@@scootypuffjr. This is a Chrysler. Mercedes sold Chrysler by the time this came out. And Chrysler’s quality actually went UP during Mercedes ownership
@@diablocls55 all of these designs were on the table during the Diamler Chrysler years. The CURRENT Grand Cherokee is an artifact of this unholy marriage. Mercedes quality went DOWN during this period.
I was thinking that also. Yeah rockstar wheels are terrible! And I bet with those 35’s he hasn’t changed the gear ratio and that things is probably a dog with the 3.8l. I normally agree with the wizard but this one he has wrong.
It also depends on the type wheeling you are doing. Here in Utah or in the woods having low power can be advantageous. It’s easy to overthrottle or brake something. My Jeep had the 4.0 straight 6. Now back when lived in Florida and ran mostly just flat mud bogs, having enough power to maintain good wheel speed definitely was a advantage in certain circumstances.
Totally agree with you Wizard! I'm a former US Army Military Police, and the only thing we need in our HMMWV's are a nice amount of torque to go over things. And the same thing with my Wrangler JK 3.8L. We never need high horsepower, because real off roading is not about speed, but to get to your destination safe. I really enjoy your channel my brother in arms. Keep up the great job soldier! Hooah
Great video. Preventative checks and maintenance are key to prevent nasty and expensive surprises. I have the feeling that a lot of people in the US just drive their car until something major breaks and then are angry about it.
I was fortunate enough to get a 1949 Jeep CJ2A from my great uncle in 1988. He loved the old Jeeps, and would go through them keeping them original. Mine was a 6 volt system, had the flathead 4 cylinder engine, 3 gear shifts on the floor, and the starter switch on the firewall. Top speed was about 45 mph in high range, 3rd gear. I had so much fun in that rig. Where we lived at the time there was thousands of acres of land dedicated to bauxite mining, and timber, so I could spend all day crawling along in 2nd gear low range seeing the sights. My great uncle did put a canvas top with removable canvas doors on it for me, otherwise she was bone stock. I never got stuck, or stranded with her either. I recall the tires were hard to find, I think it had 16.5 inch wheels.
I have 233,329 miles on my 2008 wrangler Unlimited. The engine has been solid the whole time ! The transmission is just now getting tired .. but overall I’m super happy with my Jeep
@@CanadianArchaeologist regular maintenance and upgrades as the Jeep has gone on is why I think it’s lasted so long . Just regular fluid changes alone ( transmission, differential & transfer case ) keep those parts happy .
Wow! It's been so long since I've seen a Jeep that wasn't an "angry face" Jeep. Almost forgot what a Jeep looked like without the far too trendy angry face. Angry face on Jeeps is like truck nuts on trucks. I really hope nobody out there has truck nuts on their angry face Jeep...
@@michaelb2226 Truck nuts were a thing LONG before angry face Jeeps. Both trends are ugly and cliche. Truck nuts were funny for about a day when people first started putting them on their trucks 20 years ago. Truck nuts are so cliche that trend has almost died. Angry face and truck nuts are just desperate cries for attention if you ask me.
I bought a 2004 4runner for overlanding and love it immensely. It's fantastic stock. The amount of power is just right for highway performance, but what it can do off road is simply amazing. Astounding.
No, those extremely lifted vehicles usually accomplish one thing - raising the center of gravity to dangerous heights. I’ve watched a few trucks roll because of their 6+ inch lift.
Those pushrod 3.8’s are great engines, the only problem I’ve ever seen with them is 90% of them seem to burn oil at around 1 quart every 1,000-1,500 miles after they hit the 50,000 mile mark. But that’s not too much of an issue as long as you keep it topped off on oil it’ll run 200k or more easily.
My Sister has a 2007 JK with the 3.8 minivan engine in it, has over 180k miles and probably 179k of those are off road haha. She has run the "Rebelle Rally" in her daily Jeep, she has more Jeep Badge of honor badges on the side than probably any other female off roader, ran several different Jeep clubs, now began her own, helping our Retired/Medical Retired/Injured Vets go out on trails. Talking about a Girl that likes to wheel?? All this came from buying a bone stock 2007 JK 2 door, and she upgraded everything mostly herself in her own garage. Nothing on 4 wheels car wise is as capable as a Jeep Wrangler. Don't care what Ford fans will say, Jeeps OWN the Off Road, always have, always will. 👍😎
Hey car wizard, one thing to recommend replacing to that customer proactively BTW would be the transfer case shifter linkage bushings. They are super fragile plastic and will leave you stranded when one busts and the t-case is stuck in neutral!
When you talk about needing to get small bills sometimes, it might help if you remind people of the actual insanity of what Hoovie is doing, to explain why he's so frequently getting big bills. It's easy to forget.. ;)
Mr. Car Wizard. I did not know you served in the military. Thank you, for your service. I served in the USMC as automotive mechanic and currently serving in the Army National Guard as a motor transport operator.
I was offloading for a few years with low power engines and only on two circumstances need more power. 1. Sand dunes, 2. Long asphalt long trips to arrives the off road begins.
Diff clearance is why Unimogs are AWESOME. Portal axles, folks. If you don’t know what they are, look ‘em up (or look up what a Mercedes-Benz Unimog is). They make a Land Cruiser look like light equipment. They’re the original Humvee except more capable offroad and can even operate as a tractor with a PTO and hydraulic takeoffs.
