If you’re ready for adventure, the Jeep Wrangler is the vehicle for you. This model has been around since 1986, and it’s been the best off-roading model on the market. First off, the Wrangler is ideal for off-roading. The Wrangler’s Trail Rated badge means it can tackle rocks, mud, ice, snow, and even water. If you’re really ready for an adventure, the Desert Rated badge means it can tackle sand and dirt as well. There’s nothing more capable than a Jeep Wrangler.
The best part about this is that there are also tons of customization options with the Wrangler. If you want some examples of your options when it comes to Jeep customization, you can check out places like the OC Motorsports website. Their site includes several features builds, including the Stealth build, the OJ, and Wrangler Unlimited. These builds are themed customization packs, but you can also purchase individual upgrades and create your own personal aesthetic. There are tons of places like this that can customize your Jeep for you, or you can take inspiration from them and do it yourself. Jeep Wranglers are the best options for off-roading adventures, so in this article, we’re going to look at the Wrangler’s capabilities to see just exactly what you can do with this vehicle.
What Does It Mean to Be Trail Rated?
In order to get a Trail-Rated badge, the Wrangler has to undergo extensive testing. This testing measures the Jeep Wrangler’s ability to ford water, its traction, its articulation, its maneuverability, and its ground clearance level. What do all these terms mean, you ask? We’ll explain below.
First, let’s start with water fording. Does this mean that your Jeep Wrangler can act as a boat or a submarine? Absolutely not. What it DOES mean is that with the Wrangler, you can push through certain levels of water. Newer Wranglers can ford up to 30 inches of water. This level varies depending on the model, but even older Wranglers can push through as little as 19 inches of standing water. While we still don’t recommend crossing floodwaters, you can safely cross small creeks if you are certain of the water’s depth.
Next, we’ve got traction. You’ve probably heard terms such as “traction control” in relation to spinning out and slipping on ice. If you’re worried about traction, then the Wrangler is one of the safest models out there for you. There’s no better vehicle to have when tackling a snowstorm than the Wrangler. And it doesn’t stop at the snow. The Wrangler is ideal for any slippery condition; whether it be snow, mud, rain, or ice, you can feel safer tackling these adverse conditions if you’re driving a Jeep Wrangler.
Articulation has nothing to do with grammar or dialect in this case. Your Jeep Wrangler’s articulation has to do with its tires and power distribution. Having good articulation makes it easier to tackle bumps and ruts, along with potholes, which is especially important if you live on rural roads or backroads. The Jeep Wrangler’s great articulation ensures that you maintain stability, even when one or more tires are not on the ground.
In order to get that Trail Rated badge, the Wrangler also needs to be maneuverable. If you’re on the trail and a large rock pops up out of nowhere, the Wrangler’s short wheelbases make it easy to quickly navigate around the large object. Further, the Jeep Wrangler’s high ground clearance makes it to where even if you come upon a larger object before realizing it, you can often cross over it with ease.
The newer Wrangler’s ground clearance ranges from 9.7 inches to 10.8 inches, depending on the model. So, as long as you don’t try crossing a rock that’s almost a foot or larger, you’re safe, whereas cars and other SUVs may bottom out. If you’re really worried about scraping, you can also add skid plates to prevent scratching and any other potential underbody damage. Overall, the Jeep Wranglers Trail Rated badging makes it ideal for off-road enthusiasts. If you’re ready for adventures such as off-roading, camping, and nature sight-seeing, then the Wrangler is the model for you.
Where Can I Take My Wrangler for Off-Roading Adventures?
The simple answer to this is “anywhere,” but there are legalities behind that, so we’re here to provide you with more specific answers. First of all, if you own property, or if you know someone else who does (with their permission, of course), you can definitely take the Wrangler out on farms and private trails. However, not everyone lives in the country or knows someone who owns property. That’s where trail parks come in.
There are several off-roading parks that are designed for all sorts of off-roading vehicles. These include SUVs, trucks, ATVs, dirt bikes, and more. While some parks only allow ATVs, dirt bikes, and side-by-side vehicles, many will allow larger vehicles like Wranglers to join. Further, some parks are designed specifically FOR Jeep Wranglers and similar off-roading vehicles. You can pay what is often an affordable amount to spend a day out on the trails. If you’re worried about difficulty level, the good news is that most off-roading parks offer trails that range from easiest to hardest. There’s no better off-roading trail rider than the Jeep Wrangler.
Removable Tops and Doors and…?
Yep, that’s right. Not only can you remove the Jeep Wrangler’s top, but if you’re really ready for an adventure, you can remove the doors and even the windshield! Not only that, but Wranglers come with several top options. You can get a 3-piece hardtop in white or black, a soft top, a mesh sunbonnet top, a solid sunbonnet top, a dual-top, and even the newer one-touch sky power top. The power top is an electronic top that cannot fully be removed but will come off at the touch of a button. There’s plenty of variety when it comes to Jeep tops.
Further, removing the doors on a jeep is very simple, especially if you don’t have power windows and locks. Your Jeep Wrangler will come with all the essential tools you’ll need to remove your tops, doors, and windshield. If you really want to take your Jeep Wrangler out on trailing adventures, then you’ll definitely want to consider removing the top, doors, and windshield to get the full off-roading experience.
Floor Drains and Water Resistance Materials
Hearing that your Wrangler comes with floor drains might seem scary. Why exactly should you be excited that there are floor drains? Because off-roading can turn into mudding, and sometimes mudding can get a little wet. This is especially true if you take our above advice regarding door removal. Further, the Jeep Wrangler’s water fording abilities still work with the doors off, so you may need to use those floor drains to get rid of excess water that comes in while heading off-pavement.
But what about the Wrangler’s seating? The good news is that you don’t need waterproof seat covers. While the seats themselves are not waterproof, they ARE water-resistant, which means that as long as you don’t engulf the entire Wrangler underwater, water that splashes in won’t harm your seating. This water resistance perk also goes for the Wrangler’s infotainment system and other interior pieces.
The Jeep Wrangler Is Your Adventure-Ready Vehicle
In summary, if you’re looking for a vehicle that can handle anything, both on and off the pavement, the Jeep Wrangler is the model for you. No matter how far you go back, Wranglers are very efficient at tackling areas that most vehicles could never go. These models hold their value, and they haven’t really changed much over time aside from getting better engine capability or more premium tech features. Newer Wrangler models may include additional tech upgrades, and they do become even more off-road savvy over time, but even the oldest Wrangler is more than capable of climbing hills and trucking through snowy roadways. If this sounds like the right vehicle for you, contact your local Jeep Wrangler dealer to learn more. You won’t regret it.
