In praise of the Stock JL

[Themanwiththeplan1986]

Only thing I’ve upgraded on my stock jlu sport is a hitch basket lol only thing i plan on upgrading is the sun rider , stereo and id like to get a roof rack and some bigger tires 33s i dont Do any wheeling but i do Go up forest service roads and remote areas to go shooting and camping

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[DanW]

I honestly only lifted mine and put 35's on it because my wife really wanted it to be that way. Don't get me wrong, I love the Mopar lift and bigger tires, but I think it would have gone everywhere without the lift/tires that it has gone with them. It would have just rubbed, bumped, and scraped a little more. Big deal. That's Jeeping. I did go with 315 C rated KO2s to keep it as close to stock with ride and handling as I could.

Think about this, too. A stock Jeep will have more power and be lighter weight than a built Jeep with bigger tires. It takes less tractive force to get it moving, too, which is an advantage in certain conditions (ex, not high centered). I don't hear stock Jeep owners complaining as much about power (lack of) as I do lifted Jeeps with big tires, either.

I had as much fun with my stock 93 YJ 4 cylinder as I have with any Jeep, and a base JL Sport would be FAR more capable that it was, even in its wildest dreams.

 

[Rubicollie]

Really well done pictures. Please tell me those weren't taken with a phone.

Canon DSLR

Beautiful! Where was that at? Looks like Sedona area?

Yep, Sedona! Broken Arrow trail has been one of my favorites. I'll certainly miss the rock crawling after I move this month!

 

[gutentagit]

There is even joy in rolling down the windows in my stocker.

 

[swwalker]

What is the best way to de-badge?

 

[Sand Flea]

What is the best way to de-badge?

Heat gun works best, but you can use a hair dryer.
Be patient. Don't get the surface too hot. Be patient.

 

[Maverick909]

What is the best way to de-badge?

i tend to use 5 lb fishing line on a summer day. pop the badges off then pull the double sided tape off is tricky tell you get the technique down. dont fold the tape after you get it lifted off the paint. instead pull it at roughtly 15 degree angle away from its self. kinda hard to explain but once you get it off a little goo gone and wax will clean the area up nicely

 

[cosine]

i'll be stock for the most part. the only mods i've done so far is the head and fog lights upgrade, pillar lights, locking gas cap (soon). i know they are little things. however, when the tires wears out, i'll upgrade to 32" tires with different style black wheels. my be later on aftermarket front / rear bumpers and a winch. that will depends on where i move to in the near future. other than that my jl will be mostly stock with a little mods. have to remember that this is my only daily driver.

 

[Chad1433]

I added larger A/T tires, but havent done any other mods to date. We've done 3 solid Badge of Honor trails in Moab including Fins n Things, Elephant Hill and Poison Spider. Its not necessary to go hog wild on upgrades to run trails. A stock Wrangler can do well right out of the box.

 

[Az-jewel]

This isn’t my first Wrangler, but it is my first Rubi, and I’ve been looking forward to getting it ever since I sold my last Wrangler in 2011. It has left me (almost) speechless with doing EVERYTHING I have asked it to with ease. Showing all the tourists in Arizona that you don’t need to pay for the tourist company Jeep rides
Only mod I’ve done is put light protectors on the fogs, front turn signals, and headlights.

Canon DSLR


Yep, Sedona! Broken Arrow trail has been one of my favorites. I'll certainly miss the rock crawling after I move this month!

Love Broken Arrow! I’m headed up to Sedona next weekend and hope to take on Broken Arrow. I’m a little scared, as I’m really new to off roading, mostly just some fire roads so far. But I LOVE that trail and did a pink Jeep tour years ago wishing I had my own rig!
Now I do and I’m excited to get out there.

I do think stock Jeeps are ready to hit most trails, especially the Rubi! I didn’t get the Rubicon...but I am adding a lift and bigger tires so I can get out there rock crawling. I’m hoping I don’t have to do a lot of other modifications to make up for it.

 

[Jersey_JLU]

I added larger A/T tires, but havent done any other mods to date. We've done 3 solid Badge of Honor trails in Moab including Fins n Things, Elephant Hill and Poison Spider. Its not necessary to go hog wild on upgrades to run trails. A stock Wrangler can do well right out of the box.

Great looking Jeep and cool trails. What brand and size tires are you running?

 

[piloto]

Love Broken Arrow! I’m headed up to Sedona next weekend and hope to take on Broken Arrow. I’m a little scared, as I’m really new to off roading, mostly just some fire roads so far. But I LOVE that trail and did a pink Jeep tour years ago wishing I had my own rig!
Now I do and I’m excited to get out there.

I do think stock Jeeps are ready to hit most trails, especially the Rubi! I didn’t get the Rubicon...but I am adding a lift and bigger tires so I can get out there rock crawling. I’m hoping I don’t have to do a lot of other modifications to make up for it.

FWIW, we had a rental Barlow Jeep (great company btw. Super nice and helpful and they know their stuff) last month and did Broken Arrow and a few other trails. Ours was a JLUR with the moose lift and 35” Falkens. No need for lockers at all, and the extra ground cleaners form the lift and tires was very helpful, but you could do without it as well. You’d just have to be a bit more cautious. The swag bar disconnect was really nice though, but that’s easily done manually as well.

On Broken Arrow in particular, the Rubicon felt like it was being driven on the street. It’s not a difficult trail per se, but nonetheless, it made it look extremely easy. I doubt a non Rubicon JL would be much different on that specific trail.

And what a beautiful trail too. We got there right before sunrise, and there was no else there. We got to enjoy submarine rock all to ourselves. Lol.

 

[timn1984]

Congratulations on the correct spelling of “fare”.

Very rair.

Your beyound repare

 

[Dogboyslim]

Took the stock Rubicon off road today and it did pretty well.

 

[danotje]

Stock Rubicon handling some water.

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