Jeep or Truck? 10 Reasons to choose a Jeep.

It’s funny, this is actually a question I posed to myself a few months ago before I bought my TJ Jeep Wrangler. I was at an auto-auction where I have bought numerous personal vehicles in the past 5 years including a 1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ, a 1996 Full-size Bronco and a 2004 Ford Expedition. This particular auction I was trying to purchase a crew-cab Ford F150 Ecoboost truck because of the following:

1. It solves my need to drive massive vehicles with poor gas mileage
2. They have great aftermarket support so I can spend even more money on it
3. I live in Utah and there are too many dirt roads to drive on and explore

Luckily for me, I got outbid and I came home empty-handed. I really needed a vehicle because I had already sold my Expedition and I was daily-driving my 1971 Impala in the heat of summer with no a/c. Also, all these new miles on the Impala were getting expensive because stuff just breaks on a 46-year-old car.

To keep going down the rabbit hole, I have been talking to my wife for years trying to explain to her that I just want one badass vehicle, something that I can’t help but stare at from my office window, something that warrants it’s own name like Chupacabra or Deviled Egg. So, she said the second best thing to me anyone has ever said: “Next year we will get your dream car – we will make it a priority.” Wow, ain’t love grand? It probably won’t happen because life happens but it sure is great having a teammate. After that, she then said: “We need to get you a car that will hold it’s value for a year and won’t make you miserable – what would that be?” And of course I said Jeep Wrangler. Man, I married the right woman.

Don’t fish? You will.

When will you answer the question? Jeep or Truck?

So let’s get down to the nitty grit. If you need to haul over 3500lbs on the regular or you need a truck bed on the regular, just get a truck and go find truckdaily.com and get the hell out of here! But if you just sometimes need a truck or tow less than 3500lbs, then wait a minute and hang out. Here’s why I say a Jeep is better than a truck.

1. They inspire adventure. It’s true, I don’t know if it’s the rough ride or just knowing your vehicle has the best chance of winning a war Red Dawn-style, but you are more likely to take a backroad or hop a curb or just be fun in a Jeep.
2. They exude youth. Whether you are young or just feel young at heart, there’s something about not having a vehicle that comforts you and silences the world around you. If it’s too loud you are too old!
3. You can take the top off. I spend most of my  summer with all the windows off the Jeep and I keep the top on just so I don’t scald in the hot desert sun. Of course you can always zip the top back on and hit the a/c if it gets too warm.
4. They feel just a bit dangerous. You feel exposed, a bit top heavy and kind of small. It keeps you on your toes and factors into #2 on this list.
5. They are capable and tough. Heavy snow forecasted? Bring it on; sounds fun. Flooded streets? How can I help? Unexpected rain at the campsite? Who will we be pulling out today? And these are just everyday examples. Take one to Moab and have your mind blown.
6. The new ones are actually way more comfortable than Jeeps of yore. The reason you are seeing more and more Jeeps is because somehow they have made them more capable off-road and more capable on-road. The tradeoffs are a lot less than they used to be, but trucks have followed the same trajectory.
7. They are highly customizable. I don’t know if there is a larger aftermarket for a vehicle than the Jeep Wrangler. You can make it whatever you want it to be.
8. They are smaller than trucks. Which makes it better on the trails but also parallel parking downtown.
9. Resale value is better than any truck out there including the Tacoma and Tundra. In fact, the Wrangler has one of the highest resale values out there.
10. You get looks. It’s a fact that the opposite sex looks at the driver of a Jeep and that driver is boosted at least one point on the attractive scale when driving their Jeep.

This one is called Sasquatch.

So I hope that sums it up for you. Jeeps are superior vehicles unless you need to tow very heavy loads or haul large amounts of crap on the reg. Of course who knows what will happen when the new Jeep truck aka the Jeep Scrambler comes out. It’s going to eat away even more at those truck sales.

Btw, the TJ I bought also doesn’t have air conditioning. Funny thing is I didn’t even check. I drove it two blocks, looked underneath and bought it. I was in love. How many vehicles can you say that about?