JK->TH: Well, I'm Committed Now

[TrailAdventurer]

Some of you may recall, my background includes over 10 years with Stitch, our Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (JK). We turned it into a capable overland vehicle. Stitch was clearly our dog's favorite, hands-down.

As mileage climbed, and we needed more power for towing, we got Riddick, our '25 TH, in April. I spent the next 6 months waffling on selling Stitch. With Winter here, I was debating putting my Q50 in my warehouse, use Stitch through the yuck. Then, surprise, surprise, a gent came and scooped Stitch up yesterday. Short test drive, exactly the price I wanted (in cash), and off they went. No matter what you drive, doing the things many of us doing, visiting/exploring places most only dream about, it leaves a bit a whole in your heart once it leaves. (thanks Mike)

Story for another time, in the Smoky's (green pic), Stitch was nosed into the mountain side on a shelf road. We'd lost all brakes the day before. Low-1 was our friend.

So, I'm definitely committed now .

No more maintenance distractions with Stitch. Removed several other monkeys from my back this year. Time to get moving with Riddick. The new sliders went on a few months ago, bed step, goose gear... Now I'm looking forward to being able to focus.

Even so, we've had a few short outings with Riddick already.

Taking us to places where the views have been fabulous.

I'll look forward to sharing our ongoing adventures, big and small .

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[Andy@AAV]

Congrats on the sale, but it’s always sad to see them go. I’m looking to replace my JL with a Th. Any thoughts or recommendations on the differences? Not so much tech or features, but in how the size and capabilities match or don’t.

 

[Mjsimmons]

Some of you may recall, my background includes over 10 years with Stitch, our Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (JK). We turned it into a capable overland vehicle. Stitch was clearly our dog's favorite, hands-down.

As mileage climbed, and we needed more power for towing, we got Riddick, our '25 TH, in April. I spent the next 6 months waffling on selling Stitch. With Winter here, I was debating putting my Q50 in my warehouse, use Stitch through the yuck. Then, surprise, surprise, a gent came and scooped Stitch up yesterday. Short test drive, exactly the price I wanted (in cash), and off they went. No matter what you drive, doing the things many of us doing, visiting/exploring places most only dream about, it leaves a bit a whole in your heart once it leaves. (thanks Mike)

Story for another time, in the Smoky's (green pic), Stitch was nosed into the mountain side on a shelf road. We'd lost all brakes the day before. Low-1 was our friend.

So, I'm definitely committed now .

No more maintenance distractions with Stitch. Removed several other monkeys from my back this year. Time to get moving with Riddick. The new sliders went on a few months ago, bed step, goose gear... Now I'm looking forward to being able to focus.

Even so, we've had a few short outings with Riddick already.

Taking us to places where the views have been fabulous.

I'll look forward to sharing our ongoing adventures, big and small .

I, too, made this transition. I still have my 2012 JK Rubicon that was my overlanding/offroading rig. My 2024 Trailhunter made a trip along the Continental Divide (Canada to Mexico) this fall and performed very well.

 

[TrailAdventurer]

Congrats on the sale, but it’s always sad to see them go. I’m looking to replace my JL with a Th. Any thoughts or recommendations on the differences...how the size and capabilities match or don’t.

Transition from Stitch to Riddick (’25 TH Short Bed)
Stitch is gone, though not without some sentiment. The new owner stops by this weekend—curious to see how he’s using it.

TH vs. JKU: Real-World Impressions
Without diving into specs, the TH delivers solid value—for drivers who’ll actually use its capability.

Driving Dynamics & Size:
Riddick, our 2025 TH short bed, has a turning diameter only 10" wider than our JKU, but feels substantially larger on tight trails. It’s taken time to adjust. That said, I’m glad we didn’t opt for the long bed—navigating dense forests and tight switchbacks would’ve been a real challenge.

Interior Comfort (Front Row):
This is where the TH shines. It’s quieter, more spacious, and genuinely comfortable. Long, fatiguing, trips that once required earplugs in the JKU are now relaxed experiences. Ventilated seats, which I initially dismissed as a gimmick, have added hours of comfort on the road. There’s more usable storage—10 cupholders alone—and the cabin feels refined and peaceful.

Back Seat & Interior Utility:
The rear seat remains a weak spot. Compared to the JKU, usable space is limited—especially with a Goose Gear full delete setup, which adds no under-seat/platform storage. For us, with a large dog, this has been the biggest adjustment. Stitch had a place for everything. Riddick, has no space given we need to accommodate a large dog. Once we add a cap or cargo rack, much of this will be resolved, but for now, it's a compromise.

Ride Quality:
Highly subjective, but I tested multiple trims (gas/hybrid, Offroad, Premium, TRD Pro) and prefer the TH. It strikes the right balance between comfort and tautness. Towing ~2,500 lbs through southern Michigan felt stable and uneventful.

Off-Road Performance:
On rocky trails, aired down, the TH handles confidently. It’s not a plush TRD Pro—even think to push it like one, and like a YT review, you'll stop halfway there. For what we do, it's more than capable and quite comfortable. In two spots where I expected to lift a rear wheel or stuff a front, it did neither. I've not found the limit yet, haven't gone looking for it. Plenty good enough for 90% of what we do.

Fuel Range:
The 18-gallon tank is a miss. Our real-world, tank average MPG is ~14.5–15, with a mix of city/hwy where highway means 75 MPH. That means you're always range-aware. It's similar to our lifted JKU's range—disappointing. Even my old Jetta had a 15-gal tank; my Q50 holds 20. Toyota should’ve done better here.

(This evening, my wife had to drive to the other corner of our Metro area. I told her to make sure she got gas, said she did. I quipped about mounting a rotopax. She said, 'yeah, would you?')

Powertrain:
Ironically, I went shopping because Jeep didn’t deliver the diesel or Hurricane in when I was ready. I wasn’t excited about a 4-cylinder. Six months in? No regrets. It easily outperforms the 3.6. In Sport mode, it moves. I’ll likely tune it next year—not out of need, just curiosity. Even my wife likes the extra power.

Weight:
Surprisingly, our built JKU and Riddick weigh almost the same—about 5,400 lbs.

Bottom Line

The TH significantly outperforms the JKU in comfort, power, and daily drivability. Ride quality is smoother, long trips are no longer draining, and front cabin experience is best-in-class for this segment.

However, the trade-offs are real: fuel range and rear seat utility fall short, especially for dog owners or those needing flexible cargo space. That said, with upcoming storage mods, much of that will be addressed.

 

[TrailAdventurer]

I, too, made this transition. I still have my 2012 JK Rubicon that was my overlanding/offroading rig. My 2024 Trailhunter made a trip along the Continental Divide (Canada to Mexico) this fall and performed very well.

I enjoy hearing of your cont divide trip. Pics, how the truck did, non-truck experiences, be interested.

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