Rubicon...Is it worth it?

[goodtimes]

I was just playing on the Jeep site and noticed that both the Sahara and the X now have an option for a rear locker. It currently has a price of $0 but I'm sure that will change. If I could pick up an X with a locker for MSRP of ~23k it may be worth it instead of getting a Ruby for 29k.


This looks to confirm it... http://arifleet.com/production.html

To be honest, I don't know why they didn't do this earlier.

 

[SeaRubi]

I was just playing on the Jeep site and noticed that both the Sahara and the X now have an option for a rear locker. It currently has a price of $0 but I'm sure that will change. If I could pick up an X with a locker for MSRP of ~23k it may be worth it instead of getting a Ruby for 29k.


This looks to confirm it... http://arifleet.com/production.html

... or just get the sahara w/ the rear 44 (assuming that's still std) and drop a detroit in there for $500.

 

[Wanderlusty]

Equipping a non-rubi with a rear locker....hmmm....

Kinda sheds a new perspective on my poll.

The more of this kind of stuff they throw on non-Rubi's....the less of a deal the Rubi's become....

Not to say that it isn't still a great deal.

I guess I will just have to see what the offerings are when I am ready to buy.

 

[goodtimes]

The more of this kind of stuff they throw on non-Rubi's....the less of a deal the Rubi's become....

But it will come with a price ($$$). Once you add up the options (locker, d44 rear axle, rear disk brakes, etc), you start approaching the price of the rubicon that already has all that.

I do think it will be a popular option though...there are a lot of people who really don't need the 4:1 t'case gears or even the front locker....

good on 'em (DC).

 

[Wanderlusty]

But it will come with a price ($$$). Once you add up the options (locker, d44 rear axle, rear disk brakes, etc), you start approaching the price of the rubicon that already has all that.

I do think it will be a popular option though...there are a lot of people who really don't need the 4:1 t'case gears or even the front locker....

good on 'em (DC).

The Unlimiteds are now all coming standard with D44 rear. In fact, I think that only the lowest trim level in the 2 door SWB gets a D35.

This (rear lockers) if it is indeed legit....will be something for me to consider. I fall under the category of someone who probably doesn't need 4:1...though I would not regret it if I had it...

Still, there is just something about a Rubi....

 

[goodtimes]

The Unlimiteds are now all coming standard with D44 rear. In fact, I think that only the lowest trim level in the 2 door SWB gets a D35.

This (rear lockers) if it is indeed legit....will be something for me to consider. I fall under the category of someone who probably doesn't need 4:1...though I would not regret it if I had it...

Still, there is just something about a Rubi....

One thing to remember with the 4:1...low range is really low. There is very little overlap between hi range and low range. In 4-low/4th gear, I have the same final drive ratio as 4-hi/1st gear. On alot of trails I find myself going between hi and lo range alot due to the lack of overlap. The 4:1 is great on techincal stuff, but on easier trails I end up running in hi range until I get to a more difficult obstacle, shift to low range, and then back to hi as soon as I get through the obstacle. Kind of a pain sometimes. 2.73:1 low range has its place....

 

[Wanderlusty]

It is rare I even use 4-Lo...but there are a lot of trails I have backed away from due to being by myself or not having recovery gear, too...sooo.....

 

[durango_60]

One thing to remember with the 4:1...low range is really low. There is very little overlap between hi range and low range. In 4-low/4th gear, I have the same final drive ratio as 4-hi/1st gear. On alot of trails I find myself going between hi and lo range alot due to the lack of overlap. The 4:1 is great on techincal stuff, but on easier trails I end up running in hi range until I get to a more difficult obstacle, shift to low range, and then back to hi as soon as I get through the obstacle. Kind of a pain sometimes. 2.73:1 low range has its place....

So are you suggesting that a JKU w/ D44, rear locker, 2.73:1 case, 4.10's, 2" lift and 33's might be a better solution for the type of wheeling most folks on this site pursue? I imagine with a rig like that you could handle the same terrain the folks with expedition built Tacos or Cruisers will be tackling.

