No actually, he's not. What you are referring to is a comment by a Jeep engineer who stated that the Rubicon does not have any added "lift" compared to a X other than tires. This is true. What you're ignoring is another comment that same engineer made about the various spring rates of the different model JK Wranglers. He clearly, accurately pointed out that the stiffest spring rates are found on the Rubicon. As such, the stiffer spring rate is an additional contributing factor to the Rubicon's higher stance compared to an X.

No "Lift", true. Stiffer springs cause the same weighted vehicle to sit higher, also true.

 

Here's how I see it.

I bought my first Jeep in '05. Although I had wanted a Wrangler since I was 3 months old, I couldn't afford one until 32 years later - so I got an '05 "X" model TJ and used it as a weekend toy. It had stock 28s on steel wheels which I eventually tore and replaced with 31" MT/Rs on Canyon wheels. I ended up driving it so much and enjoying it so much that I sold my daily driver and entered into a monogamous relationship with my TJ. It was great, but there was always something missing. Everytime I went wheeling (alone or with friends), there was an eerie feeling in the back of my head (or was it my a$$) that something could go wrong - stuck, broken, loss of power, etc.

Finally, a few years later, I gave in and decided to get a 4-door (for different reasons - family growing, needed more space, etc). This time, however, I knew I wanted the Rubicon model. That feeling in the back of my a$$ went away. I no longer have that eerie feeling that something could go wrong. I don't feel that I could get stuck as easily as with my "X" because of the lockers; I no longer feel like I could break something because of the front & rear D44s; I no longer feel like I have a loss of power because of the 4.11 gears and low t-case ratio.

For those Jeepers who upgrade most of their rigs, it may not be worth it to get the Rubicon, but for the majority of us who are only part-time off-road enthusiasts, and have family and work commitments outside of the Jeep world, the stock Rubicon works great. If I were 15 years younger and not a care in the world, I would get an X and modify the hell out of it. But I'm too old, too tired and too lazy to do that now. The Rubicon works great for me.

 

That is almost my exact feeling. 15 years ago I bought a Land Rover Defender 90, did all of the hard-core modifications myself, etc etc etc. I didn't care that it didn't have air conditioning or any of the other luxuries today's Jeep have.

But now, I really like the lifetime powertrain warranty on all of the expensive extra off-road gear that came on my Rubicon that I had to do myself on my Defender.

My Unlimited Rubicon does not have to be the most extreme rock crawler for me to be able to get to most any place I want, even if I might have to take a bypass around some obstacles. In the end, I just want a vehicle that will get me to the remote places I want to visit, and a stock Rubicon is perfect for that.

 

Isn't it great that we aren't all clones. Wouldn't it be boring if we all drove the same color jeep with the same wheels and tires. It's all about having fun and what ever floats your boat. We all need to respect and appreciate our differences. Have a great day.
From newbe Jim (AKA GRIZZ) new to the forum but on my 5th jeep. When I'am a wheelin' I'am a huntin'.