Moving, Florida to Michigan...

A few years back I bought a 2wd Liberty Renegade, paid to much and can't trade it in and I am moving to Michigan soon and I think I need a 4wd truck. How ****** would it be to drive a 2wd Liberty up there? I'm going to be in the Pinckney area, which is somewhat rural. I have money so I was thinking lift, beefy tires and a wench. I just don't know what to do, I dont want to get stuck everytime weget a few inches but I owe too much to get a 4x4. The thing is that my dad cruises around in a minivan with bald tires but in front wheel drive. I dont know what to do...

Obviously 4X4 would be best, but a DTT and some good tires would really help.

Honestly that area will get a pretty large amount of snow throughout the winter. The roads are typically last to be plowed besides the x-way and major highway near there. I wonder how much it would be to convert it to 4WD? I know there have already been conversions with the KJ.

I drove a 2WD 94 GMC Sonoma with some nice 32" tires throughout the winter and it ate up the snow. That was about 10 years ago though haha and it had a 4.0L in it.

Agree with Phil - that area gets a decent amount of snow, and being fairly rural, you'll probably want 4x4. It's not to say you can't get around with 2wd, but it could prove to be a pain in the ass.

Amazing to hear someone moving TO Michigan. There's been a mass exit here the past few years due to the economy.

My dad has a large landscape company up there and is always busy... The thing is, I dont think it is the snow that is a problem, isn't it the ice? I mean my jeep now spins in the rain, but I still havethe factory tires on it with 50k on them. This is my only problem about moving there is my damn car. With the amount of ford cars driving there, they have no problem, I can't see a devent heavy ass truck with some serious winter tires and a lift having any problems, but I have no idea because I haven't lived there since I have been driving...

First get some good tires, right theres half of the problem, the stock tires are good enough to get it from the dealers lot to a tire store, period and then with 50,000 miles on them they are or have to be JUNK, oh wait they were when Jeep installed them
2nd get a locker in the rear when you can get it,
third if you haven't driven in snow much , get in a big lot and practice. You will be amazed at where a 2 wheel drive properly set up can take you. You may not be able to go thorugh big snow drifts but you will be able to drive it almost everywhere you NEED to go.
A winch is great of you have something to hook on to, if you are stuck on a road most times there is not a tree right where you need it

All of the advice here is good. Tires, locker if need be, and practice. BTW: you'll have issues in the snow as well... but you're right the ice is the killer.

Here's my advice for practice... it's worked for me, my mom, sister, cousins, etc.

Big empty snow covered parking lot. Maybe about a half hour. Go nuts. But not rollover nuts. You'll figure out what to do in darn near any situation. If the cops catch you I guess you can just tell them that you just moved up here, and are learning how to drive in the snow.

... or just have someone teach you, but I like my family's method better.

deliciousdaly said:

A few years back I bought a 2wd Liberty Renegade, paid to much and can't trade it in and I am moving to Michigan soon and I think I need a 4wd truck. How ****** would it be to drive a 2wd Liberty up there? I'm going to be in the Pinckney area, which is somewhat rural. I have money so I was thinking lift, beefy tires and a wench. I just don't know what to do, I dont want to get stuck everytime weget a few inches but I owe too much to get a 4x4. The thing is that my dad cruises around in a minivan with bald tires but in front wheel drive. I dont know what to do...

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If there's any way you can sell it in Florida, do so. It will be easier to sell a 2wd jeep in Florida than in Michigan. If you bring it to Michigan you probably won't be able to sell a 2wd jeep there. It certainly will be worth nothing in Michigan. Take the money you are thinking of spending to put a DTT and better tires on it etc, and save it as will help offset your loss. Then get a 4wd jeep in Florida from someone that doesn't need it down there (doesn't go off-road) and take it to Michigan........or just drive one of your Dad's trucks up there until you find what you want.....Just some thoughts.

Dave

Plus, people will point and laugh when you get stuck.

... never will forget the day my mom's 2WD SUV got stuck at the end of the driveway

people get stuck everyday in SUV/4WDs
Its how a vehicle is prepared be it two or four wheel drive and what the driver knows. having a 4 wheel drive does not make one a superman on the roads and make them go anywhere. I bet I could take a 500 dollar 79 F150 rust bucket pick up and with a good set of tires go almost anywhere most do in a 4 wheel drive on the roads with ice and snow.
years ago I picked up a 2 wheel drive Explorer ( someone else moved from Fl. to Ohio and got scared) drove it everywhere snows/ice etc.

The OP said he could not sell it due to what he owes so run it with good tires and learn how to drive!

heck Sean just pulled a Hummer out cause the guy didn't know how to drive

i've got a great jeep mechanic in grand rapids area. he buys insurance wrecks and auction vehicles, rebuilds and sells as a salvage. i bet he could convert it for you with used parts for relatively cheap. he works solely on libertys and wranglers. PM if you want his number

kyle

you know my jeep has gone through some stupid stuff and not gotten stuck. I will never forget when I tried to park over a curb with grass in it, I got the rear wheels over and got stuck because the grass was wet and had to have some one pull me out in the middle of a publix parking lot. What is DTT? I cant sell the damn thing because I owe 13000 on it and its only worth 6500 so I would not be able to get anything good. I think the tires and lift I want so I can get the bigger tires but do you think I would need different wheels to get the most bang for my buck???

tommudd said:

people get stuck everyday in SUV/4WDs
Its how a vehicle is prepared be it two or four wheel drive and what the driver knows. having a 4 wheel drive does not make one a superman on the roads and make them go anywhere. I bet I could take a 500 dollar 79 F150 rust bucket pick up and with a good set of tires go almost anywhere most do in a 4 wheel drive on the roads with ice and snow.
years ago I picked up a 2 wheel drive Explorer ( someone else moved from Fl. to Ohio and got scared) drove it everywhere snows/ice etc.

The OP said he could not sell it due to what he owes so run it with good tires and learn how to drive!

heck Sean just pulled a Hummer out cause the guy didn't know how to drive

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Yes I know that Tom. I was just being funny when I made my post.

Marlon_JB2 said:

Yes I know that Tom. I was just being funny when I made my post.

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yep I knew "you were" but others
so off topic when are you coming to Toledo again?

tommudd said:

yep I knew "you were" but others
so off topic when are you coming to Toledo again?

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I'll be passing through Toledo tomorrow morning on my way to Alabama... does that count?

Marlon_JB2 said:

I'll be passing through Toledo tomorrow morning on my way to Alabama... does that count?

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alaBAMA!

Marlon_JB2 said:

I'll be passing through Toledo tomorrow morning on my way to Alabama... does that count?

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Nope doesn't count unless you take me out for breakfast or something

Have a safe trip and watch them Bama girls........

I thought this thread was a joke after reading the title. Who moves to Michigan that is unheard of these days, especially from Florida. Anyways, back on topic. 4x4 is not required, but really does help. Keep it for one winter and put some good winter tires and a lift and then decide if you want to keep it or swap it for a 4x4. If you do decide you want a 4x4, all those parts would be swappable, make sure you keep the stock suspension parts. FWIW, I have a 4x4 and don't use it much in the winter.

move up here with it, if it doesn't work for ya sell it to me, I am in need of a 2 wheel drive Liberty....I have plans for oneidea.gif

My advice would be a good set of winter tires first, learn to drive in the crud next, then DTT if you still need it.