Why do folks say, "Jeeps aren't expedition vehicles?"

[jh504]

I wouldn't stress about a EFI ChryCo era YJ at all. They are as reliable as any TJ IMO.

I wouldnt know, the only YJ I have owned was an 87 pre-EFI rust bucket.

 

[Layonnn]

I'm gonna have to take my Jeep in to the dealership to get my pedal fixe-...oh wait...

Thats right...

I own a jeep.

Everything is working like its supposed to, 17 years later. hahahahahaha

thats why i bought a FJ, made in Japan and no pedal problem. As it turns out, it is only the American made vehicles that have the pedal issue So much for "American made" toyotas

 

[Viggen]

• Because for the most part Jeep is a North American brand. Parts and other support in Africa and Asia (classic expedition stomping grounds) are still easier to find for brands like Toyota or even Land Rover.
• Because Jeep build it's mystique around short, hardcore trails instead of longer trips. It's marketing, but it affects perception.

Exactly. People see Jeep and think "Rockcrawler." Like stated above, marketing makes or breaks a vehicle. Land Rover markets the idea of a long distance adventure around every turn. Look at their dealerships and the way they are designed along with the test drive course most have then look at a Jeep dealer. LR knows that only a few customers are ever going to do anything other than commute with their trucks but markets the idea that they could. Jeep, on the other hand, shows their product covered in mud, bombing down hills or posed next to a lake on a huge pile of rocks. A friend of mine sells Jeeps and he says the hottest sellers are the middle of the road models. Those are the ones where people walk in and have no problem with weak suspension and lack of lockers as they already have all that picked out to customize. They sell the Sahara to the guys that want to look like theyre rugged but just commute and most of the Rubicons are sold to people who just want to look like theyre hardcore enthusiasts. (Dont shoot the messenger, thats what he said) Cant say much for Toyota and their Cruiser as all I have seen lately is a mother dodging construction equipment on her way to taking her kids to soccer practice/ school.

People see Land Rovers and see Africa and elephants. People see FJ-40s and think the same as Jeeps. See FJ-60s and think long distance, family traveling. People see FJ-80s, 100s and up as mall cruisers and soccer mom mobiles. In the modern thought of things, especially in the US, you dont even need an SUV anymore do to the huge expanse of our road network reaching out and touching every single corner. A Subaru would do it quite capably. Now, go to anyother country, outside of Western Europe, and youre looking at needing more space and capacity, the Jeep slips from mind. Combine the road network with the limited amount of land still open to explore, and you create a scenario where a SWB vehicle, like a Jeep, is all that you really need.

thats why i bought a FJ, made in Japan and no pedal problem. As it turns out, it is only the American made vehicles that have the pedal issue So much for "American made" toyotas

Whow there buddy. It has nothing to do with where they are ASSEMBLED but where the parts were designed and produced. Cars are only assembled in most of these plants but the parts are sourced from various international, including, gasp, Japanese, companies that produce the components required for each subsystem. It has nothing to do with assembly point and anyone who pays attention would know this. I would guarantee that the faulty pedal assembly does NOT have 'Made in the USA' stamped on it.

 

[Root Moose]

It's funny how perceptions of vehicles change.

When I first got into 4x4s in the 1980s the Jeep was considered a POS - at least in my area. Actually all American vehicles were looked at this way. You would never consider a Jeep for going on a long distance trip.

Things got better in the 90s and then "rock crawling" made everything 4x4 in North America stupid*, especially the Jeep brand. Local and cheap it was leading the charge into rock crawling of course.

The other brands didn't go through this stage per se. As a result they are still focused from a marketing and public perception point of view closer to what the vehicle was designed to do.

Jeeps can do expedition type traveling they just aren't thought of that way. If you are broke down in some remote place regardless of what you are driving you will likely be waiting a day or two for spares. If you are touring this kind of time should be factored into the trip.

At least that is my perspective on it.




* - I'm not saying rock crawling is stupid. The way the 4x4 industry has morphed around rock crawling as the end all, be all is stupid.

