Jk Rubicon

[Grover-98]

Hey guys this may be like eating pork at a Jewish families dinner but here goes...

I have been reading up on the JK Rubicon and to be honest it seems like a very good car for the money it is in the similar category to the Defender.

The Jk seems like a more capable 4x4, stronger drive line, standard lockers F+R, 73:1 final crawl ratio, In cab sway bar disconnects, same weather proof interior, good approach departure and ramp over, with 10" diff clearance and a completly protected underbody. Seems to me you wouldnt need to add anything other then some muddies and maybe a slight lift and winch.

I am very much a Land Rover fan but these seem great! only problem is the Rubicon doesnt have a diesel option here in Aus, Wrong badge and i am not sure on how they go for long living?

Any comments?

[Surly One]

Well I really hate to admit this and keep in mind that I do own two series 1 land rovers, I own a sport wrangler and it is quite a nice (and rugged) vehicle. It gives off strange noises now and then and has a few odd rattles and leaks but there are not too many basic 4wd's on the market at the moment.
If I could have afforded the extra I would own a rubi.

[PAT303]

I looked at the jeep before I bought my defender and the two I looked at were by far the most shoddy built vehicles I have ever seen this side of the Willys clone out of Malaysia,saying that I know a jeep owner in Laverton who swears by his.They are like LR's,you like them all you don't. Pat

[Blknight.aus]

the rubicon is an optioned up version of another jeep varient.

its like the difference between a defender and a defender extreme.

no problems with jeeps, they started it all, LR just did it better

[Grover-98]

Yeah id say they would be my first choice if the rubicon had a diesel variant!

[lambrover]

My personal opinion is I like the jeeps they have a strong drive line and ok suspension, draw back to fit 33'' tyres you need a 3 to 4'' spring lift and to get that to work properly you need a long arm kit, this kit consists of longer adjustable control arms, so you need to spend money to get them to work. Now with a county/defender you can fit 33'' and some say 35'' tyres on standard springs, now that is good and easily done. the suspension is much more workable in the rover as well, I have a county on 2.5'' over standard height spring with long travel shocks and my mate has a nissan patrol with 7'' spring lift and snake racing control arms and my car flexs the same as his so the rover set up is very good to start with. Stay with the rover mate.

[Psimpson7]

The JK Rubicon is far better specced than any other JK let alone the previous TJ's

I agree they seem like a good buy.

They have Dana 44's front and rear, sway bar disconnects and some sort of in house electronic lockers.

If you do a bit of research on pirate4x4 and the like you will find they do haev problems however.

the JK's will take 33's with no lift like a Defender too.

[dmdigital]

I didn't realise the Rubicon was even available in Australia. The latest Jeep Wranglers have come a long way, but personally I wouldn't buy one. I just don't like them that much. That said, having ridden in one I was impressed, but it's ETC wasn't a patch on the Defender's - it didn't have lockers.

One downside though I don't think you can easily fit a second battery or compressor anywhere. Certainly nothing else can fit under the incredibly crowded engine bay of the diesel.

[Sleepy]

Hey guys this may be like eating pork at a Jewish families dinner but here goes...

I have been reading up on the JK Rubicon and to be honest it seems like a very good car for the money it is in the similar category to the Defender.

The Jk seems like a more capable 4x4, stronger drive line, standard lockers F+R, 73:1 final crawl ratio, In cab sway bar disconnects, same weather proof interior, good approach departure and ramp over, with 10" diff clearance and a completly protected underbody. Seems to me you wouldnt need to add anything other then some muddies and maybe a slight lift and winch.

I am very much a Land Rover fan but these seem great! only problem is the Rubicon doesnt have a diesel option here in Aus, Wrong badge and i am not sure on how they go for long living?

Any comments?

Ahh, you're about 12 months behind me. Heart vs. Head? (Defender or Rubicon?)



I like the rubicon specs - low diff ratio, auto etc etc - you're right a diesel option would be good too.

I have "slept with the enemy" at www.ausjeepoffroad.com. A nice bunch of guys with a few stories to tell. Pop in there and read some of the JK warranty issues.

I sigh when I read Dullbirds woes of Puma ownership but what these Jeep owners have gone through is scarry. Sounds like Jeep have been to the land rover school of aftermarket support and graduated dux of the class.

Quite frankly the the Rubicon looks a terriffic package and a reasonable price ( I reckon you'd have to ditch that plastic bumper and give it a mild lift ).
Based on the advice I have got - I wouldn't touch one with someone elses barge pole.

[Sam Ball]

Guilty as charged.
Not a Rubicon - but had to have the diesel - so pimped it instead.
I think if you're into real 4wds, it doesnt really matter the badge.
I love Landy's and Jeeps, they're both tough and basic.