Could you tell us what your reasons for wanting a locker are? It would help us to give you better advice.
Are you talking just improved traction in the snow? If so, you really ought to consider limited slip rather than a full locker.
Are you going to be going off road?
One thing about a locker is that the Jeep will move laterally to the downhill side when both tires are spinning. So, if you are even just a little bit off camber, you can count on the end of the Jeep with the locker to shift to the low side when those tires are spinning. Not a thing you can do about it either, unless you have a selectable locker, and then you can turn it off.
Man, after getting my rear locker and going off roading for the first time with a locked rear end, I was amazed at how little slope it took to get the rear end to shift to the lower side. I was going through a big open area of mud, and when the back tires spun, the rear end shifted over. I would have sworn I was on level ground, but there was just a little bit of slope.
With an open differential, that tire that is not spinning isn't giving you any forward bite, but it is serving as an anchor to keep the rear end from sliding to the downhill side. When BOTH tires spin, there is nothing to hold the rear end on the sidehill slope, and gravity takes over, pulling the rear to the low side.
You might want to check out the Powertrax no-slip traction system by Richmond Gear (not to be confused with the Lock-rite). It's really a locker but doesn't have the quirkiness of most lockers. I put one in my 2002 TJ a few months ago and I don't even know it's there except on very tight turns (tire-chirp). No snapping or clunking from drivetrain load-up. I haven't had a chance to really test it much off road but I definitely have better traction in the deep Wisconsin snow (I do a lot of ice fishing). As for normal on road drivability I don't see much difference from a limited slip diff (don't goose it on icy turns). The main reason I decided to try Powertrax is that they are lower in cost than the Detroits and supposed to be just as durable. Can't wait for some hefty off-road challenges, gotta wait for some of this white stuff to melt.
I'm really stumped. I can't imagine that you would buy a Hummer and the only other thing I could come up with would be some type of pickup. Any of the pickups I've ever driven take 40 acres to turn around. Am I ever curious now!
By the way, my other half drove GiGi home before me and said that the soft top won't keep you warm when the thermometer gets down to about 10 below (farenheit). But it did OK on the roads that were totally ice covered. It's probably a good thing I live in SoCal instead of the Wyoming plains!
theres only one real Hummer...the Hummvee...and then theres that other thing, for that other thing we have jeeps to "help" them back on to the road/trail
yup, the "H" 2 is an insult to the Hummer namesake. In my town their are a bunch of soccer-moms out driving the H2. they are obnoxious drivers in the first place and when their in the tank their just as likely to run you off the road, which when in a wrangler aint that bad a place to be...too bad the H2 can't follow
I never drove the Hummvee when I was in - they were just phasing them in when I got out.
Being from SoCal warps my view of the hummer, both the H1 and H2. The only hummers I seem to see are H2's, bright and shiney and look like they've never seen a forest service road, much less an off-road situation. In some cases they drive like they left their good sense at the dealership. Since you've always been a Jeep person, I just didn't imagine you in a Hummer.
Having said that, I read about the design specs the Army came up with for the original hummer and was REALLY impressed. It was designed to be the ultimate off-road machine.
Congrats on the new H1. You still have the Jeep, right? So now you are in a position to do "comparison research". You could probably start you own Reality Show. "Jeep vs the Hummer". How do you decide on which vehicle to drive on any particular day? Which one do you wash first? Which dash do you allow to collect the most dust,etc. Its endless. I think your life just took a turn into total confusion:) Good luck and have fun. John
........Having said that, I read about the design specs the Army came up with for the original hummer and was REALLY impressed. It was designed to be the ultimate off-road machine......
That's the reason I bought it, not for the image :--)
It's such an impressive design, and so capable......just like a Jeep is! It will go places a Jeep won't go, but the reverse is true also.
The civilian version differs very little from the military one. Mainly it's items concerning street legality such as lighting etc., comfort features like a/c, seating, sound system etc., and the civvy version has different paint and a 24 volt electrical system. In fact, pretty much the same differences that used to be between a military and civilian Jeep.
