Jeep Wrangler ??

hm1996

hm1996

Moderator
Staff member
Sorry if this is off topic, but not sure where to post??

OK, here's the deal. With high gas prices, I'm trying to figure out a way to cut cost on my predator hunts, as I'm sure many of you are. I'm still trying to buy US if at all possible.

Have looked at all the available makes/models from Suzuki Samurai to Toyota but keep coming back to US and the old standby, Jeep.

I have all but committed to buy a 2002 Jeep Wrangler w/4 cyl. engine and 5 speed manual xmission w/only 35000 miles. Pictures look as new and I am assured no oil leaks, just passed inspection and in excellen condition. It is 300 miles from home and I'll look it over early next week; if as described, plan to bring 'er home.

I currently drive a 2003 Silverado 350 and get 19-21 mpg hwy (depending on speed) and only 7 mpg idling on the ranch @ under 10 mph. Hwy mileage is totally acceptable, but the ranch mileage is killing me as we usually put up to 250 miles a trip on the ranch.

I know it will take a long time to recover the cost of the vehicle even w/great mileage, but just hate to subsidize the specualtors and OPEC! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

My question is: Does anyone have any experience w/this model and what kind of mileage can I expect, hwy and off road? Thanks.

Regards,
hm
 
hm,

I own a '97 Jeep Wrangler, 4 cyl. with 5 speed manual. It's been my daily driver and main hunting rig for the past 6 years. I've never tested the mileage on it, as my previous was Dodge with a V10...anything was better than it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif It gets great mileage in the field, as it's like driving a little tank in 2nd gear. Highway driving stinks against a head wind or big hills, otherwise the 4 cyl. toots right along with the best of them.

This probably doesn't help much, but I'm keeping mine for the same reasons as you mentioned, if that helps.

Tony
 
just sold my jeep due to gas mileage
at 6 miles per gallon could not afford it
BUT i was driving a 84 cj7 with 258 "I" 6 engine with dual carbs headers cams exhaust and 6 inch lift with 33 inch tires
i hear a nice lil wrangler will get 25 miles per gallon on and off highway
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The 6 cylinder get about 18. I have had two Jeep TJs (97-2006) were TJs. The 4 cylender should get around 22 on the highway. If you go to larger tires without changing the ring and pinion gears, not only will that drop your power, but it will lug the motor and really hurt you milage. I went from only a 29" tire to a 31" tire with the factory 3.07 gears and it killed the milage. Course now its got one ton axles and 37" tires, but I went to 5:13 gears.

You can help the power and fuel milage by going with a cold air intake such as K&N or Edge as well as a performance cat converter and flowmaster muffler. A header would also help, but that starts to get more expensive.

Jeeps do pretty good offroad, but to really help performance, put Detroit TrueTrac differentials in them. Then it will be an amazing monster.
 
Last edited:
The 4 cylinder is geared 4:10 and the 6 is geared 3:07 standard. You can get the optional lower rear end for the 6 cyl. but it'll hurt the milage.

I have owned 3 of the Wranglers. The first was a 4 cyl. the next 2 were 6's.

I think if I were to get another one, it would be a 4 cyl. with an automatic.
AND a hard-top! The ragtop is loud on the highway, plus the zipper windows are a pain to keep working in dusty conditions.

They will pretty much take you where you want to go though.
 
go for it you will like it , I own a 97 wrangler and have never checked the gas mileage but..... I know my gas hand doesnt move as much as it did on my truck ! The only and I mean only down fall of the jeep is you cant haul anything. I have a cargo basket that fits on my hitch for deer, turkey , yotes. go for it!!! ( mine is a 4 cylinder)
 
The jeep is a great vehicle for predator hunting off the beatin track.

I have a TJ (6 cylinder with manual trans). Sorry, but I don't think you will be saving much gas or money.

Have you considered a ATV. Toss it in the back of the truck, put the dirt trail and back road miles on it instead of the truck. Works nice for me, I use my ATV most of the time anymore. Saves wear and tear om my F350, power stroke, crew cab, 4wd (you want to talk about poor fuel mileage).

Good hunting!

AP
 
The lease is up on my 6 cyl. 2005 Wrangler next month. I will be turning it in and not buying it due to low milage. However, my son has a 99 4 cyl. Wrangler that does get a little better milage.
From now on I'll be driving my 97 2500 Dodge Cummins which gets better milage, has more room and is PAID for. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

If I were to look for another hunting vehicle it would be a small 4 cyl. truck of some kind.
 
hm1996, alittle off topic.

But, have you considered an older model Volkswagon Beetle[circa; 70's-80's]. They are rugged, rear wheel drive[engine in the rear], lightweight, can take a pounding & can go almost the same area's as a 4x4. Especially if you have snow/terrain tires on the rear. My older Bro had one for quite awhile. His got 30-32mpg.

Some of the 1st dune-buggy's, were made from Volkswagon Beetle's.
 
Last edited:
I know you want to get a US manufactured rig, but most us cars do not compete when it comes to milleage. You should try a used Honda CRV or a Pilot.

I just traded in my Silverado for a pilot and love the pilot. It is a 6 cylinder SUV that has a lot of power. And on top of that gets way better than the Jeep you speak of possibly purchasing. I am getting 23-24 on the highway and around 17-18 in town. The CRV's are doing 27-28 on the highway for a buddy of mine and will go lots of places.
 
