First, let me say I am sorry if there is a thread out there that covers this topic. After 15 minutes of looking through search strings I did not find a topic that answered my question.

My Off-Road experience is limited to mostly Fire Roads and Forest Roads in the North Georgia Tennessee areas. I used to have access to just about anywhere I wanted to go within the capabilities of my stock '95 Dakota. So I am basically new to the Off-Road Sport.

So I am starting my research into purchasing a JK Unlimited sometime in the next year or so (new or used just depends on what is on the lots). The questions I really have right now is how to choose an option package. If money was not an option in a build up, why choose a Rubicon over the cheaper packages? Take into account a shopping list would include a Suspension system, Dana 60's front and rear (ProRocks as an example), a RubiCrawler, 37" tires and maybe a Supercharger. Is the transfer case in the Rubi worth the extra $$ when the other options like the Front sway bar electric disconnect, dana 44's and the lockers are just thrown into a salvage pile to be sold or given away?

Thanks for your responses ahead of time and thanks to everyone who has contributed to this site. I have not had this much information over load since my little brother tried to help me fix my PC over the phone.

 

if you're going to build one up and money is not an option i personally wouldn't waste my money on a rubicon. save money, get an x, and turn it into what you want

 

From what I have come to understand, it's much cheaper to just get the Rubi. I have an 07 X, and asking my uncle about building it up to match a Rubi would be way to expensive. Use the money you save on buying a Rubi and mod it out, tires, bumpers, armor, etc. Hope this helps

 

if your going to replace the axles and supension anyway why spend the money upfront on a rubi when you could use that money for your dana 60's and the 37's that you want?

 

I looked at this a long time (and still am on occasion, due to not actually owning a jeep yet). Here's some threads I followed:

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...rubicon+sahara

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...rubicon+sahara

 

I have actually thought about this just recently. After the last snow run I did with my wife and two daughters my wife said possibly the hottest thing ever! "Honey you better start thinking about building a 4 door" After getting over being completely shocked, I started looking into it on line an X or a Rubi?

Well it will have at least 37's so rims, tires and lift will be the same on both and bumpers and other things will come off the 2 dr. So it came down to axles, lockers and transfer case in my mind. Now Let me start by saying at a minimum this project is a year and a half out.


To build the RUBI it would need to following:

C gussets, Diff covers, gears, control arm skids, axle sleeves, rocks stars.....so total about $2K including getting someone to weld it up plus $5k-ish for the Rubi so $7K

To build the X the following would be needed:

Currie Dana 60 FR $3,500 RR $2,200 Rubi crawler for the auto $1,800 plus the ARB pump for the lockers say $250 so total $7,750 plus you can sell the DANA 30 and 44 for say 750 bucks.

Net net I figured it was about equal in the cash department.

So someone can poke holes in my logic because I'm sure I made a mistake here or there. But it comes down to having some kind of warranty for the stock 44's but after putting new gears and welding on them I'm not sure what dealership would cover the axles anyway.

Me personally I'm going with the D60's and ARB lockers with a Rubi crawler, if your going with a manual a 2 speed atlas is only a few hundo more. This option will give you better axles, lockers and a 4 speed transfer with the Rubi crawler.

 

If your Off Roading is still going to be mostly Fire Roads and Forest Roads , Get the Rubi an go from there.

 

Time.

If you've got enough of it -- and money -- to do your dream build on your own, buy a Sport/X and build it the way you want it.

If you're married, both working jobs, have kids, etc... buy the Rubi, put on a cheap small lift (Teraflex leveling kit), new rims and tires, a bumper and winch, couple lights, and just go enjoy it, because it's 80% perfect, and you have no free TIME.

Guess which category I fall into

Loving the mostly stock Rubi, just wishing it had another squirrel or two to pull the trailer more better.

 

60's are significantly better than rubi 44's
ARBs/Detroits are better than stock elockers
An Atlas is much better than the rubi 4:1
Manual discos are much cheaper and less failure prone that the rubi e-disco
You will be getting new tires, so the rubi mt's are a waste
You will re-gear for the new tires, so rubi 4.10's are out the window

So the big selling feature will be the nice RUBICON stickers on the hood and the bragging rights that you 'have a rubicon'!! Well worth the extra money...



Start with a base X/Sport and build it.

 

Keep in mind that if you don't go with either the Sahara or Rubicon, you don't get Electronic Traction Control.

Now... is that a good thing or a bad thing?