I'll keep it clean and shiny when it's on the road, but I promise not to go cruising any malls!
I'm like you - wish we would get some more snow. These 70's temperatures just aren't right for winter.
I still haven't had enough of winter yet (in spite of the week I spent in Wyoming), so I've been envious of the snow the northeast is getting. They are talking about more rain tomorrow or Wednesday but the snow level will be well above us (sigh).
I hope all you folks in the east are safe, dry and warm. And happy you have a 4x4 Jeep to get you where you are going!
So did you get the yellow? Do H1 drivers wave at each other or salute:) Alot of humorous material here. I have not seen this much activity on this board in awhile. Leather seats? Heated? Did it come with a built in blender or microwave? Sorry, getting carried away. When I was in the military it was just Jeeps. It certainly has changed. MTNGAL-What branch of the military were you in and when? Go Easy and enjoy your new ride. Always exciting to have a new vehicle. John
No, it's a red one! Buying pre-owned, the choice of color became secondary to price and condition. Having said that, a yellow one would have had to have been really good value for it to be sitting in my driveway now!
No blender :--) but I can adjust the tire pressures as I drive along. To try and keep a little on topic, it's a bit like a Jeep on steroids.
bet all of you guys thought ole bama left the country. nawww, Wife & I opened another restaurant, now we have 2 to take care of, These 10-12 hour days 6 days a week get LOOONG. But I feel good about it. Business is good could be better but thats the nature of the biz.
tazz is doing well, still having "engine" light problems, also the runnind & turn signal lights quit on me. Water got inside & rusted all of it out. Need to replace the whole thing.
Other than that TAZZ is good. Still no complaints. Hopefully should have him all paid for by the end of this year.
I may have missed it, but which cab config did you get? I'm very jealous of the CTIS and the clearance on portals. Sounds like a fun rig, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
When you first started describing it (I caught up on about 40 posts today), I was thinking Moog or Pinz, but when you got to heated leather seats and USA built, those were out.
Hey, bama! I was asking about you this past summer during all the hurricanes and bad weather down your way. Glad to hear you are OK and doing well.
John - I was in the Army, got out in 1986. And yes, the first Jeep I ever drove was OD green camo.
Mac - my other half wondered if the H1's gas mileage is as bad as we've heard it is. It probably makes the Wrangler look like a Prius next to it, right?
Finally, I think the auto dimming mirror is going a bit haywire. It dims during the day, especially very late afternoon (turns everything kind of green). The temp/compass is hard to read sometimes. I don't remember it doing that when we first got it - any ideas? I don't know how they work, so don't know if this is normal.
The sort of reminds me of Tom's pics, but it's from our own 2005 Jeep Photo Gallery. I suppose there are a few more trees in Kentucky.
Mac & Mtngal, the Army's contract with AM General for the H1 is up in 2007; I don't know if Jeep was at the proving grounds recently proposing anything. The news link is at the newly reopened Hummer H1 discussion (lol, couldn't resist trying for a few more posts in there Mac).
I like that Jeep photo just the way it is. Those red rocks look like Utah, one of my favorite states to visit, though I haven't managed to make it to Moab yet.
It will be interesting to see what the Army ends up buying to replace the Hummer. While extra protection is great, especially for certain types of conflicts, it can get in the way of maneuverability. And that's important, no matter what.
I have a 2004 Rubicon and do not understand the axle locks.Why would you lock one and not both,and when would it make sense to use them?I have never taken it off road and got it last april-mainly a summer car,now have almost 500 miles.Also,should i change the oil now since it has been almost a year?
Going back to post #1526 and reading that question and the next few posts should give you some insight.
The biggest disadvantage of locking the front axle is that it severely affects your ability to steer. Other than that, you can use it whenever you have to lock the rear.
Absolutely you should change the oil. It will have accumulated contamination from condensation and blow-by from the pistons. A good rule of thumb is 3000 miles or three months, whichever comes first. Also, change it before you lay it up for the winter, and again when you bring it back into service in the spring. Oil is very cheap compared to the cost of engine repairs.
