Matt's 2021 Jeep Wrangler Diesel Rubicon JL

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Diesel.

There is just something about its rumble, its growl, that screams excitement, fun and power. Especially if it is a Wrangler.

I've been around plenty of diesel trucks growing up — especially Ram series Cummins versions in the early 1990s. When I was tooling around in a YJ, friends had a '92 red 250 with a 5.9L and I always admired that sound. Plus, it always seemed to handle whatever we needed to carry from one place to another.

So when (then Jeep owner) Fiat Chrysler announced back in 2017 that the new JL Wrangler would eventually contain a diesel engine, I was definitely intrigued. However, I had no intention of giving up the 2014 JKU that gave me plenty of good memories during trail events at eastern Pennsylvania off-road parks Rausch Creek and Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.

Enter the pandemic. And all of a sudden trade in prices at dealership became just as solid as trying to sell a vehicle yourself. That 2014 was now in need of, at the least, a regear, new front axle seals, new ball joints, and was due for some brake work. While I was pondering those things this past spring, I had half a mind to just pull the front axle and swap out for a Core 44 with 4.56 gearing. That way, it would just be the back 44 that would need a gearing bump after the front was done.

On a whim though, in checking with our local Jeep dealership, they had a 2021 Snazzberry diesel Rubicon on the lot. It didn't take long to realize that this diesel was a real possibility, so after thinking a bit, I decided it would become the next project vehicle.

This build is designed to highlight just how capable a diesel can be as a daily driver on 37-inch tires and a modest suspension lift, while also showing off its sheer low-end torque when off-roading. The engine tosses out 442 lb-ft of torque, and while its horsepower is slightly less than a Pentastar engine, that torque easily makes up for any perceived power loss. It should easily turn those tires without any kind of gearing change, and we should still see decent fuel economy for a Wrangler. We were at 25-27 miles-per-gallon before modifications, so that should probably drop to the 18-20 range.

But we all know that miles-per-gallon isn't the reason to own a Jeep. It's more about the fun and what you can do with it. And we're definitely planning some off-road trips throughout 2022 at several different parks, as well as showing up to events such as the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival in western Pennsylvania, Wildwood Jeep Invasion in Wildwood, New Jersey, All Breeds Jeep Show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and several others over the summer months.

Along the way, we'll highlight parts on this build as well as where you can find them on our site such as amazing AEV suspension, wheel, bumper and lighting products, Rock Slide Engineering side steps, Mickey Thompson Baja Boss All Terrain tires, Mastertop Soft Accessories, Quadratec lighting, recovery and interior items, Diver Down seat covers, Alpine Electronic infotainment and Overland Outfitters storage bags.

In the first video of this build series, we highlight the rugged and beautiful AEV Differential Covers. These are products that are sometimes overlooked by off-road drivers who want to get that lift kit and larger tires on their vehicle in order to tackle tougher terrain. However, having durable protection of your differential housings makes just as much sense. The factory versions are adequate, but are not really designed for a long life span if blue and black trails are on your list — once you pull one off your vehicle, you'll know what we are talking about.

The AEV Differential Covers utilize a nodular iron construction tough enough to shrug off solid rock strikes, while a reinforced bottom edge won't fray apart like the factory ones could if you have to slide off an obstacle. Plus, all the hardware is recessed which is a great protective feature, and the fill plugs are oversized so refilling the differential will be way easier than with a factory cover.

We have other videos on this build coming soon.

Of course, this Snazzberry diesel is going to always be a work in progress, what Jeep build isn't, so if you see us on the road, the trail, or at an event, make sure to say hi.

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In this second edition of our build series on the diesel JL Wrangler Rubicon, we get into the 'meat and potatoes' of what a Jeep build looks like — the suspension. It isn't something required, and the Rubicon is perfectly equipped to do some light off-road trails with minor to semi-modest obstacles. But if you want to tackle more aggressive terrain, then a suspension lift will help you accommodate that goal.

In this case, we've chosen the AEV DualSport 2.5-inch RT Suspension System for a few reasons, but the main one is that this kit has one version for the gasoline engine Wrangler, and one for the diesel that is specially tuned for the heavier weight of that diesel.

We've known AEV a long time and have seen their kits in action a bunch over the years, and one thing you quickly realize is just how smooth the ride is once the suspension lift is in place. The geometry correction they engineer into their kits is designed to provide as close to a factory-quality ride as you can get, while still offering a lift that gives maximum tire articulation and superior off-road performance. Additionally, AEV uses triple-rate coil springs that are frequency tuned and Bilstein 5100 shocks to help accomplish this sporty factory feel. This combination not only increases both up travel and down travel but also provides better articulation as well as improved off-road speed potential and bottoming control.

With a Rubicon Wrangler JL on a 2.5-inch suspension lift, we are able to fit 37-inch tires on AEV's beautiful Borah DualSport Wheels. This wheel style has long been one of our top sellers and AEV has specifically designed the JL version with an offset and backspacing perfect to fit these larger tires under the wheel well with a full range of tire travel. We've picked the Onix version of the Borah wheels, as the finish will pair perfectly with the Snazzberry maroon paint scheme. Additionally, we are adding silver wheel protectors that will shield the wheels from rock rash, or other kinds of trail scrapes.