Jeep Wrangler Sets New Altitude Record
The new four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has just wheeled its way into the Guinness Book of World Records by conquering the tallest Volcano in the world, Ojos del Salado in Chile. After reaching the top of the volcano the two Wrangler Unlimiteds became the first four-wheeled vehicles to reach 21,804 feet above sea level, the altitude at the top of Ojos del Salado. The immense volcano is not only tall but it is also littered with difficult obstacles such as glacial ice fields and volcanic sand, combined with the thin air at the top it makes for less than ideal conditions for a motorized vehicle, however the two Jeep team was up for the challenge.


The expedition was lead by a German based team from Extreme Events. Taking roughly five exhausting days to complete the trip, Mattias Jeschk (team leader) and the rest of his crew guided the Wranglers from base camp up to the top of the second highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. Along the way they faced hurricane-strength winds, sub-zero temperatures (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit), thin air, malicious glaciers, fissured rock cliffs and volcanic sand. The most difficult part of the journey was the last stretch of the climb where both Wranglers had to cross a glacier, slick enough to require cramp-ons for foot travel. At the end was a fissured ice area strewn with razor sharp snow penitents. Both Wranglers were almost completely stock Rubicon models except for the addition of Goodyear MT/R tires, a pair of winches, and special altitude measuring instruments, making the trip all the more impressive.


Goodyear tires at work
Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Chrysler, George Murphy had nothing but praise for the trip, “This was exactly the challenge to separate the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited from all other 4×4 vehicles. A climb like this in not just off-road, but extreme conditions, is a testament to the performance of the vehicle’s power train, suspension and overall quality. We are very proud that Wrangler Unlimited was the first vehicle to be able to complete such a rigorous challenge, and believe that it really does set the vehicle apart from its competition”.
As a Jeep owner I’m proud to see another Jeep make this great achievement, especially one that shares some lineage with my old CJ7. But I have to admit, the hiker/backpacker in me is a little sad to see motorized vehicles climbing mountains instead of people on foot, and the idea that Jeep has now dubs this great volcano “the highest parking lot in the world” says a lot about the direction our society is going in. But I guess those are the conflicts that someone who likes Jeeps and likes to hike has to deal with. By the way; the old record was held by a VW Touareg at 19,950 feet.

Jeeps reach the previous record altitude
Good job Jeep! I think.
-Bill Mertz
Jeep, Wrangler, Unlimited, 4×4, off road, volcano, Chile, Ojos del Salado, Guinness World Record, CJ7, winch, Goodyear, hike, backpack, German, Extreme Events



April 3rd, 2007 at 10:33 am
Blimey, that is impressive! It doesn’t explain why normal people need Jeeps though, you know, just for popping down the local shops or taking their 5 year old to school.
I can’t believe they’re using the tagline “The highest parking lot in the world”, that just stinks of cars taking over!
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:22 am
Yeah, this is more of a who’s balls are bigger moment. I don’t think any kind of car needs to be on top of a mountain, it’s so pointless.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Why do men climb mountains in 4×4s? because it is so cool to watch you spit fall so far. I say good for them, I used to be able to park my Rig on top of a 13,348 ft mountain, then some official decided it was no longer a road, though the old wagon road we drove had been built over 100 years ago. Any how I think it is great and if I had half a chance I would love to take tours up to the top, most folks could never be able to walk (including myself) but does that mean I don’t deserve to be there.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:03 am
Well who deserves to be where is a big philisophical question. If people who can’t walk to the top deserve to be there why don’t we just pave a road all the way up?
Either way it is an impressive achievement for the Jeep and team.
-Bill
April 25th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Thank You
November 5th, 2007 at 12:35 am
That was an amazing feat! To reach that top of that mountain definitely shows the excellent performance of the Wrangler Unlimited! With its sturdy and heavy duty tires, and jeep tops it was able to climb its way to the top!
November 27th, 2007 at 3:17 am
The Jeep Wrangler is really an outstanding vehicle. With super swamper tires ,it can drive through various terrains and conquer new heights