New 2 door rubicon needs advice

[kharland17]

35 11.5 R17 Nitto's (skinny 35's) No lift. So far no rubbing, but I have not wheeled it yet. My plan (if I ever to get time to install them) is to add 3/4" coil spacers, and 1-1/2" bump stops. I am hoping that should be about right to keep the lift to a minimum, and still be able to wheel some pretty tough trails, and still have a very reasonable daily driver.
I also wanted to keep my stock wheels because I really like the look, and also to save some cash for other mods. Also, I like the tucked in look. Some of the ones with lots of offset stick out too much for my taste.
I have a 2.0, with the automatic. I have noticed very little loss of peppiness. However, I would be lying if I said it has lost none. But, I have also added a decent amount of skid plates, so my plan to keep this one as light as possible is slowly slipping away...Haha.

i agree with you on it sticking out too much. even with my 305/70s they line up perfect with the fender. i was thinking of this setup too. i like it.

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[Mikester86]

Ours does everything fine on the stock 33's. I will fit 35's once the tires I want become available again. They will go on the factory wheels with the factory suspension. 99.9% of people do not need to lift a Rubicon and run 37's. Looks cool but really not necessary from a functional standpoint. I agree with the comments about needing to re-gear for 37's and even then the 3.6 will struggle some with them.

In our JLUR we hit skids are more than I liked, just from going over a hill with a little steepness to it. That is the life of a stock 4 door. So we added a 2" lift and 35's, and made a world of difference.

I realized how little our Jeeps can look out on the trails compared to on the street. I look at my Jeep and appreciate the extra ground clearance the lift and 35's make. It looks substantial until you get out into mother nature, and many times mother nature makes our rigs look small.

 

[sardog12]

General Grabber X3 red letter 35x12.5-17 in a C range. I can find them in E range but they are a lot heavier.

Why would you want to run an E load range tire on such a light vehicle as a Jeep, even a 4 door? I could see if you drove around construction sites but otherwise, I don't get it.

 

[Kreepin1]

Why would you want to run an E load range tire on such a light vehicle as a Jeep, even a 4 door? I could see if you drove around construction sites but otherwise, I don't get it.

Sometimes the size/tread you want is only available in load range E. For example, the biggest tire I could fit on my un-lifted JKR was a 275/70R18 which works out to about a 33.5x11.5 and is only available in load range E as far as I know.

 

[Ridgway Jeeper]

Why would you want to run an E load range tire on such a light vehicle as a Jeep, even a 4 door? I could see if you drove around construction sites but otherwise, I don't get it.

Maybe re-read my post... I clearly stated "C range". I do not want the E range which I could get, because of the extra weight of the tires. Not sure how E range is going to help on construction sites, they have the same number of plies and belts. Nails would go through either...

 

[AnnDee4444]

35's on a 2 door is equal to running 37's on a 4door

Not quite. 37s on a 4-door should give about 26.3 degrees of breakover, while a stock height/tire JLR has 27.8 degrees.

 

[sheram]

Ordered a 2 door rubicon in the middle of July. I ended up going with the 3.6 with etourque. I also went with the automatic. So here’s the dilemma I’m dealing with. I’m either going to leave it stock height and go to a 35 like the toyo at3 or I’m considering doing the mopar lift and getting the new bfg 37’s that came out that are c. They weight just under 65 lbs. I know the bfg runs small. This Jeep will be my daily and I want to take trips in it and retain all factory warranty. Do u think the bfg 37’s in c will be to much for the 3.6 and I’ll loose all pep? Should I just stick with stock ride height and go with the 35’s? What are ur thoughts?

