its been said, but if you can afford to trade up, do it. i did. but in all honesty, i spent about $1500 on a bumper, winch, & lift. then spent about $650 on 34x10.50r17 super swamper LTBs & mounted those on stock rims. Went to long's ranch this past weekend (look in the lone star state section for pics). i only shifted into 4wd on rocks and 1 muddy hill climb. there were PLENTY of tough hill climbs i didnt use 4wd on and plowed up them with no problems when others in my group in 4wd needed 2 or 3 tries. So, what does that mean? dont know. take from it what you will. if i'd known the tires were gonna make such a difference, i would've spent that other $1400 on gears or a rear locker.

 

Would you go to Vail and not ski?

Go to Vegas and not play?

Napa and stay sober?

Ditch it and go 4X4

 

You can wheel 98% of most moderate trails in 2 wheel drive. BUT!!! there is always gonna be that 2% where you need 4 wheels moving, be it a rutted out section, mud, slick hill or corner, sand or silt or even gravel, log or stump, snow and ice, or a small rock section. My point is...it doesnt take much to make you lose traction (especially without a locker) and if you dont come across anything like that while offroading, then I would say that you arent offroading.

If you want to become an expert at winching, then build your mall crawler. Otherwise I would suggest cutting your loses and going with the 4x4. If you cant afford that then sell your 2x4 and get a car with a 4banger, that would make a lot more sense economicaly.

Somebody asked what the MPG difference is between the 2x4 and the 4x4. Acording to Jeep specs, they both get a combined 16 MPG. So the only thing you saved on was the sticker price. Which is why you should always do your homework before making any financial decision. 2x4s are only for Jeep posers.

Im sorry if it sounds like Im ragging on you because im not. Hindsight is always 20/20, believe me Im sure there are a ton of people out there with the same problem as you.

 

It might be cheaper to convert your 2x4 into a 4x4. It cant be that hard seeing how the jeeps are a pretty simple platform compared to a lot of trucks and suv's that have been converted.

Do some research. This might be the answer to your problem, or it might not even be possible (financially or mechanically) Im not sure

 

The 2 wd also gives up the low range...kind of a big sacrifice too.

LTB's CAN be a great equalizer, as would a rear locker...but...its just not worth modding a 2wd when you plan on off roading...try getting the dealer to take it back early on a 4wd.

And remember...you're in 2wd anyway unless you shift into 4wd.

 

convert it!

order the rubi axle from 4wd hardware, get a atles 2, je real drivelines and you will be set up.

 

You also need a transfer case, a way to shift between 2 & 4, update the computer, I'm guessing there are are other suspension or sterring changed to be made when you swap the axle as well. I can't possibly see converting being cheaper, not on a newer vehicle.


Also any milege you thought you saved with a 2wd, you'd lose with a lift.

 

does Jeep even make a 4x2??? The look is so wrong...I saw an X Unlimited the other day in a Harris Teeter parking lot...couldn't for the life of me understand why someone would lower it and make it a "Lowrider"...anyway, after I bought my groceries, I returned to my Jeep and noticed the Lowrider was still their...out of curiosity, I went over and eyeballed this odd Jeep, when I suddenly realized it was not a 4x4...that's why she was so low to the ground...it didn't help that it had those squirrily lookin' 16" wheels as well.

 

Yes, they offer it in the Unlimited only. Apparently Jeep saw a market that they thought they should go after with this model.

 

I would say keep it, like the older model cherokees you can transform it from 4x2 to 4x4. I think that the hit you would take at the dealer ship would be much greater than the hit you would take buying the 4x4 parts. I would put a cheap budget lift(2"), a set of 33's, and a winch and run some easy trails and have fun with it. Over time start buying the required parts to switch it over. Which all you need is a front axle and a t-case. You don't have to go big, you could just put stock D30 axle, and the standard 241 t-case. Or you could spend a lot of money and buy the top of the line stuff out of a magazine!