TJ owner thinking about moving on to a JT - input wanted.

[Andy29847]

Take a Wrangler and add gobs more functionality and utility, but subtract breakover and such but again was surprised and how well the JT wheels. I drove the JT 1,400 miles in two days, wheeled for 5 days and drove it back...no way in heck would I do that in the TJ. I wheeled, hunted and cut a bed's worth of firewood for camp and whiskey that night, which wound not have happened in the TJ either.

I took my JT to Moab and Colorado last year. I wheeled in the same places I had been with the TJ. Wheeling the JT was super easy. After the first morning in the JT, I quit worrying about line selection and just drove over everything. The length of the JT is much valued going up or down steep slopes.

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[gouacats]

Had a TJ on 33s and still have a JK on 33s. My Mojave is on 35s and I've done everything I did in the other Jeeps - Difficult trails, but not stupid difficult. The Gladiator will scrape more underneath and especially the hitch. It will also takes a bit more finesse to make switchbacks and tight turns. All that being said...I actually enjoy driving it on the highway and on the trails! It's so much more comfortable to drive on the highway, both the seats and the longer wheelbase. The Mojave is the best Jeep I've ever owned. Love it! I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Night and day difference, in terms of road manners. My “dream” vehicle situation would be a manual TJ for around town and my JT for everything but “just want to tool around town and row through the gears“ duty.

 

[Fastwake]

Had a TJ on 33s and still have a JK on 33s. My Mojave is on 35s and I've done everything I did in the other Jeeps - Difficult trails, but not stupid difficult. The Gladiator will scrape more underneath and especially the hitch. It will also takes a bit more finesse to make switchbacks and tight turns. All that being said...I actually enjoy driving it on the highway and on the trails! It's so much more comfortable to drive on the highway, both the seats and the longer wheelbase. The Mojave is the best Jeep I've ever owned. Love it! I wouldn't hesitate.

I am right with you. Love driving my JT more than the TJ. 54k miles on my 2002 TJ and in mint condition I told my wife it may just go on sale.

 

[Chappy11BRN]

I drove my 05 TJ for 15 years, it had many trips all over the southeast and southwest. I had a lot of good memories in that jeep, but once I had my son, it started to become a pain. Then my grandpa gave me his '83 El Camino, the wife said I could either keep my grandpa's El Camino or the TJ, I chose to keep the El Camino. I sold the TJ and bought a JT, I love the ride and extra room. However, I miss the maneuverability and capability of my TJ.

As I dont wheel like I used to, the JT fits my families needs and I don't regret my decision.

 

[Biff Happy]

TJ obviously less power and worse gas mileage but easy to repair almost anything on it which does make a good reason to keep it.

 

[ScoGlad21]

I love my JTRD even though it's currently for sale. I sold my full-size pickup and CJ7 to consolildate down to one vehicle to do it all and the Gladiator did not disappoint. I've road tripped, rockcrawled and towed long distances and have been impressed with the diesel power and torque every time. I run 37's on a modest but capable build (Metalcloak 3.5" Gamechanger Suspension) and did not have to regear. Fuel economy is solid and did I say the power is impressive? I'm selling it only becasue I want to go back to a full-size pickup for my daily and to marry it to a cabover camper for excursions. Once that happens, I will be back in the market for a CJ, TJ or LJ. PM me if you'd like more info on my Gladiator or even discuss valuations for partial trade possibility.

 

[Sandevino]

I had an ‘02 TJ X and bought a Gladiator which is a Cadillac compared to the TJ. The only option in my TJ was A/C so the electronic everything took a bit of time to get used to.

 

[Idaho-Jeep]

I love my JTRD even though it's currently for sale.

Beautiful rig!
Thanks for the input. I have a full size RAM with a diesel for puling our camp trailer and it is probably my daily driver. Love the truck. Interesting you are looking to get a full size truck and a "small" older Jeep. Basically my situation. If only I had a 6 car garage!

 

[Redruby]

I to have an 06 LJ Rubicon use it for day trips now and the Gladiator Rubicon with an Alucab Canopy camper is used for long distance excursions, love both Jeeps but you can’t compare the two apples to oranges

 

[chorky]

Been a Jeep enthusiast for years. Bought a built an 04 TJ 16 years ago and drive it often still. I do fewer trips to Moab and not as much rough crawling these days. Still do an Elk hunt every year and some camping which takes me off road and over some mediocre obstacles but probably no more trips up Escalator on Hells Revenge.

