BearFootSam
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Good Day All,
I'm quite literally moving coast to coast as I write and wanted to share some experience regarding towing and general observations. We bought this 2022 Gladiator Rubicon in late September. On October 29th, with only 1,800 miles on the clock, we set out west from Ocean City, MD, to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.
The truck is loaded with two adults and a child plus approximately 4-500lbs of luggage as a high estimate. In the back, I am towing a 500lbs motorcycle on a 5x9' uHaul trailer for a total weight of about 1,750lbs. Using a high tongue weight of 200lbs in addition to 750lbs of people and luggage, the total load is 950lbs. We are using a soft topper over the bed to secure our luggage.
Our route has not been a straight line path but meandering with stops in Minnesota, Badlands NP, and at present, Yellowstone NP. From here, we are likely to take either 90 or travel the scenic route via the Lolo pass and 12.
Phase 1: From the mid-Atlantic region to Minneapolis, we experienced a mix of fine weather with a few heavy rain storms. My first impression of towing, having done quite a bit over the years, is that the gladiator tows very well and drives comfortably at interstate speeds. I tended to keep closer to 60mph due to my distrust of Uhaul tires and in deference to my new drivetrain.
Observations: During this period, my trip average economy ran about 14-15mpg, which, all things considered, is fair. I kept a close eye on temps and tire pressure. Starting at 37psi, once up to temperature, the rears level off at 41psi with the fronts at 39. The pressures would be representative of the trip to date when at highway speed for extended drives except for later notes on the wind. On level roads of the east, the truck tended to settle in 7th gear, occasionally stepping to 8th. Transmission temps settled at 185-190*, coolant at 195*, and oil at 200*. My only complaint was some bouncing over dips at higher speeds.
Phase II: Form Minneapolis, we set off in brisk wind that would foretell the weather to come. On the more sheltered two-lane highways, the wind was noisy but acceptable, and only occasionally did I experience significant buffeting. As we crossed the line into South Dakota, now on route 90, the open prairie let the wind howl, and we felt it. Fuel economy dropped significantly to 11.5 despite my holding 65mph alongside traffic going 80+. Being passed by big rigs, the jeep's soft top would flap and make a ruckus that was unpleasant, to say the least. More bothersome was that the temporarily blocked wind, in conjunction with the truck's own pressure wave, would shift the jeep in its lane and require a deft hand on the wheel to hold my lane. I came to dread their passing and girded myself for the fight, which, in turn, was quite tiring. The wind would be our constant companion until the black hills.
Observations: Most notable was that with the wind steadily from the SSW at 40-45 mph, tire pressures reflected the imbalance. Right rear tire pressure was consistently 1psi higher than the left despite starting at and cooling off to the same pressure. I assume this to be the effect of greater loading and decided that trying to counter it by starting off with a pressure offset would be fruitless. with the increased wind resistance, the truck dropped to and held 6th gear a majority of the time. I am mindful as well that this journey also entails the gradual climb of several thousand feet as the prairie slowly climbs towards the west. The effort increased so did the fluid temps. Transmission stayed below 195*, but oil and coolant would rise to around 210*, oil occasionally up to 220 during the worst of it. Accompanying the passage of a big rig, the effect on the Jeep softop was jarring. The darn thing would bang and flap in an exhausting manner. I discovered that the edges which tuck into the rain gutter would free themselves of this channel and exacerbate the effect. During stops, I became mindful of replacing them in their home, which semed to improve the noise to a limited degree. Overall while I don't blame the machine overly, I would not venture to tow in a similar configuration again in the future if it could be avoided. The wind really made it a challenge that required constant vigilance. Perhaps it would have been better without the bed top, certainly without the trailer, as a handful of passing gladiators did not seem to suffer to the extent that I did. I don't regret the choice of the soft top as this experience was an edge case, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the ease of dropping the top, but if you live in those parts, it certainly bears consideration.
Phase III: Upon the black hills, we determined to visit Mt. Rushmore, having never visited despite passing this way several times. While the wind didn't leave us entirely, the forest and hills brought sweet relief as we ascended in the national forest. Arriving at Rushmore, snow began to fall, earnestly offering my first test of the Jeep in that condition. Departing the delightfully empty monument, we set forth West toward Buffalo, Wyoming. For a few brief stints, I engaged 4WD, where the road was entirely snow-covered. The trailer and the Jeep did not falter or spark caution. I felt fully confident in the feedback at the wheel and was impressed with the traction in 2WD, likely aided by the load. The stock Falken Wildpeaks offered no complaints. By and by, the snow fell behind, and we crossed the high plains toward Buffalo.
