Hot in the Lot
Garren Fritts’ 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
NEIRAD enilno editionTo break the ice, let’s just say that if everyone were driving a Jeep Wrangler, snow days would be nonexistent. To put it simply, this all terrain SUV can handle anything Mother Nature has to offer, and comparatively in its class, the Jeep Wrangler really is like no other. This SUV was built from the ground up with off-roading in mind, attributing to Jeep’s driving freedom philosophy. The Jeep brand, (part of Chrystler LLC.) believes that the driver should have the absolute freedom to go anywhere where in the world he or she desires, not limited to where the pavement runs out. More importantly, the Jeep should provide the effortless means to get there whether it be by crawling over rocks and logs, maneuvering between trees, or trudging through mud and snow. Through this point of view Jeep’s all-SUV lineup emerged, with the Wrangler claiming the crown as the head of the family, and oh does it deliver.
Garren adopted his family’s 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited X as soon as he received his driver’s license, and since then it has never been the same. Wranglers are designed to be utilitarian, perform well offroad in the toughest conditions. They are not built to be stylish or look good, nor are they meant to be luxury vehicles. However, Senior Garren Fritts knew that with a little customization and aftermarket parts, he would be able to wean the Jeep into a new character, something more aggressive, intimidating, and full of everything a teenager would want in a vehicle, without compromising Jeep’s profound off-roading roots.
Garren started customizing his Jeep by adding 17 inch black wheels on 33-inch Toyo Open Country off-roading mud tires. Just recently Garren completely upgraded his suspension to give it added ride height. In the trunk he has dual 12-inch subwoofers to make his wrangler one of the biggest and loudest, on the road.
In order to keep the black and white theme Garren tinted the windows, smoked the turn signals, de-badged and blacked out the front grill for a clean matte finish. There may be many Jeep Wranglers in Darien, but this Wrangler is one that certainly stands out. Everyone loves Garren’s Jeep; from workers at Splash car wash that Garren has become close with from routine car washes, to the enviable drivers on the road, staring up in awe at such a monstrous machine. But that’s not all, “The ladies love it and when I drive down the road, girls just jump in!” Garren said.
All wranglers are offered with either a four-speed automatic transmission, or a standard six-speed manual, making the Wrangler one of the very few SUV’s available in the US market with a manual option. Garren is lucky enough to have the six-speed because they are becoming more and more rare as the Wrangler population expands. Having a manual gives the driver better control while driving in difficult terrain. Most of all however, the manual transmission highlights the way Jeeps were meant to be driven, going all the way back to its roots as a military vehicle.
Jeep’s roots come from the Wrangler. During World War II, Jeeps called the MB, or better known as the CJ generation, were used in the US Army for being the toughest, most reliable, and most capable automobile at the time, ready to take on all of the diverse conditions the eastern Hemisphere had to offer. The Jeep had an image of focus and utility with a seven slotted front grill, open wheel arches, pronounced front and rear bumpers, vertical folding windshield, and single floating headlights. The ancestral Jeep also featured a full size spare tire mounted on the rear door that proved to be an unequivocal characteristic of this iconic machine. From the early duties of the CJ to the Wrangler recognized today, Jeep has evolved their signature SUV to carve a niche in the automobile industry of rugged durability and off-road capability.
Chrysler branded Wrangler on the Jeep when it took over ownership of the company in 1987. Since then there have been three generations of Jeep Wranglers. It began with the YJ which ran from 1987-1995, followed by the TJ from 1997-2006, and the current generation JK which began for the 2007 model year. Now if you cannot readily distinguish the differences between the generations do not be disappointed; Jeeps have always had evolutionary styling, not revolutionary styling, so the Wranglers’ appearance have been for the most part similar, however the real improvements were underneath, where it really matters.
Off-roading capabilities go far beyond just ground clearance. The Wrangler has a stock configuration giving it 8.7 inches of ground clearance, but the design of its suspension is what really gives the Wrangler its signature rock crawling abilities. The wrangler is equipped with solid live front and rear axles, meaning the power delivery is nearly bulletproof. Solid axles are much more durable than independent half axle shaft configurations however because they compromise ride quality and high speed handling characteristics, solid axles are not as common in the automotive industry. The application of solid live front and rear axles in the Jeep is essential to added drivetrain toughness and articulation. A box frame design allows for exceptional chassis stiffness and strength, and integrated underbody skid plates make sure that vital components do not get damaged during extreme conditions. The suspension is comprised of monotube shock absorbers at all four corners, with coils springs, and front and rear sway bars. The Wrangler Rubicon (the top model Wrangler), has the feature to actively disengage the sway bars electronically, for added suspension compression and movement under high stress situations.
Collaborative efforts from the suspension components make the Jeep Wrangler one of the most renowned for its off-roading aptitude. However for some people, like Garren Fritts, a Wrangler in stock form is not enough.
When Garren was contemplating the idea of larger tires on his Jeep, he faced a major dilemma. In order for the tires to fit and articulate properly in the wheel wells, he would need to raise the Jeep a few inches higher than how it stood in stock form. This meant installing a lift kit. Garren chose to do a 2 inch lift with an Old Man Emu suspension upgrade. This $700 kit includes new coil springs to raise the vehicle, extended travel shock absorbers, and reinforced brackets and shock mounts for added durability.
So far there is nothing in the near future that Garren is planning to do to his Jeep. “It is perfect the way it is,” Fritts said, I cherish it like my own baby – I love it.” Although Garren is more than satisfied with his completed Jeep, he will miss the fun of customizing his ride. But all he can do now sit back and dub “The Gutta” (the Jeep’s nickname) a job well done.
The result from these upgrades makes Garren’s Jeep Wrangler Unlimited one of the most capable vehicles on the road. Its enhanced performance components allow for it to take on nearly anything that comes in its path. Garren has gone off-roading many times in Nantucket during the summer, when he takes the roof down and doors off. There the Wrangler is in its element, and Garren cannot wait for another chance to go there since his newly installed upgrade.
