Gladiator is crap for towing

[Bonanza]

What campsite is that in AZ? Looks like a great place to crawl with the RC cars.

It's Joshua Tree, CA. And it's amazing for RC. Sandpaper rocks. I had a hoot with mine.

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[Sweetums]

Hi all,
I have come to the conclusion that my Gladiator is crap for towing.
6 months ago, we travelled to California from Florida. 2600 miles. averaged about 350 miles a day towing 3500lb travel trailer (ultra light weight).
55MPH average. The ride was good .
When we got there trailer unhooked, that's when I found that the suspension was not right. It was like being in a boat.
So moving on.......... we were there 6 months. Sold the trailer.
December 2023 we moved back to Florida towing 'on a dolly' my wife's Hyandai Veloster. Not a heavy car by any means.
About 600 miles from home after travelling 2000 miles, I could feel the transmission struggling.
We made it home and I took the Jeep to dealer. They inspected and found transmission to be failing.
Thankfully it is under warranty so it is being replaced. My jeep has only done about 55k miles.
So after 55K miles the 1st and only times we have towed the transmission is done as well as the suspension.

I thought I would just post this to see if anyone has any input or has experienced similar issues.

(When i get it back from dealer I will be putting upgraded suspension on, but I don't want to lift it).
Happy days

Yep, they are absolute rubbish.

 

[Vtur]

Yep, they are absolute rubbish.

Diesel don't count ?

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Diesel don't count ?

Funny, My Max Tow will tow more than a diesel will so yeah they don't count?

 

[tysongladiator]

Doesn't sound like bad towing, sounds like a bad transmission. At least that's what you said. Most people that have commented have no towing issues.

 

[LOGS]

Is that a 14’, 16’ V?

16 ft. Averaged 13mpg at 70-75 mph

 

[LOGS]

Funny, My Max Tow will tow more than a diesel will so yeah they don't count?

Yea it will tow more like crap lol

 

[ShadowsPapa]

16 ft. Averaged 13mph at 70-75 mpg

You lose 50 points for claiming a Jeep can possibly get 70 mpg.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Yea it will tow more like crap lol

I tow a 6000lb dry weight camper and it does great. About 10-11 mpg at 60-65 mph on our 7 hour round trips to the beach and back. Define like crap?

That's on 37's. I bought 285 70 17 tires to throw on my stock wheels and I'm going to use those when I tow it and I should be closer to 12 or 13 I'm guessing once I put those on.

 

[mgenbox]

I tow a 6000lb dry weight camper and it does great. About 10-11 mpg at 60-65 mph on our 7 hour round trips to the beach and back. Define like crap?

That's on 37's. I bought 285 70 17 tires to throw on my stock wheels and I'm going to use those when I tow it and I should be closer to 12 or 13 I'm guessing once I put those on.

any lift with the 37s?

 

[TheSolarWizard]

Funny, My Max Tow will tow more than a diesel will so yeah they don't count?

purely a cooling limitation.
the motor and trans are both better otherwise

 

[Jeeperjamie]

any lift with the 37s?

2.5 inch SST Ready lift!! That's me hooked up to our Grand Design we traded in for the larger camper.

 

[Bug out]

Interesting stuff
The dealer did agree it was bad transmission
They changed fully with no charge

 

[Labswine]

2.5 inch SST Ready lift!! That's me hooked up to our Grand Design we traded in for the larger camper.

I see you work for Weyerhauser there in NC. My cousin retired from their facility in Grayling, MI area a few years ago. She was one of the Safety Managers at their facility there.

 

[PuddleJumper]

I tow an Rpod regularly with my rubi and mojave just fine. Haven't had a single issue and looking to upgrade to a larger NOBO next month. I've also towed 8k with my mojave in a pinch (2k over its max). It was absolutely fine, trans temp never broke 212. Didn't do any serious grades tho on that trip. just 50 miles mostly flat at 55mph. OH and just cus I did it, doesn't mean you should. I'm just using it to say the Gladiator is solid tow platform. Its more up to personal taste on what you prefer of your towing experience. If towing in general scares you, you'll probably hate the Glady. If ya grew up towing over max and manual on unpaved roads hauling ass like me, the gladiator is a solid towing experience.

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