Looking to buy 2020 JT any advice?

[Rambo89]

Hey guys, new here and I’m currently looking into buying a 2020 JT Rubicon. It has 20k miles and with this being a first year model is there anything specific to look for or consider before pulling the trigger?

I currently own a 2020 4runner and I’ve owned a 2012 JK rubicon in the past. But looking to go the truck route. I test drove the JT yesterday and loved it. Looking forward to getting back into a jeep!

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[Killroy Was Here]

Hey guys, new here and I’m currently looking into buying a 2020 JT Rubicon. It has 20k miles and with this being a first year model is there anything specific to look for or consider before pulling the trigger?

I currently own a 2020 4runner and I’ve owned a 2012 JK rubicon in the past. But looking to go the truck route. I test drove the JT yesterday and loved it. Looking forward to getting back into a jeep!

The early Gladiators had a steering gear box made of cast aluminum that had issues with poor steering/wandering on the road which was very problematic.

Jeep issued a service bulletin to replace the aluminum steering gear with an updated design that has a cast iron gear box.
So you might want to make sure that the truck you are looking at has the cast iron steering gear box. For I.D. purposes, the cast iron steering gear is painted black.

Hope this is a help.

Dave

 

[ZoMojave]

Not sure what you intend for using a JT (towing, rock crawling, trail gunning or daily driver) but if a smooth ride quality is what you are after, consider driving a Mojave to compare.

I may be a bit biased, but I sure like mine!

 

[Gvsukids]

Hey guys, new here and I’m currently looking into buying a 2020 JT Rubicon. It has 20k miles and with this being a first year model is there anything specific to look for or consider before pulling the trigger?

I currently own a 2020 4runner and I’ve owned a 2012 JK rubicon in the past. But looking to go the truck route. I test drove the JT yesterday and loved it. Looking forward to getting back into a jeep!

They were built prior to 2020, so yours could have been built in 20, like mine.
Check your bank account to see if you have any money leftover for mods.
You could check underneath for the condition of the frame and suspension components.
Does it have all the options you want? There'll be many to pick from as lease models expire.

 

[Rambo89]

The early Gladiators had a steering gear box made of cast aluminum that had issues with poor steering/wandering on the road which was very problematic.

Jeep issued a service bulletin to replace the aluminum steering gear with an updated design that has a cast iron gear box.
So you might want to make sure that the truck you are looking at has the cast iron steering gear box. For I.D. purposes, the cast iron steering gear is painted black.

Hope this is a help.

Dave

Thanks for the heads up! I will definitely look into that.

 

[Rambo89]

They were built prior to 2020, so yours could have been built in 20, like mine.
Check your bank account to see if you have any money leftover for mods.
You could check underneath for the condition of the frame and suspension components.
Does it have all the options you want? There'll be many to pick from as lease models expire.

Good point and yea I’ll definitely be saving up for a few mods but this one is fully loaded and pretty close to how I want it. It has a 2” mopar lift, warn winch, Teraflex steering stabilizer. I could see changing out the stock rims and upgrading the 34” tires to 35’s but other than that it’s ready to go.

 

[Rocksalt]

Make an appointment with your doctor. He or she may have a cure for the early symptoms of the sickness.

 

[JRobes]

An issue with all years JT (as far as I'm aware) is the rear window plastic frame can crack along the top of the window causing water to leak in. If it's a dealership you're buying from test it with a hose or trip to the car wash since they may be willing to fix it for the sale. Note that replacements may end up leaking too eventually since I don't believe they've redesigned it yet.

 

[Gvsukids]

An issue with all years JT (as far as I'm aware) is the rear window plastic frame can crack along the top of the window causing water to leak in. If it's a dealership you're buying from test it with a hose or trip to the car wash since they may be willing to fix it for the sale. Note that replacements may end up leaking too eventually since I don't believe they've redesigned it yet.

I've had good luck so far with my replacement rear glass that was installed by a glass installer at the dealership.

 

[Dryfly24]

Not sure what you intend for using a JT (towing, rock crawling, trail gunning or daily driver) but if a smooth ride quality is what you are after, consider driving a Mojave to compare.

