Are JKs more capable than TJs?

[Mobusaki]

I had a JKUR and it was a great Jeep. Did a 600 mile day no problem. Did not like the 6 speed. I’ve had a lot of manual transmission vehicles, from sports cars, to 1 ton trucks, to off road rigs and I just couldn‘t like the 6spd/3.6 combo. It was on 35’s and I tried re-gearing from 4.10 to 4.88’s and it still sucked. The 3.6 has no “flywheel” effect (thank you Mercedes car motor) and so even with the extra gearing, it always felt weak on the bottom end. If my JK had been an automatic, I would probably still have it. I bought the LJ because it is a toy and will be built for the Rubicon/Fordyce. The TJ platform has better visibility and feels less turret like as well.

Jack

My Mom has a 3.6L JKU 6 spd. I like the oomph of the motor when you rev it up but I don't like the way the throttle, clutch, or shifter feels. The clutch is super light and has no feedback. The throttle has a big delay from the moment you press it to the moment the motor actually responds, and the shifter while butter smooth feels too sporty to me. The TJ shifter is much more "truck" and I like that.

That said, now that I have a kid, I totally, absolutely get the appeal of a 4-door Jeep. More space and 4 doors is just huge once you're hauling around little ones, and great road manners is a big bonus. Then with all the Jeep features - topless, incredible offroad capability (yes the JKU is a beast offroad, I've seen it firsthand many many times), the community, etc. I see why lots of people are very happy with them. They even look cool once you've got bumpers, winch, lift and tires on them. Not TJ cool, mind you, but cool nonetheless.

I don't bother comparing JK to TJ usually because 2-door to 2-door is a no brainer for me, TJ all the way. But JKU? I get it. They have a lot going for them. I just like TJs more.

 

[Westtown Willy]

JKs are butt ugly, that concludes the inquiry.



I am that shallow.

 

[Mobusaki]

I've driven several JKs with the manual trans. I'm sure you could come up with something more terrible to shift but it would take some doing.

It is absolutely soulless and I hated it until I started double clutching it. Doing that, it's butter smooth. I mean BUTTER smooth, smoother by far than any automatic I've ever been in. There's an enjoyment to that for me. But it's still soulless and I still hate the clutch feel, throttle response, and shifter feel.

 

[Zorba]

...and I still hate the clutch feel, throttle response, and shifter feel.

Let me guess: JKs are throttle by wire. If that's the case, its more shitty embedded code inducing latency.

What's the problem with the JK shifter vis-a-vis a six speed TJ?

 

[mrblaine]

Let me guess: JKs are throttle by wire. If that's the case, its more shitty embedded code inducing latency.

What's the problem with the JK shifter vis-a-vis a six speed TJ?

The 6 speed in the TJ is only marginally better but in the JK there is no crispness to anything at all. The clutch is mush, shifter is mush, and throttle response is bizarre. I can drive any manual and in pretty short order after a couple of shifts get it smoothed out to where it doesn't seem like I just got my learner's permit and have never driven a manual. Takes a lot more effort in a manual JK to just get it even tolerable and by then you figure out that you get none of the fun of driving a manual.

 

[Mobusaki]

The 6 speed in the TJ is only marginally better but in the JK there is no crispness to anything at all. The clutch is mush, shifter is mush, and throttle response is bizarre. I can drive any manual and in pretty short order after a couple of shifts get it smoothed out to where it doesn't seem like I just got my learner's permit and have never driven a manual. Takes a lot more effort in a manual JK to just get it even tolerable and by then you figure out that you get none of the fun of driving a manual.

I haven't driven the 6spd TJ. Mine is the 5spd, which has its quirks but is really satisfying to drive. I would however echo these statements about the JK's manual. "Mush" is the perfect way to describe it. It's like talking to someone through a wall vs talking to them face-to-face. In the TJ I get a lot of feedback from the transmission and engine and feel very in tune with the vehicle. The throttle, clutch, and shifter are crisp. In the JK I get none of that, in fact I can't even feel the friction zone in the clutch. For me, the most maddening thing is the throttle response delay. It's annoying in an auto. It is a real hindrance in a manual.

