Looking for a Jeep Wrangler

[CA-RJ]

Hey everyone. I'm a long time Jeep owner and had a 1999 Wrangler with the 2.5L for 7 years. I sold it to buy my 4Runner. I'm now looking to get another Jeep. It will be my daily driver and I don't expect to turn it into a monster.

I've been looking through Auto Trader.com and on Car Max.com at the 04-06 Rubicon SWB and the Unlimiteds. I'm having a really hard time deciding between the two. The Rubicon has better gearing, lockers and better tires right off the bat. The Unlimited has more space and can be found for about $1-2k less.

I don't have kids. I like to do rock crawling, explore in the desert and camp.

So, what do you think I should get? I really like the lockers that the Rubicon has. I like that there is more space for camping stuff in the Unlimited. (Oh, the Unlimited Rubicon is out, they are out of the budget).

 

[efuentes]

Get an Unlimited, buy a used rear Rubicon axle or an ARB locker and run ....

 

[blue94yj]

Get a Rubicon Unlimited.

 

[BIGdaddy]

yup, get an unlimited..... rubicon or not.


if its a rubicon, you're good to go, just put a winch on it and enjoy...


i wanted the non-rubicon, so i could add detroits and cuz i didn't want the 4:1 ratio t-case. i do a lot of dune/sand running and wanted the ability to keep my speed up (a problem with low geared, stock rubicons) and the NP231 case does that better.

if i decided down the line that i wanted 4:1's i can add a tera-low kit, as well as a slip yoke and have the exact same ability with a much more common/inexpensive tcase.



by the way, in the back of my unlimited i have:
-a huge 8 person tent
-full size cooler
-5gallon jerry can of water
-kitchen box, milk crate of tools
-coleman camp stove
-full set of recovery gear and straps.
-fire extinguisher
-room to spare(i could easily fit another jerry can full of water in there.

oh, and this is with two car seats in the rear seat.

 

[SeaRubi]

unlimited all the way ... no comparison! better ride, better climbing, more space. some budget lockers or whatever and you're set.

 

[madizell]

For general use I would also say "not the Rubicon" because you will be paying for items you don't need or perhaps won't want. I particularly think that a 4:1 T-case is simply not needed for other than crawling. I changed ratios from 2.7:1 to 3:1, and even that small difference made a huge difference in low range speeds and gear spreads. It essentially reduced my 5-speed transmission to a 2-speed in low range unless I am crawling over something rather large or winching hands free, and instead of a top speed in low range of around 45 or 50mph, I now have a top speed of about 28 to 35mph. Going to a 4:1 would make it so slow it would be useless for trails.

Personally, I would think of using a 4:1 T-case in an unmodified or lightly modified Jeep only if using a 4 cylinder motor.

 

[maximumrob]

You wrote that you like rock crawling, which means no matter what you buy, you'll break and replace parts. Might as well start off with the cheap stuff anyway since it'll all be changed out! Get the Unlimited.

One poster above noted that if it's a Rubicon, put a winch on it and leave well enough alone. Puuuuuhleeeeeeze...there's no such thing as leaving a Jeep stock!



.

 

[goodtimes]

You wrote that you like rock crawling, which means no matter what you buy, you'll break and replace parts.

Simply not true. Not everyone who enjoys rock crawling flogs their rig. Sure, things break from time to time...but a careful driver who knows that you don't need speed to get over every obstacle out there can get by with a stock rubicon drivetrain for years....I'm going on 6 years without a problem....and my jeep has been places where it probably shouldn't have...

As for a jeep staying stock.....yea....not many do.

 

[TD64]

I just scored a Rubicon Unlimited and love it! I pulled out the rear seat and there is a lot of room; I can fit two mountain bikes and all my gear in there!

So, is something like this in the budget?... 05 Rubicon Unlimited 17K miles for 23K.

