I've read about the tree straps and I do plan to buy one.
But really, I know you are all right, but all I am planning to do is go for a little ride, in a state park (with my permit), on trails that are not likely to be very exciting. So if I get really stuck in the mud under these circumstances, then that would just make me a very bad driver.
But, if I do happen to get stuck, you all will be the first to know (after the park ranger who tows me out - this is Maryland, after all - and who will surely appreciate the recovery strap).

Wrangirl,

I just wanted to note that one does not have to be a bad ddriver in order to get stuck (spoken with experience). One only has to be a little unlucky OR a little too bold! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A Hi-Lift should be a given to take along. It would be pretty hard just to change a flat without a Hi-Lift. Every Jeep owner should have one. That was the first thing I bought for my Jeep.

That may have been the first thing YOU bought, but Wrangirl didn't mention having either a winch, Hi-Lift, or come-along. She specifically noted she didn't have a winch. I seriously she has a Hi-Lift or a come-along, since she admits being new to off-roading. If she doesn't have one of those, having more than one strap isn't going to do her any good if she's out on the trail with only one vehicle, which is the situation being discussed..

Brown, good advice to Wrangirl. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> For her light duty four wheeling outings, the Hi-Lift farmer's jack would be a great tool for her to always carry in or mount on her TJ. Wrangirl, this offroad tire jack is worth considering where it can be used to jack the Jeep over or off an obstacle, and, can be used as a manual winch. Although the Hi-lift's travel length is in inches, sometimes this is all that is required to get a Jeep free from a stuck or high centered predicament. The downside of the Hi-Lift jack is that it is dangerous to use, just like the comealong. It puts the user between the vehicle and the anchor. The obvious danger in using a Hi-lift jack is getting your head whacked but the jack handle. However, Hi-Lift has good instructions on how to use its jack safely. Almost all four wheelers have a farmer's jack onboard their vehicles. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

First timers are prone to damage more with a farmers jack than they help! In skilled hands a farmers jack can be of some use...however I have seen a lot of vehicle damage caused by unwary jackers!!!
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

You are all very convincing, so I did an online search for Hi-Lift - they have many products. Can you give specifics as to what to order? This will set my trip back.
I also have a couple of questions -
1. Is it a bad idea to start out from second gear all the time instead of first - first seems awfully slow and it seems to me necessary only in 4wd.
2. Because of the lightness of my TJ and its funny handling in the rain (in 2wd) we put some bags of gravel in the trunk (my husband does this in the winter with his GMC pickup truck if the cap is off). Now I know this is not the locker discussion, but is there something else I can do for more traction on the highway in rain conditions besides weigh the back down, which does help? I don't mind the little slide, which is hard to avoid sometimes on these slippery smooth asphalt roads, but if I have someone else with me (like one of my children - they are older, not little, but still) I don't want to risk their lives.
3. What in the world is a "come along?"

BTW - I am admittedly new to "proper" off-roading with good "equipment." But not new to tearing around in the woods in a makeshift vehicle (admittedly years ago, but I still remember the exhilaration and how to do it).

Wrangirl,

The handling characteristics you mention on wet pavement are sort of the price one pays for having a short-wheel-base vehicle like a Wrangler (or it's predecessor YJs and CJs). Just being careful is the best thing you can do and don't try to drive it like a sports car! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Also some of the "funny handling" in 2WD in the rain may be the result of having a limited slip differential in the rear axle. Do you know if you have one?

Unless you're on a fairly smooth two-track dirt road where you can drive 50 mph, I'd recommend using Low Range on the transfer case for off-road use. Much more engine braking available that way. When in Low range, unless you're on a very steep hill, you can probably start out in 2nd, or 3rd gear, maybe even 4th. Experiment and see what works best for you.

A come-along is like a small hand-operated winch. They typically have between 10" and 30" or wire rope attached on a spool. The spool is ratcheted by means of a handle that is 1-2/2 to 2 feet long. The body of the come-along will usually have a hook attached to it via a short chain or cable. The end of the long wire rope will also have a hook attached. So, to get unstuck, you hook a tow strap to your Jeep, lay it out and then hool the short hook of the comealong to it, stretch out the wire rope of the comealong, and hook the wire rope to a tree saver strap that is wound around a tree trunk. Then you work the ratchet handle and it reels in the wire rope. It usually takes two or theee setup, but works pretty well in a lot of situations.

In regard to starting out in 2nd gear; You have the 6 speed transmission. I test drove one of these new TJ's with the 6 speed tranny, and agree with you, first gear is way too low for normal city or highway driving. There isn't any problem starting out in 2nd gear, except, obviously, on a hill. IMHO, the 6 speed manual is much better to have than the auto tranny offerred in your model year; in the auto, the tranny significantly consumes some of the engine horsepower in moving the tranny fluid around. The manual tranny provides more engine horsepower to the transfer case and wheels.
Bob's discussion above is great. I would add that the vehicle squirrelliness on wet pavement is due to the Wrangler's light weight, about 3000 pounds. Also, especially if you are still running the Wrangler GS-A tires that came on the vehicle, I have found these to be absolutely terrible tires for wet pavement driving ... prone to hydroplanning. The triple tread design has an outside tread to reduce tire/road noise; but, the design allows no place for the water between the tire and pavement to move away to allow good traction. Almost any water accumulating on the pavement will cause these tires to pond water between the tires and pavement, and the vehicle to hydroplane. Under rainy conditions with those tires, I have found it necessary to drive slower, way under the posted highway speed. I would suggest investing in some good all-terrain tires some time in the near future, as long as your four wheeling venues remain mild. But, I wouldn't let all these "be Prepared" recommendations keep you and your mate from four wheeling this weekend. Go have some fun! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />