 16mpg.

For the sake of cost though, OP, I get you. Just like replacing worn out parts with bigger ones, I would probably just do the same in reverse. When shocks go, slight lower to 3.5". Tires though I wouldn't go below 35". Mainly because I think it'd be too drastic of a change from being so lifted. At the end of the day, you still want to enjoy driving/looking at your vehicle.

 

[a-mechanic]

Something I've learned from your travels and my own is that less is more. From an engineering background, simplicity is best. Although large lifts and tires look cool and perform well offroad, and, if installed methodically can be reliable, I've just personally listened to too many squeaks, rattles, and clunks from modified vehicles than I have from nearly stock vehicles. I am truly curious though... who out there is actually getting 19mpg on a lifted JK!? Maybe at 55mph.
Maybe its the TX/NM/CO speed limits but I'm happy if I hit 16mpg.

For the sake of cost though, OP, I get you. Just like replacing worn out parts with bigger ones, I would probably just do the same in reverse. When shocks go, slight lower to 3.5". Tires though I wouldn't go below 35". Mainly because I think it'd be too drastic of a change from being so lifted. At the end of the day, you still want to enjoy driving/looking at your vehicle.

I get around 14 mpg at 70 mph I saw 18 once with a 40+mph tail wind while driving through Wyoming.

 

[phsycle]

Im curious what you have planned for your international travels. Do the roads/trails warrant a big lift and 37’s?
I purchased a JLUR 6MT a while back and it’s been a hoot, even in stock form. I like keeping things mostly OEM. I’ll eventually purchase some take off 392 suspension and get 35’s. The only thing making me rethink it is range. I’m getting great MPG’s on the stock 33’s. 22-23mpg on the freeway.

 

[a-mechanic]

Im curious what you have planned for your international travels. Do the roads/trails warrant a big lift and 37’s?
I purchased a JLUR 6MT a while back and it’s been a hoot, even in stock form. I like keeping things mostly OEM. I’ll eventually purchase some take off 392 suspension and get 35’s. The only thing making me rethink it is range. I’m getting great MPG’s on the stock 33’s. 22-23mpg on the freeway.

Thanks for asking. Next May - June'ish, I am either shipping it to Argentina with the goal of Idaho by Christmas, if that is even realistic. Or, drive to Alaska, again Idaho by Christmas, and head south from there. Essentially the Pan American. Then head to a new "home" unless money holds up. I guess I need to post up in the travel planning section about that trip fairly soon to see if the timing is realistic. I am trying not to over-plan this trip though.

 

[phsycle]

Thanks for asking. Next May - June'ish, I am either shipping it to Argentina with the goal of Idaho by Christmas, if that is even realistic. Or, drive to Alaska, again Idaho by Christmas, and head south from there. Essentially the Pan American. Then head to a new "home" unless money holds up. I guess I need to post up in the travel planning section about that trip fairly soon to see if the timing is realistic. I am trying not to over-plan this trip though.

Sounds like a good trip. I’d love to do that when I retire (eventually).
Best of luck. I’m sure you’ll have fun no matter what your set up is.

 

[alanymarce]

Thanks for asking. Next May - June'ish, I am either shipping it to Argentina with the goal of Idaho by Christmas, if that is even realistic. Or, drive to Alaska, again Idaho by Christmas, and head south from there. Essentially the Pan American. Then head to a new "home" unless money holds up. I guess I need to post up in the travel planning section about that trip fairly soon to see if the timing is realistic. I am trying not to over-plan this trip though.

Arriving in Argentina in mid-winter? Really? I've seen snow in TdF in summer, and have travelled in Patagonia in mid-winter - not the best time to be there.
To add to the data on this thread - on our (standard) JK, over 53,000 km in Canada, we averaged 11.9 L/100 km (19.8 miles per USA Gallon)

 

[NORDFORD]

Listen, most of the “overlanding” world is over thought and over bought.

Run what you brung. You know what you have. Any part you don’t have with you overseas is going to be a problem and a delay. It’s part of the fun!! Lifted Jeeps and big tires are where it’s at. You’re gonna be really upset when what you had would’ve gotten you where you wanted. On the same note, knowing what you have may limit some of your choices, but I doubt it. Your Jeep isn’t that big…

Most of the questions you’re asking are opinions. AT’s are great until you need MT’s. MT’s are great until you wish you had AT’s.

Based on your questions and the responses you’ve had to comments, you’re gonna have a great trip(s)!