Official: 2026 Gladiator - What's New + Willys ‘41 Buzz Model Special Edition Annouced

[ShadowsPapa]

Did your wife replace her 4XE? I assume all the recalls have to be getting to her.

She has a new JLU Rubicon X on order.
She'd be fine with keeping her current one except that the need for power seats and a couple of other things her current 23 lack...............
Just like the JT, the only way to get certain things these days is to go with the upper level. Jeep really has you over a barrel if you want certain things.
I think that the loss of cargo area due to the battery bulge a the rear of the back seats was annoying her, too.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Well, you can add almost anything with enough work and money, but with the Rubican I would also be getting the front cam, bigger tires, and LED lights all the way around.... For less money than the max tow. I know, I'm comparing the price of '26 max tow to a '25 Rubicon, but I don't think there is much model year difference other than the door hinges.

Seems to me that the door hinge thing is mostly "you no longer have to remove nuts" and that other part that now pins instead of having to unbolt. They sure haven't fixed the main issue, which is the harness connector.

 

[IamPro2A]

She has a new JLU Rubicon X on order.
She'd be fine with keeping her current one except that the need for power seats and a couple of other things her current 23 lack...............
Just like the JT, the only way to get certain things these days is to go with the upper level. Jeep really has you over a barrel if you want certain things.
I think that the loss of cargo area due to the battery bulge a the rear of the back seats was annoying her, too.

Yea, and the way they price it, if you want more than a couple options, it's almost a no brainer to go with the X package and get virtually all the options.

 

[IamPro2A]

OK, I just noticed another difference between the 2025 and 2026, at least on the Rubicon and Mojave models.
Both have increased towing, payload, and GCWR over the 2025 and prior models. They now appear the same as the max tow Sport models. As someone who actually uses my Gladiator as a truck, that stands out to me.
So I guess the question is:
Are there any actual mechanical/design changes allowing for the increase? Or is this just a matter of engineers reworking the numbers and deciding they could bump them up?
If there are actual changes allowing for the increase, I might spend more for the 2026 model, even if it meant cutting back on some options.

 

[Pliny]

Are there any actual mechanical/design changes allowing for the increase? Or is this just a matter of engineers reworking the numbers and deciding they could bump them up?

I have doubts about those 2026 numbers. Shows 2026 JTR curb weight as 5,031 lbs. with a payload of 1,710 lbs. Add those together to get 6,741 lbs. which is a tad over the shown GVWR of 6,250.

 

[legacy_etu]

She has a new JLU Rubicon X on order.
She'd be fine with keeping her current one except that the need for power seats and a couple of other things her current 23 lack...............
Just like the JT, the only way to get certain things these days is to go with the upper level. Jeep really has you over a barrel if you want certain things.
I think that the loss of cargo area due to the battery bulge a the rear of the back seats was annoying her, too.

Wow, a Rubicon X. Your wife is hardcore. Good luck with it.

 

[legacy_etu]

OK, I just noticed another difference between the 2025 and 2026, at least on the Rubicon and Mojave models.
Both have increased towing, payload, and GCWR over the 2025 and prior models. They now appear the same as the max tow Sport models. As someone who actually uses my Gladiator as a truck, that stands out to me.
So I guess the question is:
Are there any actual mechanical/design changes allowing for the increase? Or is this just a matter of engineers reworking the numbers and deciding they could bump them up?
If there are actual changes allowing for the increase, I might spend more for the 2026 model, even if it meant cutting back on some options.

Yeah, right?! The 26 Mojave has a 1700 lb payload capacity now??!!!! They must have made some physical changes, I mean that’s an order of magnitude.

 

[Jaxmax]

Those numbers of towing…..I can perhaps see , but curb weight plus payload weight equals GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
I don’t see the math working , and although I love my 21 Mojave and am pleased with power and gas mileage , things might be lining up for a jump , just waiting for a small V-8 , no 392, that uses regular gas and that gets close to my mileage now, might be trouble. I have what looks like a stock Mojave but would dread redoing all the mods, the list is long!……Jack
PS: I still love my Jeep after five years , and still have a list of mods to do and parts sitting in the garage!

 

[IamPro2A]

I have doubts about those 2026 numbers. Shows 2026 JTR curb weight as 5,031 lbs. with a payload of 1,710 lbs. Add those together to get 6,741 lbs. which is a tad over the shown GVWR of 6,250.

Yes, and if you subtract the 510lb difference in payload capacity, you even up with a slightly more reasonable number. Only slightly, since it apparently assumed the driver must weigh under 20lbs.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Wow, a Rubicon X. Your wife is hardcore. Good luck with it.

