Durango_60's 07 Rubicon Unlimited Build

[durango_60]

This is going to be a slow thread for a while, mostly because the new rig is on order and could take 3-4 months to get here. I've lamented over this decision for many months and recently decided to go ahead and take the plunge. Being a Yota guy I feel like a sinner but I'm going to give the Jeep a try since on paper it is the most ideal solution available in the market for my application.

I've attached my order sheet for the specs. After much debate with my 4 year old we passed on the Expo white and went for the Redrock.

It will start out looking just like this http://www.ayresweb.com/RedRockJK/rubi_delivery_hor_800_IMG_4030.jpg

Immediate mods will consist of nothing more than a winch bumper to mount my 9.5 ti w/ synthetic line that I took off my cruiser.

[articulate]

:Astrologist:
She's beautiful. I'll bet you're going to be very pleased. Who makes winch bumpers for these things so far?

[chet]

nice color!

Lots of companies already make bumpers for them.

[durango_60]

There are quite a few bumpers on the market as of now, of course I'm fond of the AEV and the Fab Fours(mostly cause they are local guys) which are both $1000+. Shrockworks makes a nice stubby but since this will be a dd I'm going to wait and see what they come up with in a full length bumper.

[kcowyo]

I'm totally gonna let you off the Toyota hook because that thing is badass! :jumping:

I told ya, I like that color. I agree with Simon. The versatile tops will be nice to play with. That thing is hot.

Sweet, sweet call. I'm looking forward to this!

:beer:

[OverlandZJ]

Congrats...best of luck with it.

Is this your first Jeep?

I was just thumbing through the Quadratec catalog earlier and noticed there is alot of accesories already available for the JK. Didnt take long..

:wavey:

[durango_60]

Yep, it's the first Jeep. I've got two Landcruisers, a 60 and an 80, which are gonna be finding good homes to make room for this one.

[blupaddler]

Congrats!:victory:
I think you have a great platform to work with and will last you for years to come.
And if it's o.k. with KC it's o.k. with me.;)







So what is the price now on the S/C 80? Or did that get sold?

[durango_60]

So what is the price now on the S/C 80? Or did that get sold?

I'll let it go for $7500, but I've removed the sliders and intend on removing the bumper if someone doesn't buy it soon.

[blupaddler]

I PM'd you about the 80...:luxhello:















So...The Rubicon's come with BFG M/t's now instead of the MTR's. (or are my eyes failing me in the pic).

[Wanderlusty]

So...The Rubicon's come with BFG M/t's now instead of the MTR's. (or are my eyes failing me in the pic).

Your eyes are just fine. I dunno the back story as to why they changed, but yep, BFG's on the Rubi.

[Bergger]

I'm excited for you. I've never been a Jeep guy but I have to say I was very impressed with the new Rubicon when I checked them out. Compared to the old jeeps they are cavernous. I was willing to give it a try myself but the wife has always wanted an Xterra so that is the route we ended up taking. It would have been nice to have a vehicle with a removable top.

[Hltoppr]

Don't feel bad regarding the Toyota thing....I'm looking at this very rig as one of the top 2 choices for my next buildup....you can't beat what you get!

-H-

[2006KJSPORT4x4]

jeeperman.com (http://www.jeeperman.com/)has some accessories out there for the JK I think...either that or they are in development...look like pretty solid stuff to me..another guy on here, zeero, has a jeep green JK Rubicon, he's located in Milton, Ontario, Canada though.

Sweet color though, i dig the reds...

[The Swiss]

That JK looks GREAT! :clapsmile Congrats!

[XXXpedition]

congrats - lookscool
with your name you gotta get a durango4x4 bumper :-))))))))))))

[durango_60]

congrats - lookscool
with your name you gotta get a durango4x4 bumper :-))))))))))))

I actually know the guy who welds all of the durango4x4 stuff and he is probably going to use my rig to develop his bumpers.

[DaveInDenver]

Being a Yota guy I feel like a sinner but I'm going to give the Jeep a try since on paper it is the most ideal solution available in the market for my application.
Does seem like heresy, but I think too many guys take this Toyota thing to point of religion. They're just trucks afterall. Never owned a Jeep, so I'm certainly not qualified to say anything good or bad. I tend to buy a truck about once every 10 or 15 years, so I dunno that anyone cares what my opinion is anyway. It does seem to me that you're going down from an 80 to a Wrangler, even a 4 door. Just seems like it would be a lot smaller, I dunno. Probably be a better truck on harder trails, but I'm constantly amazed at the places people get their 80s and 100s.

