2 Door Jeeps: For 2 people and removing the rear seat, you have a ton of storage in the back. I vary rarely have more than 2 people in my Jeep. I love the look of the 2 door with the top removed.
I currently have a 4-door pickup and I rarely have more than 2 people in it. Most of the time, it's just me and no passenger. I think a lot of people buy a vehicle with more seats than they really need.
The four door Jeep Wranglers look like (because they were) a design afterthought. The two door Wranglers just look and feel the part of what these magnificent utilitarian four wheel drive vehicles were designed to do. I always thought that the Cherokee (now a very bland and station wagon-like car) should have taken on the role of the four door off road monster that the four door Wranglers now are.
I don't give a crap what 2dr "purist" snobs think. I've had CJs and a YJ. They're smaller than a JK or JL. I treated mine like convertible mini-pickups. They towed, hauled, commuted, offroaded, roadtripped, recovered, etc. A 4dr is fine offroad if you're not trying to be a competitive rockcrawler or trying to compensate for weak self-esteem. Just set it up intelligently, instead of spending THOUSANDS on a huge lift, enough lights for a football stadium, and 20"+ rims...instead of armor, lockers, a winch, and durable 33-37" tires. The bloated JK and JL are already 6" wider than earlier Jeeps. If you want an offroader that can climb steeps, but also want a convertible, AND you have 3 kids...or kids still in carseats, still socialize with 2 parents simultaneously, have a few big dogs, want to haul big stuff without a trailer, and/or want to tow your 3000lb boat to the local ramp, the 4dr is the way to go. The ride tends to be nicer with the 4dr too. Tops and rockers are more expensive though. If you're that worried about breakover angle, engineer a high-clearance skid to maybe complement taller tires/suspension. Install rocker protection that can be pivoted on. Do a 3pt instead of a U-turn. This isn't rocket surgery. Try to keep the COG and overall height reasonable, so that it doesn't flop over or clip the roof on every branch/ceiling/cliff. I have a small 4dr hatchback commuter. It's usually just me in the car. I still like having 4drs for when it's more though. A 2dr is often a PITA with carseats, elderly family members, or large cargo. You're not as comfortable towing a 3000lb boat very far with a 2dr Wrangler either.
I see far more women driving 4 doors now. How any "man" can look at a goofy and just outright fugly, super feminine 4 dr limo and drive that thing off the lot says a lot about that person. Any man (said loosely) not a minimalist is a fruit. Ladies and "certain men" need a lot of room for shopping bags and a lot of other 💩.
I have a 2 door (I've had 3 to be exact). I've also had a 4 door (my wife did). I like the 2 door because I like to have the doors off during the warmer months. 4 doors just aren't appealing with the doors off. However "lifted" 4 doors have better trail manners. Either way you go, they're great vehicles to own. Life's too short to drive a boring car.
I'm a 57-year-old guy with only a passing interest (but building) interest in Jeeps and off-roading but I'd very much enjoy hanging out with Tommy to learn. He's intelligent, knows his subject matter and presents interesting topics. Tommy, you're authentic and very relatable and I hope you will keep it real as the TFL channels grow in popularity. I think I've mentioned this about all the guys over the many videos I've commented on. Great job to all!
Hit the nail on the head here.. People tend to overthink things and it comes down to what you need. Both are great vehicles and very capable either way..
The 4dr is not really a jeep. Since the 40s, jeeps had short wheel bases and were light for climbing. The long wheel base is the same as buying a 4wd suv.
Bryce, owning a 2 door and a 4 door and wheeling them constantly, will take the 4 door any day. The slight breakover angle loss isn't really a hindrance. Its better climbing ability is immensely helpful.
I disagree with you Josh, having had both myself. I would say there are four difference: turning radius/maneuvering, breakover, off camber, high incline climbing. But that the areas where JK has advantages are more important to most. The difference in turning radios (advantage JK) are frankly huge. Breakover is slightly better on JK too. There is an advantage on JKU on some rare off camber lines. As far as climbing, the difference is nowhere near the difference in radius
I just purchased my 2016 2 door jeep wrangler and I LOVE it! Especially when the top/doors comes off, the 2 door looks more like the vintage jeep wrangler than the 4 door does. I feel like the 4 door looks weird with the top/doors off....doesn't give me that jeep vibe. The dealership offered me a 2015 4 door that was $4,000 cheaper! I still walked away with my 2 door and couldn't be happier. Plus I'm only 23 and it's just my dog and I. it fits our lifestyle :) TEAM TWO DOOR!
Yay 😁 team 2 door. It’s just me and my dog too fits perfect. I have the 2015 metallic blue unlimited sport. And I love taking the top & doors off in the summer
The 4 door will sleep 2 tall people well. I'm 6 foot and throw some sofa cushions in it and it is great for winter storms or to be less concerned about bears, snakes, cougars, maybe even people;... can't drive off in a tent. A mesh screen for the window(s) to keep bugs out is needed to beat a tent for summer. That extra 10 inches of width is needed for shoulders, so I sleep with my head toward the front. One person may be able to nap in the rear seat on their side as it is easier with the 4 door that can seat 3 not too wide people. The front seats recline also for napping but laying down on sofa cushions in the back can be better than some beds. Surprisingly the lifted 4 door is not hurting too bad on black diamond trails compared to the 2 door and may be less prone to flipping over backward onto its roof climbing ledges.
I’ve got a wife and 9 year old girl. I always wanted a 2 door because growing up that was a Jeep. I bought a 2022 2d Willys last week, couldn’t be happier.
I have to disagree with a lot of the 4 Door haters. Like Junior said in the video, it depends on what you intend to use it for. I have had 3 wranglers. a YJ, a 2005 TJ and now my 2015 4 door Rubicon Hard Rock Edition. I go camping, fishing and hunting in very remote places in Nevada and Utah. the 4 door allows me to carry additional gear with out a trailer. some of the places I go, it is advantageous to have the longer wheel base of the 4 door. having owned both, I have to agree with the video, buy a 2 door, if that's all you need, but if you need the extra space like I do. get the 4 door.
while there are some insanely cool $2000 roof rack systems, very good ones can be had for $500. I also do a lot of remote hunting and fishing including with four people and we can fit all our gear including extra gas on the roof of my 2door. when I am back in the city I can park in spaces smaller cars leave!
a lot of the cheap roof racks require you to drill a hole in your hard top, and have supports that mount to the roll cage. which causes the hard top to leak or crack. the exo-cages racks are really nice, but expensive. I used a exo-cage rack on old YJ. I put everything on top, except the sleeping bags. just in case of a rain storm and it did really well. I learned the lesson about putting the sleeping bags inside the hard way. not a fun trip. I really wanted a 2 door, but with everything I do, the 4 door made more sense for me at the time.
***** 1. I am not a 4 door hater. 2) none of the roof racks I am talking about require drilling into a hard top -- in fact they can be used on hard or soft top. I am only saying there are a lot of solutions.
never said you were a 4 door hater. however there are a lot of people that do hate 4 door wranglers. I love 2 doors, I would have preferred to have a 2 door, the turning radius is much better than the 4 door. but I needed the extra space and occasionally I need the extra towing capacity of the 4 door. I didn't want to add a roof rack do to the reasons stated in my previous post. I am sure there are venders that have roof racks that don't require drilling in to the hard top or the body tub of the jeep. I just have not looked that far in to it and those were the ones I saw at the time at the local jeep dealer. I ran a roof rack on my old 95 YJ. it bolted to the windshield frame and the then looped up and bolted to the rear frame, it required that I drill some holes in the frame to attach the rear supports. it worked well. I believe it was a smittybilt. but I don't remember back that far... it was around 20 years ago.
I'm getting a 2-door soft top for my next car. It'll be an interesting change coming from a Tacoma, but I've always wanted a Jeep. And the 2-door classic look is just too good to sacrifice for some extra comfort. The wife will just have to adjust!
I just got a 4 door after having a 2 door and honestly my two door didn't have a ton of room but it was cute and easy to drive. I was able to turn around in small spaces really easily and I felt pretty zippy and cool speedin around in it
The 4 door is designed for families and folks with lots of friends. It’s designed to be a daily driver. The 2 door is designed for single folks, empty nesters, and retired folks. I’m retired so I just bought a 2 door JK. Love it. The perfect Jeep for me.
Take the back seat out then your never stuck driving other people around, Adding a extra 500 lbs in people cuts into your gas mileage And who the hell wants a back seat driver.
