The best off-roader is Jeff, my 4 year old mule. Jeff can go up on any mountain, he is not scared of heights, he go in any trails, i took him in grand canyon and he loved it. Sometimes it feels like he has a locker in each of his leg. And the best part, he does not need any fuel. Just some hay and water and he is good. Only bad part is his occasional exhaust leaks.... they are smelly.
That was my Badlands Bronco and I can tell y’all the course is so much harder than he made it look. Very impressed with the TJ! Mud tires definitely helped and it was a bit dryer but I think he would have made it either way. Great driving.
@@aMotoheadsGarage my grandson cardboard box is safer.. Doesn’t pass any safety test in the world.. Look up on TH-cam.. jeep crash tests, doesn’t pass rollover, doesn’t pass front quarter panel hit.. it’s shitbox..
Always look for a TJ in a non salt state. Took me three months to locate a rust free frame with a 4.0, 3.73's and a Dana 44, but it was certainly worth it. Made the wife a bit mad because I was using her car at the time to get to work. But I would do it again, nothing like a TJ, the best Jeep ever made!
I’ve got a 2003 TJ with 160,000 miles. Runs great with no breakdowns. I off-road about four to five times per year. Otherwise it is my daily driver. My grandkids love it. They want to take the TJ everywhere, especially when I take the top off.
YES!! 2004 Rubicon TJ owner....had it since brand new. Done rock crawling and wooded trails...mud a time or two. Its simple but rock solid...19 years old with 102,000 miles on it ...love it!
Last real jeep all metal body except fender flares built to last 4.0 engine unlimited upgrades easy to worked on mine a 2005 jeep rubicon unlimited that has lots of upgrades from the mid 2000 I installed a 6in long arm full traction lift , atlas transfer case arb front bumper a rear Hanson off road bumper with spare tire carrier top basket and wrap around spare tire platform, sitting on 35x12.50x18 mickey Thompson baja mtz tires , regeared to arb 488 air lockers , a sprintec super charger , a Gavin wilderness roof rack , lots more to list this has been a 10 year build I love my jeep I'm the one that all take a second look at
As a TJ rubi owner I don’t even need to watch this to say yes they are better than new jeeps. Even back when mine was stock it our wheeled new jeeps.. now it’s on one ton axles but is still more capable than newer ones with similar setups.
Wow that is a beautiful TJ. Very tastefully done. Last real Jeep is the TJ. I own a JK and though it's never left me stranded I've spent thousands on repairs I thought I should not have had to do unfortunately almost 6k. Dreaded bad head, multiple transmission and head gasket leaks, I've had two defected oil filter housing cooler units go, I'm on my third and I torque wrench the filter cover on. I've always run my Jeep on severe duty fluid change intervals and have taken meticulous care of it. Replaced bad abs sensors. Had a collapsed brake line replaced. It's a North East daily driven Jeep and my frame looks brand new that's how well I take care and drive it. My last Jeep.
@@xavierramirez330 no they didn't. I live in the SW United States, my 30 year old piece of shit daihatsu rocky has no rust. I worked on square body Chevies here 40 years old without rust. not everybody lives in a state with water, snow, and road salting lol
I have an 06 TJR with a six speed that I bought in stock condition two years ago with 98k miles. It’s not supposed to be my daily but it is😅. Needless to say I’m obsessed with it. Mods- 4” Currie lift, 33” bfg km3’s, 15” steelies, front bumper, and warn winch.
03 -06 Rubicons are the most capable and dependable ,of the whole lineage . Had an 18 JL Rubicon ,it was the only Jeep i never kept . went back to the 03 .
Love that TJ. Let's be 100% honest here. That TJ is the LIGHTEST vehicle (excluding SxS) you had attempting that course. It had the correct tires, correct gearing and had a driver that knew their vehicle and how to drive it. Tommy's Jeep is geared for small tires and street driving, it's on pavement all-season tires and to be completely fair he does not drive like he a confident in his vehicle's capabilities. Again, the reason why the TJ passed is because it had a good driver behind the wheel, good mud-terrains and was light as a feather.
The last purist jeep. right sized. Love the TJs. It just walked the course! Here in the middle east the 4.8 stroker motors are Kings of the sand dunes. Also love how all the jeep haters just ignore videos or hush up when the jeep truly shows its place as the pinnacle of offroaders 😂
I love the tj platform and actually own an 04 tj and an 05 lj. These wheel phenomenally IF you build them properly A few things that make a world of difference: 1. 1.25” body lift so you can tuck the parts that hang down out of harms way. 2. Tummy tuck, sye, and adjustable control arms. You can gain at least 2.5” of belly clearance with an automatic and rubicon t-case and can go totally flush with the frame rails if you have a manual and 231. 3. Raise the gas tank skid (up to 1.9” with an aftermarket skid or 1.5 with a modified stock gas skid. 4. Shocks that actually match your uptravel, downtravel, bump stop placement, and lift height. And that have valving that is suitable for a lightweight tj. Sorry but monotube shocks with full size truck valving are going to ride horrible. Also uptravel should be at least 5”. These jeeps don’t need much after that to tackle seriously hard trails. I just did the rubicon in a day and a half with my tj on narrow 33s and a 2” spring lift (along with the other things I mentioned). I got a lot of looks from all sorts of people driving huge jl’s on 37s or bigger. One guy approached me to say he couldn’t believe how easy I was making it look with my little tj. Everybody is going huge with their off-road vehicles these days and they forget what a narrow track width and short wheelbase can do.
That's because most people don't know they can wheel at a high level with just a 2" lift and 32" KO2's or 32" MT's. The aftermarket has fooled ignorant off roaders for decades, shaming them who keep their rigs stock or close to it. I've met some of the most ignorant people on the trail who see my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn 4.0 on 32's with a modest 2 - 2.5" lift and are dumbfounded as to how I keep up and in a lot of cases, just outperform. Like cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the not so sharpest tools in the shed.
@@JeepTJWheelin Part of the problem too is new off-road vehicles are much wider and in a lot of cases have a much longer wheelbase, that and their frames sit closer to the ground than slightly older vehicles like our tj's. Tj's (maybe along with samurai's, yj's, cj's, and maybe fj40's) are the only vehicles I can think of that can comfortably do trails like the rubicon on 32s. There is no chance you are taking a new 4 door jl, bronco, or 4runner on 32s or 33s on the rubicon without destroying it.
@@NB-yn7dv For points you just made are the reasons I will never see these heeps from '07 - present as Jeeps. A true Jeep is a short wheel base honoring the Willys MB configuration, 2 doors, rugged utilitarian, steel and metal. I recently drove a 2022 jlu Sahara for my job. And that was an absolute pos soccer mom suv with more techno bs than a 747. Just a fugly goofy heep, and making it worse was the hardtop. It was super uncomfortable, my neck was killing me with that head rest that juts out, I hate these things! If you're going to dole out $40k - $75k on one of these heeps, just get a luxury grand Cherokee Overland, these were meant to be 4 doors and have every creature comfort of home. You see these 4 dr heeps cocooning its passengers and know full well that interior will never see sunlight and that it sure as shit won't see any off road dirt and mud. It's all pansy look at me nonsense.
