What is the difference between Jeep TJ and Jeep Rubicon?

I am thinking of buying a fairly new car 2004-2006 and I was wondering what the difference is between Jeep TJs and the Jeep Rubicons in general. And also, what are your guys` thoughts on Jeeps; do they run well, are they strong etc..





Thank You.|||Terry H and luckydagger covered the technical differences.





In practice, the stock TJ will cover what most drivers will want. They're drivable on the road and provide a good off-road capability.





If you get into some serious off-roading, the TJ needs a few modifications to take the abuse you're going to give it - like protection for key components underneath like the transfer case, gas tank, etc, some protection for the body, recovery points so you can tow it out of trouble.





Then, you want to minimize the chance of getting into trouble in the first place, so you need bigger tires, axle lockers (at least for one axle), and a lift. Your serious off-roaders usually go with at least 33 inch tires, which means the body has to be lifted in order to fit the bigger tires. The drawback is the modifications that make it more capable off-road begin to make it less drivable on-road.





Enough modifications and you can have the ultimate off-road machine, but wind up having to carry it to the trail on a trailer because it's no longer street legal.





The Rubicon comes already equipped with most of the essential modifications a serious off-roader will make. The exception is that the tires are only 31 inches (bigger than the stock TJ) and the Rubicon isn't lifted (although the stiffer springs do lift it slightly).





In other words, the Rubicon is about as serious an off-road machine as you can get without making some significant sacrifices to its on-road drivability.





Getting the Unlimited version improves the on-road stability, but the extra length will give you a slight disadvantage in off-road capability (actually, the extra length gives you an advantage in some situations over a shorter wheel base, but there's more situations where the short wheel base is beneficial).





If you live somewhere close to some really rugged trails, you'll be shocked at the terrain that a Rubicon can drive over. For most off-road environments, the stock TJ will have all the capability you're ever going to need.|||I should add this to the mix, the Rubicon is a package (sometime called trim package) that is applied to a TJ. It includes stock 31" tyres, 4:1 lo-range, axle locks on front and rear, and other miscellaneous happiness, I know this because I have a 2006 Rubicon and have put 108K miles it.

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|||How can the Jesus answer this question when he doesn't know what a TJ is,enormous engines ,give me a break.The Rubicon adds Dana 44 axles,front and rear lockers,off road shocks and taller springs,larger tires and better gearing in the transfer case.The stock TJ makes a great 4wheeler,I have a 2001 and have had no problems when I go to the sand dunes or local farm fields.The straight 6 is the way to go,very strong engine and mileage is not that bad(I get 16 around town).|||From what I know: Rubicon gives stock 31" tires and front and rear diff lockers.





Are they strong? They're as strong as you make em!|||The first guy needs a real education in what "Off-Roading" is all about. He also needs to study the history of 4 wheel drives and learn something before speaking.|||TJ is a model and the Rubicon up tp 2006 is a diffrent version of that model. Being that is turned out from the factory better equipped for off roading trail riding purposes. The 2007 and up wranglers are model JK. I Have enjoyed all my Jeeps yes Gas milage maybe isnt the greatest but it's the vehicle I enjoy. I have never in four jeeps had any major mechanical failures except induced by my own trail riding.Very reliable in my opinion. The only thing I changed from my other jeeps is I went with a hard top just tired of the noise but that to was accepted for 10 years as part of jeepin, now with Lil boy in back was unacceptable. Lastly I would always recommend Rubicon Series has more of what you want for just slightly more cash. Resale is good also.|||ok first of all what is a Jeep TJ? second of all stay away form them period. there engines are enourmous and guzzle gas. If you want an off road car get a subaru. they are well known rally cars. you should get a 2005 subaru WRX STi.