I currently have a 2010 JKU Rubicon. Thinking of downsizing a little for a LJ. On one hand Ill loose a little cargo room and it wont be as easy to get the kids in and out of the rear seat. On the plus side, I think it would be easier to go topless/doorless with only two doors like when I had my YJ.

Looking for some opinions...

 

Just take the front 2 doors off on your JKU? This is what I do 90% of the time on mine.

 

I think LJ's are darn cool and wouldn't mind having one as a secondary vehicle.

Swapping a JKU for an LJ as a daily driver--hmm, I'd have to think about that. The newest ones you can find (stopped making them in 2006, right?) are going to be 8 years or older at this point. If I remember correctly, interior dimensions are smaller, the 4.0L was less fuel efficient than the 3.8, and specifically for you, it lacks 2 additional doors for kid-duty. Oh, and the hardtop isn't partially removable (freedom top) like the JK's are. (That's a drawback or benefit, depending on how much your JK top leaks...haha!)

 

I thought about the age thing, although I kept my YJ for 15 years so I would just keep it going. Id rather have the 4.0 for the known reliability and it's my opinion that the 3.8 is just as bad on fuel mileage (at least mine is). I was told that a two piece hard top is available now for them too.

Tough choice

 

I think if I was to get rid of the JKU it wouldn't be for another model wrangler. If have to trade it for a truck or something BUT I would definitely be getting another wrangler to go with it. And the LJ would be it. It's the only 2 door IMHO that looks worth a damn. And especially after seeing what RK did to theirs I have really liked them.

 

You have to put high line fenders and long arms on a TJ/LJ just to get them to where a stock JK is. I like them a lot but I would never go backwards.

 

There's an LJ in Holdrege Nebraska. Can't remember the year, but it's a soft top. It's at an independent used car shop. It has a salvage title, but the dealer has fixed the issues with the LJ. I believe he's selling it for $10,000. It's silver. If you're interested you can probably find it on autotrader.com. If I had 10k I'd buy it. It's looks nice.

 

Just know that the LJ is a much rougher ride than a JKU. It's only slightly longer than a standard TJ and personally I'm not sure I care for the proportions, especially with the top up. I have a buddy who has one and loves it so what do I know?

 

Hmm... I've owned a tj lj and now a jku. For daily driving I wouldn't get rid of the jk. The statement about mpg is ridiculous. My 4.0l in my lj rubi could pull high 19s on the highway. If I had a second jeep it would be a lj rubi. It'll definitely fit better on our tight wooded trails we have here. But for a 90-95% street vehicle the jku can't be beat

 

Have your wife use your JKU as her daily driver, and buy yourself an LJ for yours.

Problem solved.

An LJ will not be as comfortable or as quiet as a JK or JKU.

I like LJs. So, I bought one and did a mild build on it for my daughter to use as a daily driver.

My wife has a JKU Rubi. I have a JK Rubi.

Here is my daughter's LJ:

05 automatic
3" suspension Teraflex/Old Man Emu/JKS, 1" body lift
33" ATX P3s
4.88 gears with front/rear TruTracs
Teraflex belly-up transfer case skid