Been wanting a TJ again.. owned three, then got an '18 JK. Like it, but never fell in love with it like my TJs. So was thinking of finding a clean LJ. I found a dealer here in Ohio that hunts down clean, non rusted TJ/LJs from salt free states. So that got me thinking of getting one again. Needs to be my daily, and that's mostly city driving. I got to wheel an LJ with 35"s last summer, and that thing probably couldn't get 9 mpg on it's best day. I just can't do that. are LJs much worse than TJs, since they have to be heavier, for power/mpg? What is stock gearing on an LJ, and what would be biggest tire I can use with it without killing performance? Stock tires on an LJ always looked funny.
TJ or LJ?
- Thread starter Jeff Allan
- Start date
LJ, 3.73s. LJR 4.10s
There should be no measurable difference in mpg between identical LJs or TJs.
After decades of building my jeeps bigger, taller I have started to go the other way, dropping to stock height and skinnier tires. I found altho I never cared adding an inch of lift or tire cost 1mpg every time I grew that tire size. Having just gone from 33x10.50R15s to 7.50R16s, my mileage went from a best of 17mpg with the 33s to 22mpg with these old school pizza cutters. I'll never go back, even the ride is better and altho off roading is different, I feel more control on loose surfaces with the smaller foot print.
Lots of guys run 235/85R16s which are about 32" tall.
There should be no measurable difference in mpg between identical LJs or TJs.
After decades of building my jeeps bigger, taller I have started to go the other way, dropping to stock height and skinnier tires. I found altho I never cared adding an inch of lift or tire cost 1mpg every time I grew that tire size. Having just gone from 33x10.50R15s to 7.50R16s, my mileage went from a best of 17mpg with the 33s to 22mpg with these old school pizza cutters. I'll never go back, even the ride is better and altho off roading is different, I feel more control on loose surfaces with the smaller foot print.
Lots of guys run 235/85R16s which are about 32" tall.
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Fitzpatrick
TJ Enthusiast
Stock gear ratio is the sam as the TJ depends on you axles. And if you go 35’s your not going to get good gas mileage. Ha who am I kidding it’s a Jeep your not going to get good mileage no matter what. I’d look for one on no more than 33’s but that’s my preference
The LJ will be heavier, especially if it has a hardtop. However, mileage is probably most affected by tires and gearing. I'm running 33"s on 4.10 with an auto (and hardtop). I get around 15 mpg.
Tj if you want a small, quick vehicle to hop around town and such... LJ if you want a longer wheelbase and probably a better ride for daily driving just not that appealing when they are in stock form.
I would stick with a TJ for in town daily use. Tho I doubt the hardtop on a LJ actually weighs enough to affect mileage. Go for the LJ if you or your spouse licks to shop at Costco.
I want to run 33”s. Is the 3.73 /gearing going to work? That’s what I have with my JK , but different engine. Same six speed as my 06 TJR
Thats is what my research shows but I don't know if a hard top is part of that difference or not.
snowpig32
Member
Not sure if this is who Jeff is referring to, but Harrigan Family Automotive in Perrysburg, right outside of Toledo purports to do that. But I've looked at several of his Jeeps. And they're not all rust free. Granted, most of them are, but I don't think he knows exactly what a rust-free Jeep is based on my conversations with him and my inspections of his vehicles. in Perrysburg, right outside of Toledo, purports to do that. But I've looked at several of his Jeeps and they're not all rust free Even though he thinks they are. Granted, most of his Jeeps are, but I don't think he knows exactly what a rust-free Jeep is based on my conversations with him and my inspections of his vehicles. So, I wouldn't just take his word for it without doing my own extensive inspection.
Yes, that's the place. I've not been over to see any, but he said they're rust free. This is a bummer. How/where to find a nice TJ these days? I can't afford to fly somewhere and hope it's nice enough to buy and drive back 2000 miles or whatever.
Head South, a few hundred miles down to GA, TN, AL. Further out west to AZ is probably the best place to hunt. My LJR lived its life before me in GA and TN and is rust free. Basically avoid states where it snows a lot and coastal areas.
