LJ or JKU for family wheeling?

J

Jeeper52

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Dec 9, 2020
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Colorado
I have my eye on both a built jku and LJ for sale. Both have coil overs and one ton axles and 40’s. The LJ is 110” wheelbase. I know the LJ will perform better off-road but I have 2 kids ages 2 and 5 and a wife that will come most times. Looking for a Jeep that will do it all. This will be strictly a trail rig that I will trailer and not a daily driver. Is it a mistake to go with the LJ since I have kids? I haven’t seen one in person so that makes it a little bit harder to know how much room they have. I know the jku would be better for loading the kids but the Lj is a better trail rig. Since I’m only using it for trails would the LJ be a better idea?? The Lj has the genright legend suspension, dynatrac 60’s 40’s a atlas 4spd and a ls 5.3
The jk has the evo Bolt on coil overs 60’s Dana 60’s and a long arm. Wife and kids will come probably 80-90% of the time. I really want the LJ but I feel like the jk is a better family wheeler. Is a LJ total pain with kids? Mine are 2 and 5
 
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Easier for sure I understand that but is a 2 door really that bad? Does the unlimited LJ make much difference of a standard TJ? Also want the LJ perform much better on trails than the JKU?
 
As mentioned at those ages without Windows getting them in would not be bad. The real question is how much stuff needs to come and which will hold it better?. My son would climb the tire and get in from the side when young.
 
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2001slvrstntj said:
As mentioned at those ages without Windows getting them in would not be bad. The real question is how much stuff needs to come and which will hold it better?. My son would climb the tire and get in from the side when young.
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And I bet he enjoyed it too. My daughter loves it.
 
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I wheel with my kids and i have a Large X Cage right behind front seats. We make do, and i love it. I have hauled my kids around in there since they were but babies and ya it requires you to be patient reaching in there and all but its not that hard and at 6 or so they can buckle themselves. Without the X cage i would think it would be super easy in an LJ. Course a 4 door will be even easier and more comfortable. For a trailer rig i would do an LJ all day just because it's possible to make work and its an LJ and youre on a TJ forum :)
 
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I'm with Chris. I went from a really nice XJ I built for everything to the LJ. I never realized how convenient those rear doors were until after a couple Jeep runs with the LJ. And as your kids grow, they will appreciate the extra leg room. That said, in terms of wheeling, I think you will be much happier with the simplicity of the LJ versus a JK.
 
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B00mb00m said:
I wheel with my kids and i have a Large X Cage right behind front seats. We make do, and i love it. I have hauled my kids around in there since they were but babies and ya it requires you to be patient reaching in there and all but its not that hard and at 6 or so they can buckle themselves. Without the X cage i would think it would be super easy in an LJ. Course a 4 door will be even easier and more comfortable. For a trailer rig i would do an LJ all day just because it's possible to make work and its an LJ and youre on a TJ forum :)
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Do you have a tj or tj unlimited? Is one much different from the other?
 
Might not be right but I think I would have to buy and prove the LJ won't work. Something about an LJ with an LS that sways me, and not saying that is right just where my minds is going. That said need to be sure the swap was done right. Good luck, either way will be wheeling with the family.....tough to go wrong there.
 
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This is a tuff choice. One additional thing to keep in mind is the child seat anchor points. If the LJ is running stock seats, there's on one anchor point and it's in the middle. The JK will have anchor points on both sides. As much as I'd want the LJ, I'm leaning in the direction of the JKU. Saying this because getting a 2 year old in and out of an LJ on 40" tires is just plain going to suck. I've done it on 35" tires and stopped, because it was to much of a hassle!
 
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