Please Critique my New Gladiator Configuration

[puddleglum]

Hi!

I am purchasing my first Jeep and need some help to choose the configuration best suited to my needs. Thanks in advance for your patience with someone new to Jeep's and off roading.

My uses for the vehicle are:

1. I still have to drive to work - ~20mile commute each way, mostly highway.
2. Taking my kids to and from sports practice with their gear. (4-10 pairs of crosscountry skis, poles, boots etc. in the winter and 2-5 bikes in the summer for mtb and triathlon club).
3. Household hauling needs with and without a trailer.
4. Recreational off-road use (camping, Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail, 7 Hour Plane Crash Trail, logging trails, forest service roads in WI where I live)
5. Once a year trip out west?

Gladiator Willy's Sport with:

- 3.6 Gas Engine
- Automatic
- Soft Top (bad idea in the winter???)
- Half Door Package (not planning to use, just to sell and get the power locks/windows cheaper)
- Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
- Spray in Bed Liner
- Grab Handles to help the kids get in.

I would also buy a set of used take-off wheels with all-season or all-terrain tires to use for street driving and save the Willy's mud terrain tires for trail use. As of right now I don't have any plans to go bigger than 33" tires.

Is this a good plan?
What other options am I overlooking?
Is it a good idea to buy and resell the half doors?

BTW - Even though it is really cool, I can't afford the Rubicon.

Thanks!

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[Vincent]

It’s a good start to me! Soft top is fine during winter. I live in northern Indiana without issue.

 

[Gvsukids]

Hi!

I am purchasing my first Jeep and need some help to choose the configuration best suited to my needs. Thanks in advance for your patience with someone new to Jeep's and off roading.

My uses for the vehicle are:

1. I still have to drive to work - ~20mile commute each way, mostly highway.
2. Taking my kids to and from sports practice with their gear. (4-10 pairs of crosscountry skis, poles, boots etc. in the winter and 2-5 bikes in the summer for mtb and triathlon club).
3. Household hauling needs with and without a trailer.
4. Recreational off-road use (camping, Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail, 7 Hour Plane Crash Trail, logging trails, forest service roads in WI where I live)
5. Once a year trip out west?

Gladiator Willy's Sport with:

- 3.6 Gas Engine
- Automatic
- Soft Top (bad idea in the winter???)
- Half Door Package (not planning to use, just to sell and get the power locks/windows cheaper)
- Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
- Spray in Bed Liner
- Grab Handles to help the kids get in.

I would also buy a set of used take-off wheels with all-season or all-terrain tires to use for street driving and save the Willy's mud terrain tires for trail use. As of right now I don't have any plans to go bigger than 33" tires.

Is this a good plan?
What other options am I overlooking?
Is it a good idea to buy and resell the half doors?

BTW - Even though it is really cool, I can't afford the Rubicon.

Thanks!

Did you test drive a Gladiator with the soft top?
You can add the Rubicon suspension and takeoff wheels.
You're capable, but adding recovery gear (traction boards, shovel, saw) helps.
Lots of information on the forum.

 

[puddleglum]

Thanks for the reply - I did test drive a Gladiator with a soft top and thought it was fine on the highway and the kids are excited about being able to open it up during the summer. The biggest negative I saw was the inability to mount a roof rack for our canoe and the lack of a rear window defroster. This being said, if the cost was equal, I would choose the hard top.

 

[RangerG]

Skid Plates, Skid Plates and Skid Plates. I have rock on my Rubicon.

 

[RangerG]

Rock Hard off-Road

 

[WoolyKris]

Don’t worry after your first Jeep you will know exactly what you like and don’t for the next one?…. any whom my 2 cents make sure you test drive the soft top with same tires as the Willy you are getting. M/T vs A/T makes a HUGE difference if you are doing a lot of highway driving. Soft top is fine in winter, you can get a hothead headliner helps with wind noise and insulates really well on cold drives. As far as the kiddos getting in and out get wide running boards.

 

[puddleglum]

Thanks Kris and Vincent - Glad to hear a couple voices saying the soft top works in the winter. The soft top I drove was a base sport with automatic transmission. It had the stock all season tires which were very quiet. Does the hardtop do a better job blocking out road noise from more aggressive tires? I did test drive a hard top Rubicon (JLU) with the extreme recon 35" stock tires and I would say it seemed similar to the soft top Gladiator sport regarding noise in the cabin.

Any comments regarding buying and selling the half doors as a cheaper way to get the power locks and windows without stepping up to the full Willy's? Am I trying too hard to pinch pennies? If I can sell the half doors for $3000 the savings over the full Willy's is $4100.

 

[Jefe1018]

Jeeps are like legos, build to your need or desire. You have a solid base with your bike and from there you can go as wild or mild as you want.

 

[Free2roam]

Can't resist. Buy a diesel instead. Besides you can still take the top off with a hardtop. Or half of it if you prefer.
Also build your Gladiator and then send it to Gupton motors. See what they can do for pricing. Usually around 6-8% off invoice.

 

[mtudb24]

Can you tell us why you chose the Willy's Sport over the other models? Price, features, etc?

The 2 options I would not to live without are the Aux switches (which I was stupid as to not get from the factory) but hat is not available on any Willy's model and the cold weather package which is only available on the Willy's and not Willy's sport

I'm in Michigan and the soft top is fine for winter use

 

[Dougstdig]

Hi!

I am purchasing my first Jeep and need some help to choose the configuration best suited to my needs. Thanks in advance for your patience with someone new to Jeep's and off roading.