For off-roading and most other stuff, I remember what Fred Williams from Dirt Everyday said when he was talking about his rig, Clampy. Over axled and under engined.
Man, you definitely get it! Many of my fellow UA-camrs have put big motors in their Jeeps and as cool as it is, it isn’t practical for remote long distance trails. Still, the 392 would be fun for daily driving and trails where I’m not worried about fuel.
I haven’t put $5k into my Camaro in it’s whole lifetime of 19 years and has higher mileage. And yes it’s in good repair though part of my savings is doing repairs myself
Those big heavy oversized wheels will wreck the suspension system on that Jeep in no time, especially if driven offroad. The ball joints, wheel bearings, steering box, and control arm bushings are not engineered for the added stress. Big tires will also cause the stock axle housings to bend if you wheel it hard.The vague steering is usually a combination of frame flex and flexing track bar. Never buy a used Jeep that has a big lift and big tires. If you have ever experienced death wobble, and had to spend many thousands of dollars to correct it, you will understand. At least that Jeep started out as a Rubicon with lower 4:11 gears. The electric sway bar disconnect tell me that. This example has too few miles to show the detrimental effects of improper modifications.
Clean Jeep and great walk through! As a '13 JKU owner, I'm sure the owner had it re-geared as the 35" tires with the stock 4.10 gears would make 5th and 6th useless. I'm also surprised all the steering components are stock. Besides the panhard or track bar, the tie rod and drag link might flex with the heavy wheels and tires. I couldn't tell for sure, but I think the ball joints were replaced as that is another weak spot when lifting the Jeep. Another nice video from the Wizard!
Yep, these guys that throw 35s on standard Jeep axles are in for trouble. Stock axles, diffs and Xfer case are really meant for 33s and less. Cannot upgrade to (stupid) size wheels and assume all other things equal.
The closest I've ever come to off roading was when I went out into a muddy field with valleys and hills. There used to be some pretty steep hills left by an old vegetable canning company who used to dump their tailings left over from the pickling process. I used to run over these hills and through the mud with my 78 Scout. Fun times. I've never done any serious rock climbing. I did a bit of a lift and used 35" tires.
I question if the Jeep actually has seen serious and prolonged off road running. No scars, scratches or dents? The off roading I have seen in my life is passing through forests and bush. Damage is normal and a badge of honor. I spent several years in the San Diego mountains . Access roads were similar to what is in the video. Even with ruts and washouts, the roads were handled by cars like Cavaliers and a VW Bus. Today I live in Florida and I see so many Jeeps with light bars, gigantic tires and lift kits. Yet they all look like they are right off the showroom floor. One exception are the mud boggers who come back Sunday night totally covered in yellow mud. To each his own.
I have a stock 1985 CJ7 that I don't mind taking off road and thru the brush it only cost $4000 twenty years ago. Can't beat straight inline 6. Only modification removing carburetor and going with fuel injection. Jeep runs and idles like a champ.
I miss my 91 Bronco. It was stock. That thing was tough as nails and fun to drive. I once found out how tough. I was in the passing lane after over taking a car and a semi pulled out in front of me. The only place to go to avoid hitting him was the median. I was doing about 50 and I hit a curb and took out one of those small marker reflectors. The only thing broke on the truck was one front shock. It was ok. There were 3 left on the front. I had to get fix of it though. 9mpg was killing my wallet.
Great info, especially re the proper "track bar" and what REAL clearance is. My 2020 Gladiator has the "Overland" trim pkg---with about an inch or so of effective lift relative to the factory "Sport" model. Tires are street, but I want to go trail and snow---no rocks. Bottom line: every inch of increased tire diameter will give an extra 1/2 inch of clearance where it counts. Thanks!
They're not even close. Those straight 6 amc designed motors could actually run 250-300k miles easy. I'm surprised the Wizard commended this piece of Chrysler garbage. My folks own an 04 grand caravan with the 3.8v6, and it burnt a valve at 70,000 miles! Which practically requires an engine rebuild to fix. Plus they drive very conservatively. And now with 115k it makes cam noise and is starting to have rod knock. Although I will admit, torque off the low end gives a very strong pull. Spins the tires with minimal effort. But still, I wouldn't ever buy a Chrysler product myself. The old i6 jeeps are awesome, but the electronic nightmares they become at this age just kills em. But that's how things go nowadays. Anyway, stay safe and have a great day👍.
The Geo Tracker/Suzuki Samurai ! 60 Whole Horse Powers and a great little off-roader. Edit - that poor jeep, 10 yrs old and 5k miles. what a shame it hasn't been used.
One thing about that Jeep is in my state you couldn't have the tires extend beyond the fender flares. So you would have to extend the flares or get slightly skinnier tires.
Car wizard, I agree with what u said about having less horsepower. Back in India, they relied on the mahindra Jeeps which are essentially the same version as the old willys jeep. They don’t have much in terms of horsepower, but because they have straight 4 Diesel engines they have plenty of torque, and those mahindra jeeps were used by everyone including the local police.
The Car Wizard just did a buy this, not that video for Jeep's, just over a year ago from yesterday (three weeks back). Yesterday, the Car Wizard did a video upload on a Subaru product (2017 Outback 2.5i). I am still waiting for more Car Wizard videos to come in the foreseeable future. I am hoping that he will do another vehicle review on a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant sedan with the 2.4 L four-cylinder engine and the four-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability. Thank you very much and enjoy the rest of the week.