 

[goodtimes]

So are you suggesting that a JKU w/ D44, rear locker, 2.73:1 case, 4.10's, 2" lift and 33's might be a better solution for the type of wheeling most folks on this site pursue? I imagine with a rig like that you could handle the same terrain the folks with expedition built Tacos or Cruisers will be tackling.

Quite possibly. If someone tends to take the easier lines where there is an option, and avoids the more difficult trails, yes, I think the 2.xx:1 gearing would be better overall. Like most other things, each person should figure out what their intended use is, and select the options/modifications that best suit those needs.

For my needs, 4:1 is the better choice. For someone elses needs, the story may change.

 

[SeaRubi]

So are you suggesting that a JKU w/ D44, rear locker, 2.73:1 case, 4.10's, 2" lift and 33's might be a better solution for the type of wheeling most folks on this site pursue? I imagine with a rig like that you could handle the same terrain the folks with expedition built Tacos or Cruisers will be tackling.

i'd say less expensive, not really better. in 4-hi, 1st gear still yields 18:1 with 4.10's in the differentials. With the Rubi's limited slip, there's a fair amount of terrain I can tackle in 4-hi with true 3 wheel drive. With a Sahara packed with a rear detroit, it's be about the same for most "overland" type trips. I don't think you'd really miss the extra equipment of the Rubi.

Assuming both rigs have 4.10 diffs and the GS370 6-speed, here's the final drive ratio for 4-hi, and then lo-range for the NP231 (standard) and NP241OR (rubicon).


4-hi | NP231 | NP241OR
trans | 2.72 | 4:1
====================================
1st | 4.46 | 18.286 | 49.74 | 73.14
2nd | 2.61 | 10.701 | 29.11 | 42.80
3rd | 1.72 | 7.052 | 19.18 | 28.21
4th | 1.25 | 5.125 | 13.94 | 20.50
5th | 1 | 4.1 | 11.15 | 16.40
6th | 0.84 | 3.444 | 9.37 | 13.78
R | 4.06 | 16.646 | 45.28 | 66.58


Based off these numbers, I can see that the majority of trails I've been where the 2.72 lo-range wouldn't really be a liability, because it is rare that I drop into 1st gear. I'm usually in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th and then will shift over to 6th for basically double-tracks in the dirt, and back to hi-range on gravel roads.

Where the deeper 1st gear comes in handy is in rock crawling, where the extra control and slower speed of 73:1 is a real asset over the "bump and throttle" technique in tackling obstacles.

edit: more nerd stuff: if you take out 1st gear of the rubi and just compare it with 2nd gear and on, you can see that 2nd-6th is nearly identical in final drive ratio to 1st-5th of the NP231's 2.72:1 lo-range.

231 241OR
==========
49 42
29 28
19 20
11 16
9 14

 

[Wanderlusty]

Here is something I found out there surfin'

http://www.brettandjillianwoods.com/jeep stuff/index.htm

in this thread:

http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=1485

 

[durango_60]

Well I got tired of riding this fence and just ordered a new Rubicon Unlimited 6 speed.:wings:

Guess I better start making some Jeep friends cause my yota buds are surely gonna disown me:shakin:

 

[SeaRubi]

Well I got tired of riding this fence and just ordered a new Rubicon Unlimited 6 speed.:wings:

Guess I better start making some Jeep friends cause my yota buds are surely gonna disown me:shakin:

nice!! my rover friends took the news of my conversion to Jeep land pretty hard - but they got over it

 

[Wanderlusty]

I see now that not only is a locker in the rear available on non-Rubi's, but you can also add the Swaybar disco....from the factory. I knew you could order the part, but now you can order it factory installed.

So....I know that the swaybar disco is a $675 option, the rear locker says $0...but doubt that is true.

But say it runs about the same as the swaybar disco, you are talking $1200...then all you lack vs the Rubi is front locker and 4:1 case. Hmm...

Just more food for thought for an already overstuffed mind....

 

[cshontz]

For technical 4:1 is pure gold, but 2.72:1 is well-suited for overlanding. It'd be nice if you could have your cake and eat it too. I think I'd still opt for the Rubicon, but these features as options on other models certainly narrows the margin. I think you'd be exceedingly happy with either.

Enough talk. Your next post must include a pic of your new Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited.