Talk me into it (or out)

[Cansberry]

I came from an '01 Cherokee XJ so the gladiator feels like I bought a Lexus compared to that.
[/QUOTE]

I also came from an XJ. Huge leap up, but my wife has had a 2018 Civic and 2020 Crosstrek. Not luxury cars by any means, but still leaps and bounds better than the Gladiator for on road manners and comfort.

Ultimately, don't buy a vehicle like a Jeep for the convertible factor. The other compromises are too much to make it worth it. If you don't need the truck, and still want a convertible, Miatas are awesome. If you need the truck, and are going to stay mostly on the streets, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, and Nissan make a great product.

If you need a truck bed/the ability to tow, you want to go off road, AND a convertible is a plus, then that's the Gladiator. It's a niche thing. For me, my family outgrew my Cherokee and I needed something to fit the whole family for those crazy off road adventures the truck is more than happy to take us on. I also needed something to haul sandbags, people, packs, weapons, water, and other things for work without having to go through the headache of tripping out a work truck. The Gladiator fits the bill. I've maybe taken the roof off once, and haven't gotten to the doors yet. It's a party trick. But the sun is hot or there's inclement weather, and then its just miserable.

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[JW Jeep]

Well I have to disagree with a lot of the posts. I’ve had a lot of brand new loaded option pickups, hot rods, muscle cars boats and so on. Hell I traded a Chrysler 300 with all the toys in on my 22 Glad overland. I just like the thing and love driving it , so far about 4000 miles with no real trips It’s just different can’t explain it really ? Don’t miss the 300 at all. will I off-road probable not much if at all. We did rent a Jeep Wrangler before the gladiator one weekend in Ouray Colorado and did some switch backs and trails ( what a trip that was ?. I’m 68 years old and still love my Harley street glide also. When I park the gladiator I always look back at it with a smile. Will this wear off , who knows but for now it’s great.

 

[Fish taco]

Thanks guys. You’ve given me a lot to think about. You may have just talked me out of it!

I did take a test drive the other day, and I didn’t notice any significant discomfort, but of course it was a short drive over a short period of time.

I was thinking the gladiator would be no worse than my truck as far as drivability and comfort goes. My Tacoma rides like a truck, is noisy in the cabin, etc., so it’s not like I am coming from a bmw sedan. However, Hearing that is not the case, it may not be the vehicle for me.

 

[Fish taco]

Run a report on the VIN….it looks like the VIN they show is missing one character, there should be 17 characters in total.

They have a cardiac report posted on the website so I’m thinking it’s ok.

 

[Fish taco]

I have over 54,000 miles on my 2020 max tow. Other than squeaky breaks at low speeds after sitting for awhile, I have no issues. Mine was built in Feb 2020. It actually matters. 2020 gladiators were a 2 year period.

Based on the car fax report looks like this was produced in 2019. Not sure if that matters.

 

[Ogre_FL]

Thanks guys. You’ve given me a lot to think about. You may have just talked me out of it!

I did take a test drive the other day, and I didn’t notice any significant discomfort, but of course it was a short drive over a short period of time.

I was thinking the gladiator would be no worse than my truck as far as drivability and comfort goes. My Tacoma rides like a truck, is noisy in the cabin, etc., so it’s not like I am coming from a bmw sedan. However, Hearing that is not the case, it may not be the vehicle for me.

I honestly don't get a lot of these comments.
I think my Gladiator is very comfortable, fun to drive and no worse than any Tacoma I have ridden in.
I dont use it for serious off road. It is first and foremost a convertible truck to me, a family travel vehicle second and a light use 4x4 a very distant 3rd.

Those that don't think its a worth it as a convertible truck all have the same thing in common.......hard top.

Go test drive a soft top and make sure to open it.
I have a hard top Wrangler, I love striping it down (doors and roof) for a week or so at a time, but that takes a bit of time and I do worry about getting caught in bad weather.

The Gladiator soft top was a revelation to me in easy roof open fun.
Mine is driven most of the time with the roof open.

 

[Dryfly24]

I can’t agree with this more. I wouldn’t own the gladiator if I didn’t off-road a lot. It doesn’t matter to me how cool it is that the doors and roof come off. The on road driving manners with a solid front axle aren’t ideal. You’d be better off with any other truck in the same category. Or a bronco if you want the roof to come off.

I couldn’t disagree with this more. I traded in a 2019 Tacoma for my 2020 Gladiator Rubi and couldn’t be happier. The Gladiator is superior to that Tacoma in every way I can think of including on road.

I‘ve seen where people here talk as if the SFA is something that will make the truck feel like an oxcart on rutted dirt track compared to IFS. I don’t get it. Are you driving the same truck I am? Have you driven a Tacoma for any significant amount time or distance?

My Gladiator certainly handles just fine compared to any other truck I’ve driven. Actually better than the Tacoma did - especially after putting 33“ tires on the Tacoma. Throw in the shitty transmission, and weird seating position and that ”truck” was torture to drive on long trips.

It was the Tacoma that ended my lifelong love affair with that brand. Cant even mount a rack with any weight to it without having to reinforce the bed with steel brackets. I wouldn’t want one if you gave it to me. Or maybe I would. I’d use it as a trade-in for something else.

 

[redfish]

I have Sport , soft top. Specifically got a sport with no power locks or windows. Doors come off all the time as i have to simply lift them up , no plugs to mess with as they haven't been plugged in since new , through the top back and go. Came from a 2012 Ram 1500 and do not miss it one bit. Mine is a daily driver.

 

[Dryfly24]

I'll do the obligatory "I have a 2020 JTR with 29,000 miles and have had no problems that either I or the dealer didn't cause (dealer screwed up a TPMS sensor)".

