Since the JT is NOT considered a true 1/2 Ton

[sharpsicle]

How? Solid axles, up to 7650 towing, great cargo and towing capacity for a mid size, true body on steel frame, plow options, etc. Sounds like a truck to me.

It was rhetorical. The Ridgeline also sounds like a truck to me. Just not one I want to own.

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[Barnaby’sdad]

I think it would be more relevant (these days) to look at trucks in terms of mid-size, full-size (traditional half-ton badged trucks), and super-duty/heavy-duty.

The JT is a mid-size truck with a payload capacity that’s marginally better than my old Subaru Outback. It’s a blast to drive and does what I need it to do, but if I REALLY needed the utility of a bed (I typically haul with a utility trailer)…I’d have gone with a “real” truck. That is to say a 6’+ bed, 1,500+ lb payload, etc.

As far as being a truck goes, the only thing my JT has over my old Ram 1500 is that it’s smaller/more maneuverable in tight spaces (one of the reasons that I wanted a mid-size truck).

 

[NC_Overland]

When I put 1k lbs of river rock in mine, it only sat 1” lower than the front, so sagged 2”. It drove just like when I had my stock overland springs on it. A little bit floatier and less controlled than I like, but fine. Mine is a stock 3.6l Overland with Rubicon LE take off springs. 1k is 1/2 ton last I checked. It tows 6k lbs pretty well too.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I do not care what anyone calls mine. It does what I have needed including towing this 16 ft enclosed trailer of 6500 lbs over a 1000 miles without a hitch.

When I needed more I had a bigger truck. A 2008 Chevy 3500HDcrew dually 4x4 and later a 2014 GMC 2500HD Denali.

 

[Cruizer8]

I do not care what anyone calls mine. It does what I have needed including towing this 16 ft enclosed trailer of 6500 lbs over a 1000 miles without a hitch.

When I needed more I had a bigger truck. A 2008 Chevy 3500HDcrew dually 4x4 and later a 2014 GMC 2500HD Denali.

I am impressed, how did you manage to tow that without a hitch?

On a serious note, I didn't realize people considered the Gladiator a 1/2 ton. I always understood 1/2 ton as a 150/1500, 3/4 ton as a 250/2500, and 1 ton as a 350/3500 as many others here.

 

[FrankFrqnkFrank]

What I do find interesting is that in Pennsylvania, you get a 'Truck' plate and have to have a special '2' sticker on the windshield.

Funny thing was that yesterday, I saw a Honda Ridgeline AWD with truck plates and that '2' sticker on the windshield. That thing is probably as far from a 'truck' as one can get ???

in illinois, you can buy truck plates even for cars. Truck plates allow you to park in loading docks. The only downside is that with truck plates you are not technically allowed on boulevards or in express highway lanes, but I can’t imagine you’d ever get ticketed for either of those

And you can always buy slightly higher-cost specialty car plates for your truck (e.g., sports teams) and drive it anywhere a car can drive

 

[The Duck of Earl]

I think it would be more relevant (these days) to look at trucks in terms of mid-size, full-size (traditional half-ton badged trucks), and super-duty/heavy-duty.

The JT is a mid-size truck with a payload capacity that’s marginally better than my old Subaru Outback. It’s a blast to drive and does what I need it to do, but if I REALLY needed the utility of a bed (I typically haul with a utility trailer)…I’d have gone with a “real” truck. That is to say a 6’+ bed, 1,500+ lb payload, etc.

As far as being a truck goes, the only thing my JT has over my old Ram 1500 is that it’s smaller/more maneuverable in tight spaces (one of the reasons that I wanted a mid-size truck).

This is the best summary here. I know people will go on about how they do this or that 'just fine' with their Gladiator (good for you) but for pure 'truck' stuff there are far better tools.

The Gladiators best virtue to me is its far superior interior cabin space for the mid-sized class (certainly not against real 1/2 tons) while still being close (or greater depending on your trim) to the 'truck' specs of the other mid-sized (again, ... certainly not against other real 1/2 tons).

Versus true 1/2 tons, the Gladiator is certainly easier to 'place', whether that be on a trail or in a parking garage... and this seems to be the only real reason to pick the Gladiator in my mind (aside from the top down, doors off crowd, jeep wave crowd, but also the wrangler exists for that and is even better at maneuverability...).

 

[Geoarch]

because the monikers are long since outdated and yet still used. while the gladiator has a payload cap up to 1700lbs (85% of a ton) it's not a half ton truck. it's especially not a 3/4 ton truck which is where super duties start (f250, ram/chevy/gmc 2500s).

1/2 ton truck hasn't meant an actual half ton in a long, long time. half ton just means full size truck now, which the gladiator is not. 3/4 ton means entry level super duty, 1 ton refers to your 350/3500s

Why? Because it's america and our measurements don't have to make sense. How many Hogsheads in an Olympic sized swimming pool again?

Well at least Jeep is using metric now?

 

[slim chance]

i am also a member of the Ram forum .... many Ram Power Wagon 2500 only have a door payload sticker around 1100#s .... our 2019 Larime 1500 was 1615#s and my 2019 Ram Limited 1500 was 1577#s ... and now my 2019 Ram Big Horn 2500 is 2821#s ... pixs below

 

[AmosMoses]

Don't forget your gladiator has four wheel drive so you need to get some 4x4 stickers as well, otherwise people might just assume it's two wheel drive.

 

[Labswine]

in illinois, you can buy truck plates even for cars. Truck plates allow you to park in loading docks. The only downside is that with truck plates you are not technically allowed on boulevards or in express highway lanes, but I can’t imagine you’d ever get ticketed for either of those

And you can always buy slightly higher-cost specialty car plates for your truck (e.g., sports teams) and drive it anywhere a car can drive

When I got my personalized plate for my Gladiator, it didn't say 'TRUCK' on it

 

[Geoarch]

How? Solid axles, up to 7650 towing, great cargo and towing capacity for a mid size, true body on steel frame, plow options, etc. Sounds like a truck to me.

Imagine trying to take a Ridgeline through the Rubicon or Moab. It’s definitely an apples and oranges comparison.

 

[irrelevantgoals]

 

[WILDHOBO]

Imagine trying to take a Ridgeline through the Rubicon or Moab. It’s definitely an apples and oranges comparison.

It might survive fins and things with lots of scratches, but the rubicon would put it on a salvage trailer, in the first hour.

 

[irrelevantgoals]

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