A self evaluation into jeeping

[guzie]

I bought a Rubicon because I thought it would be everything I wanted. I was looking at the Bronco and 4Runner and said if I got the Bronco I would need the Badlands because I want 33s. If I got the 4Runner I'd immediately have to upgrade the wheels to 33s and suspension with a lift. Now, I ordered a '22 Rubi and I'm still wanting a 2" lift and 35s, new bumpers so I can add a winch and a some armor. I told my wife when I ordered, "this vehicle is everything I want stock, I don't plan on doing anything to it." Now I'm planning my lift, wheels, bought a soft top and Tazer that are sitting in my garage and I don't even have the Jeep yet.

I feel pretty confident that 2" lift with 35s and bumpers with a winch will be good enough for me. I'm 100% confident that I do NOT want 37s. This will be a daily driver for me.

Why didn’t you just order a rubicon extreme recon. To get the 2” lift, 35” tires and beefier axles along with 4.56:1 gears to better deal with 35” tires? It’s cheaper all around if you look at all the stuff individually. That’s what I did. I originally had a day 3 bronco reservation but cancelled that after the endless delays and hard top issues. Got the rubi instead. Just picked it up Friday.

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[txj2go]

I bought my Wrangler in 2018. It was a base sport 2 door

There are past threads here that would make you believe most Jeepers have a pretty big budget. I'm one of the few on a tight budget so I bought the cheapest JLU Sport I could find. I've put Rubicon tires and suspension on it and that's it for mods. Even at that it was pretty far beyond the budget that I had. It takes me on difficult rated trails, everywhere I've wanted to go, and I have more trips planned.

 

[Bulletbill]

My wife encouraged me to buy my dream rig, every bell and whistle from the factory. When we went to do the paper work she asked me several times if it was exactly what I wanted. I assured her I wouldn’t change a thing, except maybe the bumper.

After a few months and some very minor upgrades, I started talking about a lift, bigger tires, and a host of other things I wanted to upgrade.

She looked at me and asked with the slightest smirk, I thought you “bought it with everything you wanted and you wouldn’t change a thing.” I forgot how crafty she can be.

I conceded that it was everything I wanted, and to be honest she’s right. It’s taken me on every trail I’ve attempted without breaking a sweat.

At least I was smart enough at the dealer that day to say that I needed to upgrade the bumper. She conceded that one point.

 

[bmwbutch]

I see it as an addiction. You start with an end in site, but once you get there it's hard to stop. I've been thru so many times.

 

[blnewt]

I bought a Rubicon because I thought it would be everything I wanted. I was looking at the Bronco and 4Runner and said if I got the Bronco I would need the Badlands because I want 33s. If I got the 4Runner I'd immediately have to upgrade the wheels to 33s and suspension with a lift. Now, I ordered a '22 Rubi and I'm still wanting a 2" lift and 35s, new bumpers so I can add a winch and a some armor. I told my wife when I ordered, "this vehicle is everything I want stock, I don't plan on doing anything to it." Now I'm planning my lift, wheels, bought a soft top and Tazer that are sitting in my garage and I don't even have the Jeep yet.

I feel pretty confident that 2" lift with 35s and bumpers with a winch will be good enough for me. I'm 100% confident that I do NOT want 37s. This will be a daily driver for me.

If you got the 4dr you may want the 37s, heck even w/ the 2dr, if I had those 4:10 Rubi axles I'd be tempted to run 'em

 

[bjm00se]

Seeing photos of cool mods others have done and cool places they've gone feeds the fever.

jlwranglerforums.com lets you register for free, but it's the most expensive website on the 'net. ;-P

 

[hiimmike]

Why didn’t you just order a rubicon extreme recon. To get the 2” lift, 35” tires and beefier axles along with 4.56:1 gears to better deal with 35” tires? It’s cheaper all around if you look at all the stuff individually. That’s what I did. I originally had a day 3 bronco reservation but cancelled that after the endless delays and hard top issues. Got the rubi instead. Just picked it up Friday.

Oh, I wanted it alright. Just like I also wanted the steel bumpers, front camera, and ADAPTIVE CRUISE! However, because I'm poor, I had to sacrifice things to make it work. I'm going to majorly miss my adaptive cruise on my Outback. On stressful days after work, all these people in CO (probably come from CA! :P) like to floor it, slam on the brakes, floor it, slam on the brakes, floor it, slam on the brakes, floor it... etc. Drives me freaking insane. I'll just have to save up and get these things part by part. We don't like to live the American dream of being 5 years income in debt. As nice as I remember CO being, it's not been that great living back here again. Politics are getting extreme on the crazy side down in Denver so I hate going down there. We paid $417k for a 1500 sq foot home (with full un-finished basement) and .27 acre lot. I'm tempted to move to OK and get a mansion instead, but, mountains. Hopefully we'll get to get out and do more in the mountains now that we're finally settled, last summer was crazy with a first home purchase.

