Trade my JLU for a JT?

[Alchemist03]

Hi everyone! I'm a member of the JL Forums and have been lurking here for some time. I'm no stranger to Jeeps, have had a TJ, JKs, JKUs, and JLUs at various trim levels. I even explored outside of the brand but found the Toyotas and Hondas I drove, while reliable, lifeless and boring.

I currently drive a 22 JLU Willys with the XR package and Sky One Touch top. I've been very happy with my current ride and bought it with the intent of building it up for family trips, and tackling some beginner-intermediate trails in parks like Rausch Creek and Anthracite. Living in the Northeast, I opted for having a limited slip rear end and having the beefier components from the XR package were a plus. But after this summer, I found I've been wanting more space - having a family quickly fills up the JLU cargo area. I was going to buy a Gobi rack and throw things up there in a cargo box while traveling.

I've always had my eyes on a JT but opted to not get it b/c I live in the city and parking can be a PIA at times. One day I'll be in the burbs but don't know if I can be patient enough to hold out on a JT til then hahaha. Parking is not impossible for a truck, but will definitely be harder during certain times of the day/ night. Lately I've really been getting the itch to trade my JLU in and get a JT but still have reservations... here's why:

- Parking..

- Figure I should wait for the new generation of the Gladiator to come out.. might have a V8 in it lol or get the last year of the JT generation with all the kinks worked out.

- I really like the upgrades I got form the XR package (wide track Dana 44s, 4.56 gears, cast iron knuckles, etc.) and am unsure of which JTs match this. I believe the Rubicon, Mojave, High Altitude, and diesel have the upgraded axles and knuckles but will "only" have 4.10 gearing?

I know that I am the only one who can make this decision but your insights would be greatly appreciated.

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[NC_Overland]

I’ll tell you one thing, if you’re looking for significantly more cargo room, you’ll want a camper top or some sort of rack system. I figured out quickly that it’s really tough to take four people camping in just my Jeep and fit all my camping gear, coolers, and everyone’s personal bags in my truck bed. I had to leave some stuff I normally take behind.

diesel has 3.73 gears, but no longer available new. The max tow package on the sport has the same 4.10s and slightly wider track.

 

[D_JT]

With the Gladiator, only the Mojave and diesel have cast knuckles. But diesels have 3.73 gears.

 

[ecidiego]

I’ll tell you one thing, if you’re looking for significantly more cargo room, you’ll want a camper top or some sort of rack system. I figured out quickly that it’s really tough to take four people camping in just my Jeep and fit all my camping gear, coolers, and everyone’s personal bags in my truck bed. I had to leave some stuff I normally take behind.

diesel has 3.73 gears, but no longer available new. The max tow package on the sport has the same 4.10s and slightly wider track.

I did pretty good with a Rhino Rack.

 

[Janster]

Have you thought about getting a small trailer (enclosed) for all your gear? Aside from having a place to store it…….
You could leave most of your camping gear in the trailer (lock it up) and leave the JLU open for day to day stuff.

 

[cb4017]

Well, I had a 08 JKU and a 19 JLU. Since then, I'm on my second JT. A Mojave I just bought a couple of weeks ago.

It's a little longer than a JLU but I don't think it's any worse. It's very maneuverable, still fits in most parking spots.

Back seat has more room than most other mid size trucks. I definitely like the additional space the bed gives me. A hard tonneau cover keeps everything out of sight and out of the weather.

Discounts right now are very compelling. I got a $58K Mohave for $44.6K. It was hard to resist.

Good luck with your decision. I think you would be happy with the change.

 

[NC_Overland]

I did pretty good with a Rhino Rack.

Yeah that would help out a lot. Personally, I’m going to get adjustable height rails that work with my back flip and I’ll use it for situations like that, our (future) kayaks, and when I pick up 12’ lumber from Home Depot.

 

[SaiintNick]

Hi everyone! I'm a member of the JL Forums and have been lurking here for some time. I'm no stranger to Jeeps, have had a TJ, JKs, JKUs, and JLUs at various trim levels. I even explored outside of the brand but found the Toyotas and Hondas I drove, while reliable, lifeless and boring.