Also got a 2000 tj, I’ve got the same exact tires as the guy in the video and they’re totally worth it. Before I stopped driving my jeep in the winter those tires would make a snow covered icy road seam like it was a normal summer day. There was many times I’d be going 55 not realizing the roads were glare ice until I seen cars in the ditch.
If you are thinking of buying a TJ, you definitely want to get the Rubicon version! It not only came with factory lockers, but also Dana 44 axles which are at least twice as strong as the Dana 35's that came in the other trims. The Rubicon also came with a 4 to1 low range transfer case verses I believe a 3:70 to 1 in the other versions.
I had a TJ for awhile and actually went through the “should I swap axles, etc “ thing. The rubicon 44’s are thirty spline with 8.5 in ring tears compared to the 7.5” ring gear in the Dana 35 and a 27 spline rear shafts. The 44 also has disk brakes compared to the 35’s drum brakes. However, the Dana 35 can be upgraded to 30 spline and disk brakes and have better clearance than a Dana 44 and run up to 35 inch tires with a locker. Same goes for the front Dana 30. The tube stock for the Dana 44 is the same as a Dana 30 in a TJ rubicon. The transfer case gearing is 2.72 instead of 4 to 1 (gear driven) in the rubicon. However, some say 4 to 1 is too low for many applications. Anyway, just fun tid bits, any TJ is a good TJ.
@@beartoomud1 That's why I prefer 3.73's w/ limited slip on my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn. Air down, put it in 4•Hi, and occasionally 4•Lo and she climbs amazingly making this TJ an off road animal. I've never once felt the need for lockers but they do offer some peace of mind / reassurance.
@@brycerussell6661 agreed, I’ve build my tj sport to be probably just as capable with less money than I would’ve spent on a rubicon. Not saying his build isn’t awesome but rubicon’s are not cheap
Nice rig. I'm fortunate to find a 05 Rubicon with 98,000 miles on it myself. Pretty stock and rust free Texas-Arizona jeep. It's amazing in 2 wheel drive let alone 4 wheel low without the lockers on. Lockers just make it pretty much invincible.
TJ and LJ are the last real Jeeps. After that they started doing crazy things to the interior. Bigger exterior dimensions for the JK. Just makes them feel less like work horses, and more like a status symbol.
The little TJ is pretty much the best Jeep. Here's why: - last of the jeeps with the leaky but ol' faithful AMC i4 and i6 engines - coils, not leafs, on all four corners - simple to maintain and work on, before Big Gov and the EPA mandated more eco crap - they're still "small" and practical for parking and trails (new ones are larger) - aftermarket galore, OEM parts easy to find I respect the newer jeeps for how much more advanced and comfortable they are. Evolution is a must in the industry, and whiners who complain about electronics, new engines, etc live in La-La Land. But nothing makes me smile like my little '97 with 4 squirrels under the hood 😊
I had a ‘98 TJ 4cyl/5sp SE that I sold in ‘08 when the kids came along. Now I have an ‘18 JLU Sport 6cyl/6sp, and it is indeed practical, but I really loved my old TJ & regret selling it!
@@JeepTJWheelin i think a lot of people will be say the same about the jl in 20 years . the 3.6 is still pretty simple compared to the bronco. more emission are coming.
One of my most favorite wranglers ever. It is the last that looks like a jeep to me. The ones after this look more and more like an SUV with a slotted grill.
This was great. That TJ made this look easy. You guys need to get an XJ on this course. Nothing crazy but something with good tires, a 2-3" lift, and a rear LSD or locker. I don't think it would do nearly as well as the TJ but it would be fun to watch.
My experience with a TJ has been great, put a lot of work into it. At 12.8 mpg highway with the top down, it's not the daily but it gets the job done getting me wherever I want to go
Less is more, those are very tasteful mods. Clean and mean at the same time. I've always been a Bronco fan and diehard Ford guy but I would love to have that rig in my stable. Great job young man! And to your dad for all the labor put into it, bravo 👏 🙌 👍
Less is certainly more. I see far too many here on YT and most everywhere I go are these fugly 4 dr unnecessarily, overbuilt bus heeps. From Trail Recon to hundreds like him. These people are either ignorant and / or are aftermarket pushers. The worst is Brad from trail•recon who refers to his wife and son's 2 dr TJ and JL as "little" Jeeps. This shows his ignorance, from someone who needs a fugly 4 dr heep with every home creature comfort, absolutely asinine. My favorite Jeep is my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn but I also love the CJ-7 Laredo and CJ-8 Scrambler. Definitely the best Jeeps in my book.
I've always rooted for the sleeper. If you can make a stock audio system sound great while still making it look like a stock audio system, it's the best of both worlds, to me. And you can do a LOT with good speakers and even more with hidden amps with a basic head unit.
My dream jeep! A 2006 LJ Rubicon in silver with the 4 litre and the one year only 6 SPD manual!!! Almost bought one in 2006. Kicked myself ever since. Owned two MJ Comanches. And a 94 Cherokee Sport 2dr with a 5 SPD! Real tire burner. Great channel guys.
Those tyres make such a huge different in a little car like a TJ too, they have excellent tread and the first moment of traction they have they're doing the work that the TJ still makes an easy job of ... great video
I wasn't sure if the jeep life was for me, and wanted a new wrangler, so I decided to buy a TJ as a test run since it was 9k vs 40k. Well now I'm in love with the thing and can't justify letting it go.
Truly and amazing Jeep! Arguably one of the best Wranglers ever...the other being that 392 Wrangler. Just a beautiful machine! Thanks for making this video and sharing.
TJs are just unstoppable. I had an 06 X , that I bought new, for cheap because the O7 Jks were coming out and the dealer was trying to get the old rigs off the lot. in-line six with the 6 speed , threw 31 mud terrains with steelies on it and never got it stuck, and I tried. I miss that ride so much.
Good off road instincts and common sense with a modest 2" lift and 33" MT's. This is someone who is wise. Most people don't know they can wheel at a high level with just a 2" lift and 32" KO2's or 32" MT's. The aftermarket has fooled ignorant off roaders for decades, shaming them who keep their rigs stock or close to it. I've met some of the most ignorant people on the trail who see my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn 4.0 on 32's with a modest 2 - 2.5" lift and are dumbfounded as to how I keep up and in a lot of cases, just outperform. Like cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the not so sharpest tools in the shed.
As a ‘85 baby I grew up with the CJ and YJ, but the TJ will always be the superhero of off-road Jeeps to me. Had a 2003 & 2005 Rubicon and they simply never failed me no matter what Michigan could throw at them.
