We have decided to give this Jeep the code name “Trail Wolf” in honor of the handsome four legged critter you see in the photo. The diesel would have perhaps been a better start for an overland platform for the fuel consumption aspect, but the cost would have pushed back some needed additions and modifications for off pavement travel.īelow is the Jeep the day it was picked up from PRO Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. I had ideally wanted an Ecodiesel, but they were out of the price range I had set. There are far more 3.6 Pentastar powered Grands than 5.7 Hemi in the market. The Hemi requirement I had is what made the search difficult. What I ended up with was a 2012 Laredo X trim with the 5.7 liter “Hemi” and a tow package. Some compromises had to be made in what I wanted in order to find a WK2 that was low miles, had the required base features, and still fit in the budget. A brand new vehicle wasn’t in the cards financially, so I worked to find a low miles Grand that would fit the bill. When the decision was finally made for the new platform, a Grand Cherokee was again at the top of the list. The amazing YJ is still in the stable and used for adventure, but the time has come for something more appropriate to current needs. Still, as any owner of a Wrangler, CJ, FJ40, Defender, or other short wheelbase 4x4 knows- they can definitely be fatiguing to drive long distances. The “Pioneer” trailer helped in the capacity regard remarkably, and some further additions such as OEM full steel doors and an OEM hard top bumped up the comfort incrementally. However, it is still a Wrangler and has it’s own compromises in spite of being uncompromising in capability. The heavily modified YJ Wrangler and trailer that has been my overland platform continues to work flawlessly in any weather and terrain that can be thrown at it. Before we dig into how this 4th generation Grand will be equipped, a little background on the how and why it came to be.įresh off my last Afghanistan deployment, a more suitable vehicle for long distance overland travel was at the top of the investment list. The new WK2 will be carrying that torch onward. The previous Grand, a white 2005 WK was well liked and was far on its way to being set up for some overland adventures. Life changes prompted a consolidation of resources that resulted in the loss of a couple family vehicles and the acquisition of a low miles 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee “WK2”. Stay tuned to see how the True Blue WK2 becomes our next overland hero! Your aftermarket support isn’t nearly as diverse as with the Wranglers, but for some of us, what we can’t easily buy, we can build if we need it bad enough. Or… you can walk onto pretty much any Jeep dealer’s lot and drive out with a V8 (or even a turbo diesel!!) Grand Cherokee for less than half that. You can also certainly pony up $80-100 thousand for an AEV JKU350 or Brute Double Cab and have a world class overland platform. The enthusiasts with deep pockets end up spending tens of thousands of dollars making that dream happen. You will read all the time from Jeep vehicle enthusiasts and overlanders how they want a diesel or V8 powered Jeep. Driver fatigue at the end of the day is real. It isn’t “X-TREME!”, but it’s still a Wrangler. So why repent of a beloved YJ so well built? Why leave behind years of R&D that resulted in a one-of-a-kind Wrangler that can take you wherever you want to go and back? Well, that YJ is as uncompromising in its capabilities as it is compromised in comfort. I was convinced it may even replace my YJ on the next big trip… The WK proved to be capable enough that I didn’t hesitate taking it on some weekend warrior missions. The cruise control! The air conditioning! The digital media navigation radio I could actually hear on the interstate! The roominess! The ride! The fuel economy! Oh, I was in love, and this was just a Laredo! Not fancy by Grand Cherokee standards at all. After returning from another “trip” to Afghanistan, I purchased a 2005 WK Grand Cherokee Laredo with a 4.7 V8 and a pile of miles. I wanted something capable for my continuing adventures but also comfortable and quiet for the long trips. I am over a decade (and thousands of dollars in modifications) deep into my second YJ, and it is thoroughly built out for overland adventures, complete with an expedition trailer. You can’t blame me, I was in my twenties. Well, I didn’t buy that red ZJ, I had recently bought a 1991 YJ Wrangler SE and was in love with the topless freedom and short wheelbase.
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