 

[Andy-WhiteTJ]

I hate that on every JK, JL, JT you can't give it a good "bump" on an obstacle. It's always too late. Also, with the new JLs, you can't two foot an obstacle with the automatic either. The computer limits the revs when pushing on the brake.

 

[jjvw]

JKs are butt ugly, that concludes the inquiry.



I am that shallow.

You can't say things are ugly around here.

 

[suicideking]

Great thread-insightful-

Going deeper- what makes folks that try both often end up back in a TJ? Does it vary or is there a common theme (feels like a jeep, more fun, etc)

As far as wheeling capability I don’t know first hand- the last one that came with us couldn’t even make it to the trail- the owner would not even attempt it because it was too tight.

I’ve heard they can get it done off road over and over and believe it.

I bought my '12 JKU almost exactly 10 years ago. It was my DD and thought I'd maybe try some easy wheeling. After getting a taste, I told my wife I'm just going to put some 33's on it with stock suspension. I'll NEVER lift it. That's just stupid...

So down the rabbit hole I went. The trails got harder and more fun. Eventually I was breaking things on the weekend and having to get a rental car for Monday. Drove up to Lake Arrowhead (mountain) for work one day and my driveshaft was vibrating, scared the shit out of me. Left work early, right as the owner/boss was pulling in. Chewed me out pretty good.

I was also wheeling in mixed groups of TJ's and JK's. Really liked the TJ's and how they were better in the difficult spots. Started doing some of the easier JV trails (Clawhammer, Lower Johnson) and felt like I was trying to cram my Jeep through. The TJ's were just cruising along. At the end of that day, I started thinking about dumping the JKU and getting a TJ.

The JKU was clearly better for DD duties. After trading my JKU for my current LJ, there was absolutely no regret. The trade involved paying off the JKU and getting the LJ with the pink slip. I made a deal with the devil (wife) that I'd DD the LJ for a year while we save some for a down payment on a DD.

The JKU was still on stock gears, 3.73 which was decent for 35's. 2.5" would clear 35's with flat fenders. I eventually changed to 4" springs. Was about to do gears and 37's when I decided to get rid of it. My wife thought I was delusional when I put up and ad to trade my JKU for an LJ. When my inbox was blowing up with trade offers, she quieted down just a bit. Apparently there were plenty of people wanting to trade their TJ for a JKU.

Ended up with my '06 manual LJ which was my best offer. I didn't know how to drive manual and was picking it up 3 states away in New Mexico. I paid a friend to go with me and teach me manual on the ride home. It was on a 4" Teraflex long arm with 35's. I met Blaine shortly after when things started literally falling off.

First run with the LJ

A few months later one of the control arm welds broke in the Cougar Buttes area. Blaine said it looked like a blind man did the welding.

 

[Vinman]

Depends on what peoples definition of capable is,
Tight trails, TJ,
Steep climbs, 4 dr JK or JL,
Go-kart feel, TJ, room for 4, JK or JL.
Highway manners, JK or JL,
Cool factor, TJ,
”Jeep” feel, TJ.
Pure offroad capability, a good pair of hiking boots out-performs all Jeeps.

 

[psrivats]

Pure offroad capability, a good pair of hiking boots out-performs all Jeeps.

ONLY if you keep your cardio endurance up and build some real strength in the core and lower body. Otherwise .. the suffering will be real

Kinda like having a good motor/trans and good gearing

 

[Zorba]

ONLY if you keep your cardio endurance up and build some real strength in the core and lower body. Otherwise .. the suffering will be real

Kinda like having a good motor/trans and good gearing

And there's also "cooling system" problems. Before it was finally discontinued, I went to a annual shooting event in southern Tennessee. You pretty much needed at least a truck to get up to the firing line, so those of us with cars would park at the house and ride in with whomever was headed up. Although it worked well enough, I got tired of having to deal with loading/unloading post haste into a truck of opportunity, so I got the bright idea of taking my old childhood wooden stake wagon. I parked the car, loaded up my guns, ammo, targets, etc, etc, into the wagon, slung my rifle over my shoulder and off I went.

It was only about 3/4 of a mile up to the firing line, most of it on the flat. But there was one steep hill on the way there, and the "engine" started over heating, the "tires" had traction problems, and the "transmission" was stuck in granny low! The last time I had hauled that much weight in that wagon up a hill like that, I was in my teens or maybe early 20's. The old "rig" doesn't develop the power it used to!

