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Freedom Edition

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14K views 42 replies 11 participants last post by  MCSDO  
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#1 ·
I did quite a bit of research on the Freedom edition, but I still couldn't quite grasp the critical differences this model has versus the other models. I'm new to Jeep so its difficult for me to understand fully the differences. Also, the Freedom edition appeared to be an offshoot branch of the main branch models. Could someone help me out with maybe a summary of what the Freedom edition has to offer? Thank you in advance.
 
#3 ·
The Freedom Edition is a Sport with upgrades, but lacks in off road capabilities, the Willys Edition is a Sport with off road capabilities due to several off road options being standard. You need to be looking at how you will be using your Jeep and get the model that you would not have to spend a lot on upgrades where you can get the options from the factory and save some money.

trainman
 
R
#4 ·
When you said lacks in off road capabilities, to what degree does it lack? I'm just beginning to explore going off road, so I doubt I will be doing anything too difficult any time soon. I am leasing the Freedom for 3 years, perhaps after 3 years I might consider another model for more advance off roading.
 
#7 ·
The only difference off road wise is the Willys has Rubicon shocks, the Freedom has Sahara shocks. The Willys comes with mud terrain tires and the Freedom with all terrain tires. The freedom does come with AEV front and rear bumpers, the front number being winch ready. The freedom also comes with premium rock rails and rear tail light protectors.

The Willys comes standard with 3.73 gears and rear track-lok. But, at least here, many dealers ordered the freedoms with the 3.73 gear upgrade and track-lok upgrade. The freedom I just bought came with this upgrade.


In my experience, doing extensive 4 wheeling continually basically for a job for 4 years, in ford rangers with all terrain tires
And even IFS, knowing when to engage in 4 wheel and having a winch will get you through 99% of your off road situations. Except some bouldering, which you probably want a Rubicon for that.
 
#8 ·
What extra you get with the Freedom (besides the decals):

All steel AEV front and rear bumper
'17". granite wheels ( same as used in the 75th anniversary editions)
Leather trimmed seats, center console, arm rest
Sahara gas shocks
Body color painted fenders
Matte black front grill
All steel gas cap
Metal cage rear tail light protectors
Premium rock rails


With the upgraded wheels and bumpers, and the leather trimmed seats, matte black grill, and taillightbprotectors, and rock rails the '18 Freedom Editions are a very good deal package wise.
 
#10 ·
The 2018 Freedom Editions have s bunch of upgrades the previous years did not, so the '18s are a really good deal. The '17s are very nice though as well . But with the '18s you get the 75th Anniversary style five spoke wheels, the premium rock rails and the all steel front and rear AEV bumpers.

The only thing I personally do not like about the freedom edition is the starvdecal on the hood, which I will be removing. Also with each Freedom purchase jeep donates money to the USO. I used their services many times while serving so that is appreciated.
 
#11 ·
The 3.73 gears and the Track-Loc options are probably the best investment you could put into a new Wrangler. These option makes your Wrangler more setup for off roading without having to spend a lot of dollars later. Plus on resale these options will pay for themselves because of used vehicle demands. If you can find a Freedom Edition with these options listed on the window sticker, go for it. Don't buy any Wrangler without LED lights, also a must.

trainman

I put the Freedom Edition rear star on my R & L fenders of my Willys, just to give it a little better military look.
 

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#12 ·
trainman said:
The 3.73 gears and the Track-Loc options are probably the best investment you could put into a new Wrangler. These option makes your Wrangler more setup for off roading without having to spend a lot of dollars later. Plus on resale these options will pay for themselves because of used vehicle demands. If you can find a Freedom Edition with these options listed on the window sticker, go for it. Don't buy any Wrangler without LED lights, also a must.

trainman

I put the Freedom Edition rear star on my R & L fenders of my Willys, just to give it a little better military look.
Click to expand...
Respectfully disagree on that point. The Pro Comp 7" LED headlights, for under $300.00 delivered, will compete favorably with the OEM LED's and IMHO are actually better even when price isn't included as a factor.
 