The greatest advantage of 2 door is that you can always have an excuse not to drive unwanted people around and always to be by yourself or with one more person ❤️ This happened to me this season when my girlfriend’s family had to rent a minivan just to go and celebrate Christmas with us 😝
I have a 2015 Unlimited Rubicon. It's used for hauling people and camping gear. I can fit loads of off-road gear such as d rings, tow straps, puncture kit, etc under the back seats. The trunk has a 6 person tent, camping cookware, knives, 2 large bags of clothing for 2 weeks of travel, and an air compressor. She still handles mountains and boulders like a champ. We just finished a Jeep Jamnoree and she is all stock.
Hi Tommy, I just traded my 2004 Wrangler for a brand new 2-door "Willys" and I love the 2-door version. You are right that it "turns on a dime" too. I got dizzy calibrating the digital compass.
Thanks man. This is an excellent review. I have a Patriot and was thinking about upgrading to a wrangler but because of the increased cost was considering a two door. You convinced me that the right choice for me is a four door one. You saved me from getting a cheaper one and regretting it later. Thanks again.
I was 54 when I bought my 2 door as it's just my wife and I now, so no real need for four doors or a back seat, which I removed soon after I bought it. Without the back seat, it does have a ton more room for your stuff. Also, once the seat was removed, I bought the Mopar cargo liner (heavy rubber with the tire tracks on it) that is made for the Wrangler 4 door and it fits like a glove! I must admit that the turning radius in the 2 door is amazing! One last thing - if your 2 door is equipped with the 3.73 gears, it can tow up to 3500 lbs.
I've had 3 Jeep Wranglers (6 Jeeps all together). I had a 2004 Rubicon (2 door of course), 2011 Wrangler Unlimited, and 2012 Wrangler. I do agree with you that I like the 2door & that the price does jump quite a bit; however, I found I liked the 4 door the most for the space. I had no problem parking anywhere, even in crowded cities, and I could carry so much more. The internal space was just amazing compared. But again, like you said, if you aren't going to ever carry much of anything or more than one person the 2 door may be fine for you. But if you plan to keep the Jeep for lets say 5+ years, can you really say you won't want to carry something or maybe even tow something in the future? I never planned on towing anything until I rented 2 Jetskis and had to tow them to the lake. Luckily I had a hitch on that Jeep, even though I never really planned to use it for more than a bike rack and back storage rack.
+rd58rd58 Never said he couldn't tow 2 Jetskis. Just mentioned I didn't expect to tow anything myself (like he doesn't expect to). But, then I did want to tow. He may want to tow something heavier in the future. He may not. It was only a thought; in no way did I say he would tow exactly what I towed.
Earthling1984 My point is when unforeseen optional towing comes to mind it is not a 4,000lb boat or heavy trailer, but things like a carrier for half a dozen kayaks, or a couple of jets skis, or a 5x8 cargo or utility or say an small dishing motor boat, and the 2door has no issues with those. People who do have a specific need for regular heavy to medium heavy towing are not going to buy a any wrangler for that.
You didn't mention one of my pet peeves... When the back seat is folded up there isn't a lock to keep it up. Instead it bounces up and down unless you install a strap to hold it. Of course there isn't much to attach the strap to under the seats...
just remove the stupid back seats in the 2door... no one who has a 2door Jeep is gonna be hauling children, pets, soccer teams or buying groceries for that amount of people or pets either. with those dumb things gone it's not only much easier to see out the back but you get a ton of space in the back.
I do see a lot of four doors around, especially at my school student parking lot. I’m not really carrying much around because I don’t do sports, and I don’t have any classes that would require me to carry any projects home from school or anything like that. Plus, when I do start driving, I will most likely be driving only my younger brother. So I think I may go for the two door. They’re cute :)
Well thought out video. I am on my 4th Jeep. My three previous ones were all 2 door. This is my first 4 door and I love it. I do tow a lot and take it off road. The difference is night and day. The 4 door seems to tilt and shift better over rocks and tough terrain because of the longer wheel base. Also, I like the bigger overhead girth between the rails when the top is off. A much better choice for me. But don't get me wrong, I loved my 2 door wranglers.
Did you have a 2 door JK? I like the look and utility of the 4 doors, but the 2 door is a completely different vehicle. The suspensions are different to begin with. The 2 door is playful and responsive like a sports car, and the 4 door is more like a station wagon made for hauling. I guess it's all a matter of taste and usage though.
I'm not sure if the video even mentioned it, but the 2 door also has a better breakover angle than the 4 door :p. The 2 door has a lesser chance of belly scraping due to the shorter wheelbase which makes it more practical for off road use. Either way, JK's rock! ^__^
I have a comment about your review of caring more than two people on a regular basis in the two door Jeep Wrangler. The past three summers we took my friends 2 door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon out of St Louis and drove 12 hours to go Shores Alabama and last summer made a trip to Ouray Colorado all with 4 passengers. there was no roof rack. but there was a trailer hitch rack that perfectly held suitcases golf bags, in the trunk space of the two door even with an added sub still is plenty for supplies and food. Your review is pretty great though. four door Jeep Wranglers are really good for only one thing. Getting groceries
Had a tj when I was in my 20's. It was rusty, cold in the winter and overall awesome. 2 kids later It's nice to still be able to go topless in public with the 4 door.
My wife and I subscribe to the philosophy that less is more. There are several things that most people in the U.S. seem to want but that I don't even like and that Sally readily agrees that we don't need: Automatic transmission Electric transfer case actuation Electric window lifts Cast aluminum wheels Automatic door locks Electric seats We're not opposed to people buying those things if they want them and can afford them but we'd WAY rather spend our limited resources actually GOING places in our 4WD rigs--camping trips and picnic trips to places FAR from the nearest paved roads. We had a 1999 Wrangler from 1999 to 2008. Base model 4 cyl, manual transmission, full hard doors with side window glass and manual window lifts, 15x6" steel wheels (not full face). Sally traded the 205 tires for 235s the day after we bought the Jeep but anybody who hasn't attempted backcountry exploring in a base model TJ is not likely to have the faintest idea of how capable that rig was! I really appreciate the info about the change in the design of the seats on the new 2-door Wrangler. It's too bad they didn't retain more of the design features from the TJ but it is what it is. We just need to take that into account if we ever decide to buy another Wrangler. (Right now we have a 4WD 1997 Dodge pickup and a 2010 Patriot with Freedom Drive I.)
So because you don't want to deal with a few seconds of fidgeting with a lever you should spend about 5-8 grand more for a 4 door? Yeeeeah...I don't think so.
Bought my 2002 Wrangler TJ new at age 16. It was my daily driver/weekend offroader. Still have it, though my daily driver is now a 2016 Ram 1500. Always eyeing updates for it even now. Most recently installed JW Speaker led headlights for the TJ, definitely worth the upgrade.
No A/C... no deal. There when you want/need it, turn it off when you don't. Best of both worlds. But if you love the heat like some, save the coin and opt out of A/C I guess.
$4K for the extra 2 doors and space really isn't that bad. I think this is more perspective based on age, income, family needs, etc.Great breakdown and comparison video.
I've got a 2012 JKUR lifted on 35s. The "four doors are for mall crawlers/posers/married people" comments are pretty ridiculous. Might want to check the Wayalife youtube channel before you spout off too much about that. Additionally, here are some considerations that many may not be thinking of. - With the back seats folded down, I can sleep in my Jeep. Super comfy, and I don't have to pack/unpack my camp on the trail. - Less drive line angle changes when lifting. More lift available before changing to an after market drive shaft. - SPACE. This is a serious consideration if your Jeep is your daily driver. If you're 20, you may think you'll never need a bigger vehicle, or won't need one until you're older... give this some serious thought. - Ride. The ride over rough terrain is quite a bit better than the 2 door. Tell me that doesn't matter after driving corrugated roads for a while. Lets get this out of the way: Overall, the two door is better off road. But the gap between the two is not as large as you might think. The four door is actually better when it comes to shelves, drops, and steep grades (up or down). Remember to balance utility with capability in this regard. You lose much more utility than you gain in off road capability. Get what's right for you, and make an informed decision that isn't based off of what people are insulting on the internet.
Don't forget you can remove the rear seats entirely. If you drive mostly solo or with +1, that may be the best option if you'd use the cargo space more than the seat (plus mild weight/fuel savings). You could also compromise and get a TJU; it's still a two door, but has the increased space that led to the modern Unlimiteds. I myself intend to get a TJ Rubicon. I don't foresee myself being a people hauler, and coming out of a '96 Voyager, I desperately want a smaller vehicle, so I don't plan to get any kind of Unlimited.
