[Jsniegocki]

hello everyone, im new here, and also new to jeeps ! right now im in the market and by the looks of it i have to order an 08 because we cant seem to find one anywhere from my local dealership !! so having said that, i wanted to know what the main difference in the wrangler (2 door) rubicon and sahara is, suspension wise ? is there a difference between the axles on them as well ?

i will do some offroading and hopefully get right into it, if i do this, then obviously a lift and bigger tires are a must ! the main reason i likethe sahara is because of the body coloured fenders but other then that, im open to whatever ...

also, is there any options i should get with it that you guys would recommend ? or stay away from ? i really dont want the dealership to have me get something that i wont need !!

 

[Jsniegocki]

i find myself now thinking that the only thing i am buying the rubicon is so that i could have :
1. tru-lok electronic locking differentials
2. Dana 44 rear axle
3. 4.10 axle ration
4. 4.1 Rock-Trac Part-Time 4wd system

so .. idk, is it really worth doing just for that then ?

 

[AzTJ]

If your serious about getting into 4wheeling then the Rubicon would be the best platform to build off of. It comes with Dana44's front and rear along with lockers in both axles. From what I hear, the automatic transmission is one to go for, but I'd still think its a preferance thing.

And if you want to fenders to match the body, just pop them off and take 'em to a body shop to paint them up for ya.

 

[jeeperman]

i find myself now thinking that the only thing i am buying the rubicon is so that i could have :
1. tru-lok electronic locking differentials
2. Dana 44 rear axle
3. 4.10 axle ration
4. 4.1 Rock-Trac Part-Time 4wd system

so .. idk, is it really worth doing just for that then ?

You forgot the Dana 44 front, and the parts you have listed are worth about 10,000 if you buy them all new aftermarket, if you do the install yourself. The fender flares are worth about $400, on the high side. So if you think that you are going to get into offroading, and doing a lift, it seems like a no brainer. Sounds like you have answered your own question! Welcome to the forum!

 

[Jsniegocki]

BUT if i dont do as much off orading as im planning, THEN its just a big waste of money ? going for the rubicon BUT in a sense im still saving cause i got some kick a$$ parts on my jeep ...

 

[Jsniegocki]

if i didnt do the rubicon, how much would it hurt if i ended up lifting it and puttin say 35-37" tires ? lookin at any damage in doing so ?

 

[jeeperman]

In my experience, very rarely do people buy the Rubicon package and regret getting it, regardless of the amount of wheeling that they do. As far as damage with 35-37" tires... If you don't wheel it at all, it doesn't matter what package you get, it will be fine on the road. I would want the heavier axles just for some additional strength offroad if I were going that big, and go with the Rubicon. I am sure that Joe from Absolute Offroad will chime in eventually on this and give his feedback from lifting and fitting a JK with 37's.

 

[JCS05Rubi]

I only off road maybe 1 - 2 times a month. The rest of the time I am driving my Rubicon as a daily driver. Sometimes I miss teh gearing of my old Sport, but I wouldnt trade ANYTHING for my Rubicon. Shes a pain in the azz, but I cant say Id rather own anythign else. Not sure I could say the same for anything else sometimes

 

[Jsniegocki]

ok so i found out that if i went with the sahara and the trailer package, ill get the 4.10 gears .... and the sahara has the dana 44 ... with a 30 spline axle .... vs the rubicon which has 4.10 and 32 spline i think ? ...
so really the only thing i wouldnt have would be :
1) the electronic diffs
2) 4.1 Rock-Trac Part-Time 4wd system
so i mean, if im wheelin, the electronic diffs are KEY ... BUT if i dont ... then they are virtually worthless ... but what is the 4.1 Rock-Trac Part-Time 4wd system ?? how is it diff from the system in the sahara ?