<delete expired craigslist posting>

 

[Haggis]

Hmmm... seeems to be a trend here...so let me add to it. After having a TJ and now an LJ, I'd recommend the Unlimited all the way...same parts bolt to both, but that extra bit off length makes worlds of difference.

 

[SeaRubi]

I do miss my LJ - just a great vehicle. Only two years in production - these should hold their value pretty well if you hang on to 'em.

:campfire:

 

[nwoods]

We recently got an 05 Rubicon Unlimited. We travel with our kids, so the rear seat is always in. Most TJ's I see do not have the rear seat in so that they have some more space.

I have heard from numerous people that the LJ rides much better and is more stable. I can't compare, but it seems okay. It's hard to tell, as we are coming from a Land Rover and they are night and day different sorts of vehicles.

We went Rubicon and I'm glad I did, for what we do, the stock lockers and drivetrain seems more than adequate, though 5" of lift and 35" tires really make a huge improvement in capability on rocky trails....less so on the road.

 

[CA-RJ]

Thanks for all the advice! I went and test drove a 2006 Unlimited with an automatic transmission and a soft top. It drove pretty nice, though it was noisier than my lifted 4Runner. I got used to that when I had my first Wrangler, so I'm sure I can get used to it again. The automatic wasn't bad but I would like to drive a 6 speed so I can compare. The dealer only had 2 automatics so I guess I'll have to wait and see if they get any in in the next couple of weeks.

Now, I just have to sell the 4Runner.

 

[grahamfitter]

i wanted the non-rubicon, so i could add detroits and cuz i didn't want the 4:1 ratio t-case. i do a lot of dune/sand running and wanted the ability to keep my speed up (a problem with low geared, stock rubicons) and the NP231 case does that better.

For general use I would also say "not the Rubicon" because you will be paying for items you don't need or perhaps won't want. I particularly think that a 4:1 T-case is simply not needed for other than crawling.

Thanks for the insight, folks. I'm starting to think about what to replace my '97 TJ with and I was half tempted with a Rubicon simply because I'm not particularly excited about making any mechanical changes and the Rubicon has a few useful things done to it already that are covered by the factory warranty. It sounds like for the places I go, just the 4.1 transfer case would likely make the whole vehicle less useful to me than the other goodies put together would improve it.

As far as regular or unlimited, I'd say that the lack of space in the regular size is quite liberating and is all part of the charm. You just can't get that with an unlimited but obviously kids, toys, etc. all come into the equation so its good there is now a choice of sizes.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[BIGdaddy]

Thanks for the insight, folks. I'm starting to think about what to replace my '97 TJ with and I was half tempted with a Rubicon simply because I'm not particularly excited about making any mechanical changes and the Rubicon has a few useful things done to it already that are covered by the factory warranty. It sounds like for the places I go, just the 4.1 transfer case would likely make the whole vehicle less useful to me than the other goodies put together would improve it.

As far as regular or unlimited, I'd say that the lack of space in the regular size is quite liberating and is all part of the charm. You just can't get that with an unlimited but obviously kids, toys, etc. all come into the equation so its good there is now a choice of sizes.

Cheers,
Graham

you pretty much have it nailed Graham...

TJ's definitely are iconic and forces you to be very choosy about mods, and packing, as there are a ton of mods out there, and very little room extraneous stuff, respectively.

LJ's almost require modifications such as rock sliders, a tummy tuck (low profile center skid plate) and a slight 1"-2" spring/body or spacer lift to be on par with a TJ as far as close to stock ability...

Don't get me wrong, the rocTRac is a great tcase, with slipyoke from the factory, but the NP231 with its 2.42ish:1 ratio does great with a careful driver and a traction device in the rear. I've got the stock LSD in the stock rear D44 in mine and it has never let me down.

The extra room of the Unlimited has made a specialized vehicle like the wrangler, a plausible family car, without much fuss. I love it. :sombrero:

if you're honest with your needs and cargo/people requirements, both are very good choices, IMO, on par with D90's, FJ40s, etc.