Picked up a 2026 Rubicon!

[F4Flyer]

Once I stopped driving MTs, I never looked back. They also are way nicer offroad.

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[Mac2457]

Once I stopped driving MTs, I never looked back. They also are way nicer offroad.

Thank you for the push lol. I think it might be time.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Thank you for the push lol. I think it might be time.

My rubicon is AT(1800miles) and my black 2dr is MT(16k miles) and I definitely prefer the AT after driving the rubicon for awhile! I can see why folks are saying to make sure you test drive both before you buy one. The fuel mileage is almost identical between my 2dr sport MT on 35s to the mpg of the 4dr AT on stock 33s. The 4dr got .1mpg better than the 2dr over the entire length of the trip.

 

[Mac2457]

My rubicon is AT(1800miles) and my black 2dr is MT(16k miles) and I definitely prefer the AT after driving the rubicon for awhile! I can see why folks are saying to make sure you test drive both before you buy one. The fuel mileage is almost identical between my 2dr sport MT on 35s to the mpg of the 4dr AT on stock 33s. The 4dr got .1mpg better than the 2dr over the entire length of the trip.

Thank you, I appreciate your input also. The last time I drove and automatic jeep was 30 years ago lol. Im sure they have come a long way. I'm pricing out a willys with the extreme recon package and some extra goodies. I don't do alot of off roading at the moment but still want to have some capability if I need it without the larger price tag of the automatic Rubicon.

 

[gato]

Do the new Rubicon's come with the Mojave hood? If so are they steel or aluminum?

Not only is the hood steel (heavy with a fake vent) but I discovered that the fenders are also steel on my 2026 JLUR X. They also put a long ass spring on the front of my 2026. Even after a put a winch one, my front fenders are ~1" higher than the rear (measured at the fender flare extensions to ground.

There must be a different set of springs reserved for the vehicles that get the steel hood and fenders combo. Maybe they put 392 front springs on it - who knows.

 

[Fly2crawl]

Just curious if you have real world experience with the gearing. I currently have a 22 Rubicon with the 4.10's and its pretty sluggish pulling my trailer with a couple of quads. I'm thinking about trading it in to get one with the 4.88's. I'm also thing about just giving up on the MT because the last 2 I had were recalled. I'm also considering a Willys with the Extreme Recon and joining the land of automatic...Any suggestions?

I’ve regeared axles myself and will most likely do mine to 4.88 and put 35‘s on it when these tires wear out. One of the best most recent quality of life items I have done though is the recently released ability to tune the PCM. HPTuners has the ability to unlock it and I have put an 87 octane tune (93 is being worked on for me). This single thing has made the engine come alive to the point that I no longer feel the need to want to try to supercharge it (when it’s available). I can actually accelerate fairly easily even in 6th gear on the highway now. It’s like a whole new engine.

 

[Deleted member 118196]

Sold my 2026 Porsche finding myself I never really drove it that much. Using some of that money to order a 2027 2-door Rubicon X come August. Ill stick w/ my Trailhawk 4XE till then. Excited for that. Congrats on the new ride!

Don’t mean to thread jack but anyone know of any changes coming for 27’s? Thanks

 

[Mac2457]

I’ve regeared axles myself and will most likely do mine to 4.88 and put 35‘s on it when these tires wear out. One of the best most recent quality of life items I have done though is the recently released ability to tune the PCM. HPTuners has the ability to unlock it and I have put an 87 octane tune (93 is being worked on for me). This single thing has made the engine come alive to the point that I no longer feel the need to want to try to supercharge it (when it’s available). I can actually accelerate fairly easily even in 6th gear on the highway now. It’s like a whole new engine.

So you have a MT regeared to 4.88's and you put an 87 tune on it? What's the gains on the tune? Was the tune that did it for you or when you regeared it made life better too? Thanks!

 

[Mac2457]

Sold my 2026 Porsche finding myself I never really drove it that much. Using some of that money to order a 2027 2-door Rubicon X come August. Ill stick w/ my Trailhawk 4XE till then. Excited for that. Congrats on the new ride!

Don’t mean to thread jack but anyone know of any changes coming for 27’s? Thanks

Sorry, I don't think there is much on the 27's. Jeep is still putting out 26 packages for another 7 months.

 

[Deleted member 118196]

Yea I kind of what I figured. Ill just wait it out. Thanks.

 

[Fly2crawl]

So you have a MT regeared to 4.88's and you put an 87 tune on it? What's the gains on the tune? Was the tune that did it for you or when you regeared it made life better too? Thanks!

Have not regeared yet. Still on the stock 33's and 4:10. There is an enormous thread on here about 2024 and newer engines (mostly manual transmission) having hesitation through a certain RPM range due to a conflict of the EGR system and cam timing. This tune makes it feel like an entirely new engine though and I don't feel the need to modify anything at the moment now to make the Jeep drive better. The tune solved all the problems I had with the drivetrain for the moment anyway.

 

[gato]

Have not regeared yet. Still on the stock 33's and 4:10. There is an enormous thread on here about 2024 and newer engines (mostly manual transmission) having hesitation through a certain RPM range

Sadly, Jeep does not want to give owners a solid manual transmission option. They just keep bandading hopelessly inadequate MT/clutch with reduced torque engine management, and other insufficient recalls.

I'm sad to say, but buying a MT from a manufacturer who does not want you to buy one, and does not invest in it is not a good proposition. If you want an off-roader with an MT, the only real option is the Bronco 7-speed manual. They actually invested in doing the manual right.

The ZF8 is possibly the best AT in the world. The Jeep Aisin AL6 and clutch is possibly the worst MT implementation in the world. The contrast between the two implementations is astounding.

 

[Mac2457]

I’ve regeared axles myself and will most likely do mine to 4.88 and put 35‘s on it when these tires wear out. One of the best most recent quality of life items I have done though is the recently released ability to tune the PCM. HPTuners has the ability to unlock it and I have put an 87 octane tune (93 is being worked on for me). This single thing has made the engine come alive to the point that I no longer feel the need to want to try to supercharge it (when it’s available). I can actually accelerate fairly easily even in 6th gear on the highway now. It’s like a whole new engine.

Any chance you can drop a bit more knowledge on this? Do you have to pull your pcm, send it out and have it unlocked or is this plug and play? How is the price tag on this? Thanks!

 

[Fly2crawl]

Any chance you can drop a bit more knowledge on this? Do you have to pull your pcm, send it out and have it unlocked or is this plug and play? How is the price tag on this? Thanks!

yes and yes, there’s a huge thread on here from bmpcamry09 who’s done a lot of the legwork along with some others. He spells out exactly what the process is and cost but you do have to ship your PCM to HPTuners to be unlocked. It is like I put a new engine in my Jeep though and I highly recommend it.

the thread on here is 2024 JLU with slight hesitation.

 

[Mac2457]

yes and yes, there’s a huge thread on here from bmpcamry09 who’s done a lot of the legwork along with some others. He spells out exactly what the process is and cost but you do have to ship your PCM to HPTuners to be unlocked. It is like I put a new engine in my Jeep though and I highly recommend it.

the thread on here is 2024 JLU with slight hesitation.

Can you drop a link to the thread? I appreciate the help. I love my jeep but was looking at trading it because it's so damn sluggish lol. If this helps, I'll keep it.

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