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Regardless of which off road brand you stand by, there is no denying that when it comes to tough trails, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is one of the best vehicles out there.
In today’s article, we are going to prove that by going over what makes it so good.
Table of Contents
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Its Foundations
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Its Features
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – It Comes Well Equipped
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Its Design
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – The Aftermarket Support
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Conclusion
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Its Foundations
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The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is one of the last truly old-school vehicles. Its body-on-frame construction makes it strong and easily repairable. However, its main appeal is the solid front and rear axles – a suspension design very few new vehicles have.
This suspension design does compromise on-road abilities like ride quality and handling, but it works very well off road.
In case you were wondering, a solid axle means that the two wheels at each end of the vehicle are connected together and do not move independently of the other. The connection between the two is made by the axle.
Because of its design, a solid axle is stronger and provides more wheel articulation than an independent suspension system.
Cars like the Toyota 4Runner and new Ford Bronco only have one solid axle in the rear, which means their front end isn’t as strong as the Wrangler’s while they also tend to lift wheels off the ground much easier.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Its Features
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When it comes to features, the Jeep Wrangler once again keeps it old school, and I think that is why it works so well.
Firstly, it has electronic sway bar disconnects. This feature provides more wheel articulation.
To ensure maximum amounts of traction, the Wrangler also offers front and rear diff lockers.
Conventional differentials send power to the wheel with less traction (I know it sounds dumb), which is no good for off roading. This is mainly so the vehicle can take turns, as the inside wheel is required to spin slower than the outside one.
When a truck has diff locks, it can send equal amounts of power to both wheels on an axle at any time, regardless of grip levels. The Wrangler Rubicon has this feature on both axles, making it an extremely capable 4×4.
The Wrangler Rubicon also has a good traction control system. However, with two differential locks, it isn’t needed out on the trail.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – It Comes Well Equipped
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Aside from the features mentioned above, the Wrangler Rubicon comes with upgraded suspension and all-terrain tires from the factory.
All-terrain tires mean that the Rubicon has more grip off road, while also being able to resist punctures due to the tougher sidewalls.
The upgraded suspension provides even more wheel articulation while also helping the Jeep ride better on and off road.
We also get some very useful rock sliders and stronger differentials – both essential upgrades for tough off roading.
Finally, it has a lower gear ratio which means it can cope with larger tires without the need for regearing.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Its Design
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The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is designed to be driven over huge boulders. The tires, both front and rear, are very close to the edge of the vehicle, giving great approach and departure angles.
Furthermore, the tires and fenders stick out way beyond the body of the vehicle; therefore, on an extreme angle or through tight sections, you will be scratching your fender or tires instead of the actual body.
Scratching a fender isn’t a big deal as it can be removed very easily. In fact, all panels on the Wrangler can be removed easily. Therefore, if you manage to dent it off road, fixing it should be much easier than it would be in a normal vehicle.
The big fenders also provide a lot of space for larger tires. A 39-inch tire is possible with a simple three-inch lift.
As far as I am aware, there is no other vehicle on the market that can do this.
The best part is that even if you run out of fender space due to tire size or if you keep smashing and breaking them, there are endless aftermarket options that make upgrades that are stronger and provide even more space.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – The Aftermarket Support
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The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has one of the largest aftermarket scenes of any car – not just 4x4s.
You can pretty much do whatever you want, including a 1000hp engine swap with 40-inch tires and a lot of lift. All the support means that the Wrangler can be easily personalized according to your needs.
The huge following leads to a huge market for these upgrades, which is why companies keep on making them.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Off Roading – Conclusion
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For some reason, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon gets a bad rep as many people like to make fun of them. However, I can confidently say that in terms of pure off roading, it is the best vehicle on the market.
Nothing can offer the potential of the Wrangler. It feels like a toy made for the few of us who love the really tough trails.
Since its design has been refined over the years, it can also be used on road and for overland adventures without being uncomfortable.
Granted, it won’t offer the comfort of other vehicles, but with great off road performance comes on-road sacrifice.
If you have any further Jeep Wrangler Rubicon off roading questions or for anything else off road or overland-related, head over to the forum section of our page.