So, my 1997 TJ Sport is nearing the end of its life. The six body mounts are bent from jumping the Jeep years ago. The skid plate is somehow still intact. The oil pan only holds 5 quarts now instead of 6 from all the dents. There is a hole in the front bumper from pulling trees out of the woods and having logging gear break and fly back at the old girl.. The jeep has had a very hard life… I've had it for 13 years now and the rust in the underbody and the frame has pretty much guaranteed a trip to the scrappers in the near future. After some reasonable thinking I'm more or less set on a Rubicon JK Unlimited. I would have preferred to have another SWB Rubicon. However, with kids being part of the picture for another 8 years or so and large dogs as well, I think concession to the longer wheelbase will be fine for the time being.

For the past 13 years I’ve managed to live in several different states and travel to about 40+ more in that jeep. I’ve never needed a lift kit to go off-roading, just 31” wheels and some rocks or logs. I often found myself at odds with some jeep owners based on their approach to off-roading. Many times I’ve seen owners spend more time trying to climb over stuff they don’t really need to climb over to get where they want to go, and their struggles in these endeavors have convinced them they need to dump thousands of dollars into a lift kit and bigger tires. My mentality has always been the more you know the less money you need to spend. I just like going outside and goofing around, if I can’t climb over the Berlin wall it’s not the end of the world. I’ll just smash it with a sledgehammer and drive over the rubble…

The TJ was a pretty solid vehicle and about the only thing I ever felt like I needed was lockers; never got them though, even after 13 years. The Dana 35’s held out even if the bearings were crap and the sway bear linkages were probably designed for a Honda civic. So this brings me to the Rubicon JK Unlimited. My guess is that with the lower transfer case gearing going from the I6 to a V6 won’t be such a big deal. Off roading won’t be the main priority for me. It’ll be the ability to do work out in the woods, which doesn’t always involve wheeling but almost always requires a lot of control over the wheels in the lower gears. For good or bad I think it will have to be an automatic. I drag a lot of stuff around in the woods so the ability to precisely control thinks like how much tension I have on ropes or chains is important. A manual is ok but not ideal. Also I drive through annoying traffic to work….

So for you guys/gals that have had both a TJ and an Unlimited JK; what can you tell me about the differences, your opinions, or any issues or good qualities one had that the other didn’t?

 

I had/have both. I have not worked either as hard as you have. The jkur definitely has more creature comforts and I like the transmissions ability with tiptronic. I do miss the simplicity of the tj and worry about the computers on the long term but the greater versatility of jku (family carrier, cargo area, etc) and creature comforts easily overcome that for me.

Offroad wise I did not do much with either as I primarily just use it for camping but I would not hesitate to take the jkur anywhere I took the tj.

 

I've had a TJ, traded for an LJ, sold for a JKRU. The gearing of the Rubicon will be a great help in controlled low speed, and then the lockers will be there if/when needed. You can fit 35's on the JKU with a little fender trimming or flat fenders, all I did at first was was put some 1.75" pucks in the front to get the Jeep to sit level. I wheeled mine like this for a few years and only had a little rubbing. The 44 axles should last forever if you don't 4wheel much, but the ball joints will be shot in a few years.
Creature comforts with the four door will be very nice compared to the TJ, plenty of space behind the rear seats, and the ride difference will be great!
Only complaint I have (on my 2013) is I was/am one with the bad engine valves. Should be fixed now after two times back at Jeep to have valve parts replaced.
Good luck on the new Jeep!

 

I've had both, a 99TJ and it was great. If your moving up to a newer JK be sure to get one with the newer motor (3.6L). If you get a 4D you will need bigger tires so the break over angles would be close to the 2D TJ. Obviously the Rubicon is going to be the best out of the box performer and if you don't do a lot of mods will probably be the way to go.

