2004 JEEP Wrangler TJ RUBICON review and locker DEMO

[@zukesrubicon1130]

Love the Solar Yellow Rubicon! I may be a little biased. I have an 05. I am going all black and yellow. Black steel 15" rims from Black Rock, all other exterior trim/decals are black. Very sharp look. I took mine out on National Go Topless day for the first trail ride of my life. I did an easy trail, then a "moderate" trail. There were some obstacles my Rubi cleared and ran over very easily, that Jeeps behind me got hung up on. They may have had rear lockers, but no fronts like the Rubicon. One of the most capable 4x4s for under $12 grand you will find! Overhead speakers are not factory. Not a bad thing... Somebody did you a favor. If the subwoofer actually still works, you are lucky. Mine was blown out when I got it in 2018. Front sway bar disconnects were also not factory, but again... a great upgrade to have done already. The Nerf bar side steps were not factory either. Factory side steps were removable from the frame and could be taken off and put back on in minutes with four bolts on each side. With the tube being bent on one, a good idea to get rid of those. I got mine with about 183k miles on it. A year and a half later, I am at 204k miles. I have done some mechanical work to it, but I can honestly say it runs stronger and smoother than when I first got it. I plan on running this for many years as my daily driver. I am confident that will happen.

[@48jerrybiker]

I bought a new yellow 5-speed 2004 Rubicon 20yrs ago. Wish I had kept it. Just came across 2004 Rubicon exactly like the one I bought 20yrs ago. Only has 66,000 original miles.

[@uio890138]

Just got an '04 Rubicon 5-spd with 130 miles. Great jeep!!

[@chriscraft77022]

only 130? what the heck

[@uio890138]

@@chriscraft77022 Yeah, wasn't driven much. Needs a few preventive maintenance items and general repairs addressed, but it's a nice Rubicon.

[@brianraymer5542]

I just bought one Has the death wobble.....how can I fix this

[@uio890138]

@@chriscraft77022 Sorry, that was 130k

[@uio890138]

@@brianraymer5542 Check your front track bolts for tightness and then the tie rods for wear. Then check the ball joints.

[@JeepTJWheelin]

Very cool TJ. I just got an '05 TJ Rocky Mtn and it is definitely the best vehicle I've owned. Use to have an '08 JK X and never thought of it as a true Jeep because it wasn't. The TJ is the last true generation of Jeep. The respect factor of having this is something I never experienced with my JK. I knew JK's were shit but had that confirmed at least a dozen times in the first week I owned it. People from all walks have come up to me and say what a cool TJ. And how they despise anything after '06. I feel the same. There's nothing like a 4.0L Inline 6 Jeep, it's hard to explain, you just have to get one to know what this is all about. It's the truest utilitarian rugged sob that a Jeep was meant to be.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I just bought a 2004 Rubicon after not having a TJ for over 10 years. Was a tough day when I had to trade my last TJ for a JK, but I couldn’t keep both. Anyway, that looks like a rancho lift kit. That’s a Goodyear MTR (245/75/r16)… the factory TJ Rubicon tire with factory wheel. Nice Jeep!

[@oscarbear7498]

How much was it?

[@brickarmsguy22]

Hey fellow TJ Rubicon owner, glad to see your TJ rubi, it looks like a fantastic build and with some touch ups you said you were gonna do, it really will turn it into a weapon offroad! I hope you enjoy the vehicle for all it has to offer

[@1SIK335]

Great vid, thanks. Just picked up an 03 Rubi with 115k miles, looking forward to it! They are very hard to find. Had to drive 4 hrs away

[@mlukegrady]

The steering binds because you are in four wheel drive and the lockers are engaged. That’s the reason they don’t just have solid axles without lockers. The inside tire when you travel in a smaller arc than the outside tire, so it causes binding. if you’re on a slick surface, you wouldn’t notice it

[@AStanton1966]

I liked the zip tie holding the shock absorber boot.

[@thecitiots]

Convinced me to go for the Rubicon, nice jeep.

[@chriscraft77022]

they are bad ass I have a final video of it once I finished it.. I still have it and I’m never selling it.

