Willys vs Rubicon vs 4 runner

[jlang]

Ok , some background …
I’ve had current gen 4 runner 1 JKR 2 JLRs and 1 JLUR and I just ordered my wife a 392 JLUR XR…. So I’m very familiar with the Rubicon.

is a Willys comparable to a 4 runner in capability more so than a rubicon ?

I always come back to a jeep and really like the product .
Only thing is I do basic trails and don’t care to rock climb or do anything too difficult or technical . Most technical thing might be like black bear pass or something….

It’s more of a daily and once every 2 month off-roader …
Would a Willys fulfill 90 percent of what I want ?



im Looking to stay more on the budget side since im about to buy the 83k rubicon for my wife…

Thanks !

Hey welcome to the forum- Why are you wanting a Willy's when you have had 3 late model Rubicon's? I believe you already know the answer to the question you are asking.

The Willy's and Rubicon are more capable off road than the 4 runner but for what you are wanting to do, it doesnt matter. They are all equally capable of doing basic trails.

Sponsored

 

[entropy]

Welcome to the forum!

My understanding is lower level 4Runners have open diffs; TRD Off-Road and Pro have a rear locker.

So from that standpoint alone, Willys with its standard rear LSD sits between 4Runner SR5 with open diffs, and TRD Off-Road with rear locker.

Beyond that, 4Runner drives better on-road due to its IFS; Willys is more at ease off-road due to its solid axles.

TFL has several videos showing what a stock base Willys 2-door can do. It is pretty impressive.

A willys stock is gonna be more capable than a 4runner TRD off-road or Pro. A willys has a rear LSD that's quite capable on small 32 tires. The 4runner needs the locker for the lack of articulation, which the Willys doesn't have an issue with.

Apples and oranges anyway. The Jeep is more capable than the 4runner, specially a 2 door. Toyota only makes one vehicle that's comparable to a Wrangler and they don't sell it in the U.S.

For the type of off-roading you are doing a sport would do. Get yourself a Willys and you'll be all set.

 

[Jeepfamilia]

Hey welcome to the forum- Why are you wanting a Willy's when you have had 3 late model Rubicon's? I believe you already know the answer to the question you are asking.

The Willy's and Rubicon are more capable off road than the 4 runner but for what you are wanting to do, it doesnt matter. They are all equally capable of doing basic trails.

i knowthe Rubicon is “the one” but my I’ve ordered the 392 XR for my wife and I really just want a daily but don’t want to spend 60+

 

[aldo98229]

A willys stock is gonna be more capable than a 4runner TRD off-road or Pro. A willys has a rear LSD that's quite capable on small 32 tires. The 4runner needs the locker for the lack of articulation, which the Willys doesn't have an issue with.

Apples and oranges anyway. The Jeep is more capable than the 4runner, specially a 2 door.

For the type of off-roading you are doing a sport would do. Get yourself a Willys and you'll be all set.

Perhaps. But I’ve seen stock 4Runners do some impressive stuff.

On a recent YouTube comparo, a 2021 4Runner, with its 15 year old running gear, beat an overrated Bronco Sasquatch going over some off-road obstacles.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Willys is great, it is like sort of the budget minded Rubicon.

 

[aldo98229]

i knowthe Rubicon is “the one” but my I’ve ordered the 392 XR for my wife and I really just want a daily but don’t want to spend 60+

Apparently some just can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want a Rubicon... ?

 

[entropy]

Perhaps. But I’ve seen stock 4Runners do some impressive stuff off-road.

In fact, on a recent YouTube comparo, a 2021 4Runner, with its 15 year old running gear, beat an overrated Bronco Sasquatch going over some trail obstacles.

It is not perhaps. A 4runner is gonna have issues a Willys wont on any rock crawling scenario.

Ok maybe that's a little too harsh. I personally dont think they're comparable at all. I've seen a 2020 Cherokee trailhawk do some crazy stuff.

Point is, Wheeling a Jeep is never gonna be like wheeling a 4runner. And the Jeep will always make your life easier in low speed off-roading.

 

[2nd 392]

It is not perhaps. A 4runner is gonna have issues a Willys wont on any rock crawling scenario.

Ok maybe that's a little to harsh. I personally dont think they're comparable at all. I've seen a 2020 Cherokee trailhawk do some crazy stuff.

Point is, Wheeling a Jeep is never gonna be like wheeling a 4runner. And the Jeep will always make your life easier in low speed off-roading.

Correct, a 4RUNNER is not remotely comparable to a Rubicon so most likely also a Willys, also they are NOT better on road! I know from experience. Refer to post on 1’st page

 

[displayname]

I appreciate everyone's input here. I've found the Willys to be the most financially appealing model for awhile, but I do like the 4Runner we have and I sometimes think maybe that's the better all around/daily driver vehicle (which I would need it to be).
But the talk of it becoming boring is what I needed to hear. I'm so ready to have a vehicle I find to be fun! I want to be stop talking myself into practical options, so that feedback really is helpful.

 

[entropy]

I appreciate everyone's input here. I've found the Willys to be the most financially appealing model for awhile, but I do like the 4Runner we have and I sometimes think maybe that's the better all around/daily driver vehicle (which I would need it to be).
But the talk of it becoming boring is what I needed to hear. I'm so ready to have a vehicle I find to be fun! I want to be stop talking myself into practical options, so that feedback really is helpful.

JLs are very nice daily drivers. Go test drive one, they put a smile on your face too. Theyre so easy to modify too. If you get hooked with wheeling like I did and find out you want more capability, it is easy to upgrade to your needs.

