The 7 Things to Not Do With Your Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a fun and durable SUV, and treated right it can get you to the ends of the Earth and more importantly, get you back. That being said, here are some things you ought to avoid doing with it.
1. Don't Drive it in 4WD on Dry Pavement
The Jeep Wrangler 4x4 system is optimized to get over and through the toughest mud, sand, ice, snow, and other obstacles, but dry pavement can seriously cause problems for it. Activating your part-time 4WD on dry pavement where it has too much traction is bad for the hard parts, not to mention how it wears out your tires extremely fast. When you are turning corners, the outside wheels travel a further distance than the inside wheels, which means they must go at different speeds, and the front and rear wheels follow different paths. Activating all four wheels, locks the front and back together, this affects your handling as the wheels need to rotate at different speeds to corner properly. Keep the 4WD for slippery situations, and drive your Wrangler normally on the road in 2WD.
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2. Don't Get Suckered Into Modifications
The Wrangler can be modified, and that is part of the draw of owning one for most people. But you can start out small, with practical improvements, then it can be modified, then some more, and the modifications may never stop. First, you put on add a body lift, then aggressive wheels and tires, then the grille guard, next you will want jerry cans and a spare on the back, then rock rails, then auxiliary lighting, and the list goes on. Before you know it, your Wrangler weighs 500 pounds more, and you need to gear it up to get it moving with all that weight. Now, not only does your wallet weigh less from all the parts, but your fuel economy is in the single digits too. Be smart, be honest with yourself, and only get the modification you absolutely need. Don't be a mall crawler.
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3. Don't Put the Pedal to the Metal
The Wrangler does not have the acceleration capabilities of powerful SUVs, but it makes up for it in numerous other ways, mostly off-road. Drive a Wrangler expecting it to accelerate with sportier cars on the road will burn a lot of gas, and it obviously is not made to corner with low-riding passenger cars. The Wrangler can be decent on gas if you drive it wisely, but it could be an absolute wallet monster eating your hard-earned money like it grows on trees if you insist on driving it fast. Slow down, enjoy the view with the doors off, and use the Wrangler the way it is intended.
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4. Don't Drive it Like a Tank
Let's face it, the Wrangler could go over almost anything, but this doesn't mean we should do it. Keep your tires on the road, and don't go over curbs, lawns, sidewalks, roundabouts, or other cars. It may be fun, but it can cost you a big, fat, hefty ticket, not to mention damage your tires. As much fun as it sounds to drive over obstacles, keep that for your next off-road excursion.
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5. Don't Go Mudding Without the Top
Although the Wrangler has a mostly weatherproof interior, and even though you can easily wash the inside of it, you would be surprised at how difficult it is to clean mud out of all the tiny corners and holes inside the cockpit. Take the top off when you want to enjoy a nice, sunny drive on or off-road, but for the sake of your time, effort, and Jeep, keep it on if you expect to encounter any deep mud.
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6. Don't Treat it Like a Sports Car
The Wrangler is good-looking, in its own tough, high-riding, boxy SUV way. With a structure like that, this vehicle cannot handle fast turns like even your average Toyota Camry. Just like you can't drive a Corvette off-road, don't expect to take the turns fast in a Wrangler either. The last thing you want is to spend hours trying to explain why your Jeep is upside down. Take your turns slowly and keep all four wheels on the ground.
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7. Don't Get Road Rage
Spider-Man taught us that with great power comes great responsibility; well, the Wrangler's toughness is its great power, so be responsible. When your average Prius driver cuts you off, do not Hulk out, instead, just take a few deep breaths, and weigh your options. Although your Wrangler can treat any compact car like a speed bump on the road, having an awesome jeep is not a defense the judge will accept for such behavior.
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If you do try some of these things and need to put things right again, the how-to section of JK-Forum.com can help.