I can't really comment on the 3.6, but I have the 2.8 CRD.
You will come to your own conclusion, but when I was researching what to buy, for me if I was going to get a JK Wrangler it had to be the CRD as it suited my needs. However I am aware that 2013+ 3.6's are solid motors with decent power and economy for a petrol engine driving a brick through the air. But when travelling (and esp towing) the CRD is much happier and more efficient doing that (If I was buying a JK to be a nice daily drive and do the odd camping trip, then yes I would've gone for the 3.6).
My setup that may help you:
- I have a 2009 CRD manual.
- It has 2.5" lift and 35" Nitto Mud Grappler tyres (each tyre and rim is 55kg each)
- Heavy duty clutch.
- 4.11 diff ratios, cruises at 110kmh in 6th at 2,200 rpm, or at 90kmh in 5th (1:1 ratio for towing) at 2,200rpm which is where peak torque is.
- 3" exhaust, dyno tuned with EGR deleted (if you have a 2010+ model then you can also get the DPF deleted at the same time).
My fuel economy:
- Daily driving to work etc everyday my economy is 11.5-12.5L/100km depending on how I drive it.
- Towing my track car (1500kg + 800kg trailer + tools, + spares, + fuel, + spare wheels and tyres, etc) and with my Jeep loaded up with food and stuff for my family to be away for a period of time (with fridge, dual batts, etc etc) (most likely over the GVM) on a 1,000km round trip recently my fuel economy was 17L/100km with an average speed of 100kmh (did plenty of overtaking too).
When I had all terrain tyres my daily driving economy was in the mid-high 10L/100km. Also if I drove more sedately and stuck to the 90kmh towing speed limit no doubt my towing fuel economy would have been better too.
But hopefully this info helps you as I feel my numbers would be the worse case scenario.
Extra info:
- The CRD's love to get hot when pushed for long periods at hwy speeds.
- Pushing them can be by running larger tyres, loading them up for long trips, towing, or a combination of these.
- The quickest and easiest way to help prevent overheating is to fit a heavy duty clutch fan (approx $80 AUD delivered from the US). This is all I have done to mine and I have zero overheating issues, highest coolant temps I see is 95 degrees when towing up a hill, otherwise daily driving its always around 78-82 degrees.
- Auto CRD's have a tendancy to overheat even more though as the trans cooler is too small from the factory and it radiates heat into the intercooler and coolant radiator surrounding it. So the best solution here is to fit a larger aftermarket trans cooler (kits go for around $300).
- Also be mindful that 2010+ CRD's have a 10 degree hotter thermostat in them, so generally speaking they don't have as much headroom as the earlier models to 'overheat', so if you're buying a 2012 model make sure you do the preventative mods to the cooling system to ensure its in the best cond and you won't have any probs when towing your caravan.
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