[@thecitiots]

@@chriscraft77022 that's my plan as well going to take it all over the US I can't wait to have ac at the dune's

[@Whiteandsonsgarage]

Absolutely awesome Jeep, super clean

[@tomheumann234]

The cut light wires went to the factory fog lamps. You pull the tip of the turn signal switch out and it will put power to the wires.

[@johncovert447]

Chris, looking forward to watching the progress and changes you make to your Jeep!

[@Justn7883]

Just picked up an 04 Rubicon with 69k miles lifted on brand new 35s for 20 grand.

[@ludwig-vi6pi]

Great video 👊🏼

[@terrykinnell4201]

nice video did you ever find out who makes the front bumper?

[@jasonfinch1591]

That’s one beautiful Jeep!!!!!!!

[@craigfishman9103]

Best video I have seen

[@oscarbear7498]

$10k wow, awesome deal!!

[@chriscraft77022]

same Jeep now would probably be 25K.. how much are they now? do you know?

[@oscarbear7498]

@@chriscraft77022 I'm looking at 2 that are $15k with 90k miles and 80k miles. Was is hard to find a ruicon for 10k 3 years ago? I'm guessing post pandemic

[@chriscraft77022]

I got it aug 2019 in a small town between Houston and Galveston .. same Jeep in Houston was 19K at the time for a rubicon

[@oscarbear7498]

@@chriscraft77022 I'm in Texas too, laredo. The one I found is in a small town south of Houston too lol. It's no $10k steal, it's a $15k with 90k miles , 2006 6-speed manual. How many miles did your rubicon have when you found yours? Also how does the transmission feel on the 04, rumor has it its the best of the tj rubi , are the rumors true?

[@oscarbear7498]

​@@chriscraft77022I bought a 2006 rubicon with 170k miles sofy top, for $14k in Houston I couldn't find a better deal shopping at dealer... I feel I over paid. It had rear body armor and they didn't want to take it off at the dealership to show me. I took it off at home and sure enough, rust... Idk why I even trust dealerships, get screwed in a way every time. But at least I have the jeep to start with....if I could do it all over, I would go on Facebook market, there I've seen Good jeeps with 2 owners, low miles tj at $5!!! It's almost never a rubicon, it's 6-inline engine still , 2000-06. With hard tops. You can just upgrade axles later and buy lockers of find at junkyard. I would put a diesel engine swap too. Of course it Takes knowing how to do things , if you don't dealership is the last option you have. Which is where I was noob buying a jeep

[@Sarge0311]

I have a 2004 Jeep Unlimited LJ with 250,000 miles on and had it for 15 years now

[@steveblankenship2413]

Can you tell me what brand front bumper that is ?

[@nhingy]

You mentioned air compressors for the lockers? I thought they were electronic lockers stock?

[@chriscraft77022]

they would end up going to electric lockers.. 2004 has air lockers..

[@PreachTheGospel07]

I love the four cylinder.

[@chriscraft77022]

I like them too just not in Houston traffic

[@PreachTheGospel07]

I could understand that, I work in the Big Cities for 25 years as a trucker and I don't miss it.

[@your2nd]

Looks like a Rancho 2.5 lift ; see if it saids x5000 on the shocks anywhere is you are lucky; very good lift!

[@adamlivelife2608]

Just pick up the same Jeep stock mint 7/10 for condition thanks for the video

[@sirvilhelmofyonderland]

I just bought a 2005 Rubicon. ALL STOCK.

[@chriscraft77022]

makes some videos. I want to see.

[@oscarbear7498]

How much was it?

[@sirvilhelmofyonderland]

@@oscarbear7498 $14,000 🥲 I paid cashola

[@KevinSmith-wr1sy]

SICK RIDE!

[@miguelamaya6246]

Thank you for sharing your video...

[@camaroguy305]

Measure the spring height on flat ground and subtract 12 inches to see how much suspension lift has been added.

[@TerraFirmaX]

What about tire size?

[@camaroguy305]

Tire size won't affect the height of the spring.

[@jerrywhalen2100]

Package also includes wider flares

[@jerrywhalen2100]

Aluminum door cleaner works great Keep them wet while scrubbing down. Don't let it dry. Then wax the heck out of them every week.