 

[Toolman]

I've read it all.. woo..
All I can say is that I will go anywhere anytime with anyone for as long as needed and make it there and back in my TJ.... but let me see an FJ Cruiser or Land Rover crawl through Isham canyon , or Hammers... NOt going to happen. I bought a TJ because it's more versatile.. I load my TJ according to the journey I'm heading out on. I didn't buy it to drive to the mall, or for comfort in the city, or to look like I have money out on a fire road. I bought it to get away from all the people and go where no one else can.:rockon:

 

[Ron B]

let me see an FJ Cruiser or Land Rover crawl through Isham canyon , or Hammers... NOt going to happen.

I love jeeps and have had a few, but that's a pretty silly thing to say unless you drove from the showroom floor and did the hammers stock. If it was built/modded, any vehicle could be built to do the same.

That being said, a jeep would probably be the cheapest vehicle to get through (vehicle cost/availability of aftermarket mods).

rb

 

[Metcalf]

Oh boy people.......

ANY vehicle can be built to do ANYTHING!

Don't limit your vision to thinking only one vehicle can do only one thing well.

Don't put a line in the sand over something like this.....

 

[Toolman]

I would love to see a fully modded FJ Cruiser go through hammers without any serious body damage or the frame crumpling at the body which their infamous for.The main reason I didn't buy one.. almost pulled the trigger until I realized that in every body shop I'd go to, if there was a straight FJ in there, in had been lightly wheeled off road it was being repaired for the weak point right behind the front wheel.

I have a shop I go to where they are a certified Land Rover warranty service center. I have seen all models on the racks and in no way can they go where a Jeep can go. Very low ground clearance.. yes they ride better but at what price do you pay for that when you're high centered on something due to the long wheel base.. they are made for long camping trips along fire roads.

I did see a Land Rover in Mottino Wash that was completely hacked and exo-caged with 35's getting worked on stuff I was dancing through. NO my TJ isn't stock but again I have seen stock Jeeps (not rubicons) do some amazing things.

I work hard and play even harder, my equipment has to last and get me home and back to work again. I do understand that with a bottomless wallet you can do anything.
If I were planning to drive around the world I would buy a Sportsmobile and be done. Because IMO that is the ultimate expedition vehicle. It's big enough for gear and people and not to big to take off road. Nothing compares, but until I have $100K to spend, My TJ and ORT will suffice for all of my adventures whether it be an "expediton" for a week to a month or for a weekend of Rock Crawling.
I have a problem spending money and being limited to what I can do. If I spent $38K on a new FJ and then Modded it to do what my TJ can do I would spend upwards of $70k.. If I bought a used LR and modded it I would still spend well over $70k..

I've spent $20k on my TJ and Trailer and I can do anything and go everywhere with no limitations.

TBC

 

[Metcalf]

Everything has limitations.

TJs are fabulous platforms. I just bought a salvage one to rebuilt myself.

However, any single vehicle is not the end all be all of the 'wheeling world.

Edit: I know I am basically contradicting myself by saying that 'anything can be buit to do anything' and 'everything has limitations'. I am referring to the fact that once you take a vehicle far enough in one direction you lose capability in another.

 

[Ron B]

exactly my point -- any vehicle can be built to go anywhere, that's easy...just expensive. The trick is getting a vehicle that is not necessarily great at any one thing, but good at everything. Not too many vehicles fit that mold.

rb

 

[Metcalf]

Very true.

And everyone has a different idea of what and where they want there levels of performance to be. Can a TJ be a good expedition vehicle, sure....can my 1942 Willys MB....ummm, maybe Can my dodge follow a TJ around everywhere, no. Can my Dodge tow the TJ and the Willys at the same time, and I can camp in the back...Yes.

 

[Viggen]

exactly my point -- any vehicle can be built to go anywhere, that's easy...just expensive. The trick is getting a vehicle that is not necessarily great at any one thing, but good at everything. Not too many vehicles fit that mold.

rb

Especially more so in the US. Everything is a trade off which is why many things need building.

 

[Ron B]

Especially more so in the US

 

[blaze one]

lets not forget about the cherokee's and FSJ . It's not all about YJ TJ JK 's .

 

[Ford Prefect]

lets not forget about the cherokee's and FSJ . It's not all about YJ TJ JK 's .

Why not???



(I own a CJ and a WJ)

Love my jeeps, and I think they do very well in every situation that I have put them in.