Most capable Rubicon?

[Wabujitsu]

Or just run the tazer on any Rubicon. Sway bar disco at any speed, in any gear. Same with front and rear Lockers. I've never felt a need for off road cruise control, but it is supposed to work better than the Bronco's version. It would be nice if Jeep would allow independent use of the front and rear Lockers, but at least the aftermarket has us covered.

Zach, I’m still figuring out the system, so I am by no means an expert. What Off Road+ also does, that the Tazer cannot do, is it makes the skinny pedal more responsive and also changes the shift points, so you can hold a gear with higher RPMs than you normally would be able to do. It widens the shift points.

As far as off-road cruise control, I’m not sure I will find a use for that during average Florida wheeling. It seems to be more or a rock-crawling thing, in my opinion.

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[JeepViking13]

Buy a 4 wheeler.

Sam

Already own one!?

 

[JeepViking13]

I'm still going to say those are bad drivers. The PNW has tight trails with lots of big trees. The 2 door is still the same width as the 4 door. The dusy erishim trail is the only place I've ever had the top rub a tree or 2 (rub marks, no body damage) and that was due to boulders causing enough lean when traveling between trees to make it unavoidable. I'm not sure a 2 door would have faired any better there. I'll take some rubbing on trees and scrapes to skids and rock sliders over turtling off a steep obstacle and causing major damage to my Jeep any day, but maybe that's just me?

The PNW trails are enormously wide compared to the small skinny tight technical trails of the East Coast. In some cases you're literally going in-between 2 trees that anything over a 100 inch wheel base will never squeeze through without body damage.

The bottom line is there's reasons to buy a 4 door and there's reasons to buy a 2 door. It all depends on the person's specific needs.

 

[Jjirish]

Between my '20 JLR similarly equipped as my 392, the JLR is hands down the better off road jeep for my purposes. The JLR is quick, agile, and can turn around on trails impossible or clumsy for the 392. Driving the 392 is like an event, the JLR is quiet and you can sneak in and out of the neighborhood. The JLR is a natural for daily around town errands, it's a handy dandy for store parking lots and short parking places. I'm glad I decided to keep the JLR. These two jeeps are as different as night and day and that fact gets lost among the brochures, pictures, videos and specs on the internet.

Honestly, I love my 392.... but I feel like i have a "jeep that cant jeep".... i wouldnt take it offroading bc of the size, the engine (which yes, i could tweak with the tazer/pc so im not catapulted up and over), and sorry hardcore jeepers, I don't want to pinstripe my babee.... I would rather trail with kiddos JLR.... but she's not letting me drive it lol. So I guess I need an older jeep now for trails. I won't say I regret getting the 392 bc its hella fun, but its become a hemi grocery getter.... im kinda sad about it too. I feel guilty like im betraying my own jeep .... im a fake jeeper now ?

 

[JeepViking13]

Honestly, I love my 392.... but I feel like i have a "jeep that cant jeep".... i wouldnt take it offroading bc of the size, the engine (which yes, i could tweak with the tazer/pc so im not catapulted up and over), and sorry hardcore jeepers, I don't want to pinstripe my babee.... I would rather trail with kiddos JLR.... but she's not letting me drive it lol. So I guess I need an older jeep now for trails. I won't say I regret getting the 392 bc its hella fun, but its become a hemi grocery getter.... im kinda sad about it too. I feel guilty like im betraying my own jeep .... im a fake jeeper now ?

I'm actually torn between getting the practical(money wise) 2 door Rubicon. Or the 392 Rubicon. I know if I get the 2 door Rubicon I'll be definitely off roading much more and I can get it with the Soft top without having to worry about storing a hard top somewhere. And everything like tube doors and accessories will be less money being there's only 2 doors. Lol.

If I got the 4 door 392 Id still drive it on more open dirt trails like logging roads but that's about it. It would definitely be more like a on road performance show Jeep to take to car meets and pop the hood next to Dodge Challengers. Which is cool too. Just different. I'm not rich so I know if I got it I would baby it more. If that makes sense.

I really wish Jeep would let us get a 392 without all the loaded expensive tech and I don't need leather. It would be nice to have a less expensive performance Jeep then a luxury vehicle. Like how my Scat Pack Challenger was.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Our resident statistician has a chart for everything. According to this chart, our jlur with 4" lift and 37's has ~35⁰ breakover angle. A JLR on 35's with 1.5" lift will have the same breakover angle. It will also have much worse approach and departure angles, water fording ability, and ground clearance. Even though the JL is lower, it is still less stable in my experience having wheeled both types of builds. It wins in maneuverability hands down but that is about it.