I have a bone stock 2019 2dr JL Rubicon. I have driven it cross country from Georgia to Utah twice and another trip to Colorado.This is my 5th Wrangler and 2nd Rubicon. I've been trail riding from Georgia to Utah and Colorado since 1991 and have learned a lot-mostly you don't have to tear up you gear to have a great time, and you still have a nice vehicle to drive when you get back. The bone Stock JLr will go places I don't want to go. I'm into offroading not spending useless money and/or banging up a perfectly good vehicle-especially a new one. There are thousands of miles of offroad trails that don't involve tearing up your $50000+ vehicle in the process. Remember 98% of that addon crap never sees a trail; it's for "lookgood" . When I got the JLR, I thought of putting on 35's and maybe a lift, but have decided...Why? I did that lift and big tire stuff 2 Wranglers ago, then I got a my first Rubicon, a JK in 2007 and decided it is more capable than I need already...and the JLR is even more so. I'm telling you it is probably more offroad capable bone stock than you and I are. It has a suspension designed by experts with a lot of safety and offroad considerations-why mess with any of that just so you can take a photo of one tire hiked up on a boulder a half inch higher than the bone stock guy....and nobody gives a $hit about that except you.

 

[ChadTx]

I have a bone stock 2019 2dr JL Rubicon. I have driven it cross country from Georgia to Utah twice and another trip to Colorado.This is my 5th Wrangler and 2nd Rubicon. I've been trail riding from Georgia to Utah and Colorado since 1991 and have learned a lot-mostly you don't have to tear up you gear to have a great time, and you still have a nice vehicle to drive when you get back. The bone Stock JLr will go places I don't want to go. I'm into offroading not spending useless money and/or banging up a perfectly good vehicle-especially a new one. There are thousands of miles of offroad trails that don't involve tearing up your $50000+ vehicle in the process. Remember 98% of that addon crap never sees a trail; it's for "lookgood" . When I got the JLR, I thought of putting on 35's and maybe a lift, but have decided...Why? I did that lift and big tire stuff 2 Wranglers ago, then I got a my first Rubicon, a JK in 2007 and decided it is more capable than I need already...and the JLR is even more so. I'm telling you it is probably more offroad capable bone stock than you and I are. It has a suspension designed by experts with a lot of safety and offroad considerations-why mess with any of that just so you can take a photo of one tire hiked up on a boulder a half inch higher than the bone stock guy....and nobody gives a $hit about that except you.

Well said

 

[Whaler27]

I have a bone stock 2019 2dr JL Rubicon. I have driven it cross country from Georgia to Utah twice and another trip to Colorado.This is my 5th Wrangler and 2nd Rubicon. I've been trail riding from Georgia to Utah and Colorado since 1991 and have learned a lot-mostly you don't have to tear up you gear to have a great time, and you still have a nice vehicle to drive when you get back. The bone Stock JLr will go places I don't want to go. I'm into offroading not spending useless money and/or banging up a perfectly good vehicle-especially a new one. There are thousands of miles of offroad trails that don't involve tearing up your $50000+ vehicle in the process. Remember 98% of that addon crap never sees a trail; it's for "lookgood" . When I got the JLR, I thought of putting on 35's and maybe a lift, but have decided...Why? I did that lift and big tire stuff 2 Wranglers ago, then I got a my first Rubicon, a JK in 2007 and decided it is more capable than I need already...and the JLR is even more so. I'm telling you it is probably more offroad capable bone stock than you and I are. It has a suspension designed by experts with a lot of safety and offroad considerations-why mess with any of that just so you can take a photo of one tire hiked up on a boulder a half inch higher than the bone stock guy....and nobody gives a $hit about that except you.

This is a perfectly sensible view.

I kept my first few Jeep’s, all CJ’s, bone stock with the exception of slightly more aggressive tires when the first set wore out. I don’t even remember lift kits being available for Jeep’s In the 70s and early 80s. My first lift went into my 2006 TJ which needed a little help just to run 33s.

Now, after 44 years of owning Jeeps, I find really enjoy the customization/building process. It’s fun. The build pays off too. In the end, my Jeep is more comfortable, drives better, brakes better, and is more capable than it was new. It’s also uniquely mine. I don’t pretend it’s a sensible way to spend money. It’s just fun.

The important thing is for each of us to do whatever makes us happy — and do it without the illusion that the choices we make to customize (or not) are somehow smarter or more virtuous than the choices made by others. (I continue to work on the second half of that, especially when I see a Jeep with 22” wheels sporting Highway tires with 2” sidewalls. I’d sooner have a root canal than do that to a perfectly respectable machine, but I guess that’s more evidence that I still have more growing up to do).