It's an open top (which really means soft top), as opposed to the wagon, here's a pic:
There used to be a hard top but it stopped being available in '01.
The CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System) is an excellent feature which also allows you to hook up an external air hose to inflate other things. It doesn't quite have enough volume to run air tools though.
The portal axles really defeat any argument against independent suspension. The Pintzgauer and Unimog are excellent machines, and a Mog RV makes the ultimate expedition vehicle. However, they're not too common over here, and while I don't get fanatical about it I do prefer to a vehicle if it's American made and built and has the qualities I want.
...Mac - my other half wondered if the H1's gas mileage is as bad as we've heard it is. It probably makes the Wrangler look like a Prius next to it, right?...
Should really say fuel milage as it's a diesel :--)! We got 13 mpg running at around 70 mph for 1500 miles on the way home. The Jeep 14 mpg so we're happy with that.
It's only six inches taller than the Wrangler but a lot wider, 86" vs. 66" and a lot longer, 185" vs. 155". Make it look like the Jeep's big brother rather than making the Jeep look puny.
....Finally, I think the auto dimming mirror is going a bit haywire......
Could be a warranty problem, but have you tried switching the auto dimming off? It cold be being confused by the low sun at this time of year. Just switch it back on at night. If it's the same as mine (in the H1) you can turn the dimming on and off and set the compass for different magnetic zones. You can also switch between ºF & ºC temp readings.
Thanks Mac-i figured I should change the oil by now-just didnt think I still needed to follow the 3 month rule with such low miles.I do start it now and then and let it run for a bit even if I dont take it out.It stays inside so I didnt think the condensation would be an issue,but oil is pretty cheap so I should just do it.
I was thinking like Mtngal...thought it might be farm equip of some kind. Looks great by the way!
If you all thought the H2 made you cringe, just wait for the H3. They're ruining the Hummer name.
Mtngal, I'll gladly give you some of this snow we got! We're supposed to get another 3-5" tonight or tomorrow. Speaking of snow... I've noticed my TJ slides around quite a bit more on the snow than my Cherokee did. I keep forgetting how much lighter the Wrangler is. I imagine the 31 x 10 tires dont help either!
....... for all your positive responses to my new H1. It's a reflection of the different attitude people have here on the Wrangler forum. I'm sure that if I posted about my new Dodge Power Wagon on say, a Ford Truck forum, the response would be quite different. Kudos to the hosts too, for not stepping in :--)
Just did a search of this forum for discussions of this topic and came out with no definitive answer so here goes (I apologize ahead of time if this is too repetitive or ignorant sounding!):
As someone who has never owned a Jeep but may become an Unlimited owner later this year (God-willing!), I am wondering what Jeepers opinions are of the Softop vs. Hardtop IN THE COLD CLIMATES. I am located where winter (read: cold + snow) begins in Nov. and ends in April so therefore am wondering if the Hardtop is necessary for 1. warmth, and 2. safety (in the case of other drivers hitting a Jeep) since we have to kids that would be riding in the back daily.
I have read Tom, mtngal's and others (Thanks!) posts about the difficulty in getting the hardtop off due to weight and size plus it's storage, therefore I am more interested in the thoughts of daily driving experiences re: the tops.
Any and all thoughts are truly appreciated as this will help guide me in future purchase!
So far my husband doesn't like the soft top at all. I'm hoping that he might change his mind a bit come summer when I'll at least use the sunrider option on the Unlimited and probably take the top down at least once.
Both tops provide very little insulation. But the Jeep has a very good heater. However, my other half said that the soft top couldn't keep up with extreme cold - like around minus 10 (farenheit) when he was driving across part of Wyoming recently (we've never driven the hard top Sport in that type of weather - it is rarely below 10 degrees where we live). It has been perfectly comfortable to me when the outside thermometer said zero.