Those old Chrysler pushrod V6s are bulletproof, my mom drives a 2010 Grand Caravan with the 3.3 EGA V6, terribly underpowered but dead reliable, it's got 300K miles on it now with the original engine and transmission, nothing more than regular maintenance has been done but it's still going strong and is still daily driven, rest of the van isn't holding up so well, rust bubbles everywhere and numerous electrical issues, typical Dodge issues
Tip for anyone with these bumpers and wants to go off roading. My buddy has the exact same bumpers (front has add on bull bar and winch) With 35'' Dick Cepek Fun Country tires and a 4'' RC lift. Tires hit the front bumper on full articulation. I had to cut them back to clear. They can only handle a 33'' without a trim. Easy fix, just a heads up.
I would recommend a Steersmart Drag Link to help with the steering. You might as well upgrade the tie rod at the same time. One other thing to look at is the pitman arm. I don’t know what lift that is, but “cheap” lifts sometime include a dropped pitman arm. It’s terrible for steering. You won’t need it if you get the drag link geometry corrected.
Yes great setup to get to a fishing hole, or riding a rocky road. But a serious go any where vehicle is purpose built. With over sized drive train, large tires, and high torque. Sticky mud requires you to be able to clean your tires.
10:15 mark... I see this ALL THE TIME here in AZ. These Numb-nuts spend mega-bucks lifting their trucks on chrome wheels and still have 8" of ground clearance! I just SMH!
Correction: You do something when you jack the body up on a truck. Just nothing good. You raise the center of gravity and make the damn thing more likely to tip over.
Wow, staggering low miles on that 2011 Jeep Wrangler JK! You're very right, very "tasteful" modifications with everything functional + not gaudy or overdone! And other than the simple "bulletproof" 4.0 liter AMC derived inline 6 cylinder that 3.8 liter Chrysler V6 was one of the better motors put into the Wrangler. The newer Chrysler 3.6 Pentastar V6 does offer-up more horsepower/torque, but has proven not nearly as reliable in the long run. Also these Jeep Wrangler models JK/JKU as well as the 2018+ JL/JLU (Unlimited) 4 door model hold their resale value extremely well! Well now the Jeep Wrangler has its 1st serious competition in years in the form of the 2022 Ford (big) Bronco which some people/reviewers say is already more refined, rides/steers better than the current Jeep JL/JLU Wrangler.
All show no go when it comes to real off-roading. Lifts are hard on stock drivetrain. Control arms under stress just sitting there. Long arms better drive shafts and upgraded steering are needed. 35s will destroy the front universal joints with moderate off-road use.
He was flat out wrong about his statement. The only way to lift the diff is with big tires. Then you need to lift the body to get out of the way of the big tires.
If not for the black socks, I would not be sure about the difference between Wizard legs and his shoes. Ribbing aside, thanks for the Jeep video. I have a new appreciation for Jeeps after 4 wheeling in my friends JK Unlimited. His is also tastefully modified.
It’s called a “Track Bar”, get a Metalcloak, did my front and rears for $199 each. Those gas tank skid plates always first to rot out. New Jeeps have a skid plate on the charcoal canisters
Toyota mounts the charcoal evap canister above the fuel tank, hard to get to but im thankful its up there and not dangling like on an american product.
When u went to my new unit 1/52 inf 3rd bgd 1st AD in Bamberg Germany in 1987 we still had the old Jeep until 1988- 1989 wen we finally transitioned to the Hummer. I remember having to replace spark plugs and re-timing the distributors constantly.
Mrs Wizard's Grandpa was Father Mulcahy! That's awesome... Sorry, Been binge watching MASH this weekend. God bless your gramps Mrs W. Mine served too! (Navy)
They pulled two of the flat fender Jeep’s out of a warehouse to send with us to Somalia. It was put into storage in 1968. That little torque monster would pop a wheelie.
Black is the dumbest color ever applied to a vehicle. It absorbs light and you can't see any definition of the body lines or wheels. Plus they always look dirty as shit.
Scotty drunk < car wizard. 2015 Chrysler 200 200,000 miles Almost (177,112) and I love lov love my baby. Dad has a 09 t&c with 162k EDIT WITH THE 3.8L and my mom has a Sebring with 110, a Chrysler 300 2006 with 206k miles and a 2020 compass with 23k miles. We love our Chrysler’s.
I knew this long ago. When people were stuffing V8's in CJ's I put a 4.3 GM V6 in my '77 CJ-7 mated to a Muncie SM465 transmission. Seemed to be a perfect match for the CJ.
We've got two Jimmys dead because of the 4.3 I don't understand how a cut off 350, which has no particular oiling issues, has oilpump failures across the board. But they do. Other than the fact that they die a good match for the CJ.
Hey Wizard. Would be great to hear your opinion...Buy this...Not that. Just on Jeeps....Including info on what years(JK..JL)....what engines(4..6..8..diesel)..what transmissions(manual..auto)....etc. I bet it would be one of your most watched vids too.
Thank you, Jeep owner, for not putting that stupid "angry face" Jeep faceplate or idiotic customizations. Only 5,700 miles on this Jeep after ten years? It apparently doesn't get out much (I bet a lot of you people can relate). Not sure I'd take a car to the wizard for $100 - $150 an hour for an OIL CHANGE, especially when you can do it yourself for free labor, a couple of hand tools, and $20 - $30 in spark plugs and oil change materials. This Jeep was built before Fiat ruined it with their stupid Euro-costcutting. Anybody remember that Jeep that recently got stranded at the top of a mountain and had to get rescued?