That was the only way to get the must haves - some of them to compensate for her handicap -
Power seats
Full time transfer case
Body color everything (roof, fender flares - some just don't look good with the black roof, some do, and with purple, it's all purple or nothing)
And good to have - auto high beam (if they left that switch on the floor, it would be better)

And I wanted it to have some towing capacity - just in case. We only ever used that capacity in her prior Jeeps one time - she pulled my car hauler loaded down with stuff to help my son move behind her Grand Cherokee - rated at over 6,000 pounds and it didn't even feel like there was a trailer back there.
You can't get a tow package without the aux switches and can't get aux switches without the tow package - those switches, the lockers and electric sway bar will never get used on her Jeep, but oh, well.
I'd have expected the aux switches to go with some off-road goodies - why the tow package is a puzzle. People going off road or overlanding are more likely to use them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

OK, I just noticed another difference between the 2025 and 2026, at least on the Rubicon and Mojave models.
Both have increased towing, payload, and GCWR over the 2025 and prior models. They now appear the same as the max tow Sport models. As someone who actually uses my Gladiator as a truck, that stands out to me.
So I guess the question is:
Are there any actual mechanical/design changes allowing for the increase? Or is this just a matter of engineers reworking the numbers and deciding they could bump them up?
If there are actual changes allowing for the increase, I might spend more for the 2026 model, even if it meant cutting back on some options.

What's the source from those? If the consumer build site - ignore it.
Some one screwed up those numbers - it's not what I've found online at all. What I find is closer to about 1,000-1,100 pounds for Mojave

I guess I'll dig those up and post it again because the factory specs really contradict what stuff you posted - and if that's from the consumer build site - LOL - I laugh in its face. Nothing at all is accurate on that site, let alone those numbers.
PLEASE - STEP AWAY FROM THAT STUPID CONSUMER BUILD SITE!! PLEASE, close that tab, restart your computer or phone and never ever go back there again!

Here's the REAL numbers - Mojave X

My 2025 Mojave came with about 850 pounds payload, 7,000 towing.

Here's the Rubicon numbers -

 

[legacy_etu]

That was the only way to get the must haves - some of them to compensate for her handicap -
Power seats
Full time transfer case
Body color everything (roof, fender flares - some just don't look good with the black roof, some do, and with purple, it's all purple or nothing)
And good to have - auto high beam (if they left that switch on the floor, it would be better)

And I wanted it to have some towing capacity - just in case. We only ever used that capacity in her prior Jeeps one time - she pulled my car hauler loaded down with stuff to help my son move behind her Grand Cherokee - rated at over 6,000 pounds and it didn't even feel like there was a trailer back there.
You can't get a tow package without the aux switches and can't get aux switches without the tow package - those switches, the lockers and electric sway bar will never get used on her Jeep, but oh, well.
I'd have expected the aux switches to go with some off-road goodies - why the tow package is a puzzle. People going off road or overlanding are more likely to use them.

Ah, thats right. I forgot about the selectrac being bundled with the X package and the color matched flares. Ugh, so annoying.

Just searched autotrader for reign gladiators near me And the closest one is 1100 miles away . Guess I won’t be checking this color out anytime soon.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Those numbers of towing…..I can perhaps see , but curb weight plus payload weight equals GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
I don’t see the math working , and although I love my 21 Mojave and am pleased with power and gas mileage , things might be lining up for a jump , just waiting for a small V-8 , no 392, that uses regular gas and that gets close to my mileage now, might be trouble. I have what looks like a stock Mojave but would dread redoing all the mods, the list is long!……Jack
PS: I still love my Jeep after five years , and still have a list of mods to do and parts sitting in the garage!

He's likely pulling shit from that consumer build site. It's a JOKE. Someone keeps using CTRL-C/CTRL-V and f'king up big time. NEVER EVER use that site as a source for real info.

I have posted the real specs, accurate specs, in several places here and just posted them again.

DEALER CONFIRMED for me when I was last in there. We even visited that consumer side spec and build site together and he just couldn't believe how bad that was and told me "if you want to know these things, just call me"

BASE rubicon payload is about 1200
BASE mojave payload is about 1100
Add the X package and other stuff, it drops like a ROCK from there. Mine is about 850.
The bumpers, power seats and rock rails add a lot of weight.

So if I need to haul really heavy stuff, I use one of my trailers. I'll have no problem towing, but payload sucks on these.

 

[Master_Cylinder]

He's likely pulling shit from that consumer build site. It's a JOKE. Someone keeps using CTRL-C/CTRL-V and f'king up big time. NEVER EVER use that site as a source for real info.

I have posted the real specs, accurate specs, in several places here and just posted them again.

DEALER CONFIRMED for me when I was last in there. We even visited that consumer side spec and build site together and he just couldn't believe how bad that was and told me "if you want to know these things, just call me"

BASE rubicon payload is about 1200
BASE mojave payload is about 1100
Add the X package and other stuff, it drops like a ROCK from there. Mine is about 850.
The bumpers, power seats and rock rails add a lot of weight.

So if I need to haul really heavy stuff, I use one of my trailers. I'll have no problem towing, but payload sucks on these.

With your Mojave X having about 850 as a payload, do you think the Rubicon X has about 950 as a payload?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

With your Mojave X having about 850 as a payload, do you think the Rubicon X has about 950 as a payload?

Depending on equipment, I suppose, but the X are already pretty well decked out save for the trail rail packages and such perhaps taking a tiny bit more off that.
It's going to depend on how equipped what that final door sticker number is.

Another Mojave X on the lot was 18 pounds more than mine as far as payload. Mine must have something the other didn't. Maybe the bedliner and/or tonneau cover - which would take payload off. I can't recall the exact equipment it had.
I have yet to see a Mojave that has the door sticker showing 1,100 pounds so all that I've looked at must not have been "base model Mojave".

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