Observations: Nothing substantive. The traction and poise in the snow were excellent. I was not initially confident that the trailer would behave, but it did, and a periodic eye on the rear camera showed nothing of concern. Both cameras by the way have great quality and were handy. I made a habit of using the rearview frequently for the first 1,500 miles as I gauged the security of my tie downs on the bike.
Phase IV: Early morning in Buffalo we overheard talk in a diner about the prior evening's snow. 18* I tested the remote start and heated wheel to a pleasant effect. After cold weather injuries to my hands in the Army I get terrible pain when they are intensely cold. After packing the car the heated wheel was a treat. It was nice to have the car warmed and ready to go. After eating ourselves, we set off west up the BIg Horn range toward Cody. As we climbed through 7,000ft up over 9,500 the roads were solidly snow-packed with perhaps an inch to two of lightly compacted powder. Once in dense snow, I proactively engaged 4WD despite not having any issues in 2WD. Down the westward side, the snow gradually disappeared from the road as the land flattened into another high prairie. Along the way to Cody I stopped to procure a set of snow chains in anticipation of the mountain passes ahead and knowing I would need them in Washington this winter. A cool $200 later we were on the way to Cody. Like clockword 2/3rds of the way our old friend wind returned as a High Wind warning appeared on the dash. The timing was uncanny.
Phase V: This segment is noteworthy. Departing Cody we drove NW toward and onto the Cheif Joseph Highway. Since hitting the flat land west of the Bighorns the land was nearly snow free. This continued as we climbed the Joseph. Having seen the weather report, I was not surprised to see dark snow to the West over Yellowstone. As we again descended the long grade, the truck provided a fairly good choice of gears. When it tended to be one too high for my liking, by jumping to manual mode and downshifting, knocking it back to auto would hold the gear. I think braking with the transmission is abusive so I would brake sufficiently to drop the RPM to an appropriate range before downshifting and then allowing the lower gear to hold speed. The brakes felt strong and confidently reigned in the truck and unbraked trailer. On steep climbs, the machine would drop to 3rd to pull hard, but despite revving to 4,500 RPM, the engine was impressively smooth. My old Subaru would have sounded like it was going to eat itself in the same situation. Loaded as I was, it never felt sprightly but was neither lacking nor underpowered for the task so long as I let it rev. In this respect, the engine grew on me for its plucky nature.
Before long the snow in the distance was overhead, and the conditions deteriorated rapidly. Turning onto the Bear Tooth Highway and heading west (east of this point is closed for the season). The road surface became buried in 4-6 inches of loose virgin snow. After a time, I again engaged 4WD and proceeded forth into the gloom. Nearing Cooke city, we may or may not have encountered a road closed sign, but with only 5 miles to go and a hotel awaiting, we continued. My spouse became nervous at the conditions, but the truck was steadfast and sure-footed. I felt typical shifting now and again as the surface changed but the line held and the trailer dutifully followed. Shortly we pulled into Cooke. By morning the Jeep had accumulated a neat 5" of new snow. After a quick breakfast, we proceeded west again into the famous park. A plow was running intermittently, but the snow was falling so hard at times that the road was covered in an inch of new snow shortly after its passing. Again the truck muddled on and brought us safely through. Despite my concerns about the trailer I began to doubt the chains would ever be needed.
Observations: Again, the cold weather package proved it was worth preparing the Jeep to depart as I packed and cleaned it. The 4WD and Jeep capabilities held true to their fame. I grew up in Jeeps and learned to drive in an XJ, and so while I have lived in the world a long time, this is the first of my own. After over 2,000 miles on this journey alone, I have been only impressed by the Gladiator. I lament that this trip would be more fun without the trailer but that the Jeep has managed it well through the gamut of conditions and has proved its value. Have I said it's a fun vehicle? My kid gets a kick out of my show of engaging 4WD (as do I). "Snow mode," I call it, while the other half rolls her eyes. After all, is said and done, this thing deserves an oil change.
I'll follow up here in the coming week as we proceed on. With the weather on deck and the terrain ahead, I look forward to an interesting drive. If you've made it this far and have any questions about the truck, the soft topper, or the trailering experience, please ask.
