Guys, it does not matter how "they" see our KJ's....

Jeeps are built not bought... And we are all up to the challenge of the KJ!!

And in my opinion... if you know your vehicles, you can wheel it as good as any... even the baddest rock crawler in the world has limitations and can not do it all. YOu can still have fun, and push the limits w/o the most expensive best offroader out there.

For a practicle daily driver and offroader, the lib does great... Ask anyone I have wheeled with from Texas to Missouri to Kansas to North Carolina all the way to Washington... Yep wheeled all over with CJ's to Hummers, and all thought the "cutute" was a real offroader when we were done... Even a real cynical Isuzu crowd(u think we got it bad, those guys have it worse than us and almost have to build everything themselves!)

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I'm baaaaccckkk...
LOST Member 10
If you can read this you don't need glasses, go Wheel your Jeep!

just as a note of interest,one of the major british off road just voted the liberty(or as it call over there cherokee) as the 4x4 of the year.this was against a whole field of medium size sport utes and estate wagons.they have alot more of these than we do. our problem here is they are going for extreme offfroading and lose track of the overall ultility of the liberty's.

Yeah but the sad thing is, just because it wins over there. It doesn't mean anything over there. Case in point. CR did a thing on small SUV's. Had to do with fuel economy. They had a side bar with the Escape hybrid and KJ CRD. They said they were "too new" to form an opionon but based on Jeeps rep, they couldn't recommend it till it was "tested". Less they forget the KJ has been around long enough to prove it's a darn good vehicle. The CRD has shown to be a reliable engine overseas so what gives? But hey, I can bet if Honda showed up the day before the testing with a all new V hybrid, it would be a buyers choice and could do no wrong. Even if the tranny fell out of it, the brakes failed or had an electrical fire. Just because it sports the the H badge, it's a sure winner everytime. Just my own perception and in no way reflects what really happens..

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2009 Liberty Sport (black)
1.5 OME lift from JBA
Full Skids
JCR Offroad-Stage 2 Rock Sliders
Weathertech mats
Weathertech wind guards
Mopar bug shield/Roof rails/crossmembers
Hankook dynapro A/T 255/65 16's
Hidden Hitch w/3ball-1hook rcvr (knee cap killer)

Not even remotely. Consider that the Lib will pull my 22' CC boat quite nicely and launch or retrieve it off even the slickest steepest ramp without so much as spinning a wheel.... NONE of the others mentioned will haul more than 1500 lbs, and most of them only haul up to 1000 lbs (considerably less than HALF of what I tow, and nowhere NEAR the 5000 lbs that the Lib is rated for), and would have NO chance of retrieving my boat off the Ft. Desoto ramp (steep and slick) at low tide... I guarantee that stunt would break the driveline of any of the others.... heck, they couldn't even haul it there in the first place, much less launch or retrieve it.

Lets not even start to consider what depth of water fording they are capable of..... sure as heck nowhere near the 20" that Jeep guarantee's the Lib for, much less the 2' plus that some of the guys on here run it through!!! I'd be willing to bet my paycheck that the Lib would skunk all the others in THAT test!!... probably by at LEAST 8" or more!!

Luis

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2005 Silver Liberty Renegade Rocky Mountain Edition 4x4 with Tow Pkg, Trac-Loc. Have had CJ5, CJ7, and a '99 TJ.

It's pretty obvious the writers have not done any research into what can be done with a Liberty off the lot or even more that can be done for only a little money....and certainly they have not been over here.

John
];')

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05 4x4/3.7L/6 Spd
245/75R16 GY Dura Trac
Lots of Mods!
My Wheeling Videos
My Mods, Upgrades and Custom Fabrications

Everytime I go wheeling everyone is amazed how capable the KJ is and wants to know more about it. Most people dont realize or care how capable these jeeps are, but who cares just go wheeling and show them.

On wednesday I went offroading with a friend who owns a 2002 TJ with 5 inches of lift, 33" MTR's, rear No-Slip locker, etc. and I had to pull him up a river crossing I had just gone up(took me 3 tries). He is telling everyone how capable Liberty's are now.

