Enthusiast III
New Chapter.
No more Rubicon
. Weclome, a fully-owned, title in-hand, STOCK 2015 Jeep Unlimited Sahara, that I am PLANNING to build into the perfect rig for our 2020 Trans-Canada / Alaska trek.This will be my second big overland trip, having completed a year-long trek back in 2018 (Read more here.) This is a *budget build.* Meaning, I will make thoughtful budget-friendly modifications that fit the needs of the trip. I care about off-road capability and reliability, if it looks cool great, but I'm not spending my hard earned cash on cosmetics! If it does not serve a purpose/function, it's a waste of cash in my book.
The hope in starting a thread is to connect with non-Rubicon owners/members who balance funding their overland rigs with the rest of their lives. Initiate dialogue around doing a budget build and making modifications as one can, financially. It is important to note, in my case, MPGs are not a factor. My travels are based around research for the next book I'm preparing to write, and going slow (and low) fits, which means I'm travelling off-highway and at a speed that suits low MPG well. That's a common conversation around Jeep mods, and in this thread, I would rather talk about how Jeep owners who own stock Sports and Saharas can get the most out of them. I also want to empower those who don't own a Rubicon to feel their rig is more than capable! My first Jeep was a 2014 Sahara, and to-this-day, I wish I never sold it. I would have owned the title and could have invested into it, no debt, no banks, no worries. I did because after reading the forums I felt I couldn't do what I did in 2018 unless I had everything that a Rubicon had. Now I know, I didn't even need ALL that a Rubicon had, and if you followed my travels that year, you know I put the Jeep through it's paces.
Here's a breakdown of what served me well from my 2017 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon:
.
I want to discuss putting 35s onto a Sahara (or stock Sport) WITHOUT the lift/suspension modification. Why? Because I can not afford to do that till October. However, tires have to go on first week of September (2019). Has anyone done this? If you have, how'd it go for you? Rubbing? Impact on stock suspention? I will not be going off-road, just the normal dirt roads you find in the Northeast.
THANK YOU!
Jennifer (and Monty the Jeep pup!)
PS > Looking forward to connecting with OB members around this topic, again, if you are a Rubicon owner, please, I kindly ask you resist the temptation to chime in. I heart the Rubicon. I miss mine dearly. HOWEVER, with the sticker price increasing and pushing people out of Jeeps into more affordable options. Lets unite and support current Jeep owners who just need a little inspiration to "rock what they've got" as Michael would say!
No more Rubicon
. Weclome, a fully-owned, title in-hand, STOCK 2015 Jeep Unlimited Sahara, that I am PLANNING to build into the perfect rig for our 2020 Trans-Canada / Alaska trek.This will be my second big overland trip, having completed a year-long trek back in 2018 (Read more here.) This is a *budget build.* Meaning, I will make thoughtful budget-friendly modifications that fit the needs of the trip. I care about off-road capability and reliability, if it looks cool great, but I'm not spending my hard earned cash on cosmetics! If it does not serve a purpose/function, it's a waste of cash in my book.The hope in starting a thread is to connect with non-Rubicon owners/members who balance funding their overland rigs with the rest of their lives. Initiate dialogue around doing a budget build and making modifications as one can, financially. It is important to note, in my case, MPGs are not a factor. My travels are based around research for the next book I'm preparing to write, and going slow (and low) fits, which means I'm travelling off-highway and at a speed that suits low MPG well. That's a common conversation around Jeep mods, and in this thread, I would rather talk about how Jeep owners who own stock Sports and Saharas can get the most out of them. I also want to empower those who don't own a Rubicon to feel their rig is more than capable! My first Jeep was a 2014 Sahara, and to-this-day, I wish I never sold it. I would have owned the title and could have invested into it, no debt, no banks, no worries. I did because after reading the forums I felt I couldn't do what I did in 2018 unless I had everything that a Rubicon had. Now I know, I didn't even need ALL that a Rubicon had, and if you followed my travels that year, you know I put the Jeep through it's paces.
Here's a breakdown of what served me well from my 2017 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon:
- LED headlamps and foglights (The newer Jeeps with stock LEDs rock!)
- The 1inch of extra clearence that comes with the Rubicon (WISHED I had a 2.5/3in lift and stronger suspension to account for the added weight of gear.)
- Rear locking differential (Life-saver. Period.)
- BFG K02s (32s) - (WISHED I had the 35s with the previously mentioned lift.)
- Gobi Roof Rack (Obviously this was not stock, but was financed into the Jeep purchase, and had to go with the Jeep. I do not work with Gobi, so this is sincere. If you are on the fence with investing into a Gobi - DO IT!)
- Skid plates (If you saw mine old ones, they'd tell a story in themselves, about this one time in Colorado.)
- BFG K02s (35s) w/2.5 (3 in) lift (I am eyeing Tera Flex) - HIGH PRIORITY
- Replace stock headlamps and fog lights with LEDS (still shopping around.) - HIGH PRIORITY
- Tera Flex tailgate reinforcement (or comparable since these run ~ $700) - FYI, consider 5-tire rotations if you are not already! - HIGH PRIORITY
- Replace stock rims (still shopping around.) - LOW PRIORITY
- Gobi Roof Rack (It's worth every cent!) - MID PRIORITY
- Rear locking differential (still shopping around.) - HIGH PRIORITY
- Recovery (Did not have on the Rubicon, never once needed it, but my father will sleep better if I have one.) - Front winch - MID PRIORITY
- Skids plates - HIGH PRIORITY
- Rock sliders (Did not have on the Rubicon and it hurt.) - HIGH PRIORITY
. I want to discuss putting 35s onto a Sahara (or stock Sport) WITHOUT the lift/suspension modification. Why? Because I can not afford to do that till October. However, tires have to go on first week of September (2019). Has anyone done this? If you have, how'd it go for you? Rubbing? Impact on stock suspention? I will not be going off-road, just the normal dirt roads you find in the Northeast.
THANK YOU!
Jennifer (and Monty the Jeep pup!)
PS > Looking forward to connecting with OB members around this topic, again, if you are a Rubicon owner, please, I kindly ask you resist the temptation to chime in. I heart the Rubicon. I miss mine dearly. HOWEVER, with the sticker price increasing and pushing people out of Jeeps into more affordable options. Lets unite and support current Jeep owners who just need a little inspiration to "rock what they've got" as Michael would say!