PS, that green is growing on me. I saw one two days ago and it looks really sharp in person, better than in pictures. I like it.

 

[hiimmike]

If you got the 4dr you may want the 37s, heck even w/ the 2dr, if I had those 4:10 Rubi axles I'd be tempted to run 'em

Nah, I don't need 37s. Although.... I've also told everyone "I don't have any interest in Rock Crawling" yet here I am planning two trips to Moab and wanting larger wheels and a lift to get over things... haha I guess I've made myself out to be a liar. At this point though, who knows, seems like my first Jeep will never come. As long as I can remember, next year model cars were already available on dealer lots for sale in like November/December. Sad.

 

[OllieChristopher]

I offroad pretty often and it is quite an expensive hobby.

Very expensive hobby!! I can attest if you are not sponsored and doing anything off road for fun, break out the wallet!!

When I was racing desert and enduros at novice level it was minimum 500 bucks and 8 hours wrenching on bike after each event. When I hung that up and got into extreme single track in the rocks it costs damn near as much!!

As long as you don't get too gnarly it's not so bad. But rocks are the equalizer. My plan is to get a 2 door Rubicon for my wife and I for going up to the cabin and hitting some mellow trails. For me it will be fun to get out to places like Death Vally, and the mountains and camp in luxury.

I really won't know what to do with so much room as I'm used to packing light and roughing it on 2 wheels. A nice huge 28 quart cooler, Jet Boil, 300 Watt solar generator, dome tent, sleeping bag and pad will be really nice!!

 

[Muskylounge6801]

Sure, my point is if you buy a Rubicon at $10k over a Sport, and then sell it for $10k over a sport, or $8k, or $12k…The Rubicon didn’t cost that much more. Taxes, sure, but even here in IL the taxes on $10k is “only” $800.

From Missouri (Border Wars!) I always cringe when FIB reminds of how they pay almost no taxes on cars. J/K its a nice benefit though!!!I Go fishing there when I can and have made many friends over the years.

 

[S2k Chris]

From Missouri (Border Wars!) I always cringe when FIB reminds of how they pay almost no taxes on cars. J/K its a nice benefit though!!!I Go fishing there when I can and have made many friends over the years.

8% sales tax is “almost no taxes???” Uhhh ok.

 

[Muskylounge6801]

1. Depreciation. True, Wranglers don’t depreciate as much as other vehicles, but they still do. And even if Rubicons hold their value well, 10% depreciation on a $60,000 Wrangler is still more money than 10% depreciation on a $40,000 Wrangler.

I did quite a bit of research and this was my final decision choice on going Jeep. Lets say you buy 100K loaded escalade. It loses 60%of value at 5 years. You buy loaded Rubi 60-65K and after 5 years of driving you lose 9%. Simple math. Fun+ less depreciation = JEEP

After driving and buying my first jeep ever I absolutely love it, no regrets at all. That being said its kinda a necessary investment to buy a vehicle why not buy one that loses less over time.

 

[Muskylounge6801]

8% sales tax is “almost no taxes???” Uhhh ok.

There are things in Missouri called personal property taxes. Illinois doesn't participate in that gambit! I'm only saying that taxes vary from state to state and county to county.

 

[Muskylounge6801]

Sweet lOOking XR!! Green Machine

 

[MSparks909]

I view Jeeps and other stuff I enjoy as a fooking YOLO. Broken too many bones/too many surgeries on dirt bikes so Jeeps and their mods are subtle to me. Personally, I need a vehicle “build goal.” Stock vehicles bore me to no end, and I’d rather spend the $ I’ve earned on stuff I enjoy *while I can enjoy it to the best of my abilities* rather than squirrel it away until I’m 65-70 and likely limping around and too old to enjoy it to its fullest. I realize not everyone thinks like this, and not everyone is wired like that. That’s okay! I’ve got $10K + of parts in my garage waiting on a Jeep I haven’t taken arrival of yet…fingers crossed it comes this week ? Call it what you want, obsession, passion, hobby, whatever. These parts are going to help my Jeep get me to more places I can make memories with. And to me that’s worth every penny!

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