Check out my cardomain site for the proof and some cool pics.

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02 KJ Limited w/ offroad pkg, Sunroof, NP 242
Moab with 255/70 Grabber AT2's
Tweaked Rusty's Coil Lift w/ OME LT shocks
Mopar skids & Rocky Road Supersliders
http://www.cardomain.com/id/bighause

Retired Jeeps - 84CJ, 90YJ, 97XJ, 86CJ

Sad, but true

Agreed.

I say let them talk. They don't know what they're talking about to begin with, and the only people who do are the people like us who actually take the time to learn about our vehicles and what they can and can't do. Don't let it get to you. The probably extremely overused saying "its a jeep thing, you wouldn't understand" comes to mind right now. So what if the KJ doesn't have a solid axle up front? IFS has its advantages over SFA. IMO, I think the KJ is a great cross b/w a capeable offroader and an excellent daily driver. For you're serious offroading, all the KJ needs is a little help to really make it a beast (better tires for starters) I've had several clients who i've had to take out to lunch or dinner for work comment on how sturdy the KJ felt, JUST FROM BEING A PASSENGER!!!! They were surprised at how well the interior was layed out and how the plastics didn't feel quite as cheap as those Honda things you see all over town.

That being said, not everybody wants a KJ. Some people go for the AWD aspect for the ease of "forgetting about it" and not having to worry about shifting a t-case in and out of 4x4 when needed, and thats fine. I test drove a CR-V before I looked at the KJ, and for what it was built for and intended to do, it was not bad. But I wanted something a little more sturdy. And I prefer having control of my four wheel drive. I like being able to use it and not use it when ever I want. Yeah I don't do serious offroading like alot of people on here, but every now and then i'll go play in the mud, just to go have some fun.

Just my $.02, and i'll stop hogging the soap box now...lol

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--Tim

-LOST #005816
-2003 KJ Sport
-3.7L V6
-235/70/16 Bridgestone Dueler A/T REVO'S
-Factory Fogs
-Sunroof
-Custom Mounted Mag Lite
-Jeep Stainless Steel Coffee Mug
-Autozone Rubber Floor Mats

2003KJ, that was well said. When I was in the market for a vehicle, I researched the heck out of it. Read all the magazines, Consumer Reports, etc. I came to the conclusion that the KJ was the best vehicle for me. I went directly to the Chrysler dealer and test drove one and within half a mile I knew it was the right choice. I gave them a list of options I needed and they got busy finding me mine. I have never looked back. Now, I'm not a rock crawler by nature, but I have found that, if anything, my KJ is way more capable than I expected, in all conditions, including way off road. So I have been having a blast driving it, modding it, making it a totally cool vehicle.

Maybe we should have sent Petersen's 4Wheel and Off-Road Magazine one of our 2006 calendars to teach them a lesson. I'm not parting with mine though!

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MikeP
L.O.S.T. #000202
2021 Compass

It's time for action, lets kidnap the editor's or major four wheeling magazines and force them to ride with us as we tackle paragon, moab, and calico! Whos with me?

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'02 KJ Sport V6 4x4
3/8" Clevis lift
Rusty's 2.5 lift
255/70/R16 Fleet Farm All Terrain (yes they work)
Class 3 hitch
Hellas
Police Scanner/CB radio
LOST #: JH061986

I was looking through some 4X4 mags at the store this weekend and noticed a very irate letter in the subscriber section of
JPmagazine. The guy was blasting the mag for not haveing any thing about Libertys and was canceling his subscription.
The JPmagazine responce was as follows, " Jp magazine only covers off road vehicles. The liberty was not designed to be a off road vehicle. Never has been, never will be. Chrysler even said it wasnt ment to go off road."
Well i didnt get that mag needless to say. I must admit i was a bit miffed. How erregant!

As a side note i have subscribed to 4WHEEL DRIVE & SPORT UTILITY MAGAZINE.

skymech

That is JP magazine. They absoutly despise the KJ and rip on it every change possible. Idiots if you ask me.

