What's More Capable: Stock Jeep Wrangler Vs Lifted Something Else

I thought I've heard before that in terms of off-road capability, that a stock Wranger is equivalent to a 3" lift on a XJ, a mild lift on a Land Rover, etc.

So, what compares to Wrangler?

I guess it depends on the Land Rover, the Wrangler and the trail. XJ is pretty well defined. I am skeptical, however - sounds like Jeep fanboi talk.

A stock wrangler is equivalent to a 1st gen 4runner with 2 flat tires and a blown headgasket?

Interestingly, I once proved, through the crucible of motorsport, that a TJ Wrangler Sport with a 2" lift and 33" tires is equal to a bone stock Kawasaki Mule 4x4.

With my stock 1997 Nissan Pickup, I have pulled a stock Jeep Wrangler out of snow, repeatedly, that I had no problem with. To be fair the traction control, that could not be fully disabled, was the real problem.

I took my non-lifted, full-size Blazer (K5) '87 with 33" Super Swamper TSL's places it did NOT belong by driving slow and smart. I'm talking about thick woods that were torn apart by skidders and logging equipment; trenches, stumps, boulders, mud etc.

There's been plenty of 95-100% stock vehicles driven through the Rubicon Trail.

I once amazed a group of mtn bikers as they stopped to watch me take my then-stock XJ up a steep rock-face with nary a wheel spinning.

Anything stock with solid axles can go places most people would doubt unless they saw it for themselves... With the right driver.

I think the main thing the Wrangler has going for it is footprint and approach, breakover and departure angles. Maybe another small SUV (Samurai, Tracker, etc) could match it in size but I think stock-for-stock, the Wrangler is better equipped.

That being said, I want a CJ2A or early CJ3A so bad it hurts!

A stock Defender 90 has a steeper approach angle, higher break-over angle, and steeper departure angle than a stock Rubicon Wrangler. It will outperform a Jeep Wranger without any modifications.

I find the off roading ability of any vehicle to vary wildly with the driver. Both in terms of skill and disregard for scratching up the vehicle and finding where it needs more skid plates.

Yes.

In reply to pinchvalve:

Until you get in the really soft stuff. Then that 2 tons will drag it down while a Samurai nimbly strolls past.

pinchvalve wrote: A stock Defender 90 has a steeper approach angle, higher break-over angle, and steeper departure angle than a stock Rubicon Wrangler. It will outperform a Jeep Wranger without any modifications.

I'm curious what the difference in height from ground to lowest point on the body is, and stock wheels/tires for each of those.

Specs taken from manufacturer websites.

2015 Defender: 12.72" ground clearance to the body, 9.8" to the diff.
Stock tire size is 235/85-16 (31.8") or 7.50R16 (32").

2015 Wrangler: 8.8" ground clearance for the Sport, 10.2" for most other models including the Rubicon. It's not specified if this is diff or body clearance. It's identified as "running ground clearance".
Stock tire size is anything from 255/75-17 (32.1") to 225/75-16 (29.3")

Im with Kenny, the ability of any vehicle offroad is basically proportional to your willingness to damage it.

Other than that, whichever one comes with more lockers wins.

with enough wheel speed you can get a lot of places...

Most "stock" wranglers come with lame "highway all-terrain" type tires (which is what our 4Runner came with as well). Essentially useless in anything slippery. Lots of lightly-modded 4WD vehicles can easily outperform lots of "stock" wranglers off road (particularly the Wrangler Sport and various base editions that don't come with true all-terrains).

a stock fj80 land cruiser with some meaty 33/12.50's does pretty well. coil springs in all 4 corners helps alot and some came with front and rear factory lockers

a samurai is usually equal to a jeep with tires that are 2-3in bigger. a sammy on 31's = jeep on 33's

So many variables in that question, driver, terrain, trim level, weight, did I mention driver? I've wheeled stuff with my (lightly modded) jk that heavily modded rigs do. Did I dent and scratch every skid plate under it? Yes. As samis go they're great, but with their wheelbase try to climb some of the hills I climb on my way to church (literally). It all depends. So to give a short answer to is a stock wrangler better than other vehicles lifted, yes. and no.

a stock XJ has better clearance between the front and rear axles than a wrangler due to the frame rails and crossmember of the wrangler hanging stupidly low. with a "belly-up" setup that can be improved but it's not stock then.

and if the 'stock' wrangler is a rubicon then it alredy comes with good tires, lockers, small lift, etc.

who cares about stock 4x4s?

what is equal to a miata in stock form?

I'm with 1300zuk. Modding is half the fun.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: I find the off roading ability of any vehicle to vary wildly with the driver. Both in terms of skill and disregard for scratching up the vehicle and finding where it needs more skid plates.

yep