Newbie looking for direction

[FirstTimeLongTime]

I got my first "real" experience this summer with a rental Rubicon out of Silverton over the Alpine Loop. It was an unbelievable day; My wife and I are hooked. We got lucky and found a last minute rental for the next day as well. I got the green light to purchase, but now to making the right decision on a purchase. I went straight to looking at Rubicon builds and my son is trying to convince me I can buy cheaper with a sport and add on the extras. I think he is full of crap. Looking at the Rubicon with the XR package so I am trail ready and don't have to find someone to do a lift install.

Thoughts from the group?

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[Morris4x4]

Labor cost is where it'll bite with getting a sport and adding on the extras also depends on the quality of aftermarket you're going for too (i.e. Rough country kit vs. a rock krawler kit). If you can do it yourself, you can probably do it cheaper which is why I got a sport. Sports are incredibly capable as is so getting the rubi will basically be a buy once cry once and you won't have to wait on possible parts being on backorder if you did the sport build it out route. Lift installs really aren't too bad but can be for the first timer but truly it's up to you if you want to wait on building it out or just buying it ready to roll. Either way, you'll have a blast and that's what matters most.

-Julia

 

[entropy]

I got my first "real" experience this summer with a rental Rubicon out of Silverton over the Alpine Loop. It was an unbelievable day; My wife and I are hooked. We got lucky and found a last minute rental for the next day as well. I got the green light to purchase, but now to making the right decision on a purchase. I went straight to looking at Rubicon builds and my son is trying to convince me I can buy cheaper with a sport and add on the extras. I think he is full of crap. Looking at the Rubicon with the XR package so I am trail ready and don't have to find someone to do a lift install.

Thoughts from the group?

He is full of crap. You cant make a sport into a rubicon, itll cost you more than the rubicon costs. Ask me how i know. Just buy the rubicon. The XT package is also totally worth it but not a deal breaker if you dont buy it.

Sports are extremely capable and with some little skill you can get through. But building a sport to match a Rubicon in terms of capabilities? Not hapenning.

Making a sport capable enough? Can be done. I take my sport on difficult trails all the time. It takes a little more skill sometimes but they can get through anything a rubicon can. if you want to do difficult trails that involve rock crawling and stuff, Id recommend going Rubicon.

 

[AcesandEights]

Don't buy off the dealer lot. Place an order for a Rubicon, optioned the way you want it. You'll save money and be happier.

 

[falcon241073]

That all depends. Order it the way you want and be ready to go the day you pick it up. Plus everything is covered with the factory warranty.

Or…

Buy a sport s. Now decide what work you can do vs pay a shop to do. Research and decide on a lift brand and height. Decide 35 or 37” tires plus rims. Then buy axles as the sport doesn’t have the same axles as the rubicon. Those axles need built so decide on lockers or not and what gear ratio. What axle shafts. Have it built locally or built from supplier like Dana, Currie, etc. then have the axles installed. Oh now decide if trying to sell the stock axles is worth the headache. Or drop them at the scrap yard.

I could go on but I think you get the picture.

 

[Joe98]

I have a 2 door Sport S and drive off road.
I do not have a lift. I have stock tyres.

 

[At Risk Ute]

Have owned both a JL Sport and Rubicon. Loved the former, but my advice is to buy once / cry once. Order exactly what you want or think you might need.

 

[Jamrock]

He is full of crap. You cant make a sport into a rubicon, itll cost you more than the rubicon costs. Ask me how i know. Just buy the rubicon. The XT package is also totally worth it but not a deal breaker if you dont buy it.

Sports are extremely capable and with some little skill you can get through. But building a sport to match a Rubicon in terms of capabilities? Not hapenning.

Making a sport capable enough? Can be done. I take my sport on difficult trails all the time. It takes a little more skill sometimes but they can get through anything a rubicon can. if you want to do difficult trails that involve rock crawling and stuff, Id recommend going Rubicon.

Huh???

Now I know my eyes are failing me. When is my next appointment with my eye doctor?

