Commander or Liberty?

stratamet · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:13 pm

Plan on attending Camp Jeep next year (if it's in VA again) and was wondering if it would be better to take the Liberty or the Commander? I assume the Liberty is a more capable off road vehicle since the Commander has the Qadra Trac I (only 4 high I think), but thought I would ping the experts.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:33 pm

well, i think the liberty would be a little bit better because of its shorter wheelbase and shorter front and rear overhangs. if the commander doesnt have 4LO, then take the liberty for sure!

i take it they are both stock?

stratamet · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:36 pm

Thanks. Yeah, both stock. I traded my Rene for the Commander (Rene had Skid plates at least). I think I will get the skid plate kit for the liberty limited and have them installed before Camp Jeep.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:44 pm

ive never been to camp jeep, but you should probably have skid plates, and im pretty sure you are required to have front and rear tow points.

stratamet · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:56 pm

Good point about the recovery hooks on front, I don't have those on either.

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:33 pm

shoulda kept the renne and traded the limited instead lol.

stratamet · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:35 pm

I would have, but the Rene was an 03 with 52000 on it, and the Limited is an 07 with 3000 on it.

Albert · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:01 pm

stratamet wrote:

I would have, but the Rene was an 03 with 52000 on it, and the Limited is an 07 with 3000 on it.

The main things you L O S T giving up the Renne.....................Skids, hooks, off road lights, rock rails, track-lok, .........basicly as I don't know what options you had.

So, easy to get back skids and hooks and rock rails. You will have almost a Renne back minus the lights and trac-loc.........but you now have a 07 - lifetime powertrain warrenty, ESP, more options, etc. Close enough?? I know I probably missed stuff as there's a lot of other little differences. You probably got selec-trac in the Ltd. Did you have command trac in the Renne? ..........Flat hood and riveted fenders etc, but those wouldn't help you off-road.

Renne's are cool though.

Just some thoughts.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:18 pm

stratamet wrote:

Plan on attending Camp Jeep next year (if it's in VA again) and was wondering if it would be better to take the Liberty or the Commander? I assume the Liberty is a more capable off road vehicle since the Commander has the Qadra Trac I (only 4 high I think), but thought I would ping the experts.

camp jeep will require front and rear tow hooks and 4wd low
you will sign a wavier stating that if you rip off your fuel tank it is not their problem but you do have hooks so they can get you to the gate for a tow
not that this is bad but it is a C.Y.A. thing for camp jeep or any organized off roading event
the reason I say this is we do it at the Off-Roaders Expo because we can only see who has hooks and who dont
but we can not get under every ring and inspect for "quality skid plates" so we recomend them and then people sign a waiver saying that if their rig gets destroyed it is not our problem ,so to speak
it will be up to you to have them and no matter the level of trail I recomend them for any rig
just look at it from the cost of repair VS the cost of the skid that protects that wich would be destroyed
fuel tank ,for example, skid is what $100 I would bet a new fuel tank for a KJ is 3 times that
cheeper to buy a skid then a new fuel tank and trust me we dont run in rocks but wooded trails and out fuel tank skid has been hit by a few good sized sticks befor wich may or may not have damaged the fuel tank

Rush345 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:10 am

Just this last week I visited a dealership and nosed around I looked at the new KK some older KJ's but newer then mine a couple of Wranglers and one of the sweetest Commanders I have ever seen. Now for the critique, I still maintain the wranglers cockpit is tight and uncomfortable, the KJ is a lot more roomy and comfortable. As I continued my search I came across a Black Commander, besides it being extremely luxurious it just felt right. I was large for my taste but still a rolling work of art both fit and function. I consider the new KK large for my taste I like my KJ. But if given a choice between a new Liberty or a new Commander. I would be hard pressed the Commander is a lot of Jeep and if you value Luxury over utalitarianism I would tkae it over the new Liberty.

stratamet · **Posted:** Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:41 am

Rush,

I completely agree with your assessments. I looked at the KK's, but they only had stripped down models (no options I wanted). The commander is way too big for me, that's why it's really the wife's car (she has wanted a commander since they came out). I actually backed the darn thing into a pillar in the parking garage at work the first day I drove it (scraped the side actually) because I wasn't used to how long and wide it is (compared to the Libby). Some scratches, but it's silver so they don't show up that well. The thing is comfortable and drives like a dream on the road, but I still love my liberty.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:45 am

Take the KJ
Add tow hooks front and back
Add under armor and you are set for a good time at CJ08 - no matter where it is held.
Last two years I've been a trail Guide at CJ and there are plenty of KJs but not many commanders. Besides... If I owned both I'd preffer some trail scars on the Libby rather thant the commander - Just mi opinion.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Sat Nov 17, 2007 3:03 pm

Heck...do a clevis front lift and add a spacer or two in the back and go with a cheap lift...1" will do wonders. 07 will have traction control so you will do fine...just trun off your ESP offroad.

Piker · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:29 am

DarbyWalters wrote:

Heck...do a clevis front lift and add a spacer or two in the back and go with a cheap lift...1" will do wonders. 07 will have traction control so you will do fine...just trun off your ESP offroad.

Why would you want to turn ESP off? Doesn't it help limit wheelspin when rock crawling. I can certainly see a benefit when mudding.

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:59 pm

Over the years, Camp Jeep has been held in Nelson County, VA (2004), Jack Frost Resort in Pocono Mtns (2005), Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (2005), Nelson County, VA (2007).

It's been in Nelson County twice in the last 4 years, so I seriously doubt it will be back again next year. Sad, but probably true.

I would take the KJ for smaller size and maneuverability, but it would certainly be interesting to take the Commander and see what she'd do.

If the KJs ESP is anything like my Jetta's ESP, it would be horrible in the mud. My Jetta's ESP simply limited fuel delivery when it detected wheel slip. You'd never make it through a mud pit. You need those things to spin wildly to keep the tires clean.

Piker · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:35 pm

I meant that I can certainly see a benefit in turning ESP off when mudding. No way would I take the Commander, thats just me. But I would take whatever I was more comfortable in.

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:06 pm

Piker wrote:

I meant that I can certainly see a benefit in turning ESP off when mudding. No way would I take the Commander, thats just me. But I would take whatever I was more comfortable in.

AhhHA. Got it. I read it to mean that you could see the benefit of leaving it on in mud. Sorry for the cornfush'n. :wink:

I have heard differing reports on the benefits of ESP on rocky off-road trails. I'll let someone who actually HAS ESP on their KJ answer it.

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:05 pm

Piker wrote:

DarbyWalters wrote:

Heck...do a clevis front lift and add a spacer or two in the back and go with a cheap lift...1" will do wonders. 07 will have traction control so you will do fine...just trun off your ESP offroad.

Why would you want to turn ESP off? Doesn't it help limit wheelspin when rock crawling. I can certainly see a benefit when mudding.

ESP would suck in the mud (I'd imagine)

You need wheel speed to clean out the tires, and standing on the throttle with an electronic babysitter keeping the tires in check is NOT good in that situation.

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:38 am

deja vu

ryno · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:20 am

Don't quote me on this, but I think the JK and the late-model KJs have similar Electronic Stability Programs. I took a JK through some trails down by Moab and I didn't even notice the ESP at all on the rocks. However, there was one time where I felt it kick in on a loose gravel road. My tail started to break loose around a bend, but ESP corrected it. Kind of cool. The good thing is... you can turn all the electronic stuff off on the JK when you actually want the tail to come out!

Commander or Liberty?

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