Photos to follow
I'm quite literally moving coast to coast as I write and wanted to share some experience regarding towing and general observations. We bought this 2022 Gladiator Rubicon in late September. On October 29th, with only 1,800 miles on the clock, we set out west from Ocean City, MD, to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington.
The truck is loaded with two adults and a child plus approximately 4-500lbs of luggage as a high estimate. In the back, I am towing a 500lbs motorcycle on a 5x9' uHaul trailer for a total weight of about 1,750lbs. Using a high tongue weight of 200lbs in addition to 750lbs of people and luggage, the total load is 950lbs. We are using a soft topper over the bed to secure our luggage.
Our route has not been a straight line path but meandering with stops in Minnesota, Badlands NP, and at present, Yellowstone NP. From here, we are likely to take either 90 or travel the scenic route via the Lolo pass and 12.
Phase 1: From the mid-Atlantic region to Minneapolis, we experienced a mix of fine weather with a few heavy rain storms. My first impression of towing, having done quite a bit over the years, is that the gladiator tows very well and drives comfortably at interstate speeds. I tended to keep closer to 60mph due to my distrust of Uhaul tires and in deference to my new drivetrain.
Observations: During this period, my trip average economy ran about 14-15mpg, which, all things considered, is fair. I kept a close eye on temps and tire pressure. Starting at 37psi, once up to temperature, the rears level off at 41psi with the fronts at 39. The pressures would be representative of the trip to date when at highway speed for extended drives except for later notes on the wind. On level roads of the east, the truck tended to settle in 7th gear, occasionally stepping to 8th. Transmission temps settled at 185-190*, coolant at 195*, and oil at 200*. My only complaint was some bouncing over dips at higher speeds.
Phase II: Form Minneapolis, we set off in brisk wind that would foretell the weather to come. On the more sheltered two-lane highways, the wind was noisy but acceptable, and only occasionally did I experience significant buffeting. As we crossed the line into South Dakota, now on route 90, the open prairie let the wind howl, and we felt it. Fuel economy dropped significantly to 11.5 despite my holding 65mph alongside traffic going 80+. Being passed by big rigs, the jeep's soft top would flap and make a ruckus that was unpleasant, to say the least. More bothersome was that the temporarily blocked wind, in conjunction with the truck's own pressure wave, would shift the jeep in its lane and require a deft hand on the wheel to hold my lane. I came to dread their passing and girded myself for the fight, which, in turn, was quite tiring. The wind would be our constant companion until the black hills.
Observations: Most notable was that with the wind steadily from the SSW at 40-45 mph, tire pressures reflected the imbalance. Right rear tire pressure was consistently 1psi higher than the left despite starting at and cooling off to the same pressure. I assume this to be the effect of greater loading and decided that trying to counter it by starting off with a pressure offset would be fruitless. with the increased wind resistance, the truck dropped to and held 6th gear a majority of the time. I am mindful as well that this journey also entails the gradual climb of several thousand feet as the prairie slowly climbs towards the west. The effort increased so did the fluid temps. Transmission stayed below 195*, but oil and coolant would rise to around 210*, oil occasionally up to 220 during the worst of it. Accompanying the passage of a big rig, the effect on the Jeep softop was jarring. The darn thing would bang and flap in an exhausting manner. I discovered that the edges which tuck into the rain gutter would free themselves of this channel and exacerbate the effect. During stops, I became mindful of replacing them in their home, which semed to improve the noise to a limited degree. Overall while I don't blame the machine overly, I would not venture to tow in a similar configuration again in the future if it could be avoided. The wind really made it a challenge that required constant vigilance. Perhaps it would have been better without the bed top, certainly without the trailer, as a handful of passing gladiators did not seem to suffer to the extent that I did. I don't regret the choice of the soft top as this experience was an edge case, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the ease of dropping the top, but if you live in those parts, it certainly bears consideration.
Phase III: Upon the black hills, we determined to visit Mt. Rushmore, having never visited despite passing this way several times. While the wind didn't leave us entirely, the forest and hills brought sweet relief as we ascended in the national forest. Arriving at Rushmore, snow began to fall, earnestly offering my first test of the Jeep in that condition. Departing the delightfully empty monument, we set forth West toward Buffalo, Wyoming. For a few brief stints, I engaged 4WD, where the road was entirely snow-covered. The trailer and the Jeep did not falter or spark caution. I felt fully confident in the feedback at the wheel and was impressed with the traction in 2WD, likely aided by the load. The stock Falken Wildpeaks offered no complaints. By and by, the snow fell behind, and we crossed the high plains toward Buffalo.
