Rubicon having issue going up the same terrain while sport easily went up

[offcamber]

No offense to the Rubicon Crowd but a Sport with LSD is actually a better JEEP for all around use IMO. And by that I mean, Beach running, overloading, etc. Don't get me wrong. The Lockers are great, but I'd rather have a SPORT with LSD and a Locker in the FRONT than to have the Rubicon's Open Diff Setup. Not to mention, I think the Rubi Lockers only work in 4-Lo and about 20k more LOL.

Now change my mind

No offense to the Rubicon Crowd but a Sport with LSD is actually a better JEEP for all around use IMO. And by that I mean, Beach running, overloading, etc. Don't get me wrong. The Lockers are great, but I'd rather have a SPORT with LSD and a Locker in the FRONT than to have the Rubicon's Open Diff Setup. Not to mention, I think the Rubi Lockers only work in 4-Lo and about 20k more LOL.

Now change my mind

I've been wheeling Jeep for twenty five years and I can tell you I've never hears ANYONE say, "damned I sure wish I had a limited slip rather than this locking differential". Nope not a single time. I have many, many times watched a truck with a LSD struggle where a locked one walked right up an obstacle. If you are an experienced driver you will easily recognize when you are likely to need your locker and engage it ahead of time. As for the lockers not being available in 4hi, that is true from the factory but something a programmer will easily bypass. That said, the only time I use 4 Hi is in the snow/ice on the road. If I'm off-road, I'm in 4-low. Even in most overlanding, you are rarely going above 20mph, so why be in 4-hi? 4 Low gives you more torque, more control and makes descents much less work.

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[Teghogh]

I love the Rubi and I know that it is hardcore better when needed. My MT, JLU Sport (LSD) with Mopar Lift and 33" Rubi takeoffs has been amazing and wheelin' is just super fun! Who knew some rock crawling was my thing? I do think my sport weighs a bit less than a Rubi and that may help in some situations. So far, I have done the Palo Duro Canyon Jeep Jamboree, Big Bend National Park, Hidden Falls northwest of Austin a couple of times, and I can't wait to do more.

It is hard to imagine what the Sport can't do in 4WL. Maybe a 2 door Rubi one day? I just wish I would have started sooner with my 2000 TJ, or my 2012 JK. I was just busy helping raise the kids and working I guess. I do like the 4 door as it is my first but miss the look of the 2 door.

I think sport is 400 pounds lighter than rubicon

 

[The_Phew]

I think sport is 400 pounds lighter than rubicon

Higher center of gravity on the Rubicon too. There are plenty of trails around me where you'd rather have a narrower vehicle and lower center of gravity than locking diffs and more ground clearance. Lockers don't help when you are flipped over.

 

[robplumm]

Gearing could come into play there, too...

 

[RubenZ]

I've been wheeling Jeep for twenty five years and I can tell you I've never hears ANYONE say, "damned I sure wish I had a limited slip rather than this locking differential". Nope not a single time. I have many, many times watched a truck with a LSD struggle where a locked one walked right up an obstacle. If you are an experienced driver you will easily recognize when you are likely to need your locker and engage it ahead of time. As for the lockers not being available in 4hi, that is true from the factory but something a programmer will easily bypass. That said, the only time I use 4 Hi is in the snow/ice on the road. If I'm off-road, I'm in 4-low. Even in most overlanding, you are rarely going above 20mph, so why be in 4-hi? 4 Low gives you more torque, more control and makes descents much less work.

Some of you are reading too much into what I said. Of Course I know a Rubicon is a more capable vehicle, but I meant for all around USE a SPORT with LSD may actually be a bit better option for all around wheeling for like 99% of the jeep owners out there. Unless you can actually use the Rubicon Lockers in 4HI then I take back what I said, but I was under the impression you could only engage them in 4LO..

I've seen plenty of users claim a SPORT with LSD was doing far better at the beach than their Rubi's in 4HI. Simple reason being the Open Diffs. Even the OP's experience proves my point. Unless your in 4LO and Locked there really is no bigger advantage having a Rubi vs. Sport.

 

[Lord-Maniac]

I had a 2001 H1 HMCO (4 door soft top). I’m 03 they came out with electronic lockers. For mine you had something called BTM (brake throttle modulation) or TT4. When you had a wheel spinning or in the air you need to get your rpms to around 1500-1700 and slowly apply brakes. It works under the same principle as the jeeps. The half shafts had a tone ring and would signal the wheel speed to the abs controller and it would apply pressure effectively locking the axle. Problem was the wheels were 175-200lbs with a run flat and stabbing the brake would snap half shafts quick. I personally didn’t care for this system because it encourages you to have high wheel speed and isnt as precise as I’d like.