 

[AndyG]

I bought my '12 JKU almost exactly 10 years ago.


I bought my '12 JKU almost exactly 10 years ago. It was my DD and thought I'd maybe try some easy wheeling. After getting a taste, I told my wife I'm just going to put some 33's on it with stock suspension. I'll NEVER lift it. That's just stupid...

So down the rabbit hole I went. The trails got harder and more fun. Eventually I was breaking things on the weekend and having to get a rental car for Monday. Drove up to Lake Arrowhead (mountain) for work one day and my driveshaft was vibrating, scared the shit out of me. Left work early, right as the owner/boss was pulling in. Chewed me out pretty good.

I was also wheeling in mixed groups of TJ's and JK's. Really liked the TJ's and how they were better in the difficult spots. Started doing some of the easier JV trails (Clawhammer, Lower Johnson) and felt like I was trying to cram my Jeep through. The TJ's were just cruising along. At the end of that day, I started thinking about dumping the JKU and getting a TJ.

The JKU was clearly better for DD duties. After trading my JKU for my current LJ, there was absolutely no regret. The trade involved paying off the JKU and getting the LJ with the pink slip. I made a deal with the devil (wife) that I'd DD the LJ for a year while we save some for a down payment on a DD.

The JKU was still on stock gears, 3.73 which was decent for 35's. 2.5" would clear 35's with flat fenders. I eventually changed to 4" springs. Was about to do gears and 37's when I decided to get rid of it. My wife thought I was delusional when I put up and ad to trade my JKU for an LJ. When my inbox was blowing up with trade offers, she quieted down just a bit. Apparently there were plenty of people wanting to trade their TJ for a JKU.

Ended up with my '06 manual LJ which was my best offer. I didn't know how to drive manual and was picking it up 3 states away in New Mexico. I paid a friend to go with me and teach me manual on the ride home. It was on a 4" Teraflex long arm with 35's. I met Blaine shortly after when things started literally falling off.

View attachment 290951

View attachment 290952

First run with the LJ

View attachment 290957

A few months later one of the control arm welds broke in the Cougar Buttes area. Blaine said it looked like a blind man did the welding.

View attachment 290959

Awesome

 

[Locrwln]

The 6 speed in the TJ is only marginally better but in the JK there is no crispness to anything at all. The clutch is mush, shifter is mush, and throttle response is bizarre. I can drive any manual and in pretty short order after a couple of shifts get it smoothed out to where it doesn't seem like I just got my learner's permit and have never driven a manual. Takes a lot more effort in a manual JK to just get it even tolerable and by then you figure out that you get none of the fun of driving a manual.

Exactly.

Jack

 

[nathanotis]

The 6 speed in the TJ is only marginally better but in the JK there is no crispness to anything at all. The clutch is mush, shifter is mush, and throttle response is bizarre. I can drive any manual and in pretty short order after a couple of shifts get it smoothed out to where it doesn't seem like I just got my learner's permit and have never driven a manual. Takes a lot more effort in a manual JK to just get it even tolerable and by then you figure out that you get none of the fun of driving a manual.

It's like you're reading my mind. So mushy! Computers have no business between my foot and the throttle. Only physical connection. I bought one of those throttle curve adjuster thingies when I had a jk. Still sucked. No fun at all. In the end I gave up trying to smooth it out. Just one of a score of reasons I don't have a jk anymore.

 

[SvtLdr]

I wonder what the discussion would look like if this thread were posted on a JK forum?

 

[mrblaine]

I wonder what the discussion would look like if this thread were posted on a JK forum?

Who cares?

 

[Zorba]

I wonder what the discussion would look like if this thread were posted on a JK forum?

I was on the JL forum for a bit - everybody talking about their fucking smartphones and pairing problems.

 

[RINC]

Also, with the new JLs, you can't two foot an obstacle with the automatic either. The computer limits the revs when pushing on the brake.

Jeez, try my big truck with an auto trans. The computer controls the clutch. We had fun during the early part of building the border wall.

 

[Plumber1]

Jeez, try my big truck with an auto trans. The computer controls the clutch. We had fun during the early part of building the border wall.
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I wish you still were building it