CapnRick
New Member
I'm a long time wheeler and I just recently purchased an '03 Liberty Renegade. It's pretty much stock at this point but I just got back from my annual Christmas Escape to Big Bend and I wanted to say that the Renegade is one of the most capable off-road vehicles I've driven, even in stock configuration.
The most challenging trail in Big Bend is Black Gap. It's unimproved, unmaintained and unpatrolled. In previous years I've driven it in a KIA Sportage, a friend's Rodeo and an Xterra. This year Black Gap Trail was in fine shape (meaning it was the worst I've ever seen it) and my Jeep went through it without even breaking a sweat, which is more than I can say for me. There were some situations where I literally had the thing almost standing on its nose and I got out of each obstacle without even bruising the front license plate frame. The angle of approach and departure is phenomenal. The short wheelbase also was great going over humps. Power up grades and over obstacles and overall feel and control were outstanding. I had some doubts when I was thinking about buying it but I've been very happy overall and this last trip has me hooked!
My only casualty was the passenger side step rail, which lost a disgreement with a fair-sized boulder on the east side of the gap. My plan for improvement before the next bit of serious off-roading will be the largest tires I can fit and, since I wasn't really expecting too much from the stock rails, replacing them with honest-to-goodness rock sliders.
Just wanted to put in my $.02 to say Libertys ROCK!!
The most challenging trail in Big Bend is Black Gap. It's unimproved, unmaintained and unpatrolled. In previous years I've driven it in a KIA Sportage, a friend's Rodeo and an Xterra. This year Black Gap Trail was in fine shape (meaning it was the worst I've ever seen it) and my Jeep went through it without even breaking a sweat, which is more than I can say for me. There were some situations where I literally had the thing almost standing on its nose and I got out of each obstacle without even bruising the front license plate frame. The angle of approach and departure is phenomenal. The short wheelbase also was great going over humps. Power up grades and over obstacles and overall feel and control were outstanding. I had some doubts when I was thinking about buying it but I've been very happy overall and this last trip has me hooked!
My only casualty was the passenger side step rail, which lost a disgreement with a fair-sized boulder on the east side of the gap. My plan for improvement before the next bit of serious off-roading will be the largest tires I can fit and, since I wasn't really expecting too much from the stock rails, replacing them with honest-to-goodness rock sliders.
Just wanted to put in my $.02 to say Libertys ROCK!!
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