New entry is up from today.


Editor, Rockcrawler.com, Owner, 4x4Rockshop.com

Hey Mike,

I'm heading to Tellico this weekend. Be back on Tuesday and have the rest of the week off. Want to ride during the middle of the week? I'll help you get that hard top off...

[This message was edited by TXJEEPER on March 21, 2003 at 05:04 AM.]

Well, that might explain why mine got held up in production from October to Novemeber.


Golden ears....LOL




Ya, golden ears.

[This message was edited by TXJEEPER on March 21, 2003 at 05:04 AM.]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jeepgeek:
Hey Mike,

I'm heading to Tellico this weekend. Be back on Tuesday and have the rest of the week off. Want to ride during the middle of the week? I'll help you get that hard top off...


Wish I could. My really only chance to get out is this weekend. I wanted two weekends with it but they didn't tell me it was coming early last weekend so I had things going on that couldn't be changed.


Editor, Rockcrawler.com, Owner, 4x4Rockshop.com

I just noticed your hardtop doesn't have tinted windows....what's up with that? Even my soft top has tinted windows

03 Rubicon, Silver, XD9000I winch, York onboard air, and lots of cool stickers.

Any TSB or other info on the radio issue?
I have to turn the bass down on my stereo to listen to anything other than hip-hop or it sounds weird. I thought it was just the crappy sub, but if it's the radio's fault maybe it's fixable.

Living With Rubi has been moved to a permanent home. The new link is:

http://www.rockcrawler.com/reviews/jeep/wrangler_2003_rubicon_rcblog/index.asp


Editor, Rockcrawler.com, Owner, 4x4Rockshop.com

So, TX...which did you truly prefer, the manual or the automatic?

03 Rubicon, Silver, XD9000I winch, York onboard air, and lots of cool stickers.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothos:
So, TX...which did you truly prefer, the manual or the automatic?

03 Rubicon, Silver, XD9000I winch, York onboard air, and lots of cool stickers.

---

Absolutely the 5-speed.


Editor, Rockcrawler.com, Owner, 4x4Rockshop.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chris S:
Any TSB or other info on the radio issue?
I have to turn the bass down on my stereo to listen to anything other than hip-hop or it sounds weird. I thought it was just the crappy sub, but if it's the radio's fault maybe it's fixable.

---

There are no TSBs on this. Sorry.


Editor, Rockcrawler.com, Owner, 4x4Rockshop.com

I have an early production Rubicon, too. I have been thoroughly testing her in the Eastern Canadian back-country, since I took delivery in the first week of November. Will be following your 'Living With Rubi' article, intently.

Here's a photo of my beast...



[This message was edited by Rubiconvict on March 24, 2003 at 08:17 AM.]

I sure do love that photo.


Editor, Rockcrawler.com, Owner, 4x4Rockshop.com

EGAD!! another silver Rubi

TX, is your tranny choice based mainly on off road use or all around? I stuck witht he auto because of the fact I have to use it as a DD for at least the next 7 years or so. Not to mention having gone down the clutch wearout route so many times with my F150 with its big tires.

03 Rubicon, Silver, XD9000I winch, York onboard air, and lots of cool stickers.

There are many reasons why I have always had manual tranny jeeps, but one of the main ones is the added control it affords on steep descents...

I just don't like automatics in short wheelbase Jeeps. My personal belief, for what it's worth, is SWB Jeeps have 5-speeds - period. Even though it sucks in traffic.

I really don't like how the automatics drive. I feel a serious disconnect between myself and the drivetrain.

I just really prefer to shift.

Also, for what it's worth, Lothos, if you shift right, you won't eat up your clutches so fast. The Mad Cow has over 70,000 miles on it and does not need a new one yet. I know other Jeepers who have well over 100,000 miles on their original clutches.


Editor, Rockcrawler.com, Owner, 4x4Rockshop.com

Heh, don't get me wrong. When I enjoy driving, I enjoy shifting. It's what makes a drive a drive and not just a trip somewhere. As for control, I have descended some 60 degreee hills with no braking at all in my Rubi. Even hills I've taken in my 5spd F150 where I ended up going down faster simply because of gearing. I dunno, I guess in the end I had no real preference either way. I know I have never felt as much relaxed wheeling as I have in this auto Rubi.

As for my clutch. I am on clutch number 5 which went in at 40k miles. 4.6L v8 w/ 3.55 gears and 33x12.50 tires. Now, I'll take 20% of the blame for the clutch wear, but not all of it. It's only a 9 inch clutch too I believe.( I don't do clutches )

03 Rubicon, Silver, XD9000I winch, York onboard air, and lots of cool stickers.

This raises another question I'd like to throw out there, while we're on the subject of autos versus manuals...

We do an awful lot of tow strap recoveries on trail runs up here, because of our brutal terrain. I was thinking that this may be an area where an automatic may be much better suited.

Naturally those of us with manual trannies do everything we can to make sure that clutch pedal is all the way out before tension comes tight on the tow strap, but you just know there are gonna be times when your clutch is not fully engaged under the shock of a tow strap pull.

Well, my method of snatching with a manual had always been to buildup speed, then step on the clutch before "impact". Although I run a 30 foot snatch, which m,ay be why I have the room to do it this way. I figured its less stress on the whole drivetrain.

03 Rubicon, Silver, XD9000I winch, York onboard air, and lots of cool stickers.

That's probably a good idea, if it works in any given situation. Most of the time I build up speed and just keep the gas on until the stuck vehicle is freed, and then stab the clutch pedal when the strap goes slack. I use a 20 ft strap, but have a second with a 5/8 shackle to bind the two when needed. Most of these situations are on ground that allows for enough wheel spin to protect the drivetrain, however.

What're your thoughts on snatchin' with the diffs locked? Bad idea, or not?

03 Rubicon, Silver, Lots of aftermarket armor.

That's a good way to break tow straps! Not very safe neither. Then again, I don't have a stick. With the auto, I slowly tighten up the strap. When the strap is tight between the two vehicles, I give it a little gas. This usually works well.

BTW... I have a 30 ft strap.

Mark Yurescko
AKA: "no_hang"
Member: Southern Illinois Jeep Association
2001 TJ Sport