A Jeep Wrangler two-door has ridden on a wheelbase between 93.4 and 96.8 inches for every generation since 1987, the four-door Unlimited sits at 116.0 inches (JK) or 118.4 inches (JL), and the Gladiator pickup stretches that to 137.3 inches. The Cherokee line has grown from the XJ's 101.4 inches to the KL's 106.3, and the Grand Cherokee from the WJ's 105.9 to the current WL's 116.7 (121.7 for the three-row L). The tables below list wheelbase in inches and millimeters, plus overall length, width, and track width where a manufacturer document states them, for every major Jeep from the Willys MB to the Wagoneer L. The sections after the tables explain what those numbers change on the trail and on the road, why the long-wheelbase Wranglers exist, and how to check wheelbase on your own rig.
In this article
- How to read the charts
- Wrangler, CJ, and Gladiator wheelbase chart
- Cherokee, Comanche, and Liberty wheelbase chart
- Grand Cherokee and Commander wheelbase chart
- Wagoneer, Compass, Patriot, and Renegade wheelbase chart
- What wheelbase actually changes
- Why the LJ and the JK Unlimited exist
- How to measure wheelbase on your own Jeep
- Two-door or four-door for the trail
- Frequently asked questions
How to read the charts
Every number in these tables comes from a manufacturer or government document: a Stellantis press-kit specification sheet, an AMC or Chrysler parts manual or product-information book, a factory sales brochure, or the U.S. Army technical manual for the MB. Where no such document could be found for a cell, it says "not sourced" rather than carrying a number copied from a forum or an aftermarket chart. Figures in parentheses are millimeters; where the original document gives inches only, or its metric column disagrees with its own inch figure, the millimeters were converted at 25.4 mm per inch. Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axle centerlines. Track is the distance between the centers of the two tires on one axle, listed front and rear. Overall length is the figure the manufacturer printed, and for Wranglers from 2007 on, that figure includes the rear-mounted spare. Stellantis sheets state that dimensions are measured at curb weight on the standard tires and wheels, which matters once a Jeep is lifted or re-tired.
Wrangler, CJ, and Gladiator wheelbase chart
| Model (code, model years) | Wheelbase, in (mm) | Overall length, in (mm) | Overall width, in (mm) | Track front/rear, in (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willys MB (World War II) | 80 (2,032) | not sourced | 62 (1,575) | 49 / 49 (1,245) |
| CJ-5 (1955 to 1983) | 81 (2,057) as introduced; 83.5 (2,121) by the AMC years | not sourced | not sourced | not sourced |
| CJ-7 (1976 to 1986) | 93.5 (2,375) | not sourced | not sourced | not sourced |
| CJ-8 Scrambler (1981 to 1985) | 103.5 (2,629) | not sourced | not sourced | not sourced |
| Wrangler YJ (1987 to 1995) | 93.4 (2,372) | 152.6 (3,876) to the spare | not sourced | 58.0 / 58.0 (1,473) |
| Wrangler TJ (1997 to 2006) | 93.4 (2,373) | 154.9 (3,934) to the spare; 150.2 (3,813) to the bumper | 68.3 (1,735) | 57.8 to 59.5 / 57.5 to 58.5 (1,468 to 1,511 / 1,461 to 1,486), varies by factory wheel |
| Wrangler Unlimited LJ (2004 to 2006) | 103.4 (2,626) | not sourced (factory sheet is internally inconsistent); Jeep stated 15 in longer than the TJ | 66.7 (1,693) body; 76.3 (1,938) over flares | 58.5 / 58.5 (1,486) |
| Wrangler JK two-door (2007 to 2018) | 95.4 (2,424) | 164.3 (4,173) including spare | 73.7 (1,873) | 61.9 / 61.9 (1,572) |
| Wrangler Unlimited JK four-door (2007 to 2018) | 116.0 (2,947) | 184.9 (4,697) including spare | 73.7 (1,873) | 61.9 / 61.9 (1,572) |
| Wrangler JL two-door (2018 on) | 96.8 (2,460) | 166.8 (4,237) including spare | 73.8 (1,875) | 62.9 / 62.9 (1,598); 64.4 (1,636) Rubicon; 66.9 (1,699) Xtreme 35 and Rubicon 392 |
| Wrangler Unlimited JL four-door (2018 on) | 118.4 (3,008) | 188.4 (4,785) including spare | 73.8 (1,875) | 62.9 / 62.9 (1,598); 64.4 (1,636) Rubicon; 66.9 (1,699) Xtreme 35 and Rubicon 392 |
| Wrangler 4xe JL (2021 on) | 118.4 (3,008) | 188.4 (4,786) including spare | 73.8 (1,875) | 64.4 / 64.4 (1,636) |
| Gladiator JT (2020 on) | 137.3 (3,487) | 218.0 (5,539) | 73.8 (1,875) | 62.9 (1,598) Sport and Overland; 64.4 (1,636) Rubicon and Sport Max Tow; 65.0 (1,650) Mojave |
Sources for this table: the U.S. Army's TM 9-803 for the MB; the Stellantis Jeep History page for the CJ-5 and CJ-7; AMC's 1983 Jeep Product Information book for the 83.5-inch CJ-5, the CJ-7, and the Scrambler; the 1988 Wrangler sales brochure for the YJ; the Stellantis 2006 Wrangler specification sheet for the TJ and LJ; the 2017 Wrangler and 2017 Wrangler Unlimited sheets for the JK; the 2018 Wrangler, 2024 Wrangler, and 2021 Wrangler 4xe sheets for the JL; and the 2020 Gladiator sheet for the JT.
