Trim Level Advice

[Zandcwhite]

Planning to immediately go to 35s means a regear as all other trims will have 3.45 axle gears. There's $2500 savings going rubicon even without factoring in lockers, sway bar disconnect, etc. It's keep looking, unless you find a great deal on a sport where the $2500 is really covered.

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[MichaelT333]

So here’s the deal Jeeps hold their resale value very well. Well they did. It’s gone down quite a bit but anyway you’re about to spend 30 K on a sport with 40 50,000 miles. Then spend close to another 5k on a nice lift and wheels and tires. You can get a 2024 brand new bare bones sport for 32k. (2door)
With that being said here is my advice for what it’s worth. I was in your exact position a few years ago I had a budget of 30k as well. I found It was near impossible to get a two-door manual brand new. that’s just what I wanted. People make fun of me all they want but I’m happy. Anyway, one of the dealers I spoke with called me back and said he has a two door manual Willy’s in stock from a canceled sale. It was 40k. It came with all the upgraded features. I ended up getting it and wasn’t happy I went 10k over budget causing me to get a much bigger loan. Once I got the vehicle oh my God am I happy that I did. You say you don’t need power windows doors all the nice features but I don’t know how I would be driving around without them today. Spend a little bit extra and get what you want and you will be happy for a long time.

 

[wanderer]

plus there can be problems with aftermarket installers.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I mean my Gladiator's a 4 door with a soft top and the kiddo can hear me well enough in the back that I had the privilege of singing Wheels on the Bus softly for an hour straight to keep her asleep in her car seat in heavy traffic on Monday as we came back from a beach minivacation. Really it's fine back there with the soft top to have conversation with adults between front and back seats at normal conversational volume.

Way I figure it - you get the hard top if you would've bought an XJ instead of a Wrangler were it still made.

The JL and JT are probably better than past Jeeps. I am actually partially def in my left ear from years of driving with a soft top.

 

[Pig-Pen]

I think all years came with the Rubi suspension, rock sliders, LSD in the rear, off-road tires, and blacked out grill. I think some years included LED lights, D44 front axle, and/or Rubicon fenders. The 2024 with the locker is a good buy.

they have rubi shocks but not springs. I dont think they have rubi fenders but i could be wrong. They come with 32” tires. yes they have the rubi sliders but those you can practically get free (i have) and theyre not worth keeping if you plan to use them.

pretty much all of it ends up being replaced. The M220 rear with lsd is good but you can get that on a sport. And the oem lad will eventually fail, its not a good one really. They do not have D44 fromt axle nor the widetrack that rubis have. Theyre the same axles as sport.

they even had a base Willys with roll up windows. Basically, a mildly kitted sport.

if you plan to leave it bone stock then cool. If you plan to mod it its a total waste of $

 

[kah.mun.rah]

they have rubi shocks but not springs. I dont think they have rubi fenders but i could be wrong. They come with 32” tires. yes they have the rubi sliders but those you can practically get free (i have) and theyre not worth keeping if you plan to use them.

pretty much all of it ends up being replaced. The M220 rear with lsd is good but you can get that on a sport. And the oem lad will eventually fail, its not a good one really. They do not have D44 fromt axle nor the widetrack that rubis have. Theyre the same axles as sport.

they even had a base Willys with roll up windows. Basically, a mildly kitted sport.

if you plan to leave it bone stock then cool. If you plan to mod it its a total waste of $

Yes and not to a lot of that based on the year of the Willys. Either way, looking at any year it was always a better deal to get the Willys than to get the sport and then add the options that the Willys came with. I agree that the base Willys was a waste and if mods are the plan, best to start with the Sport.

 

[Remorseless]

The JL and JT are probably better than past Jeeps. I am actually partially def in my left ear from years of driving with a soft top.

Light years man. Even my JK's sailcloth Trektop was easily twice as loud as the current twill tops.

 

[Maverick909]

Good Day All

The wife has given me the go ahead to get a jeep! I have decided just for safety and creature comforts I want to get a JLU.