Old age is a bitch.

 

[Jamrock]

I got my first "real" experience this summer with a rental Rubicon out of Silverton over the Alpine Loop. It was an unbelievable day; My wife and I are hooked. We got lucky and found a last minute rental for the next day as well. I got the green light to purchase, but now to making the right decision on a purchase. I went straight to looking at Rubicon builds and my son is trying to convince me I can buy cheaper with a sport and add on the extras. I think he is full of crap. Looking at the Rubicon with the XR package so I am trail ready and don't have to find someone to do a lift install.

Thoughts from the group?

A Sport is capable. A Rubicon is more capable. With time and money you can make a Sport more capable than it comes from the factory. Why go through all that time and trouble?

A Sport is enough for many people. They don't need more than that. You don't sound like one of those people. Buy the Rubicon.

 

[ExpeditionBuilds]

Silverthorn is a beautiful place to get your feet wet! So you already have a feel for a Rubicon.

Here's my take on it. It's my personal experience that we as Jeepers typically move towards better built, more capable (bigger) as we become accustomed to our Jeeps. Wheel it once stock and you'll most likely be smitten at the inherent capabilities built into a Jeep, especially the Rubicon with stronger axles, lockers, sway bar disconnect, etc. For me, that's when I really began to understand these vehicles.

If you can afford to do so, buy the most capable Jeep you can, and if possible order it just the way you want it. Just know, we move towards bigger more capable rigs as our experience with them grows. Good luck with whatever you choose to do...and don't forget to wave?

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5HJ5REOo6XbFuakJem6TTw


-Steven

 

[entropy]

Huh???

Now I know my eyes are failing me. When is my next appointment with my eye doctor?

Old age is a bitch.

Whats up?

The question was to build a sport to be like a Rubicon. You would need a new transfer case, regear, tires and wheels, axles and lockers. It will be more expensive in the end than buying a Rubicon.

So my advice is. if you want a Rubicon, just buy a Rubicon. But don't think a Sport is "not capable" it can do pretty much anything you throw at it. It all comes down to driver skill honestly. If you don't think a Sport can handle serious wheeling then you haven't tried.

 

[BDinTX]

If you can afford the Rubicon get it. Unless you’re wanting to buy a vehicle to work on rather than drive.

 

[OllieChristopher]

Whats up?

The question was to build a sport to be like a Rubicon. You would need a new transfer case, regear, tires and wheels, axles and lockers. It will be more expensive in the end than buying a Rubicon.

So my advice is. if you want a Rubicon, just buy a Rubicon. But don't think a Sport is "not capable" it can do pretty much anything you throw at it. It all comes down to driver skill honestly. If you don't think a Sport can handle serious wheeling then you haven't tried.

As a full disclaimer I do not own a Jeep. My best friend in the whole world knew how to wheel a Wrangler with the best of them. I'm a motorcycle guy at heart. But my hard core off road riding days are behind me.

My choice would be a Rubicon 2 door hands down. Why? Because I doubt I will be able to outdrive the capability of one. I'm of the opinion if you are not doing serious rock crawling, then it will do everything you ask of it.

And boy yes!! The money and labor involved making a a Sport or any other Wrangler JL into a Rubicon would be staggering.

It is really easy to get caught up in these forum members builds and think "how cool that would be".

I was in a parking lot the other day checking out a Rubicon JL in person. Bone stock they are a very serious off road rig right from the factory.

 

[Jeep4Win]

I had a 2011 JK Sport that I modified. Went Rubicon 10 years later. Ordered what I wanted and spent more time wheeling instead of wrenching.

 

[LarryB]

There is something to be said about buying what you want and getting a full factory warranty on it. You usually pay more for it, but for many, the peace of mind is worth it.

However, one thing to think about … do you plan on using all of the capability of a Rubicon? Most can get away with a Sport with some upgrades, save a bundle and likely have a vehicle that drives better on the road, where you spend most of your time. If you do plan on using it to its fullest, I would go for a Rubicon.

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