Bought my truck up in WA, all of my friends have diesel 4x4s, so we used to do a bit of wheeling. Moved down to California. Lane's are narrower, parking spots smaller, it's starting to be a pain driving this truck around. Right now unemployed, so buying a second vehicle isn't an option, my wife and I had been talking about buying a Wrangler. I crunched the numbers today, and I could basically trade my truck straight across for a '97 Wrangler TJ sport. I don't know anywhere to go offroading down here yet, so I can't take my truck out and see how I like the size offroad in this area. I haven't really hauled anything since we got here except like a new bookcase, and stuff like that.

Basically, I need to be reminded why this truck is better than a Jeep.

 

1. It's a Diesel
2. It's a Diesel
3. It's a Diesel
4. It's a Diesel
5. You have a truck bed to haul with
6. Your bigger than all the other little cars out there.
7. That truck is going to hold up for a very very long time if it is maintained
8. It's cooler than a Jeep....

But in all honestly, going into a Jeep you are more than likely going to lose gas mileage. (Depending on how you drive now)

 

Went from my beloved '79 Power Wagon to an '86 CJ-7 in '86, to an '89 Cherokee in '94, to a '96 Grand Cherokee in '99, which I just sold to buy my '00 Dodge. Sooooo glad to be driving a real truck again. Yes, it's hard to park and doesn't handle like my Jeeps, but I feel so much better behind the wheel of it than I ever did in any of my Jeeps. Even at 10mpg.

 

I've owned over 40 vehicles in my lifetime, far and away the most useless vehicle I've every owned was a Jeep Wrangler.

The Pros: Roof off in the summertime, smaller vehicle for parking purposes.

The Cons: Everything else.

Can't speak on off roading, since I didn't get into it, but gas mileage was bad and the overall power was gutless on the Wrangler. Had a 6cyl sport with the stick and the thing was horrible on the highway, barely able to maintain 70 and forget about passing someone. I'd complain about the wind noise and conversations, but between exhaust and my system in the Ram, kind of a draw...lol.

Always had to worry about parking and security, and it was fairly useless for anything involving moving or hauling. Never used it for shopping because you couldn't leave stuff in it. Also would say this, having driven both Wranglers with a stick and auto, wouldn't drive one on a regular basis with an auto if you gave it too me.

This was my Wrangler:




Sold it and bought my Ram for the same price, and haven't thought twice about making the switch. I can't say I won't own another Wrangler someday, but honestly never as a primary vehicle.

 

My wife owns a "city person's Jeep", a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4. She comes from driving nothing but small cars and occasionally a minivan in her family, and it took some convincing to get her into a SUV.

Out of all the Pontiacs, Fords, and Dodges my family has owned, and out of all the KIAs, Fords, and Mercuries my wife's family has owned, this is our first Jeep. It will not be our last. The most reliable vehicle out of any of our families'.

 

I loved all my Jeeps, even the CJ. They were damn reliable, as well. In fact, I sold the Grand Cherokee to my brother because he knew how good of care I took of it and how reliable it's been. Before my Power Wagon I had a '79 Ramcharger and a '73 'Cuda. When I moved out here in '79 it was in my '74 Roadrunner. Before that I had a '73 Chevy Nova (biggest POS I ever owned), a '72 Volkswagen Super Beetle, and a '70 Dodge Coronet station wagon that I bought from my dad as my first car. I obviously lean towards Chrysler products as they have always been good to me. Each fit me well at the time I owned them, especially the Jeep CJ7 when I was living in the city and didn't drive much. I also enjoyed taking the hardtop off and going topless. Much of what Hutch said about his Wrangler was true of my CJ. By '94 I was starting to hate the harsh ride, the lack of utility and security, and the manual transmission, but I was happy with Jeep as a brand, even more so since Chrysler now owned them. The Chrokee fit the bill nicely. Fast forward and after owning 2 Jeep SUVs for 15 years I was really missing having a truck. My big tire, axle-breaking, off-roading days are over, but I still ride/race motocross and having to haul a trailer to take 2-3 bikes to the track or using a hitch mount rail just for one was getting tiresome. Now, I can haul 3 bikes in the bed with gear, use the carpool lane and not have to observe the lower trailer towing speed limit (55mph here in CA). It feels good to be back in a truck. Probably made more sense for me to go back to a pickup long ago.

 

That's because it had worthless 3.07 gears and 33" tires

 

33's yes, but the ratio was 3.73. Should have said 'gutless' was highway driving, and I've never known anyone with a TJ with any gear ratio that would say otherwise about highway driving. The 6 just doesn't have the powerband for it, and the 4 cyl is a bigger joke. Gas mileage was 'bad', but not really different them my Ram, but it will be worse then your diesel. Like Miami said, ride is harsh from stock. Mine had a 3" BDS suspension lift so the ride wasn't really bad.

From a mechanical standpoint, it wasn't half bad. Only thing wrong with mine was the rear main, which is common, but it's 2 piece and not bad to change. They do seem to rust out and that requires attention. It was pretty easy to work on, not much to 'em.

As long as you stayed off the highway, it was fun, but again, pretty impractical. I am a homeowner who remodels a lot so the impractical quickly got to outweigh the fun factor. Down the line if I want a 'toy' I would kick around getting one, but since I'm starting to get my Ram to where I want it, probably go for an G37x instead.

 

I used to have a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4 6cyl. before I bought my truck. I do miss my Jeep, mainly because it was my first real vehicle, and because it was 4X4, but the reliability was worthless. My engine was worn out, transmission was screwy, air conditioner only worked when I didn't need it, and other pains. I'm not saying my Dodge hasn't given me problems, but I can depend on it way more than the Jeep. Once you fix the small things, the truck is the most obvious of advantages. You can carry larger items, you can secure items, you can create unbelievable power, and you don't feel like your driving something that would be crushed like a Coke can in a wreck, by this I mean it's more secure. Truck wins overall.

 

Hmm ,I thought all the 4.0/5 Speeds got 3.07s, at least in the Cherokees they did... 3.73 still isn't nearly enough gear for 33s and a 4.0 IMO. My Ford 4.0 5 speed with 4.56s and 34x10.50s in a 4K LB SUV has plenty of *****, the Ford 4.0 has 30 less HP than the Jeep 4.0 but much better low end torque.

Don't get me wrong, I hate jeeps, just trying to play devil's advocate.