@@carsonwalch47 I’m sure many heavily modded rigs are but that rig and mine is probably a 15mpg I’m. Aware of lots of highly modded rigs do a lot less using 38s 40 s and obviously less on the trail , it’s a different world in the US I really don’t know how they afford to spend 20/40k modding them and the running costs . There weekend outing is probably my entire fuel budget for a month
I had a new '04 Rubicon, I took it on the actual Rubicon totally stock but it came out looking underneath like it had been dragged down the road with no wheels. I still miss that Jeep.
I had a tj i high school and built it up myself at 16 (I took a couple of mechanic classes in high school to learn) sold it when I went to college and regretted it. After I graduated I went and bought an LJ and currently building it
Very cool rig and review! I get that good condition TJs are becoming rather pricey, but you still get a lot of capability for your money with one of these things if offroading is your thing. And especially when you consider that some SxSs are in the same ballpark in terms of price.
I have a 2006 rubicon. I painted the top of the hard top white. HUGE drop in temps and much more comfortable. She gets an additional 1 mpg also. I suppose the air conditioning components will last longer as well.
The TJ's/XJ's with the 4.0L Six were the best of the modern-era Jeeps. I had a '98 XJ with a 3" lift, 31" tires, and locker rear differential that nearly unstoppable off-road. I thought about adding a Torsen limited slip front differential, but never did. I sold the XJ about a year ago, as I relocated where I just didn't need an "all-out" 4WD enough to justify keeping it. My only criticism of the 4.0L is that it drinks fuel off-roading. In hardcore off-roading it would only manage about 8-9 mpg. That is more than compensated by the fact the 4.0L can easily run 300K miles without any major work if it gets good routine maintenance. The weak spot of all Jeeps is the electrical system--on my XJ, I had to replace almost every electrical component on it (gauge cluster, wiper motors, heater motor, HVAC control, wiper switch, headlight switch, turn signal switch) at least once during the time I owned it. As vehicles have gotten more electrically and electronically complex over the years, that is probably why Jeep reliability has sunk to near the bottom in reliability rankings.
Had an '06 Jeep Liberty Renegade. Put 31" Duratracs on it and that little KJ was an animal in the upstate NY snow and mud. Miss that ole KJ but much prefer my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn 4.0
That’s a great Jeep! I miss my 2000 TJ often. However to answer the question in the title based on long term real world experience… I’ve owned 3 TJs (including a 2004 Rubicon), 2 JKs, and now a JL. The new Jeeps are definitely better on road and yes, even off-road in stock form. There is some benefit from the width of the TJ, but as an owner of all three, capability goes JL then JK then TJ. That’s talking stock as you can make any model better than another with mods. About engine reliability. I love the 4.0L, and it goes, but I’ve found the 3.6L to be just as reliable as my 4.0Ls. The 3.6L is more fun as a daily, but I’d give a nod to the 4.0L off-road. TFL, have you taken a stock JL Rubicon on your course?
Your assessment appears to fit my own. The 3.6 and the ZF automatic are as reliable as anything out there. As a 4 Runner owner (don't hate) I would take a 3.6 and the 8-speed ZF along with the 4.0 and a five-speed in the runner. My Son-in-law has two jeeps and no issues. Tons of fun (one is a built ZJ thing is a mountain goat)
I like your channel's content and the Rubicon 2 dr JL, certainly better than the JK. But, time will tell, my money is on the 4.0 I6 to outlast any '07 - present jeep. Sorry, but I'm not a fan of all the techo, fluff bells and whistles of these last two generations.
@@JeepTJWheelin Thanks! I agree with that about the electric additions. The TJ definitely doesn’t have all the electronic issues which is a big potential risk with newer Jeeps. Still, mine is ordered fairly basic and my JK had similar electronics. The JK’s electronics were solid for ten years with countless water crossings so I’m hopeful for the JL.
That sounded like a nice rig. There's nothing wrong with being a good dad man. You did it for the family, that's the best reason to get rid of a beloved vehicle.
How awesome--I have a 2003 Inaugural Edition Jeep Rubicon I ordered in late 2002 while deployed overseas flying Air Force combat missions in Afghanistan shortly after 9/11. As of Nov 2023, she still sits in my garage with 49,000 miles on her nearly 21 years later. Like your beautiful black Rubicon, my Bright Silver metallic is nearly flawless with a frame and body that looks like it came off the factory floor--albeit with many modifications but retaining the stock look. I am currently building her from a rock crawler into an overlander. Loved watching this video and totally agree the 1st-generation Jeep TJ Rubicon is as capable as any Jeep JK, JL or Gladiator--just not quite as fast as the Rubicon 392--LOL!! Speaking of Rubicon 392, I would never trade my TJ Rubicon for any other Jeep except...., maybe a new Rubicon 392 ($100K).
The whole stereo argument becomes moot when the aftermarket has evolved. Especially with the tablet variants having the panels to exactly match what was there previously, without having to hack up wiring harnesses either.
Just a modest 2" lift with 33" MT's. So many ignorant people have been fooled by the aftermarket pushers who shame people who keep their rigs stock or close to it. Like the cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the not so sharpest tools in the shed.
My grandfather has an 04 TJ X edition with the same interior as this rubi, and those seats with that cloth on them are a dream to sit on for what they are. in my opinion i find them comfortable and was surprised to see it on this one bc its a fairly rare upholstery to get on a TJ.
In my family, we’ve had almost every Jeep variant; m38, cj2a, cj3a, cj5, 4 and 6 cylinder yj’s, tj x and tj rubicon, jk and jl, and hands down the TJ has the least shortcomings of them all. With the coil springs it has decent road manners but loses no off road ability. Yes the antique ones are amazing, but get to 40mph and things are just plain hairy. The YJs are a ton of fun but have the ride of an empty dump truck. And the JK (3.8)and the JL (3.6) both behave fine on the road, but have no low end torque whatsoever compared to the effortless lug of the 4.0. I hope once my kids are grown up and moved out I can find a nice LJ for a forever car.
@@graemejohnson9025 Actually. It's the opposite - cars get good crash safety data by having good crumple zones. Just like a cardboard box would crumple. The TJ won't crumple. You don't want an offroader to 'crumple'... if you think you're likely to impact a solid immovable concrete barrier then sure - the TJ is bad - but for offroad where you're likely to hit stuff at low speeds the last thing you want is expensive panel damage. Moreover if in an accident you're likely for it to involve a vehicle with those precious crumple zones so they absorb the impact - negating the impact you feel (as opposed to a solid wall of concrete). I mean sure - you could wrap yourself in cotton wool, never leave the house, and get home delivery for food, but that's no way to live a life.
