Need advice from veteran Gladiator owners - thanks for your help

[Geoff Massa]

Hey Everyone,

This is my first post. I posted this on another website before I found this site which specializes in Gladiators. I would really apricate your input.

I am trying to save money on a Gladiator purchase so I can properly outfit the Jeep for Overlanding/Camping.

I am thinking about buying a Gladiator Sport with the Max Tow Package in lieu of the Rubicon because you get the most heavy duty Dana 44 axles front and back and 4.10 gears. This saves about 16K over the Rubicon

If I add front and back air lockers, a manual sway bar disconnect, 33” KO 2 tires and steel front bumper ready for a winch I believe it will cost about $7,000. So, I am ahead about $9K and can use the rest of the funds to outfit this vehicle with other overlanding equipment.

Does this make sense to you? Am I missing something? Is the Sport with Max Tow Package suspension system going to be a problem off roading?

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Geoff

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[sharpsicle]

Sounds reasonable for what you're wanting to do. If you don't need the Rubicon bling, then your path makes perfect sense. I think you've got it figured out quite well! You may find additional things you want to change as you go, but foundationally it sounds like starting with the Max Tow package is exactly what you want.

Cue the "it's just a fake Rubicon" comments incoming...

 

[HooliganActual]

Most of what you've called out seems sound and yes the Max Tow suspension will be fine for overlanding.

Just a thought...if you truly are doing overlanding/camping on forest roads, etc., save your money on installing the lockers. The winch will get you out of anything the lockers will and more.

I have lockers in my JTR and 2 JKURs and I can count the number of times I've engaged the lockers on one hand for each vehicle...and I wheel those JKURs hard....

 

[ShrimpHappens]

The Max Tow package includes a limited-slip differential in the rear.

 

[HooliganActual]

The Max Tow package includes a limited-slip differential in the rear.

@Geoff Massa See...there ya go. Save the money on adding lockers and put it into a good (and I mean Warn) winch.

 

[MNhunter1]

I'm not sure where you're getting the 16K savings between the two. Its more like 6K between a base Rubicon w/ auto and a Sport S w/ max tow. Then there is also the Freedom w/ max tow that splits the two. If you're going to add lockers, sway bar disco, and plan to run 33's, I'd personally just go with the Rubi.

 

[bleda2002]

I'm not sure where you're getting the 16K savings between the two. Its more like 6K between a base Rubicon w/ auto and a Sport S w/ max tow. Then there is also the Freedom w/ max tow that splits the two. If you're going to add lockers, sway bar disco, and plan to run 33's, I'd personally just go with the Rubi.

On the B&P the sport s max tow is 45k, the rubicon 49k. The price delta has gotten so close that there is little reason to go max tow at this point imo unless you absolutely need the couple hundred pounds higher tow rating.

Maybe the OP is buying used though?

Edit: I take that back, its 52K to 45K to have an auto with tow package rubi vs the auto max tow. Still dont think the 6-7K (which could be shrunk to be closer to 5K through gupton for example) is worth it if you are still adding a locker, tires, and swaybar disconnect

 

[Artsifrtsi]

It really depends... the Rubicon offers more than just lockers. It has a 4:1 low range in the transfer case that you will not get. It has approx 1 more inch of ground clearance, that when coupled with leveling spacers will allow for 35's with very slight, if any, rubbing. You get the electric disconnects on the sway bar. And there is the Offroad plus mapping for the driveline.

You should be able to get a base Rubicon not too far off of what a moderately equipped MaxToe would cost, and have close to the same payload... but without having to add in a lot of work.

Another cost factor to consider, is you can get the Rubicon with a steel bumper under financing, and add the winch and you overlanding equipment separately. On the Max Toe option, how are you planning to finance the lockers... credit card? Which is less in the long run... don't necessarily look at the initial purchase to decide.

 

[MPMB]

I'm not sure where you're getting the 16K savings between the two. Its more like 6K between a base Rubicon w/ auto and a Sport S w/ max tow. Then there is also the Freedom w/ max tow that splits the two. If you're going to add lockers, sway bar disco, and plan to run 33's, I'd personally just go with the Rubi.

Unless you order from the factory, there are no "base" Rubicons. At least not when I bought mine in April '21. There might be some around the US, but the base price point is a marketing scam.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Unless you order from the factory, there are no "base" Rubicons. At least not when I bought mine in April '21. There might be some around the US, but the base price point is a marketing scam.

Back in 2020 when I bought my O'land, there were just as many base rubis on the lot as fully equipped. I wanted more options, and Gat'r... plus I had other plans for driveline, so I went with the O'land.

EDIT: Just did an inventory search 300 miles out from 35898... there are 20+ base 2022 Rubicons, all $55.5k and under...

 

[MNhunter1]

Unless you order from the factory, there are no "base" Rubicons. At least not when I bought mine in April '21. There might be some around the US, but the base price point is a marketing scam.

Correct, not likley to find one sitting on a lot somewhere. I was looking at the difference in invoice of a minimally equipped white Sport S w/ Max Tow and a Rubicon w/ auto trans, which is about $6100.

 

[MrJeep]

I don't necessarily agree with the winch vs. lockers comments depending on how much time you have.
A rear locker will get you through 90% of obstacles (east coast wheeling) and take no time where a winching operation can last minutes to hours. A winch and a rear locker probably get you to 100% and the front locker is really, again, for the time factor or places where there are no good winch points (desert).
The 4:1 low range is very nice to have. necessary for any serious wheeling IMHO.

OP is probably more west coast/desert oriented so take this with a grain.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Correct, not likley to find one sitting on a lot somewhere. I was looking at the difference in invoice of a minimally equipped white Sport S w/ Max Tow and a Rubicon w/ auto trans, which is about $6100.

Nah, see the edit to my post above... try searching Jeep's inventory before blindly agreeing...

 

[HooliganActual]

I don't necessarily agree with the winch vs. lockers comments depending on how much time you have.

I don't disagree. My point was more based in the fact that he wouldn't have lockers to begin with and would have the extra expense of having them installed aftermarket which means paying exhorbitant shop rates, not having your vehicle for days, etc. He was already planning on installing a winch which he could likely do himself in a few hours.

For most overlanding you really won't need either but certainly wouldn't need both in most cases...so lesser of two evils would be install the winch.

And with a stock LSD on the Max Tow, why have lockers installed...

 

[HorneyBadger]

Back in 2020 when I bought my O'land, there were just as many base rubis on the lot as fully equipped. I wanted more options, and Gat'r... plus I had other plans for driveline, so I went with the O'land.

EDIT: Just did an inventory search 300 miles out from 35898... there are 20+ base 2022 Rubicons, all $55.5k and under...

55k is not a base rubicon.

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