Do dealerships normally stock the diesel model or do you really need to order it online?

[hikernbackpacker]

I am considering a Gladiator in the diesel version as a possibility for my next vehicle, at the moment waiting to see what the 2024 model is like. Currently own a 2018 Ram 1500 that I bought in the fall of 2019. Prior to that I was a little over 20 years in two Jeeps, the last one a 2 door wrangler.

The Ram is great, but maybe a larger truck than I truly need so that is one of the reasons why I am thinking in terms of the Gladiator (that and I miss the overall feel of a Jeep).

The reason that I am considering the diesel version of the Gladiator is that my 2 door wrangler had the 6 cylinder pentastar engine in it. It did last to just over 100,000 miles before needing a pretty serious repair job. I know the behavior of that engine and how it really has to work hard just to get/keep you moving on down the road. In reading up on the diesel it seems that it doesn't have to work as hard and seems a more fitting engine for the truck, and hopefully it would last longer as I generally don't vehicle shop that often typically putting a good amount over 100,000 miles on a vehicle before I consider another one.

I've just been looking at inventory at dealerships on-line and am not seeing very many Gladiator diesels in the new inventory. I am aware of the high pressure fuel pump issue that impacted units built during a designated timeframe, but am guessing that issue isn't a problem for new production as online I see you can order the diesel engine to be put into the Gladiator you are building. I just did not know if this is something dealerships normally stocked or if I would just need to order online when the time came?

Sponsored

 

[staying_tuned]

I believe due to the open recall (and inability for a dealer to currently accept an EcoD as a trade-in as a result) they aren't stocking them like they used to but even then pickings were very slim. I ordered mine but only because I wanted to save as much as possible and was willing to wait the order out to get exactly what I wanted and nothing more. Even so, it only took 10 weeks to go from order configuration submitted to me picking the truck up.

Being in Nashville I wouldn't hesitate to put an order in at Gupton in Springfield. You'll save a gob of cash, something like 12% off MSRP (6-ish% off invoice) and they are really close. Folks fly from across the country to deal with them, I would have too if I didn't find a similar order deal in the northeast when we were still in PA.

Good luck with the hunt!

 

[Tom C]

I‘m in North Texas. There are a few out there on dealership lots, but none within 50 miles of my house. They were mostly fully loaded rubicons. I ended up ordering mine. I will get mine in 15 weeks or less.

 

[hikernbackpacker]

Thanks for the input and information. I certainly don't have a problem with the waiting and always looking for new experiences so this would be the first vehicle I have purchased online.

I am waiting at this point to see what the 2024 model features and options are before making a decision. I am sure the need for DEF made diesels less popular and I have done some research on it to become familiar with it. I don't think it to be too much of an inconvenience given the overall objective is to have an engine that doesn't strain as hard to do its job and therefore potentially last longer.

 

[Orange01z28]

I am considering a Gladiator in the diesel version as a possibility for my next vehicle, at the moment waiting to see what the 2024 model is like. Currently own a 2018 Ram 1500 that I bought in the fall of 2019. Prior to that I was a little over 20 years in two Jeeps, the last one a 2 door wrangler.

The Ram is great, but maybe a larger truck than I truly need so that is one of the reasons why I am thinking in terms of the Gladiator (that and I miss the overall feel of a Jeep).

The reason that I am considering the diesel version of the Gladiator is that my 2 door wrangler had the 6 cylinder pentastar engine in it. It did last to just over 100,000 miles before needing a pretty serious repair job. I know the behavior of that engine and how it really has to work hard just to get/keep you moving on down the road. In reading up on the diesel it seems that it doesn't have to work as hard and seems a more fitting engine for the truck, and hopefully it would last longer as I generally don't vehicle shop that often typically putting a good amount over 100,000 miles on a vehicle before I consider another one.

I've just been looking at inventory at dealerships on-line and am not seeing very many Gladiator diesels in the new inventory. I am aware of the high pressure fuel pump issue that impacted units built during a designated timeframe, but am guessing that issue isn't a problem for new production as online I see you can order the diesel engine to be put into the Gladiator you are building. I just did not know if this is something dealerships normally stocked or if I would just need to order online when the time came?

What 6 did you have?

Todays 3.6 combined with the ZF 8 speed is a completely different animal

 

[Camaroboi13]

What 6 did you have?

Todays 3.6 combined with the ZF 8 speed is a completely different animal

He did say he had the pentastar, that would be today’s 3.6 engine you are referring to.

When I made the decision to buy the diesel, I was very specific in what options I wanted: LED package, Hard top, Technology group, Towing package, Diesel engine. And not black. When clicking all those boxes, there were only 22 in the country at the time of purchase. Closest one from me was 240 miles away in Vegas, so I drove out there and picked it up. If I remember correctly 12 of those 22 were down in Florida, and the rest were pretty evenly distributed across American soil

 

[Oilburner]

If I were you I would not put off placing your order = no telling when they might drop the option as with other lines.

 

[The Welsh Griffin]

On Autotrader.com there are 113 2023 or newer gladiator diesels within 500 miles of 37203

 

[ScottBeach]

There is a 2023 rubicon diesel in orlando. Total of 11 within 200 miles of 32937

 

[Bananaman]

I factory ordered mine and picked up in Austin Tx. At the time they had about 20 Gladiators on the lot and none were diesel. The salesman told me he could have sold mine several times over that morning.
I love the power this thing has.

 

[22EcoDs]

What 6 did you have?

Todays 3.6 combined with the ZF 8 speed is a completely different animal

It's not a ZF

 

[Jteakus]

I had to order my JT and JL, both with diesels.

 

[hikernbackpacker]

What 6 did you have?

Todays 3.6 combined with the ZF 8 speed is a completely different animal

The downside to not buying a vehicle frequently is sometimes I forget exactly when I did buy it. I believe it was a 2008 model year that I bought new. I do know it was a V6 Pentastar 3.6L. What I don't know is the specifics of the transmission beyond the fact that it was 4WD.

 

[hikernbackpacker]

If I were you I would not put off placing your order = no telling when they might drop the option as with other lines.

Thanks for the advice, I am in research/information gathering mode at the moment to help me make the best configuration decision that will keep me happy for awhile.

 

[dcmdon]

Thanks for the input and information. I certainly don't have a problem with the waiting and always looking for new experiences so this would be the first vehicle I have purchased online.

I am waiting at this point to see what the 2024 model features and options are before making a decision. I am sure the need for DEF made diesels less popular and I have done some research on it to become familiar with it. I don't think it to be too much of an inconvenience given the overall objective is to have an engine that doesn't strain as hard to do its job and therefore potentially last longer.

If you don't have a problem with waiting, then I'd suggest ordering it. You get exactly the options you want, and none that you don't.

I got mine from Gupton and was very very pleased with the price and the total purchase experience.

Sponsored