I don't think there is any difference safety-wise. The hard top is essentially a fiberglass shell bolted on - about the only difference is with the type of material. The hard top has the advantage that it can't be damaged by a pair of scissors and is definitely more secure than the soft top (why lock a vehicle when all you have to do is work the zipper?).
My biggest complaint with the soft top is the back window's bar. I'm very used to being able to just flip up the hard top's window when I want to load the back. If it is cold, getting that bar free is difficult (not the bar itself, but the keepers at the bottom).
Another thing - the soft top's window can't be scraped to remove ice. You just have to wait until it melts. The hard top has a back window defroster and a wiper.
So it comes down to personal preference and what you want to put up with. If you are going to be carting alot of stuff in the back you might want to stick with the hard top. If your weather is below 0 much of the time, or if you need to see out the rear right away, I'd probably opt for the hard top also. Otherwise get which one you like.
.......so therefore am wondering if the Hardtop is necessary for 1. warmth, and 2. safety (in the case of other drivers hitting a Jeep) since we have to kids that would be riding in the back daily........
Unfortunately it's a "no" on both counts. On 1., see mtngal's post, and on 2., see the sticker inside the hardtop.
However, in your climatic situation a hardtop may be the way to go, if only for its ability to possibly carry a greater snow load, the ease of opening the rear window, and the convenience of the rear screen heater and wiper.
The main advantage of a soft top is the ability to remove it, or parts of it, easily and quickly. If you don't intend to do that on a regular basis, then you might as well have the hard top.
I would think that the weather and the convenience factor will probably sway your decision, but just like choosing a body color, there really is no 'right' answer.
I live in Illinois, we have cold winters, and some snow (usually wet, heavy and 6" when it happens)
I was not quite as impressed with the heater in my jeep as others have wrote. I bought a thinsulate liner on EBAY and have been much happier the past couple weeks.
Cost / Benefits of Hard Top vs Soft Top.
I bought mine with a hard top, with intentions of buying an aftermarket soft top, (I just bought an OEM soft top so I have both) Now I'm thinking I might have been a few $$ ahead if I had got the jeep with a soft top and tried it over the the winter to see how it behaved. There are lots of people that get by fine with only a soft top.
I don’t have the unlimited; however, I do have a Wrangler.
I got my Wrangler with both tops and have found there are positives and negatives to both. Here is what I found: The hard top is the best for my taste around town. Because I have a garage and was able to built a hoist with a winch system in it, making it very easy to take the top on and off by myself. On E-Bay you can buy a quilted liner which will insulate better from the elements. I have found that in winter I rarely, if ever, take the top off and, as Mtngal points out, getting thing in and out of the back is sooooo much easier with hard top. The soft window is a pain to deal with. On the other hand if you take a trip and want to be topless the soft top works best.
The soft top is definitely more portable, therefore if you are on the road and need protection form the elements you can easily put it up. I suggest buying a window roll on e-bay for around $70.00. You can store the windows on the folded top, taking up less storage area.
No matter which top you go with a recommend the purchase of a bikini top (I prefer the Safari style). Because, if you are like me, when the weather warms up, most of the time you will topless (maybe you won’t buy I am), and in So Cal. it is a must that you have protection form the sun.
To all those who responded about the tops - a huge Thanks!
I think I will just get the hard top, and buy an aftermarket soft top. I too have a garage to store the future Jeep and will also go the hard top hoist route as did gman1259...
Now, what is everyones take on the Sentry Key option - is it worth the money?
I don't have it, not any choice of mine, it just wasnt' on the jeep that the dealership had at the time I was ready to buy.
when I was getting my remote starter installed, they made a big deal of finding out if I had a security key. I'm not sure what the issue is,, but if it was between a remote starter and a security key. I'd take the remote starter anyday. I love having that baby warmed up by the time I head out the back door to go to work.
Comments
Are you talking just improved traction in the snow? If so, you really ought to consider limited slip rather than a full locker.
Are you going to be going off road?
