Has anyone tried this yet?

[Ry' N Jen]

I have been searching the internet for stuff for our KJ and found this item.
http://www.advanceadapters.com/products/rubi-crawler-planetary-crawl-box/
Seeing it fits the 42RLE automatic overdrive transmission, I thought I'd send
advance adapters an email and see if it would work on a KJ.
Considering it is the weekend, I do not expect to hear anything from them until the next work week.
So, I am waiting for an answer from advance adapters to see if I need to do any modifications to my drive shaft and stuff to get it to fit.
As I am not familiar with Wrangler type Jeeps I have no clue as to whether mods are needed to the drive line.
I like the fact that it is a "Plug and play" type of installation.
(Ya, I know it ain't that easy, But neither is stuffing a Honda engine in a Classic
Mini! {My next project.})

 

[tommudd]

There was a discussion over on LOST a few years back about it, don't think anyone ever pulled the trigger on it though. For the money you could upgrade to a better Tcase and be done

 

[Ry' N Jen]

There was a discussion over on LOST a few years back about it, don't think anyone ever pulled the trigger on it though. For the money you could upgrade to a better Tcase and be done

Explain Tom!

I figure for $1500.00 to $1800.00 it wouldn't be to bad of an upgrade!
Mind you, an Atlas 2 transfer case would be a nice up grade as well.

What are your thoughts on this Rubi Crawler?

 

[tjkj2002]

In theory it should be a dirrect bolt in for a 4wd KJ with the 42RLE,just like the TJ/JK's with zero driveline mods for like $1600,the only issue I could possibly see is the trans/t-case mount as that seems to be to only difference between the KJ and TJ/JK.For what if gives you it's money well spent as a AtlasII t-case will run you $2200+ and then will need to mod the drivelines,then cable shifters which are $350.Even using a RockTrac t-case will require driveline mods,used I've seen them average about $900 and there $2400 new.


No I could not have used it as I have the 45RFE trans,and sadly the 45RFE trans is about the only trans that you can not bolt the Atlas 4 speed to:bawl:.

 

[J-Thompson]

I would say it is worth every dime
and if I had the 42RLE I would get 1
and just for an FYI
to install an Atlas (or a flipped Dana 300) in a TJ will cost over $1000 before
you even buy the case
this is what I found
Drive shafts = $400 (F&R ,new Joints, balanced)
adapter to go from Trans to new case $300 ,IIRC
shifters = $350

I was going to do the flipped 300 because the case was free
but I would still be out $2000+ to do the job right

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Come the end of summer I think I'll bite the bullet and go ahead and
buy one of these for our Heep.

Here is the answer for the information I requested from Advanced Adapters regarding fitments
to a 42RLE in a KJ:


Hi Ryan,

Thank you for your interest in the Rubicrawler. I think it would be a nice fit for your Liberty. Ok, onto the specifics.


1. Physically, the Rubicrawler will bolt up to your transmission as the tailhousing is the same one used on Jeep JKs.

2. Transmission mount should also bolt up

3. Rubicrawler Shifter- you will have to use the universal style Rubicrawler shifter. This requires you to find a suitable place to drill 4 holes in the floor of your jeep(one for the shifter stick and three mounting bolt holes.

4. Transfer Case Shifter- this is the part that may require some customizing by you. If you give me a day or two I will figure out the logistics involved in this part of the install.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

I have been emailing back and forth with Advance Adapters...

And I have been corresponding daily with their Senior Design Engineer, Chuck J. Althausen.
Sunday I am going to remove the centre console (Again) and am taking pictures of the stock
transfer case shifter position (What it looks like), the mounting location from the top, (inside the KJ)
then crawling underneath the Heep to take photographs of the bottom side of the stock transfer
case shifter placement/position and how it mounts to a KJ to help Advance Adapters figure out how
a hobbyist can instal a Rubi Crawler into a KJ.
Once this gets done ( I am leaving out allot of deatails for the sake of keeping this post somewhat
short.)
Chuck will then have an idea, parts needed, and some sugestions as to what exactly is involved to
fit a Rubi-Crawler to a Jeep Liberty!

I think it will be money well spent!

Oh, Jen was the one who said "Lets get one of those cool Rubi-Crawlers for our Rig...
It will be nice to crawl up shit, but especially down steep terrain without cooking the brakes!"