2015 Wrangler

[schwalby]

Ok so my Step-Dad has decided he would like to get a Jeep so he can get out to some of the north woods fishing spots a bit easier so I need to learn as much as possible as quick as possible.

He will most likely get it from Bonneville and Son in Manchester. http://www.bonnevilleson.net/index.htm Is there anything I need to make sure he gets or stays away from anything that the sales guys may try and sell him? How capable is it going to be to run some easy class 6 roads? I know you can take a stock Jeep down them but he isn't looking for challenge he is looking for ease. So what would need to be done to it? I know armor but not sure what else. I have never looked at a Jeep with these goals in mind.

Unfortunately it is likely in the next year or two this Jeep will belong to Jen and I so my Step-Dad isn't worrying too much about anything beyond what he needs now and that makes me worry he is going to get suckered into something and waste a ton of money.

[Hoodoo Man]

IDK if a lot changed since the 12 I bought but I would recommend he get one with the tow package which will net 3.73 gears instead of the 3.21s
I would go for the 17" wheel package and the power group that has the power mirrors and windows. I like the dual top option but for a daily driver its a lot easier to get into a hard top with the rear window lift glass than the soft top so if he does not go for dual tops get the hard top, much easier to come by a soft top than a hardtop. Also the power group has an option for an inverter and nav, wish I had picked that option. Final thing is if he can wait a while I would recommend he do a 2 year tread lightly personal membership. that will get him "Chrysler friend and family discount" which is a great discount and is a small percentage over dealer cost with no negotiations.
I dont like the Sahara color matched fenders or top options and think most of the packages aside for the Rubicon are not worth the upgrade over stock. The willys wheeler pacakge looks pretty good. I Think its the rubicon tires with a rear locking diff.....

[schwalby]

Thank you!

Final thing is if he can wait a while I would recommend he do a 2 year tread lightly personal membership. that will get him "Chrysler friend and family discount" which is a great discount and is a small percentage over dealer cost with no negotiations.

So if I understand this if he gets a Tread Lightly membership he gets a fixed cost on the Jeep? And how long does he have to wait to do this?

[RalphTomaccio]

IDK if a lot changed since the 12 I bought but I would recommend he get one with the tow package which will net 3.73 gears instead of the 3.21s
I would go for the 17" wheel package and the power group that has the power mirrors and windows. I like the dual top option but for a daily driver its a lot easier to get into a hard top with the rear window lift glass than the soft top so if he does not go for dual tops get the hard top, much easier to come by a soft top than a hardtop. Also the power group has an option for an inverter and nav, wish I had picked that option. Final thing is if he can wait a while I would recommend he do a 2 year tread lightly personal membership. that will get him "Chrysler friend and family discount" which is a great discount and is a small percentage over dealer cost with no negotiations.
I dont like the Sahara color matched fenders or top options and think most of the packages aside for the Rubicon are not worth the upgrade over stock. The willys wheeler pacakge looks pretty good. I Think its the rubicon tires with a rear locking diff.....

I bought my 2012 JKU Sport two years ago with the "S" package. Pretty much gets you everything mentioned here. Power windows, heated mirror, etc. I do agree the tow package with 3.73's is the way to go for him. And the hardtop only would be a good choice as well. He may want a slightly more aggressive tire package than the GY SRA's though. That was one mistake I made.

Good Luck!

[schwalby]

I plan on getting him to swap the tires out for a more AT type then the stock tires. Might keep them around for winter driving but even that is an eh.

How hard is it to re-calibrate the speedo after tire size increase? That will be something he will be anal on.

[RalphTomaccio]

How hard is it to re-calibrate the speedo after tire size increase? That will be something he will be anal on.

He'll need to either buy or borrow something like this:

http://superchips.com

There are at least two or three other items like this that can do the job.

[Hoodoo Man]

Josh I think he will need to buy the programmer or find a shop that will calibrate the tires for you. I belive the programmers are locked on to a VIN aand wont work on a second rig. Im sure Mike will know more...

As for the tread lightly here are the details but the bottom line is 30 days to get 1% below..
http://treadlightly.org/join/individual/

