I've been thinking of doing the same thing. Shipping my rig out to a friends house in Cali and flying out to run the trail. Time being the most valuable thing these days.
If you are 2 years out, I would be interested in doing the same thing.
Group trip
Budget $1200 out and $1200 back for shipping.
More if you need it picked up at specific times.
Fuel for the round trip would be about $1200+/- depending on current prices anyway. Plus food and housing.
An extra $1200 for the 4-6 days you would lose doesn't sound that bad.
If I did the Rubicon I would plan my trip to include seeing family, stopping for sight seeing, and getting food from iconic places along the route. I consider that half the fun and life experience. After the 5th time through you get a bit tired of the Kansas flatness but the first time seeing and experiencing that is awesome. The night sky being lit up by flashing red beacons on all the wind turbines as far as you can see. The soul moving beautiful drive from Denver to Grand Junction on I70. The engine roar on the run up Eisenhower pass. The quirky weird ambiance, delicious breakfast, and great friends all around one table in Leadville (and subsequent almost passing out just walking down the street from the thin air). The Moab meals from folks who traveled there brought from all over - Texas Brisket from Driftwood Tx, KC BBQ from the
KC BBQ joint, St Louis style pizza from STL, low country boil with crawdads and shrimp from Mississippi. The massive Texas sized steak lunch with great friends. The trip can be fulfilling in it's own way.