Vehicle Description
The top brass at Jeep are better than most at listening to their
customers, and this Jeep Wrangler 'LJ' (The 'LJ' is a colloquial
term used by Jeep enthusiasts, it is not an official Jeep submodel)
is great evidence of their market cognizance. Fans were begging for
a longer wheelbase Wrangler, and the '04-'06 Wrangler Unlimited
line was in direct response to those pleas, stretching out the
already rugged Wrangler TJ for more cargo room inside and better
off-road manners on the trails. It retains all the usual Jeep
ruggedness, the classic squared-off bodywork, round headlights, and
even a winch up front, all of which have defined the brand for
decades. But it also includes a very civilized powertrain, plenty
of creature comforts, an uber-capable suspension, and a half-cab
top that's transformed this Wrangler into a modern-day Scrambler.
If you like going off-road to make a statement, this is the tool of
choice.
The Silver Metallic paint on this Jeep is a perfect choice to
complement the black accent pieces on this rig, and with only
67,576 miles on the clock and an easy life spent sleeping in a
garage, it's in fantastic shape. In fact, the finish is so nice
you'll probably think twice about using this Jeep to its full
potential out in the bush. On the other hand, playing in the dirt
is what these were made for and it's got the right hardware to do
it safely. There are big fender flares over the giant tires, black
heavy-duty bumpers fore and aft, tubular side steps, and a
heavy-duty swing out tire rack on the back that carries a
full-sized spare that's as much styling statement as practical
accessory. CJ8 Scramblers were incredibly popular in their day, but
if you wanted a modern version of the Jeep Wrangler truck, you had
to fend for yourself or wait decades for the Gladiator to finally
be developed. And the best way to "fend for yourself" was to
convert one of these stretched 'LJ' Wranglers, which have an extra
10-inch wheelbase compared to the previous TJs. The back seat was
deleted and converted into a cargo area protected by a spray-in
bedliner and covered by a vinyl tonneau, and a half-cab hardtop was
added to complete the front cab. And just like that, a rugged Jeep
Wrangler truck was born. Of course, all that's in addition to the
Wrangler's classic good looks which still echo with AMC tradition.
Steel doors and a removable top make it usable year-round
regardless of where you live and with a big winch and extra KC
lights up front, there's no place that's too remote or dark to
venture. We sell a lot of Jeeps here at Streetside, but we freely
admit that we really like this one more than most.
The black bucket seat interior is a perfect complement to the
silver paint and looks so fresh that it's hard to believe this 4x4
is almost 15 years old. Jeep was putting decent upholstery in the
Wrangler, with grippy fabrics, durable material, and good
bolstering designed to help hold you in place during rough going,
and aside from some minor comfort marks on the middle console, the
interior is holding up extremely well. The upright Jeep still
manages to package a full instrument panel ahead of the driver,
along with a center stack that holds functional factory A/C and an
upgraded Alpine AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo system. Airbags are tucked in
there without making the dash look overstuffed, and the original
steering wheel is wrapped with a comfortable Jeep cover. Carpets on
the floors add a touch of civility, and if there was any place that
you'd see signs of neglect or wear, it would be there, but no, the
carpets are in great shape too, thanks in large part to heavy-duty
floor mats that protect them. The tall shifter that controls the
6-speed manual transmission falls to the hand with barely a reach,
and even with the hard top you'll find a little extra storage room
behind the seats inside the cabin. Of course, if that's not enough
room for your gear, the cargo area has plenty.
The 4.0 liter inline-six was a Jeep mainstay for many years, and
with only 67k miles on the odometer, this one will be running long
after we've retired our adventurous ways. It's actually quite
energetic in the relatively lightweight Wrangler and its
reliability can't be beat. Fuel injection and other modern advances
mean that it starts easily and idles well, and doesn't ever
complain about slogging through the rough stuff in low range. The
brilliant condition of the engine bay strongly suggests that this
Jeep hasn't ventured very far off road, maybe not ever, and it's
100% stock for reliability and easy service. The 6-speed manual
transmission makes it a blast to drive and gives the inline-six an
energetic feeling and there are Dana 44 axles below, so it'll climb
through just about anything. It's been treated to a modest lift
with Fox heavy-duty shocks and stabilizer bars all around, there's
a 4-link front and rear, and as a Jeep that's spent its entire life
down South, it has obviously not suffered the horrors of snow and
salt. Blacked-out 2019 Rubicon 'take-off' wheels with 285/70/17 BFG
All-Terrain radials complete the trail-ready look.
For off-road fun, it's still hard to beat the venerable Wrangler
and this rare and desirable LJ has all the virtues and none of the
vices of its older siblings. Call today!
