2023 Mojave vs Build a 2024Willys

[PuddleJumper]

Hello Everyone!

I'm looking at purchasing a jeep gladiator and have been looking for 2023 Mojaves and the 2024 Willys. With the 2024 Willys introducing the rear locker and Off Road Plus mode, is the added price for the Mojave worth it? Please let me know if I'm missing anything

Willys:
+New Grill (Really like the new look)
+New infotainment screen
+ ~5k cheaper than the 23 Mojave (Can be used for upgrading parts)

Mojave:
+Nicer suspension
+Nicer interior (Minus the screen)
+4.10 Gear Ratio
+Reinforced? Chassis (Not sure if this is just more weld points or if it's actually different)

They advertised "reinforced chassis". Its just the Deisel frame or now Mojave frame with the deisel discontinued. It has a different part code. Essentially it has reinforcements in key point to handle a more extreme duty cycle and load. When comparing my Rubicon and Mojave. The shock mounts are beefier, It has extra plate bracing as certain point, beefier motor and trans mounts. A stronger crossmember and Coil bucket reinforcements. The control arm mounts appear to be of thicker gauge steel as well. I think the 2024 Willys is a great value with the new added features. ANd if you wanna mod the piss out of it, the willys will be easier as the Mojave gets limited off the shelf components suspension wise. I run my Mojave with 37s and a 3/4 in lift. Its quite frankly all it needs to be an animal in everything i do with it. I'd like 4.88 gears and a hemi in the future but thats it. My Rubicon is a stock tow rig with the usual comfort mods. My advice, get which ever one is the better deal. Its a Gladiator, you can't go wrong. There's compromises sure. But its not Tacoma level of compromise. Its a couple grand in aftermarket if you decide you actually need that thing. So to speak.

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[PuddleJumper]

it's not though. brochure says it's .2 inches taller than the rubicon. based on mojave approach/breakover/departure angles (again from the brochure) as compared to the rubicon (better/better/worse) and the height at tallest point being only .2 higher, best guess says the mojave is .5 inches taller in front and the same height in back.

While the Jeep trim comparison tool does says:

it does not say which trim it is 1 inch taller in the front than.

I have both, as soon as i put a winch on the Mojave it sat lower than my Rubicon. 3/4 spacer later and they are the exact same on 33s. I think the Mojave just has a slightly taller coil unsprung.

 

[Janster]

If it matters to you... The 2024 will get you the upgraded Uconnect system - the bigger screen and wireless carplay.

 

[Rahkmalla]

I have both, as soon as i put a winch on the Mojave it sat lower than my Rubicon. 3/4 spacer later and they are the exact same on 33s. I think the Mojave just has a slightly taller coil unsprung.

taller and softer i've been told by people who understand spring rates, which explains the height and the reaction to a winch you saw.

 

[Minty JL]

Steel hood with faux scoop
Reinforced frame
Bolstered seats
Fox 2.5" internal bypass remote reservoir shocks
Wide Dana 44 axles
Cast iron knuckles
2.72:1 low range (up to 50 mph in 4 low)
4.10 gearing
1" taller than Rubicon in stock configuration
Hydraulic jounce bumpers
Strengthened front upper control arms
Strengthened lower control arm mounts
Strenghtened cross members
Reinforced shock towers
Rear track bar has a larger outer diameter, larger bushings, and a higher strength tube
Wheels 7.5 mm shallower backspacing than Rubicon
"Racing grips" steering wheel
Rear locker can run in 4 high in off-road plus mode
Orange things

Doing 45mph on the beach in the Mojave last week was wild.

 

[Alan SOBX]

If you want to do a bunch of mods, go cheaper. No use paying extra for Mojave upgrades if you don’t need them or have mods planned that will counteract them.

My Mojave had most of what I needed when I bought it. I am still doing mods but they are more superficial and not messing with suspension. When my 33s wear out, I will likely get 35s….maybe. My dog has trouble jumping into the back or on the tailgate with 33s and he is a 4 year old lab.

 

[Pitter]

Literally made the decision last weekend... And.... Mojave 2023 won over Willys. I am in Canada, the 10% of MSRP (pretty sure this is in the USA as well) and a low ball offer was accepted right away.

The improved 2024 screen and wireless Android/Car Play are nicer, but go compare the map, same size even though screen is bigger in 2024.

I agree with other speakers, no matter what you get you're going to be happy. These things are so much fun!

 

[BourbonRunner]

If you want to do a bunch of mods, go cheaper. No use paying extra for Mojave upgrades if you don’t need them or have mods planned that will counteract them.

My Mojave had most of what I needed when I bought it. I am still doing mods but they are more superficial and not messing with suspension. When my 33s wear out, I will likely get 35s….maybe. My dog has trouble jumping into the back or on the tailgate with 33s and he is a 4 year old lab.

Precisely the same reasons why I'm Mojave-bound. Out of the box it has most of what I'd already do to it and the suspension for a daily as I and others mentioned is far superior. I have had the opportunity to back to back test drive a Rubicon and Mojave and there was zero comparison on the road.

But-- If I was building it a Willys with a rear locker is a great starting point.

 

[PuddleJumper]

Doing 45mph on the beach in the Mojave last week was wild.

Wait till you try 80 plus. On a "closed private course".

 

[HorsesRear]

I have a 2023 Willys. I put a Fox steering stabilizer and four Fox 2.0 performance shocks on it and I would say the suspension is superior to the Mojave. Not far superior but superior.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

If you want to do a bunch of mods, go cheaper. No use paying extra for Mojave upgrades if you don’t need them or have mods planned that will counteract them.

My Mojave had most of what I needed when I bought it. I am still doing mods but they are more superficial and not messing with suspension. When my 33s wear out, I will likely get 35s….maybe. My dog has trouble jumping into the back or on the tailgate with 33s and he is a 4 year old lab.

This is exactly what I said to my wife lol. This one has everything we "need" to go anywhere we want to take a brand new vehicle right out of the box, chuck a cooler in the back and go wheel, step up one tire size when these wear out.

 

[Minty JL]

Wait till you try 80 plus. On a "closed private course".

Well I was mainly getting at, doing 45mph in 4Lo was wild. No other 4x4 vehicle I've owned in the past could do that.

I've done some 4Hi High speed Hoon'ing on a "closed course/beach"

 

[Bjeepz]

If you want to do a bunch of mods, go cheaper. No use paying extra for Mojave upgrades if you don’t need them or have mods planned that will counteract them.

My Mojave had most of what I needed when I bought it. I am still doing mods but they are more superficial and not messing with suspension. When my 33s wear out, I will likely get 35s….maybe. My dog has trouble jumping into the back or on the tailgate with 33s and he is a 4 year old lab.

Get your dog a ramp!!

 

[Alan SOBX]

This is exactly what I said to my wife lol. This one has everything we "need" to go anywhere we want to take a brand new vehicle right out of the box, chuck a cooler in the back and go wheel, step up one tire size when these wear out.

You and I are thinking the same. Plus, if I bought a more base model and used the saved money to upgrade, my wife would have given me grief on each upgrade even if agreed upon before. So, that made the Mojave a slam dunk for me right there.

Also, I LOLed that you put "need" in quotation marks—that is exactly what I would have done. Do I need rear lockers on the beach? I dunno but I love that I have them. There is a long list of "need"s that were fulfilled yet I keep going. Tonneau cover, slush mats, Tazer, Rokblokz, etc.

J.E.E.P. = Just Empty Every Pocket.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I have a 2023 Willys. I put a Fox steering stabilizer and four Fox 2.0 performance shocks on it and I would say the suspension is superior to the Mojave. Not far superior but superior.

You could say it, but no a 2.0 shock is not superior to a 2.5 with internal bypass and your standard bump stops would hit like a dump truck at speed in the desert.

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