JEEP WRANGLER (JL)

OVERVIEW

Manufacturer: FCA US (Jeep division)
Production: November 2017–present
Model years: 2018–present
Assembly: Toledo, Ohio, United States (Toledo Complex)
Designer: Mark Allen (exterior: 2014) Ryan Patrick Joyce (interior: 2014)

• Body and Chassis:

Class: Mid-size SUV
Body style: 2-door convertible SUV with removable roof and doors, 4-door convertible SUV with removable roof and doors
Related: Jeep Gladiator (JT)

• Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 96.8 in (2,459 mm) (2-door), 118.4 in (3,007 mm) (4-door)
Length: 166.8 in (4,237 mm) (2-door), 188.4 in (4,785 mm) (4-door)
Width: 73.9 in (1,877 mm)
Height: 70.9 in (1,801 mm)

HISTORY

Depending on who you ask and when Jeep’s Wrangler either stands as a pansy poseur off-roader that spelled the classic CJ line’s demise in the mid-1980s, or it’s the icon of the Jeep brand. There is some truth to both assessments, but in reality the Wrangler is simply another member of the lineage that started when the first so-called Jeep vehicles, which were built by entities as varied as Ford and Willys, bounced the Allies to victory across war-torn Europe and the Pacific islands in the 1940s. The Jeep was a perfect addition to America’s war arsenal, and when the conflict ended, it found a place as a useful addition to farmers’ tractor arsenals, before eventually becoming an addition to regular folks’ style arsenals. The Wrangler, in particular, translated the CJ line’s incredible brand power and capability into a more street-friendly package, and today it carries the torch as Jeep’s most Jeep-like model. This is how it happened.

The Jeep Wrangler (JL) is the fourth generation of the Wrangler off-road vehicle, available in two- and four-door bodies. Unveiled at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 29, 2017, production of the vehicle began in November 2017.

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE WRANGLER

Crossovers utilize a car-like unit body construction that reduces weight and greatly improves handling and road comfort. However, this comes at the cost of ruggedness and off-road performance. For buyers enamored with the idea of a go-anywhere and do-anything SUV, the shopping process can pretty much start and stop with the 2020 Jeep Wrangler.

The Wrangler has long been the darling of off-road enthusiasts thanks to its rugged design and considerable aftermarket support. Jeep even offers the popular off-road-focused Rubicon trim level that comes straight from the factory with features such as big all-terrain tires, lockable differentials and a front electronically disconnecting stabilizer bar.

This latest generation JL Wrangler is appealing in other ways besides just rock-crawling ability. Though it employs traditional body-on-frame construction, the Wrangler is still perfectly livable even if you never venture off pavement. The seats are supportive, the driving position is comfortable, and the cabin materials are substantially nicer than in previous-generation Wranglers. Finally, there’s the Wrangler’s iconic style and removable top, which no other SUV can match.

Certainly, the Wrangler isn’t for everyone. It’s noisier, stiffer-riding and less utilitarian than other similarly priced crossovers and SUVs. But if you want capability and personality, the Jeep Wrangler is the best there is.

DESIGN

The 2-door Wrangler and 4-door Wrangler Unlimited feature an exterior design that is reminiscent of the 1997–2006 Wrangler (TJ), with a “raked” front grille with seven vertical slots and round headlamps that integrate into the front grille. The designers have moved the traditional Jeep logo off the grille.

The Wrangler has retained a body-on-frame construction and solid axles. The vehicle is offered with three different four-wheel drive systems: Command-Trac, Selec-Trac and Rock-Trac. Options available on all JL models (except Rubicon) include an anti-spin rear differential. The JL is designed to be more comfortable on-road[5] and has recirculating ball steering with electric power assistance.

The Wrangler is 2.5 inches longer overall than before, while the Wrangler Unlimited has grown by 3.5 inches. The new Wrangler is roughly 90 kilograms (200 pounds) lighter than the Wrangler JK. Overhangs increase significantly with the new model having 29.2 and 40.8 inches front and rear.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR WRANGLER?

• Washing:

The obvious place to start is with washing. If you and your Jeep play it safe and never venture off-road, then this part of the equation does not need to be over thought. But if you like getting down and dirty with your Jeep and prefer the “Do-it-Yourself” route, then an electric pressure washer is a must have.

A few tricks when your car comes to excessively dirty cars/trucks/Jeeps:

• All-purpose Cleaning Concentrate
• Garden Sprayer
• Tire and Wheel Brushes
• Waxing:

Waxing your Jeep for many will be the “fun” part…at least that is the foundation to many fantasies. But any Jeep owner can easily recognize the many mine-fields that waxing a Jeep can represent.

And any Jeep owner that has waxed their Jeep before can likely attest to the ripple effect of hasty wax applications with traditional wax products as time passes with unsightly stained black trim, or excess wax build-up that has now dried chalky white in every crevice, seam, or crack!

Modern day wax formulations now allow any car or Jeep owner the ability to get professional results by choosing the “right” type of wax from what call hybrid wax blends that are formulated using both natural and synthetic ingredients for that winning combination of benefits and an excellent user experience.

• Window Cleaning On Your Jeep:

Windows remains a source of frustration for any car owner and professional detailer alike. Since most of you as Jeep owners are simply looking to take care of your own Jeep and not become a professional detailer and you need:

Window Cleaner

Waffle weave Window cleaning Cloths

Windows represent a topic of frustration any professional detailer can relate to. So as a car or Jeep owner, you have likely experienced the same frustration. So follow to do professionally for professional grade results:

• Use the blue waffle weave cloths above.
• Fold twice so you have essentially a “square”.
• One side is your damp side, the other side becomes your dry side.
• Spray window with window cleaner. (as a rule, I find most beginners use too much of anything. More is not usually the winning solution for any detailing tasks. If you have gone around half your car doing the windows, and your dry side is now leaving wetness when you dry and buff the window, you are using too much window cleaner) and wipe down window paying close attention to the corners of each window. Wipe until the window looks like it is 90% “clean” and all you have left is a slight residue that you will then flip the cloth over and buff off. (very similar to waxing your car: apply wax, let it haze up, then buff off)

You want your car windows to be essentially “clean” to about 80-90% before you even touch them with window cleaner. To do this, when you are ready to do the windows as your last step, take a clean micro-fiber cloth that is damp. Wet; but not dripping what so ever. Just damp.

Proceed to simply wipe the inside/outside of each window to remove any over-spray or unwanted dirt that may still be left on windows. Once you have done this, then proceed to follow the window cleaning steps just above.

Source: caranddriver, wikipedia, best-auto-detailing-tips.