educate me please 4dr jk

[Zeero]

If you are upgrading the shocks and wheel and tires, then yeah, you're going to want the stronger axles.

There have been MANY MANY MANY stories and actually visual experience of my own (with someone elses Jeep) of the axles or some of their components breaking on the X models due to over-size tires. Guys will throw a 35" on the smaller axle and it just cant handle the weight under stress.

If you are not planning on anything heavy, then why are you changing the shocks axles wheels and tires?

The Rubicon comes ready to go, out of the box, no mods nessecary, all in one neat little package.

I've been testing these things since they have been available in late 2006, I have run the X, the Sahara, and the Rubicon.....and the Rubicon won in every category.

Scott to has been running his Rubicon for sometime now and can certainly vouch for its capability as well I'm sure.

To say don't worry about being prepared this time is just a recipe for disaster. When going to the backcountry, you should ALWAYS ALWAYS be prepared no matter how simplistic the journey may seem.

A fine example, we went to Moab in a modded Liberty in July of 2007, and decided NOT to upgrade the fan to the dual fan tow package for the journey as we thought that the Liberty handled our severely hot summers and high humidity well here at home.....we decided to drive the "Bull Canyon" trail, a relatively easy run in the desert just for a quick tour and some sight seeing.....boy were we wrong about not upgrading....our Jeep overheated from the sheer environmental heat alone, in the back of Bull Canyon in the middle of absolutely no-where.....so a 1/2 hour field repair and away we went, but it could have been MUCH worse.

ALWAYS ALWAYS be prepared. ALWAYS. I cannot emphasise that enough.

If your looking at the Wrangler for a backcountry touring vehicle on the other side of North America, and the Rubicon is within your budget and on your short list, then do it. Its the best model for long term travel to the backcountry, especially somewhere like Alaska.

Dont short yourself out, and dont be complacent. You never know where or what you could end up in.

Best of luck, and I hope to see some shiney new pics of whatever you choose to get soon!!

 

[1leg]

Personally I have never seen a broken axel or axel housing in person. But I have seen a few pics on the forums and all of them were Rubicans, In my opinon if you stay 33 and smaller on the tires you don't need the 44 in the front. Lookers are nice but ask Gear he almost never turns them on untill he gets in the really nasty stuff. And a lot of time I have followed him with only LSD in the rear. The 4.11 gears that come with the Rubican will not cut it with 33s no matter what direction you go you will want 4.88 or 5.13s. I have 4.11 in my 07 X 2dr and no way is it getting the job done. And I don't pull a trailer. If you think you need a 44 in front buy a new rubican front axel for ~1800 and save yourself some $$ by installing it yourself.
An X was built for what you want to do.
A Rubican was built,,, for the Rubican,

 

[grahamfitter]

I beat myself up with the same pro/con Rubicon argument on a regular basis on the same grounds of want versus need. The only useful thing I can contribute here is that if you're buying something new for the long-term the drivetrain has a lifetime warranty (assuming Chrysler stays in business!) which would include the Rubicon factory lockers and probably some other stuff. So if you can look deep enough into the crystal ball you might be able to find a good reason for getting the extras now rather than adding them later.

If you're not into hard-core rock crawling, I found a stock '08 Liberty will take you lots of interesting places in more comfort and with less fuel than a Wrangler. It doesn't have the same articulation as a Wrangler but the traction control does a good job keeping airborne wheels from spinning. The factory armor under the front also works well but a few inches of lift would definitely help.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[JIMBO]

:sunny: AND, with the RUBICON, you get the 4:1 xfer case and 4.10 gears, so 33" tire aren't even noticed when in 4lo

:victory: :safari-rig: :safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[mwigant]

Just got a Rubi about two weeks ago. If you're not going on rocks, I would be careful about adding skids you might not need. Your gas mileage will be poor and a bunch of extra steel won't help. Extra fuel would be useful, bucking a 20 mph headwind at 75 mph will send your range south of 300 miles. I'm not going to lift mine. Lifts look cool but they cost money, fuel mileage, and handling. In stock form the Rubicon will handle anything called a road and lots of trails.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I just completed a 1487 mile trip to LA/Vegas thru MOJAVE and back to North Bay Ca. in my 2008 JK "unlimited" I averaged, 19.8 MPG

A few extra skids won't affect your mileage, but

Towing trailers and driving over 70 MPH will

:safari-rig: :safari-rig: :wings: JIMBO

 

[jingram]

What are you guys getting for mileage out of a stock rubicon. I'm curious how the 4.10 gears are say vs the 3.73.

Jack

 

[JIMBO]

:suning: Read above

What are you guys getting for mileage out of a stock rubicon. I'm curious how the 4.10 gears are say vs the 3.73.

