The Queen City of the Hudson is the perfect venue to bring adventure to life from behind the wheel of a Jeep. As the leading used Jeep dealer near Poughkeepsie, we are excited to kickstart your next adventure and help you answer the call of the wild. So, what are your options when shopping for a trail-worthy Jeep on the used lot?

Jeep is renowned for its legendary capability, with models like the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Renegade, Compass, and Gladiator boasting the brand's exceptional four-wheel drive systems and potent heartbeats. Yet, some trims are better equipped to handle the trail than others, which is why we're here to help. Here's a closer look at the meaning behind Jeep's Trail Rated badge and the best off-road trims to look for when shopping our incredible selection of used Jeep trucks and SUVs.

Earning the Trail Rated Badge

Confidently venturing off the pavement and beyond the hustle and bustle of Poughkeepsie starts by understanding the significance behind the Trail Rated badge. Jeep's legacy is intricately tied to capability, and the Trail Rated badge is a measure of accountability. The badge isn't given but must be earned as a Jeep proves its competency in the most extreme and grueling conditions.

The Trail Rated badge is an honor and signifies that a Jeep, like the Wrangler, Gladiator, Compass, or Grand Cherokee, is a competent adventurer. Earning the badge requires every model to meet or exceed Jeep's high standards in five critical categories–ground clearance, articulation, water fording, maneuverability, and traction. These areas represent everything a trail-worthy Jeep should offer those looking for the next-level capability expected of the brand.

The Jeep must offer enough ground clearance and optimal approach, departure, and breakover angles to tackle technical terrain. Its clearance must also complement its water-fording capabilities, with its vital components sealed and protected from wet and potentially hazardous conditions. Additionally, traction is critical when navigating slippery and technical terrain, whether a snow-packed street near the Hudson River or a muddy trail deep in the woods.

Jeep's Value-Packed Off-Road Trims

There's no question that investing in a used Jeep is the perfect way to satiate your need for adventure without paying a premium for a new model. Jeep models like the Wrangler, Gladiator, and Grand Cherokee are renowned for their appeal on the used lot, but some trims offer far more value and off-road capability than others. For our Poughkeepsie drivers, those trims include the Willys, Rubicon, Mojave, Overland, and Trailhawk.

Why the Willys?

The Willys trim pays homage to the Willys Quad, which played a pivotal role in World War II when Jeep answered a bid from the American military for a light reconnaissance vehicle. Today, the Willys is an entry-level off-road trim for the Wrangler and Gladiator. Like the rest of the Jeep lineup, the Willys features four-wheel drive and adds the essentials when venturing off the pavement. Those essentials include a locking rear differential and LED lighting, with the Gladiator adding features like cab rock rails.

Why the Rubicon?

The Rubicon is easily the best value for your money when shopping for a used Jeep. Like the Trail Rated badge, the Rubicon name has a lot of significance in the Jeep lineup. Because of this, a Rubicon on the used lot is the equivalent of hitting the Jeep jackpot.

Rubicon models roll off the production line and can handle more technical terrain. Rubicon trims in the Gladiator and Wrangler lineups feature heavy-duty components, like a full-float rear axle, larger tires, LED lighting, locking front and rear differentials, improved shocks, and an electronic sway bar disconnect. Jeep's Rock-Trac Heavy-Duty Part-Time Transfer Case also draws adventurers to the Rubicon trim, heightening how the vehicles handle by offering exceptional crawl ratios and articulation.

Over the years, Jeep has introduced several Rubicon variants, like the Rubicon X and Rubicon 392. These trims live up to the Rubicon name but add distinguishing features. For example, the Rubicon X includes more trail-related technologies and upgraded steel bumpers. The Rubicon 392 typically comes with a more potent heartbeat and an upscale interior that ensures every adventure is comfortable and luxurious.

Why the Mojave?

The Gladiator's versatility makes it an excellent option for local drivers who want the functionality of a truck bed with Jeep's off-road capability. While the Gladiator Willys serves as an entry point into that capability, the Mojave and Mojave X up the ante with more rugged features. As you shop for these trims, you'll notice the Desert Rated Mojave is well-equipped with FOX shocks, hydraulic jounce bumpers, a suspension lift, cab rock rails, and a locking rear differential. The Mojave X adds steel bumpers, completing the trim's adventure-ready aesthetic and heightening its capability long after the pavement ends.

Why the Overland?

The Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV in Jeep history, a legacy our customers appreciate on the used lot. The award-winning Grand Cherokee is a must for adventurers looking for a functional and sophisticated SUV that can do double duty as a weekday road warrior and weekend adventurer. Trims like the Overland guarantee as much by outfitting the premium SUV with Jeep's updated suspension, Selec-Terrain Traction Management System, and advanced on-demand four-wheel drive system. The combination readies the Overland for technical terrain without compromising ride quality and on-road handling.

Why the Trailhawk?

Are you looking for a smaller adventurer? While most people associate Jeep with the Wrangler, Gladiator, and Grand Cherokee, these icons aren't your only option. Models like the Compass Trailhawk prove as much and offer outstanding value on our used lot as unsuspecting road warriors with a penchant for adventure.

The Compass Trailhawk has earned Jeep's Trail Rated badge, ensuring its prowess on and off the pavement. This rugged trim features an exclusive off-road suspension that heightens its handling as its potent heartbeat powers through every situation, be it slippery, muddy, or snowy. The Trailhawk's unique styling, off-road components, and smaller footprint give it a distinct advantage as a capable adventurer that can adeptly switch between running errands and chasing the horizon.

Adventure in Poughkeepsie

Nestled in the Hudson River Valley, Poughkeepsie is the ultimate venue for beautiful landscapes, stunning vistas, and a lifetime of adventures. Those adventures, on or off the pavement, are far more enjoyable when you're in the driver's seat of a vehicle designed for that purpose. Jeep knows as much and delivers with an exceptional lineup of off-road trims and its Trail Rated badge.

Shopping for a used Jeep is an exciting endeavor that encourages you to dream big and anticipate your next adventure. Do you need the basics that a Willys trim offers, or are you drawn to the versatility and smaller footprint of a Compass Trailhawk? Perhaps you're head over heels for the award-winning Grand Cherokee or know the iconic Wrangler Rubicon is the Jeep of your dreams.

Exploring your options is exciting because of Jeep's rich history of capability and ongoing commitment to building vehicles that can satisfy our need for exploration without compromising our safety or comfort. Because of this, investing in a used Jeep is a matter of preference, style, budget, and must-haves. It's a shopping spree our customers thoroughly enjoy, and we always look forward to navigating it with you.