[@jumpin9399]

What is the factory flare width for an 04 rubicon

[@jakematthews6982]

Dana. Not Danna. DAY-nuh. With that body lift you could easily tuck the drivetrain up a bit higher and have a flat belly skid.

[@mdmwelding3189]

I'm looking for the same tj Rubicon 4 a summer toy

[@goodoljackburton9211]

👍Same here. I had a 2018 JLU Ruby that I miss but I’d like to get into a TJ. Preferably this year🇺🇸

[@Dawg3172]

Ur Jeep videos are Awesome!

[@georgesantiago6005]

Whats are the diferences of a tj 6 and tj rubicon?

[@chriscraft77022]

a tj6 is stupid and a TJ rubicon is cool

[@GiorgiKhabeishvili]

Thank you!

[@RonGallardo777]

I have a Rubicon 03 with 35’s so I better get 33’’ instead what gonna be the advantage

[@chriscraft77022]

35s are fine... if you don’t notice any problems.. is getting on the freeway the same as when you had smaller tires? My chevy truck is on 35s with 4.10 gears but it has 300hp ... and I feel the sluggish acceleration in that

[@chevyvega6622]

so many jeep folks hate that the lockers are designed only to engage in 4L, which is why there are overide switches made to allow one to put lockers into 4H. This is why I like 4runners so much better as I can engage the locker at any speed if i desire, and does not feel like driving a high gear tractor

[@chrisniner8772]

I've got a 2006 rubicon with a six speed manual

[@rohmc2985]

i wish my 04 rubicon had cruise

[@gregorymontanez4550]

Hi, can someone tell me if tj rubicon comes whit automatic Transmissions?

[@chriscraft77022]

Yes

[@michaelleigh5238]

2 inch Skyjacker Lift is what it looks like but could be wrong and you might want to keep that rack sheets don't have a lot of storage space

[@michaelleigh5238]

jeeps not sheets

[@chriscraft77022]

it has a skyjacker bent arm lift.. I can’t find one in 2” ... only 4”

[@scleas]

looks like a rancho lift kick.

[@offroadschweizoffroadschwe6018]

Nice Jeep 4 ever

[@bloopmcgroober2580]

Not factory speakers

[@ARS850H]

Ranchero shocks

[@snoopy5736]

Yep

[@Sky_auto]

❤

[@jerrywhalen2100]

If you're interested, I have the hot-rodders guide to rubicon's you can bypass the computer so that you could run in your Lockers in any gear at any speed. Just get ahold of me.

[@mikeschleh7921]

Can I have that guide you talked about?

[@bah5310]

@jerrywhalen I have an 03 and would like to know how to do that.

[@eastwindfarms3671]

✌️

[@outdoorssmith5454]

Mothers back to black on all your black stuff, works like a champ, just a spray can

[@TerraFirmaX]

DANA DAY NA

[@chriscraft77022]

🍪

[@roderickrayrutledge2740]

I'm remember when mine was that pretty....😉😁😂😂😂😂

[@blurglide]

They're electronic lockers, not air lockers. EDIT: they ARE air lockers

[@chriscraft77022]

on mine they are air.. ( 2004 rubicon ) look it up.. they have 2 separate compressors

[@blurglide]

@@chriscraft77022 I'll be damned- you're right. I just bought my 04 Rubicon yesterday

[@chriscraft77022]

@@blurglide cool, make videos.. i love my jeep soooooo much... you made a very wise choice.. check out my latest video on mine... i finally finished it a little while back.. i have videos of everything i done to it..

[@blurglide]

@@chriscraft77022 I have an 02 Sport. Just broke an axle shaft. While I was in there, I was considering regearing, locking the front, Atlas transfer case, SYE, etc. etc. but realized it'd be cheaper to just buy a Rubicon. Plus mine was a bit rough around the edges to dump a lot of money into anyway. The only hard part is my old one has a 4.6 stroker motor. It was never fast, but this new Rubi is a dog in comparison. You can see a rough cut video (not edited down enough, no sound) of my old rig in Moab on my channel.

[@chriscraft77022]

I agree, it is underpowered.. when my engine goes bad I’m gonna build that stroker like you had.. or close .. I’ll sub..

[@georgejetson1923]

Only real men drive the 2,5