8-30-09 2009 Jeep Wrangler X

OK so I still got sand in my shorts, but I love playing in the desert and the test
vehicle this week is the 2009 Jeep Wrangler X. Now for you folks that follow my
column weekly you’re probably saying, “Hey he did a Jeep in January”, your right
but it was a loaded Sahara. This time I wanted a base 4X4 Jeep, no frills just a
base work horse. Well thanks to my buddy Doug Wilson, Fleet Manager at
Rancho Jeep I picked up a base Jeep, fire engine red, six speed manual transmission, I know an automatic transmission is better suited for the desert but
hey I like to shift! This Jeep is not a stripped down vehicle at all in fact you get today’s technology
like Electronic Stability Control, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Traction Control,
Electronic Roll Mitigation, four wheel ABS, Hill Start Assist, Next Generation
Dana 44 heavy duty rear axles, Next Generation Dana 30 solid front axle and
Command-Trac Shift on the Fly 4WD system. At one time Dana axles were an
aftermarket item that now are part of this Jeep standard equipment, see the manufacturer really does listen to his and her customer! Oh and instead of
canvas doors and windows you get hard doors roll up windows and door locks. You get skid plates standard and a tire pressure monitoring system and the only
other option on this Jeep was upgrading the stock 3.21 gears to a great off road
ratio, 3.73.