Debating a trade for a Rubicon...thoughts?!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
you can get a lunchbox locker to put in the front and that works really well. My friends has one in his rock crawler and has never had any trouble. Depending on your wheeling the Dana 30 is fine unless you plan on doing KOH
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: None
Lots of reasons to buy a rubi, but it doesn't sound like you have any need to.
Financially you will take a bath. Payments literally only mean payments, your friend is definitely paying a lot more. You'd also get screwed on taxes, although that varies by state.
Financially you will take a bath. Payments literally only mean payments, your friend is definitely paying a lot more. You'd also get screwed on taxes, although that varies by state.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: SLC, UT
Traded my Sport in for a Rubi a year and a half ago and still like my new Jeep better, though I wince a bit when I make the monthly payment.
Of course the #1 improvement for me was the pentastar vs the 3.8 so I probably would have been just as happy with a new Sport.
Anyway, after owning both for a while I've concluded the bottom line is the Rubicon package is at least 50% hype. Just about the only game changer is the factory lockers but you can put lockers in any Wrangler. The D44 front upgrade is only the pumpkin... everything on either side of it is identical to the D30 and even the D30 is quite a bit stronger and improved than previous Wrangler units. The Rubi's low, low crawl ratio is just not necessary or even useful for most off-road situations aside from rockcrawling. Rubi springs and shocks are meaningless if you do a lift and the front sway-bar auto disconnect has a reputation for being temperamental. Obviously you can do a manual disconnect for cheap too. And if you wanna really go hardcore, most of the Rubi's upgrades just aren't enough to do the job and will get replaced anyway.
I'm still glad there is a Rubicon version as it represents a win by enthusiasts over Chrysler's bean counters but let's face it... all Wranglers are capable rigs and when you buy a Rubi, you are mostly paying for that oh so stylin' set of hood stickers and the adoration they bring from the unschooled masses who believe in the invincibility and irrational epic-ness of those stickers.
I took my Rubicon stickers off... guess I'd rather be just a regular Jeeper in the end.
Of course the #1 improvement for me was the pentastar vs the 3.8 so I probably would have been just as happy with a new Sport.
Anyway, after owning both for a while I've concluded the bottom line is the Rubicon package is at least 50% hype. Just about the only game changer is the factory lockers but you can put lockers in any Wrangler. The D44 front upgrade is only the pumpkin... everything on either side of it is identical to the D30 and even the D30 is quite a bit stronger and improved than previous Wrangler units. The Rubi's low, low crawl ratio is just not necessary or even useful for most off-road situations aside from rockcrawling. Rubi springs and shocks are meaningless if you do a lift and the front sway-bar auto disconnect has a reputation for being temperamental. Obviously you can do a manual disconnect for cheap too. And if you wanna really go hardcore, most of the Rubi's upgrades just aren't enough to do the job and will get replaced anyway.
I'm still glad there is a Rubicon version as it represents a win by enthusiasts over Chrysler's bean counters but let's face it... all Wranglers are capable rigs and when you buy a Rubi, you are mostly paying for that oh so stylin' set of hood stickers and the adoration they bring from the unschooled masses who believe in the invincibility and irrational epic-ness of those stickers.
I took my Rubicon stickers off... guess I'd rather be just a regular Jeeper in the end.
Last edited by Chango; Aug 4, 2015 at 07:21 AM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
From: None
^if you don't get the need for the 4:1 tcase you're missing the point, as in don't need a rubi.
Also, the d30 vs the d44, it's the size of the ring gear that makes the difference, which ultimately decides on the size of the teeth. Yes the housing is going to be the same but that isn't why a d44 is better.
Seems like you didn't need a rubi or understand why people pay more
Also, the d30 vs the d44, it's the size of the ring gear that makes the difference, which ultimately decides on the size of the teeth. Yes the housing is going to be the same but that isn't why a d44 is better.
Seems like you didn't need a rubi or understand why people pay more
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Merced, ca
^if you don't get the need for the 4:1 tcase you're missing the point, as in don't need a rubi. Also, the d30 vs the d44, it's the size of the ring gear that makes the difference, which ultimately decides on the size of the teeth. Yes the housing is going to be the same but that isn't why a d44 is better. Seems like you didn't need a rubi or understand why people pay more
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Rexburg, ID
I've loved my Rubi so far. I had it on 35's and. 2,5" spacer lift for the longest time. Plenty capable that way.
That said, it has also thrown me into the deep end of rock crawling, so I am quickly out-growing the stock upgrades. When I do it all again I'll buy the very base model and take the price difference of the Rubi and drop it into aftermarket right from the start.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
That said, it has also thrown me into the deep end of rock crawling, so I am quickly out-growing the stock upgrades. When I do it all again I'll buy the very base model and take the price difference of the Rubi and drop it into aftermarket right from the start.
Sent from my iPhone using JK-Forum
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Traded my Sport in for a Rubi a year and a half ago and still like my new Jeep better, though I wince a bit when I make the monthly payment. Of course the #1 improvement for me was the pentastar vs the 3.8 so I probably would have been just as happy with a new Sport. Anyway, after owning both for a while I've concluded the bottom line is the Rubicon package is at least 50% hype. Just about the only game changer is the factory lockers but you can put lockers in any Wrangler. The D44 front upgrade is only the pumpkin... everything on either side of it is identical to the D30 and even the D30 is quite a bit stronger and improved than previous Wrangler units. The Rubi's low, low crawl ratio is just not necessary or even useful for most off-road situations aside from rockcrawling. Rubi springs and shocks are meaningless if you do a lift and the front sway-bar auto disconnect has a reputation for being temperamental. Obviously you can do a manual disconnect for cheap too. And if you wanna really go hardcore, most of the Rubi's upgrades just aren't enough to do the job and will get replaced anyway. I'm still glad there is a Rubicon version as it represents a win by enthusiasts over Chrysler's bean counters but let's face it... all Wranglers are capable rigs and when you buy a Rubi, you are mostly paying for that oh so stylin' set of hood stickers and the adoration they bring from the unschooled masses who believe in the invincibility and irrational epic-ness of those stickers. I took my Rubicon stickers off... guess I'd rather be just a regular Jeeper in the end.