kj rene has the same offroad ability as what model wrangler

smithstoo · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:02 am

iv'e been all over with the kj in the socal deserts & washes. if i add a wrangler to the stable would the 08
x model with 24s pkg be just as capable and more?

no need for rubi...
08 used as daily driver & weekend desert fun.

if a better pkg or option please post your view.
thanks
bc

ps..I tend to leave jeeps stock

ryno · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:36 am

smithstoo wrote:

iv'e been all over with the kj in the socal deserts & washes. if i add a wrangler to the stable would the 08
x model with 24s pkg be just as capable and more?

no need for rubi...
08 used as daily driver & weekend desert fun.

if a better pkg or option please post your view.
thanks
bc

ps..I tend to leave jeeps stock

No stock Liberty is as good as a stock Wrangler off-road--be it a CJ, YJ, TJ, or JK. It's the sad truth, and if anyone wants to argue otherwise, good luck. A Jeep is typically only as capable off-road as its RTI score and its approach, departure, and breakover angles. That's where the Wrangler dominates with its short wheelbase and military-spec angles. I don't know how a Liberty performs in the desert because I've never taken mine to the desert. Under some conditions, the Liberty's extra wheelbase may give it an edge. But overall, the Wrangler is king. An X should be plenty capable for your needs. We took a nearly stock X-model through Canyonlands completely unscathed. The only modifications it had were a 2.5" lift and the Rubicon wheels and tires.

Jeger · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:21 am

Im pretty sure a KJ with ESP will outperform a non esp bare bones (open diffs) wrangler in a lot of instances....it really works very well.

That being said, Im sure the 08 wrangler with ESP would run circles around your KJ.

Renegade24 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:21 am

i have a 2005 stock rennie and just went wheelin with a TJ and a rubi and held up fine with them. The TJ was lifted 4 inches and obviously did best. The rubi held up also. Through this though wranglers are still more offroad built when stock. when hittin up the mud pits i had most trouble.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:33 am

A lifted and locked KJ will do better than a stock rubi offroad.

The kj will not do as good as a stock wrangler though. Well, maybe one of those sickly looking wranglers with donut tires.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:43 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

A lifted and locked KJ will do better than a stock rubi offroad.

The kj will not do as good as a stock wrangler though. Well, maybe one of those sickly looking wranglers with donut tires.

How do you figure? A stock rubi is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase...

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:20 am

Weekend trip to Kentucky showed some interesting things as far as KJs -vs- Wranglers etc. Had several KJs with open diffs, 2 locked in the rear only, and a LJ, open diffs, every one had about 2 to 2.5 inches of lift so pretty equal there, some MTRs some , (me) with just ATs, Everyone went pretty much where everyone else went, with rock rails, 2.5 inch lift and skids I would say all around a KJ can pretty much do what a regular Wrangler can do. NOW that being said I am sure in extreme cases a Wrangler is better but from what you have said you want I think a KJ would work just as well.

Now for all the arguments to start!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:54 am

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

How do you figure? A stock rubi is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase...

How does that help it?

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 12:02 pm

having wheeled both, I'd saya wrangler is more capable
"capable" meaning it depends on what you want to do...
I've taken the KJ to the trails and MOAB and did pretty much all I can do with the JK. The main difference is that I can try harder stuff with the wrangler because of the solid front axle.
A lot of it has to do with the capabilities of the driver too - there might be some stuff that a guy on a KJ will attempt and another with a wrangler will not.

durangotang · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:35 pm

I think I could get both stuck equally well :lol:

Gringo Loco · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:44 pm

durangotang wrote:

I think I could get both stuck equally well :lol:

Amen to that brother!! :lol:

Just wheel and enjoy them and don't worry which is better.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:04 pm

durangotang wrote:

I think I could get both stuck equally well :lol:

well said....

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:11 pm

Thinking harder again about this....
To tell you the truth.... I've broken more parts in the wrangler than I did on the Libby. And I've been doing the same trails - not one bit of difference.
My sweet KJ has probably taken more of a beating than the JK and it has held up better.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:53 pm

I own both
I have wheeled both in the same form on the same trail ,stock to stock both running AT tires TJ right in front of the KJ
the TJ did a good bit more pulling than the KJ

saying that a stock wrangler is better off road than a stock KJ off road
lift them both 2" add some 31" MT's and lock the rears and the TJ is still better
now this is about the limit for a KJ but the TJ still has WAY more to go
lift it 2 more inches and lock the front jump to 33" tires regear as needed and NO KJ with the same driver can follow this TJ
**please note that I said "the same driver" driver plays a huge roll in this**

Now about the driver
I can drive our KJ on 245/75 MTR's on a 101 corse that gives even lifted TJ fits ,I know the corse because I built it
and I can drive 75% of our easy to moderate trails with the same KJ and wach noobs in TJ's get stuck all day but I have
almost no issues at all ,mostly break over problems but I know how to avoid those spots
My point is that if you like your KJ but want it to be better of road then you will need to modify it
and you will need to learn it ,get on your back and look at what is under it so you know what you will hit when
after this and SEVERAL trips you should be fine in a KJ

spencevans · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:51 pm

It is so hard to say because it is like comparing apples to oranges.

Wrangler pros:

Awsome on the rocks
Great articulation
Unbeatable aproach and departure angles
More durable front end and easier to modify

KJ pros:

Unbeatable in the sand
Awsome in the mud
Great in the snow
More enjoyable daily driver

Take it for what it's worth but the KJ is definatly stronger in many offroad areas that do not require massive amounts articulation and clearance.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:02 am

not to add fuel to the fire, but i think a stock kk would give a stock tj a run for its money just because of the esp and tcs systems on the kk

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:05 am

07 kjs had those options

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:33 am

was the system programed to simulate a locker? i know that the older kj were not, as far as i was told, the system completely stopped the wheel ...that is how it was explained to me.. if im wrong, please let me know

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 1:25 am

im too familiar on how the system worked compared to the 08's, an 07 owner will need to shed some light on it

Green Renegade · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:33 am

All the reviews I've read say the '08 ESP is new and better than the previous version. All I know is it must be pretty amazing, cause the ESP on my '06 is incredible.

kj rene has the same offroad ability as what model wrangler

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