Folks -

I know there are a thousand Rubi vs. Sport Threads - but this is a little different take on the topic. (I did post this up on another forum - but thought the JK forum would be more specific to what we are getting..)

We are looking to buy a 2012 Rubi Unlimited. What I want to know is there any reason I would NOT want the Rubi for what I am looking to do. This is not about saving the $5k but more about will the Rubi do what I want to do better than the Sport...

We are going to tow this Jeep behind our Motorhome. It's a 40' Diesel Pusher with a 10k hitch - so we should be set on the Motorhome side.
- We will go off road - but mostly trails, beach/sand and the like.
- Rarely will we go crawling over big rocks
- We do have a family of 5 - so the unlimited is a must.
- We are using this for getting around at our destination once we set up in the RV

I drove both the Sport and the Rubi and here are some areas that I was concerned about..

- Command Trac vs. Rock Trac? What is the difference in the 4x4 systems here? Are they both shift on the fly? Anything in one that would make it a problem to flat tow behind an RV or in the other that would make it easier to Flat Tow?
- Ride is a bit stiffer in the Rubi and softer in the Sport. I think of this to mean more controlled in the Rubi and less controlled in the Sport from a handling stand point - am I looking at that wrong?
- Rubi has the MT tires and you could feel them squirm a bit on the highway. Will this settle down?

Oh - and I should point out - I freely admit to being a poser and liking the look of a slightly lifted Jeep with black wheels, Sliders and bumpers. We are going to try to get to that look with the new Jeep.

Thank you in advance..

 

we tow a unlimited sport see no need for the rubi this is my 2nd jk 1st one a 2010 2dr stick
my wife would not drive it ,to noisy w/soft top short wheel base = choppy ride
she thought it should ride like her mark lt new 4 door is almost there
i do aggree the rubi is a little more aggresive looking
brianj

 

We went through the same exact decision process last summer. Ended up with the Sport. Its a 2 door because there are just 2 of us. The back seat will stay home.

Yes, there was the price difference, but mostly the Sport is a lighter to tow. Our MH is a vintage Bluebird Wanderlodge which has no power to spare. Also, we do not expect to rock crawl either. We want to get to out-of-the way places using the MH as a base camp. We won't miss the upgraded Rubicon running gear very often, if ever.

We put on a winch bumper and winch and carry recovery gear so if we try something the Sport can't handle we have half a chance of getting out of trouble.

Rubicon, Sport, and Sahara all have essentially the same 4WD system. It is part-time and manual. Shift to 4 wheel when needed, shift out when you don't. You shift between 2WD and 4WD on the fly, but stop to shift the system into low range. The Rubicon has lower low-range gearing in 4WD, but its the same system. (Jeep gives the names Command Trac and Rock Track to the Sport/Sahara and Rubicon systems, but from the driver's seat they work the same way.)

One difference between Rubicon and Sport/Sahara is locking axles. The Rubicon can lock the axles so neither wheel can slip unless they both slip. Its a great feature for mud, deep sand, and rock crawling. A person must decide if they will need it. The lockers account for much of the price and weight difference.

Both models tow the same: Easy! We put a US Gear tow brake in ours. It was a much easier installation than the same brake in our Honda CRV.

Big tires with open tread look great and work better in mud, snow, and over rocks, but as you noticed they aren't as nice on the highway and they use more fuel.

I agree that the Rubicon suspension feels tighter and better controlled. Rubicon springs are stiffer and the shocks are an upgrade. A Sport or Sahara can wear Rubicon Springs and Shocks for a hundred bucks and 3-4 hours of shop work.

If you don't get a Rubicon and have some poser in your blood, consider a Sahara. They come nicely loaded with goodies and have essentially the same manners off-road as a Sport. Don't get a Sahara if you expect to run narrow trails where the fenders get scratched from tree branches. Look for a Sport 24s instead.

 

Amarzano,

Based on your description I think any model of the Jeep Wrangler that you get will meet your needs. The Rubicon will absolutely meet your needs, but the Sport can as well. I'd say it's all your call. You did say you'd rarely crawl rocks...well those few times you do you will be much happier with lockers. Lockers make rocks sooo much easier.

I'd say go with the Rubicon since you said price wasn't a problem. Any Jeep Wrangler Unlimited will meet your needs, but the Rubicon will be the most capable and even have the best resale if you sell it down the road. But if you want to save some money, the Sport will handle light to medium trails and beaches without a problem!

 

Good information given above. Towing behind the MH will be the same for all trim models. This is our third JK - Sport 2dr, Sahara 4dr, and Rubicon 4dr. They were all set up pretty much the same, and the towing procedure is the same (except for the non-locking steering wheel on post '08s!). We are fulltimers, so we tow the Jeep as much as we drive it.

When setting it up, consider getting an aftermarket bumper sooner rather than later. Our first two JKs used a Blue Ox baseplate. For the Rubicon, I got an LoD bumper with the tabs welded on, so that removed the need for a baseplate. Doesn't hang down as low, and gives you a great excuse to get a bumper first off

As far as which trim level to get, you will need to decide on that with the same criteria as everyone else, as towing is a non-issue. Personally, after owning all three trim levels, I am most happy with the Rubicon.

I have a few mod, and other than killing fuel mileage, there has been no big affect on towing. I got a raised receiver hitch to bring the level of the towbar up, but other than that, there has been no difference in the setup.

 

If you are gonna put black wheels, bigger tires, and bumpers and sliders on to satisfy your "poser" fetish, you will likely need a little lift. So ride quality will depend on what lift you get, not what suspension/trim level you started with.

 

Folks -

Thank you for all the feedback - esp - the real world comments from folks that are towing!

I'm getting the feeling there are no wrong choices and the Rubicon would be a great fit. I'm going to
the dealership later today and place the order. Might have to call an audible based on what they
have and what would get her sooner..

Thank you!

Alex