Jeep Wrangler is the daddy of adventure 4x4s and won’t break the bank
AS a father of four I know a thing or two about camping holidays.
They’re all well and good but at some point the British weather means you’re going to wake up with the tent under a foot of water and a sleeping bag as wet as an otter’s pocket.
So here’s the solution for other reluctant campers like me.
There’s a few brands out there that sell tent boxes that pop up on the roof of your car.
Not only does it keep you dry (high and dry?) the added bonus is that it stops any unwanted visitors curling up in your walking boots.
Tent boxes start at £995 including mattress, ladder and fixing kit and can be fitted to most cars. Even a Dacia.
TOP MOTOR
I reckon that’s good value – actually, scratch that – extremely good value when you consider the price of a staycation this summer. And there isn’t a PCR test or a locator form in sight.
You don’t even have to pay campsite fees because you can kip in a layby where permitted.
Even better, fix a tentbox to a proper 4×4 and you can reach ‘campsites’ you’d never find on the camping and caravanning club website. You can go anywhere.
Which brings me nicely to the Jeep Wrangler you see here. Point it at anything and it will swim, scramble or crawl its way to get you there. It is the daddy of adventure 4x4s.
It has all the minerals you’d expect: ladder frame chassis, low ratio transfer box, locking diffs, mega wheel articulation and the front anti-roll bar can be disengaged at the touch of a button.
That allows the front wheels to drop and compress up to 25 per cent further to tackle the harshest terrain. In short, it’s magnificent in the wild. But that’s not all.
Whip off the roof and doors, flip down the windscreen, and you’re sat in an authentic US Army jeep, just with touchscreen and Apple CarPlay.
You’d need a grinder to do that with a Defender or a G-Wagen.
My kids love it because it looks exactly like it’s been driven off a film set – everything big, brash and wonderfully OTT. It raises a smile wherever you go.
It’s also incredibly easy to drive on normal roads. Leave the eight-speed auto to itself and progress is smooth and relaxed, surprisingly so for a big girl.
Most read in Motors
I do have a few quibbles, though. The transmission tunnel is so wide there’s nowhere to put your left foot. The steering is worse than a canal boat’s. And there’s a lot of wind noise. But I suppose that’s part of the charm, right?
This is an authentic all-American, do-anything, go-anywhere adventure warrior. Perfect for a spot of glamping in the Peak District too.
KEY FACTS
Price: £51,350
Engine: 2-litre turbo petrol
Power: 272hp, 400Nm
Economy: 24.8mpg
0-62mph: 10.3 secs
Top speed: 99mph
CO2: 261g/km
Out: Now
* Read the full story...This article was originally published h
Who will be Next to leave the EU? Check out who is leading in our exclusive poll Poll
Comments
Post a Comment