I love the 2 door Wrangler. With a 6 speed and 3.73 gears, it's pretty fast, too. I miss my TJ, and I'll wait to see what they do in the next generation to see if I'm getting a new one. Hopefully they get a lot of weight out to increase fuel economy a bit.
The Unlimited hardtop automatic is 650 lbs. heavier than the 2 door stick shift soft top. The 2 door is much, much more fun to drive. Just remove that rear seat on the 2 door and you have a great fun vehicle that can haul even my band gear.
Under 25k is real bare bones. No options at all. Odds are that 29k was with options like air conditioning and power locks and other accessories and stuff
With the 3rd person luggage scenario I would see about getting independent adjustable rear seats for the 2 door so that you can access the space not being used in the empty back seat
My 2-dr TJ Rubi is the family car, 4 can fit snugly for those camping trips with the bulk of the gear outside on cargo baskets. I use mine for agriculture, so the a new 4-dr might not fit in little trails that I've got to go through to get to some fields. Great vid.
I just bought my 2018 2 door jk weds. I love it. I got the same color as you...slate gray? If I have haul more than 2 people around I got my Sierra crew cab for that lol. I just didn't like the look of a 4 door. I am sorry it looks totally wrong like a bad Photoshop job lol
I have both, a 2016 rubi jku soft top and a 2016 rubi hard rock jk hard top. I love my 2 dr, and gave the 4dr to my wife. So she loves her 4 dr for having the top down with ease. I take my 2 dr off road in Ocala Fl with my kids and have zero space issues. It is also my daily driver and find anywhere from 18 to 20 mpg on the road. I would never have a 4dr for myself.
As an owner of a 2-Door JK, I'll echo a lot of the other comments: If you're young, like weekend off-roading trips and aren't transporting more than 2 occupants regularly, go for the two door. If you're married with kids, go for extended camping trips, or have a need to haul a lot of stuff, definitely spring for the four door. That being said, I've transported 4 people in my Jeep on several occasions and other than getting in and out, it really isn't that bad. I'm 6'1" and was quite comfy in the back seat for a 2 hour drive, obviously if you're older or on the heavy side then yeah, you're probably going to be uncomfortable and have a difficult time getting in. As for storage room, I've had absolutely no issues for everyday use, I normally just leave my back seat folded and there's plenty of room for groceries or fishing gear depending on the day. I really don't understand the hate for the Unlimited, I personally prefer the look of a 2-door jeep, but you're getting a lot more practicality out of it and it's still a good looking vehicle IMO
I've owned the 2 door when I was in my late teens. Back then it was 10 years old. with the Inline 6, cast Iron engine. ( it was indestructable for the most part, they don't make them like that anymore) and after a while, you start to want more space. It's a great second car to have. But personally unless you're a student, freshman in college and you got a girlfriend and a dog, then I would get the 4door. But truth be told. seeing how expensive the 4 doors are, your better off getting a 4runner for that type of money. Still very capable and provides more.
For all you guys comparing the capabilities of a 4Runner or any other production 4 wheel drive SUV, I have news for you - there is no comparison. The Jeep is the only body on frame solid axle 4x4 available. Everything else, your Toyota's and Nissan's and whatever are all IFS and uni-body vehicles - inferior from a pure off road strength and capability standpoint. Argue whatever you want but the bottom line is an independent front suspension will not articulate the way a solid axle does, nor is it as strong, (see the demise of the FJ cruiser) - they are inferior for off road use. Bottom line - nothing on the market today is even in the same class as the Jeep - body on frame, solid axle.
When I had a 2 door jk I pulled the back seats out and left them at home 99% of the time. Just used it like a coupe with a big storage area. The dogs loved it in the back!
I've owned both, I currently have a 2 door. For me if ur planning on using the rear seats with any regularity then get a 4 door. My boys have licenses now so I got a 2 door and removed the rear seat for more cargo area for my bike or dog.
2dr rubicon i actually put the lockers to use. The four doors are to much like a suv most are mall crawlers but good for a person with small children. I will never own a four door because there break over angle in turning radius.
Thanks for the review... I've been thinking about getting one of the new Wranglers -- preferably a 2-door model. I'm an old retired guy, so I don't really need to be concerned with carrying passengers (e.g. kids and such). I've had a couple of Jeeps before, quite a few years ago, but they were not Wranglers. They seem to have enough horsepower that they should be acceptably quick. I want a manual transmission though since I absolutely HATE automatic transmissions. The rear seat taking up cargo space does not seem to be that much of an issue. At worse, just fold it down. Even better if it's easy to completely remove the rear seats and just store them at home. The only options that I really want though are the air-conditioning and the removable hard top. I prefer to have a bit more security for my vehicle than just a piece of fabric and (eventually yellowed) vinyl that someone could just slice with a knife to get into the vehicle. Now, with respect to towing, although the 4-door Wrangler is rated for more, that is only because it is heavier. The engine is the same, so it's not a power issue. With a light vehicle, if you are towing a heavy trailer at highway speeds, you can get into a situation where the "tail is wagging the dog". I've been there and it is a bit scary. If you don't recognize what is starting to happen soon enough, you will end up getting into a harmonic oscillation situation and your life is going to get VERY interesting, VERY quickly. On the other hand, if you just need to tow a heavy trailer at low speeds you will probably be able to get away with it. Strong crosswinds could make your life get a bit interesting also. :)
I love my 2015 2door sport but it is a vehicle you make compromises in. There are three of us and it works fine. I traded my Honda Pilot in on it and don't regret it. In every measurable way other then offroad the Honda is better, but it is not a Jeep. My family and I really enjoy it for camping and wheeling. I bought the 2door because of the price and maneuverability.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I was just looking for an article/video on this topic and found this video in my inbox that was just posted two days ago. Just perfect timing, great video.
I'm 5'11 and found there to be MUCH more room in the rear seat of the 4dr. As for getting into the rear seat of a 2dr, I couldn't even fit back there and I'm not a big guy. I didn't even wanna think about having to get out.
I own an 05 TJ, and I love it because it’s easy to navigate. It turns on a dime. I have a roof rack so hauling my camping gear isn’t that hard. It’s just my wife and I, so hauling a bunch of crap isn’t a problem.
you can fit the same number of people in a 4 door that in a 2 door, i have tj ,2 door obviously and the max number of people that have been in my jeep at the same time while im driving is 12
Ainsley Harriott puedes meter más personas en el de 4 puertas por la sencilla razón de que en la cajuela por ser más grande pueden ir sentadas 2 o 3 personas más, no es legal hacer eso, pero cuando quieres salir con amigos o familia se las idea uno jaja
The fact that you brought that up means YOU have no friends why dont you buy a bus for yourself and drive it everywhere you go I dont need the 4 door's wasted space are you fat or something you can fit the same number of people in a 2 door
Have you considered addressing the pathetic stock lighting. How about upgrading to JW Speaker LED headlights and fogs? I can't imagine driving off-road without them.
Hi, I was just wondering if you could maybe make a series that would feature a different car manufacturer every episode, talking about styling patterns, driving feel, variety of vehicles, etc. thanks so much for making great videos!
$4,000 for a quad-door is a big difference? Have you looked at *any* truck model lately? That really is pretty standard and you get a better off-road package in the baseline than any truck on the market.
I have a 2011 4 door Rubicon lifted on 35's. Being in a 4x4 club in Colorado, you get to see how the longer wheelbase model is so much better on climbing up and down ledges and rock obstacles in CO and UT. A 4 door version can climb up or down a tall ledge/wall that would cause the 2 door to flip over on it's top.
I bought my first Jeep in 2012, as a two door Rubicon. I just recently ordered a 4 door Rubicon Hard Rock edition. I agree with pretty much everything you said about the two door version and I also like the looks better. I used to tease people who had 4 door versions, but I also envied the space they had. I do a lot of primitive camping and "overlanding" and the two door was super capable offroad, but I was always seriously cramped for space and often had to make choices as to what I absolutely needed vs. wanted to bring. Ultimately that made my go with the 4 door version. I hope I didn't make a huge mistake, but I feel good about it so far. Still I know I will miss the agility and looks of the two door version.
Great review! I'm curious to see a review of a 2 door jk with roof rack and hitch carrier's cargo capacity vs the jk unlimited's cargo capacity and practicality
great report. biggest reason why I got rid of my 94 wrangler. I traded in for a Cherokee sport (extended). for hauling, baby seat and bike rack. then the wrangler 4 door shows up, still too small. sold the Cherokee and git the Commander 4.7 with seats for 7! I understand that the 2 door extended was dropped. right ? what jeep needs is a revamped grand wagonner unlimited; a longer , beefier wrangler with a third bench, that would be awesome. also they need to drop the new grand Cherokee, trailhawk, patriot, compass, liberty. plus they need a 4 door off road truck.