I currently drive a 22 JLU Willys with the XR package and Sky One Touch top. I've been very happy with my current ride and bought it with the intent of building it up for family trips, and tackling some beginner-intermediate trails in parks like Rausch Creek and Anthracite. Living in the Northeast, I opted for having a limited slip rear end and having the beefier components from the XR package were a plus. But after this summer, I found I've been wanting more space - having a family quickly fills up the JLU cargo area. I was going to buy a Gobi rack and throw things up there in a cargo box while traveling.

I've always had my eyes on a JT but opted to not get it b/c I live in the city and parking can be a PIA at times. One day I'll be in the burbs but don't know if I can be patient enough to hold out on a JT til then hahaha. Parking is not impossible for a truck, but will definitely be harder during certain times of the day/ night. Lately I've really been getting the itch to trade my JLU in and get a JT but still have reservations... here's why:

- Parking..

- Figure I should wait for the new generation of the Gladiator to come out.. might have a V8 in it lol or get the last year of the JT generation with all the kinks worked out.

- I really like the upgrades I got form the XR package (wide track Dana 44s, 4.56 gears, cast iron knuckles, etc.) and am unsure of which JTs match this. I believe the Rubicon, Mojave, High Altitude, and diesel have the upgraded axles and knuckles but will "only" have 4.10 gearing?

I know that I am the only one who can make this decision but your insights would be greatly appreciated.

I miss my JLU High Tide with XR package, but my Mojave drives way better. Has all the same upgrades. I'm running 37" KO2's on stock suspension and it's the best riding Jeep I've owned. Still like the Wrangler better from a looks department, but the Gladiator has been a better off road and on road vehicle.

 

[Bjeepz]

I just went from a Mojave to a WIlly's XR, I am disgusted with the Willy's seats, so much so that I'm probably just gonna leave Jeep and get back into a ZR2. The Mojave drives so very nice and the seats are much better. Sure you'll lose the 4.56 gearing but nothing else that actually matters. I ran 37's on my Mojave with 4.10 gearing and can say that the power delivery and shifting is much smoother in the Willy's XR. I can't see anybody regretting a Mojave! Yup, I fucked up.

 

[Sweetums]

With the Gladiator, only the Mojave and diesel have cast knuckles. But diesels have 3.73 gears.

Honestly, the 3.73 gears are plenty with how much damned torque mine makes. Even with heavy-as-hell 35"s on there and stock gearing I have to remember to go to 4-low just to get the torque converter locked up and not slip it unnecessarily. Most of the time the truck climbs as well in 4-high as our LJ in does in 4-low.

 

[Alchemist03]

Have you thought about getting a small trailer (enclosed) for all your gear? Aside from having a place to store it…….
You could leave most of your camping gear in the trailer (lock it up) and leave the JLU open for day to day stuff.

I have but the thought of dragging a trailer everywhere and securing it gives me hives haha. Its just one extra thing to account for while driving and then navigating through trails. I think there are cool looking ones but don't think they're for me, at least for now.

 

[Alchemist03]

So I guess its safe to say that most people prefer the Mojave or getting a Sport with the max tow package and building up form there?

Most of what I've been reading shows a lot of conflict between the Rubicon and the Mojave. People say leave the Mojave as is b/c the suspension is dialed in and you get the frame reinforcements, knuckles, rear locker etc. Rubicon is great for the Wrangler trims but not so much useful in a longer body like the Gladiator b/c not many people will be rock crawling in this type of platform. I know, to each their own, and anything can be customized - one of the great things about a Jeep. Both of the Mojave and Rubicon trims offer the upgrades for opposite applications but I see more people that would rather start with a Mojave and then modify as needed, like adding in a front locker if necessary? Conversely I guess people argue that the Rubicon could be set up with a better suspension and cast knuckles while retaining the transfer case, factory lockers and swaybar disconnects. Does it just come down to whichever one is going to be cheaper initially?

And going with the Max Tow Sport, wouldn't adding on weight from upgrades essentially just negate the benefits of the package?

 

[D_JT]

If you dont mind used. A Rubicon with the diesel is the superior set up. Most torque, best fuel economy, steel knuckles and sounds the best. Although my opinion might be a bit biased haha.