If you're going to do it yourself fine, but I have had SEVERAL instances of going to independent garages (trying to save $$$), instead of taking it to the dealer, and the place #$(@!* something up, even for relatively routine things..........and these were independent shops that have been in business for 15 and 20 years. It's sad how many half competent mechanics are out here. If I wasn't going to do it myself or go to the dealer, I'd take it to The Wizard just for the peace of mind. I suspect that dealer service exists because most people don't have a competent independent mechanic they can trust.
I have an 89 YJ that can barely have the power to get to 60mph but off road that thing can climb right up the side of a mountain, no problem (I live near Westcliff CO)
Have owned a couple 5 speed 4 banger Toyota trucks. Great off road, wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's ass if you hooked ANYTHING to the tow hitch. Just the aerodynamic drag from my aluminum john boat meant shift down to 4th and keep your foot to the floor if you wanna maintain 60mph up a hill on the interstate. But off road it doesnt matter, your gearing is what matters, put it in 4 lo it was a real stump puller. Pulled out a few different stuck clowns in Jeeps. Also had to be pulled out once by a Wrangler lol
The best engine for the wrangler (not talking about reliability, just performance) is the 2.0 turbo. Plenty of torque at 1500 rpm and it's lightweight. If you have a 4 door jeep for some reason you can get the 3.0 ecodiesel which is an absolute torque monster but still the mid 200s in hp, the Rubicon 392 is just a publicity stunt, it's not practical in any way. The biggest engine that should be in one of these (provided the tcase and axles are built for it) is a 5.7 hemi and that's once again just for the low end torque, not the horsepower. Ford not putting the 5.0 or 3.5tt in the bronco was their best move, the 2.3 is good enough and the 2.7 gives some extra oomph without being over the top
“If you have a mechanic and every time you go there it’s 5 grand or more, something is wrong.”
TYLER HOOVER, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!
What a spot on comment.
It isn't every time it cost Hoovie that much, and when it does it's usually for more than one car.
But without Tyler, no yacht(s) for Wizard. 😉
It's not really applicable since he always buys the cheapest cars possible that require lots of repairs to bring them up to snuff.
You have to love "....actually" replies to what's obviously a joke.
Something is wrong. It's just not with the mechanic in this instance lol.
I found the car wizard when he started his channel through Hoovie and I have never regretted it. Some of the best videos to hang out and watch.
Good for you…yeee!!!
He's so whiny now, I don't watch all his videos any more.
We get it Wizard. Drop it!
"This jeep only has 5000 miles on it!"
"What did he bring it in for?"
"I think he just wanted The Wizard to brag on it."
oil change
It's still a Chrysler. Actually a Diamler Chrysler. They are never completely sorted. Ever.
you still have to do fluid services over time, not just use.
@@scootypuffjr. This is a Chrysler. Mercedes sold Chrysler by the time this came out. And Chrysler’s quality actually went UP during Mercedes ownership
@@diablocls55 all of these designs were on the table during the Diamler Chrysler years. The CURRENT Grand Cherokee is an artifact of this unholy marriage.
Mercedes quality went DOWN during this period.
10:41 But Wizzard, it does something, it increases the center of gravity and makes it tip over easier if you put the body up higher :D
"Very tastefully modified...." I'd argue the Rockstar wheels are not tasteful.
I was thinking that also. Yeah rockstar wheels are terrible! And I bet with those 35’s he hasn’t changed the gear ratio and that things is probably a dog with the 3.8l.
I normally agree with the wizard but this one he has wrong.
Not everyone has the same tastes. I have the wheels. Even the bad is still a taste even if it is horrible lol
I’d rather the factory stock wheels
Rockstar's are fine. If he likes them so be it.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
It also depends on the type wheeling you are doing. Here in Utah or in the woods having low power can be advantageous. It’s easy to overthrottle or brake something. My Jeep had the 4.0 straight 6. Now back when lived in Florida and ran mostly just flat mud bogs, having enough power to maintain good wheel speed definitely was a advantage in certain circumstances.
No annoying center LCD displays. Love it
Or at least no display that sucks. Hate displays where you have to scroll around for climate settings. Audio and navi is fine.
I'm a tech geek but when it comes to my cars I don't want any of that crap in my face. All I need is Bluetooth and that's it.
2010 Wrangler original owner. Im hitting 400 000km and runs great. Oil changes at 5000km intervals
Totally agree with you Wizard! I'm a former US Army Military Police, and the only thing we need in our HMMWV's are a nice amount of torque to go over things. And the same thing with my Wrangler JK 3.8L. We never need high horsepower, because real off roading is not about speed, but to get to your destination safe. I really enjoy your channel my brother in arms. Keep up the great job soldier! Hooah
Also, Humvees have portal axles which take the engine's torque, as multiplied at the differential, and multiply it some more!
Great video. Preventative checks and maintenance are key to prevent nasty and expensive surprises. I have the feeling that a lot of people in the US just drive their car until something major breaks and then are angry about it.
Only the ones that drive 10+ year old Mercedes, Land Rovers, Audi’s and BMW’s.
You nailed it. And then they blame the manufacturer.
@@JimmyMakingitwork what do they look like?