 

[Ridgway Jeeper]

I think it is entirely true that most mods are 99% for show. That is how most of the Jeeps I see are "built" and I see a LOT of them where I live. Our two door Rubi is still bone stock and as mentioned way more than capable enough for any trail we will ever take it on. Not that it isn't getting wheeled because it was on Black Bear Pass two days ago.

I will be fitting 35's because I think "they look cool" and I can rub my Tacoma driving buddy's nose in it. We know they will fit with zero mods as Jeep intended for the JL Rubi models. I will do a winch bumper and winch too even though it may never get used. It will "look cool". So many go WAY beyond this and never run trails. That is their choice, cool to have choices for sure. I won't be doing the lift for short wife and garage reasons. The 35's will be a nice in between choice and I can run a wild looking set in the summer and switch back to the stock KO2s for winter. Everybody has their wants, I do not confuse them with needs.

 

[rkwfxd]

My $0.02

Coming from TJ with 4.5” lift on 35s. It sucked on road. Going to 2dr Rubi.

Right now 37s are back ordered nationwide. Good luck even buying them. Even some 35s are tuff to find.

I read numerous reports of 35s rubbing at full stuff on Rubis. I did not read any reports of 315/70/17s rubbing at full stuff.

I have a set of 315s and new wheels waiting for my Rubi. I also have bumpers, sliders, skids and a winch either here or coming.

I will take measurements before my install, then after and see how much all those goodies have compressed my suspension. Then I plan to add spacers to get back to factory Rubi height plus the front lcas from the Mopar lift to get some good caster in it. I will also update t size with a Tazer.

Im hoping for and actually expecting a factory right with great road manners and a beast off road.

Later, if it’s still not enough I will look at lift/fender chop etc and 37s and at that point a regear.

Good luck with whatever you do and please post photos and let us know how you like it. ??

 

[Whaler27]

I think many mods may be for "looks", which I distinguish from " for show". For me, "show" implies the mods are for others, as in "showing off". Perhaps others don't interpret that phrase the same way.

I know Jeeps can be status symbols in high school, maybe even early adulthood, but most of the Jeep owners I see are adults, most in their 30s or older, and for that group I can't imagine there is any social cache in a jeep of any kind. It's kinda like having a really nice bicycle or lawnmower. Great to have if you're into them, but nobody else really cares or notices unless they bike or mow lots of lawn.

I also think "need" is in the eyes of the beholder. I see lots of people fishing ten miles or more offshore in rickety 17' boats I wouldn't take to the middle of a lake. I'm comfortable offshore in a stable boat that has the size, saltiness, and equipment to manage a change in weather or other unexpected challenge, but I would never head out in the crap I see people betting their lives on. The fact that people routinely survive trips in tiny wooden and aluminum boats doesn't mean that bigger, stouter, purpose-designed boats are "unnecessary". Everybody gets to find his own balance with such things.

I took my first new Jeep, a 1977 CJ-7, to all kinds of places that were beyond my ability and, arguably, beyond the ability of the Jeep. I only needed to be helped/pulled out a handful of times. I attribute that to good fortune and God loving drunks and fools.

My mods have made my JL better at most things and they have been fun to do. I have no basis to judge what others "need", or why they modify their jeeps/homes/boats/aircraft as they do. Do whatever floats your boat!

Last note: For those coming from a TJ, and mounting 37s on a JLR or JLUR, I strongly recommend you drive your jeep on the 37s, on the flats, in the hills, and on the trail, before you make your regearing decision. My TJ was a "sport", with the notoriously weak Dana 35 rear end, which exploded one day on the trail. I replaced that with a Ford 8.8 I found in a junk yard, which gave me rear disc brakes and an excuse to re-gear, which I did. I only had 33" tires on that jeep, but I thought I might eventually go bigger, so went to 4:56 gearing. It helped, a lot, but my JL with 37s and the stock 4:10 gearing has more grunt in every environment that the TJ had geared down. Much more grunt. If I win the lottery I'll regear, but it's WAY down the priority list now, because it drives great as it is. You may feel the same way, or you may decide you need less of a gearing jump. Best of luck with whatever way you go!