The way I look at it: My garage door height limits me to about 3" of total lift. No matter which wheelbase I choose the lift & tires that I will be getting will probably be the same, meaning that the approach & departure angles are going to be the same regardless. I'm also lucky that I tend to keep my vehicles pretty stock-ish (sort of like an OEM+), and that Recon Xtreme suspension is looking real good to me... can't wait for the takeoffs. Also FWIW I've never had any real issues with the approach/departure angles on a stock JLR, but I have had breakover issues. I am pretty cautious on the departure though... OEM steel rear bumper.

The same 4" lift +37s on a 2-door would probably be pretty unstable, but it would have a ridiculous 40.8 degrees of breakover. It would probably also pull wheelies. Speaking of ridiculous breakover angles:

 

[SSWIM]

Sorry but I have to disagree with posts regarding "size and weight" of the 392. It is NOT that much heavier than the 2.0 JLUR. The 392 will absolutely go everywhere the 2.0 JLUR goes. No problem. I know. It is more capable, in my opinion than the 2.0 or 3.6. Yes, power does have it's advantages contrary to what some say.

I know which variation I will choose. If we are talking obstacle course, barley fitting through trees type wheeling, well I suppose the 2 Door may be YOUR choice of weapon. Even then you will likely have body damage.

Those who are saying the 392 is too big just don't want to "hurt" their baby. I get it. A lot of money to subject to trail damage. But to say it is not as capable is bunk.

Sorry, but that's facts Jack.

Oh yea, Jeepviking, we know you want a "stripped down" 392. It is not happening brother. Let it go. Just buy the 392 and enjoy it.

Sam

 

[entropy]

4 Door all the way. Really is interesting that so many prefer the 2 door. I guess we wheel in different areas.

Anyway, I guess that's why they build them both.

Sam

I think you are being too biased. But yeah it is about different wheeling styles. So the 2 door is the best option to wheel stock, with smaller tires it is going to outperform the 4 door almost anywhere. A big issue is people assume the 2 door is too unstable, because they've experience that before with an old Jeep. But you can't compare previous iterations with the JL.

If you are trying to wheel with small tires and stock lift the 2 door is very stable, has a low COG, and the short wheelbase gives you a lot of line options and breakover angle.

If you are doing trails where you need a big lift and big tires the 4 door is the way to go. The 4 door can handle bigger lifts and tires much better than the 2 door. Lifting a 2 door is what gets things sketchy. A 4 door with big tires doesn't have breakover angle issues anymore and has improved approach/departure angles. So if going big tires I vote 4 door. There is a reason why Jeep is releasing all their XR models on the 4 door.

I've maxed the Rubicon articulation several times on rocks, off camber hills, on my 2 door on 33s. I have not been nearly close to flipping it and it doesn't feel like it will. If anyone feels uncomfortable in a stock 2 door or even a 2 door on 34s~35s they just dont have enough experience and are scared.

I wheel my Jeep at least twice a month. I don't want to lift my Jeep and go bigger because it is a daily driver, and family outing vehicle. I also like the extra control the 2 door gives me. You can feel the dirt under you much better too. For me, it is a 2 door.

 

[SSWIM]

I think you are being too biased. But yeah it is about different wheeling styles. So the 2 door is the best option to wheel stock, with smaller tires it is going to outperform the 4 door almost anywhere. A big issue is people assume the 2 door is too unstable, because they've experience that before with an old Jeep. But you can't compare previous iterations with the JL.

If you are trying to wheel with small tires and stock lift the 2 door is very stable, has a low COG, and the short wheelbase gives you a lot of line options and breakover angle.

If you are doing trails where you need a big lift and big tires the 4 door is the way to go. The 4 door can handle bigger lifts and tires much better than the 2 door. Lifting a 2 door is what gets things sketchy.

I've maxed the Rubicon articulation several times on rocks, off camber hills, on my 2 door on 33s. I have not been nearly close to flipping it and it doesn't feel like it will. If anyone feels uncomfortable in a stock 2 door or even a 2 door on 34s~35s they just dont have enough experience and are scared.

I wheel my Jeep at least twice a month. I don't want to lift my Jeep and go bigger because it is a daily driver, and family outing vehicle. I also like the extra control the 2 door gives me. You can feel the dirt under you much better too. For me, it is a 2 door.