OVERVIEW OF MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
$25 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
Subscription to TREADlines – our very informative, educational e-newsletter
Subscription to Trails – our popular full-color print newsletter
Tread Lightly! Membership Sticker
Member Discount in Tread Lightly!’s Store
Eligibility to apply for a Tread Lightly! Cleanups by Quadratec grant.
Receive 20% off your ENTIRE Goal Zero purchase.
$10 credit to The Clymb when you sign up at http://www.theclymb.com/treadlightly
A $100 mail-in rebate on WildPeak A/T tires from Falken Tire. Download the rebate form here.**
$50 mail-in rebate with purchase of a set of four tires or $100 mail-in rebate on a set of four tires and wheels from Discount Tire.
20% off a subscription to OutdoorX4–email treadlightly@treadlightly.org for rebate code.
$50 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
All of the above benefits and
2014 Member T-shirt
$100 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
All of the above benefits and
Eligibility to receive the Affiliate Rewards Program Preferred Price (1% below factory invoice) on the purchase or lease of most new Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Dodge, SRT and FIAT vehicles. The Preferred Price – combined with current incentives – can be up to thousands of dollars off the Manufacture’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).
We are not permitted to release the Chrysler company code for the control number over the phone or through email. These codes will be included in the letter that is mailed out in your membership packet. No exceptions can be made. Please note that according to Chrysler policy, you must be a member for at least 30 days to qualify for the Chrysler Affiliate Rewards new vehicle discount. Thank you for your cooperation and patience, and thank you for supporting Tread Lightly!

[Kurt]

You may also want to check out Truecar.com
Used it when we bought our last car. Straight forward low pricing and no dealer price games

[schwalby]

Well he didn't wait. PIA old man.

http://www.bonnevilleson.net/new/Jeep/2 ... fdf662.htm

But looks like it has everything you guys recommended.

So for mods. What is the next size tire up? A/Ts is what I am thinking so what makes a good one. This will see 90% or more street. (No jokes about my Jeep) And evap skid?

Sorry for some of these questions seeming redundant from other threads it is just his use is a bit different. He just needs a tiny bit of improvements and this Jeep will never be built all that big.

[RalphTomaccio]

For his needs, the Goodyear Duratracs should be more than sufficient in 33". Although I don't run them, I've heard nothing but good things about them. Very quiet! The only negative I've heard as that the sidewalls are only two ply. Not ideal for rocks, but for him they should be more than adequate.

There are a lot of evap skids out there, but you my want to consider a relocation kit. I have a Rock Hard evap relocation kit and it moves it above the rear axle, totally protected. They are the same price as skids, about $100.00 - $120.00.

[BlackNBlue-ISH]

I recommend General Grabber AT2's. They are what i'm currently running on mine and they do everything other then mud. Mine have been on the jeep for about 25k at this point and they aren't even down to 50% yet. They hold traction on dry/wet/slushy/snowy roads no problem. They also do very well off road. They were well priced when i priced them out last year.

[Yipjeep]

I really am not sure why there is such a push for the evap relocation or a stronger skid. In the 2012 and up JKs Jeep added a thin skid to protect the evap. Plus my understanding is if you relocate the evap canister you are not protected under warranty for that particular part or anything it may impact. The only skid I could see needed on a JK that will see STOCK or slightly moderate trails is an oil pan skid. The gas tank skid, transfer skid, and evap skid should work great for what was described as potential trails. If he decides to do more moderate or hard trails then upgrade at that time after the stock skids are beaten. I know we all haven't wheeled together, but with my 2012 JKU I have yet to damage my evap skid.

I have no experience with the Grabber AT2. I've seen Dan wheel and those tires grabbed pretty good. I have had 285/70/17 Duractracs on my JKU for just under two years. I have wheeled them in rocks no problem. I pick my line and make sure the tread grabs rock, rather than the sidewall. I purchased road hazard with the tires as a precaution so if a sidewall was punctured I could use the insurance. I've put about 40,000 miles on the tires already. This is my daily driver. Rotate every 5,000 miles and keep aligned the tires will wear well. I still have just under 50% left. Unfortunately this size Duratrac will rub on stock tires unless spacer is added. There are a few people running the Cooper ST Maxx and like them. Good luck on tires.

[Frank]

Josh : I went from GoodYear wrangler RTS to the ATS and saw quite an improvement in snow , wet , and dry traction. Got 57k out of the RTS into 37k ish on the ATS. Dead quiet and balance perfect. I really wouldnt worry about what tire he picks . Even when you own it latter , Its only going to the mall ! Couldnt resist Dude. Nice color Dude , I got left over poke you in the eye yellow ? FjR68

[Hoodoo Man]

I am currently running the 33" duratracs on my JK. Only rubbing so far is on the air dam in the front look pretty good but my JK is a DD and not wheeled. they are fairly quite and only knocked my milage down from 17 to 16mpg and that is with a lot of 70-80mph highway use so its not coddled. with the 3.73 I can still pass easily with my 6 speed. Got a good deal on them at Town fair tire for rims and wheels.. took a fair bit to balance them though...

[schwalby]

Once I own it most likely it will get sold so Frank.

I got to look at it late last night when I finally got home and I'm sorry if anyone likes the Sahara but they are ugly. I am hoping he will let me take those fenders off and get rid of the 18" aluminum wheels.