 

[Ridgway Jeeper]

I read numerous reports of 35s rubbing at full stuff on Rubis. I did not read any reports of 315/70/17s rubbing at full stuff.

I have a set of 315s and new wheels waiting for my Rubi. I also have bumpers, sliders, skids and a winch either here or coming.

There is virtually no difference between a 315/70-17 and a 35 x 12.5-17 tire. The only people having issues on a stock Rubicon have changed to incorrect offset wheels. You will get into the fenders if your tires poke outside the fenders.

 

[ChadTx]

I think it is entirely true that most mods are 99% for show. That is how most of the Jeeps I see are "built" and I see a LOT of them where I live. Our two door Rubi is still bone stock and as mentioned way more than capable enough for any trail we will ever take it on. Not that it isn't getting wheeled because it was on Black Bear Pass two days ago.

I will be fitting 35's because I think "they look cool" and I can rub my Tacoma driving buddy's nose in it. We know they will fit with zero mods as Jeep intended for the JL Rubi models. I will do a winch bumper and winch too even though it may never get used. It will "look cool". So many go WAY beyond this and never run trails. That is their choice, cool to have choices for sure. I won't be doing the lift for short wife and garage reasons. The 35's will be a nice in between choice and I can run a wild looking set in the summer and switch back to the stock KO2s for winter. Everybody has their wants, I do not confuse them with needs.

My thoughts for a lift where that I wouldn’t destroy the underside of the Jeeps components. How did it do on black bear bone stock? All the videos I see have modded jeeps on 37’s. I’m thinking more along the lines of just doing the 35’s and a winch and calling it good for now.

 

[ChadTx]

I think many mods may be for "looks", which I distinguish from " for show". For me, "show" implies the mods are for others, as in "showing off". Perhaps others don't interpret that phrase the same way.

I know Jeeps can be status symbols in high school, maybe even early adulthood, but most of the Jeep owners I see are adults, most in their 30s or older, and for that group I can't imagine there is any social cache in a jeep of any kind. It's kinda like having a really nice bicycle or lawnmower. Great to have if you're into them, but nobody else really cares or notices unless they bike or mow lots of lawn.

I also think "need" is in the eyes of the beholder. I see lots of people fishing ten miles or more offshore in rickety 17' boats I wouldn't take to the middle of a lake. I'm comfortable offshore in a stable boat that has the size, saltiness, and equipment to manage a change in weather or other unexpected challenge, but I would never head out in the crap I see people betting their lives on. The fact that people routinely survive trips in tiny wooden and aluminum boats doesn't mean that bigger, stouter, purpose-designed boats are "unnecessary". Everybody gets to find his own balance with such things.

I took my first new Jeep, a 1977 CJ-7, to all kinds of places that were beyond my ability and, arguably, beyond the ability of the Jeep. I only needed to be helped/pulled out a handful of times. I attribute that to good fortune and God loving drunks and fools.

My mods have made my JL better at most things and they have been fun to do. I have no basis to judge what others "need", or why they modify their jeeps/homes/boats/aircraft as they do. Do whatever floats your boat!

Last note: For those coming from a TJ, and mounting 37s on a JLR or JLUR, I strongly recommend you drive your jeep on the 37s, on the flats, in the hills, and on the trail, before you make your regearing decision. My TJ was a "sport", with the notoriously weak Dana 35 rear end, which exploded one day on the trail. I replaced that with a Ford 8.8 I found in a junk yard, which gave me rear disc brakes and an excuse to re-gear, which I did. I only had 33" tires on that jeep, but I thought I might eventually go bigger, so went to 4:56 gearing. It helped, a lot, but my JL with 37s and the stock 4:10 gearing has more grunt in every environment that the TJ had geared down. Much more grunt. If I win the lottery I'll regear, but it's WAY down the priority list now, because it drives great as it is. You may feel the same way, or you may decide you need less of a gearing jump. Best of luck with whatever way you go!

I agree with everything your saying. What’s mods have you done to your Jeep?

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