 

[Alchemist03]

I just went from a Mojave to a WIlly's XR, I am disgusted with the Willy's seats, so much so that I'm probably just gonna leave Jeep and get back into a ZR2. The Mojave drives so very nice and the seats are much better. Sure you'll lose the 4.56 gearing but nothing else that actually matters. I ran 37's on my Mojave with 4.10 gearing and can say that the power delivery and shifting is much smoother in the Willy's XR. I can't see anybody regretting a Mojave! Yup, I fucked up.

What engine did you have in your Willys XR? I have the 2.0 turbo and it really won me over from the 3.6 - Its probably from my "butt dyno" but it just feels punchier. I liked both equally though, if mine came with a 3.6 I don't think I would've cared - just scared of the lifter tick

 

[Deleted member 52902]

With my former 4 door JK, the rear door and space behind the 2nd row was far more convenient for anything from groceries to electronics and anything else that I might tote. Lay down the 2nd row seat and bingo, more somewhat flat length to work with. Inside. Out of the rain or snow. With the roof on.

With my changeover to a JT, the floor of the 2nd row isn't quite the same. You can fold up the 2nd row seating or even remove it but the more-narrow area with the side door acess just isn't as convenient as the back space was in my former JK (same as JL in this regard). You can always lay down cardboard or a tarp, etc in the back of the JK/JL to deal with dirty or greasy stuff of sizes that you can't, or would not want to hustle into the 2nd row.

The rear of JK/JL's are just more agreeable for quick locating of stuff that fits better back there. And you can always drop the 2nd row seat backs to get a semi-flat-ish floor extension. And there are many times that I have loaded 2x4's, pipe, other things that I can fit between the front bucket seats to either lay on top of the dash, or angle down in then passenger floor area, these long and narrow items. I always carry a couple of towels so I could protect the front seats & arm rest. 2nd towel put on the front-end of these objects to sit on the dash top or passenger floor area to corral wood dust, splinters or what have you. When I sold the JK, I had managed over its 16 yrs with me, to keep the cloth (my preference) nearly like new and I did a lot of hauling this or that.

The JL has its 5 ft bed. Never as good as my full size pickup I also used to have. See picture sattached as an example of a 6 ft long and wider pickup bed. I can't haul; this amount in my JT. 30 x 5 gallon buckets vs 18 buckets in the 5 ft long, narrower bed of the JT. Same bed extender modified for JT width used on tailgate down load additions. Not complaining; I just make more trips to haul more stuff. Note that the full size truck also had a very useful storage bin in it too.

IN case your curious, each bucket has an average of 240 black walnuts for 23 lbs avg bucket weight. 414 or so, pounds of the walnuts w/bucket in the JT versus about 690 lbs of walnuts in the 6 ft and wider full truck bed size. Along with the storage bin taking some room and I'd guess about 70 or so more pounds for that.

Am I complaining about my loss of the rear floor in a Wrangler? That I totally recognized before I bought my (outstanding) diesel JT? Just a little bit of regret re the trade-off of the interior floor space with seat up or down fast & easy & lockable loading of clean or dirty in rain/snow/dust/sticky finger viewpoint of the JK or JL versus a JT. Ideally I would have kept the JK except the space to keep another vehicle, maintain it, license and insure it, etc? Nope. Done that sort of thing before. As it is I have a small RV and classic '79 last of the 4th gen Nova. Keeping the JK too, sad to let it go for the above mentioned conveniences.

The extra 1.5 ft or so of length in a JT does affect where I park, sometimes. Viewing this versus my wider, taller and longer, former full size truck... The nimble-r JT is vastly better. But compared to the JK/JL length; I was able to whip my JK into spaces that the JT either takes a few seconds longer, and may be much slower sometimes, to back out of. Depends on width of the aisle and the smaller marked spaces. Do you hear me whining, Coeur d'Alene HOME DEPOT? (grin).

Aside from pros and cons that always exist, my JT (purposely chose a diesel) is my favorite of ANY car or truck I have ever owned or driven. With any load inside and/or outside. If it made sense space, maintenance and cost wise, I would definitely have kept my JK, even with its less spunky 3.8 gas engine. With a quality soft roll top and a bed extender, the JT goes to bat just fine. and boy oh boy, is the reasonably quiet diesel, outstanding to drive. This is the only vehicle I have ever added a discounted price, Extended Warranty. Anything that goes wrong is stupid expensive to deal with. So far literally zero issues, just like my high miles driven JK except for one door lick and a slight oil leak that was taken care of.

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