Anyone wheeling the new Jeep Liberty?

[Logans91XJ]

Looks like a good platform for a mild wheeler and perfect for some Expo Trips.. I like the size of the Liberty and the new looks plus it's got similar looks to the XJ just a lot nicer interior and no straight axel... A nice IFS with coilovers and some 32's or 33's would make this looks sweet. I have watched some youtube vids and it doesn't have a ton of flex but for my honest needs it seems to wheel really well.

Any thoughts?

[Logans91XJ]

Just realized the second photo is a Commander and not a Liberty KK! Commander are sweet too

[wjeeper]

I dont own one but I would seriously consider one when I wear out/ outgrow my current rig. For my uses it will get me 95% of the places I want to explore. A lift and some slightly bigger tires, maybe some skidplates/ sliders and it would be good to go. I spent 45 or so days this summer camping pout of my YJ and tallied 4000+ miles of mostly dirt roads. Honestly I used 4HI for maybe 75 of those miles and 4Lo for less than 5.

I seriously think a Libby would get me pretty much anywhere I want to go, be more comfortable, go faster than 60 on the highway, get better gas mileage and fatigue the occupants less at the end of the day. The newest generation of Liberty is my favorite, it looks like the Commander and a Cherokee mushed together.

[wjeeper]

Interestingly enough this picture was taken just a few minutes from where I grew up! If I had a dollar for everytime I went wheeling there!

[Logans91XJ]

Yeah I totally agree and I would keep my XJ for doing harder trails but honestly everything I have done is pretty mild and don't need more than 30's or 31's... With a rear locker you can pretty much go anywhere you want. If I was to do it over again I would have saved my money and bought ARB front and rear lockers or Auburn front and Lockrite rear...

Ride quality is mainly what I am starting to lean towards. I miss my 99 4runner that thing wheeled great and with the rear e-locker engaged and rode like a dream.

[Logans91XJ]

Interestingly enough this picture was taken just a few minutes from where I grew up! If I had a dollar for everytime I went wheeling there!

Care to share where this was taken?

[Black_ZJ]

Liberty's fit a certain market segment, they ride more like a car and you can go camping with them in some okay spots, also get decent mpg for what they are. But they are down on power unless you get the CRD and sway a lot when towing. A CRD on 32-33's would make a great expo vehicle but I hear the CV axles get weak beyond that.

[Logans91XJ]

Well with coiliovers and new upper arms you should be able to lift it and not put to much strain on the CV's. My XJ is on 31's and a locker in the rear and it takes me places I would never think I could make. Now a SAS'ed Liberty would be sweet too.. Just wish Jeep would put frames under these like they do with the Wrangler. The GOD among the 4x4's....... Uhh not everyone wants a wrangler.

I like the 4runner and also the Xterra.

[Logans91XJ]

Honestly I don't see it any different than our Jeeps besides not having a straight axel. Both the XJ and ZJ are a unibody construction which are not the best but they still wheel.

[Black_ZJ]

Frame stiffeners help a lot.