Wrangler Rubicon Has Been YouTuber’s Home for Three Years
If you’re looking to build a Wrangler Rubicon with all the comforts of home, this video from Drew Simms is a great start.
Lots of people on JKForum have likely thought about pulling up stakes, hitting the road, and living like a nomad for a bit. Now, for most people, that fantasy situation will always remain a fantasy, as it’s basically the high-wire act of work-life balance. But freelance photographer Drew Simms took the plunge in his Rubicon three years ago, and today, he’s still living the dream.
So if you’ve ever wondered what it would take to turn your rig into the ultimate mobile home, the video Simms just posted to his YouTube channel should be required viewing. Even as someone with a pronounced preference toward all of modern life’s very best creature comforts, I have to admit that this Jeep looks to be pretty cozy indeed. Sure, it’s tiny — but it’s exceptionally thought out too.
According to the build page on his website, turning the Jeep from a daily driver into his primary residence, Simms spent about 200 hours over six months. And while he doesn’t put a figure on exactly how much the build cost, he saved loads of cash by doing all the work himself. That said, if you don’t mind spending some time with a calculator, tallying up the list of installed kit will give you an excellent idea of what putting this baby together would run.
Obviously, the Skycamp Mini rooftop tent, Jackery Solar Generator, and Rhino roof rack were all big ticket items, as none of them are areas where you want to pinch pennies. What’s really interesting, however, is just how affordable putting together set up like this seems. Even good quality camping gear isn’t terribly pricey, and while it might not look as cool as a Viking Range, the little Coleman two-burner stove is more than adequate to whip up meals for yourself and a guest.
The real trick here is getting everything you need to live comfortably into the relatively small footprint of the Jeep, and that’s where Simms organizational skills really shine. Having spent a month living on a boat, I remember using similar space-saving strategies, and it was interesting to see the overlap between marine and overland life. At around 30 minutes, this isn’t a short video, but it’s well worth a watch, and if you’re as into trick gear as I am, you’ll definitely get a kick out of it.