I may be a bit biased, but I sure like mine!

FFS. . . There’s always one. Every time. In every single thread. . . .

 

[Labswine]

I'd look at the build date.

Anything built after April 2020 through at least early to middle of 2022, I would consider suspect due to COVID. It is my contention that those built during that time were the victims of a severe lack of quality control (personnel shortage) both in the companies that made the bits-n-pieces that went into them but also during their builds at the factory. I've read that there are a lot of issues with cylinder misfires requiring total engine replacement, the rear axles needing rebuild due to leaking axle seals, and a LOT of problems with the ESS system and it's batteries crapping out in less than a year.

Mine was built in June of 2019, and I took delivery in July 2019 (ordered the way I wanted it) and the only issue I have had was the leaking rear window which allowed water to get inside the roof itself. My whole hard top was replaced under warranty as they couldn't get all the water out and I argued that the water could freeze and expand further cracking the roof. I, so far, have had no issues with the new roof. I am also still on the original main battery and the battery for the ESS system with no issues (knocking on wood).

Also, because mine was an early build, I probably do not that newer cast iron/steel steering box, ergo, still the original aluminum one BUT, I've had zero issues with the steering...even towing my 27' camper.

 

[sharpsicle]

I'd look at the build date.

Anything built after April 2020 through at least early to middle of 2022, I would consider suspect due to COVID. It is my contention that those built during that time were the victims of a severe lack of quality control (personnel shortage) both in the companies that made the bits-n-pieces that went into them but also during their builds at the factory. I've read that there are a lot of issues with cylinder misfires requiring total engine replacement, the rear axles needing rebuild due to leaking axle seals, and a LOT of problems with the ESS system and it's batteries crapping out in less than a year.

This feels like a bit of a stretch. I haven’t seen anything to say that there are more or less engine or battery problems just because of a build date. Much less a range of dates that encompasses most of the Gladiators ever built.

What’s this assertion going off of?

 

[Labswine]

This feels like a bit of a stretch. I haven’t seen anything to say that there are more or less engine or battery problems just because of a build date. Much less a range of dates that encompasses most of the Gladiators ever built.

What’s this assertion going off of?

Just what I've read on Gladiator sites as well as conversations with one of the service reps at my dealership who also had to have the rear rebuilt on her less than 3,000 mile early 2021 build Sport S, and her seeing others with similar build dates coming in with the same issues, in addition to engine problems.

The assertion is that during COVID, there were probably a lot of QC personnel not at their jobs and/or just no one in general performing their jobs to the level needed to maintain quality control. I've not seen anyone with the earlier builds with these issues (except for the steering box and those were few and far between), nor have I seen anyone with later ones having these issues.

So, it's a pure assumption and theory but, the timing fits with the start of then eventual ramp down of the pandemic as people were able to return to work either because they had it and were now carrying SOME immunity, or were vaccinated and better able to cope and do their jobs, plus companies being able to hire back or more QC personnel.

The issues I have read about really speak to a lack of quality control to ensure these parts were not used in production and that manufacturing of the vehicles were also subjected to better QC.

 

[sharpsicle]

That’s a lot of assuming and idle speculation to be using to tell someone whether or not to buy a vehicle. What’s your supporting information? It sounds like you have none and you’ve built a house of cards in your head instead. You are casting a massive net that says 75% of Gladiators shouldn’t be bought, but have a tiny tiny tiny relative sample size. Issues a specific vehicle might have do not represent all vehicles. It doesn’t add up.

I mean, you’re of course free to make your own theories on things, but without actual data behind it, I would avoid stating it as fact.

 

[Labswine]

That’s a lot of assuming and idle speculation to be using to tell someone whether or not to buy a vehicle. What’s your supporting information? It sounds like you have none and you’ve built a house of cards in your head instead.

I mean, you’re of course free to make your own theories on things, but without actual data behind it, I would avoid stating it as fact.

The actual data is what's been read on Gladiator pages and conversation with people at my dealership.

Yes, some may assume it's a stretch but the theory fits with the timeline and build years.

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