Jack

unk03: :safari-rig: :safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[Hilldweller]

My X does just fine.
If you go with a "X" get the Tow package with Limited slip rear. If you have to choose a top get the !!hard top!! I wish I had.
255/85/16 will fit with out a lift.
Save the money and by an "X". then upgrade to 4.88 gears if you go with 255/85/16s.

I'm with this guy most of the way here.
An X, tow package, lsd, hard top --- 4.88 if you get an autotrans, 4.56 if it's manual, and go with that size tire.
Take the extra Rubi money and use it on bumpers, lights, cb, 36 gallon gas tank, and still have gas money.

That forum is terrible in my opinion. The owner/mods don't even let you MENTION a company unless they're a supporting vendor. They will ban you. I understand that the forum exists to make $$, but they take it a little too far.

I agree. I like JeepForum.com.

There's about a $11,000 difference (around $16,000 vs $27,000 at today's discounted prices) between a new Wrangler X and a Rubicon.

That sums it up pretty well...

 

[jingram]

:suning: Read above




unk03: :safari-rig: :safari-rig: JIMBO

Looking at it, you said JK Unlimited, you didn't say Rubicon, hence the question Jimbo. Yep, it was actually your post that made me ask the question. For the record, I have no clue what model you drive.

Jack

 

[JIMBO]

:bowdown: JEEP--WRANGLER (JK) "UNLIMITED" (4dr) RUBICON
--4.10 DIFF- GEARS -AUTO XMISSION--BFG KMs-255X75r-17 tires--WHEELS
ProComp Xtreme alloy Mod #8089-7378 17x8

Looking at it, you said JK Unlimited, you didn't say Rubicon, hence the question Jimbo. Yep, it was actually your post that made me ask the question. For the record, I have no clue what model you drive.

Jack

Hows that ???

:sombrero: :safari-rig: :safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[tdesanto]

If you're financing the vehicle, then all of the posts that recommend taking that extra $10K (give or take) and use it on trip costs or upgrades don't really apply.

If you're financing over 5 years, buying the X, won't put $10K in cash in your pocket. It will save you about $2K/ year + the interest. So, generally speaking (it comes down to how big a down payment, actual costs, interest, etc.) it will run you about $200/month more for the Rubicon.

If it were me, I'd get the Rubicon. I'd probably add a winch/bumper and some recovery gear and hit the trail.

I think you get your money's worth for the extra $10k and you get to spread it out over 5 years. The 4.10's, the 4:1 transfer case, the 32" BFG MT's, the D44's, and the factory lockers--that's a lot of hardware with a (yes I know it may be questionable) lifetime warranty.

Again, if you're financing, it's more a question of cash flow and how much disposable income you'd actually have on hand to do the upgrades later if you decided to get the X vs. having practically everything you'd need right off the showroom floor.

 

[Beowulf]

The main problem I have heard from people that have bought the X thinking they would later upgrade parts to Rubicon status, is that they never do. Trip after trip, year after year it is "oh, I'm going to upgrade" but it just never seems to happen. Then I hear the "I should have just gotten a Rubicon so it would be done".

Just having the reserve capacity and not having to worry about upgrading later is worth the little bit of extra expense.

 

[1leg]

The main problem I have heard from people that have bought the X thinking they would later upgrade parts to Rubicon status, is that they never do. Trip after trip, year after year it is "oh, I'm going to upgrade" but it just never seems to happen. Then I hear the "I should have just gotten a Rubicon so it would be done".

You will never here it from this X owner, because i never wanted a rubican. oh wait i did upgrade to Rubican Unlimited springs and shocks, Gave my 2 dr X with soft top about 1.5 lift. Got them free, thanks Justin!!!!.

 

[The Swiss]

About to order a 2009 4dr JK will be using it for travel western states and possible trip Alaska not sure if need Rubicon want to keep fairly stock upgrades in wheels tires etc. have been looking for a 2008 but none to be found in stone white w/kahki interior do not plan to ford rivers or climb rocks but will use on dirt and gravel roads as well as death valley but still keep it a good HWY driver So will leave it to all of u experts to add ur 2 cents greatly appreciated THX

I have a stone white Rubi Unlimited with khaki interior and I love it, best Jeep I ever had.

On the debate if Rubi or X: I am in the lucky situation that the JK Unlimited fitted our companies profile for a company car and the Rubi did fit the budget; therefore it was a non-brainer. However, 99% of the time a Rubi is not really necessary and if I would have to make the monthly payments myself, I think I probably would content myself with a white X with khaki interior But it sure is sure nice to have a Rubi.

The current set-up of my Rubi is a 2.5" Teraflex BB up front and a 1 3/4" Daystar BB in the rear (to correct the rake) with the stock 255/75/17 BFG MT. I average a very respectable 18.5 mpg, worst tank about 14 mpg, best about 22 mpg.

Either way, X or Rubi, you can't go wrong!! :victory: