WRANGLER
ERIC Castillo’s 2013 Wrangler Rubicon is a rare 10th Anniversary edition – in fact, FCA secured only 12 twodoor and 18 four-door models. Eric purchased the scarce shorty back in 2014 completely stock, and it’s taken him three years from go-to-whoa to end up with this trailblazing hunk of metal. For those three years, the Wrangler has spent much of its time in the trusty hands of the folk at Double Black Offroad, who have taken care of every aspect of this neat build.
From the showroom, the special edition Rubicon is trail-ready, with a 13mm hike in ride height, Dana 44 axles, part-time 4WD system, Rock-trac transfer case with a 4:1 low range, Tru-lok electronic remote-locking diffs, and an electronically-operated front anti-roll-bar disconnect.
However, Eric knew there was still room for improvement. “The best investments I’ve put in it are the suspension and tyres,” Eric told us. On that front, the Rubicon runs 35x12.5 R17LT Nitto Trail Grapplers M/T tyres wrapped around 35-inch Walker Evans Beadlock wheels. Suspension componentry runs to a heavy-duty Dana 60 axle (rear) and 44 (up front) and ARB Air Lockers.
“The DBOR Wild Kit has been installed on this Jeep,” Bill Barbas, the owner of DBOR, told us. “The kit has successfully passed the swerve test and is certified compliant by Vic Roads.”
DBOR’S Wild Kit includes Synergy adjustable control arms, Synergy double adjuster sleeve and pinch bolt assembly, extended Adr-approved brake lines (front and rear), 3-inch or 4-inch Speedbumps (front and rear), heavy-duty Synergy chromoly tie rods, and Fox rebuildable shocks and rebuildable steering dampener.
A Poison Spyder front bar houses a Warn Zeon 8S winch should the need for a recovery arise, while the EVO rear fascia down back is more style than substance. Rigid Industries lighting and Smittybilt Guard Protectors surround the Rubicon, and a Trektop NX soft top can be manually opened should Eric
wish to get his daily dosage of vitamin D.
An AEV snorkel feeds air through an Airaid filter to the 209kw/347nm 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine; a set-up which came in handy when Eric set off on a jaunt across the Simpson Desert in 2016 – an expedition impressively completed in one day. “We started at 6am in Birdsville, and by 6pm we were in Dalhousie Springs,” Eric told us.
From the pilot’s seat, Eric has access to a Bully Dog controller perched on the dash, as well as a GME radio for remote-area communications. The interior is otherwise standard.
“The build has been absolutely awesome,” Eric said. “I have taken my rig to pretty much some of the hardest tracks in Victoria and it has delivered.”
Eric told us he wouldn’t hesitate to use DBOR for another Jeep build in the future. “I am absolutely pleased with the overall product, and the wealth of knowledge that Bill has about Jeeps is invaluable.”
A massive expedition is on the cards for Eric in the next few weeks, and it looks like he has the perfect companion for it. “The vehicle is about to embark on a journey to Cape York, Fraser Island and then finishing off at the Glasshouse Mountains, so watch this space!”