For most people the Jeep Wrangler isn’t the top choice for several-week long vehicle-dependent travel. However, Brian DeArmon’s 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon fits the bill perfectly… perfect that is, if you and your dog are the only travelers. Brian’s Wrangler can handle day-long trips on 4.5 level trails, several-day-long trips on 1.0-2.5 level trails, and even travels comfortably on the freeway to reach those trails.

Brian’s Wrangler Rubicon came “stock” with front and rear Dana 44 axles with air lockers, 4:10 gears, rocker protection, and 31” tires. In the first five months that Brian owned his Wrangler, he made 17 weekend trips and quickly isolated the changes necessary for him to run the Rubicon Trail in this essentially stock vehicle. He outfitted his rig with Sun Performance rock sliders, skid plates for the oil pan and steering box, a new rear bumper, front differential guard, and a few other protective modifications for the undercarriage. This configuration worked so well it would take one year and about 20 more trips (including the Rubicon Trail) before Brian would make any changes.

Purchasing a garage (it even came with an attached house) allowed Brian the opportunity to perform quite a few additional modifications. Brian took just three days to install a Rubicon Express 3.5” lift, rear CV driveshaft, Rubicon Express adjustable track bars, fixed lower control arms, adjustable upper control arms, stainless steel brake lines, and Currie Enterprises 1.25” chromoly steering components. But wait! Before rolling out of the garage at the end of those three days he even adjusted the steering stops, measured shock lengths, moved bump stops, and aligned the steering. Whew! Modifications since then have included relocating his rear shocks and a Poison Spider Customs roll cage.

With plenty of off-road capability, Brian concentrated on modifications to increase versatility. He added CB and 2-meter radios, an electric air compressor, a high-lift mount, and a T-Max EW9000 winch on a bumper he custom built. To better serve him on longer trips, Brian built a sleeping/storage platform to allow a 6’ tall person sleep inside the jeep, with enough room for his dog of course. Brian notes that “this platform allows enough gear storage to comfortably live out of the jeep for several weeks, and gives the dog enough room to get comfortable during the drive down to Baja.”

Capacity: While adequate for Brian and his dog, cargo room is at a premium in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. On the upside, Brian points out that it is very hard to load his Jeep over the GVWR due to lack of space.

Capability: This is where the Wrangler Rubicon excels. Brian has carefully performed his modifications to enable his Jeep to negotiate 4.5 level trails and remain suitable for the freeway drive home. A few days on the Rubicon trail or a few weeks in Baja are not a problem for this Wrangler.

Durability: Brian has experienced only two component failures; his rear shock bar pins sheared and his steering stabilizer bracket (aftermarket) cracked somewhere south of San Felipe in Baja. Fortunately, neither failure ended his trip.

Reliability: The Wrangler has proven very reliable for Brian. He’s had it to the dealer for a defective zipper on the rear window and to have the center console latch replaced… minor problems with no impact to his ability to travel with his vehicle.

Brian has come to enjoy both the short-and-intense trips as well as the longer-duration easy-going expedition trips. Both types of trip serve to get him away from society and out into the wilderness. The intense, 4.5-level trails offer mental and vehicular challenge while the longer and easier trips allow him to engage in other activities such as backpacking, hiking, kayaking, etc. Those additional activities afford him the opportunity to “stop and smell the flowers.”

Brian has built his Wrangler Rubicon to allow him maximum freedom in off-road travels. The “result was a good handling, safe, fun-to-drive vehicle, capable of tackling some of the toughest terrain around without having to be put onto a trailer for the trip home.”