To me the best off roader is my 2020 Yamaha tw200. If you have ever wheeled off road in Colorado you know generally speaking the higher you go up, the more narrow the trail gets. It doesn't matter how big your tires are and how much lift you have you're probably not going over 40ft trees.
Cool TJ. Just priced out a new JL, less the Rubi. for comparison at around $45k. Great weekend, off-road fun vehicles, still priced reasonable. 🚗 🇺🇸😎 Nice video.
I have a 1995 YJ 2.5 with modified seat to get my head inside roolcage, looking at JK or TJ main consideration is fitting myself in and seating for wife and pups.
I ordered my '03 Rubicon from the factory with all options except an automatic. That thing can scare me for where it can go. It has done the Rubicon trail twice, first time was solo and the second was a Jeepers Jamboree (recommend doing at least one). I like the fact that the brakes have no anti-lock electronic junk; I am an old man so locked wheels immediately cause my foot to start feathering the brake pedal. At 105k miles it has had a vew issues such as a brain box failure--the firewall above the battery is no place for a brain box. I had 2 heater core failures and finally went with an all-brass heater core (brassworks) that puts out a little less heat but shouldn't rupture like the aluminum-plastic ones do; hint: use the roll cage and a strap to pull the dash up and away without removing the steering wheel to access the heater-A/C box. Great all=wheel disk brakes. I get about 15-16 mpg. I run Marvel Mystery Oil for 2 tanks when the engine starts to slightly miss, no codes, and look at TSB 09-003-03 for this.
There is less electronics to go wrong with a TJ than with a JK/JL, the windshield frame folds easier than on a JK, tires were cheaper for factory (non-Rubicon) 15" wheels, and TJs can fit in tighter places. They had their issues though, like the dash not liking being left in the rain...or the possible death-wobble from Jeep's trackbar-dependent, coil-sprung solid-axle, untriangulated linkage design. Their fuel mileage was typically pretty poor too. I don't believe they were ever offered with TCS or VSC, but ABS and disc brakes were offered with some later models. A TJ with lockers can flex enough to be a ridiculously capable rockcrawler, compared to most other factory vehicles. They're considerably more comfortable than the older leafsprung Jeeps. 35s can fit a TJ without any suspension lift, and skinny 33s can fit a stock-suspension TJ pretty easily for a low-COG rig.
A TJ Rubi will also be from 500 - 700 lbs lighter than a comparable JK which could mean a lot on a trail like this. Then add another 350lbs for the JL Rubi. Heck, Tommy’s Willys 2 door might be 850 lbs heavier than a stock TJ Rubi, which could have made the difference between completing this course on its own rather than having to be yanked out.
The best off-roader is Jeff, my 4 year old mule. Jeff can go up on any mountain, he is not scared of heights, he go in any trails, i took him in grand canyon and he loved it. Sometimes it feels like he has a locker in each of his leg. And the best part, he does not need any fuel. Just some hay and water and he is good. Only bad part is his occasional exhaust leaks.... they are smelly.
Bring Jeff to Tumbleweed!
Jeff can’t be defeated
Is Jeff near ZERO EMISSION certified???
Is it possible to take your own mule down to phantom ranch in the bottom of the canyon ? Or do you need a permit ?
😄🤣
I'm a TJ owner. Long been wanting to see a TJ take on Tumbleweed, so fun to see one blow thru it with ease. Nicely done!
88i88u7
Dang. That's an amazing dad to do all that for his son. Hopefully it was a nice son and father project. Congratulations on the jeep
Fr. My dad tricked me into selling my tj for a s2k and kept all the money
That was my Badlands Bronco and I can tell y’all the course is so much harder than he made it look. Very impressed with the TJ! Mud tires definitely helped and it was a bit dryer but I think he would have made it either way. Great driving.
Just don't run into anything ever.. it has a Zero out Five, ANCAP Safety Rating.. its death on wheels..
LOL
@@graemejohnson9025 😬😬😬 is it really that bad?
@@aMotoheadsGarage my grandson cardboard box is safer..
Doesn’t pass any safety test in the world..
Look up on TH-cam.. jeep crash tests, doesn’t pass rollover, doesn’t pass front quarter panel hit.. it’s shitbox..
@@graemejohnson9025 Yeah best used strictly for offroad fun.
Love these things. I had a '01 TJ and now have a '04 LJ (Non-Rubi). These Jeeps will last forever, as long as they don't rust away first! 😄
Always look for a TJ in a non salt state. Took me three months to locate a rust free frame with a 4.0, 3.73's and a Dana 44, but it was certainly worth it. Made the wife a bit mad because I was using her car at the time to get to work. But I would do it again, nothing like a TJ, the best Jeep ever made!
I have a 98 TJ that I recently bought and started learning to repair. I’m glad I got it and will never get rid of it. It’s also a Black one.
Tim, awesome color too. What have you done on it so far?
I’ve got a 2003 TJ with 160,000 miles. Runs great with no breakdowns. I off-road about four to five times per year. Otherwise it is my daily driver. My grandkids love it. They want to take the TJ everywhere, especially when I take the top off.
YES!! 2004 Rubicon TJ owner....had it since brand new. Done rock crawling and wooded trails...mud a time or two. Its simple but rock solid...19 years old with 102,000 miles on it ...love it!
My 98 Cherokee has 310k - runs GREAT!
I just purchased a stock manual 06 TJ Rubicon. Your video makes me glad I bought it.
That's a great buy. You just cant find many of the TJ rubi's so its a keeper for sure!
Last real jeep all metal body except fender flares built to last 4.0 engine unlimited upgrades easy to worked on mine a 2005 jeep rubicon unlimited that has lots of upgrades from the mid 2000 I installed a 6in long arm full traction lift , atlas transfer case arb front bumper a rear Hanson off road bumper with spare tire carrier top basket and wrap around spare tire platform, sitting on 35x12.50x18 mickey Thompson baja mtz tires , regeared to arb 488 air lockers , a sprintec super charger , a Gavin wilderness roof rack , lots more to list this has been a 10 year build I love my jeep I'm the one that all take a second look at
That TJ looks just right. Handled the course well and I love seeing it being used for it's intended purpose and kept so well preserved. Beautiful
As a TJ rubi owner I don’t even need to watch this to say yes they are better than new jeeps. Even back when mine was stock it our wheeled new jeeps.. now it’s on one ton axles but is still more capable than newer ones with similar setups.
Wow that is a beautiful TJ. Very tastefully done. Last real Jeep is the TJ. I own a JK and though it's never left me stranded I've spent thousands on repairs I thought I should not have had to do unfortunately almost 6k. Dreaded bad head, multiple transmission and head gasket leaks, I've had two defected oil filter housing cooler units go, I'm on my third and I torque wrench the filter cover on. I've always run my Jeep on severe duty fluid change intervals and have taken meticulous care of it. Replaced bad abs sensors. Had a collapsed brake line replaced. It's a North East daily driven Jeep and my frame looks brand new that's how well I take care and drive it. My last Jeep.
