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The Jeep Wrangler TJ was introduced for the 1997 model year. It was geared for off-road capability throughout its 10-year production run. The most recent Jeep Wrangler, the 2006, was available with a standard 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine or a 4-liter 6-cylinder engine. All this power sat high off the ground with a minimum ground clearance of 8.6 inches and maximum of 9 inches.
The upgraded 4 L engine was standard on the second level X trim, while many special editions were produced with modifications geared toward off-road sport driving.
If you’ve got a TJ-era Jeep Wrangler of your own and you’ve never taken it out off-roading, you’re missing out! Luckily, Jerry is here to clear up all the hearsay around what you need in a good off-roading vehicle.
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Can the Jeep TJ go off road?
It sure can! It’s THE Jeep Wrangler, pretty much the poster child of off-road SUVs. It has just the right amount of ground clearance to glide over rough terrain, and both of its engines are specially-made to produce class-leading low-end torque.
In 2006, the TJ was regularly available as a two-door sport-ute, but the Unlimited models offered an extended-wheelbase version. Other versions were offered with a Dana 44 heavy-duty rear axle, and the top Rubicon trim featured 31-inch off-road tires, making it
the best version of the Wrangler TJ
for off-roading straight out of the factory.All of the 2006 Wrangler models were offered with a high-performance, traditional 4WD, designed to get you, like Kate Bush, up that hill.
Let’s dive further into what makes the Jeep TJ such a good off-roading vehicle.
Ground clearance
With a of 8.6 inches that can be pumped up to 9 inches max, the Jeep Wrangler TJ is well-equipped for off-roading challenges, although it does ride on the lower end in this category.
For context, when we refer to “minimum ground clearance,” we’re talking about the minimum distance that can be measured between the bottom of the car’s chassis and the ground.
Most off-roading enthusiasts will want a vehicle with a ground clearance somewhere between 8.8 and 10.8 inches. The Jeep Wrangler tows the line on the lower end, but it can get away with it since it’s a fairly short vehicle, reducing its chances of getting high-centered. For comparison’s sake, a 2006
Jeep Grand Cherokee
only has an 8.0-inch minimum ground clearance, making the Wrangler a better choice for off-roading.Torque
A 2006 Jeep TJ equipped with the I4 engine can deliver 235 pound-feet of
torque
at 3,200 rpm, making it the perfect engine for off-roading. It’s able to deliver plenty of traction to the wheels, allowing your Wrangler to push itself up hills and over large obstacles without having to rev the engine too high.Tires
Traction starts at the engine, but if you don’t have tires that can grip the terrain you’re driving on, that engine traction will be wasted on slippery wheels.
A Jeep Wrangler TJ would have come fresh out of the factory with 15-inch wheels fitted with legendary
all-terrain tires
, and you can find modern versions that are even better and will still fit your older TJ.Equipped with all-terrain tires, your TJ’s 4WD drivetrain is sure to be firing on all cylinders to deliver you top off-road performance.
Drivetrain
Every version of the 2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ was equipped with a four-wheel drive drivetrain, although 2WD was available on older models. Standard issue transmission was a 6-speed manual, but automatic transmission was also available.
In 2006, the Wrangler was available with either a standard 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine that could produce 147 horsepower or a 4-liter, 6-cylinder engine that could hit a maximum 190 horsepower at 600 rpm lower.
These two engines might not be the most powerful options in the off-road SUV category, but they’re specially tuned for off-roading success by the company that gave SUVs their name.
Angles
One of the things that really set the Jeep TJ apart from its competitors was its incredible offering of approach and departure angles. If you haven’t encountered those terms before, here are their definitions:
- Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference
- Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
A 2006 Jeep Wrangler has one of the best approach angles of any SUV, ringing in at 42.0 degrees—that’s almost a full 45 degrees! Its angle of departure is an equally impressive 31.5 degrees.
MORE: Cheap off road trucks
Off-road rating: Trail Boss
All this brings to our final assessment of the Jeep TJ’s off-road ability, and there’s non doubt that it deserves the top rating in
Jerry’s
highly-technical DIRT system.Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
I | In a Pinch | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
R | Rough and Ready | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
T | Trail Boss | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversThe Jeep Wrangler TJ gets a T rating for being a true trail boss. You can find a good 2006 model on today’s used market for about $12,000, making it a great 4x4 vehicle for thrillseekers on a budget.
Remember though, driving a 90s-00s SUV is a very different experience than driving a newer model—standard safety features on older models are particularly lacking if you’re used to driving new vehicles.
MORE: The best used Jeep to buy
The best off-road alternatives to the Jeep TJ
Not sure if a used TJ is the right off-roader for you? Allow us to introduce you to some great alternative options.
Alternative | Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Best affordable alternative | 2005 Nissan Frontier 4x4 | $2,000 | Cheaper than the Jeep and more powerful; what’s not to love? |
Best eco-friendly alternative | 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | $27,400 | One of the best-on-gas off-roading SUVs you can buy new. |
Best alternative for serious off-roading | 2022 Ram 1500 Rebel | $47,850 | Few vehicles are more ready for the trail than a new Ram Rebel. |
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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
Hopefully you already knew that your Jeep TJ is a great off-roader, but if you’re just learning about this now and are already planning your first trail-riding outing, you’ll want to check to make sure that your car insurance policy will have you covered if something goes wrong in the mountains.
This is where
Jerry
comes in. Our trusted quote comparison tool
can give you access to a side-by-side list of only the best-priced car insurance quotes to suit your needs, hand-picked from a pool of quotes from over 55 partner insurance companies!The result for the majority of our users is savings to the tune of over $800 a year!
“Jerryhad a super simple app that was easy to navigate. And their terrific customer service made everything even easier. Plus I saved $700 in a single year.” —Lucia M.
By Cameron Thiessen
Expert Insurance Writer
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett.
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