Cherokee, Comanche, and Liberty wheelbase chart
| Model (code, model years) | Wheelbase, in (mm) | Overall length, in (mm) | Overall width, in (mm) | Track front/rear, in (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee XJ (1984 to 2001) | 101.4 (2,576) | not sourced | not sourced | not sourced |
| Comanche MJ (1986 to 1992) | 113 (2,870) with 6-ft bed; 120 (3,048) with 7-ft bed; AMC's parts manual lists whole inches only | not sourced | not sourced | not sourced |
| Liberty KJ (2002 to 2007) | 104.3 (2,649) | 174.4 (4,430) to the spare | 71.6 (1,819) | 60.0 / 59.7 (1,524 / 1,516) |
| Liberty KK (2008 to 2012) | 106.1 (2,694) | 176.9 (4,493) | 72.4 (1,838) | 61.0 / 61.0 (1,549) |
| Cherokee KL (2014 to 2023) | 106.3 (2,700); 107.0 (2,719) Trailhawk | 182.0 (4,624) | 73.2 (1,859); 74.9 (1,904) Trailhawk | 62.2 / 61.9 (1,580 / 1,573); 63.5 / 63.5 (1,614) Trailhawk |
Sources: the 1997 to 1999 Cherokee XJ parts manual, whose model-code table lists the 101.4-inch wheelbase; the 1987 to 1990 Jeep parts manual for the Comanche; and the Stellantis 2007 Liberty, 2008 Liberty, and 2014 Cherokee specification sheets.
Grand Cherokee and Commander wheelbase chart
| Model (code, model years) | Wheelbase, in (mm) | Overall length, in (mm) | Body width, in (mm) | Track front/rear, in (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Cherokee ZJ (1993 to 1998) | not sourced | not sourced | not sourced | not sourced |
| Grand Cherokee WJ (1999 to 2004) | 105.9 (2,690) | 181.5 (4,610) | 72.3 (1,836) overall | 59.5 / 59.5 (1,511) |
| Grand Cherokee WK (2005 to 2010) | 109.5 (2,781) | 188.0 (4,775) | 73.3 (1,861) | 62.0 / 62.0 (1,575) |
| Commander XK (2006 to 2010) | 109.5 (2,781) | 188.5 (4,787) | 74.8 (1,900) | 62.6 / 62.6 (1,589) |
| Grand Cherokee WK2 (2011 to 2022) | 114.8 (2,915) | 189.8 (4,822) | 76.5 (1,943) | 63.9 / 64.1 (1,623 / 1,627) |
| Grand Cherokee WL two-row (2022 on) | 116.7 (2,964) | 193.5 (4,914) | 77.5 (1,968) | 65.4 / 65.4 (1,660) |
| Grand Cherokee L, WL three-row (2021 on) | 121.7 (3,091) | 204.9 (5,204) | 77.9 (1,979) | 65.4 / 65.4 (1,660) |
Sources: the 2003 Grand Cherokee sales brochure for the WJ, confirmed by the 1999 WJ parts manual; and the Stellantis 2007 Grand Cherokee, 2007 Commander, 2011 Grand Cherokee, 2022 Grand Cherokee, and 2021 Grand Cherokee L specification sheets. Grand Cherokee sheets quote body width and a separate mirror-to-mirror width, which is why this table says body width. No manufacturer document with ZJ dimensions could be located, so that row is left blank rather than filled from secondary sources.