I was fortunate enough to get a 1949 Jeep CJ2A from my great uncle in 1988. He loved the old Jeeps, and would go through them keeping them original. Mine was a 6 volt system, had the flathead 4 cylinder engine, 3 gear shifts on the floor, and the starter switch on the firewall. Top speed was about 45 mph in high range, 3rd gear. I had so much fun in that rig. Where we lived at the time there was thousands of acres of land dedicated to bauxite mining, and timber, so I could spend all day crawling along in 2nd gear low range seeing the sights. My great uncle did put a canvas top with removable canvas doors on it for me, otherwise she was bone stock. I never got stuck, or stranded with her either. I recall the tires were hard to find, I think it had 16.5 inch wheels.
still have it?
@basdoesthis No, I sold it long ago. Wish I still had it though.
I have 233,329 miles on my 2008 wrangler Unlimited. The engine has been solid the whole time ! The transmission is just now getting tired .. but overall I’m super happy with my Jeep
my wife's 2008 Ford focus has that many miles and running like new. It hasn't needed anything more than oil changes, tires, brakes and a strut.
@@CanadianArchaeologist regular maintenance and upgrades as the Jeep has gone on is why I think it’s lasted so long . Just regular fluid changes alone ( transmission, differential & transfer case ) keep those parts happy .
Owner: Im going to add offroad parts to my wranger
Everyone: to go offroading, right?
Owner: ...
Everyone: to go offroading, right?
Which makes us wonder where low riders go….
That's just jeep people for ya
Ah yes, reminiscining about the jeep that cooked the wizard's children. Good times
Wow! It's been so long since I've seen a Jeep that wasn't an "angry face" Jeep. Almost forgot what a Jeep looked like without the far too trendy angry face. Angry face on Jeeps is like truck nuts on trucks. I really hope nobody out there has truck nuts on their angry face Jeep...
Who hurt u lol
Angry face is ugly and cliche. Truck nuts are funny.
@@michaelb2226 Truck nuts were a thing LONG before angry face Jeeps. Both trends are ugly and cliche. Truck nuts were funny for about a day when people first started putting them on their trucks 20 years ago. Truck nuts are so cliche that trend has almost died. Angry face and truck nuts are just desperate cries for attention if you ask me.
@@bandguy360 Nobody, why?
@@catfishbilly7425 how often do you see truck nuts compared to angry eyed jeeps? It pails in comparison.
I bought a 2004 4runner for overlanding and love it immensely. It's fantastic stock. The amount of power is just right for highway performance, but what it can do off road is simply amazing. Astounding.
No, those extremely lifted vehicles usually accomplish one thing - raising the center of gravity to dangerous heights. I’ve watched a few trucks roll because of their 6+ inch lift.
Not to mention most of them are mall queens that only see mud if they have to change the tire on the side of the road in the rain.
I don’t need 6 inches of lift on a Wrangler lol I can fit 35s with 2 inches. Educate yourself plz
Hi-lift high-hp = small peepee
Yes, but when you install wider wheels with a larger offset it counteracts the center of gravity!
@@dodgeguyz and puts leverage/overhung load on the wheel bearings shortening their lives. Good times.
Those pushrod 3.8’s are great engines, the only problem I’ve ever seen with them is 90% of them seem to burn oil at around 1 quart every 1,000-1,500 miles after they hit the 50,000 mile mark. But that’s not too much of an issue as long as you keep it topped off on oil it’ll run 200k or more easily.
FINALLY someone with the balls to say too much horsepower can be a very, very, bad thing....especially in off road situations.
My Sister has a 2007 JK with the 3.8 minivan engine in it, has over 180k miles and probably 179k of those are off road haha. She has run the "Rebelle Rally" in her daily Jeep, she has more Jeep Badge of honor badges on the side than probably any other female off roader, ran several different Jeep clubs, now began her own, helping our Retired/Medical Retired/Injured Vets go out on trails. Talking about a Girl that likes to wheel?? All this came from buying a bone stock 2007 JK 2 door, and she upgraded everything mostly herself in her own garage. Nothing on 4 wheels car wise is as capable as a Jeep Wrangler. Don't care what Ford fans will say, Jeeps OWN the Off Road, always have, always will. 👍😎
Off road upgrades are great at finding the next weakest link in your drive train.
Fred, over on Dirt Every Day, likes his off-roaders "under-powered and over-axled"
Adding a Hemi engine to a six-cylinder Jeep without upgrading the drivetrain will eventually equal failure.
Hey car wizard, one thing to recommend replacing to that customer proactively BTW would be the transfer case shifter linkage bushings. They are super fragile plastic and will leave you stranded when one busts and the t-case is stuck in neutral!
You're absolutely right. I changed mine already.
When you talk about needing to get small bills sometimes, it might help if you remind people of the actual insanity of what Hoovie is doing, to explain why he's so frequently getting big bills. It's easy to forget.. ;)
Mr. Car Wizard. I did not know you served in the military. Thank you, for your service. I served in the USMC as automotive mechanic and currently serving in the Army National Guard as a motor transport operator.
I was offloading for a few years with low power engines and only on two circumstances need more power.
1. Sand dunes,
2. Long asphalt long trips to arrives the off road begins.
The best offroader on the planet, the Mahindra Roxor, only has 60hp. Power doesn't mean shit off road. It's how you use that power.
Diff clearance is why Unimogs are AWESOME. Portal axles, folks. If you don’t know what they are, look ‘em up (or look up what a Mercedes-Benz Unimog is). They make a Land Cruiser look like light equipment. They’re the original Humvee except more capable offroad and can even operate as a tractor with a PTO and hydraulic takeoffs.