For your Jeep, get lockers. You two look like you’re having fun but are a trainwreck waiting to happen. Tell your buddy to get a tazerjl so he can use his lockers in 4H and get some more trials under your belts

Brett

Tazel JL lets you run your lockers in 4H? front and rear? what about top speed? I would assume rear locker for sand? etc

 

[Halfdoor]

I agree with above. Had JK Rubi and JK Sport with LSD and Rubi wheels/tires. Long driveway and end often 2' snow drifts long stretch from snowplow. In 4h Rubi would struggle often but Sport would plow through. I think LSD is often underappreciated on this forum.

 

[MBurgJL]

We should compare apples to apples. Rubicon had the hard top and doors on, while the Sport did not. That is a significant weight disadvantage. Adding this to the other factors that have been mentioned, I think it is clear that this in not a good comparison. I went wheeling with YJs, TJs JKs, and JKUs this weekend. All were capable Jeeps, but the driver made the biggest difference IMO.

 

[55WillysWagon]

Tazer JL lets you run your lockers in 4H? front and rear? what about top speed? I would assume rear locker for sand? etc

Is this true? Not sure I heard that the Tazer JL has that capability, yet?

 

[Lord-Maniac]

Well, I've taken my stock JK Sport S over China Wall trail in CO and was extremely impressed it did great ..but I few times I'm sure the Lockers would have been Great ...but when I sold the JK Sport last month and ordered a JL Rubi the Reson why? because I want what the Rubi offers .. the beauty is you can build Your jeep any way you want. Rocks/Sand/snow/ but my reasoning is This I would rather Have it and not need it .... etc I just watched a video on youtube From Overclocked an Experienced Jeeper and an amazing Jeep Sport S ... that he has put a lot of Coin in to make it better then a Rubi in some cases ..and in this video ....WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY....the only thing he Said is I should Have started with a Rubicon! ...because he does not have some very Expensive stuff that the Rubi offers Stock ....my thoughts Sport S / Sahara is a great all arounder jump in and Drive 4x4 ...but if you are planning on Wanting the best out of the Gate building platform Rubicon Still Win's it for Me

 

[word302]

Higher center of gravity on the Rubicon too. There are plenty of trails around me where you'd rather have a narrower vehicle and lower center of gravity than locking diffs and more ground clearance. Lockers don't help when you are flipped over.

LOL. Most would argue that more traction is what keeps you from flipping over.

 

[The_Phew]

LOL. Most would argue that more traction is what keeps you from flipping over.

Traction has nothing to do with tipping over on a narrow, eroded trail on the side of a hill/mountain.

 

[word302]

Traction has nothing to do with tipping over on a narrow, eroded trail on the side of a hill/mountain.

Most rollovers happen when sliding backwards.

 

[OldBird]

Silly arguments that have been engaged in for many, many years. And I'm sure will continue to be.

Get what you need or want. Of course different Jeeps will perform differently in different situations. For casual Jeepers there is no question that a Sport or Sahara with LSD will be more than sufficient. For that matter most people would find a Ford Explorer will have more than enough off road capability. A Wrangler will always be more capable than that.

I was planning on getting a Sahara with the LSD, and it would probably have been fine for most of what I want to do. But then I got a job that leaves me working from home with most of my on-road driving just picking up the kids from school or going to the trails. That changed the picture for me, because I would be able to make my Jeep a bit more like a dedicated trail rig. Since I plan on keeping the Jeep for a long time and modifying it to be a better off-roader on the rocky and muddy mountain trails around here, I figured I would start with something well on it's way there already.

You can wheel in just about anything, My buddy's 72 Cherokee Chief went line for line after purpose built buggies on the trail to Mt Blanca, it just took a little more body damage on the way. Arguing about which is better is a waste of time.

 

[zamboniman]

2 experiences come to mind that were eye opening, and taught me that you can read too much on the internet.

1. Taking my old rubicon to a rustic campsite had some a decent trail to get to it. Was a fun ride through the woods in the jeep. Nothing major but "fun". When we got there someone was already setup and made it there in their Saturn sedan LOL.

2. Camp jeep many moons ago. Had the rubicon aired down, disconnected etc. We were on a "difficult" trail but that is relative of course. We attempted everything and accomplished with ease. However, there was a stock Grand Cherokee in our group on street tires. They were able to do 90% of the things. It took skill, patience, and sometimes a few tries that ended in defeat. However, that guy had an absolute blast in the process grinning ear to ear.

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