Cool comparison video!. I agree with you about the 2 door looking better, to me that's what a Wrangler should be, 2 doors! (IMO) The wife and I agree that having a 4 door would be pointless for us because we are not really what you would call people kinda' people, so when someone asks if they can ride along we can politely say "sorry no room".
As a proud owner of a 2 door wrangler and with one 3 year okd kid a wife and 1 mkre kids on its way I'll give my 2 cents. To start I bougth my 2012 sport brand new and for the first year me and my wife had one of the best adventures with it and you won't believe the stuff we manage to fit in the back with the seat food and down, it's just like playing tetris, you've got to figure it out and it works. Now for the ugly was that a year after that we had our first kid and it was a nightmare trying to look for car seat that would fit and a stroller that would fit in that tiny trunk, but we manage, but then came grocery shopping and that sick too, but my baby had to learn the jeep way. Now at almost 3 years and with a front facing seat on the back is not that bad, and if your kids are bigger they should fit nicely on the back. To me a 2 door jeep works great with a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids between 5 and 12) and when you go jeeping well it's kind of backpacking, you just take a round flexible bag and your set. plus since your young like me and kids don't mind at all flexing and bending. really if you complain you must old or fat. plus a 2 door is a classic, cheaper and with just 33s looks great. a 4 door you must have 35 to look ok. plus you can add a rear rack a trow a small gas grill. my only regret is getting power doors, locks and Windows. with 2 door you don't need them plus you save money. second thing getting a soft top. I have the hard top but it's such a pain and I don't have the space or help to get it off. another thing is getting half doors and bigger gears.
David, yours is the best comment. Lots of people don't realize as kids get older thy need les space. Infant seats are much bigger than booster seats. We area family of four, myself, wife and two kids, Unlike a lot of Americans we are not fat, and my kids can sit easily in the back and so can my wife or I.I also agree on the soft top. I live in a major eastern urban city and park my jeep on the street. I went with a soft top and am glad I am becase my friends with hard tops never taek them off as there is no place to put them. In four years I was broken into twice, once by someone kind enough tot unzip and once had soft top cut. compared to $3000 a year for an undergournd space (ally spaces have same break in rates as steet parking) that one soft top deducatable was nothing.two door makes even moe sense if your second car is an outback or forester, or any light duty 5 seater CUVExcelent top rack styems can be had for $500, better ones for $800 and then you can put anything on the roof. Or you can do as you do and use a pallet type carrier in back
I'll tell you why 4dr over 2dr for me. I like to take the Jeep off-road to some of the more out of the way areas. My current obsession is Big Bend Ranch state park. (Beautiful place, you should go, but in the fall or winter after it's cooled off) I've found that with my 4dr I can put all my recovery gear, clothes, food, cooler, 10gal gasoline, and camping gear in the back. When I finally get ready to stop for the night I pull into the campsite and get out what I need for dinner and relax until bedtime. At bedtime I move the food container to the passenger seat, to keep animals from getting it. Cooler on the ground with 2 5gal fuel cans on top to keep it closed. Roll out the air mattress on the passenger side since the front seat is further forward. Fill it up with air, close the back up and crawl in on the passenger side rear door. From there I drift off to sleep, watch a movie on my iPad, or if I'm concerned about the next day I study the map and notes I get for the next day. That cannot be done in a 2dr. Even if I had a passenger I could still make it work by removing the recovery gear and getting a bigger air mattress. I have all the mods available same as a 2dr and typically priced the same or close. I have the same entry and departure angles, I'm also not afraid to scrape the skid plates if the breakover is too close. I can fit my needs inside the 4dr so it meets my needs far better than a 2dr
How can you complain about getting in the back of a 2 door when you have the top off? Lol. There is something so special about climbing into the back of a 2 door jeep with its top off, using the wheel as a stepping stool. Anyway great video! I've got a TJ right now and will stick with a two door jeep until I have kids.
i have the 2014 two door wrangler (anvil). got it in nov 2013, so almost 3 years now. i leased mine and may decide to own it. i think a jeep is great if you really, really want one and you're ok with the limitations. i test drove the base model at the time and actually didn't like it too much. i ended up going back to the dealer to test out the one with the 24s sport package with power windows, premium sunrider top, etc. and that sold me. it felt like a better daily driver experience. it still bobbles/wobbles down the road sometimes especially when windy, but it's not significant. the main thing is the dam windshield being prone to crack from rocks. i've had to fix/replace it a few times already. aside from that, it's been the most fun i've had of any vehicle. the only mod i did was 1.5" spacers and i now have 33s. the only major issue i've had so far is to replace a squeaky brake pedal. wasn't the pedal, but whatever part under it. i don't remember which. long story short, having a jeep is not for everyone. there are con's (17/21 mpg, aerodynamics, trunk space, not a lot of leg room though there are big boy brackets available, windshield prone to crack, speakers could be better), but the pro's (versatility, 4x4, convertible, turning radius, sitting up higher) outweigh them for me for now.
2 door for me because I have no friends
2-door for me cuz I just need room for me and my dog!
Hey could I ride with you
@@JacksBurchs let’s ride!!!
I’m sorry 💔
Real
2 Door Jeeps: For 2 people and removing the rear seat, you have a ton of storage in the back. I vary rarely have more than 2 people in my Jeep. I love the look of the 2 door with the top removed.
I currently have a 4-door pickup and I rarely have more than 2 people in it. Most of the time, it's just me and no passenger. I think a lot of people buy a vehicle with more seats than they really need.
this guy gets it
The four door Jeep Wranglers look like (because they were) a design afterthought. The two door Wranglers just look and feel the part of what these magnificent utilitarian four wheel drive vehicles were designed to do. I always thought that the Cherokee (now a very bland and station wagon-like car) should have taken on the role of the four door off road monster that the four door Wranglers now are.
I don't give a crap what 2dr "purist" snobs think. I've had CJs and a YJ. They're smaller than a JK or JL. I treated mine like convertible mini-pickups. They towed, hauled, commuted, offroaded, roadtripped, recovered, etc.
A 4dr is fine offroad if you're not trying to be a competitive rockcrawler or trying to compensate for weak self-esteem. Just set it up intelligently, instead of spending THOUSANDS on a huge lift, enough lights for a football stadium, and 20"+ rims...instead of armor, lockers, a winch, and durable 33-37" tires. The bloated JK and JL are already 6" wider than earlier Jeeps.
If you want an offroader that can climb steeps, but also want a convertible, AND you have 3 kids...or kids still in carseats, still socialize with 2 parents simultaneously, have a few big dogs, want to haul big stuff without a trailer, and/or want to tow your 3000lb boat to the local ramp, the 4dr is the way to go. The ride tends to be nicer with the 4dr too. Tops and rockers are more expensive though.
If you're that worried about breakover angle, engineer a high-clearance skid to maybe complement taller tires/suspension. Install rocker protection that can be pivoted on. Do a 3pt instead of a U-turn. This isn't rocket surgery. Try to keep the COG and overall height reasonable, so that it doesn't flop over or clip the roof on every branch/ceiling/cliff.
I have a small 4dr hatchback commuter. It's usually just me in the car. I still like having 4drs for when it's more though. A 2dr is often a PITA with carseats, elderly family members, or large cargo. You're not as comfortable towing a 3000lb boat very far with a 2dr Wrangler either.
I see far more women driving 4 doors now. How any "man" can look at a goofy and just outright fugly, super feminine 4 dr limo and drive that thing off the lot says a lot about that person. Any man (said loosely) not a minimalist is a fruit. Ladies and "certain men" need a lot of room for shopping bags and a lot of other 💩.
I have a 2 door (I've had 3 to be exact). I've also had a 4 door (my wife did). I like the 2 door because I like to have the doors off during the warmer months. 4 doors just aren't appealing with the doors off. However "lifted" 4 doors have better trail manners. Either way you go, they're great vehicles to own. Life's too short to drive a boring car.
Hey that’s the DDE slogan lol. Agree!!
I'm a 57-year-old guy with only a passing interest (but building) interest in Jeeps and off-roading but I'd very much enjoy hanging out with Tommy to learn. He's intelligent, knows his subject matter and presents interesting topics. Tommy, you're authentic and very relatable and I hope you will keep it real as the TFL channels grow in popularity. I think I've mentioned this about all the guys over the many videos I've commented on. Great job to all!
2 door if you're single or young. 4 door if you have wife and kids. Great video guys, keep it that way
Hit the nail on the head here.. People tend to overthink things and it comes down to what you need. Both are great vehicles and very capable either way..