Observations: Nothing substantive. The traction and poise in the snow were excellent. I was not initially confident that the trailer would behave, but it did, and a periodic eye on the rear camera showed nothing of concern. Both cameras by the way have great quality and were handy. I made a habit of using the rearview frequently for the first 1,500 miles as I gauged the security of my tie downs on the bike.
Phase IV: Early morning in Buffalo we overheard talk in a diner about the prior evening's snow. 18* I tested the remote start and heated wheel to a pleasant effect. After cold weather injuries to my hands in the Army I get terrible pain when they are intensely cold. After packing the car the heated wheel was a treat. It was nice to have the car warmed and ready to go. After eating ourselves, we set off west up the BIg Horn range toward Cody. As we climbed through 7,000ft up over 9,500 the roads were solidly snow-packed with perhaps an inch to two of lightly compacted powder. Once in dense snow, I proactively engaged 4WD despite not having any issues in 2WD. Down the westward side, the snow gradually disappeared from the road as the land flattened into another high prairie. Along the way to Cody I stopped to procure a set of snow chains in anticipation of the mountain passes ahead and knowing I would need them in Washington this winter. A cool $200 later we were on the way to Cody. Like clockword 2/3rds of the way our old friend wind returned as a High Wind warning appeared on the dash. The timing was uncanny.
Phase V: This segment is noteworthy. Departing Cody we drove NW toward and onto the Cheif Joseph Highway. Since hitting the flat land west of the Bighorns the land was nearly snow free. This continued as we climbed the Joseph. Having seen the weather report, I was not surprised to see dark snow to the West over Yellowstone. As we again descended the long grade, the truck provided a fairly good choice of gears. When it tended to be one too high for my liking, by jumping to manual mode and downshifting, knocking it back to auto would hold the gear. I think braking with the transmission is abusive so I would brake sufficiently to drop the RPM to an appropriate range before downshifting and then allowing the lower gear to hold speed. The brakes felt strong and confidently reigned in the truck and unbraked trailer. On steep climbs, the machine would drop to 3rd to pull hard, but despite revving to 4,500 RPM, the engine was impressively smooth. My old Subaru would have sounded like it was going to eat itself in the same situation. Loaded as I was, it never felt sprightly but was neither lacking nor underpowered for the task so long as I let it rev. In this respect, the engine grew on me for its plucky nature.
Before long the snow in the distance was overhead, and the conditions deteriorated rapidly. Turning onto the Bear Tooth Highway and heading west (east of this point is closed for the season). The road surface became buried in 4-6 inches of loose virgin snow. After a time, I again engaged 4WD and proceeded forth into the gloom. Nearing Cooke city, we may or may not have encountered a road closed sign, but with only 5 miles to go and a hotel awaiting, we continued. My spouse became nervous at the conditions, but the truck was steadfast and sure-footed. I felt typical shifting now and again as the surface changed but the line held and the trailer dutifully followed. Shortly we pulled into Cooke. By morning the Jeep had accumulated a neat 5" of new snow. After a quick breakfast, we proceeded west again into the famous park. A plow was running intermittently, but the snow was falling so hard at times that the road was covered in an inch of new snow shortly after its passing. Again the truck muddled on and brought us safely through. Despite my concerns about the trailer I began to doubt the chains would ever be needed.
Observations: Again, the cold weather package proved it was worth preparing the Jeep to depart as I packed and cleaned it. The 4WD and Jeep capabilities held true to their fame. I grew up in Jeeps and learned to drive in an XJ, and so while I have lived in the world a long time, this is the first of my own. After over 2,000 miles on this journey alone, I have been only impressed by the Gladiator. I lament that this trip would be more fun without the trailer but that the Jeep has managed it well through the gamut of conditions and has proved its value. Have I said it's a fun vehicle? My kid gets a kick out of my show of engaging 4WD (as do I). "Snow mode," I call it, while the other half rolls her eyes. After all, is said and done, this thing deserves an oil change.
I'll follow up here in the coming week as we proceed on. With the weather on deck and the terrain ahead, I look forward to an interesting drive. If you've made it this far and have any questions about the truck, the soft topper, or the trailering experience, please ask.
Photos to follow
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