Question for Experienced Off-Roaders on Options

[aldo98229]

PS - I like High Altitude but I’m not fond of those 20-inch wheels and rubber-band tires. And the painted bumpers work better in some colors than others.

I’ve seen dealers discount them heavily. I’d seriously consider a High Altitude with a rear LSD if it was heavily discounted. I’d then swap out the OE wheels and tires. It’d make a kick ass rig with a mild lift and a proper set of wheels and tires.

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[Shark01]

I predict every one of those people is a Sahara owner.

Is a Rubicon overkill? Yes.

My perspective is I’d never spend Rubicon money on a lesser trim. A Rubicon will be worth more later than an optioned up Sahara. And you won’t find yourself later on turning away from a potential trail because of insufficient equipment.

Certainly every one of them own a Sahara, have owned a Sahara in the past, and in two cases currently own one of each. And I wanted that POV.

I’m not concerned with re-sale value at all, just the ownership experience. Truthfully, I would never be interested in taking on the advanced trails and rock climbs the TFL types do on videos.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I have considered this as a Rubicon with the major options I want (one touch, LED, leather seats, cold weather, safety group) is priced within a few hundred dollars. But in the end, plenty of people are saying that the Sahara makes for a better daily and a Rubicon is overkill for my projected usage.

My comment was based on the High Altitude and not necessarily the Sahara. The standard Sahara doesn't come with painted bumpers, mirrors, door handles, etc.

 

[Shark01]

PS - I like High Altitude but I’m not fond of those 20-inch wheels and rubber-band tires. And the painted bumpers work better in some colors than others.

I’ve seen dealers discount them heavily. I’d seriously consider a High Altitude with a rear LSD if it was heavily discounted. I’d then swap out the OE wheels and tires. It’d make a kick ass rig with a mild lift and a proper set of wheels and tires.

This is a viewpoint that fits my situation well.

BTW, the dealer I’m considering (from Ratberts list) has nearly the same discount for both models.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

That’s an old maids’ tale Rubicon owner love to spread.

There’s ZERO evidence that Rubicons hold value better than other Wranglers. All Wranglers hold their value equally well once you take into account that you paid a lot more upfront for a Rubicon.

In fact, Sports usually hold a very slight edge over all other trims.

It is true that you are more likely to get a bigger discount on some Wrangler trims than on Rubicons. At least in normal times. But this is something a savvy buyer can use to his/her advantage.

One thing to consider is that a Sport that has been modified to match what the Rubicon has will not have the same re-sell value as a stock Rubicon that already has those components from the factory. At the end of the day though, Sport, Sahara, or Rubicon, I have never bought a Jeep with the plan to sell it in the future anyway.

 

[aldo98229]

Certainly every one of them own a Sahara, have owned a Sahara in the past, and in two cases currently own one of each. And I wanted that POV.

I’m not concerned with re-sale value at all, just the ownership experience. Truthfully, I would never be interested in taking on the advanced trails and rock climbs the TFL types do on videos.

I’ve owned both. I’d probably have a Rubicon if I still lived in California: the lockers and swaybar disconnect were very useful in the multitude of off-road opportunities that that state offers.

However, here in the PNW the LSD and Selec-Trac are much more useful, where unpredictable weather and changing driving conditions are the norm.

 

[Murphydog]

I can share my experience. I originally thought about building a pretty loaded sport. Limited slip felt like a must have and for me I really wanted the trail camera.

I have rented Jeeps in the past, both Rubicons and Saharas and have been happy with both.

The more I thought about it and priced things out I started to lean towards a Rubicon, and ultimately ordered one. I just completed road trip to Moab and had a great time at both the National Parks and the Jeep trails.

The only advice I would share is make sure you comfortable with what you what to spend, and what you may want to do with your jeep.

Lastly, the Rubicon doesn't have limited slip, but it does have traction control. My Ram 1500 had limited slip as well as auto 4WD. My truck was very confident in the snow. That said I have been pleased with how the Rubicon has performed in the snow as well.

 

[AZJeepGuy]

• Selec-Trac full time AWD – I assume this one is not needed
• Anti-spin diff
• Front off-road camera
• Rock slider with step assist

None of the four.
Selec-Trac: You don't live in snow country.
Anti-slip rear: You're not going off road.
Camera: If you did get into four wheeling you can always hop out to take a look before you drive over a cliff.
Rock slider: Are you going off roading where you need to crawl over rocks? I like the step idea though.

Buy the trim package and color you like best. And a SHA can do any country road better than any other SUV.

 

[GATORB8]

Not to go further down the Rubi vs HA rabbit hole, but, especially considering your location, it's best to look at either what you've done to your vehicles in the past or what you envision your build looking like (if you decide to do anything to it). Unless you dive in deep and start doing off road road trips, either will suit you fine for what you'll likely be doing off road.

If you are a serial vehicle modifier, and like the hard core look, the Rubi may be a better starting point. If color matched and big rims are your thing, HA probably works better.

If you tend to leave your vehicles stock and want luxury, the HA is the way to go.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Agree with @AZJeepGuy you don’t need any of them if you are going to order. People seem to think LSD is a magical thing that makes everything work in bad weather. My rubicons never have had LSD. People will say that is because they have lockers…. Well I don’t use lockers driving around on the road in the rain, which is what you are talking about For Houston. And part time 4WD will suit you fine anywhere off road you are going to go. Everywhere open diff with BLD(standard on all wranglers) works great. I never get LSD on anything and don’t ever want it. Save your money for other upgrades.

 

[Murphydog]

I believe the limited slip package also includes upgraded tires, correct? Seems like a pretty good deal

 

[stumblinhorse]

I live in Houston. I'll disagree with you on the value of limited slip differential in the rain.
I grew up in West Texas where I thought we had big thunderstorms. The rains here on the gulf coast are WAY more intense.
Plus, we have a beach, that you can drive on. LSD (both the mechanical and the pharmaceutical) are valuable for when you get stuck on the beach.

Note: don't mix the two types of LSD. Drive safe.

I didn’t say it won’t work in the rain or the beach. I said that there is not a rubicon out there that has a factory LSD. And I don’t see many posts here about that they miss having LSD? LSD is great for higher horsepower application that have rear wheel drive only so they and put that power to the ground. Neither of those describe a wrangler. And BLD works really good…. And open diffs never wear out. I can show you my open one ton d80 with 350k miles on it. Looks like new and I change the fluid about every 100k because it has no wear items in it.

 

[Shark01]

especially considering your location, it's best to look at either what you've done to your vehicles in the past or what you envision your build looking like (if you decide to do anything to it).

Assuming you are asking me, I have never owned a Jeep, anything I have done on other cars have been all about performance, handling, brakes, etc so really not comparable.

 

[dcmdon]

PS - I like High Altitude but I’m not fond of those 20-inch wheels and rubber-band tires. And the painted bumpers work better in some colors than others.

I’ve seen dealers discount them heavily. I’d seriously consider a High Altitude with a rear LSD if it was heavily discounted. I’d then swap out the OE wheels and tires. It’d make a kick ass rig with a mild lift and a proper set of wheels and tires.

And you would have supremely fancy seats and dash to go with it.

 

[Shark01]

I believe the limited slip package also includes upgraded tires, correct? Seems like a pretty good deal

For Sahara High Altitude, getting LSD doesn’t change wheels or tires

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