The frame on this JEEP looks immaculate. Some new vehicles have more rust than this one. This JEEP ate up the course like a champ.
Yeah they restored the chasis so it would look like new
@@xavierramirez330 no they didn't. I live in the SW United States, my 30 year old piece of shit daihatsu rocky has no rust.
I worked on square body Chevies here 40 years old without rust.
not everybody lives in a state with water, snow, and road salting lol
I have an 06 TJR with a six speed that I bought in stock condition two years ago with 98k miles. It’s not supposed to be my daily but it is😅. Needless to say I’m obsessed with it.
Mods- 4” Currie lift, 33” bfg km3’s, 15” steelies, front bumper, and warn winch.
Beautiful Rubicon..... Dillon's offroading skills are on point as well.
This Jeep looks MINT! Also I hate angry eyes too! I’m glad that dumb “mod” gets called out.
03 -06 Rubicons are the most capable and dependable ,of the whole lineage . Had an 18 JL Rubicon ,it was the only Jeep i never kept . went back to the 03 .
Love that TJ.
Let's be 100% honest here. That TJ is the LIGHTEST vehicle (excluding SxS) you had attempting that course. It had the correct tires, correct gearing and had a driver that knew their vehicle and how to drive it. Tommy's Jeep is geared for small tires and street driving, it's on pavement all-season tires and to be completely fair he does not drive like he a confident in his vehicle's capabilities. Again, the reason why the TJ passed is because it had a good driver behind the wheel, good mud-terrains and was light as a feather.
Tommys Jeep has mud tires
Jeeps haven't been this good since honestly. One of my all time fave vehicles.
Glad to say I helped restore this as the painter and glad his dad introduced me to 4-whelling.
@Toasty thank ya
The last purist jeep. right sized. Love the TJs. It just walked the course!
Here in the middle east the 4.8 stroker motors are Kings of the sand dunes.
Also love how all the jeep haters just ignore videos or hush up when the jeep truly shows its place as the pinnacle of offroaders 😂
I thought Jeeps were overrated until I started running real trails and saw what they could do easily.
That’s my good friend! He’s got an awesome Rubicon and some kickass off-roading skills
I love the tj platform and actually own an 04 tj and an 05 lj. These wheel phenomenally IF you build them properly A few things that make a world of difference:
1. 1.25” body lift so you can tuck the parts that hang down out of harms way.
2. Tummy tuck, sye, and adjustable control arms. You can gain at least 2.5” of belly clearance with an automatic and rubicon t-case and can go totally flush with the frame rails if you have a manual and 231.
3. Raise the gas tank skid (up to 1.9” with an aftermarket skid or 1.5 with a modified stock gas skid.
4. Shocks that actually match your uptravel, downtravel, bump stop placement, and lift height. And that have valving that is suitable for a lightweight tj. Sorry but monotube shocks with full size truck valving are going to ride horrible. Also uptravel should be at least 5”.
These jeeps don’t need much after that to tackle seriously hard trails. I just did the rubicon in a day and a half with my tj on narrow 33s and a 2” spring lift (along with the other things I mentioned). I got a lot of looks from all sorts of people driving huge jl’s on 37s or bigger. One guy approached me to say he couldn’t believe how easy I was making it look with my little tj. Everybody is going huge with their off-road vehicles these days and they forget what a narrow track width and short wheelbase can do.
That's because most people don't know they can wheel at a high level with just a 2" lift and 32" KO2's or 32" MT's.
The aftermarket has fooled ignorant off roaders for decades, shaming them who keep their rigs stock or close to it. I've met some of the most ignorant people on the trail who see my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn 4.0 on 32's with a modest 2 - 2.5" lift and are dumbfounded as to how I keep up and in a lot of cases, just outperform.
Like cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the not so sharpest tools in the shed.
@@JeepTJWheelin Part of the problem too is new off-road vehicles are much wider and in a lot of cases have a much longer wheelbase, that and their frames sit closer to the ground than slightly older vehicles like our tj's. Tj's (maybe along with samurai's, yj's, cj's, and maybe fj40's) are the only vehicles I can think of that can comfortably do trails like the rubicon on 32s. There is no chance you are taking a new 4 door jl, bronco, or 4runner on 32s or 33s on the rubicon without destroying it.
@@NB-yn7dv For points you just made are the reasons I will never see these heeps from '07 - present as Jeeps.
A true Jeep is a short wheel base honoring the Willys MB configuration, 2 doors, rugged utilitarian, steel and metal.
I recently drove a 2022 jlu Sahara for my job. And that was an absolute pos soccer mom suv with more techno bs than a 747. Just a fugly goofy heep, and making it worse was the hardtop. It was super uncomfortable, my neck was killing me with that head rest that juts out, I hate these things! If you're going to dole out $40k - $75k on one of these heeps, just get a luxury grand Cherokee Overland, these were meant to be 4 doors and have every creature comfort of home. You see these 4 dr heeps cocooning its passengers and know full well that interior will never see sunlight and that it sure as shit won't see any off road dirt and mud. It's all pansy look at me nonsense.
Every time I see one of these videos, it inspires me to finish my own offroad build. Maybe one day Ill see it on here!
209K on my 2000 TJ with the 5spd. It's a keeper. My takeaway from the video is that i need the MTs. Nice.
Also got a 2000 tj, I’ve got the same exact tires as the guy in the video and they’re totally worth it. Before I stopped driving my jeep in the winter those tires would make a snow covered icy road seam like it was a normal summer day. There was many times I’d be going 55 not realizing the roads were glare ice until I seen cars in the ditch.
194k on my 1999 TJ. I need those tires also.
We've had our 05 LJR since new and won't get rid of it. Been the most reliable and the funnest vehicle we've owned.
Man, that thing just walked the course and barely got dirty. Good looking Jeep...not some over the top mall crawler. Nice driving too!
If you are thinking of buying a TJ, you definitely want to get the Rubicon version!
It not only came with factory lockers, but also Dana 44 axles which are at least twice as strong as the Dana 35's that came in the other trims. The Rubicon also came with a 4 to1 low range transfer case verses I believe a 3:70 to 1 in the other versions.
I had a TJ for awhile and actually went through the “should I swap axles, etc “ thing. The rubicon 44’s are thirty spline with 8.5 in ring tears compared to the 7.5” ring gear in the Dana 35 and a 27 spline rear shafts. The 44 also has disk brakes compared to the 35’s drum brakes. However, the Dana 35 can be upgraded to 30 spline and disk brakes and have better clearance than a Dana 44 and run up to 35 inch tires with a locker. Same goes for the front Dana 30. The tube stock for the Dana 44 is the same as a Dana 30 in a TJ rubicon. The transfer case gearing is 2.72 instead of 4 to 1 (gear driven) in the rubicon. However, some say 4 to 1 is too low for many applications. Anyway, just fun tid bits, any TJ is a good TJ.