I've had so many Jeeps I lost count years ago. This one is probably my last Jeep as the price of everything is up and the resale of them is down. I think it will last as long as I will need a Jeep.

It is lifted 3.5" using a Rubicon Express 4.5" kit and 3.5" springs. It got 15.5 miles per gallon before the lift and tires and gets 16 MPG now on the highway. Off road it rules and gets about 8-9 MPG.

Some of the reduced MPG could be related to the winch and the steel bumpers and rock guards, and all the "junk in the trunk" I carry into the unkown parts of the desert.

adpictures018.jpg
 
hm1996,

I've owned 2 jeeps to date, and I loved them. But, they weren't the best hunting vehicles. My first was a 79 CJ-7 with the 258. It was very easy to work on (replaced the motor myself), but I just got tired of working on it all of the time, and sold it (well, it also wasn't a very good family vehicle, LOL). The second was a 95 with the 4-cylinder. The gas mileage was terrible (you are pushing a square box--not very aerodynamic). And, in my area, there are a lot of mountains and hills, so the 4-cylinder was even worse. In my area, if I had to do it again, I would get the 6-cylinder for BETTER gas mileage alot of times. I did enjoy driving it with the top off (I had the soft top, which made it easier to remove the top--hard top requires 2 people to take it on and off).
Now, to me, here is why it isn't such a great hunting vehicle. You have to keep most of your hunting gear in the back seat, and to get access to it, I had to lift up my seats. Plus, when you need to haul some dead animals, it can get pretty tricky (I did take out a deer in the back of it once, but got blood everywhere). You could install a rack to the back of it to help with this.
Dave Affleck hunts alot with his Jeep Wrangler, and loves it. But, he also likes to take it rock climbing, LOL!
To sum up, if you are doing it for gas mileage purposes only, you might be disappointed.
 
Quote:
TT: It gets great mileage in the field,

That gives me some hope.

Quote:
Rockinbbar: The rag top is loud on the highway, plus the zipper windows are a pain to keep working in dusty conditions.

Yep, the last rag top I rode in belonged to my rich uncle and had a white star on the hood. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gifThey are noisy and the ranch I hunt is very dusty; may have to look into a hard top. Wonder if anyone makes a pickup style hard top (front seats only) for the Wrangler?

Quote:
AP: Have you considered a ATV.

I would like a 4 wheeler (the two seater PU style) but unfortunately the landowner will not allow an ATV on the ranch (for whatever reason). Guess he had a bad experience like maybe kids chasing livestock or game????

Quote:
H in NC: If I were to look for another hunting vehicle it would be a small 4 cyl. truck of some kind.

I did consider a Toyota PU but unfortunately, I just haven't quite gotten past the Alamo yet, let alone Pearl Harbor. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif



Quote:
CWeeks: I know you want to get a US manufactured rig, but most us cars do not compete when it comes to mileage.

That's sad, but true.

Quote:
kirby:But, have you considered an older model Volkswagon Beetle[circa; 70's-80's].

Used to work with a fellow that built the dune buggies on VW's w/really nice fiberglass bodies. He even drove one to work a lot. Nice little buggies and if I were still able to do all my own work might be a bit more attractive.

Quote:
Dan Carey: Some of the reduced MPG could be related to the winch and the steel bumpers and rock guards, and all the "junk in the trunk" I carry into the unknown parts of the desert.

Yeah, I am going to try to unload some of my pet "can't be without junk" but may just have to put my winch on the jeep if I get it. It is bigger than I would need for the jeep (9.5 T Warn receiver mount) and all I need is a front and rear receiver + wiring/plugs. Only used it once, but it was solid gold a couple of weeks ago! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Quote:
Mike Dillon: Now, to me, here is why it isn't such a great hunting vehicle. You have to keep most of your hunting gear in the back seat, and to get access to it, I had to lift up my seats. Plus, when you need to haul some dead animals, it can get pretty tricky (I did take out a deer in the back of it once, but got blood everywhere). You could install a rack to the back of it to help with this.




This jeep doesn't have a back seat and I usually hunt w/only one partner, so probably won't put one in. Access, would be same, however. As far as carrying animals, plan to put a telescoping boom and a 1 ton electric winch on back end to pick up nilgai and anything else up to 700# or so. Also planned a rack for smaller stuff to keep blood out of vehicle. I never carry a deer or nilgai in the bed of my truck with this setup.

Thanks again, guys, for all the feedback; gives me a lot of experiences to base my decision on.

Regards,
hm

edited to retype 1st half of post that disappeared when hit the post button?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
Last edited:
These little racks work pretty well. If that won't be big enough, I still have a Chevy diesel pickup, 19 mpg. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

CLEANING112.jpg
 
Jeeps are great day vehicles but you won't get good gas milage. Your Silverado does better that a jeep.
The jeep is like pushing a flat sheet of plywood down the road.

Edited to add photo
JayjeepSmall.jpg


Later accessories included a top rack.
 
Last edited:
Quote:
Jeeps are great day vehicles but you won't get good gas milage. Your Silverado does better that a jeep.
The jeep is like pushing a flat sheet of plywood down the road.



/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I've owned two, never got any splinters in my fanny driving one..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

Nice rig Dan.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Everyone post your pictures of your Jeeps.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Back
Top