My uses for the vehicle are:

1. I still have to drive to work - ~20mile commute each way, mostly highway.
2. Taking my kids to and from sports practice with their gear. (4-10 pairs of crosscountry skis, poles, boots etc. in the winter and 2-5 bikes in the summer for mtb and triathlon club).
3. Household hauling needs with and without a trailer.
4. Recreational off-road use (camping, Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail, 7 Hour Plane Crash Trail, logging trails, forest service roads in WI where I live)
5. Once a year trip out west?

Gladiator Willy's Sport with:

- 3.6 Gas Engine
- Automatic
- Soft Top (bad idea in the winter???)
- Half Door Package (not planning to use, just to sell and get the power locks/windows cheaper)
- Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
- Spray in Bed Liner
- Grab Handles to help the kids get in.

I would also buy a set of used take-off wheels with all-season or all-terrain tires to use for street driving and save the Willy's mud terrain tires for trail use. As of right now I don't have any plans to go bigger than 33" tires.

Is this a good plan?
What other options am I overlooking?
Is it a good idea to buy and resell the half doors?

BTW - Even though it is really cool, I can't afford the Rubicon.

Thanks!

To me, your commute would dictate the diesel motor. There’s a big difference between 19-20 and 25-27 MPH…if you can find one.

Soft Top: I had the dual top group on a TJ. I used the hard top 95% of the time. My JTRD only has the hard top. Personal Preference is to each their own, but to me I want the outside kept outside. To me, a soft top is a novelty. Not a fan of the extra noise, dust etc. I don’t know if yours will be a long-term ownership or not, but resale value will be higher with the hard top. The wear and tear on the soft top during those winter months will be far more substantial than with a hard top. Security, no comparison. Just my $.02.

Half door package: I understand what you’re saying, but don’t know if the actual logic will follow. If you try to sell them, no way would I pay close to sticker for them, or I’d just get them from the dealer or go after market.

Tonneau Cover: I have a soft Tri-fold on my Ram and love it. Granted, it’s been sitting for years and now has several holes in it. I have a hard low profile on my JTRD now and love it. Security and protecting stuff from weather a must as long as you understand if someone want’s your stuff they’re going to get it.

Spray in Bed Liner: Line-X all my PU’s. Spend a little extra and get the UV extra protection. Makes it look new much longer without turning chalky.

“…as of right now I don’t have any plans to go bigger than 33’ tires.” That’s what most say…

Affording a Rubicon: A buddy of my has a JLU Sport. He can easily afford a Rubi, but he has a Sport. He purchased highline fenders, LED headlights (LED’s came in the fender upgrade) and a diesel JL Rubi take off suspension all for < $1K. He purchased 1” wheel spacers and installed 35x11.5x17’s and he says it drives excellent. Never better. He also got a take-off disconnecting front swaybar. He got a manual control to replace the electronic box on the swaybar so ow he just has to screw it in or out. So no, he doesn’t have the bigger axles with lockers, but he does just fine.

Good Luck and have fun!

 

[puddleglum]

I am favoring the Willy's sport over other models because I am trying to keep the cost down and felt that it was less expensive to choose the Willy's Sport than to add the limited slip, aluminum rims, off road tires, and rock sliders to the sport. I also really like the look of the color matched fenders that come on the Willy's Sport vs. the black fenders of the Sport. The only features that I really want that are not on the Willy's sport are the power locks.

Regarding the diesel, I did compare the annual fuel costs for driving 16,000 mi/year:

Regular Gas $3.42/gallon, 21 mpg = $2605 per year
Diesel $4.25/gallon, 27 mpg = $2518 per year

These numbers could be off a bit either way, but I didn't see the savings adding up to cover the increased initial cost and ongoing maintenance of the diesel. It would be cool though...

As I am configuring them it looks like the Willy's Sport comes out way ahead of the Willy's in terms of price by adding the half doors to get the power windows, locks and mirrors.

Willy's Sport, Auto, Soft Top, Tonneau Cover, Bed Liner + Half Doors = $47,690
Willy's, Auto, Soft Top, Tonneau Cover, Bed Liner = $48,830

The half door thing seems almost too good to be true, so I am skeptical. What am I missing with this?

Thanks for all the detailed replies! Very helpful!

 

[Ted Striker]

1. I would go for hardtop, especially up north. It's really hard to gauge wind noise when you test drive because you're only in the vehicle for a few minutes. It may start to wear you down when you're driving it daily to and from work or on long trips. If you want that soft top feel, but with the hardtop ability, I'd get a Bestop Sunrider and use it during the summer months.

2. You mentioned towing, but not how much, how big of a trailer, weight wise..etc. The Willys Sport gas model doesn't have the tow rating a Rubicon has so if that's a factor, you need to think about that.

3. Tonneau cover is great, had one on my first Gladiator. However, it limits you on what you can put in the bed and still roll the cover over it. The Gladiator has one of the shallowest beds I've ever seen on a truck. With a family's worth full of gear and luggage, it will start to get tight on big trips.

 

[Caveman]

I don't have SelecTrac (full-time 4WD option) on my 2020 Gladiator (wasn't available in 2020, and I bought used), but I had it on my long-time Cherokee XJ. That is the one thing that I would have added if I could have. I don't think it costs much ($595?), but it is awesome to have when you are dealing with melting snow/ice conditions, among other conditions.

I will also second the recommendation to consider springing for a hardtop. Especially if you ever do 600+ mile days on the interstate, the hard top is just a lot less fatiguing... Consider, as well, that soft tops wear out a lot quicker than hard tops, and hard tops generally degrade less over time than soft tops. If you are planning to keep your JT for a while, that could be a consideration.

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