While I love the TJ and still enjoy her Im starting to get an itch for a new toy. Intrigued by the Gladiator. Would love to get some input from current owners - especially anyone that has or has had a TJ, 2 door JK etc.. How is it off road in comparison?

The JT would fit more gear and people much more comfortably. I assume the ride and power would be a major upgrade and Id be able to pull my 21' bass boat with it unlike with my TJ. Leaning towards the diesel for this reason. Any thoughts on the diesel vs the 3.6L V6 gas motor?

These gladiators swallow up tires like no other rig it seems. 35s on my TJ are about right. 38s on my extra cab Ram which is obviously a lot bigger are also about right. I don't think the JTs look right on anything much smaller than 37s. Its my understanding that 37s will work on the stock 44s ok if im careful. And that with the diesel I might not even need to re-gear. Any thoughts on that?

Trying to decide also on another build or buying built. I enjoyed my last build but I have less time (and more money) these days then I did 16 years ago. More than I want to spend but Im looking at one of these builds.
https://tveauto.com/2023-jeep-gladi...ifted,bumpers,nav-carrollton-tx-75006/7199513

Would greatly appreciate any and all input.

Here is my current ol gal

i have both. 2006 TJ GE, and 2022 gladiator. I cannot ever bring myself to sell the tj. The gladiator is quiet, comfortable, easy to drive…but theres plenty of places I still dont want to take it either due to super narrow roads or grown in brush. Based on that link you sent, a gladiater over $100,000, i think you would be far better off to keep your TJ and build a new gladiator yourself. you can probably get a better build for cheaper doing it yourself and keep the TJ. 100k is a he!! of a budget for a built rig

 

[Idaho-Jeep]

i have both. 2006 TJ GE, and 2022 gladiator. I cannot ever bring myself to sell the tj. The gladiator is quiet, comfortable, easy to drive…but theres plenty of places I still dont want to take it either due to super narrow roads or grown in brush. Based on that link you sent, a gladiater over $100,000, i think you would be far better off to keep your TJ and build a new gladiator yourself. you can probably get a better build for cheaper doing it yourself and keep the TJ. 100k is a he!! of a budget for a built rig

Yes for sure. $100k is a mind boggling amount to pay for a Jeep. I can't see myself spending that amount even if I can afford it. I also just don't know if I want to do a build. I enjoyed doing my TJ build but with things like that it consumes me and I end up spending all my free time working on it till its done.

 

[ScoGlad21]

Beautiful rig!
Thanks for the input. I have a full size RAM with a diesel for puling our camp trailer and it is probably my daily driver. Love the truck. Interesting you are looking to get a full size truck and a "small" older Jeep. Basically my situation. If only I had a 6 car garage!

Yeah, I want to be able to haul a camper and the Jeep on my flatbed at the same time. So I'm going back to the full-size diesel. Otherwise, I would just get a reasonable size camp trailer and tow it with the JT. Living in NorCal, driving to the trails in a smaller jeep is pretty easy. I've been a full-size truck guy all my life but actually enjoy the JT as a daily driver due to it's smaller size Like you, I don't have space for everything though. On another note, I used to live in Boise and still go there periodically for business.

 

[chorky]

Yes for sure. $100k is a mind boggling amount to pay for a Jeep. I can't see myself spending that amount even if I can afford it. I also just don't know if I want to do a build. I enjoyed doing my TJ build but with things like that it consumes me and I end up spending all my free time working on it till its done.

what kind of build and how involved do you really want to go though? If you just want the basics like a bumper, winch, small lift - that wouldnt be super expensive.

i gues I am trying to think of a way you could keep the TJ because they are unique these days, and it would be a shame to part with. Even if just going to get groceries, theres just a lot of fun about those being so short and narrow

 

[Outofboundsokie]

I have an 06 LJ manual that I’ve had for 10 years. I considered selling or trading it to fund the JT purchase, but found it was worth more to me than the market thought. My wife agreed, so we kept it.

I found the JT was Jeep enough that I could part with the LJ if I had to. Even with 37s, 5.13s and lockers, there’s no comparison off-road. The JT is the best Offroad pickup on the market, but a TJ or LJ will run circles around it. I actually hate wheeling the JT because it always ends up in a pickle and something electronic will fail or shut you down. I also don’t like wheeling the automatic.

I actually rebuilt my LJ after buying a JT to make it more like the JT: BL, Tummy Tuck, 35s, extended seat brackets, new interior, CarPlay double Din head unit, LED headlights, cell booster, real roll cage. I keep the doors and top off.
I find that I’m driving the LJ more and more to keep miles off the JT and it’s fun.

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