One thing about a locker is that the Jeep will move laterally to the downhill side when both tires are spinning. So, if you are even just a little bit off camber, you can count on the end of the Jeep with the locker to shift to the low side when those tires are spinning. Not a thing you can do about it either, unless you have a selectable locker, and then you can turn it off.
Man, after getting my rear locker and going off roading for the first time with a locked rear end, I was amazed at how little slope it took to get the rear end to shift to the lower side. I was going through a big open area of mud, and when the back tires spun, the rear end shifted over. I would have sworn I was on level ground, but there was just a little bit of slope.
With an open differential, that tire that is not spinning isn't giving you any forward bite, but it is serving as an anchor to keep the rear end from sliding to the downhill side. When BOTH tires spin, there is nothing to hold the rear end on the sidehill slope, and gravity takes over, pulling the rear to the low side.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
It's built here in the US by an american company.
An interesting occurance when in an open area.........downright scary when on a narrow hillside track with big drop off!
By the way, my other half drove GiGi home before me and said that the soft top won't keep you warm when the thermometer gets down to about 10 below (farenheit). But it did OK on the roads that were totally ice covered. It's probably a good thing I live in SoCal instead of the Wyoming plains!
Not sure why you couldn't imagine me in a Hummer, but yes, it's an H1 (not an H2!).
Did you ever drive the Hummvee when you were in the military?
:--)
Being from SoCal warps my view of the hummer, both the H1 and H2. The only hummers I seem to see are H2's, bright and shiney and look like they've never seen a forest service road, much less an off-road situation. In some cases they drive like they left their good sense at the dealership. Since you've always been a Jeep person, I just didn't imagine you in a Hummer.
Having said that, I read about the design specs the Army came up with for the original hummer and was REALLY impressed. It was designed to be the ultimate off-road machine.
That's the reason I bought it, not for the image :--)
It's such an impressive design, and so capable......just like a Jeep is! It will go places a Jeep won't go, but the reverse is true also.
The civilian version differs very little from the military one. Mainly it's items concerning street legality such as lighting etc., comfort features like a/c, seating, sound system etc., and the civvy version has different paint and a 24 volt electrical system. In fact, pretty much the same differences that used to be between a military and civilian Jeep.
I'll keep it clean and shiny when it's on the road, but I promise not to go cruising any malls!
:--)
Having to decide which vehicle to drive, which one to clean first......... it's going to be tough but I guess I can handle it!
;--)
Steve, Host
I still haven't had enough of winter yet (in spite of the week I spent in Wyoming), so I've been envious of the snow the northeast is getting. They are talking about more rain tomorrow or Wednesday but the snow level will be well above us (sigh).
I hope all you folks in the east are safe, dry and warm. And happy you have a 4x4 Jeep to get you where you are going!
I have to admit that I'd be kind of embarrassed to be seen driving an H2.
;--)
No blender :--) but I can adjust the tire pressures as I drive along. To try and keep a little on topic, it's a bit like a Jeep on steroids.
bet all of you guys thought ole bama left the country. nawww, Wife & I opened another restaurant, now we have 2 to take care of, These 10-12 hour days 6 days a week get LOOONG. But I feel good about it. Business is good could be better but thats the nature of the biz.
tazz is doing well, still having "engine" light problems, also the runnind & turn signal lights quit on me. Water got inside & rusted all of it out. Need to replace the whole thing.
Other than that TAZZ is good. Still no complaints. Hopefully should have him all paid for by the end of this year.
KEEP JEEPIN & ROLL TIDE
BAMATAZZ
Steve, Host
Now if you ever make down south I will let ya try REAL BBQ!!
See ya
BT
When you first started describing it (I caught up on about 40 posts today), I was thinking Moog or Pinz, but when you got to heated leather seats and USA built, those were out.
-twylie
John - I was in the Army, got out in 1986. And yes, the first Jeep I ever drove was OD green camo.
Mac - my other half wondered if the H1's gas mileage is as bad as we've heard it is. It probably makes the Wrangler look like a Prius next to it, right?