Well, going out on a limb here.. If you take the BASIC wrangler, 4 banger, street tires (all season), no lockers, it's not going to do that well off road as a full decked optioned out rubicon. So, to backup Petersons statement, DCX didn't make that model offroad ready but it's basics were for offroad use to say the least. I don't venture over to the GC side so I wonder if Peterson does any "rewviews" of those. Maybe Peterson should stick to dirt bikes, ATV's, horses and hiking books as they are TRUE offroad vehicles. Now that the RAGE is gone.. We can make the KJ a COMPLETE offroader but we comprise the manners of driving the kids to school. Taking bottles back to Krogers or driving it for 10 hours strait oneway on a trip. The KJ is what it is. And I agree with the above. It's made to walk the middle line. It can handle it's own offroad and take you to work the next day without requiring a kindney transplat. It can be made to be more capable offroad. Other then cosmetic changes, every seen anything that can make a V better off road, or the Escape?

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2009 Liberty Sport (black)
1.5 OME lift from JBA
Full Skids
JCR Offroad-Stage 2 Rock Sliders
Weathertech mats
Weathertech wind guards
Mopar bug shield/Roof rails/crossmembers
Hankook dynapro A/T 255/65 16's
Hidden Hitch w/3ball-1hook rcvr (knee cap killer)

You do all realize that JP, 4Wheel & Off Road AND 4Wheel Drive & SUV are all owned by the same publisher Primedia? Pretty interesting eh?

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Primedia, Inc.
2400 E. Katella Avenue, 11th Floor
Anaheim, CA 92806
Fax (714) 978-6390

http://4wdandsportutility.com/contactus/

John
];')

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05 4x4/3.7L/6 Spd
245/75R16 GY Dura Trac
Lots of Mods!
My Wheeling Videos
My Mods, Upgrades and Custom Fabrications

You would be surprised how many magazines are owned by primedia

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'05 KJ Renegade 3.7L
stuff
Lost Member Number: 051898

It strikes me as a case of Deja-vu.
22 years ago Land Rover discontinued their popular 88' and 109' models ( which were fitted with leaf springs and solid axles ) and replaced them with the 90 & 110 Defender series which have all round independant suspension.
This was greeted with horror by the die hard LR enthusiasts. There was nothing wrong with the vehicles, in fact they are now considered to be amongst the best off roaders there are.
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with the KJ, it's just different to what the die hards are used to.
Hybrid it may be, but it was designed from the floor up that way - unlike the CRV / Land Rover Freelander which is based on the Honda Concerto / Rover 200 series floorpan - and that was a saloon/sedan from the late 1980's.
Yes, there are a lot of other machines out in the compact SUV market - very few of them were designed specifically to compete realistically - being nothing more than a variant of a road car in either it's mechanics, it's floorpan or both.
Daimler Chrysler have had the unenviable task of grasping the thorn and pointing Jeep in a new direction. No matter what they produced, someone, somewhere would be upset - such is life.
When the day eventually comes that the KJ is replaced, I'm sure you'll find the same people lamenting the decision.

Anyway, I wouldn't swap mine for the World

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2005 Jeep KJ Cherokee Sport 2.8 CRD Auto
Patriot Blue

err i thought 90 & 110 defenders were coil sprung over a solid axle..... The old school die hards with the leaf springs cried end of the world, and now they love em...now the new LR LR3, Range Rover, Freelander are really IFS/RIS. Which again old school die hards cried end of the world (me included). Who knows, this may be the future.

Anyway, we better show JP mag the new brochure from jeep. shows some kj's on posion sypder. yeah, not meant to offroad.

no luv.

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2004 Silver Liberty Sport 4x4 (gone)
1996 Land Rover Disco I
L.O.S.T #000522 Life Time #JH053535

I stand corrected

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2005 Jeep KJ Cherokee Sport 2.8 CRD Auto
Patriot Blue

I have a 2005 jeep libby and i have taken it everywhere i have taken my 1980 blazer with 7 inches of total lift 36" superswampers 10 bolt front axle 12 bolt rear with a detroit locker rear , and my libby has never been stuck. I have had a few scraps on the bottom of the libby, but thats nothing a good ol' lift can't fix.