Does anyone wish the wrangler platform would shrink...

[CrazyCooter]

I keep my old YJ around because it's the perfect sized trail vehicle and I put enough TJ and Ford stuff under it that it rides well and stays together. I did however enjoy driving a 4200 mile loop last year while towing an RV and mixing in some easy trails in the JT though.

My opinion is that when 40"+ tires and 1 tons are pretty much a requirement to do moderate trails without leaving metal deposits everywhere, the vehicle has gotten too big and heavy for me.

No way in hell would I take a JT through Rubicon!

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[rr11]

We still have a TJ, add the Gladiator in and I feel most bases are covered. I did have a 74 CJ5 with a V8 back in the day, loads of fun, however I was 45 years younger things like ride, back pain, or knee injury's were not a factor at that time.

 

[Uparms]

Back down to TJ size besides me? I love the jk/jl and jt but I think the wrangler would benefit from getting back down to its roots especially with the notion that power plants will decrease in displacement as well as go hybrid and all electric. Reduce weight and footprint and get better milage. Pretty easy concept.

Trucks and suvs just seem to get bigger and bigger. I would love a 2 door gladiator with the same dimensions as a 2 door TJ brute truck or even an extended cab. Shorter, narrower and less weight. Everytime I see a new truck it just looks like dick measuring contest from the manufacturer. Who can have the biggest grill, widest stance, pretty chrome and flashy stickers. Is there no end to this madness?

It would be cool to see a resurgence of vehicles like the samurai (Suzuki jimny), geo tracker, trucks like the old ranger, s10 and tacoma. Iam clearly a minority.

Not as drastic as you suggest ""It would be cool to see a resurgence of vehicles like the samurai (Suzuki jimny), geo tracker, trucks like the old ranger, s10 and tacoma. Iam clearly a minority"" but I do agree the JL and JT could use a reduction in size. Kill the 4 doors in all models and only a 2 door and extended cab in the JT. Talk about a minority view, there's mine.

 

[BAT]

Yep, I had a geo tracker that I made spring spacers for and put 31" tires on. I once drove it through a creek deep enough to barely cover the headlights. It was a fun little 4x4. Suzuki makes the jimny but it isn't imported here. It looks like a fun little suv.

I know you will think I am crazy but I saw one of those Suzuki's in the Texas hill country about a week ago. We were driving up near Wimberly and there was what I thought was a Suzuki Samurai. I told me wife dang didn't know those were still on the road and it was in immaculate shape. We came to a wreck and he did a quick Uturn ahead of me and came back toward me. It is Jimmy or something like that on the sides. I was thinking what the heck did Suzuki come out with something new.

 

[Uparms]

I keep my old YJ around because it's the perfect sized trail vehicle and I put enough TJ and Ford stuff under it that it rides well and stays together. I did however enjoy driving a 4200 mile loop last year while towing an RV and mixing in some easy trails in the JT though.

My opinion is that when 40"+ tires and 1 tons are pretty much a requirement to do moderate trails without leaving metal deposits everywhere, the vehicle has gotten too big and heavy for me.

No way in hell would I take a JT through Rubicon!

Driveline, Ali_Mansour on Instagram just did, you tube right now. Why not. Minie is not ready but many of the great builds on this forum appear to be ready.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Driveline, Ali_Mansour on Instagram just did, you tube right now. Why not. Minie is not ready but many of the great builds on this forum appear to be ready.

I went with a couple of guys this year one with a JT and he did just fine. He was full skid plated but left a LOT of metal on the rocks. I didn't spend $90K on this truck to trash it when I have another proper vehicle to do tight trails with. I can tell you that I can travel 2-3 times faster than a pig JT on a trail like that though......

Some people just wheel what they got......

 

[CrazyCooter]

Maybe they should make a "legacy series" trail vehicle. Like TJU wheelbase, right in between a TJ and JK body width? 44/60's so you could run 37-39's? Demon engine? ?

Then the yuppies could buy the next bloated electric Wrangler model redesign that will be the size of a Hummer to run the kids around to soccer?