@@beartoomud1 That's why I prefer 3.73's w/ limited slip on my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn. Air down, put it in 4•Hi, and occasionally 4•Lo and she climbs amazingly making this TJ an off road animal.
I've never once felt the need for lockers but they do offer some peace of mind / reassurance.
For the money to buy a nice rubicon, you could build a Sahara or sport to be better, and have money left over
@@brycerussell6661 agreed, I’ve build my tj sport to be probably just as capable with less money than I would’ve spent on a rubicon. Not saying his build isn’t awesome but rubicon’s are not cheap
@@carsonwalch47 for sure. I won’t say I wouldn’t prefer a rubicon, but makes no sense to spend the money on one unless you wanted a stock rig
I have to say that this is the absolute PERFECT jeep if there ever has been one. Gorgeous truck!👊🇺🇸
Great Jeep and great driving. The best part is that you and your dad share a great passion.
Nice rig. I'm fortunate to find a 05 Rubicon with 98,000 miles on it myself. Pretty stock and rust free Texas-Arizona jeep. It's amazing in 2 wheel drive let alone 4 wheel low without the lockers on. Lockers just make it pretty much invincible.
Yeah thats a find as they are not east to find anymore. Keeper for sure! I hope you are enjoying it!!
TJ and LJ are the last real Jeeps. After that they started doing crazy things to the interior. Bigger exterior dimensions for the JK. Just makes them feel less like work horses, and more like a status symbol.
Agree
The little TJ is pretty much the best Jeep. Here's why:
- last of the jeeps with the leaky but ol' faithful AMC i4 and i6 engines
- coils, not leafs, on all four corners
- simple to maintain and work on, before Big Gov and the EPA mandated more eco crap
- they're still "small" and practical for parking and trails (new ones are larger)
- aftermarket galore, OEM parts easy to find
I respect the newer jeeps for how much more advanced and comfortable they are. Evolution is a must in the industry, and whiners who complain about electronics, new engines, etc live in La-La Land.
But nothing makes me smile like my little '97 with 4 squirrels under the hood 😊
I had a ‘98 TJ 4cyl/5sp SE that I sold in ‘08 when the kids came along. Now I have an ‘18 JLU Sport 6cyl/6sp, and it is indeed practical, but I really loved my old TJ & regret selling it!
sorry but the 95 yj straight 6 manual is the unicorn...best of the best
@@PiterGuzzy7 Whatever we have in our garages or driveway is the best, right? 😄
@@JeepTJWheelin i think a lot of people will be say the same about the jl in 20 years . the 3.6 is still pretty simple compared to the bronco. more emission are coming.
@@PiterGuzzy7
Haha, not a fan of squared lights and leaf springs, but ok 😉
Awesome! I had a 2001 Sahara 4.0 with 5 speed. Loved it.
One of my most favorite wranglers ever. It is the last that looks like a jeep to me. The ones after this look more and more like an SUV with a slotted grill.
I have a 97 TJ stock, 4.0 Auto, 117K, unmolested. Going for that 2" 33 route. Needs a paint job. Love this market but would never sell. Good vid.
Might buy one tomorrow if its in as good condition as it seems online
This was great. That TJ made this look easy.
You guys need to get an XJ on this course. Nothing crazy but something with good tires, a 2-3" lift, and a rear LSD or locker. I don't think it would do nearly as well as the TJ but it would be fun to watch.
My experience with a TJ has been great, put a lot of work into it. At 12.8 mpg highway with the top down, it's not the daily but it gets the job done getting me wherever I want to go
Less is more, those are very tasteful mods. Clean and mean at the same time. I've always been a Bronco fan and diehard Ford guy but I would love to have that rig in my stable. Great job young man! And to your dad for all the labor put into it, bravo 👏 🙌 👍
Less is certainly more. I see far too many here on YT and most everywhere I go are these fugly 4 dr unnecessarily, overbuilt bus heeps. From Trail Recon to hundreds like him. These people are either ignorant and / or are aftermarket pushers. The worst is Brad from trail•recon who refers to his wife and son's 2 dr TJ and JL as "little" Jeeps. This shows his ignorance, from someone who needs a fugly 4 dr heep with every home creature comfort, absolutely asinine.
My favorite Jeep is my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn but I also love the CJ-7 Laredo and CJ-8 Scrambler. Definitely the best Jeeps in my book.
I've always rooted for the sleeper. If you can make a stock audio system sound great while still making it look like a stock audio system, it's the best of both worlds, to me. And you can do a LOT with good speakers and even more with hidden amps with a basic head unit.
My dream jeep! A 2006 LJ Rubicon in silver with the 4 litre and the one year only 6 SPD manual!!! Almost bought one in 2006. Kicked myself ever since. Owned two MJ Comanches. And a 94 Cherokee Sport 2dr with a 5 SPD! Real tire burner. Great channel guys.
Those tyres make such a huge different in a little car like a TJ too, they have excellent tread and the first moment of traction they have they're doing the work that the TJ still makes an easy job of ... great video
I wasn't sure if the jeep life was for me, and wanted a new wrangler, so I decided to buy a TJ as a test run since it was 9k vs 40k. Well now I'm in love with the thing and can't justify letting it go.
This TJ Rubicon vs Tommys's Willys would be one fun video
Still miss my old 98 TJ wrangler, had a 4cyl and a 5 speed but on 33s and a 4 inch lift it was killer.
Truly and amazing Jeep! Arguably one of the best Wranglers ever...the other being that 392 Wrangler. Just a beautiful machine! Thanks for making this video and sharing.
I have an 06 TJ-R in very similar condition to this one and I’ve had someone stop me before to thank me for not over-doing the mods. Great looking TJ.
Yes! The answer is yes!
It's lighter, simpler, inline 6, Dana 44s, and 4:1 low! In my opinion the Lj Rubicon is the best jeep ever built
TJs are just unstoppable. I had an 06 X , that I bought new, for cheap because the O7 Jks were coming out and the dealer was trying to get the old rigs off the lot. in-line six with the 6 speed , threw 31 mud terrains with steelies on it and never got it stuck, and I tried. I miss that ride so much.
Dude had pretty good driving skills. Kept his pace up.
Good off road instincts and common sense with a modest 2" lift and 33" MT's. This is someone who is wise.
Most people don't know they can wheel at a high level with just a 2" lift and 32" KO2's or 32" MT's.
The aftermarket has fooled ignorant off roaders for decades, shaming them who keep their rigs stock or close to it. I've met some of the most ignorant people on the trail who see my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn 4.0 on 32's with a modest 2 - 2.5" lift and are dumbfounded as to how I keep up and in a lot of cases, just outperform.
Like cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the not so sharpest tools in the shed.
