Badazzz Jeep

[jackelope]

Steve-
You'd likely be really surprised by the Rubicon's out of the box ability and the equipment it's packing. It really does have some nice drivetrain stuff.  There's a time and a place for everything for different folks. You like this, another guy likes that. I've had the 77 Bronco...tons of fun. I could break rear driveline u-joints on request. At 6'4" and 230# I'll pass on the race seats. I have enough trouble getting into small cars. Rubicon drivetrain is pretty bulletproof. I don't see a lot of used and abused Rubicons  but we do see a few. They seem to hold up just fine. The biggest diff issues we've seen is when a shadetree mechanic decides to do a diff service and breaks the locker actuator when he puts it back together.  Then they bring it to us to fix.

[timberghost72]

Yeah those Rubicons are pretty stout out of the box. Also the D44 axle ring gears are more stout (thicker) than the standard D44 of most vehicles.  Although I think the axle tubes are not as stout.  I put a D44 from an 87 xj into my yj and converted it to disc brakes and the tubes are bigger and thicker I think than my buddys tj. Any mods you do have trade off's of performance, driver style, real world use and abuse.

I've never seen a conversion like that with a standard Wrangler with the D30/35. It would be fun though to see how fast you could grenade those axles.

[timberghost72]

I would love to take that thing on the trail 

Hey Charlie, why don't you come with us up to Rimrock on Labor day weekend and show us what that yote can do.....

I don't think that yote has been off road sence the "Bloody Run" was closed down 

a yote on rim rock that would be dirty, bad idea i see death in your future

Take the Yote up on Pucker Ridge   

[gasman]

I would love to take that thing on the trail 

Hey Charlie, why don't you come with us up to Rimrock on Labor day weekend and show us what that yote can do.....

I don't think that yote has been off road sence the "Bloody Run" was closed down 

a yote on rim rock that would be dirty, bad idea i see death in your future

Take the Yote up on Pucker Ridge   

You won't find me on the down side   

[jeepasaurusrex]

Good ole Pucker Ridge.... separating the men from the boys!

[CementFinisher]

im a jeep guy. Own a 78 cj7 (its a wheeler)   But the new jk's and rubicons due not represent jeep like it should. it has weak outers and has to large a format. but it has a mass of aftermarket parts out already to make it own the trails. i want to build a brute. those are awesome

[JackOfAllTrades]

The biggest diff issues we've seen is when a shadetree mechanic decides to do a diff service and breaks the locker actuator when he puts it back together.  Then they bring it to us to fix.

I've never played with air lockers. I'd love a couple in my truck though.  I've twisted more that one yoke, axle, U-joint and driveline with detroit lockers front and rear though.
 
Speaking of diff service.. I changed the lube in my ZF6 & T-case yesterday with Royal Purple Syncro Max synthetic. (big whoop.. I know, two plugs), but I'll be doing the diff's this week too.   

It sounds like th Rubi is quite the 'modern production trail rig' with many of the upgrades that trail runners would put on a rig. That interior has come a long way from a metal dash with not much more than a spedometer.  And yes... Jeeps have always had a ton of aftermarket stuff available.

I still wanna build a Bronco.   I like to be different. ie;  I don't play well with others. 

-Steve

[longknife]

Broncos are BAD AZZ! Just finished my build, then sold it. Will get another soon. Some good resale value in the old american steel vs. plastic!

[jackelope]

The Rubicons have electric lockers...no air.

[jeepasaurusrex]

The first few years they were air, then they switched to electric.

[jackelope]

The first few years they were air, then they switched to electric.

Yes, definitely 2003, but I think that was the only year of it. I could(probably) be wrong.

[quadrafire]

I read the other day that Mopar was gonna make a pickup  conversion kit for the jeep, don't recall which body style for $4995

[kckrawler]

I read the other day that Mopar was gonna make a pickup  conversion kit for the jeep, don't recall which body style for $4995

Had an 04 with the cheesy air compressors...I thought they changed over to electronic when they changed over to JK?

[jeepasaurusrex]

Rubicon's had air lockers from 2003-2006 that were activated by two small compressors mounted on the transmission skid plate.

[BLUEBULLS]

where do you put 2 elk and all of your gear?

I'll stick with Toyota. Mine's not built, just good tires and extremely practical.

that's a bad azz jeep though...