Finally, I think the auto dimming mirror is going a bit haywire. It dims during the day, especially very late afternoon (turns everything kind of green). The temp/compass is hard to read sometimes. I don't remember it doing that when we first got it - any ideas? I don't know how they work, so don't know if this is normal.
Mac & Mtngal, the Army's contract with AM General for the H1 is up in 2007; I don't know if Jeep was at the proving grounds recently proposing anything. The news link is at the newly reopened Hummer H1 discussion (lol, couldn't resist trying for a few more posts in there Mac).
Steve, Host
Get some good, reliable help, and start taking a litte time away from those restaurants! Life's too short.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
It will be interesting to see what the Army ends up buying to replace the Hummer. While extra protection is great, especially for certain types of conflicts, it can get in the way of maneuverability. And that's important, no matter what.
The biggest disadvantage of locking the front axle is that it severely affects your ability to steer. Other than that, you can use it whenever you have to lock the rear.
Absolutely you should change the oil. It will have accumulated contamination from condensation and blow-by from the pistons. A good rule of thumb is 3000 miles or three months, whichever comes first. Also, change it before you lay it up for the winter, and again when you bring it back into service in the spring. Oil is very cheap compared to the cost of engine repairs.
There used to be a hard top but it stopped being available in '01.
The CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System) is an excellent feature which also allows you to hook up an external air hose to inflate other things. It doesn't quite have enough volume to run air tools though.
The portal axles really defeat any argument against independent suspension. The Pintzgauer and Unimog are excellent machines, and a Mog RV makes the ultimate expedition vehicle. However, they're not too common over here, and while I don't get fanatical about it I do prefer to a vehicle if it's American made and built and has the qualities I want.
Should really say fuel milage as it's a diesel :--)! We got 13 mpg running at around 70 mph for 1500 miles on the way home. The Jeep 14 mpg so we're happy with that.
It's only six inches taller than the Wrangler but a lot wider, 86" vs. 66" and a lot longer, 185" vs. 155". Make it look like the Jeep's big brother rather than making the Jeep look puny.
....Finally, I think the auto dimming mirror is going a bit haywire......
Could be a warranty problem, but have you tried switching the auto dimming off? It cold be being confused by the low sun at this time of year. Just switch it back on at night. If it's the same as mine (in the H1) you can turn the dimming on and off and set the compass for different magnetic zones. You can also switch between ºF & ºC temp readings.
Thanks for opening the H1 board. It'll be interesting to see what happens in '07.
Please note that I've been trying to include atleast some Jeep relevance in my H1 posts!
:--)
How about a side by side picture of Big Brother and Little Brother??
I was hoping you would say that the milage was gallons / mile rather than miles / gallon. I needed a reason to never think of buying one.
13 / 14 is really good considering the size of that vehicle!
Jeff
-Pete
If you all thought the H2 made you cringe, just wait for the H3. They're ruining the Hummer name.
Mtngal, I'll gladly give you some of this snow we got! We're supposed to get another 3-5" tonight or tomorrow. Speaking of snow... I've noticed my TJ slides around quite a bit more on the snow than my Cherokee did. I keep forgetting how much lighter the Wrangler is. I imagine the 31 x 10 tires dont help either!
-Dan
A certain amount of vehicle comparison is to be expected! :-)
tidester, host
As someone who has never owned a Jeep but may become an Unlimited owner later this year (God-willing!), I am wondering what Jeepers opinions are of the Softop vs. Hardtop IN THE COLD CLIMATES. I am located where winter (read: cold + snow) begins in Nov. and ends in April so therefore am wondering if the Hardtop is necessary for 1. warmth, and 2. safety (in the case of other drivers hitting a Jeep) since we have to kids that would be riding in the back daily.
I have read Tom, mtngal's and others (Thanks!) posts about the difficulty in getting the hardtop off due to weight and size plus it's storage, therefore I am more interested in the thoughts of daily driving experiences re: the tops.