As a ‘85 baby I grew up with the CJ and YJ, but the TJ will always be the superhero of off-road Jeeps to me. Had a 2003 & 2005 Rubicon and they simply never failed me no matter what Michigan could throw at them.
I have a 98 TJ and a 2022 JL rubicon. Both are great for their own reasons, and both will get the job done Offroad
Great job young man!! Case said it best but perfect mods, not over done, great fit, great look and still great off road!
Nice job , I miss my TJ was a 2002 grizzly had a similar stance with a 2 inch lift , sold it 2010 but I don’t miss 15mpg
Lol 15? Most people I’ve heard from and myself included would love if my jeep got 15
@@carsonwalch47 I’m sure many heavily modded rigs are but that rig and mine is probably a 15mpg I’m. Aware of lots of highly modded rigs do a lot less using 38s 40 s and obviously less on the trail , it’s a different world in the US I really don’t know how they afford to spend 20/40k modding them and the running costs . There weekend outing is probably my entire fuel budget for a month
Have a good day everyone..
I had a new '04 Rubicon, I took it on the actual Rubicon totally stock but it came out looking underneath like it had been dragged down the road with no wheels. I still miss that Jeep.
Great interview, Case. Sometimes I feel like Roman goes a little fast, while this felt like a really great q&a.
I had a tj i high school and built it up myself at 16 (I took a couple of mechanic classes in high school to learn) sold it when I went to college and regretted it. After I graduated I went and bought an LJ and currently building it
@SpooxyCowboy1911:
Try to get a TJ if you can. 🥺
Very cool rig and review! I get that good condition TJs are becoming rather pricey, but you still get a lot of capability for your money with one of these things if offroading is your thing. And especially when you consider that some SxSs are in the same ballpark in terms of price.
I have a 2006 rubicon. I painted the top of the hard top white. HUGE drop in temps and much more comfortable. She gets an additional 1 mpg also. I suppose the air conditioning components will last longer as well.
The TJ's/XJ's with the 4.0L Six were the best of the modern-era Jeeps. I had a '98 XJ with a 3" lift, 31" tires, and locker rear differential that nearly unstoppable off-road. I thought about adding a Torsen limited slip front differential, but never did. I sold the XJ about a year ago, as I relocated where I just didn't need an "all-out" 4WD enough to justify keeping it. My only criticism of the 4.0L is that it drinks fuel off-roading. In hardcore off-roading it would only manage about 8-9 mpg. That is more than compensated by the fact the 4.0L can easily run 300K miles without any major work if it gets good routine maintenance. The weak spot of all Jeeps is the electrical system--on my XJ, I had to replace almost every electrical component on it (gauge cluster, wiper motors, heater motor, HVAC control, wiper switch, headlight switch, turn signal switch) at least once during the time I owned it. As vehicles have gotten more electrically and electronically complex over the years, that is probably why Jeep reliability has sunk to near the bottom in reliability rankings.
Had an '06 Jeep Liberty Renegade. Put 31" Duratracs on it and that little KJ was an animal in the upstate NY snow and mud. Miss that ole KJ but much prefer my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn 4.0
Awesome and beautiful TJ! Great father and son project. Congratulations!
That’s a great Jeep! I miss my 2000 TJ often. However to answer the question in the title based on long term real world experience… I’ve owned 3 TJs (including a 2004 Rubicon), 2 JKs, and now a JL. The new Jeeps are definitely better on road and yes, even off-road in stock form. There is some benefit from the width of the TJ, but as an owner of all three, capability goes JL then JK then TJ. That’s talking stock as you can make any model better than another with mods. About engine reliability. I love the 4.0L, and it goes, but I’ve found the 3.6L to be just as reliable as my 4.0Ls. The 3.6L is more fun as a daily, but I’d give a nod to the 4.0L off-road. TFL, have you taken a stock JL Rubicon on your course?
Your assessment appears to fit my own.
The 3.6 and the ZF automatic are as reliable as anything out there. As a 4 Runner owner (don't hate) I would take a 3.6 and the 8-speed ZF along with the 4.0 and a five-speed in the runner.
My Son-in-law has two jeeps and no issues. Tons of fun (one is a built ZJ thing is a mountain goat)
@@stout_tossme7541 very cool!
I like your channel's content and the Rubicon 2 dr JL, certainly better than the JK. But, time will tell, my money is on the 4.0 I6 to outlast any '07 - present jeep. Sorry, but I'm not a fan of all the techo, fluff bells and whistles of these last two generations.
@@JeepTJWheelin Thanks! I agree with that about the electric additions. The TJ definitely doesn’t have all the electronic issues which is a big potential risk with newer Jeeps. Still, mine is ordered fairly basic and my JK had similar electronics. The JK’s electronics were solid for ten years with countless water crossings so I’m hopeful for the JL.
I had a 2002 with a 4.0L and a manual trans with 3.73s. It was a blast to drive and I had to sell it when our family grew from 4 to 5 😭
That sounded like a nice rig. There's nothing wrong with being a good dad man. You did it for the family, that's the best reason to get rid of a beloved vehicle.
This is why we usually take the wife's vehicle for those long distance trips. But in all honesty, my '05 does well on those too.
Thanks guys! I had an XJ for several years, then an Xterra, now my off roader is also my daily, until I get a JL or a Bronco.
This was really enjoyable. Excellent video about a beautiful Jeep. The new Broncos are cool looking but Jeep is the real deal.
TFL's best video. My '05 TJ Rocky Mtn looks exactly like this '05 Rubicon and almost as capable.
What an immaculate Jeep 👌 he and the Jeep did a stand up job!!
Great video. Love that the fenders are body color. Jeeps with the plastic (black) fenders fade over time and start to sag. Makes it cheap looking!
Wow, that is an awesome jeep. Didn't think it would make it through Tommy's demise. Great video guys
TJ is so awesome. Last of a breed.
Love that TJ, thats exactly how I would want my jeep to be.
That TJ is absolutely perfect
The last Jeep that the driver sits over the rear axle. I love my TJ.
How awesome--I have a 2003 Inaugural Edition Jeep Rubicon I ordered in late 2002 while deployed overseas flying Air Force combat missions in Afghanistan shortly after 9/11. As of Nov 2023, she still sits in my garage with 49,000 miles on her nearly 21 years later. Like your beautiful black Rubicon, my Bright Silver metallic is nearly flawless with a frame and body that looks like it came off the factory floor--albeit with many modifications but retaining the stock look. I am currently building her from a rock crawler into an overlander. Loved watching this video and totally agree the 1st-generation Jeep TJ Rubicon is as capable as any Jeep JK, JL or Gladiator--just not quite as fast as the Rubicon 392--LOL!! Speaking of Rubicon 392, I would never trade my TJ Rubicon for any other Jeep except...., maybe a new Rubicon 392 ($100K).