Wagoneer, Compass, Patriot, and Renegade wheelbase chart
| Model (code, model years) | Wheelbase, in (mm) | Overall length, in (mm) | Width, in (mm) | Track front/rear, in (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wagoneer SJ (1963 to 1983) and Grand Wagoneer (1984 to 1991) | 110 (2,794) in the 1970 brochure; 109 (2,769) in AMC's 1983 book, which lists whole inches | 183.66 (4,665), 1970 | 75.6 (1,920), 1970 | 57 / 57 (1,448), 1970 |
| Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer WS (2022 on) | 123.0 (3,124) | 214.7 (5,453) | 83.6 (2,124) body | 68.5 / 68.3 (1,740 / 1,734) |
| Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L (2023 on) | 130.0 (3,303) | 226.7 (5,759) | 83.6 (2,124) body | 68.4 / 68.3 (1,738 / 1,734) |
| Compass MK (2007 to 2017) | 103.7 (2,635) | 173.4 (4,405) | 69.3 (1,761) | 59.8 / 59.8 (1,520) |
| Patriot MK (2007 to 2017) | 103.7 (2,635) | 173.6 (4,411) | 69.1 (1,756) | 59.8 / 59.8 (1,520) |
| Compass MP (2017 on) | 103.8 (2,636) | 173.0 (4,394) | 73.8 (1,874) mirrors folded | 60.7 / 60.3 (1,542 / 1,532) |
| Renegade BU (2015 to 2023) | 101.2 (2,570) | 166.6 (4,232) | 74.2 (1,887) mirrors folded | 60.6 / 60.6 (1,540) |
Sources: the 1970 Wagoneer sales brochure and AMC's 1983 product book for the SJ; and the Stellantis 2022 Wagoneer, 2023 Wagoneer L, 2007 Compass, 2007 Patriot, 2017 Compass, and 2015 Renegade specification sheets.
What wheelbase actually changes
Wheelbase is the single dimension that sets how a vehicle behaves over a crest, how tightly it turns, and how it settles over bumps. The clearest illustration is the current Wrangler, because the two-door and four-door share the same axles, tires, and ground clearance and differ almost only in the 21.6 inches between them. On the 2018 Wrangler specification sheet, the Sport two-door has a 25-degree breakover angle, and the Sport four-door has 20.3 degrees; on the Rubicon's taller tires, the figures are 27.8 and 22.6 degrees. Approach and departure angles are nearly identical between the two bodies, because those depend on overhang and tire size, not on wheelbase. Stretch the same chassis again into the Gladiator and the Sport's breakover drops to 18.4 degrees on the same tires.
Breakover is the practical consequence. The longer the span between the axles, the lower the belly hangs relative to a sharp crest, so a long-wheelbase Jeep high-centers on a ledge or a hump that a short one simply drives over. The fix on the trail is to take crests at an angle, so that one wheel is over the top before the belly reaches it, or to add tire diameter, which is why lifted and re-tired four-doors often match a stock two-door on the same obstacle.
Turning circle grows with wheelbase. The same 2018 sheet lists a 34.5-foot curb-to-curb turning diameter for the two-door and 39.4 feet for the four-door; the 2020 Gladiator sheet lists 44.5 feet for Sport and Overland and 45.0 feet for Mojave. On a tight switchback, that five-foot difference between the two Wranglers is the difference between one pass and a three-point turn.
Ride and stability go the other way. A longer wheelbase pitches less over washboard and ruts because the front and rear wheels hit each bump farther apart in time, and it resists the yaw that a trailer puts into a tow vehicle. Jeep's own ratings follow that logic: the 2018 sheet gives the two-door a 2,000-pound maximum gross trailer weight and the four-door 3,500 pounds, and the 2004 Unlimited launch release credited the LJ's extra length with a 3,500-pound rating, 1,500 pounds more than the standard Wrangler of the day. Jeep's Gladiator launch materials say the longer wheelbase and the bed sitting aft of the rear axle give better weight distribution and a more composed ride when carrying a load.
Track width is the other number in the tables, and it does a different job. A wider track resists body roll and side-slope tipping; the JL's track grew from the JK's 61.9 inches to 62.9 inches, and the Rubicon, Xtreme 35, and Rubicon 392 run wider still at 64.4 and 66.9 inches. Track also decides whether a given tire clears the fender and the control arms at full lock, which is one reason lifted Jeeps so often run offset wheels or spacers.
Why the LJ and the JK Unlimited exist
Jeep stretched the Wrangler twice, and each time the stated reason was the same: owners who wanted a Wrangler but needed more room. The 2004 Wrangler Unlimited, the LJ, added 10 inches of wheelbase to reach 103 inches and 15 inches of overall length, which Jeep said bought 13 inches of cargo floor and two inches of second-row legroom while keeping a 20-degree breakover angle. In the January 2004 launch release Jeep marketing chief Jeff Bell said most owners did not want anything changed but a smaller group needed more space, and executive engineer Jaci Woody said 15 inches was the right balance of space and capability.