For off-roading and most other stuff, I remember what Fred Williams from Dirt Everyday said when he was talking about his rig, Clampy. Over axled and under engined.
Man, you definitely get it! Many of my fellow UA-camrs have put big motors in their Jeeps and as cool as it is, it isn’t practical for remote long distance trails. Still, the 392 would be fun for daily driving and trails where I’m not worried about fuel.
I haven’t put $5k into my Camaro in it’s whole lifetime of 19 years and has higher mileage. And yes it’s in good repair though part of my savings is doing repairs myself
Those big heavy oversized wheels will wreck the suspension system on that Jeep in no time, especially if driven offroad. The ball joints, wheel bearings, steering box, and control arm bushings are not engineered for the added stress. Big tires will also cause the stock axle housings to bend if you wheel it hard.The vague steering is usually a combination of frame flex and flexing track bar. Never buy a used Jeep that has a big lift and big tires. If you have ever experienced death wobble, and had to spend many thousands of dollars to correct it, you will understand. At least that Jeep started out as a Rubicon with lower 4:11 gears. The electric sway bar disconnect tell me that. This example has too few miles to show the detrimental effects of improper modifications.
Clean Jeep and great walk through! As a '13 JKU owner, I'm sure the owner had it re-geared as the 35" tires with the stock 4.10 gears would make 5th and 6th useless. I'm also surprised all the steering components are stock. Besides the panhard or track bar, the tie rod and drag link might flex with the heavy wheels and tires. I couldn't tell for sure, but I think the ball joints were replaced as that is another weak spot when lifting the Jeep. Another nice video from the Wizard!
Yep, these guys that throw 35s on standard Jeep axles are in for trouble. Stock axles, diffs and Xfer case are really meant for 33s and less. Cannot upgrade to (stupid) size wheels and assume all other things equal.
The closest I've ever come to off roading was when I went out into a muddy field with valleys and hills. There used to be some pretty steep hills left by an old vegetable canning company who used to dump their tailings left over from the pickling process. I used to run over these hills and through the mud with my 78 Scout. Fun times. I've never done any serious rock climbing. I did a bit of a lift and used 35" tires.
I question if the Jeep actually has seen serious and prolonged off road running. No scars, scratches or dents? The off roading I have seen in my life is passing through forests and bush. Damage is normal and a badge of honor.
I spent several years in the San Diego mountains . Access roads were similar to what is in the video. Even with ruts and washouts, the roads were handled by cars like Cavaliers and a VW Bus.
Today I live in Florida and I see so many Jeeps with light bars, gigantic tires and lift kits. Yet they all look like they are right off the showroom floor. One exception are the mud boggers who come back Sunday night totally covered in yellow mud. To each his own.
No way it has been offroading. Too clean.
I have a stock 1985 CJ7 that I don't mind taking off road and thru the brush it only cost $4000 twenty years ago. Can't beat straight inline 6. Only modification removing carburetor and going with fuel injection. Jeep runs and idles like a champ.
I miss my 91 Bronco. It was stock. That thing was tough as nails and fun to drive. I once found out how tough. I was in the passing lane after over taking a car and a semi pulled out in front of me. The only place to go to avoid hitting him was the median. I was doing about 50 and I hit a curb and took out one of those small marker reflectors. The only thing broke on the truck was one front shock. It was ok. There were 3 left on the front. I had to get fix of it though. 9mpg was killing my wallet.
Great info, especially re the proper "track bar" and what REAL clearance is. My 2020 Gladiator has the "Overland" trim pkg---with about an inch or so of effective lift relative to the factory "Sport" model. Tires are street, but I want to go trail and snow---no rocks. Bottom line: every inch of increased tire diameter will give an extra 1/2 inch of clearance where it counts. Thanks!
Good engine, not as good as the inline 6 cast iron blocks though they used to put in the earlier models
They're not even close. Those straight 6 amc designed motors could actually run 250-300k miles easy. I'm surprised the Wizard commended this piece of Chrysler garbage. My folks own an 04 grand caravan with the 3.8v6, and it burnt a valve at 70,000 miles! Which practically requires an engine rebuild to fix. Plus they drive very conservatively. And now with 115k it makes cam noise and is starting to have rod knock. Although I will admit, torque off the low end gives a very strong pull. Spins the tires with minimal effort. But still, I wouldn't ever buy a Chrysler product myself. The old i6 jeeps are awesome, but the electronic nightmares they become at this age just kills em. But that's how things go nowadays. Anyway, stay safe and have a great day👍.
my 89 YJ will still be running in 30 years
The Geo Tracker/Suzuki Samurai ! 60 Whole Horse Powers and a great little off-roader. Edit - that poor jeep, 10 yrs old and 5k miles. what a shame it hasn't been used.
One thing about that Jeep is in my state you couldn't have the tires extend beyond the fender flares. So you would have to extend the flares or get slightly skinnier tires.
Car wizard, I agree with what u said about having less horsepower. Back in India, they relied on the mahindra Jeeps which are essentially the same version as the old willys jeep. They don’t have much in terms of horsepower, but because they have straight 4 Diesel engines they have plenty of torque, and those mahindra jeeps were used by everyone including the local police.
8:02 Brings to mind the M35 "deuce and a half" truck: about 18,000 pounds loaded weight, 134 horsepower.