 

[MoDean]

Considering the fact that Jeep sells far, far more 4 door Wranglers than 2 door, I don't see this happening. They are building what sells. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my TJ, but as a daily driver I far prefer the JT.

 

[MCATDT]

I love my Gladiator and bought it for its size. That said we just bought our daughter her first jeep; a 2002 Sahara in nearly perfect condition and I am absolutely in love with it. I have been driving it more than my Gladiator over the past few weeks. The size and just pure fun of driving the 4.0 and 5 speed manual equipped TJ just brings a smile to my face. It definitely could not be a daily driver for me but as a fun escape vehicle its perfect.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Nope
If I was allowed to (restriction on driver's license) I would probably own a power wagon.
I think if I needed something smaller I would buy a new Jimny or a cj tj yj and resto mod it, or go full buggy and trailer it to the locations.
Overlanding I just need space (bonus that the gladiator is a beast if it does get dicey).
TBH there is no market for the old style small off-roaders. Some would point out how much less space and comfort (see the jeep wave and why most did it) they offer compared to other small SUV and all they have is some more capability. The people that want, need and can afford a second/third brand new (talking price here) vehicle or are single, no family and don't need the space, is such a small margin.

 

[Tommyd]

Back down to TJ size besides me? I love the jk/jl and jt but I think the wrangler would benefit from getting back down to its roots especially with the notion that power plants will decrease in displacement as well as go hybrid and all electric. Reduce weight and footprint and get better milage. Pretty easy concept.

Trucks and suvs just seem to get bigger and bigger. I would love a 2 door gladiator with the same dimensions as a 2 door TJ brute truck or even an extended cab. Shorter, narrower and less weight. Everytime I see a new truck it just looks like dick measuring contest from the manufacturer. Who can have the biggest grill, widest stance, pretty chrome and flashy stickers. Is there no end to this madness?

It would be cool to see a resurgence of vehicles like the samurai (Suzuki jimny), geo tracker, trucks like the old ranger, s10 and tacoma. Iam clearly a minority.

Buy a roxor!!

 

[Chocolyle]

I see these all over the place in CT and MA for sale. Cheap too, $6500ish. Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki etc. Last week I even saw a side by side on the road, thought it was another D**k like the quads but it had register vehicle plates on it!?!? He was not struggling to hit 45 either.

 

[Ogre_FL]

Yup, I had a Samurai followed by 3 Sidekick/Trackers over the years.

I like our 2 door Wrangler, but it does seem huge to us.
If Suzuki sold the Jimny here with a removable roof I never would have bought the jeep.
I dont see Jeep ever down sizing, but sure would like to see Suzuki return or work with some one like GM again and bring the Jimny here.

 

[NachoRuby]

I had a TJ before, but I have no desire to go back to that size. It'd work fine as an extra vehicle, but not as a daily driver for me. My kids' booster seat doesn't fit in it. When they were younger, the fullsize rear facing car seats were even bulkier. The front seat had to be pushed to the dashboard to fit them. When we test drive cars, that's the first test we do. If the kids' seats don't comfortably and easily fit, no dice.

There was no storage space, so it was useless for carrying anything because my backseat is occupied by people.

But I also don't think a two door JL wrangler is that much larger than a TJ used to be. I just wouldn't buy one at this stage in life. 4 doors or no jeep for me for the next several years.

 

[NachoRuby]

I know you will think I am crazy but I saw one of those Suzuki's in the Texas hill country about a week ago. We were driving up near Wimberly and there was what I thought was a Suzuki Samurai. I told me wife dang didn't know those were still on the road and it was in immaculate shape. We came to a wreck and he did a quick Uturn ahead of me and came back toward me. It is Jimmy or something like that on the sides. I was thinking what the heck did Suzuki come out with something new.

That was a Jimny (what we knew as a Samurai when we got them here). They still make them, they just don't sell them here since they don't meet safety requirements here. Did it have Mexican plates on it maybe? Otherwise, maybe a grey market import. The grey market ones are on borrowed time. Sooner or later, customs will catch up to them and crush them.

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