With that said, I kind of have to agree with @Cansberry and @Chief_jeep to an extent. I mean, the heart wants what the heart wants and if you really want the Gladiator then get it. However (WARNING: unpopular opinion impending) the last time I took the top and doors off of a Jeep was 1985. It's a pain in the @$$. Just search on all the threads about lifting systems for the hard top and "how do you store your doors?" and problems that happen when disconnecting/reconnecting the wire harnesses and interior security with the top and doors off and mirrors, heaven forbid I forget the top off mirror threads.

Ask yourself how many times/how often you really think you will drive around with the top and doors off. Don't get me wrong, I am a Jeep fanboy. I've never not owned a Jeep in the last 40 years and currently own 3. But I hate taking the roof and doors off because of the hassle...and IMHO here in Arizona, there are about 3 days a year that the sun is not so miserable that I'd even consider it. Additionally you said you aren't much of an off-roader; Jeep is one of the few SUV-like vehicles that still come with the solid front and for me, that is the selling point. If I wanted a mid-size truck for anything other than "aggressive" off-roading, I would go with something else for the ride quality of the IFS.

Again, not a popular opinion on a Gladiator specific forum and also a bit hypocritical as a lifelong Jeep owner; but unless you are taking the top and doors off "all the time" and are prepared for the lifting system, storage, security add-ons, I'd go with something that has IFS.

I wheel my Gladiator every single day. I have miles of accessible trails two mins from my door. Having said that, the only time the top has been off my truck was when I bought the headliners and had to install them. The doors have never been off at all. The dust i have to clean up is bad enough with the doors and top on. Imagine what it would be like with them off every day.

 

[Gvsukids]

Thanks guys. You’ve given me a lot to think about. You may have just talked me out of it!

I did take a test drive the other day, and I didn’t notice any significant discomfort, but of course it was a short drive over a short period of time.

I was thinking the gladiator would be no worse than my truck as far as drivability and comfort goes. My Tacoma rides like a truck, is noisy in the cabin, etc., so it’s not like I am coming from a bmw sedan. However, Hearing that is not the case, it may not be the vehicle for me.

In the Gladiator, there's more room in the backseat for passengers.
I've noticed a big improvement with the ride in my 2020 Max Tow by adding Rubicon shocks to the front.

We bought the Gladiator because of the convertible factor, being a truck, and the higher tow capacity than the other midsize trucks.
The Gladiator also has better shift points than the Tacoma.

 

[HooliganActual]

I wheel my Gladiator every single day. I have miles of accessible trails two mins from my door. Having said that, the only time the top has been off my truck was when I bought the headliners and had to install them. The doors have never been off at all. The dust i have to clean up is bad enough with the doors and top on. Imagine what it would be like with them off every day.

Since you quoted my post, am I to assume you are in agreement with what I said?

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I had a 2017 Canyon that got traded in on my 2020 gladiator. The Gladiator has a much better ride and handling than the Canyon did... even better after the addition of the Rubicon suspension and 35's! The Canyon was a white knuckle drive through East TX a few years ago when the interstate was under construction with narrow lanes, and a wall for a line... the Gladiator is very easy to drive by far in comparison. Size wise, they are both almost identical in dimensions, with the Gladiator having a little more hip/shoulder room in the front.

Biggest reason to trade, I much prefer a Jeep... have had 7 Jeeps previous myself, parents had Jeeps, Grandparents had Jeeps.... Jeep is in my blood.


I cannot compare to a Tacoma, so take this as it is.

 

[Hootbro]

Based on the car fax report looks like this was produced in 2019. Not sure if that matters.

2020 model year production for retail delivery started in around late March, early April 2019. That had some growing pains of a driveshaft recall, TSB for the aluminum steering box, rear window leaks and what seemed a more than expected reports of misfire issues with various causes.

Later 2019 made units seem to have gotten better for most of those issues but I would not buy one without a warranty attached.

 

[Chief_jeep]

I couldn’t disagree with this more. I traded in a 2019 Tacoma for my 2020 Gladiator Rubi and couldn’t be happier. The Gladiator is superior to that Tacoma in every way I can think of including on road.

I‘ve seen where people here talk as if the SFA is something that will make the truck feel like an oxcart on rutted dirt track compared to IFS. I don’t get it. Are you driving the same truck I am? Have you driven a Tacoma for any significant amount time or distance?

My Gladiator certainly handles just fine compared to any other truck I’ve driven. Actually better than the Tacoma did - especially after putting 33“ tires on the Tacoma. Throw in the shitty transmission, and weird seating position and that ”truck” was torture to drive on long trips.

It was the Tacoma that ended my lifelong love affair with that brand. Cant even mount a rack with any weight to it without having to reinforce the bed with steel brackets. I wouldn’t want one if you gave it to me. Or maybe I would. I’d use it as a trade-in for something else.

Personally, I think the Tacoma is the worst truck in the segment by a mile so that's not a surprise to me. The interior is shitty and cramped, the motor has no power, the tranny is awful and the frame is cheap and weak. I have no idea why people continue to purchase a vehicle that hasn't been updated in 10 years when there are better options.

I have riden in a Colorado ZR2 and it drove much better on the road than my JT. Granted it was mostly stock compared to my JT that's lifted 4.5" on 39s. I think the new ZR2 will be a great platform as a daily driver and moderate off-roader or overlander.

 

[Fish taco]

2020 model year production for retail delivery started in around late March, early April 2019. That had some growing pains of a driveshaft recall, TSB for the aluminum steering box, rear window leaks and what seemed a more than expected reports of misfire issues with various causes.

Later 2019 made units seem to have gotten better for most of those issues but I would not buy one without a warranty attached.

Thanks. Checked again and looks like this one was built in 6/2019. Wish there was a way to check and see what had been done already.
Would any of those issue fit under the 5 yr warranty?

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