#16 ·
The standard Jeep headlights are really bad-worst headlights ever . The favtory LEDs are the best imo, even better than jw speaker or pro comp. In my research to compare, it seems the factory leds always won. No cut offs, no blue tint, and covered by warranty from jeep. Plus for the upgrade you get the led fogs as well. Well worth the $595 listed up grade. But any aftermarket LED will be way better than stock.

In regards to your window sticker you have no 3.73 gears, LED lights. You are probably ok with the 3.21 gears as long as you keep stock tires. But test driving two doors one with the 3.21 and one with 3.73 gears you can tell a difference. I would tell your dealer to find you a Freedom Edition with led lights and 3.73 gears .
 
#25 ·
I plan on removing all the decals and badges except those on the left side. Remove the OM badge and star on right side and star on the hood. The American flag black stripe and trail and OM badges on right side signify freedom edition so will leave those.


Yes the Freedom is good deal when you figure if you were to buy the AEV bumpers the front one goes for $1250 and the rear for $990. Premium rock rails going for close to $700 and the wheels going for $250 each.
 
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#24 ·
Find a local Jeep club (there are some great ones just about everywhere) and go out with the group somewhere. They will help you decide what you should and shouldn't try doing based on your vehicle, driving skills, and your comfort level.

If you want to start off trying to crawl up things like in the picture below, you are going to need to start spending some serious money on mods. If you want to go out and have some fun, you will be surprised each time you go out and see what your stock rig is capable of. :drinks:
 

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#27 ·
Your Freedom Edition window sticker shows no options for 3.73 gears, Trac-Loc rear end, LED lights. You are buying a pretty basic Freedom Edition, with the hardtop option, auto trans, and the headliner package which I consider useless. Does the Freedom Edition come with the Connectivity Group and the Power Convenience Group, if not you might really wish you had them, the Connectivity Group for sure, checkout out what they include. You have to be very careful in buying a Wrangler for the first time, many options you may want won't be included in most models (Editions). Just don't under buy and be unhappy.

trainman
 
#30 ·
Connectivity, Power and Air condition are included in the Freedom Package. So pretty good deal when you figure in the other things included in the Freedom package as well like the AEV bumpers , rock rails, leather trim, and special edition wheels. But I agree in that for me the 3.73 gears and track lol, that were added on options in the one I bought were essential . Also the LED lights. Getting after market LED lights would not be bad, but trying to add different gears or track lol after the fact is a pain.

To me the perfect package was the Freedom with the 3.73 and trak lok. As it was like combining the Freedom Edition with a Willys edition. The best of both. If you like the freedom trim but wantbthe 3.73 gears and cannot find a Freedom with them added, you may want to see if you can find a willys with air, and power. Then you could add front and rear bumpers yourself for a bit over $2000. The only other real differences between the willys and the freedom would then be just different style wheels, painted fenders, the stickers, type of rock rails, and the feeefims upgraded seats.
 
#31 ·
This fall I took my Freedom up a wagon trail to one of the highest pints in the area. Bone stock. Lots of rocks and mud, No issues. Guess a Willys would have been cooler cuz of the tires but my JKF did just fine. Seems to me an Outback could go most places guys around here call hard core?
 
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#41 ·
Actually, the link looks like you can add the Tru-Lok diff to the Freedom edition, not just the LSD Trak Lok in the willys. That would be an upgrade, should you take that option.
 
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#42 ·
I picked my OM up lightly used
it came from the factory with no decals .
the package puts together most everything the normal owner would want.

as for gears..
if your on road highway driving the 3.21s are fine
but the 3.73s are a better all around gear
mine came with 3.21s ,but I got it at a pricepoint that I could regear with frt&rear trutracs and still be in the same budget for a comparable willys with 3.73s and a trac lok
 
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