+Gmtail both vehicles are a good choice, I agree
The 4dr is not really a jeep. Since the 40s, jeeps had short wheel bases and were light for climbing. The long wheel base is the same as buying a 4wd suv.
Bryce, owning a 2 door and a 4 door and wheeling them constantly, will take the 4 door any day. The slight breakover angle loss isn't really a hindrance. Its better climbing ability is immensely helpful.
I disagree with you Josh, having had both myself. I would say there are four difference: turning radius/maneuvering, breakover, off camber, high incline climbing. But that the areas where JK has advantages are more important to most. The difference in turning radios (advantage JK) are frankly huge. Breakover is slightly better on JK too. There is an advantage on JKU on some rare off camber lines. As far as climbing, the difference is nowhere near the difference in radius
2 door problem solved, just take the top of and then you have great access
Fax that’s why i want the two door
That's what she said
I just purchased my 2016 2 door jeep wrangler and I LOVE it! Especially when the top/doors comes off, the 2 door looks more like the vintage jeep wrangler than the 4 door does. I feel like the 4 door looks weird with the top/doors off....doesn't give me that jeep vibe. The dealership offered me a 2015 4 door that was $4,000 cheaper! I still walked away with my 2 door and couldn't be happier. Plus I'm only 23 and it's just my dog and I. it fits our lifestyle :) TEAM TWO DOOR!
Yay 😁 team 2 door. It’s just me and my dog too fits perfect. I have the 2015 metallic blue unlimited sport. And I love taking the top & doors off in the summer
How is the reliability/ maintenance cost?
2 door looks better. It's the right choice if it has enough room for you.
@Dylan Wiggins 4 door screams zit puss.
2 door looks like a toy car
Nah 4 door
The 4 door will sleep 2 tall people well.
I'm 6 foot and throw some sofa cushions in it and it is great for winter storms or to be less concerned about bears, snakes, cougars, maybe even people;... can't drive off in a tent.
A mesh screen for the window(s) to keep bugs out is needed to beat a tent for summer.
That extra 10 inches of width is needed for shoulders, so I sleep with my head toward the front.
One person may be able to nap in the rear seat on their side as it is easier with the 4 door that can seat 3 not too wide people.
The front seats recline also for napping but laying down on sofa cushions in the back can be better than some beds.
Surprisingly the lifted 4 door is not hurting too bad on black diamond trails compared to the 2 door and may be less prone to flipping over backward onto its roof climbing ledges.
I’ve got a wife and 9 year old girl. I always wanted a 2 door because growing up that was a Jeep. I bought a 2022 2d Willys last week, couldn’t be happier.
I have to disagree with a lot of the 4 Door haters. Like Junior said in the video, it depends on what you intend to use it for. I have had 3 wranglers. a YJ, a 2005 TJ and now my 2015 4 door Rubicon Hard Rock Edition. I go camping, fishing and hunting in very remote places in Nevada and Utah. the 4 door allows me to carry additional gear with out a trailer. some of the places I go, it is advantageous to have the longer wheel base of the 4 door. having owned both, I have to agree with the video, buy a 2 door, if that's all you need, but if you need the extra space like I do. get the 4 door.
while there are some insanely cool $2000 roof rack systems, very good ones can be had for $500. I also do a lot of remote hunting and fishing including with four people and we can fit all our gear including extra gas on the roof of my 2door. when I am back in the city I can park in spaces smaller cars leave!
a lot of the cheap roof racks require you to drill a hole in your hard top, and have supports that mount to the roll cage. which causes the hard top to leak or crack. the exo-cages racks are really nice, but expensive. I used a exo-cage rack on old YJ. I put everything on top, except the sleeping bags. just in case of a rain storm and it did really well. I learned the lesson about putting the sleeping bags inside the hard way. not a fun trip. I really wanted a 2 door, but with everything I do, the 4 door made more sense for me at the time.
***** 1. I am not a 4 door hater. 2) none of the roof racks I am talking about require drilling into a hard top -- in fact they can be used on hard or soft top.
I am only saying there are a lot of solutions.
never said you were a 4 door hater. however there are a lot of people that do hate 4 door wranglers. I love 2 doors, I would have preferred to have a 2 door, the turning radius is much better than the 4 door. but I needed the extra space and occasionally I need the extra towing capacity of the 4 door. I didn't want to add a roof rack do to the reasons stated in my previous post. I am sure there are venders that have roof racks that don't require drilling in to the hard top or the body tub of the jeep. I just have not looked that far in to it and those were the ones I saw at the time at the local jeep dealer. I ran a roof rack on my old 95 YJ. it bolted to the windshield frame and the then looped up and bolted to the rear frame, it required that I drill some holes in the frame to attach the rear supports. it worked well. I believe it was a smittybilt. but I don't remember back that far... it was around 20 years ago.
***** Towing capacity? It is the same lately
I'm getting a 2-door soft top for my next car. It'll be an interesting change coming from a Tacoma, but I've always wanted a Jeep. And the 2-door classic look is just too good to sacrifice for some extra comfort. The wife will just have to adjust!
U may want to check into a good divorce lawyer lol
@@jackhook4192 if she gets a divorce over that. They shouldn't have gotten married
I just got a 4 door after having a 2 door and honestly my two door didn't have a ton of room but it was cute and easy to drive. I was able to turn around in small spaces really easily and I felt pretty zippy and cool speedin around in it
The 4 door is designed for families and folks with lots of friends. It’s designed to be a daily driver. The 2 door is designed for single folks, empty nesters, and retired folks. I’m retired so I just bought a 2 door JK. Love it. The perfect Jeep for me.
Take the back seat out then your never stuck driving other people around, Adding a extra 500 lbs in people cuts into your gas mileage And who the hell wants a back seat driver.
@Phil M
Jeep doesn't make a 3 door Wrangler.
@@Sig721Tau The 3rd door is basically the trunk.
Very beautiful
The greatest advantage of 2 door is that you can always have an excuse not to drive unwanted people around and always to be by yourself or with one more person ❤️ This happened to me this season when my girlfriend’s family had to rent a minivan just to go and celebrate Christmas with us 😝
2 door for this 50 year old chick living in the mountain snow!! 👍🏻
..Doncha luv it !
I have a 2015 Unlimited Rubicon. It's used for hauling people and camping gear. I can fit loads of off-road gear such as d rings, tow straps, puncture kit, etc under the back seats. The trunk has a 6 person tent, camping cookware, knives, 2 large bags of clothing for 2 weeks of travel, and an air compressor. She still handles mountains and boulders like a champ. We just finished a Jeep Jamnoree and she is all stock.
Hi Tommy, I just traded my 2004 Wrangler for a brand new 2-door "Willys" and I love the 2-door version. You are right that it "turns on a dime" too. I got dizzy calibrating the digital compass.
Congrats on the new ride! See you on the trails
Thanks man. This is an excellent review. I have a Patriot and was thinking about upgrading to a wrangler but because of the increased cost was considering a two door. You convinced me that the right choice for me is a four door one. You saved me from getting a cheaper one and regretting it later. Thanks again.
I was 54 when I bought my 2 door as it's just my wife and I now, so no real need for four doors or a back seat, which I removed soon after I bought it. Without the back seat, it does have a ton more room for your stuff. Also, once the seat was removed, I bought the Mopar cargo liner (heavy rubber with the tire tracks on it) that is made for the Wrangler 4 door and it fits like a glove! I must admit that the turning radius in the 2 door is amazing! One last thing - if your 2 door is equipped with the 3.73 gears, it can tow up to 3500 lbs.
A real Jeep is the two door, period ... end of discussion.
..a lot of people feel that way, but some need the space for whatever...
So there? I have spoken? What a joke.
Robo
Nobody cares about your opinion.
What about trucks?
That's what I got 2door no regrets! Great off road so happy!
If you're under 30 get the two door, over 30 get the four door.
This is canceled if you're married. If married get the four door.
Hahaha
I am an old fart and still have an aging TJ.
Another reason not to get married.
if your married, you can use your wife's GrandCherokee for family trips
take my wife, please!
*THANK YOU* I HAVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHWRE FOR THIS KIND OF CONPARISON
These things also hold their value like no other. My sister has a 2 door and I could not believe what the older ones go for.