Nope. Not being biased at all. My opinion anyway. The 2 door is unstable in too many areas I wheel. Been doing it since the CJ5s and before (I'm old). Not going to go into the history of my wheeling. Let's just say I have done it since way before ARB came to America. Way too many trails to remember. I invite you to come and follow me in your 2 door. No offense intended. You can not take the 2 door where I can the 4 door, it is just not going to happen. Absolutely there are exceptions. But the title said most capable. Overall the 4 door will be.

Again, this is subjective to many things. Like I said, there are exceptions, way too many variables to make an absolute. Your putting conditions on the speculations also. Are we talking bone stock Jeeps here. If so I will still say the 392 is the MOST capable of the bunch.

It is enjoyable that this thread has not turned into a bash fest. Nice to have opinions being posted without hostility ebbing into it. Sure a few sarcastic undertones (yea I am guilty ) but overall really civil.


Sam

 

[roaniecowpony]

The question has no right or wrong answer. The only answer that matters is the one that addresses each person's intended use.

 

[AcesandEights]

There is always more than one question to an answer, but the answer in this case is obviously the two-door, unequivocally and without bias, ammirite?

 

[entropy]

Are we talking bone stock Jeeps here. If so I will still say the 392 is the MOST capable of the bunch.

Until it gets high centered.

This happened to me last weekend actually. a 4 door JKUR on 35s and I am on my 2 door JL sport on 33s, open front diff. We were doing this rock climb obstacle and my 2 door went over no problem. The 4 door couldn't clear the same line, it would just get stuck no matter what, and also had this rock awkwardly positioned that my 2 door used to get the rear tire up.

The 4 door had to pick a different line to come up, and was waaaay more difficult than the line I picked with my 2 door. He couldn't make it, it was a really sketchy line and we winched him up.

I have been in situations when that 4 door climbs over something that I am like. nope. no way. lol.

I am talking black diamond trails here in California btw, not sure how Colorado wheeling is.

So I guess it depends. Idk why so many 4 door owners are so against 2 doors. I mean here I am talking about how both of them are great, and admitting that I rather have a 4 doors if I was gonna go big tires. But you hear 4 door owners like "NAH 4 DOORS BETTER NAH NAH".......

bone stock. the 2 door Rubicon. I won't change my mind on that one lol. take a 2 door rubi on something like the rubicon trail and a 4 door bone stock, and let's see how it goes.

 

[roaniecowpony]

..., ammirite?

No. ?

 

[JeepViking13]

Sorry but I have to disagree with posts regarding "size and weight" of the 392. It is NOT that much heavier than the 2.0 JLUR. The 392 will absolutely go everywhere the 2.0 JLUR goes. No problem. I know. It is more capable, in my opinion than the 2.0 or 3.6. Yes, power does have it's advantages contrary to what some say.

I know which variation I will choose. If we are talking obstacle course, barley fitting through trees type wheeling, well I suppose the 2 Door may be YOUR choice of weapon. Even then you will likely have body damage.

Those who are saying the 392 is too big just don't want to "hurt" their baby. I get it. A lot of money to subject to trail damage. But to say it is not as capable is bunk.

Sorry, but that's facts Jack.

Oh yea, Jeepviking, we know you want a "stripped down" 392. It is not happening brother. Let it go. Just buy the 392 and enjoy it.

Sam

I don't think anyone here is saying the 392 Jeep isnt capable. All I'm saying is a longer wheel base will definitely be harder to navigate the tight trails with without some kind of body damage. Especially Gladiators. Those are guaranteed to get body damage everytime they go out here on the East Coast. It's just the nature of the longer wheel base.

And yes I definitely wouldn't want to pay $75k and bang it off of trees. Lol. With that said I do want to get into more adventure Overlanding type offroading and the 4 door would definitely suit that scenario well. Although if I'm out hiking and the 392 is back at camp I don't how I'll feel about leaving it by itself in the woods. Lol. Especially in the National forests where thieves are know to prowl around and rob your camp.

I do think Jeep will come out with a less optioned 392. When not sure. But it will happen. Probably when the hype dies down some and they want to sell more.

 

[vegasblue]

Good as a place as any to ask so here goes... I would love to have the 392 of course, seriously. To those of you who have them and have used them in higher temperatures and rock crawling, how are the engine temps? It appears this is addressed by the hood design but I still wondered as I drooled on one when I picked up half the cylinders. So sad. Ha! I know my four banger sounds like a an F35 in the rocks at times. I want to say the temps were in the low 100s at the time, Vegas and all.

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