Motobilt’s War-Ready ’24 Jeep 392 Rubicon 

When it comes to building a company that is as tough and rugged as the products it manufacturers, walking the walk becomes an absolute key part of doing business. This isn’t to say that presenting sentiments along the lines of “more is more” or “bigger is better” at the forefront is of utmost importance. Staying true to the reliable innovation and ingenuity that was placed at the core from the beginning is what’s important, and the team at Motobilt gets that.

Dan DuBose , Motobilt president and CEO, along with his talented crew of designers and fabricators, has perfected the art of developing off-road Jeep components that are built for performance and longevity. Every component Motobilt manufacturers is tested off-road to not only meet but to exceed its own elevated standards, which is exactly what enthusiasts should expect when buying products for their own purpose-built adventure rigs.

Meet The Crew

The new Jeep 392 Rubicon platform is an impressive vehicle right off the lot, which is obviously why Motobilt began designing new products for it. To be truly confident of fitment and overall performance of its parts and how they jibe on a full custom Jeep, the only option for the Motobilt team to consider was to build their own 392 Rubicon from the ground up to see how they could make it better than factory form. Not one bit of real-world research and development goes overlooked, and Dan oversees all aspects of company projects, product R&D, marketing, and so much more. He has been a part of the off-road community since the early 1990’s and invests every ounce of that experience into making the Motobilt brand the best it can be.

To assist in the fresh 392 Rubicon project, Motobilt design manager Michael Mihelich and his crew of CAD experts first conceptualized then fabricated the new products featured on the Jeep that has since been dubbed “Hooligan.” Together with Rob “Bender” Park, who leads the company’s custom fabrication department that builds and assembles all Motobilt’s custom rides, the two began rendering the rest of the products required to put together an all-encompassing rig that could take on any type of terrain.

Trail Ready 

To get the 392 sitting at a proper off-road height, the Motobilt crew began installing a RockKrawler 2.5-inch X Factor mid arm suspension lift kit as well as Fox Elite Performance 2.5 reservoir shocks at all corners. To ensure that the Jeep rides as strong as possible, a ECGS high pinion kingpin Dana 60 front axle with 5.38 gears, high steer arms with tie rod/drag link from Steer Smarts, 4-inch axle tubes, an ARB air locker, Yukon Hardcore 40-spline locking hubs, an Adams 4×4 1350 CV one-piece front driveshaft and 1410 rear, and so much more were thrown underneath the 392.

A PSC hydraulic assisted steering setup with an upgraded EHPS pump and big bore steering box, as well as front and rear RockJock 4×4 sway bars were bolted on to ensure a smooth, steady ride. For adequate ground contact, the crew selected a set of 17×9 Dirty Life Enigma beadlock wheels in crimson red, along with 42-inch Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MT tires.

The Right Stuff 

From there, Dan and the rest of the Motobilt machine began assembling as many of their own parts that could be affixed to the 392’s body. From the Gladius frame chop front bumper, high clearance fender kits, rocker armor, front and rear aluminum half doors, as well as other freshly debuted parts like the new JLU taillights, drop-down tailgate and the soon-to-be-released JLU full roll cage, there is no shortage of in-house Motobilt product here.

Of course, no true off-road rig would be complete without impressive exterior lighting, and thanks to Baja Designs components, this Jeep won’t get caught in the dark anytime soon. Another great feature this 392 Rubicon has is the factory SKY one-touch power top. There’s no better way to experience trail running and rock crawling than in true al fresco style.

Happy Trails 

Since Hooligan’s completion, it has since made a successful trip to Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, where most of these photos were captured. It was also here that Motobilt’s parts were put to the ultimate test before being made available to the off-roading Jeep masses. From rocky terrain to sandy scenarios, Hooligan performed beautifully and didn’t skip a beat. It climbed effortlessly over everything in its way, but that was to be expected.

It takes a village to create something as big and bad as Motobilt’s Hooligan 392 Rubicon. From the company’s owner Dan DuBose, design manager Michael Mihelich, fabrication guru Rob “Bender” Park as well as the rest of the in-house talent, this Jeep has served as a platform to be built and beat on all in the name of off-road research. There’s just no better way to do it.

Stay connected with Motobilt to find where you can catch Hooligan in person to get inspiration for your very own Jeep project.

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UPGRADES

2024 Jeep JLU 392 Rubicon 

Engine: Dan DuBose / Motobuilt
Ozark, AL

Engine & Drivetrain: ECGS high pinion kingpin Dana 60 front axle w/ 5.38 gears; ECGS high steer arms; Steer Smarts tie rod/drag links; 4-inch axle tubes; 71-inch WMS; 40 spline w/1550 U-joints; ARB Air Locker; Yukon Hardcore 40-spline locking hubs; ECGS GM high clearance 14-bolt 5.38 gears; Adams 4×4 1350 CV one-piece front driveshaft and rear 1410 at rear w/ 14-bolt yoke

Chassis & Suspension: RockKrawler 2.5-inch X Factor mid arm suspension; Fox Elite Performance Series 2.5 reservoir shocks front (PN 883-26-051) and rear (PN 883-26-055); PSC hydraulic assist steering with upgraded EHPS pump and big bore steering box; RockJock 4×4-Antirock JL front and rear sway bar kits

Wheels & Tires: 17×9 Dirty Life Enigma beadlock wheels in crimson red; 42×13.50×17 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MT tires

Body & Paint: WARN Semi-Hidden winch bumper; Rigid Adapt XP Xtreme lights; Denali D2 Light Pods; WARN ZEON 10-S Platinum Winch, WARN Epic Shackles; FACTOR 55 UltraHook; Leitner Active Cargo System with four gearpods; DECKED truck bed drawer system; Prinsu aluminum roof rack; CBI Offroad Rock Sliders; magnetic radio antenna

Off-Road Trailer: Gladius frame chop front bumper w/ bull bar for Warn 8274 winch; Factor 55 Ultra Hook; JLU full roll cage; Switch-Pros mount for roll cage; Aluminum front and rear highline fenders for Jeep; JL/JLU/JT front inner fenders for 40-inch tires; High clearance rear inner fender kit; Aluminum unlimited rocker armor for Jeep JL 4-door; Frame mounted rocker guards for Jeep JL 4-door; Spare tire carrier for Jeep, spare tire license plate relocation kit w/ camera mount & tag light for Jeep JL; JL/JLU taillight kit with Baja Designs S2 backup light mounts; Aluminum front and rear half doors for Jeep JL/JLU/JT; Universal mirror brackets; Micro Series rear bumper for Jeep JL; Rear lower corner armor; Windshield washer fluid tank relocation kit; Skid system for 392 Jeep JLU; JL/JLU drop down tailgate; Baja Designs linkable roof mount light kit, Squadron auxiliary light pods in front bumper, Squadron Sport black Led auxiliary light pods in taillights; Taillight kit for JL/JLU; LiteDOT LED taillights by OffRoad Only; Mojave linkable light bar bracket; Double dome interior light fixture; Bestop Ultra Super Top and factory One-Touch Power Top

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Editor’s Note: A version of this article appeared in TREAD Sep/Oct 2024