Three years later, the JK repeated the idea with doors. The 2007 Wrangler Unlimited reveal described the first four-door Wrangler as 20.6 inches longer in wheelbase than the two-door, 116 inches against 95.4, with room for five adults, 37.2 inches of rear legroom, and 46.4 cubic feet of cargo behind the second row. The release also noted that even with the extra 20.6 inches, the Unlimited kept class-leading off-road capability, which is the same argument Jeep made for the LJ. The CJ-8 Scrambler of 1981 to 1985 was the same move a generation earlier, a CJ-7 stretched 10 inches to 103.5 to carry a pickup bed.
How to measure wheelbase on your own Jeep
Factory figures are measured at curb weight on the standard tires, and a lifted Jeep with a different axle position, longer control arms, or a shifted track bar can drift from the published number by a fraction of an inch, enough to matter for alignment and driveshaft angles. Checking it takes a tape measure, a flat floor, and ten minutes.
- Park on level pavement with the steering straight ahead and the tires at normal pressure.
- Find the center of each wheel hub. Use the center cap or axle nut as the reference; on a Jeep with a solid axle, the hub center is the axle centerline.
- Measure from the center of the front hub to the center of the rear hub on the driver's side, keeping the tape level and parallel to the ground. Record it.
- Repeat on the passenger side. The two readings should match. A difference you can see on the tape means an axle is sitting crooked under the body, usually from a control arm, track bar, or leaf-spring shackle that has moved.
- Average the two readings. That is the wheelbase. Compare it with the table above for the model.
Measure track the same way across the axle, from the center of one tire's tread to the center of the other's, front and rear separately. Aftermarket wheels with less backspacing or wheel spacers add twice the offset change to that figure.
Two-door or four-door for the trail
For technical rock, tight tree-lined trails, and switchbacks, the two-door is the better tool, and the spec sheets explain why: a 25 versus 20.3-degree breakover on the same tires and a five-foot smaller turning circle. For long gravel days, towing, overnight gear, and anyone riding in the back, the four-door is the better tool, with the higher trailer rating, more stable highway manners, and far more cargo room behind the rear seat. The Gladiator pushes further in the same direction, with a 137.3-inch wheelbase that carries a bed and up to 7,650 pounds of trailer on the right configuration but needs careful line choice over crests. Put simply, the four-door gets you to the trail more comfortably, and the two-door gets you through the hard part with fewer scrapes. Tire size is the equalizer, since a larger tire raises breakover on either body.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wheelbase of a Jeep Wrangler?
It depends on the body and generation. The two-door JL is 96.8 inches, and the four-door JL Unlimited is 118.4 inches, from Jeep's 2018 specification sheet. The earlier JK was 95.4 and 116.0 inches, the TJ was 93.4 inches, and the YJ was also 93.4 inches.
Is the Jeep Gladiator just a long Wrangler?
Mechanically, it is close. Jeep's Gladiator launch materials put the wheelbase at 19.4 inches longer than a four-door Wrangler's and the frame at 31 inches longer; the two specification sheets' own figures, 137.3 against 118.4 inches, work out to 18.9 inches. The Rubicon and Sport Max Tow versions also run a wider 64.4-inch track than the 62.9-inch base Gladiator.
How much longer is a four-door Wrangler than a two-door?
On the JL, the four-door's wheelbase is 21.6 inches longer (118.4 vs. 96.8), and its overall length, including the spare, is 21.6 inches longer (188.4 vs. 166.8). Width is identical at 73.8 inches.
Why does a longer wheelbase hurt breakover angle?
Breakover angle is set by ground clearance and the distance between the axles. With the same clearance, spreading the axles farther apart flattens the angle, so the belly contacts a crest sooner. Jeep's 2018 sheet shows the effect directly: 25 degrees for the Sport two-door and 20.3 degrees for the Sport four-door on identical tires.
Which Jeep has the longest wheelbase?
Among current models, it is the Gladiator pickup at 137.3 inches. The longest current SUV is the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L at 130.0 inches. Historically, AMC's 1983 product book lists the long-bed J-10 and the J-20 pickups at 131 inches.
Did the Wrangler YJ and TJ have the same wheelbase?
Yes. The 1988 Wrangler brochure lists 93.4 inches for the YJ, and Jeep's 2006 specification sheet lists 93.4 inches for the TJ. The JK grew that by two inches to 95.4, and the JL by another 1.4 inches to 96.8.
Related reading on this site: Jeep Wrangler generations from CJ to JL by model year, how to tell a JK from a JL, Jeep wheel bolt patterns and torque specs by generation, and Wrangler trim levels explained.
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