 

[bluvikng]

The Rubi, has the 4:1 ratio in 4-low, where any other transfer case has 2.73:1 gear ratio in 4-low. This will not mean anything to you, unless you want to idle carefully, up some obstacles. With the higher gear ratio, you will have to give more skinny pedal, to do something that a Rubi can do, just idleing over. Also, if you want to run the 35"-37" tires, you really need the D-44 on your steering, as well.

 

[Jsniegocki]

wow, i dont know why i asked that when i already knew that .... haha damn, stupid question haha, EVERY PLEASE IGNORE THAT LAST POST FROM ME !! haha

 

[simmersm]

you also forgot about the electronic disconnecting swaybar. From what it sounds like to me is that you are try to validate spending the extra money on parts that you don't know if you are going to use or not... if you are just going to wheel it a couple times a year on some fire roads or splash through the mud. Get the Sahara. If your gonna test your manhood, get the rubicon. I have the 07 rubicon manual tranny and wouldn't change it out for nothing.. if you are going to run 37s it would probably be best to have the Dana 44 leading the way... oh by the way... your pretty painted fenders are gonaa catch most of the branches through the woods and look like crap all banged up..

 

[bluvikng]

you also forgot about the electronic disconnecting swaybar. From what it sounds like to me is that you are try to validate spending the extra money on parts that you don't know if you are going to use or not... if you are just going to wheel it a couple times a year on some fire roads or splash through the mud. Get the Sahara. If your gonna test your manhood, get the rubicon. I have the 07 rubicon manual tranny and wouldn't change it out for nothing.. if you are going to run 37s it would probably be best to have the Dana 44 leading the way... oh by the way... your pretty painted fenders are gonaa catch most of the branches through the woods and look like crap all banged up..

I love it when someone see's the light..........

Preach away, Bro..........

 

[Jsniegocki]

you also forgot about the electronic disconnecting swaybar. From what it sounds like to me is that you are try to validate spending the extra money on parts that you don't know if you are going to use or not... if you are just going to wheel it a couple times a year on some fire roads or splash through the mud. Get the Sahara. If your gonna test your manhood, get the rubicon. I have the 07 rubicon manual tranny and wouldn't change it out for nothing.. if you are going to run 37s it would probably be best to have the Dana 44 leading the way... oh by the way... your pretty painted fenders are gonaa catch most of the branches through the woods and look like crap all banged up..

yeah you got it 100% ... i mean it really isnt THAT much to buy the rubi over the sahara really .... i mean im not buying it out right anyways and when you take the amount over like 3 years ... its peanuts ....

and your right, those will get banged up, the only reason i wanted to do the painted fenders is because i think that if i got it in silver, the black fenders make it look pooo IMO of course ... and BLACK is WAY nicer in the RUBI ... im just having women issues when it comes to the black vehicle ... ive already got a silver wrx, and silver f250 .... why would i want ANOTHER silver .... so im trying to make myself happy with the silver somehow IF i end up gettin it ....

 

[Jsniegocki]

i also already have a set of 37's i had on my f250 just sittin around ... so .. i mean i would love them to work with the jeep when i order it ...

 

[simmersm]

Silver 07 Rubicon, sitting at the dealers to get the final detail before i took her home. the black fenders actually grow on ya

 

[Jsniegocki]

yeah no doubt .... the funny thing is, the women is a 180 from what i want- haha silver, 2 door, 6 speed ...... me - black, 4 door and auto ! ( and yes i can drive stick well, my car is a 6 speed, i just hear the manuals dont work out to well ) but hell i'd even do WHITE ... i just cant get over the silver right now ... later im sure i would, after i "lost" the decision making process here haha

 

[Jsniegocki]

i think ive won ...... and gettin my black rubicon ..... but it may be stick as i cant seem to get an auto right now ...

 

[Absolute Offroad]

Silver 07 Rubicon, sitting at the dealers to get the final detail before i took her home. the black fenders actually grow on ya

Oh yes!!!! There are alot of things to make the JK RUBICON grow on ya......

Joe