2-door all the way
I've had 3 Jeep Wranglers (6 Jeeps all together). I had a 2004 Rubicon (2 door of course), 2011 Wrangler Unlimited, and 2012 Wrangler. I do agree with you that I like the 2door & that the price does jump quite a bit; however, I found I liked the 4 door the most for the space. I had no problem parking anywhere, even in crowded cities, and I could carry so much more. The internal space was just amazing compared. But again, like you said, if you aren't going to ever carry much of anything or more than one person the 2 door may be fine for you. But if you plan to keep the Jeep for lets say 5+ years, can you really say you won't want to carry something or maybe even tow something in the future? I never planned on towing anything until I rented 2 Jetskis and had to tow them to the lake. Luckily I had a hitch on that Jeep, even though I never really planned to use it for more than a bike rack and back storage rack.
Yo, didn't know you watch this channel! I absolutely love your vids!!
+Agent. K. :) Thanks!
towing 2 jet skies on a 2door is no problem. 350 each for set skis, 450 with gas and oil is 900 max. trailer 400lbs is 1,300 well below rating/
+rd58rd58 Never said he couldn't tow 2 Jetskis. Just mentioned I didn't expect to tow anything myself (like he doesn't expect to). But, then I did want to tow. He may want to tow something heavier in the future. He may not. It was only a thought; in no way did I say he would tow exactly what I towed.
Earthling1984 My point is when unforeseen optional towing comes to mind it is not a 4,000lb boat or heavy trailer, but things like a carrier for half a dozen kayaks, or a couple of jets skis, or a 5x8 cargo or utility or say an small dishing motor boat, and the 2door has no issues with those. People who do have a specific need for regular heavy to medium heavy towing are not going to buy a any wrangler for that.
You didn't mention one of my pet peeves... When the back seat is folded up there isn't a lock to keep it up. Instead it bounces up and down unless you install a strap to hold it. Of course there isn't much to attach the strap to under the seats...
Jeff Tjernagel Your right about the need for a strap or something needed to hold that seat up. I used a bungee cord.
Jeep says don't drive with the back seat folded up on the 2 door. You should remove it.
just remove the stupid back seats in the 2door... no one who has a 2door Jeep is gonna be hauling children, pets, soccer teams or buying groceries for that amount of people or pets either. with those dumb things gone it's not only much easier to see out the back but you get a ton of space in the back.
I do see a lot of four doors around, especially at my school student parking lot. I’m not really carrying much around because I don’t do sports, and I don’t have any classes that would require me to carry any projects home from school or anything like that. Plus, when I do start driving, I will most likely be driving only my younger brother. So I think I may go for the two door. They’re cute :)
Wait, the 4 door is bigger!?! This is amazing thank you so much. Wish I had seen this earlier, I've been trapped in the back seat for a week.
John Vaughan what made you think that the 2 doors is the same size as the 4 door?
2 Door Willys wrangler for me, really like that package, its a budget Rubicon and has that cool factor with the blacked out wheels and grill.
Well thought out video. I am on my 4th Jeep. My three previous ones were all 2 door. This is my first 4 door and I love it. I do tow a lot and take it off road. The difference is night and day. The 4 door seems to tilt and shift better over rocks and tough terrain because of the longer wheel base. Also, I like the bigger overhead girth between the rails when the top is off. A much better choice for me. But don't get me wrong, I loved my 2 door wranglers.
Did you have a 2 door JK? I like the look and utility of the 4 doors, but the 2 door is a completely different vehicle. The suspensions are different to begin with. The 2 door is playful and responsive like a sports car, and the 4 door is more like a station wagon made for hauling. I guess it's all a matter of taste and usage though.
Your analysis is correct. The 2 door is a lot more "fun"
FINALLY! A Wrangler Review video that shows the cargo area in great detail! Literally exactly what I was looking for.
I'm not sure if the video even mentioned it, but the 2 door also has a better breakover angle than the 4 door :p. The 2 door has a lesser chance of belly scraping due to the shorter wheelbase which makes it more practical for off road use. Either way, JK's rock! ^__^
I have a comment about your review of caring more than two people on a regular basis in the two door Jeep Wrangler. The past three summers we took my friends 2 door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon out of St Louis and drove 12 hours to go Shores Alabama and last summer made a trip to Ouray Colorado all with 4 passengers. there was no roof rack. but there was a trailer hitch rack that perfectly held suitcases golf bags, in the trunk space of the two door even with an added sub still is plenty for supplies and food. Your review is pretty great though. four door Jeep Wranglers are really good for only one thing. Getting groceries
Just like Tommy my Wrangler Sport 2 door is my daily car i ride alone almost all the time with a bag or two and some groceries, so for me is perfect
I've only really started watching this channel recently and mostly have only watched newer videos. You look so young here!
I also have no friends, so my 2012 2 door is perfect for me!
Had a tj when I was in my 20's. It was rusty, cold in the winter and overall awesome. 2 kids later It's nice to still be able to go topless in public with the 4 door.
Really loving the Jeep vids from you guys
My wife and I subscribe to the philosophy that less is more. There are several things that most people in the U.S. seem to want but that I don't even like and that Sally readily agrees that we don't need:
Automatic transmission
Electric transfer case actuation
Electric window lifts
Cast aluminum wheels
Automatic door locks
Electric seats
We're not opposed to people buying those things if they want them and can afford them but we'd WAY rather spend our limited resources actually GOING places in our 4WD rigs--camping trips and picnic trips to places FAR from the nearest paved roads.
We had a 1999 Wrangler from 1999 to 2008. Base model 4 cyl, manual transmission, full hard doors with side window glass and manual window lifts, 15x6" steel wheels (not full face). Sally traded the 205 tires for 235s the day after we bought the Jeep but anybody who hasn't attempted backcountry exploring in a base model TJ is not likely to have the faintest idea of how capable that rig was!
I really appreciate the info about the change in the design of the seats on the new 2-door Wrangler. It's too bad they didn't retain more of the design features from the TJ but it is what it is. We just need to take that into account if we ever decide to buy another Wrangler. (Right now we have a 4WD 1997 Dodge pickup and a 2010 Patriot with Freedom Drive I.)
So because you don't want to deal with a few seconds of fidgeting with a lever you should spend about 5-8 grand more for a 4 door?
Yeeeeah...I don't think so.
Hahahaa
Bought my 2002 Wrangler TJ new at age 16. It was my daily driver/weekend offroader. Still have it, though my daily driver is now a 2016 Ram 1500. Always eyeing updates for it even now. Most recently installed JW Speaker led headlights for the TJ, definitely worth the upgrade.
The base 2 door doesn't have air conditioning where it's standard on the unlimited. That's part of the price difference between the two.
Who needs a/c.
No A/C... no deal. There when you want/need it, turn it off when you don't. Best of both worlds. But if you love the heat like some, save the coin and opt out of A/C I guess.
dddire straits I like power
Well, I wouldn't. But it doesn't mean I don't like them.
Alot of dealers think they have gold but shop around. I have a base sport with AC 3.73 gears and was out the door at $24999 new.
I have the 2-door and my girlfriend has the 4-door I enjoy both
$4K for the extra 2 doors and space really isn't that bad. I think this is more perspective based on age, income, family needs, etc.Great breakdown and comparison video.
I use my 2016 for everyday driving. and I needed it for the four wheel drive for the winter months, that's all, and I love it.
The 4 door grew on me. I didn't like it at first. I say its a cool vehicle. It isn't for me but it is a cool looking vehicle.
I've got a 2012 JKUR lifted on 35s. The "four doors are for mall crawlers/posers/married people" comments are pretty ridiculous. Might want to check the Wayalife youtube channel before you spout off too much about that. Additionally, here are some considerations that many may not be thinking of.
- With the back seats folded down, I can sleep in my Jeep. Super comfy, and I don't have to pack/unpack my camp on the trail.
- Less drive line angle changes when lifting. More lift available before changing to an after market drive shaft.
- SPACE. This is a serious consideration if your Jeep is your daily driver. If you're 20, you may think you'll never need a bigger vehicle, or won't need one until you're older... give this some serious thought.
- Ride. The ride over rough terrain is quite a bit better than the 2 door. Tell me that doesn't matter after driving corrugated roads for a while.
Lets get this out of the way: Overall, the two door is better off road. But the gap between the two is not as large as you might think. The four door is actually better when it comes to shelves, drops, and steep grades (up or down). Remember to balance utility with capability in this regard. You lose much more utility than you gain in off road capability.
Get what's right for you, and make an informed decision that isn't based off of what people are insulting on the internet.
I removed my backseat entirely. My partner, our 3 dogs and I fit just fine in the 2 door this way. Plus, real jeeps are a 2 door vehicle. :-)
Don't forget you can remove the rear seats entirely. If you drive mostly solo or with +1, that may be the best option if you'd use the cargo space more than the seat (plus mild weight/fuel savings). You could also compromise and get a TJU; it's still a two door, but has the increased space that led to the modern Unlimiteds. I myself intend to get a TJ Rubicon. I don't foresee myself being a people hauler, and coming out of a '96 Voyager, I desperately want a smaller vehicle, so I don't plan to get any kind of Unlimited.
