Any jeep wrangler owners?

[CyclChyk]

okiedokie - just a few to show how fun (and messy) a Jeep can be..... We had to use our hitch. The first pic shows what we thought was harmless grass and weeds. Turned out to be marsh......... yup, got stuck. Slung mud everywhere....Bare in mind this was a mild jaunt as we didn't want to get our baby dirty :-)

[spokewench]

We have a jeep wrangler - regular size - actually, it is more my husband's than mine - it is a 6 cylinder - i think this is a good choice. As far as the hitch vs. tire mounted bicycle carrier, we have both. The tire mounted is okay, but it difficult to put full suspension mountain bikes on it since they don't have a convential top tube - so my husband handy man that he is made his own homemade hitch mounted system for his mountain bike

The jeep is short on storage space, it kind of depends on what you are going to use it for and how many people are going with you. If you want to use it for camping and biking with one person other than yourself, it can get pretty tight. I've seen some people put racks on the tops if they have a hard top but it sounds like you want a soft top so I don't know about that.

We have a soft top with zip windows, but my hubby bought some slip in winter top doors that have windows that actually slide so you don't have zip windows in the winter. They work well and keep the jeep a little warmer in the winter.

The only problem with a jeep is that it rough riding on the highway and noisy with a soft top. I guess it just depends on what you like and what you want to put up with.

We take ours stock out into the forest all the time and four wheel. My hubby will drive it up and down anything! It is amazing.

[Xrayted]

Well, I'm still looking for just the right one. I thought I found it the ohter day,but it's got stick. Everything else was exactly what I wanted. (color, hard top, A/C...) Trying to decide if I can live with the stick. I do a lot of town driving and constantly shifting is a PITA. I have to think about where and how I'll be using it in the future too. I think I really want the auto. trans. My brother is anxiously waiting for me to get it so we can get ours muddy together the first day. (Apparently that really is a rule. Who knew? ) Thanks for your input ladies. Nice pics. Thanks for sharing.

Hopefully soon I'll be able to reciprocate.

X.

[CyclChyk]

A man will tell you the stick is the way to go. Must be a testosterone thing cuz I prefer automatic. I like to gab on the phone (the haters are gonna have a field day with that one) and drink coffee and channel surf...... I do have a friend however who has a manual 4runner and she can drive one handed as she has mastered using her knee to steer when she shifts.... I'd wreck. So I stick with automatic....

[GLC1968]

I've had 3 Jeeps (an '86 CJ-7, a '93 Wrangler and a 2004 Wrangler Unlimited). In all cases, I had both the hard and soft tops. I loved them all, but the Unlimited was my least favorite. The Unlimited didn't handle like a Jeep (it was actually my husband's car to drive) and it was an automatic and I'm a stick shift girl, myself.

I'm glad you are getting one! I miss my Jeeps (but I love my Mini even more). Two things 1) definitely go with the hitch bike rack...the tire mounted ones are a pain and I never felt it was that secure. And 2) I pray you don't do much highway travel. The wranger is not comfortable for distance highway travel and gas milage sucks.

Our Limited never saw snow, but both my CJ and my Wrangler handed it very well (just not at high speeds). I actually rescued a couple of bigger SUV's with the winch on my CJ! All in all, if you love it, a Jeep is a great vehicle. It's got some annoyances (no power locks or windows, loud on highway, milage, etc) that are easy to overlook if you love it.

[Xrayted]

Well, I think I finally found "the one" tonight when taking my Mom out for dinner. Gonna get up early and drive over in the a.m. and take her for a spin. Hope she's the right one, getting tired of looking. Everybody's been looking actually. Keep getting tips from coworkers, friends and two of my bros on Jeeps with my specifications but there was always something not right, like zip windows, no A/C or tan interior... (don't like tan interior)

Hopefully, I'm buying a Jeep tomorrow and will post pics as soon as I can. (Gotta get her good and dirty first.)

Thanks for all of your comments. It really helped me decide exactly what I wanted. Now I gotta get a mountain bike to go with the terrain that the Jeep can take me to. (good enough excuse if I ever heard one)

GLC - I love the minis too. So fun to drive!! Most likely my next purchase in vehicles. Will be my main commuter then so I can use the Jeep for biking, kayaking and beach running. Much better mileage too.

thanks everyone.

X.

[Xrayted]

Ok, well that took long enough, didn't it? So I finally found the time to take a few pics in the rain yesterday. Not the best because of the clouds but here she is...




2003 Patriot Edition with Patriot Pearl Blue paint. She's an automatic 6 cylinder with AC. Dark grey and black interior. I agree, I'm so glad I went with the full steel doors. Now I just need to figure out how to remove the top, etc when the spring rolls around. I'm still thinking I'm going to replace the rims. I'm not big on chrome steel rims. I like aluminum better. My brother put the hitch on for me so I could hang a 4 bike rack on the back.
I've already taken her on a loooong drive. I live in Lancaster, PA and drove over to Dayton-area of OH to visit Bikingmomof3 this past weekend. 7 1/2 hours one way and no problems. (except for the gas mileage )

Thank you ladies for your comments on this. It really did help me figure out what to buy. Now my bike has a new chariot to carry her around and she loves it. And it's so much fun to drive!! Now, she needs a name. I'm thinking Patty...

Oh, yeah, BTW - she did get good and dirty twice now. I know that's an important fact to you other Jeep owners.

~X.