Bye Bye Jeep Grand Cherokee - Hello Gladiator Rubicon!

[RTArnie]

Quick back story: Owned a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 for about 9 years and loved it, but it was time for something new. Gladiators always caught my eye, but I ended up getting into a new 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude 4x4 because it had all the luxuries I was looking for, and the cost was lower than a Gladiator. Anyway, like I did with my 2014 WK2, I put a 2.5" Lift with some 33" Mud Terrains on it called it a day - but I never loved it. I tried to, but I didn't feel a connection with the WL. And to be honest there were a lot of issues with it for being brand new (steering rack, brakes, clunks and rattles, EAB - most of which are documented in the myriad TSBs for 2023). I was over it..

While at the dealer for service, I saw this beautiful Gladiator Rubicon in Sting Grey and my heart was set. Called Navy Fed and got another approval within the day and made a deal happen. I took a hit on trading in the WL, but I don't care. 25% off sticker price softened the blow.

Here is the new ride: 2023 Gladiator Rubicon in Sting Grey with dealer installed Mopar lift, Fox Steering Stabilizer, new wheels, 35" tires, Leather, LED Lights, Tow Package, Cold Weather, Headliner, Bedliner and Front Steel bumper to name a few options. Got my first Jeep wave on the way home ha ha.

I did notice the steering feels a bit loose, which I notated to the dealer and they documented - hoping it's an easy alignment/fix, but everything else is great so far. Can't wait to drive over some curbs at the mall

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[Jaxmax]

Nice looking setup, wheels are sharp ,it is so nice your mall you hang out with has easy access curbs so you get over them easier, might have needed a larger lift if not accessible curbs! Welcome….Jack

 

[DanW]

Nice Jeep!

The play in the steering is likely normal. Funny, my JL Rubi with Mopar lift and 35s feels pretty good, but has a lot of play. My Gladiator feels much tighter and more precise. My daughter got in it and drove it last night and said, ¨The steering feels like it wanders.¨ Lol, I just told her it is a Jeep thing.

I love the Mopar lift, btw. I´m leaning toward going that way with my JT next spring. The Fox shocks and spring rates make for a really nice smooth ride and it does very well off-road, too.

Is the Fox steering stabilizer adjustable, or is it the 2.0? I had the 2.0 on my JL and it just was not tight enough. So I went with the adjustable version, which was expensive, but really tightened it up.

 

[RTArnie]

Nice Jeep!

The play in the steering is likely normal. Funny, my JL Rubi with Mopar lift and 35s feels pretty good, but has a lot of play. My Gladiator feels much tighter and more precise. My daughter got in it and drove it last night and said, ¨The steering feels like it wanders.¨ Lol, I just told her it is a Jeep thing.

I love the Mopar lift, btw. I´m leaning toward going that way with my JT next spring. The Fox shocks and spring rates make for a really nice smooth ride and it does very well off-road, too.

Is the Fox steering stabilizer adjustable, or is it the 2.0? I had the 2.0 on my JL and it just was not tight enough. So I went with the adjustable version, which was expensive, but really tightened it up.

Thanks, Dan! Not too sure on the stabilizer, but here is a photo if that helps at all..

 

[cranbiz]

I went from this

To this

I really did like the Trailhawk but love the Gladiator more.

 

[AmosMoses]

Great looking jeep. The stingray model gladiators have 15 extra horsepowers to boot over the other colors so you did good ?

 

[Dee]

Congratulations!

 

[jmac0011]

Steering on our new 23 HA was loose. Dealer drove it for 5 minutes and condemned the steering box.
The steering is vastly different in a good way and can hold a straight at high speeds.

 

[RTArnie]

Steering on our new 23 HA was loose. Dealer drove it for 5 minutes and condemned the steering box.
The steering is vastly different in a good way and can hold a straight at high speeds.

oh interesting. It’s been fine since they replaced it?

 

[jmac0011]

Yes- it was done a week ago. The old steering required too much correction on turns and wandered at high speeds- back and forth and so on. I even bought a fox stabilizer, then decided that the steering cannot be in good order. Who would think a JT with 800 miles would need a new steering box? Huge difference.

 

[DanW]

Thanks, Dan! Not too sure on the stabilizer, but here is a photo if that helps at all..

Looks like mine. I can't see an adjustment screw, though. But that looks like a nice one with cenered force.

 

[RTArnie]

Looks like mine. I can't see an adjustment screw, though. But that looks like a nice one with cenered force.

Apologies for the lack of photo focus, but I think this is the adjuster screw - it's on the inside hiding back there..

 

[DanW]

Apologies for the lack of photo focus, but I think this is the adjuster screw - it's on the inside hiding back there..

That´s it! Thatś a great one. Turn it clockwise and it will tighten it up for the highway and left to loosen it up for off-road. I actually kept it on the tight side for all of it and it does just fine off-road. I think it has 27 or 24 settings. I messed with mine last night and it was frozen up. So it´s probably a good idea to give it a few clicks back and forth every few months or so. But it sure helped my JL with a shimmy. When I lift the JT, I may dial up another one of these.

 

[RTArnie]

That´s it! Thatś a great one. Turn it clockwise and it will tighten it up for the highway and left to loosen it up for off-road. I actually kept it on the tight side for all of it and it does just fine off-road. I think it has 27 or 24 settings. I messed with mine last night and it was frozen up. So it´s probably a good idea to give it a few clicks back and forth every few months or so. But it sure helped my JL with a shimmy. When I lift the JT, I may dial up another one of these.

Looks like it was set at 0. I moved it up halfway 12 clicks and what a difference that made! Going to add 4 more clicks and test again later after work. Thanks for the info!

 

[RCott77]

Great looking Ride! I went from a Trailhawk KL to my JTM. Loved the KL but the JTM brings me more smiles per mile.

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