Jeep Gladiator Rubicon vs Willys 2022 Comparison Off Road 4x4 MidSize Pickup Trucks

[@xm3ntal620]

The one thing I hate about recording offroading is that the terrain always looks weak even though it isn't. Been up that section before and it's pretty steep

[@TheGoodkilo]

Like taking a picture of an amazing sunset. Never does justice always looks lame

[@mike_honcho_92]

I think what we can take away from this is that the bone stock willys made it through the same trails as the rubicon with larger tires and sway bar disconnected. It didnt do as well and would surely fail harder trails, but for mild to moderate trails, the willys will do just fine as long as you take it easy and dont try to push it beyond its limits. With a small lift and taller tires, the willys could hang. but the sway bar disconnect is a major upgrade of the rubicon as well as the lockers. that is what separates the mild mod trails from the more advanced trails. You almost have to have lockers and sway bar disconnect on those.

[@wildterriers]

You can get manual sway bar disconnects to achieve wheel articulation. They are easy to disconnect but somewhat hard to put the pins back in that release them though. Unlike the Rubicon, you can't just push a button to disconnect the sway bar on a Willys or Sport gladiator. However, it can be done.

[@Lefishn]

Plus Willy's is a glorified base model Sport that looks horrible with narrow axles, low fenders, plastic fenders and cloth top. I absolutely hated the look of Gladiators and swore to never buy one until I seen a Rubicon and Mojave with 37" tires. Now I own a Sting Grau Rubicon with 37" and 2.5" lift. Stock Gladiators have way way way too much rake and so narrow

[@primolilla]

@@Lefishn I'm not sure about the Gladiator version of the Willys, however the 2024 Willys JLU is far from a glorified Sport these days. It has a rear locker now. The Willys Xtreme Recon version has a M210 (Dana 44) up front and has the Dana 44 in the rear plus 4.56 gearing both are wide axles. I'm not sure if the non-Xtreme has the 44 up front though. The base 2024 now comes with 33's which will help a lot combined with the rear locker plus they use the Rubicon fenders. Apex AutoLynx manual sway bar discos are a fairly inexpensive mod that can really help. Obviously your rig will do more with 37's and the lift. This base 2022 is holding its own here. It's great to see what a stock rig can do. A good driver can really get a lot out of a stock Wrangler. I agree with you though, certain mods make the "look" a lot more pleasing especially the Gladiator.

[@Lefishn]

@primolilla you just said it. It's not a basic Willy's it's a EXTREME willy's so not even the same thing

[@thelast929]

I just got a ‘23 Willy’s Wrangler 4xe. Took it off road for the first time today. I was very impressed with how it performed! It’s my 1st Jeep, but I’ve had a number of 4x4 vehicles in the past.

[@wesliggett2454]

I’m a Willy guy due to military heritage not financial restraint. I think before all the hate, the bottom line is that both vehicles made it. as mentioned before, lifted on 37s is not apples to apples with stock 32s. The Willys is extremely capable, noticeably better than the sports I’ve owned. I just traded my Jku for my first jlu willy. Been able to accomplish the same trails in my stock 2020 Willy that I did in my modified Jks.

[@LivingFreeInAWrangler]

I had a JKU Rubi and My JLU Willys has done every trail my rubicon did. I do have sway disconnects, and 33s now on the willys and its a world of difference. The JLU is IMO far superior on and off road then the JK. More reliable? Time will tell. Over 100k on mine

[@trailfox6423]

Why does the Willys have Gladiator hood decals??

[@JTheMoneyable]

Did the Willys disconnect his swaybars? It’s really easy to unbolt them and only takes about 5 mins total. Easy to bolt them back up after. I feel like he didn’t have the same articulation as the Rubi. He also didn’t have 35s like the Rubi did. He doesn’t have the lockers the Rubi does but I think it would’ve been significantly less dramatic if he’d been unhooked and had larger tires.

[@willyk465]

What size tires on red gladiator? And is it lifted?

[@heathpass3708]

I just traded my 2022 gladiator altitude for a 2023 gladiator rubicon. I can't wait to take it out and hit some trails here soon.

[@esmoglo]

Overall based on the significant price difference of these two vehicles, I think the Willys did a good job, with a lift and 35s they would do even better in terms of swaybar disconnect that is something you can add after the fact if you really want it but most people will just wind up using their jeeps as mall crawlers

[@whiskeybravoTX]

The brake locking differential on the Willys working good!

[@Daniel-bh4px]

32" tires vs 35" tires lmfao stupid review.

[@nicchan1783]

Same thoughts🤣🤣

[@thelifeof4xe191]

The thing being shown here is more of the swaybar being disconnected

[@Lefishn]

The video is showing the articulation so regardless if the willy's had 35" ( which is overkill on willy's cause of their gearing)

[@oEruPTxx1]

is this main difference in traction and articulation solely from the sway bar being disconnected on the rubicon?

[@Gobi-Wan]

asking the real questions, also, did they take the same line? Thats what I want to know

[@thelifeof4xe191]

Yes, but also keep in mind the rubicon has a lift and much bigger tires. Tires , wider tires are a key difference here

[@DUNEATV]

The Gladiators are really amazing rigs Off-road

[@ironborn8786]

Having front and rear lockers help lol

[@Adrian-jh5cr]

@@ironborn8786 no kidding but I also just saw a video recently with the 2022 toyota tundra going up that same path...

[@scottmcdonald9685]

Nice. What tires are on the red Jeep? Lockers on White Willys?

[@MrJeepmarine]

Willy's doesn't have lockers, limited slip rear end.

[@LivingFreeInAWrangler]

I think for forgot something in the title... Modified rubicon. Those are way bigger tires then a stock rubicon. You dont even mention the Rubicon tire size in the vehicle specs.

[@timjenkins7019]

So the lifted Rubicon is better that a stock gladiator with open diffs 🤔

[@aaronsummerlin9121]

This is a lie. The Rubicon was using the hill decent function which is easily pointed out when the front tire lifts into the air and stops. If it was using a locker it would still be rotating equal to opposite side. The hill decent function as its called is actually best used through articulated angles like seen here because it uses the ABS to lock up any tire individually based on wheel speed. Every Gladiator comes with this function therefore negating the need to buy a Rubicon model almost intirely.

[@round3ye442]

interesting.. did not know it functioned that way

[@pbblack18]

A rubicon with a 4” lift and what look like 40” tires outperforms a stock willys. Im shocked

[@mike_honcho_92]

looks are deceiving. I think that rubicon is stock 2" lift with probably 35s.

[@timjenkins7019]

​@@mike_honcho_92 you're fake news

[@JTheMoneyable]

Looks like stock height or close to stock height on 35”s. The Willys is definitely on stock 33”s. I don’t think the Willys disconnected his swaybars (manually) so he also didn’t have the articulation. I have a sport and when I went wheeling, I disconnect my swaybars and zip tie them out of the way until I’m finish. Then I bolt them back on and hit the road out. Takes like 5 mins.

[@Lefishn]

Lmfao. You mean a level kit and 35's. Have you never seen a stock rubicon because mine stock was already on 33" and few inches taller than a sport. Now with 37" and a 2.5" lift looks amazing

[@brimarie1632]

Rocksylvania

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

Thing is, the Willy's will be nicer to drive on the road.. less wallowy feeling..

[@bastaki66]

it's who is driving also,

[@chrishood1206]

that's like comparing beer out of a bottle and a can? except the can in this case was light beer, worst comparison ever,