 

[displayname]

JLs are very nice daily drivers. Go test drive one.

We've already set up to rent a Willys on an upcoming trip in November, so I'll get a week and a few hundred miles behind the wheel in a 4 door. I think a 2 door is what's really calling to me, but I'll compare it after this time in the 4 door.

My brother in law also had a JT Rubicon for a bit, and I drove that. Was very impressed, and that's what's really started me down the rabbit hole. As much as I enjoyed the Gladiator, I prefer SUVs for the pups.

 

[entropy]

We've already set up to rent a Willys on an upcoming trip in November, so I'll get a week and a few hundred miles behind the wheel in a 4 door. I think a 2 door is what's really calling to me, but I'll compare it after this time in the 4 door.

My brother in law also had a JT Rubicon for a bit, and I drove that. Was very impressed, and that's what's really started me down the rabbit hole. As much as I enjoyed the Gladiator, I prefer SUVs for the pups.

The 2 doors are super awesome. I've driven both 4 door and 2 door, and I personally like more the 2 door, but they are very comparable. The big difference between both is space. The 2 door really lacks storage space unless you take off the rear seat. Hitchmount racks, roof racks, small trailes, make up for the lack of space but of course not as practical as a trunk.

I do find the pros of the 2 door outweigh the cons. Wheeling a 2 door Jeep is a blast, also they are very flexible for picking a line they give you way way more options than the long wheelbase. And you can maneuver on smaller steps than the 4 door, more room for small adjustments, they crawl with more "finesse". Another perk? you can keep smaller tires on them and still have them be super capable. Also they look better with smaller tires.

 

[jlang]

I appreciate everyone's input here. I've found the Willys to be the most financially appealing model for awhile, but I do like the 4Runner we have and I sometimes think maybe that's the better all around/daily driver vehicle (which I would need it to be).
But the talk of it becoming boring is what I needed to hear. I'm so ready to have a vehicle I find to be fun! I want to be stop talking myself into practical options, so that feedback really is helpful.

My wife has a grand cherokee 4x4 and it is boring as well. It doesnt get touched all weekend. The Wrangler really is fun - even makes getting groceries tollerable.

 

[displayname]

The 2 doors are super awesome. I've driven both 4 door and 2 door, and I personally like more the 2 door, but they are very comparable. The big difference between both is space. The 2 door really lacks storage space unless you take off the rear seat. Hitchmount racks, roof racks, small trailes, make up for the lack of space but of course not as practical as a trunk.

I do find the pros of the 2 door outweigh the cons. Wheeling a 2 door Jeep is a blast, also they are very flexible for picking a line they give you way way more options than the long wheelbase. And you can maneuver on smaller steps than the 4 door, more room for small adjustments, they crawl with more "finesse". Another perk? you can keep smaller tires on them and still have them be super capable. Also they look better with smaller tires.

Yup, the space is the biggest debate in my mind right now. The question is if it's really big enough for day to day. I've talked in a couple other threads about my old 2 door explorer, which was great. But it had usable trunk space. However, what I learned with that car is I can easily go a full year or more without ever using the back seat. I would keep the rear seats folded down for months at a time. I'm kind of thinking I could keep the rear seats out of a Wrangler for months without issue. But we do drive a few hours with both dogs and some luggage pretty frequently. That's where I wonder if the 2 door would really work for us. BUT, my wife does still drive the 4Runner, and she has said if she had a choice, she would get the 4Runner every time unless we can suddenly afford a G-Wagon.

It's all food for thought right now. Not moving on this soon. But planning for when I do. I know a lot of folks here keep vehicles for shorter runs. I'm more of a 5+ year, 100K mile minimum unless a wreck is involved.

 

[entropy]

Yup, the space is the biggest debate in my mind right now. The question is if it's really big enough for day to day. I've talked in a couple other threads about my old 2 door explorer, which was great. But it had usable trunk space. However, what I learned with that car is I can easily go a full year or more without ever using the back seat. I would keep the rear seats folded down for months at a time. I'm kind of thinking I could keep the rear seats out of a Wrangler for months without issue. But we do drive a few hours with both dogs and some luggage pretty frequently. That's where I wonder if the 2 door would really work for us. BUT, my wife does still drive the 4Runner, and she has said if she had a choice, she would get the 4Runner every time unless we can suddenly afford a G-Wagon.

It's all food for thought right now. Not moving on this soon. But planning for when I do. I know a lot of folks here keep vehicles for shorter runs. I'm more of a 5+ year, 100K mile minimum unless a wreck is involved.

I came from bigger SUVs and I won't lie, it took me about a year or so to adapt to the 2 door (in terms of trunk space). It really can be a drag if you LET IT BE. Just get yourself a nice roof rack and forget about it. Hitch mounted baskets work too, but they're a bit of a pain and are useless for offroading.

I had a 2018JL 2 door soft top. It got totaled in an accident and I got a 4 door JL replacement by insurance that I drove for about 3 months. I was gonna get my replacement Jeep and wife and I were on the buying process for a 4 door. At the dealer, literally at the last minute I looked at my wife and she looked at me and I could tell her face said "this isn't the same thing though...." dropped the deal right there and we were out the dealer an hour later with a 2 door JL. This time hardtop though!!!.

You can work around the space issue you really can. And then you realize you don't need a giant SUV. It feels very good, like a weight out of your shoulders not needing such a big vehicle honestly. The Jeep life is fully experienced with a 2 door. I am so glad I dropped that deal.

Sponsored