[XXXpedition]

I actually know the guy who welds all of the durango4x4 stuff and he is probably going to use my rig to develop his bumpers.

cool. if you happen to run into george (owner) tell him i said hi...
sven

[durango_60]

So I just made my weekly call to check the status of the Heep, oops, bad habit, the Jeep and received word that it is on a rail car headed my way:exclaim: :exclaim: :exclaim:

Looks like I'll be spending the evening removing as much desert pinstriping as possible from my 80 so I can get it sold in the next two weeks.

[Jenny Cruiser]

Cool looking ride. The color isn't bad either. Did you consider the FJ?

[durango_60]

I strongly considered an FJ, 4Runner, and a Taco. The FJ didn't work due to the cavelike feeling of the backseat, which would be fine with one or two adults in the front but I think it would be cruel to stuff the kids in the back for hours upon hours if they couldn't even see out. The 4runner just added up to a whole lot more money by the time I made it as capable as an out of the box Rubicon. The Taco would probably have been the most logical choice, but it also would have required quite a bit of $$$ to be up to the task for the trails I run. In the end, the most overriding factor probably turned out to be that the top comes off!!! That being said I am leery of quality and durability issues, I've had fewer problems with my Cruisers with 180k+ on the odo than on any other new vehicle I have owned.

[durango_60]

Just got the call from the dealership, my Rubi rolled off a truck today, it should be prepped and ready for delivery tomorrow!:archaeolo

[Scott Brady]

Man, that is so exciting! :bowdown:

[kcowyo]

Just got the call from the dealership, my Rubi rolled off a truck today.........

:jumping:

I can't wait to see this thing rolling through the Maze!

[durango_60]

It's Mine:jump:

I now remember what it feels like to be a kid on Christmas morning.

[FJ Cruiser]

congratualtions, you have a great rig.

[durango_60]

I took the JK(name pending my 4 year olds final decision) out for it's first trail ride today on a local trail. This thing is absolutely amazing on the trail in stock form! The big challenge comes tomorrow night when I do a trial run packing for a camping trip, let's just say the cargo area is quite a bit smaller than either of my Land Cruisers.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/389/april07010va6.th.jpg (http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=april07010va6.jpg)

[kcowyo]

Love the color but you totally look like a 'Cruiser guy driving a Jeep. Must be a Toyota thing......:smiley_drive:

[articulate]

:drool:
If I could just go back in time and get a Rubicon . . .
Did you get the bumper yet?

[durango_60]

Did you get the bumper yet?

Nope, it's probably still 2-3 weeks away, I think Shrockworks is pretty overwhelmed with business right now.


you totally look like a 'Cruiser guy driving a Jeep

I think it must be my new hipster shades...

[RunninRubicon]

One guy has a new JK in our Jeep Group (the SOBs) that we recently went to Ansa Borrego, Calf. He crawled over everything the FJ factory team did (they needed spotters) w/o hesitation. Loved everything about it -especially the removable top. I suspect you'll begin to understand the differences Jeep offers vs. others soon enough. Our groups guy even LIKED the V-6!!:bowdown:

[durango_60]

Overall I have many likes and only a one real dislike.

My only real complaint is the plastic on the interior, I can't believe Jeep puts such cheap hard plastic in a $32k vehicle. One ride with the dog and I've got a scratch on the dash that bothers me every time I get in the vehicle.

Now for the positives. Off road in stock form this thing will easily match if not exceed the ability of my 80. The removable top is great, nothing better than running a trail with unobstructed visibility, I can't wait to take the doors off in the summer. As my daily driver I'm very impressed with the comfort level and driveability, the ride is more comfortable than my lifted cruiser. The seats are very comfortable and the fabric is very stain resistant(my daughter already spilled cranberry juice and it came up easily). Gas mileage has been very respectable, 100% in town driving and 4 hours in 4 low and I averaged 17.6 on the first tank.

That's enough rambling for now.

[durango_60]

I promised my wife that this would be a reactive build as opposed to the preemptive approach I took with my Landcruisers. After dragging the belly of this extraordinarily long wheelbased beast for a couple of months now I am ready to react. Heres my thought process for the lift.

1. stay with a modest tire size, 32"s until they wear out and 34"s max
2. I don't really need much increased load capacity since I picked up my new to me M101
3. Any extra $$ should be spent on top notch shocks


So with those being the criteria I think I'm going to go with the Rubicon Express 2" spacer kit with the upgraded Monotube Shocks(pretty sure they are rebadged bilsteins, need to make sure). I want this installed before my Maze trip so stay tuned for instant gratification.

[RunninRubicon]

Your going to have a really good combo. Lift your JK and match the trailer to you rig and you'll have enough storage room for any family adventure and then some. Can you say Expedition!
Good luck with your M101. I have a friend purchasing one in PHX, Az. We hope to get it ready for the Pyramid Lake run by the 22nd!

[Willman]

What can i say....Its a beautiful thing!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f374/nicwillman/IMG_0686.jpg

Maze trip coming soon......It's going to be a blast!

:jumping: