Advice on TJ vs LJ

[BoldlyGoing]

I’ve had 2 TJ’s and now an LJ.

Without repeating everything else has said, the one downside I see is the aftermarket. While MOST things transfer over, you’ll pay top dollar for tops, sliders, and corner armor.

You will rarely see these come up on the secondary market.

So there’s that.

 

[techster82]

I really, really liked my 2004 TJ. But I LOVE my 2006 LJR.

Honestly you can't go wrong with either but my heart now belongs to the LJ.

 

[astjp2]

I have a CJ, YJ, TJ, now an LJ and a JK. The TJ and JK are the wife's and the others are mine. I am eventually going to strip the atlas and dana 44's out of the YJ and put them into the LJ. Coils are so much better and the TJ just doesn't have enough room for camping gear compared to the LJ.

 

[glwood]

Personal choice, for sure. No kids around, don't camp or tow anything beyond a utility trailer around town; me, the wife, two small dogs. The TJ is perfect. Never had one second of desire for an LJ, and never will. They are perfect for those who do, though.

Where the heck would I store that monstrous hard top?

 

[Drizit]

The big issue you have with your tj is towing. The LJ has much higher tow capability due to the longer wheel base and extra weight. That should be enough to answer your question right there.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

 

[Randy_K]

The big issue you have with your tj is towing. The LJ has much higher tow capability due to the longer wheel base and extra weight. That should be enough to answer your question right there.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

I have just bought a new pop up just for wheeling weekends. I did find that the trailer does push the Jeep around in the corners. I was planning a regear for my TJ when this LJ im looking at came up. I would keep both Jeeps until I get everything I need swapped over to the LJ. That will be a bit of work.

 

[LJJames]

Had a JK, now an LJ. LJ for sure!

 

[AussieShane]

I would love it if LJ's were available in Australia, but I am very happy with the TJ. That sweet 4.0 just makes me smile! And I can park in the lone small car spot at the local supermarket that is always vacant, very handy for the beer run.
:dancer2:

 

[TJ2]

The soft top on LJ looks a bit "off" to me. I don't know why I prefer the shorter version of TJs..

 

[Westtown Willy]

I run rocks, mud, water and haven't had any more problems than the TJ's. And simply put wheels the JK's. And both the TJ and JK owners I wheel with would like to have an LJ.

at least where I wheel that hasn't been my observation, I wheel with LJs & frequently notice they have the same enhanced difficulties that JKUs have though certainly less. The longer the wheelbase the more trouble certain obstacles will present, it's really not debatable, it's just physics. This is me & my buddy entering a one-way down trail taking the same line about a minute apart:



Driving over that rock isn't an option as it may appear in the video, this is the view when you're approaching it (yea that's me trying to go the wrong way on the one-way, I didn't get any further than that & after multiple attempts finally had to winch myself up that last 20 or so feet ).

If I liked LJs this sort of thing wouldn't be a deal breaker for me given that they have other advantages cited by many above, in the end get what you want

 

[Vcook]

I think it depends on your usage. If you intend to wheel it exclusively then TJ for sure. If you intend to primarily daily it then LJ for sure. If it's something in between you need to weigh out the needs to see what fits best.

 

[BoldlyGoing]

I think it depends on your usage. If you intend to wheel it exclusively then TJ for sure. If you intend to primarily daily it then LJ for sure. If it's something in between you need to weigh out the needs to see what fits best.

That’s about the size of it.

For a daily, I think the LJ wins. For a trail rig, the TJ is better.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I have just bought a new pop up just for wheeling weekends. I did find that the trailer does push the Jeep around in the corners.

How heavy is your pop-up? I've been towing my Fleetwood Taos for nearly 15 years behind two different TJs and it absolutely does not push my TJ around at all, not in the least. It tows so easily that I honestly don't even feel it on the highway, I am constantly thinking it has come off and have to check for its presence in my mirror to reassure myself that it's still there. No kidding, no exaggeration on that.

 

[Sancho]

On the fact Unlimited can carry more gear, of course they can. If that's important to you, that's what you need to go with. For me, I've never not had enough room to carry what I needed in my TJ. If it won't fit, I will do without it And after 22 years of that, I've never wished for more storage room.

And I like its shorter wheelbase for the type of wheeling I do. It has a better breakover angle than an LJ that would need a taller suspension lift and bigger tires to achieve the same breakover angle. A good breakover angle is a key thing for the trails I enjoy most.

Need for room is subjective.

When camping/baxkpacking with a buddy.. i use my backpack gear, which is light and compact.

So 2 packs.. and a pelican case filled with camp stuff.. pretty much cap out the TJ storage.


If I'm camping with wife and daughter... good luck. Chairs, coolers, and whatever they deem "essential".. the tj barely even works.

 

[Drizit]

How is your tongue weight? I do have a friend who had issues with a 1200lbs popup once. When I asked how she had packed she said she loaded it all at the back to avoid too much tongue weight on the jeep. I had her shift everything forward and it towed like a dream.

Could just be a weight distribution issue.

—
There must have been a time
when we could have said no.

 

[Mike Jolley]

For me having two boys I like to include in wheeling trips means LJ is really the only choice. I also have a TJ but it just seems like a much less versatile vehicle. Can’t even fit the wife, kids, chairs, and ez-up (soccer setup)in the TJ. No problem in the LJ. If you don’t ever wheel with more than one passenger and you don’t want your rig to be too tall, a TJ is certainly a better crawler.

 

[Randy_K]

Well the choice has been made. TJ for sale shortly

 

[tomtaylz]

Well the choice has been made. TJ for sale shortlyView attachment 54593

Welcome to the LJ fam! I’m sure the TJ will sell quick. Mine went to the first person who looked at it.

 

[zebra12]

Congratulations on the purchase. I've owned both, and I greatly prefer the Unlimited.

 

[Fouledplugs]

My vote for the shorter wheel base with the boots.
View attachment 54333

Ahhh Alabama