It's all in the gearing
The Car Wizard just did a buy this, not that video for Jeep's, just over a year ago from yesterday (three weeks back). Yesterday, the Car Wizard did a video upload on a Subaru product (2017 Outback 2.5i). I am still waiting for more Car Wizard videos to come in the foreseeable future. I am hoping that he will do another vehicle review on a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant sedan with the 2.4 L four-cylinder engine and the four-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability. Thank you very much and enjoy the rest of the week.
I liked the inline six 4L that they used to have with 190hp.
Wizard: It doesn't have to be $5k everytime...
Hovie: hold my invoices
Dang it I was hoping for it to be super high mileage 😂
Yeah, it's a garage queen car. Worse than the mall queen Jeeps.
It's a jeep most can't afford them past the warranty
Those old Chrysler pushrod V6s are bulletproof, my mom drives a 2010 Grand Caravan with the 3.3 EGA V6, terribly underpowered but dead reliable, it's got 300K miles on it now with the original engine and transmission, nothing more than regular maintenance has been done but it's still going strong and is still daily driven, rest of the van isn't holding up so well, rust bubbles everywhere and numerous electrical issues, typical Dodge issues
The 3.3 is very reliable. There's probably more 300k+ mile examples than any other modern mopar.
@@ChickenC0re Agreed
Tip for anyone with these bumpers and wants to go off roading. My buddy has the exact same bumpers (front has add on bull bar and winch) With 35'' Dick Cepek Fun Country tires and a 4'' RC lift. Tires hit the front bumper on full articulation. I had to cut them back to clear. They can only handle a 33'' without a trim. Easy fix, just a heads up.
Love that "Wizard Lift Theme" guitar music. That's what I've dubbed it: "The Wizard Lift Theme Music".
Nice to listen to a person who knows what they’re talking about.
I would recommend a Steersmart Drag Link to help with the steering. You might as well upgrade the tie rod at the same time. One other thing to look at is the pitman arm. I don’t know what lift that is, but “cheap” lifts sometime include a dropped pitman arm. It’s terrible for steering. You won’t need it if you get the drag link geometry corrected.
This is why i love my jeep xj 4 liter it more then enough power for offroading and being a dependable daily driver
Yes great setup to get to a fishing hole, or riding a rocky road. But a serious go any where vehicle is purpose built. With over sized drive train, large tires, and high torque. Sticky mud requires you to be able to clean your tires.
10:15 mark... I see this ALL THE TIME here in AZ. These Numb-nuts spend mega-bucks lifting their trucks on chrome wheels and still have 8" of ground clearance! I just SMH!
I had that motor in my town and county. It had 190K when i got rid of it but the thing consumed oil. Always started.
Correction: You do something when you jack the body up on a truck. Just nothing good. You raise the center of gravity and make the damn thing more likely to tip over.
Wow, staggering low miles on that 2011 Jeep Wrangler JK! You're very right, very "tasteful" modifications with everything functional + not gaudy or overdone! And other than the simple "bulletproof" 4.0 liter AMC derived inline 6 cylinder that 3.8 liter Chrysler V6 was one of the better motors put into the Wrangler. The newer Chrysler 3.6 Pentastar V6 does offer-up more horsepower/torque, but has proven not nearly as reliable in the long run. Also these Jeep Wrangler models JK/JKU as well as the 2018+ JL/JLU (Unlimited) 4 door model hold their resale value extremely well! Well now the Jeep Wrangler has its 1st serious competition in years in the form of the 2022 Ford (big) Bronco which some people/reviewers say is already more refined, rides/steers better than the current Jeep JL/JLU Wrangler.
I prefer the wizard talking about the interior
All show no go when it comes to real off-roading. Lifts are hard on stock drivetrain. Control arms under stress just sitting there. Long arms better drive shafts and upgraded steering are needed. 35s will destroy the front universal joints with moderate off-road use.
I just bought one with 100000 miles on it. One owner. Serviced regularly with documentation proof.
The tall lift keeps your Cab out of the river wizard lol
He was flat out wrong about his statement. The only way to lift the diff is with big tires. Then you need to lift the body to get out of the way of the big tires.
what separates true off-roaders from mall crawlers is front/rear lockers. My yj runs OX lockers and it will keep going when your nerves want to quit
If not for the black socks, I would not be sure about the difference between Wizard legs and his shoes. Ribbing aside, thanks for the Jeep video. I have a new appreciation for Jeeps after 4 wheeling in my friends JK Unlimited. His is also tastefully modified.
It’s called a “Track Bar”, get a Metalcloak, did my front and rears for $199 each. Those gas tank skid plates always first to rot out. New Jeeps have a skid plate on the charcoal canisters
As a 2010 JK owner I have never clicked on something so fast in my life
+1 for Mrs. Wizard's grandfather and his service in WWII.
Toyota mounts the charcoal evap canister above the fuel tank, hard to get to but im thankful its up there and not dangling like on an american product.
When u went to my new unit 1/52 inf 3rd bgd 1st AD in Bamberg Germany in 1987 we still had the old Jeep until 1988- 1989 wen we finally transitioned to the Hummer. I remember having to replace spark plugs and re-timing the distributors constantly.
The wizard likes something that isn't stock, remember this day people.
"Even Hoovie gets small bills once in a while"...Priceless!!
Let us see you fixing the cars. Leave the reviews to Doug.
Mrs Wizard's Grandpa was Father Mulcahy! That's awesome... Sorry, Been binge watching MASH this weekend. God bless your gramps Mrs W. Mine served too! (Navy)
Thanks. We always thought he looked like Radar O’Reilly. (Grew up watching MASH) Mrs. W🧙🏻
Driving on sand dunes is when a bit of hp comes in handy.