I watched his website listings for a year and really liked what I read from him and saw in his photos. My first trip up there was the first indication he is not as straight forward as you would be lead to believe. I texted him the entire way up there (2 hours away) to confirm he had at least one of the 2 I was interested in (as he suggest in his listings). He assured me, but when I got there one was sold and the other was a rust bucket, about which he had excuses that it was a trade in from a customer, and not one he purchased at auction. Even though I was furious I wasted 4 hours on a trip (there and back), all his other TJs were fairly nice, just not what I wanted. He then showed me his auction site trying to help me find one (assuming I would give him another chance). We scrolled through several and found some that looked promising, which he said he would purchase if I placed a deposit and we could return if not as advertised; but, he had already lost my trust at that point. A few weeks later, I saw another I was interested in on his site. Contacted him in an effort to negotiate everything up front, so if it checked out, I was ready to go. He was unwilling to negotiate. And, at this point, had no recollection of dealing with me before, which was a little disappointing. So, I said screw convenience and set out on a 10-state quest that led me to "The One" in my profile pick. 9 states of disappointment until number 10. After purchase, my wife fell in love and wanted a TJ. So, we saw some on his site and decided to take a look at them since he was relatively close to other seemingly nice ones. We took my LJR up there to look at hers. Upon arrival, he commented on it and started asking a bunch of questions, which was my first inclination that he is not as knowledgeable about TJ's as he leads on. My wife and I went for a test drive in her TJ of interest and it was simply not the one for her (didn't like how it drove and was to lifted for her liking). I also noticed that it, like others, had fresh coats of paint on the frame. There were no bad spots, but it did have evidence of some level of rust having been inside the frame. Not bad at all, but definitely not as advertised all over his site as "No rust, Southwest frame", which to me claims that it "has never had rust with which to deal," rather than " no rust now." To me there is huge difference between those two situations. Upon return from test drive, he resumed asking questions about my LJR and asked if he could put it on the lift so he could look at it. I said sure and walked over to a TJ he had currently on a lift where his "guy" was looking at it. This was a TJ that he had just sold a couple for their son. They had brought it back with the complaint it had death wobble. Interestingly, he was putting a new steering stabilizer on it as a solution (more evidence he either knows little about TJs or is deceitful-either way a steer clear attribute). While they were looking it over, I stuck my fingers in some of the frame holes and was appalled by the amount of rust flakes I found. My finger was buried at least 1-2" in rust chunks everywhere I poked in the frame (more evidence). Once mine was put up on a lift, we walked under it and his questions were really worrisome from someone who alleges to be the ultimate TJ straight six seller, who scours the country for rust free rigs (paraphrased). He didn't know many of the suspension parts by name and was amazed at the quality of the components (thank you Wrangler TJ Forum for the tutelage). He also commented on how rust free and clean it was. I thought, "this shouldn't amaze you if this is what you pursue and purchase; you must've seen 100's of rust free TJs." Well, after all my experiences with him and thinking about all the evidence and clues up to that point, I finally concluded that he is either naive or full of it. Either way, he is not the "Messiah of Rust Free TJ's." With all this said, I would take his claims with a grain of salt and not rely upon him to provide and deliver a truly rust free TJ. Moral of the story: Due your own due diligence and never trust without verifying. It is always best to place your eyes on the rig and fingers in the frame (better yet, an endoscopic camera). Sorry for the novel.
Epilogue: He pestered my wife via text for 2 months after our last trip. I told her to block him.
I have an LJR on 33in general grabber all terrains and managed almost 17mpg driving from Ct to Pa.
ejay
TJ Addict
I'm lucky to get 13mpg in my TJ highway. If I could get the same with longer drive shaft and longer hard top...I'd probably keep my TJ. Lots of sweat went into my TJ. Wouldn't want to start from scratch again. If I were, for my purposes, it's just extra storage/foot room. I probably wouldn't take advantage of the longer wheelbase.
I'm about two hours away too. You just saved me a lot of headache. Really appreciate you taking the time to give us a heads up on this. Too bad. He did message me several times when I told him I was interested. He asked what I wanted, and would go look for it. I really don't know where to look, other than maybe go on a trip and buy/drive one home after I inspect it and research the seller.
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