Any and all thoughts are truly appreciated as this will help guide me in future purchase!
-Paul
Both tops provide very little insulation. But the Jeep has a very good heater. However, my other half said that the soft top couldn't keep up with extreme cold - like around minus 10 (farenheit) when he was driving across part of Wyoming recently (we've never driven the hard top Sport in that type of weather - it is rarely below 10 degrees where we live). It has been perfectly comfortable to me when the outside thermometer said zero.
I don't think there is any difference safety-wise. The hard top is essentially a fiberglass shell bolted on - about the only difference is with the type of material. The hard top has the advantage that it can't be damaged by a pair of scissors and is definitely more secure than the soft top (why lock a vehicle when all you have to do is work the zipper?).
My biggest complaint with the soft top is the back window's bar. I'm very used to being able to just flip up the hard top's window when I want to load the back. If it is cold, getting that bar free is difficult (not the bar itself, but the keepers at the bottom).
Another thing - the soft top's window can't be scraped to remove ice. You just have to wait until it melts. The hard top has a back window defroster and a wiper.
So it comes down to personal preference and what you want to put up with. If you are going to be carting alot of stuff in the back you might want to stick with the hard top. If your weather is below 0 much of the time, or if you need to see out the rear right away, I'd probably opt for the hard top also. Otherwise get which one you like.
Unfortunately it's a "no" on both counts. On 1., see mtngal's post, and on 2., see the sticker inside the hardtop.
However, in your climatic situation a hardtop may be the way to go, if only for its ability to possibly carry a greater snow load, the ease of opening the rear window, and the convenience of the rear screen heater and wiper.
The main advantage of a soft top is the ability to remove it, or parts of it, easily and quickly. If you don't intend to do that on a regular basis, then you might as well have the hard top.
I would think that the weather and the convenience factor will probably sway your decision, but just like choosing a body color, there really is no 'right' answer.
I live in Illinois, we have cold winters, and some snow (usually wet, heavy and 6" when it happens)
I was not quite as impressed with the heater in my jeep as others have wrote. I bought a thinsulate liner on EBAY and have been much happier the past couple weeks.
Cost / Benefits of Hard Top vs Soft Top.
I bought mine with a hard top, with intentions of buying an aftermarket soft top, (I just bought an OEM soft top so I have both) Now I'm thinking I might have been a few $$ ahead if I had got the jeep with a soft top and tried it over the the winter to see how it behaved. There are lots of people that get by fine with only a soft top.
jeff
I got my Wrangler with both tops and have found there are positives and negatives to both. Here is what I found: The hard top is the best for my taste around town. Because I have a garage and was able to built a hoist with a winch system in it, making it very easy to take the top on and off by myself. On E-Bay you can buy a quilted liner which will insulate better from the elements. I have found that in winter I rarely, if ever, take the top off and, as Mtngal points out, getting thing in and out of the back is sooooo much easier with hard top. The soft window is a pain to deal with. On the other hand if you take a trip and want to be topless the soft top works best.
The soft top is definitely more portable, therefore if you are on the road and need protection form the elements you can easily put it up. I suggest buying a window roll on e-bay for around $70.00. You can store the windows on the folded top, taking up less storage area.
No matter which top you go with a recommend the purchase of a bikini top (I prefer the Safari style). Because, if you are like me, when the weather warms up, most of the time you will topless (maybe you won’t buy I am), and in So Cal. it is a must that you have protection form the sun.
Good luck
I think I will just get the hard top, and buy an aftermarket soft top. I too have a garage to store the future Jeep and will also go the hard top hoist route as did gman1259...
Now, what is everyones take on the Sentry Key option - is it worth the money?
Absolutely, no question! Can't think of a single reason not to.
when I was getting my remote starter installed, they made a big deal of finding out if I had a security key. I'm not sure what the issue is,, but if it was between a remote starter and a security key. I'd take the remote starter anyday. I love having that baby warmed up by the time I head out the back door to go to work.
jeff