Picked up my Rubicon Xtreme Recon - pics and first review / impressions

[Richris1]

I’ll have some first hand experience with the XR tomorrow. picking up a sting gray rubi XR, with a 2.5 hour drive home.

Update:

Picked up the Rubicon XR this afternoon. Drove it home for about 2 1/2 hours. Half highway, half mountain/hilly back roads in north Georgia/Tennessee. Steps are going on now, yes these fender flare extensions can be easily removed. The ride on the highway was great, plenty of power, put it on cruise control on the roads that were flat to see how it reacted… All good. Averaged, according to the read out, about 17 1/2 mpg. Highway average speed between 72 mph and 80 mph, back road speed average around 45 to 60. RPMs at cruising speed…whether it was 78 mph or 60 mph stayed at around 2400.

 

[CT_Matty78]

I’ll have some first hand experience with the XR tomorrow. picking up a sting gray rubi XR, with a 2.5 hour drive home.

DUDE. This is amazing!

 

[Caveman044]

Quoting myself here… Picked up the Rubicon XR this afternoon. Drove it home for about 2 1/2 hours. Half highway, half mountain/hilly back roads in north Georgia/Tennessee. Steps are going on now, yes these fender flare extensions can be easily removed. The ride on the highway was great, plenty of power, put it on cruise control on the roads that were flat to see how it reacted… All good. Averaged, according to the read out, about 17 1/2 mpg. Highway average speed between 72 mph and 80 mph, back road speed average around 45 to 60. RPMs at cruising speed…whether it was 78 mph or 60 mph stayed at around 2400.

That's the best "review" I've come across yet. Those steps are going to look great.

 

[Richris1]

That's the best "review" I've come across yet. Those steps are going to look great.

Thank you. Any questions… Please ask. And yes, the steps look great. I will make some more observations and post more pictures tomorrow when it’s light.

 

[Richris1]

Sorry… Forgot this picture when I was cruising on a flat stretch of the highway doing between 77 and 79 mph

 

[Caveman044]

Sorry… Forgot this picture when I was cruising on a flat stretch of the highway doing between 77 and 79 mph

How does it feel in general? Gearing, transmission hunting, body roll, stiffness?

 

[Richris1]

How does it feel in general? Gearing, transmission hunting, body roll, stiffness?

I’d have to say after having a 2020 rubicon, no lift…a 2021 Gladiator, Mopar lift, stock wheels & 35’s,….this feels much smoother, feels like it’s gearing is “right” or more natural, so to speak, vs the other two. I drove some short steep inclines, VERY mountainous roads, that are very twisty (many hairpin turns, etc…), and this felt very solid, not much body roll, and the brakes are strong. Although when sitting next to a stock 392 at the dealer, there was very little height difference, maybe 3/4 inch higher than the 382 , if that. Overall as comfortable as any JL I’ve driven. I’m very pleased

 

[Caveman044]

I’d have to say after having a 2020 rubicon, no lift…a 2021 Gladiator, Mopar lift, stock wheels & 35’s,….this feels much smoother, feels like it’s gearing is “right” or more natural, so to speak, vs the other two. I drove some short steep inclines, VERY mountainous roads, that are very twisty (many hairpin turns, etc…), and this felt very solid, not much body roll, and the brakes are strong. Although when sitting next to a stock 392 at the dealer, there was very little height difference, maybe 3/4 inch higher than the 382 , if that. Overall as comfortable as any JL I’ve driven. I’m very pleased

That's great to hear. What about turning radius? I saw someone say that it wasn't as a tight non-XR, but I see that you have CV's and I've read that they turn tighter.

 

[areuriding]

Nice review so far, I'm sure many are drooling to get theirs. I know I am

 

[Richris1]

That's great to hear. What about turning radius? I saw someone say that it wasn't as a tight non-XR, but I see that you have CV's and I've read that they turn tighter.

Didn’t seem any different to me than my previous JL rubicon

 

[Richris1]

As promised, more pics now that its daylight, and steps installed…

 

[gato]

Thanks for posting.

I wonder if those fender extension strips would be available separately to retrofit to existing Rubi fenders. Just anticipating when I get my Karen-fixit ticket for my tires sticking out.

 

[LastMango]

I’ll have some first hand experience with the XR tomorrow. picking up a sting gray rubi XR, with a 2.5 hour drive home.

Update:

Picked up the Rubicon XR this afternoon. Drove it home for about 2 1/2 hours

Nice ride! Enjoy!

 

[hoag4147]

Thanks for posting.

I wonder if those fender extension strips would be available separately to retrofit to existing Rubi fenders. Just anticipating when I get my Karen-fixit ticket for my tires sticking out.

They will be available to order in December according to wrangler product lead on FB group. He stated they are on restriction at the moment. Probably to ensure they can meet new build requirements.

 

[Richris1]

Thanks for posting.

I wonder if those fender extension strips would be available separately to retrofit to existing Rubi fenders. Just anticipating when I get my Karen-fixit ticket for my tires sticking out.

Apparently they will be available at some point. I haven’t decided if I’ll leave them or take them off. They’re really not too gaudy or noticeable IMO, and the rocks not be thrown around off the tires to possibly hit the Jeep, might be ok

Nice ride! Enjoy!

thank you very much!

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