Modern Willy's V Rubicon - OR Front Locker value

[AlphaNuJeep]

Hola Team,
Dig. I'm like 10 Jeeps in. Never owned a Rubicon and have done just fine. Bought the wife a Rubicon and taking hers out I'm intrigued having used the rear lockers for a monster hill just to flip the switch and try it out.

Question for you pros out there. Considering a 2 door again (kids have all moved out), and wondering about the cost argument / usage argument between the Willy's with a rear locker vs the Rubicon with front and rear. To answer the use case, we typically hit 3-4 Jeep Jam's every year, we're part of the local group, but it's also my daily so I'm not making any youtube videos.

Thoughts? and Thanks<

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[yokramer]

Do you want to spend the extra money for a 4:1 tcase, auto sway bar discos, and the red accents? If you get on just fine without any lockers to this point in the things you do thats really the only question to answer.

 

[KCSgtMaj]

I was originally going to order the Willys with the rear locker and not the Rubicon. Though at the time I ordered I could not order the 3.6L with the Willys. So I ordered the Rubicon. For what I drive I mainly use rear locker, but have used the front locker on occasion. but today if i was doing it again, I would order the Willys 392. I think you’ll like the Willys.

 

[Remorseless]

2 door is always the right answer.

For Willys vs Rubicon - front locker is nice to have, but it's not necessary. Same thing with the 4:1 and the disconnecting sway bar.

If the cost of "nice but not necessary" is too much either financially or as a mental block, do the Willys. If you can afford "nice but not necessary", it is nice.

 

[bjeepz]

A Willy's with the XR package and some sway bar disconnects will get you a few places!

 

[kah.mun.rah]

For me the biggest advantage of the Rubicon vs Willys if you offroad is the increased crawl ratio. Front locker and e-sway bar are meh.

Crawl ratios (auto trans):

Stock Rubicon: 77 to 1
Xtreme Rubicon: 86 to 1
4:88 Rubicon: 92 to 1

Stock Willys (2024+): 52 to 1
Xtreme Willys: 58 to 1

 

[azjl#3]

meh until it's sleeting 40mph winds muddy snowy, then the push button suits me fine.

 

[Remorseless]

For me the biggest advantage of the Rubicon vs Willys if you offroad is the increased crawl ratio. Front locker and e-sway bar are meh.

Crawl ratios (auto trans):

Stock Rubicon: 77 to 1
Xtreme Rubicon: 86 to 1
4:88 Rubicon: 92 to 1

Stock Willys (2024+): 52 to 1
Xtreme Willys: 58 to 1

And to think there was a time when YJs and TJs rolled off the lots with 22:1 ratios and 3.07 axle gears

 

[MauiSteve]

I seldom need the capabilities that the Rubicon offers but when you need them…………it’s great to have them. My 21 JLR is great off road, I’d get another one if I needed it. Mine is a V6 with a 6 speed, crawling in 4 low 1st gear is a hoot. It’s just me, I have a lot of tools in my life, many I seldom use but when the time comes, it’s great to have them.

 

[Snacktime]

Comes down to what other options you get. If you want a manual transmission the 4:1 transfer case is a big deal. Now the 8 speed doesn't need the 4:1 for the same control and the added wheel speed of the 2.72 is a big perk (especially since 4lo turns off the nannies).

I hunted a Willys trim for a good 2 months before going with a Sport due to the deals. It comes down to what you stumble into.

 

[swampflyer]

A word about front locker and winch. Had a TJR and manual trans was out and about frolicking in the mountains of co. If anyones is familure with red table mtn in co during the rain the roads have about 3 inches of red dirt/mud/clay (whatever you want to call it) on it and I slid off into a ditch. Not a deep ditch just normal side graded ditch. The TJ was trying to get out but was going side ways, so locked in the rear and still sideways. Locked in the front and it jumped right out back up on the road. Later on got high centered on a snow heap in the roadway and had to use the winch to get off. Needless to say it was rubicons from then on.. Only time I ever used the front Locker and winch but with out it no fun. moral of the story as someone said above, it's better to have it than not even if only once.

 

[Prot]

I find if you are going through mud, soft dirt, or sand, if you use lockers, you will not tear up the land and cut ruts nearly as bad if it all.

That being said, the most bang for the buck, especially if buying new, is Willy’s with XR package. They are usually heavily discounted. A front locker could always be added later if needed, and you are already starting out with D44’s and 4.56 gears.

Rubicons and Rubicon X aren’t usually as deeply discounted.

Willys 392 isn’t that much more expensive than Rubicon X which has half the number of cylinders.

 

[Prot]

I find if you are going through mud, soft dirt, or sand, if you use lockers, you will not tear up the land and cut ruts nearly as bad if it all.

That being said, the most bang for the buck, especially if buying new, is Willy’s with XR package. They are usually heavily discounted. A front locker could always be added later if needed, and you are already starting out with D44’s and 4.56 gears.

Rubicons and Rubicon X aren’t usually as deeply discounted.

Willys 392 isn’t that much more expensive than Rubicon X which has half the number of cylinders.

 

[Ear Responsible]

Hola Team,
Dig. I'm like 10 Jeeps in. Never owned a Rubicon and have done just fine. Bought the wife a Rubicon and taking hers out I'm intrigued having used the rear lockers for a monster hill just to flip the switch and try it out.

Question for you pros out there. Considering a 2 door again (kids have all moved out), and wondering about the cost argument / usage argument between the Willy's with a rear locker vs the Rubicon with front and rear. To answer the use case, we typically hit 3-4 Jeep Jam's every year, we're part of the local group, but it's also my daily so I'm not making any youtube videos.

Thoughts? and Thanks<

I think the Rubicon x offers a whole bunch of upgrades other then the obvious big items and is actually good bang for the buck. You have to look carefully at the list. I have had mine for a year and it’s like every day I become aware of some unique item. Forget the off road upgrades even on the highway it’s significantly improved. I could not imagine driving long distances without adaptive cruise control. I have rented and driven every JL model and even without the off road upgrades it is a significantly better driving and riding platform around town and on the highway

 

[tobyw]

Rubicons and Rubicon X aren’t usually as deeply discounted.

The counterpoint here is that the same will hold true when it comes time to sell your Jeep... The Rubicon will almost always hold more value than any other package.

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