realter
Eastern NE
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Joined: 01/27/2005
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Thinking of getting a Jeep Wrangler for a daily driver. I already have, and am keeping a 3/4 ton GMC ex. cab pickup.
JEEP choices-- 2 door, shorter wheelbase, more convenient, less room for junk, VS 4 door JKU which has better ride? with longer wheelbase, tows 1,500 more lbs of boat or trailer. No kids or dog to put in back. I need opinions which I might be happiest with. Thanks.
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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Joined: 06/28/2003
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I don't know.
All of my Jeeps (except the Liberty and the Grand Cherokee) have been the 2 door versions.
My current one is the 2 door Unlimited, and, yes, IMO, the extra length does give a better ride on the highway. I have put a couple thousand freeway miles on it. I use the back seat so seldom that I often take it out and leave it in the garage!
I do recommend getting both tops. The soft top is nice in the summer, but the hard top is great in the winter!
IMO, the Rubicon is the best model, if you can find one.
Have fun shopping.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 275,000 Miles
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hemi
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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As a daily driver I would not recommend either one. We have a 2010 2 door, Wrangler, and love it for what it is, a really good off road vehicle, that is a convertible. We do run to the store, and take it to car shows, and such, but as a daily driver the ride is not very comfortable. Ours is a little under powered, mpg is about 16 around town, but the 2012's have the new MB Pentastar engine, more horsepower, and better gas mileage.
We have the hard top, and have a power hoist to remove, and put it back on. We also have an after market top, and rear deck cover. We felt the soft top was just too much trouble to put on, and take off, which is why we went with the hard top, and after market soft top.
The 4 dr was just too big, and a lot better alternatives are out there. jmo
We live in Tucson, which may be the Jeep Wrangler capital of the US., and there are meet ups every Sat. morning at the local Circle K, and I'm sure several other places around town.
The Rubicon, which is the best off road version, would be overkill for what you want to use it for. ajmo
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RicJones
So. Cal.
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Joined: 10/29/2007
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As a daily driver I would recommend a Liberty over a Wrangler. Unless you are going to be doing some semi-serious wheeling, go with the Liberty.
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realter
Eastern NE
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I like the cool factor, but somebody told me there were lots of 1 and 2 year old Jeeps for sale because people just got tired of the coolness because of the rough ride. Can't be any rougher than my PU. I always liked the PT cruiser also, and Mini Coopers- but they are too small for a 6' 260 lb guy.
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dahkota
Washington, DC
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I had a wrangler (2 door) as a daily driver and loved every minute of it, even with a lift and 33" tires. It wasn't as much fun on a long trip - we drove from DC to Tellico Plains and back, which was kind of brutal by the end of trip. But we did love the off-roading we could do and did. I had to give it up to transport my dog (he was very large) but am now looking for a new one.
I like the 2 door unlimiteds they made in 2005/6 - wish they still did. I'll probably stick with the shorter wheelbase when I buy again; easy to park and maneuver and it just looks more like a jeep. They really are a lot of fun to drive! But, I have no experience driving the unlimited except for the 2005 2 door, which was very similar to the regular jeep. A little more storage though. If you might be towing, get the long one. If you will be running trails, get the shorter one.
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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I think if I was younger, it would work better as a daily driver. 
After you buy it, don't put the credit card away for long, as you will be doing some upgrades. Oh, and if you get one, get the after market armrest pads, your elbows will love you for it.
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summerhouse
Big Rapids, Michigan
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We bought a 2009 2 dr Jeep Wrangler for DH's winter daily driver and to tow behind our 32 ft Class C. We really love it! Sure it rides like a billy goat, but it is so much fun and tows so very easy.
That being said though, we do have a more comfortable vehicle for our longer drives. We also have a 2005 Chevy Tahoe that we require for pulling our boat. It is also the vehicle of choice for our 85# Choc lab to ride in. Buddy does love the Jeep too!
We also have both the soft and hard tops. We don't have the power hoist and would love info on that!! We just lift our off and set it on a couple saw horses.
If we didn't have the Tahoe, we would trade our current jeep in on a 4 dr though. But, only because of our dog. I can't lift him very easily into the 2 dr Jeep, and he can't get in by himself.
09 Fleetwood Jamboree 31M - 'Summerhouse'
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“Light hearted I take to the open road… Healthy, free, the world before me… The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose.” - Walt Whitman
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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Power Hoist-A-Top, by Lange. Make sure to get the power one, the manual one is a pain.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Tops/Power-Ho........08&t_pt=9184&t_pl=103010&t_pn=LAN014-710
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rk911
Wheaton IL
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my 2003 Jeep Wrangler TJ (2-door) is my daily driver for winter and colder spring and fall days and i love it. the rest of the year my daily driver is my '46 CJ2A. it's a jeep thing. 
no kids or pets? you're keeping your GMC? i'd get the 2D wrangler and not look back. the wife has a '10 Liberty and we use that if we need to haul more people, stuff, etc. we can tow either behind the motorhome.
good luck to you!
73,
rich, n9dko
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