Really nice Jeep, you & your dad did a good job on it.👍🏻
I just bought a 2005 TJ Rubicon Unlimited stick with 29k miles. I’m in love with it.
Reminds me of my CJ. Sometimes LESS is MORE!
I had a 2006 unlimited LJ and it was fun off road but not great on road.
Traded it in for a JK.
I wish In kept the LJ.
The whole stereo argument becomes moot when the aftermarket has evolved. Especially with the tablet variants having the panels to exactly match what was there previously, without having to hack up wiring harnesses either.
Those mud terrains helped a lot. Really mint lookin Jeep.
Just a modest 2" lift with 33" MT's. So many ignorant people have been fooled by the aftermarket pushers who shame people who keep their rigs stock or close to it.
Like the cereal companies saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the aftermarket will continue to take advantage of the not so sharpest tools in the shed.
Like your TJ Rubicon and the video.
Also I have a 2006 TJ UNLIMITED Rubicon. It is stock inside and our with only 93500 miles.
My grandfather has an 04 TJ X edition with the same interior as this rubi, and those seats with that cloth on them are a dream to sit on for what they are. in my opinion i find them comfortable and was surprised to see it on this one bc its a fairly rare upholstery to get on a TJ.
Nice KM3 advertisement, I was already looking at them as my next tire.
Daaang that's sweet little Jeep! And it's beast! Maybe a tan colored top would help so it wouldn't get so hot. Enjoy Dillon!
In my family, we’ve had almost every Jeep variant; m38, cj2a, cj3a, cj5, 4 and 6 cylinder yj’s, tj x and tj rubicon, jk and jl, and hands down the TJ has the least shortcomings of them all. With the coil springs it has decent road manners but loses no off road ability. Yes the antique ones are amazing, but get to 40mph and things are just plain hairy. The YJs are a ton of fun but have the ride of an empty dump truck. And the JK (3.8)and the JL (3.6) both behave fine on the road, but have no low end torque whatsoever compared to the effortless lug of the 4.0. I hope once my kids are grown up and moved out I can find a nice LJ for a forever car.
Just don't run into anything ever.. it has a Zero out Five, ANCAP Safety Rating.. its death on wheels..
Drive a Cardboard Box, It's Safer..
@@graemejohnson9025 we get it. You know as jeep owners we don’t give two shits about crash ratings. Put your helmet back on
My JL two door has the turbo 4 and it's got plenty of power.
Can't wait to get some good mud terrains on it and really see what it can do.
@@jayfarmer3911 😆🤣
@@graemejohnson9025 Actually. It's the opposite - cars get good crash safety data by having good crumple zones. Just like a cardboard box would crumple. The TJ won't crumple. You don't want an offroader to 'crumple'... if you think you're likely to impact a solid immovable concrete barrier then sure - the TJ is bad - but for offroad where you're likely to hit stuff at low speeds the last thing you want is expensive panel damage. Moreover if in an accident you're likely for it to involve a vehicle with those precious crumple zones so they absorb the impact - negating the impact you feel (as opposed to a solid wall of concrete).
I mean sure - you could wrap yourself in cotton wool, never leave the house, and get home delivery for food, but that's no way to live a life.
That Jeep handled to the course like a pro.
Just don't run into anything ever.. it has a Zero out Five, ANCAP Safety Rating.. its death on wheels..
Nice looking Jeep that walked the course. Congrats!
To me the best off roader is my 2020 Yamaha tw200. If you have ever wheeled off road in Colorado you know generally speaking the higher you go up, the more narrow the trail gets. It doesn't matter how big your tires are and how much lift you have you're probably not going over 40ft trees.
This is a similar Davis Auto Sports example of a perfect build
Cool TJ. Just priced out a new JL, less the Rubi. for comparison at around $45k. Great weekend, off-road fun vehicles, still priced reasonable. 🚗 🇺🇸😎 Nice video.
Perfect little Jeep. Simple and very capable
He must be the '22 course Champion 🏆.
Didn't even get mud on his shoes...
KM3 had something to do with it.
KM3s are incredible aren’t they
I have a 1995 YJ 2.5 with modified seat to get my head inside roolcage, looking at JK or TJ main consideration is fitting myself in and seating for wife and pups.
I’ll say this I have a jlu 2018 with 80,000 miles flipped it and she still runs and drives amazing, not the biggest fan of 3.6 but damn 🎉 did great
Only jeep I regret getting rid of was my 2000 tj!!!! Had 4.0 liter with 5 speed!!!
Yeah thats tough man. My first was a 97, miss it like hell. But I do have a 2000 4.0 5 speed so I can live with it
The 4.0 and also the H.O. Version of the 4.7 are bulletproof. Had 186,000 trouble free miles on my 4.7. Only ever needed a water pump.
I ordered my '03 Rubicon from the factory with all options except an automatic. That thing can scare me for where it can go. It has done the Rubicon trail twice, first time was solo and the second was a Jeepers Jamboree (recommend doing at least one). I like the fact that the brakes have no anti-lock electronic junk; I am an old man so locked wheels immediately cause my foot to start feathering the brake pedal. At 105k miles it has had a vew issues such as a brain box failure--the firewall above the battery is no place for a brain box. I had 2 heater core failures and finally went with an all-brass heater core (brassworks) that puts out a little less heat but shouldn't rupture like the aluminum-plastic ones do; hint: use the roll cage and a strap to pull the dash up and away without removing the steering wheel to access the heater-A/C box. Great all=wheel disk brakes. I get about 15-16 mpg. I run Marvel Mystery Oil for 2 tanks when the engine starts to slightly miss, no codes, and look at TSB 09-003-03 for this.
There is less electronics to go wrong with a TJ than with a JK/JL, the windshield frame folds easier than on a JK, tires were cheaper for factory (non-Rubicon) 15" wheels, and TJs can fit in tighter places. They had their issues though, like the dash not liking being left in the rain...or the possible death-wobble from Jeep's trackbar-dependent, coil-sprung solid-axle, untriangulated linkage design. Their fuel mileage was typically pretty poor too. I don't believe they were ever offered with TCS or VSC, but ABS and disc brakes were offered with some later models.
A TJ with lockers can flex enough to be a ridiculously capable rockcrawler, compared to most other factory vehicles. They're considerably more comfortable than the older leafsprung Jeeps. 35s can fit a TJ without any suspension lift, and skinny 33s can fit a stock-suspension TJ pretty easily for a low-COG rig.
A TJ Rubi will also be from 500 - 700 lbs lighter than a comparable JK which could mean a lot on a trail like this. Then add another 350lbs for the JL Rubi. Heck, Tommy’s Willys 2 door might be 850 lbs heavier than a stock TJ Rubi, which could have made the difference between completing this course on its own rather than having to be yanked out.
@@jamesbeaman6337 Also, most jk drivers are 350lbs.
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