PEAK PUTTERS

After having a Grand Cherokee I have realized Im a wrangler guy at heart, nothing wrong with my Grand i just miss having a wrangler. Planning on putting my Grand up for sale more towards the summer when i can be without a vehicle for however long and not be rushed into buying a rig. but ive been cruising craigslist and browsing.

My question is rubicon vs. wrangler? Goals would be 33's and lockers, nice daily driver/weekend wheeler. part of me says buy a rubicon and put 33's, a winch, and be "done". but thats more expensive. If i bought a non rubicon wrangler id be able to buy a lower mileage jeep, and then i could maybe do a locker and gears.

Either way i want a wrangler, budget is around $15,000 max, also i would prefer an auto. which run more expensive. Main question would be is it better to spend more money and start with a rubicon? or will i end up spending more on a wrangler to make it as capable as a rubicon?

Personally I'd pick up a YJ and start gathering parts. For well under your 15k budget you can have a very capable all around rig with better parts than any rubicon was equipped with ever.

Nothing wrong with good quality leaf springs, wagoneer dana 44's a non flipped dana 300. Simply look up bobracing's yj build. It is a solid build and he'll have less into it when done than most used as their down payment on a shiny rubicon.

i like yj'bs but im pretty set on a tj, although i could keep it a lot cheaper than rubicon, i have awhile to make my decision up haha

Same story with a TJ. . .just a little higher entry point. . .

TJ's ride nicer, have round headlights, and usually have working AC. Otherwise a YJ would work just as well.

yes, the main reason i want a tj is for the daily driver qualities. i have had a tj in the past, but it had the Les Schwab Makeover when i bought it so it didn't ride the nicest either, Ive always wondered how much more i would have liked it with a nicer suspension on it

A good tj suspension that is a bolt on is metal cloak. I have their full arms just waiting for springs are shocks now day and night difference.

There's a 2003 Rubicon sitting at Leskovar. 13k. You could probably offer less, it's been sitting over a month. Then just pick up a long arm lift, winch, and 35s and you're set.

yah i've been keeping my eye on that one, my dad is currently buying a truck so my jeep will be up for sale soon since I will have a vehicle to borrow once mine sells, then i can get serious in the buyers market haha

As far as lifting it goes, i've been debating on keeping it stock for around a year while i'm still commuting to moses lake weekly, maybe do some mpg booster mods and smitty bumpers and a winch, this way i have time to save up some money and really think about what i want to do build wise before i pull the trigger on a lift kit, tires etc.

Lud wrote:Then just pick up a long arm lift, winch, and 35s and you're set.

You only need ~3" of lift to run 35's very successfully, why bother with long arms?

I think you need a little more lift than 3" but I agree with the short arm comment.

My TJ had a sagging teraflex 4.5" lift installed when I bough it. Think total lift was right around 3.5".

35's rubbed terribly, and travel was limited. You'd have to do some serious cutting in the rears to make things work. Everything was much better after adding a JKS 1.25" body lift, and getting some adjustable control arms so that I could get the axle in the sweet spot to avoid rubbing.

My first TJ was on 2.5 inch springs with a 1.25 inch body lift and 35" Krawlers, which run true to size unlike most. A slight wheelbase stretch via adjustable arms and extended bumps was all it took, and I had equal travel to stock which is fine for anything I do. Which admittedly is mostly running to the mall for max hold hair gel and spray tan products...

i really like the rubicon express 3.5 inch kit, i would like to do that kit and 1 inch body lift so i can do a tummy tuck, my tj that i had about three years ago had a 4 inch kit when i bought it, i dont remember the brand but there was a receipt in the glove box from les schwab for a lift kit install and tires and wheels, it had 33s but didnt flex hardly at all and road like crap, so im willing to save up some money and spend a little extra for a good kit
anybody on here running rubicon express?

Casey wrote:i really like the rubicon express 3.5 inch kit, i would like to do that kit and 1 inch body lift so i can do a tummy tuck, my tj that i had about three years ago had a 4 inch kit when i bought it, i dont remember the brand but there was a receipt in the glove box from les schwab for a lift kit install and tires and wheels, it had 33s but didnt flex hardly at all and road like crap, so im willing to save up some money and spend a little extra for a good kit
anybody on here running rubicon express?

I have a 5.5" RE long arm kit over 35" and have PLENTY of flex and room for the tires. Rides well on the road too...[/img]

tobyw wrote:

Lud wrote:Then just pick up a long arm lift, winch, and 35s and you're set.

You only need ~3" of lift to run 35's very successfully, why bother with long arms?

Well I'm still running a TJ on a OME 2.5in lift and 1.25 in body lift, higher fender flares, and 35's and has still to yet pull the trigger on a long arm lift. lol It's different when you're trying to tell someone else how to spend their money.

yah, not sure if i would spend the money for a long arm haha, i like how they look with a small lift anyways, rather spend my money on other upgrades!

also my jeep is up for sale if anyone is interested, great daily driver, i just want to get back into a wrangler, has almost 96,000 on it not, avg 15 mpg, 17-18 going 60, 14-15 going 70

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