Trying to decide

[NMRubicon]

I am really serious about doing some NM back road exploring next year, beyond the 100 mile circle I usually inhabit. I have a 2 dr Wrangler, it will be paid off soon, but I am looking at a 4 dr just for the cargo space. Not sure if I can swing another Rubicon, which I don't like, as my lockers have come in handy more than once, not to mention I love the 4.0:1 transfer case. I would like the new engine, just so I could easily run the speed limit on the freeway fully loaded. I'm thinking my trips will be 4 to 5 days maximum, so I am trying to see if I could get enough gear and supplies if I took out my back seat, and used a hitch mounted cargo platform. Right now I am running a 2" lift with stock wheels and tires and it gets me where I want to go. Really enjoy reading what others are doing, if time weren't so precious, I would just pull a trailer, and not care about how fast I was going.

Dave

 

[kojackJKU]

How about pull your back seats, and add a full roof rack. That should do the trick!

 

[Prubah]

4dr? Nice. Needed? No. I go into the woods with a 15lb pack includes food for 5 days on the Appalachian Trail. And I'm still told I'm hiking heavy. I have enough room in my JKR for me, my teen son, two of his friends, my Coleman stove, small cooler and 4 backpacks. I thought about adding a Gobi, but not going to do it and take the 2mpg hit. I personally don't see a need for it. I will add a rear tire carrier system for added fuel and water. I will be getting a rear cargo hitch with ramp, but this is for work (push mower/snowblower) not pleasure. I personally can't see taking a perfectly good offroad vehicle on an adventure and then drastically changing it's departure angle.

 

[libarata]

Will you be going by yourself? As Prubah states, he does well enough in his with four folks. I have noticed that nothing has changed from my hiking gear, other than it resides in a box, instead of a pack, and I can take things like a chair, and a small table if I really wanted to. List out everything you WANT to take, and then look over for things you NEED. You really WANT that thousand dollar mobile fridge thing, but do you NEED it? Pack a hiking kit, and go out to see what exactly you will need.

 

[NMRubicon]

Thanks for the replies. Suffering with some mobility issues, I don't hike very far anymore, I just want to get away. I think it will mostly be me going solo, maybe my wife on occasion. I have been going over my list of wants Vs needs, at 47 they have changed, not drastically, but they have changed. The big thing is having a payment for 60-72 months Vs the 20 I have left on mine. I test drove a 2015 JKUR, and really only noticed the increase in power while on the highway, it definitely pulls better on the hills. So, I will either be posting pictures of a new Jeep, or, I'll continue to read and learn how to better utilize what I already have. Thanks again.

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Howdy

I am singel but I do like to camp.

I got a 2 door Wrangler, I tried many things to increase the cargo space at a cost. I wanted to have 2 to 4 people in my Wrangler and it got cumbersome. Even shopping croceries with a 2 door could be problematic. I went with a 4 door and I wished I have done that in the beginning.

But if your are only going solo och with Your wife Yo would have less problem than me.

This is what I did with my 2 door to increase cargo space.

Trasharoo bag, You can have a lot of light stuff in this bag

A raingler net at the ceiling, can put madrasses sleeping bags there

Bestop sadle bags, very nice. I mounted my bags much lower

Mounted a trailgator table

Bought newer smaller stuff

Helinox stuff takes very little space

New things to the left, old things to the right

From the left, madrass, sleeping bag, Helinox chair, the same order on the the old items to the right

I would still go for a 4 door. You have rather large space for stuff under the front seats and back seats in the 4 door that You dont have in the 2 door.
You can sleep in the 4 door.

Here I went camping with 4 adults and we needed a hitch basket.

A movie

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

I did have a Waeco compressor 25 liter fridge in the back with the back seat up.

I also had smittybilt seatcovers with bags

 

[swift7777]

Me and the wife camp out of my 2 door all the time, you just have to minimize your set up and try to pack efficiently. A paid off Jeep is a beautiful thing, I'm getting close on my 2011 & plan to keep it till it drops.

 

[NMRubicon]

Omar, wow! That is some serious packing right there. I appreciate all of the inputs, not an easy decision, but one that will be made today! That is a nice setup as well Swift, a solid check in the don't buy column.

 

[Stoked]

If I were in your shoes, I'd stick with what I had. I used to be able to pack everything I needed for several days of camping and wheeling in my TJ without the back seat when it was just me, or me and one other person. Now I have a family of 5 and I went to a 4dr JK for the back seat space. If I didn't have the kids to carry, it would have been a 2dr, no question.

 

[HAFICON]

I have the 4dr it is nice.. But I kinda wish I had bought the 2 door (sometimes)... There are tons of options to utilize the space you have. anything from tailgate expedition rack to packs that go inside the spare tire, roof rack, bumpers with storage options.. Lots of ways to manage with the 2 door I think. But if you get the 4 door then you will have all these options plus more room inside. Guess it is all about needs vs. wants as you said..

 

[NMRubicon]

I couldn't pass up the deal, the bonus is, my 20 year old and 18 year old daughters want to do some weekend Jeep exploring, so in about 2 hours I will be taking delivery of a 2015 JKUR, I will miss my old JK, but look forward to many new adventures with the new Jeep, hope to build the Expo vehicle I have always wanted. Even with the additional weight, the 3.6 does better on the highway, from a standing stop, it pulls away at least as good as the 2 door if you really need to get on it. I discovered that I can no kidding sleep in the back with the seats folded down, without having to bend my legs. Thanks again for the inputs, I will readily admit that the wants beat out the needs.

 

[HAFICON]

That is the beautiful thing about America... We can pick our wants over our needs and at the end of the day be happy..

Congrats on the JKU addition.. Please post some pictures..

 

[NMRubicon]

Here it is, looking forward to many new adventures!

 

[HAFICON]

Very nice..