Good evening, I am now living in South Florida and am considering to purchasing a Wrangler. (I had one years ago and loved it while living in VA). MY question is if anyone has had any issues with the florida heat being too hot inside the wrangler? Assuming a hard top is better than soft top in South Florida? Any feedback on personal experiences would be very much appreciated.
Jeeps too hot in south Florida heat?
- Thread starter giovdesigner
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- air conditioning florida heat
No hotter than the thousands of convertibles running around S Florida.
I would buy a light colored vehicle and make sure the Wrangler has AC.
YJ, TJ and JK did not have AC standard. I passed on several nice Wrangles because they did not have AC.
I would buy a light colored vehicle and make sure the Wrangler has AC.
YJ, TJ and JK did not have AC standard. I passed on several nice Wrangles because they did not have AC.
FL heat is no different than Va heat. Both have horrible humidity. Tint the windows and make sure you have working AC.
The soft top and A/C is all you need. Florida gets HOT but parts of the southwest where I moved from get even hotter where soft tops and A/C is all that's needed.
All my TJ has ever known is the South Florida/Miami heat — often enough, surface-of-the-sun inferno level.
Random notes:
- South Florida temps may equal other metros but think about it: the sun, the temps, the strength and angle of the rays are virtually 24x7x365 — having lived in Boston for many years, yes, July/August is a bitch but.
- after 17 years, I finally replaced the soft top with a hard top last May. Love it and don’t miss it. Easier to cool the interior, considerably quieter and more secure. Had the sunrider option which was nice in the evenings — it’s so mfing hot (along with the direct sun on a man that has more scars than a Moab trail from skin cancer surgeries) that I rarely ever put the full top down.
- bought it new with AC. Nice to use when I have a passenger but quite honestly, I try not to use it a lot. You get used to anything I suppose — windows down 98% of the time. My co-pilot pit mix doesn't complain though I routinely have to clean the panting drool off the door. The 2.4L is underpowered (severe understatement) – with the AC, more so. Plus, gas mileage considerations.
- I’ve lined the full floor and tranny tunnel (wicked hot after sitting in traffic or a long highway drive) with radiant heat barrier mat insulation — major improvement — great sound deadening too.
- for a bunch of years, I had to park it in the parking lot next to the apartment — the blazing sun will eventually destroy the top, harden and crack the plastic windows, fade the plastic stock fender flares, cowl and hood, etc.; for the past few years, I’ve been able to park it in the back, under the building overhang. HUUUUGE improvement.
- the tropics will quickly degrade your battery (and other internal and external components) Most batteries have lasted maybe 2, 2 ½-3 years; my next battery will be a 100Ah lithium iron phosphate battery from Renogy.
Perhaps a predictable Q: “Dude, why the F do you live there?” My (millennial) family’s here — two kids, son-in-law and a grandson — many in that demographic are leaving SoFla — when they decide to leave, I’m chained to their bumper.
~ Peter
Random notes:
- South Florida temps may equal other metros but think about it: the sun, the temps, the strength and angle of the rays are virtually 24x7x365 — having lived in Boston for many years, yes, July/August is a bitch but.
- after 17 years, I finally replaced the soft top with a hard top last May. Love it and don’t miss it. Easier to cool the interior, considerably quieter and more secure. Had the sunrider option which was nice in the evenings — it’s so mfing hot (along with the direct sun on a man that has more scars than a Moab trail from skin cancer surgeries) that I rarely ever put the full top down.
- bought it new with AC. Nice to use when I have a passenger but quite honestly, I try not to use it a lot. You get used to anything I suppose — windows down 98% of the time. My co-pilot pit mix doesn't complain though I routinely have to clean the panting drool off the door. The 2.4L is underpowered (severe understatement) – with the AC, more so. Plus, gas mileage considerations.
- I’ve lined the full floor and tranny tunnel (wicked hot after sitting in traffic or a long highway drive) with radiant heat barrier mat insulation — major improvement — great sound deadening too.
- for a bunch of years, I had to park it in the parking lot next to the apartment — the blazing sun will eventually destroy the top, harden and crack the plastic windows, fade the plastic stock fender flares, cowl and hood, etc.; for the past few years, I’ve been able to park it in the back, under the building overhang. HUUUUGE improvement.
- the tropics will quickly degrade your battery (and other internal and external components) Most batteries have lasted maybe 2, 2 ½-3 years; my next battery will be a 100Ah lithium iron phosphate battery from Renogy.
Perhaps a predictable Q: “Dude, why the F do you live there?” My (millennial) family’s here — two kids, son-in-law and a grandson — many in that demographic are leaving SoFla — when they decide to leave, I’m chained to their bumper.
~ Peter
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Our 2005 has the same story as @pbeach... owned since new in FLL area, and moved to N. Al in 2021. I just replaced all rubber bushings under the Jeep (body, control arms, etc) due to the heat and humidity causing them to dry rot out. The defrost cover on the dash is so brittle another piece breaks off every time I look at it...
When I drove around down there, I never (rather very rarely) used the AC. I ran with safari style top, and no doors (pulled the drain plugs a long time ago)... made those afternoon showers a bit inconvenient though. I would go into work early enough that it was never hot, and I didn't mind the heat after working all day in the AC.
When I drove around down there, I never (rather very rarely) used the AC. I ran with safari style top, and no doors (pulled the drain plugs a long time ago)... made those afternoon showers a bit inconvenient though. I would go into work early enough that it was never hot, and I didn't mind the heat after working all day in the AC.
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