2 Door Sways in the air a bit more when driving on road for my liking. If you can afford 4 door get that one.
I love the 2 door Wrangler. With a 6 speed and 3.73 gears, it's pretty fast, too. I miss my TJ, and I'll wait to see what they do in the next generation to see if I'm getting a new one. Hopefully they get a lot of weight out to increase fuel economy a bit.
2 door with no rear seats for me, works perfect
The Unlimited hardtop automatic is 650 lbs. heavier than the 2 door stick shift soft top. The 2 door is much, much more fun to drive. Just remove that rear seat on the 2 door and you have a great fun vehicle that can haul even my band gear.
were the hell are you finding 2 door wranglers under 25k? cheapest sport one I have found on local dealers are 29k
Order one. They are out 5% below invoice on orders on the east coast and 4% below invoice on the west cost.
Jonathan Chavez I was thinking the same thing! Mine was 44,000- 50,000 after finance
My neighbor got one for 20k 50,000 miles though
Under 25k is real bare bones. No options at all. Odds are that 29k was with options like air conditioning and power locks and other accessories and stuff
Dealerships never sell their cars at MSRP.
With the 3rd person luggage scenario I would see about getting independent adjustable rear seats for the 2 door so that you can access the space not being used in the empty back seat
If you want a off-roadable 4 door SUV get a 4 runner. If you want a jeep get a 2 door, the short wheel base has to be better for offroad.
What if you want an off-roadable 4 door SUV with a manual?
I'll save the 20,000 and get the 4 door jeep
+Simplex SM get a dodge 2500 Cummins crew cab 4x4 6 speed manual for the same price as a wrangler lol.
+Simplex SM if you really want a 4 door suv, you don't want a manual lol
+Dodge 318 Cummins turn radius
My 2-dr TJ Rubi is the family car, 4 can fit snugly for those camping trips with the bulk of the gear outside on cargo baskets. I use mine for agriculture, so the a new 4-dr might not fit in little trails that I've got to go through to get to some fields. Great vid.
I just bought my 2018 2 door jk weds. I love it. I got the same color as you...slate gray? If I have haul more than 2 people around I got my Sierra crew cab for that lol. I just didn't like the look of a 4 door. I am sorry it looks totally wrong like a bad Photoshop job lol
I have both, a 2016 rubi jku soft top and a 2016 rubi hard rock jk hard top. I love my 2 dr, and gave the 4dr to my wife. So she loves her 4 dr for having the top down with ease. I take my 2 dr off road in Ocala Fl with my kids and have zero space issues. It is also my daily driver and find anywhere from 18 to 20 mpg on the road. I would never have a 4dr for myself.
Yeah, I also like the look of the 2-Door Wrangler, but the 4-Door has more cargo space when the back seats are folded down.
As an owner of a 2-Door JK, I'll echo a lot of the other comments:
If you're young, like weekend off-roading trips and aren't transporting more than 2 occupants regularly, go for the two door.
If you're married with kids, go for extended camping trips, or have a need to haul a lot of stuff, definitely spring for the four door.
That being said, I've transported 4 people in my Jeep on several occasions and other than getting in and out, it really isn't that bad. I'm 6'1" and was quite comfy in the back seat for a 2 hour drive, obviously if you're older or on the heavy side then yeah, you're probably going to be uncomfortable and have a difficult time getting in. As for storage room, I've had absolutely no issues for everyday use, I normally just leave my back seat folded and there's plenty of room for groceries or fishing gear depending on the day. I really don't understand the hate for the Unlimited, I personally prefer the look of a 2-door jeep, but you're getting a lot more practicality out of it and it's still a good looking vehicle IMO
is it worth getting a jeep if you're not into off-roading, active lifestyle, etc.?
I've owned the 2 door when I was in my late teens. Back then it was 10 years old. with the Inline 6, cast Iron engine. ( it was indestructable for the most part, they don't make them like that anymore) and after a while, you start to want more space. It's a great second car to have. But personally unless you're a student, freshman in college and you got a girlfriend and a dog, then I would get the 4door. But truth be told. seeing how expensive the 4 doors are, your better off getting a 4runner for that type of money. Still very capable and provides more.
For all you guys comparing the capabilities of a 4Runner or any other production 4 wheel drive SUV, I have news for you - there is no comparison. The Jeep is the only body on frame solid axle 4x4 available. Everything else, your Toyota's and Nissan's and whatever are all IFS and uni-body vehicles - inferior from a pure off road strength and capability standpoint. Argue whatever you want but the bottom line is an independent front suspension will not articulate the way a solid axle does, nor is it as strong, (see the demise of the FJ cruiser) - they are inferior for off road use. Bottom line - nothing on the market today is even in the same class as the Jeep - body on frame, solid axle.
Motor Head couldn't have said it better my self
Suzuki Jimny ;)
Motor Head Toyota's are body on frame not unibody.
Motor Head your missinformed the Toyota's are body on frame not uni
Motor Head thank you, we've been pondering on this exact question for over a year now.
I think I'm going to stick with JEEP.
👌
When I had a 2 door jk I pulled the back seats out and left them at home 99% of the time. Just used it like a coupe with a big storage area. The dogs loved it in the back!
That's a very nice T-shirt Junior's wearing‼️😶😶😶
I've owned both, I currently have a 2 door. For me if ur planning on using the rear seats with any regularity then get a 4 door. My boys have licenses now so I got a 2 door and removed the rear seat for more cargo area for my bike or dog.
2dr rubicon i actually put the lockers to use. The four doors are to much like a suv most are mall crawlers but good for a person with small children. I will never own a four door because there break over angle in turning radius.
..the two and four door have the same engine and 4 door is almost 500 lbs. heavier...
Thanks for the review... I've been thinking about getting one of the new Wranglers -- preferably a 2-door model. I'm an old retired guy, so I don't really need to be concerned with carrying passengers (e.g. kids and such). I've had a couple of Jeeps before, quite a few years ago, but they were not Wranglers. They seem to have enough horsepower that they should be acceptably quick. I want a manual transmission though since I absolutely HATE automatic transmissions. The rear seat taking up cargo space does not seem to be that much of an issue. At worse, just fold it down. Even better if it's easy to completely remove the rear seats and just store them at home. The only options that I really want though are the air-conditioning and the removable hard top. I prefer to have a bit more security for my vehicle than just a piece of fabric and (eventually yellowed) vinyl that someone could just slice with a knife to get into the vehicle.
Now, with respect to towing, although the 4-door Wrangler is rated for more, that is only because it is heavier. The engine is the same, so it's not a power issue. With a light vehicle, if you are towing a heavy trailer at highway speeds, you can get into a situation where the "tail is wagging the dog". I've been there and it is a bit scary. If you don't recognize what is starting to happen soon enough, you will end up getting into a harmonic oscillation situation and your life is going to get VERY interesting, VERY quickly. On the other hand, if you just need to tow a heavy trailer at low speeds you will probably be able to get away with it. Strong crosswinds could make your life get a bit interesting also. :)
..two door is definitely cooler looking..
I love my 2015 2door sport but it is a vehicle you make compromises in. There are three of us and it works fine. I traded my Honda Pilot in on it and don't regret it. In every measurable way other then offroad the Honda is better, but it is not a Jeep. My family and I really enjoy it for camping and wheeling. I bought the 2door because of the price and maneuverability.
"Oh, no. I have to act like a man and adjust my seat as a passenger." City boys and their 'problems'. Smh...
Nice video, thanks, getting ready to buy a 97 TJ soon. The 2 door is right for me.
2 door Rubicon, great vehicle!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I was just looking for an article/video on this topic and found this video in my inbox that was just posted two days ago. Just perfect timing, great video.
4 doors in my option just look cleaner
I'm 5'11 and found there to be MUCH more room in the rear seat of the 4dr. As for getting into the rear seat of a 2dr, I couldn't even fit back there and I'm not a big guy. I didn't even wanna think about having to get out.
Another Fast Lane Jeep.
I own an 05 TJ, and I love it because it’s easy to navigate. It turns on a dime. I have a roof rack so hauling my camping gear isn’t that hard. It’s just my wife and I, so hauling a bunch of crap isn’t a problem.
