DILEMA

Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Location: Sydney

Hi Jeep owners!! I'm new in this forum as i'm always in the Sierra section. I've got this dilema between choosing a 4WD for work. I've done the hardest part of convincing the wife of buying a 4WD. I really love the new Unlimited Wranler turbo diesel but a bit worried that it might not be big enough for work. I fit Satellite tracking units for a living and i travel everyday including interstate travel. I'm in a 4WD Club so the club always go out 4WDrining. Now what i need to know is;

How comfy is the Wranlger in long drives?
How noisy is it inside? With the soft top or hard top?
Is the boot big enough to carry tools withoiut folding the back seats and does anyone know any roller drawer makers that makes for this type of model?
And last, What is the stud pattern of the new Wrangler. Does it have the same pattern as a Sierra (offset?) . Reason i ask because i already have brand new wheels and muddies for it that i was going to put into my Sierra but decided not to. Wheels are 15 x 10 and the tyres are 35 BF Muds. I know i need to lift the Jeep to fit it but making sure the pattern is the same. That was another reason why i wanted to buy the Jeep as i probably have the wheels for it. Sorry for the very long post but thank you in advance for any reply.

Thanks,

Suki91 Smile

Joined: 24 Oct 2002 Location: syd

let me lay some jeep lingos on ya...

long drive comfort
i had a tj wrangler before (older model) and i have a wj grand cherokee now... i only test drove the SWB jk so im basing my assessment on these...
the swb jk drives alot better then the tj did... so i can only assume that the lwb jk could be quite good... definitely better a hilux (older model).... but not as comfy as merc E320... never been on a sierra on long trip before so i cant compare to that...
end of day, comfort factor is very subjective... at times i thought the tj drove a lot better then wj, but thats a different story... so best to test it out yourself...

noise factor
NFI, the dealer wasnt too keen on let me drive too far, they knew i wasnt going to buy one Mr. Green

someone might answer you on that...
with soft top... its basically a small tent on wheels, you do the maths... Very Happy

boot size...
how much tools do you bring... its a decent size, but never big enough... i guess, really pends on what you bring... they are quite sufficient for weekly shopping...
roller drawer? there maybe some, but i havent seen any, for the first time ARb and other local manufacturers actually started making accessories for them on release rather then 10 years later like the TJ's... so my bet is not too long now...

wheels (stud pattern)
i would sell the sierra tyres and rims...
they JK stud pattern is 5x5.0 (5x127)... size im pretty sure its 16x7 bs is approx ~5.75" or there about... (stock rims on WJ is 5x5.0, 16x7 bs 6", and i fitted a set of jk rims on there and the bs is almost the same, and my mate measured it to be about 5.75 or something like that) some jk spec comes with in 17x7? rims
some might argue that you can fit 15's on them... i never tried so i don't know...

you know what... best to go to the dealers, bring a measuring tape and poke you head in one of them and see what you think...

Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Location: Sydney

Thanks Billsta, droped by in a Jeep yard in Gosford today and had a look at a Wrangler Unlimited and measured the boot space. It is actuall preety big. I also went to the 4WD and Camping show on the weekend and found out that Black Widow Roller Drawers make drawers for the JK which is pretty good. Just worried about the comfortability of the car in long drive and the road noise. I might test drive one this weekend. Does any1 have any feedback, positive or negative about their JK Jeep? as this will help me decide if this will be the car for me or not.

Thanks for all who read my post.

Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: sydney

lots of jks here http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=162