To Jeep, or not to Jeep.... that is the question.

Ok, first of all I am not here to Jeep bash. But I did want to share a little story that makes me smile every time I think about it.

So, starts back in 97 when a very good friend bought a Toyota truck. 4WD, big lift, top quality mods.... very nice looking truck, and very capable. Thats what started my real interest in Toys.

Fast forward to now, with lots of different vehicles in between for both of us.

About 6 months ago he goes out and buys a Jeep and proceeds to drop tons of cash into lifts, tires, wheels, lights, tops, etc... all understandable. Gets very pissy if I call it a truck (which I do all the time now), and has the 'Jeeps the best off road vehicle in the world' syndrom.

A few months ago I go out and purchase my Tacoma Baja, and naturally he brings the Jeep and we go out and do a little wheelin. I am still totally stock.

While our wheeling area is not all that challenging, there are several rather hairy spots, some good climbs and decents, and lots of ruts and mud. He does his best to lose me, but the Taco sticks right with him.

Fast forward again to last month. He takes the Jeep to the stealership and drops $4,000 on an all new suspension. Fox remotes, bump stops, new control arms and torsion bars, another inch+ of lift, the works. It is absolutely beautiful, a work of art in fact. SO..... we go wheelin again.

Now, much better ride on the Jeep than before, and it tackled everything without breaking a sweat. We broke a sweat because he has no doors or top, and it was well over 100 degrees. Not to mention he no longer has any money because he spent it all on suspension.

We park the Jeep, jump in the Taco and off we go, following the same path. Flawless performance. Much faster and smoother on the open rough stuff, great on the rocks and ruts, and climbs like nobodys business. And I will probably take some heat for this, but I tried the DAC on a very steep downhill and it was actually pretty cool. I took a nap, drank some coffee and read a good book while the truck took its self down the hill at the speed of snail. All in the air conditioned comfort of the Taco.

The moral of this story is simple. Not that Jeeps suck, they certainly dont. The moral is that we have one hell of a good truck ladies and gentlemen. I know you knew that aready, so did I. But it is always nice to go out against what is perceived to be 'the best' (with an extra $4K in suspension to boot) and not only fare very well, but impress the hell out of the Jeep owner.

He offered to shut the hell up about Jeeps and in return I am going to quit calling it a truck. Next we are heading up to Hidden Falls for a weekend of serious wheeling and that will be a much better test of capabilities. He has the short wheelbase, clearance and approach angle advantages. But I will be chilly cool and listening to some good tunes while I am sitting there high centered.

-Smitty

 

LOL Great read...thanks for the laugh

And I agree. I love my truck to death.

 

I have ownes 2 jeeps...both cherokee's...both pieces of chit.

1st one was a 1886 w/ GM drivetrain. garbage.

2nd one (yeah, I gave then another chance), was a 1998...junk

I am 100% over and done with jeep. especially now that chrysler/fiat owns them

some wranglers look cool done up...but so do many strippers...doesn't mean I want to take one home with me.

 

You keep on fryin' this Clown, Smitty.

 

I'm a "double dipper" and own both. I've got a '12 Tacoma TRD Off-Road and an '89 YJ. I LOVE my taco, but it's nice to be able to take the doors and top off once in a while. The Jeep is also more fun to take off road because if it gets scratched or dented, I really couldn't care less.

 

Mod your truck and proceed to make him cry.

 

Great, now I am not going to be able to sleep because of that picture. I hated that scene.

 

Wonderful post....

I have not wheeled my second gen.....I did have a first gen and used to be an active member with TTORA VA Chapter. We wheeled a lot. On more than one occasion, we would cross paths with some jeeper clubs. A couple of times we wheeled with them....Let's just say.....more of us pulled them out than they did of us.....

 

I had a 2000 Jeep TJ Wrangler. I was out last weekend in my 2012 DCLB and I have to say it sucked wheeling compared to the jeep.

Now keep in mind the last wheeling I had done was in the old jeep in 2005-06 and it had a 4" long arm lift but no lockers. And this was the first real wheeling in the Taco 4x4. I was just trying to drive up something that would have been no problem for the jeep and ended up getting stuck on a rock just behind the stock foil skid plate and the cross member or what ever it was. Just missed the diff and was glad to not get the oil pan or trans pan.

BUT I love the taco I would never be with out one. But if I had the cash and wanted a wheeling rig I would get a jeep in a heart beat.

Bring it.

 

I honestly wouldn't mind owning an older jeep cj. But there is no way in hel I would go dump 4 grand on suspension. I'm not that stupid lol.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MRRMgeOZqs

 

Good read, and a nice chuckle to end my shift at 6AM as I read it allowed to my work partner who currently has his new Jeep parked next to my Taco

 

I had a 1998 ZJ that was great. My stepson is still driving it. I love my Taco though.

 

They're like iPones. People buy them for the "image".

Note: I do own one. Why? It was dirt cheap and I needed a beater. I don't 'wheel.

 

I traded in a 99 Jeep TJ for the Tacoma. The TJ did pretty good for bone stock. Sounds like this guy need to go to Walmart and buy the Barbie Jeep.

 

I used to have Jeeps and loved them...but I was just sick of the reliability issues. That being said, If I was only buying a vehicle to 4wheel with, it would not have ifs that's for sure. I love the on road handling but having a solid axle is definitely way better (now waiting for someone to post a picture of a hummer)
The cool thing about the wrangler is it only takes a 2" lift to throw on some 35" tires. Put that on a rubicon and you have yourself an extremely capable vehicle. I wouldn't trade my Tacoma for another Chrysler product though

 

Well here's Demello's solid axle 4 link 2nd gen

 

That is awesome...If I had the money I would do it