 

Yeah, I love the TJ, and I always preferred driving it over driving all the probably maaaannny other rental cars and regular cars i've driven in the past 13 years. But, it is what it is.. The TJ was a tank and I can love it all I want but even if I do spend thousands to make it like new the gas mileage will kill it as a daily driver in the future anyway, same will happen to a JK. And for me I don't really want two vehicles just so one can get beat up and one can drive me to work. My TJ was more or less a tractor at home and it got me to work every day for all those years and thats really what I want from my next Jeep.

Jchappies - I'de probably put 33 Cooper STT's (I like the SST's for all around use) on a JK, which would probably get me within a degree or two of a TJ with 31's breakover angle. And it should give me a bit more clearance for the pumpkins. Do you notice a big difference off road besides turn radius going to an Unlimited?

And as for maintenance, we all know the TJ is as easy to work on. I'm not expecting the JK to be that easy, but does it seem to be designed so that people CAN work on it without much trouble? Or is it more the style of the "Remove the front left quarter panel and pull the intake manifold to change the spark plugs" type of deal?

Also do you guys/gals feel like the JK is a worthy next generation to the Wrangler line?

 

I've owned both and love them both. The turning radius would be the only thing that I ever noticed off or on road but was never any real bother. As noted earlier, just go with the 3.6 (2012+). I loved the old I6 4.0, even had that engine in a jeep Comanche truck. That thing was a screamer. I was quite satisfied moving from the 4.0 to the 3.6 Pentastar. The auto trans for the JK is rather beefy for this application. I've pulled quite a bit with it with no complaints or issues.

I do do appreciate the simplicity of the TJ but I don't think the JK is really that much harder to work on. I do most of my own work and can't say that I have ever thought to myself, "gosh, this was a lot easier on the TJ". Dont let that freak you out.

I bet a JK Rubi will serve you well and likely be a bit better DD for you and still be a good tractor when you need it.

enjoy

 

Well good to know Texas and everyone else. I like to see people defending the JK, poor thing was born into the "internet of critics" unlike the TJ which was born when people first really started getting the internet in their homes. Most things online are gonna be negative but I think upon hearing from true JK drivers is that I'll be just fine beating the crap out of a JK just like a TJ or a CJ, or even an old Cherokee. (There was another model of pure Jeep I think? I heard it had rectangular lights. Probably a myth....)

Might need to get metal bumpers on the JK for pushing stuff but that should be it.

Now I just gotta find a Rubi in Forest green. The TJ called it Emerald green but it's nearly the same color.

 

I currently own both and they couldn't be more different. After driving the TJ all day, the JKUR is like a Cadillac. That being said, my 2002 X is stripped, 6 cylinder, 5 speed, soft top, no carpet, although it does have A/C (I live in FL). The Rubicon is loaded with leather, auto, cruise, satellite, climate control, hard top, etc. The TJ has a 3" lift with 33" Duratracs and can be a challenge to drive at speed in the wind and rain (like today). The JKUR has a 2" spacer lift with 295/70x17 Trail Grapplers and in the same conditions you can set the cruise around 85 and run with the fast pack with one hand on the wheel. Off road, I think it's more horses for courses because like you, I don't have lockers on the TJ...yet.

 

I think the JK has been offered in more colors than any other vehicle ever made, including Hot Wheels . I'm sure you will find a green to make you happy. Jeep models are like kids. You don't love one more than another, they are just different. I'd even love my square-eyed kid though admittedly, I'd have to mentally prepare myself to be seen with him in public

 

The first guy to buy a square eyed YJ is in the Jeepers hall of fame now for having such big cahoones.

Well the unlimited may be a more like a Cadillac but it'll be the dirtiest Cadillac since the mafia switched to driving Lexus's.

Speaking of FL. I used to live in a part of Florida where it would rain everyday between 11 and 1 every time the top on my TJ was down... Every single time... Trash bags and or a cut up foam sleeping mat worked great to keep my butt dry. Probably made the beach jeepers mad seeing a guy driving with trash bags on the seats in his TJ when they were trying to pick up chicks in their TJ. And ahhh the sand... Tore two tires off the rims and was the only place I ever high centered was on beach sand. Never got stuck in desert sand but that probably was because of the high velocities involved in desert sand jeeping.