That Jeep sits just right and I’m not a big Jeep fan
same
Cloth seats dry quickly, water just runs down through them and onto the floor
The old 4 cylinder military Jeeps are the best. A good driver will rarely if ever get stuck in one.
They pulled two of the flat fender Jeep’s out of a warehouse to send with us to Somalia. It was put into storage in 1968. That little torque monster would pop a wheelie.
Oh it’s a beautiful Jeep. Black on black.
Black is the dumbest color ever applied to a vehicle. It absorbs light and you can't see any definition of the body lines or wheels. Plus they always look dirty as shit.
Those wranglers work great with a 90hp VW 1.9 tdi engine.
Never seen a guy who owns a boat be that ghost white.
Wait a few boating seasons and the Wizard will have his "sailor's tan" . :-)
totally agree with you Mr wizard axle clearance and grip is more important than horse power. Dave&lisa south wales UK
The best cure for a cat thief is 4000 volts
Scotty drunk < car wizard. 2015 Chrysler 200 200,000 miles Almost (177,112) and I love lov love my baby. Dad has a 09 t&c with 162k EDIT WITH THE 3.8L and my mom has a Sebring with 110, a Chrysler 300 2006 with 206k miles and a 2020 compass with 23k miles. We love our Chrysler’s.
That's good.
I knew this long ago. When people were stuffing V8's in CJ's I put a 4.3 GM V6 in my '77 CJ-7 mated to a Muncie SM465 transmission. Seemed to be a perfect match for the CJ.
We've got two Jimmys dead because of the 4.3 I don't understand how a cut off 350, which has no particular oiling issues, has oilpump failures across the board. But they do. Other than the fact that they die a good match for the CJ.
Hey Wizard. Would be great to hear your opinion...Buy this...Not that. Just on Jeeps....Including info on what years(JK..JL)....what engines(4..6..8..diesel)..what transmissions(manual..auto)....etc. I bet it would be one of your most watched vids too.
Should definitely do it for the grand Cherokee those things are hit and miss
I liked to chuckle at the big lifted diesels.... that had less ground clearance than my motorcycle..
hmmm, that is the engine in my 2010 Dodge (not Ram) Truck...96K and zero problems...just maintenance.
Completely agree my 1992 mitsubishi mighty 4x4 pickup only has about 150 hp but that's plenty to get me moving
Thank you, Jeep owner, for not putting that stupid "angry face" Jeep faceplate or idiotic customizations. Only 5,700 miles on this Jeep after ten years? It apparently doesn't get out much (I bet a lot of you people can relate). Not sure I'd take a car to the wizard for $100 - $150 an hour for an OIL CHANGE, especially when you can do it yourself for free labor, a couple of hand tools, and $20 - $30 in spark plugs and oil change materials. This Jeep was built before Fiat ruined it with their stupid Euro-costcutting.
Anybody remember that Jeep that recently got stranded at the top of a mountain and had to get rescued?
If you're going to do it yourself fine, but I have had SEVERAL instances of going to independent garages (trying to save $$$), instead of taking it to the dealer, and the place #$(@!* something up, even for relatively routine things..........and these were independent shops that have been in business for 15 and 20 years. It's sad how many half competent mechanics are out here.
If I wasn't going to do it myself or go to the dealer, I'd take it to The Wizard just for the peace of mind. I suspect that dealer service exists because most people don't have a competent independent mechanic they can trust.
I have an 89 YJ that can barely have the power to get to 60mph but off road that thing can climb right up the side of a mountain, no problem (I live near Westcliff CO)
I too have the 2011 2dr wrangler and I love it! Sadly not a stick but maybe a manual swap later down the road hahaha
Have owned a couple 5 speed 4 banger Toyota trucks. Great off road, wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's ass if you hooked ANYTHING to the tow hitch. Just the aerodynamic drag from my aluminum john boat meant shift down to 4th and keep your foot to the floor if you wanna maintain 60mph up a hill on the interstate. But off road it doesnt matter, your gearing is what matters, put it in 4 lo it was a real stump puller. Pulled out a few different stuck clowns in Jeeps. Also had to be pulled out once by a Wrangler lol
I have the same car love it and very reliable only bad thing is it drinks a lot of oil mine burns a quart every 1500 miles
Unless you live in Houston and the city floods. Then you have a high water vehicle. The only thing those guys are good for.
The best engine for the wrangler (not talking about reliability, just performance) is the 2.0 turbo. Plenty of torque at 1500 rpm and it's lightweight. If you have a 4 door jeep for some reason you can get the 3.0 ecodiesel which is an absolute torque monster but still the mid 200s in hp, the Rubicon 392 is just a publicity stunt, it's not practical in any way. The biggest engine that should be in one of these (provided the tcase and axles are built for it) is a 5.7 hemi and that's once again just for the low end torque, not the horsepower.
Ford not putting the 5.0 or 3.5tt in the bronco was their best move, the 2.3 is good enough and the 2.7 gives some extra oomph without being over the top
My boss bought a 1997 wrangler with 15,000 miles for $15,000
Years later it had 21,000 miles- most logged being towed behind a motorhome
Metalcloak makes an inexpensive bracket to relocate the evap above the rear diff.
It’s 10 years old and only around 5,000 miles, must not get out much, still a nice set up 👍