Willys Wheeler VS Rubicon

[shays4me]

I agree to a point.
The Moab had a rear locker, steel bumper, and a winch. If that was still around, that's what I'd have in the driveway.

My problem with the Moab is that they priced it quite a bit higher than a rubicon. About 5k as I remember. For the price difference a person could add the aev bumpers and hood to a rubi and come out ahead.

 

[Hilldweller]

The Moab came with a "winch ready bumper" but can't you mount a winch to the stock JK bumper? If so wouldn't the only difference between a Moab and the Willys be the OPTIONAL rear locker?

The locker was an option and the only ones I saw on the lots had the Warn winch installed already. I think they were a dealer option at first too.
http://blog.jeep.com/models/top-7-features-2013-jeep-wrangler-moab/

Still too much money.

I have no intention of hitting the Rubicon trail anymore. My loaded Sport and LSD do what I need.
4-low, my trailer, and gas money are getting it done.

 

[LukesPa]

I opted for the Willys Wheeler

I really couldn't afford to get the Rubicon unless I'd bought a used one with the anemic 3.8L engine. Then who knows where it's been and what's been done to it.

I got the Willy's Wheeler about 2 months ago and I'm very pleased. I did a fairly tough local trail bone stock very easily, that trail challenged my old YJ. The stock suspension consisted of the same springs and shocks as the Rubicon has, but I upgraded to an AEV 2.5" DualSport suspension and I'm very pleased. The Jeep rides and handles better both on and off road. I could now run 35s if I wanted to but with 3.73 gears that would pretty much force me to re-gear. When I wear out the stock tires, I'll probably go to 33's and leave it with that.

I've run a couple even harder trails with the lift on and I'm really impressed with this Jeep. Yes there are places a Rubicon could go that I can't but I can easily go places most Rubicons really never go. For overland or expedition type use the Willys Wheeler is more than enough Jeep. I do kind of wish I had the power group so I could roll down the passenger window from my side and lock and unlock all the doors at once, it is available but good luck finding it on a lot.

I have also added JKS Quicker disconnects to my front swaybar, and some additional armor in the form of an AEV rear diff slider, and a warn front diff skid plate. I'm done spending money for now. I was out the door with the gap insurance $31,000.......I chiseled them pretty hard, walked once then chiseled some more. The lift installed was about $1700 and I spent another $500 or so on the disconnects and armor.

 

[goin camping]

It's been said already, but ill say it again. The Willie's is a sticker model, just like the altitude, polar, sahara, dragon etc. In MY opinion, there are only two models, the sport and rubicon. You can get everything that is on the other models, put onto the sport, except the transfer case, dana 44 front, electronic sway bar and lockers. Hence why I say that there are only two true models of the JK. Now if badging and special paint colors are important, then sure get one of the sticker models. If you want a great platform to build from get the sport. If you want a great, off-the-lot vehicle, get the Rubicon. Hope this helps.

I'll disagree to a point.

To me they are package models. In that they come with options already installed along with the stickers.

 

[marktutone]

I really couldn't afford to get the Rubicon unless I'd bought a used one with the anemic 3.8L engine. Then who knows where it's been and what's been done to it.

I got the Willy's Wheeler about 2 months ago and I'm very pleased. I did a fairly tough local trail bone stock very easily, that trail challenged my old YJ. The stock suspension consisted of the same springs and shocks as the Rubicon has, but I upgraded to an AEV 2.5" DualSport suspension and I'm very pleased. The Jeep rides and handles better both on and off road. I could now run 35s if I wanted to but with 3.73 gears that would pretty much force me to re-gear. When I wear out the stock tires, I'll probably go to 33's and leave it with that.

I've run a couple even harder trails with the lift on and I'm really impressed with this Jeep. Yes there are places a Rubicon could go that I can't but I can easily go places most Rubicons really never go. For overland or expedition type use the Willys Wheeler is more than enough Jeep. I do kind of wish I had the power group so I could roll down the passenger window from my side and lock and unlock all the doors at once, it is available but good luck finding it on a lot.

I have also added JKS Quicker disconnects to my front swaybar, and some additional armor in the form of an AEV rear diff slider, and a warn front diff skid plate. I'm done spending money for now. I was out the door with the gap insurance $31,000.......I chiseled them pretty hard, walked once then chiseled some more. The lift installed was about $1700 and I spent another $500 or so on the disconnects and armor.View attachment 239041View attachment 239040

Thanks for the info.

 

[Justincredible]

I can't find anywhere that says the Willys comes with Rubicon shocks.
http://www.jeep.com/en/limited-editions/wrangler-willys-wheeler/

And the Rubicon has the same springs as everyone else. Jeep generally only goes stiffer for hard tops and tow packages.
You can tell what you have by the last two numbers of the part number. The front springs go from #14 to #19. The rears go from #55 to #60 (lower is softer, higher is stiffer).
My 2door sport (hard top + max tow package) has 18 front and 58 rear. A friend of mine has a soft top Rubicon that came with 16/57.

 

[MR.Ty]

I'll disagree to a point.

To me they are package models. In that they come with options already installed along with the stickers.

Disclaimer: not trying to be argumentative.

Right, that "package" consists of an aftermarket hood or a fancy paint job so they mark it up by 5 - 10k. As far as functionality, there is no difference between a Willies or a sport. Same dana 30 front axle, same transfer case, same gear ratio options etc . I was corrected on the moab edition, but for the price tag it wasn't worth it. I just think that Chrysler/fiat knows theu can make insignificant changes to their top selling model and charge a hell of a lot more because people don't take the time to find what is really different between all the different models. This is all my opinion based on my research I did when I traded in my 09 for my 14.

 

[dwvninety]

Disclaimer: not trying to be argumentative.

Right, that "package" consists of an aftermarket hood or a fancy paint job so they mark it up by 5 - 10k. As far as functionality, there is no difference between a Willies or a sport. Same dana 30 front axle, same transfer case, same gear ratio options etc . I was corrected on the moab edition, but for the price tag it wasn't worth it. I just think that Chrysler/fiat knows theu can make insignificant changes to their top selling model and charge a hell of a lot more because people don't take the time to find what is really different between all the different models. This is all my opinion based on my research I did when I traded in my 09 for my 14.

When I was shopping for a Jeep Wrangler JKU I asked about the different options available from the Sport, Sahara, Rubicon, Dragon etc. Salesman had no clue just told me they were all 4X4 and could do any trails. Didn't know about axle, gearing, swaybar disconnects (told me it makes the vehicle more stable in highway use) or lockers. He actually did not know the difference between front, center and rear lockers. He was mostly trying to sell me on the radio, NAV, heated seats, 3.6 Pentastar engine, tires, wheels, hardtop, soft top, removable doors and coolness factor.

 

[Hilldweller]

My first salesman told me that you could always buy a "locker" from Tuffy. He thought a locker was the box where you stored your wallet or gun when you went for a swim.

Don't forget that a Sahara has painted fenders. Less wind resistance. You go faster. Get better gas mileage.
So there.

 

[MR.Ty]

My first salesman told me that you could always buy a "locker" from Tuffy. He thought a locker was the box where you stored your wallet or gun when you went for a swim.

Don't forget that a Sahara has painted fenders. Less wind resistance. You go faster. Get better gas mileage.
So there.