With a $30k budget and self imposed 60k mileage limit it seems my search list is full of Sport trims.

I was really wanting a Rubicon trim to get the increased off road features such as lockers, better axle, etc.

Question being - for a weekend warrior - will the Sport trim have enough to handle most any trail.? Plan to 2.5”-3.5” inch lift and get 35” tires pretty soon after purchase if it doesn’t have already.

Thanks for any input!

if you go Sport make sure you get the tow package so it comes with the rear short dana 44 with the anti slip axle. I have done a few moderate trails with 2.5" lift on 33's and 35's just note you will want to regear for the 35's as the sport axles have 3.45 gear ratios. or you can look at swaping to rubicon axles in the future that will give you 4.10 gears and lockers

 

[BobW]

I love the Rubi's lockers and sway-bar disconnect.
Still not convinced the 0.8" clearance gain with 35s is worth the trouble.

 

[Pig-Pen]

I love the Rubi's lockers and sway-bar disconnect.
Still not convinced the 0.8" clearance gain with 35s is worth the trouble.

i noticed a huge difference in capability going from 33s to 35s. And then to 37s. Big jumps.

my sport had the “anti-spin” package that has the D44/m220 rear with lsd. That was the one must have i wanted.

now that im way more into wheeling than i ever thought i would be, i wish i would have coughed up the exta $250-300 a month for a rubi.

 

[Odyssey USA]

I love the Rubi's lockers and sway-bar disconnect.
Still not convinced the 0.8" clearance gain with 35s is worth the trouble.

It’s at least an 1” and I think it’s more about taking less damage and looking at the average off-road tire size making the ruts out there. Your approach and departure angles, your water line goes up too. Just some things to consider. I personally prefer a low COG build. JUST enough to traverse a trail with little to no damage.

 

[Pig-Pen]

Oem sport tires are 31.5” so its a nice jump to 35s.

regearing is not necessary for mild offroading. I was doing moderately aggressive stuff with 3.45 and 35s. Only had issues climbing stuff maybe twice? And it was up streep waterfall type rocks. And still made it over.

get a $500 winch and you can go anywhere.

always wait to see how it performs before just buying…. Had i not jumped to 37s i would have stayed on stock gearing most likely.

if you can get a rubi, and will use it, do it. If you cant swing it, you’ll still be ok. Rubi just makes things easier.

 

[Obviousbicycleco]

IMO:

Sport: Will get Wrangler owners 99% of the places they will actually go.

Rubicon: Once you own it you will no longer have to worry about passing another one and saying to yourself, "I wish I would have got the Rubicon."

Willys: Overall best bang for the buck.

Sahara: Not worth the added cosmetics

My ‘18 Sahara with limited slip in the rear and 4-Hi Part-time got me to work on-time this morning…painted fenders and all.

If I were buying again though, he’s right with the best bang for your buck. My next one will be a Willy’s.

 

[Remorseless]

I love the Rubi's lockers and sway-bar disconnect.
Still not convinced the 0.8" clearance gain with 35s is worth the trouble.

Tires are about diff clearance, not overall ground clearance. With diffs being as low as they are every little bit helps make it easier.

 

[JT1]

they have rubi shocks but not springs. I dont think they have rubi fenders but i could be wrong. They come with 32” tires. yes they have the rubi sliders but those you can practically get free (i have) and theyre not worth keeping if you plan to use them.

pretty much all of it ends up being replaced. The M220 rear with lsd is good but you can get that on a sport. And the oem lad will eventually fail, its not a good one really. They do not have D44 fromt axle nor the widetrack that rubis have. Theyre the same axles as sport.

they even had a base Willys with roll up windows. Basically, a mildly kitted sport.

if you plan to leave it bone stock then cool. If you plan to mod it its a total waste of $

Up until 2024 you are correct. The 24s have the wide axles, 4.10 gears, 33s and a rear locker. They don't have a front locker or the 4:1 transfer case or the swaybar disco, but it is a sweet spot in the lineup now if you don't want to pay for a rubi, get stuck with 3.45s or don't want the M186 front axle.

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