Jeep Rubicon Certified Car Key Locksmith Services

Sometimes, the simplest decisions turn out to be the hardest  -  like deciding whether to build what would become the most capable production Jeep ever: the Wrangler Rubicon. For Jeep enthusiasts, this decision was a no-brainer. Since the 1997 TJ’s debut with its multi-link coil spring suspension front and rear, thousands of new Wranglers have been heavily modified with $6,000-plus upgrades like bigger wheels and tires, locking differentials, low-range transfer case gearing, and lift kits. So why didn’t Jeep offer such a package themselves? Here’s the story of how the Rubicon almost didn’t make it through the corporate maze.

The first big obstacle was the lack of understanding within the massive Chrysler bureaucracy of the mid-1990s. Out of roughly 10,000 engineers, fewer than 100 identified as off-road enthusiasts  -  and an even smaller number actually owned modified Jeeps capable of serious off-roading. That meant just a handful of people truly grasped that a significant market existed for an ultimate off-road Wrangler that customers would gladly pay thousands more for. That “cheerleading section” was tiny compared to the bean counters and marketing teams pushing ideas like a “Laura Croft Tomb Raider” package.

Anyone credible in off-roading was dismissed as part of the so-called “Lunatic Fringe”  -  extreme-sports types whose opinions were discounted as biased or irrelevant. Ironically, this Lunatic Fringe group eventually became a coveted insider circle within Jeep’s engineering team, complete with their own branded shirts. Meanwhile, Jeep marketing mostly considered the serious off-road community to be the relatively tame crowd that attended Camp Jeep events. So the idea of a hardcore Rubicon package faced serious uphill battles from the start.

The next challenge was funding. With so few believers outside the Lunatic Fringe, and uncertain sales volume projections, making a solid business case was daunting. Although Chrysler rarely disclosed program costs, the tooling required for a production-quality 4:1 low-range transfer case, rocker panel guards, selectable locking differentials, unique wheels, and specialized shocks added up to a hefty sum. Finance folks loved the idea if the vehicle sold 30,000 units per year, but the plan was risky if it only sold 1,000  -  and risk meant job losses.

On top of that, there was the perennial engineering conflict: bigger wheels and tires almost always hurt ride quality and handling. Since the Wrangler already wasn’t the ride and handling team’s favorite, every mention of larger tires meant bracing for resistance and tough debates.

Yet despite these hurdles, Jeep’s small but passionate group of off-road devotees won the day. The Wrangler Rubicon was born  -  an uncompromising factory-built trail beast that carried forward Jeep’s legendary off-road DNA and satisfied the most demanding customers who wanted capability straight from the showroom floor.

If you own a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, SherlockLock specializes in tailored locksmith services designed for the unique security and key programming needs of this iconic off-roader. Whether it’s emergency lockout assistance, advanced key fob programming, or lock repairs after trail adventures, SherlockLock ensures your Wrangler Rubicon stays as reliable off-road as it is secure on the road.