I'm guessing you 4-door haters don't have much friends.
you can fit the same number of people in a 4 door that in a 2 door, i have tj ,2 door obviously and the max number of people that have been in my jeep at the same time while im driving is 12
Ainsley Harriott You live in India or what
no, i live in mexico hahahahahahah
Ainsley Harriott puedes meter más personas en el de 4 puertas por la sencilla razón de que en la cajuela por ser más grande pueden ir sentadas 2 o 3 personas más, no es legal hacer eso, pero cuando quieres salir con amigos o familia se las idea uno jaja
The fact that you brought that up means YOU have no friends why dont you buy a bus for yourself and drive it everywhere you go I dont need the 4 door's wasted space are you fat or something you can fit the same number of people in a 2 door
Have you considered addressing the pathetic stock lighting. How about upgrading to JW Speaker LED headlights and fogs? I can't imagine driving off-road without them.
Still a jeep. Still feels like I need to push it to go down the road. V8 pls jeep.
The 2018 Jeep will keep the 3.6 V6 but will offer a 3.0 Eco Diesel
+Nathan Parker that's what I'm waiting to see. Hopefully will be a game changer.
+Nathan Parker you mean the 4 cylinder 3.0 diesel from the new commanche?
+Nathan Parker the 3.6 v6 is junk dodge could easily put a v8 in it they just choose not to.
Well I'm all for a v8, but what's wrong with the 3.6? It has almost 300hp doesn't it?
Hi, I was just wondering if you could maybe make a series that would feature a different car manufacturer every episode, talking about styling patterns, driving feel, variety of vehicles, etc. thanks so much for making great videos!
bunch of professional on the comment section
$4,000 for a quad-door is a big difference? Have you looked at *any* truck model lately? That really is pretty standard and you get a better off-road package in the baseline than any truck on the market.
I have no baby, but I have friends, so 4 door.
i have friends too but they all have cars themselves so 2 door.
I have no friends, but I have a boyfriend and a cat that I'm about to travel with. so 4 door for me :)
I have a 2011 4 door Rubicon lifted on 35's. Being in a 4x4 club in Colorado, you get to see how the longer wheelbase model is so much better on climbing up and down ledges and rock obstacles in CO and UT. A 4 door version can climb up or down a tall ledge/wall that would cause the 2 door to flip over on it's top.
There were some awkward moments in this video.
I bought my first Jeep in 2012, as a two door Rubicon. I just recently ordered a 4 door Rubicon Hard Rock edition. I agree with pretty much everything you said about the two door version and I also like the looks better. I used to tease people who had 4 door versions, but I also envied the space they had. I do a lot of primitive camping and "overlanding" and the two door was super capable offroad, but I was always seriously cramped for space and often had to make choices as to what I absolutely needed vs. wanted to bring. Ultimately that made my go with the 4 door version. I hope I didn't make a huge mistake, but I feel good about it so far. Still I know I will miss the agility and looks of the two door version.
I used to have 2008 2 door jeep. I traded it in for a Nissan xterra
sorry to hear that!
Great review! I'm curious to see a review of a 2 door jk with roof rack and hitch carrier's cargo capacity vs the jk unlimited's cargo capacity and practicality
great report. biggest reason why I got rid of my 94 wrangler. I traded in for a Cherokee sport (extended). for hauling, baby seat and bike rack. then the wrangler 4 door shows up, still too small. sold the Cherokee and git the Commander 4.7 with seats for 7! I understand that the 2 door extended was dropped. right ? what jeep needs is a revamped grand wagonner unlimited; a longer , beefier wrangler with a third bench, that would be awesome. also they need to drop the new grand Cherokee, trailhawk, patriot, compass, liberty. plus they need a 4 door off road truck.
Cool comparison video!. I agree with you about the 2 door looking better, to me that's what a Wrangler should be, 2 doors! (IMO) The wife and I agree that having a 4 door would be pointless for us because we are not really what you would call people kinda' people, so when someone asks if they can ride along we can politely say "sorry no room".
As a proud owner of a 2 door wrangler and with one 3 year okd kid a wife and 1 mkre kids on its way I'll give my 2 cents. To start I bougth my 2012 sport brand new and for the first year me and my wife had one of the best adventures with it and you won't believe the stuff we manage to fit in the back with the seat food and down, it's just like playing tetris, you've got to figure it out and it works. Now for the ugly was that a year after that we had our first kid and it was a nightmare trying to look for car seat that would fit and a stroller that would fit in that tiny trunk, but we manage, but then came grocery shopping and that sick too, but my baby had to learn the jeep way. Now at almost 3 years and with a front facing seat on the back is not that bad, and if your kids are bigger they should fit nicely on the back. To me a 2 door jeep works great with a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids between 5 and 12) and when you go jeeping well it's kind of backpacking, you just take a round flexible bag and your set. plus since your young like me and kids don't mind at all flexing and bending. really if you complain you must old or fat. plus a 2 door is a classic, cheaper and with just 33s looks great. a 4 door you must have 35 to look ok. plus you can add a rear rack a trow a small gas grill. my only regret is getting power doors, locks and Windows. with 2 door you don't need them plus you save money. second thing getting a soft top. I have the hard top but it's such a pain and I don't have the space or help to get it off. another thing is getting half doors and bigger gears.
David, yours is the best comment. Lots of people don't realize as kids get older thy need les space. Infant seats are much bigger than booster seats. We area family of four, myself, wife and two kids, Unlike a lot of Americans we are not fat, and my kids can sit easily in the back and so can my wife or I.I also agree on the soft top. I live in a major eastern urban city and park my jeep on the street. I went with a soft top and am glad I am becase my friends with hard tops never taek them off as there is no place to put them. In four years I was broken into twice, once by someone kind enough tot unzip and once had soft top cut. compared to $3000 a year for an undergournd space (ally spaces have same break in rates as steet parking) that one soft top deducatable was nothing.two door makes even moe sense if your second car is an outback or forester, or any light duty 5 seater CUVExcelent top rack styems can be had for $500, better ones for $800 and then you can put anything on the roof. Or you can do as you do and use a pallet type carrier in back
Thank you for your comment. My Rubicon came with hardtop, which I love it. And thanks to Toplift Pros I am able to take top off anytime I wanted.
I'll tell you why 4dr over 2dr for me.
I like to take the Jeep off-road to some of the more out of the way areas. My current obsession is Big Bend Ranch state park. (Beautiful place, you should go, but in the fall or winter after it's cooled off)
I've found that with my 4dr I can put all my recovery gear, clothes, food, cooler, 10gal gasoline, and camping gear in the back. When I finally get ready to stop for the night I pull into the campsite and get out what I need for dinner and relax until bedtime. At bedtime I move the food container to the passenger seat, to keep animals from getting it. Cooler on the ground with 2 5gal fuel cans on top to keep it closed. Roll out the air mattress on the passenger side since the front seat is further forward. Fill it up with air, close the back up and crawl in on the passenger side rear door. From there I drift off to sleep, watch a movie on my iPad, or if I'm concerned about the next day I study the map and notes I get for the next day.
That cannot be done in a 2dr. Even if I had a passenger I could still make it work by removing the recovery gear and getting a bigger air mattress. I have all the mods available same as a 2dr and typically priced the same or close. I have the same entry and departure angles, I'm also not afraid to scrape the skid plates if the breakover is too close. I can fit my needs inside the 4dr so it meets my needs far better than a 2dr
How can you complain about getting in the back of a 2 door when you have the top off? Lol. There is something so special about climbing into the back of a 2 door jeep with its top off, using the wheel as a stepping stool. Anyway great video! I've got a TJ right now and will stick with a two door jeep until I have kids.
i have the 2014 two door wrangler (anvil). got it in nov 2013, so almost 3 years now. i leased mine and may decide to own it. i think a jeep is great if you really, really want one and you're ok with the limitations. i test drove the base model at the time and actually didn't like it too much. i ended up going back to the dealer to test out the one with the 24s sport package with power windows, premium sunrider top, etc. and that sold me. it felt like a better daily driver experience. it still bobbles/wobbles down the road sometimes especially when windy, but it's not significant. the main thing is the dam windshield being prone to crack from rocks. i've had to fix/replace it a few times already. aside from that, it's been the most fun i've had of any vehicle. the only mod i did was 1.5" spacers and i now have 33s. the only major issue i've had so far is to replace a squeaky brake pedal. wasn't the pedal, but whatever part under it. i don't remember which. long story short, having a jeep is not for everyone. there are con's (17/21 mpg, aerodynamics, trunk space, not a lot of leg room though there are big boy brackets available, windshield prone to crack, speakers could be better), but the pro's (versatility, 4x4, convertible, turning radius, sitting up higher) outweigh them for me for now.