Thinking About Buying A Jeep Gladiator

[ShadowsPapa]

I suggest anyone looking into a Gladiator who does any towing of any sort - dig into these threads:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/so-what-is-everybody-towing.19105/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/first-time-towing-and-impressed.96957/

and other threads. Towing isn't as dreadful as some have experienced - as long as you do it right, keep the speed reasonable (no more than 65 for some of us) and stay within the abilities of the Jeep.

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[Zachanadandy]

I came from a 1995 F250 4x4 (the heavy-duty axles and suspension for that year) and then a 2011 Silverado 1500 4x4 just before the JT.
A whole lot of us here have come from full-size trucks and are still here.
So a person has to look at the specs and decide for themselves - will it do what they need?
Do they even need a full size truck any more?
Some of us decided we didn't. Some went back, yes, decided the JT wasn't the answer.

As long as a person is honest with themselves, does the math and so on - that's all that matters.
They have to look at the various levels of the Gladiator, the various towing and payload capacities and be real about it.
I came here, did the digging, checking, I did the math - yeah, I no longer needed a full size truck, and no longer wanted such a beast.
I even traded in my 2,000 pound car hauler for a 1500 pound car hauler to make sure (best thing I ever did - no more heavy ramps, built-in tie points for straps, and many more advantages)

The OP can get pencil and paper and do the math, look at the specs and decide.
A whole lot of forum members here can comment with experience because they are here FROM a full size truck.
Some will explain how they decided to go back to a full size truck.

He's not coming from a 1 ton truck. The 08 tundra crew max has a maximum 1500 pound payload. That's not a huge jump from a Mojave 1100 pound or max tow 1200 pounds. The Tundra tow rating was as low as 6,800 pounds or as high as 10k even with its v8. Again it isn't a 1 ton truck. Add in the crap auto of 08 toyotas vs the stellar 8 speed in the gladiator and I'd rather haul or tow with the new Jeep. You're looking at full size truck vs midsized gladiator on a current and maximum potential vs where the OP is actually coming from.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

He's not coming from a 1 ton truck. The 08 tundra crew max has a maximum 1500 pound payload. That's not a huge jump from a Mojave 1100 pound or max tow 1200 pounds. The Tundra tow rating was as low as 6,800 pounds or as high as 10k even with its v8. Again it isn't a 1 ton truck. Add in the crap auto of 08 toyotas vs the stellar 8 speed in the gladiator and I'd rather haul or tow with the new Jeep. You're looking at full size truck vs midsized gladiator on a current and maximum potential vs where the OP is actually coming from.

Was really responding to another post - where it was being compared to a full size truck. (they likely missed the sentence about an 08 Tundra)

My point was - many have done that jump - And it worked.

In this case, no, the OP isn't, but another poster brought in the full size truck bit.

The OP should have no problems because he isn't making such a jump - just check the specs, be realistic. These are fine, even for carrying people.
- there's been a lot of improvements since 2008. Even since I had my 2011 Silverado - a lot has changed.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Was really responding to another post - where it was being compared to a full size truck. (they likely missed the sentence about an 08 Tundra)

My point was - many have done that jump - And it worked.

In this case, no, the OP isn't, but another poster brought in the full size truck bit.

The OP should have no problems because he isn't making such a jump - just check the specs, be realistic. These are fine, even for carrying people.
- there's been a lot of improvements since 2008. Even since I had my 2011 Silverado - a lot has changed.

If it was an auto before the current 8/10 speeds in modern vehicles it's already at a disadvantage. Now going from a 2017 rebel with the 5.7L hemi, the 8 speed, and 3.92 gears the JT is definitely less roomy inside and an inferior tow rig, but the payload was the same. The gladiator is way more capable off road and much more maneuverable. I don't have the same 10,500lb tow capacity but I never needed it anyway. Both got similar crap mileage. If I regularly towed 8k+ pounds I'd go to a full size with a diesel. In reality the JT is nearly the same specs as most early 2k's 1500s and better than the ones from the 80s and 90s by a large margin.

 

[WILDHOBO]

4 adults and 1 child weigh 1,100lbs? Most full size 1500s don't have much more payload than that anyway especially if they are heavier trimmed crew cabs. My rebel only had an 1,100 pound payload. There were plenty of times we were well over that and it was definitely more roomy in the back seat, but if I was at all hung up on the numbers I'd pretty much be stuck driving a 1 ton truck around, usually empty, for those few times where I need the payload. This weekend hauling roofing materials, camping gear, tools and recovery gear that never leave the truck, plus 2x 65 pound dogs, and the wife and I the JT probably had close to 1,700 pounds in it for 540 miles. No I'm not buying another truck that may not even make it to the property during monsoon season for these few times a year. A power wagon, raptor, or trx are about the only other trucks I'd trust crossing the wash... and their payloads aren't much if any better.
Edit, looked it up to make sure. The trx and raptor are 1,300-1,400 pounds payload and the power wagon is 1,600. Not enough of an increase to justify a new truck with less capability off road (all very limited by their size).

Completely agree.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I wouldn’t buy a gladiator with the soccer mom engine. Period.

Then why are you on this forum? Unless you have that super unreliable and over complicated, plus overpriced diesel.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If it was an auto before the current 8/10 speeds in modern vehicles it's already at a disadvantage. Now going from a 2017 rebel with the 5.7L hemi, the 8 speed, and 3.92 gears the JT is definitely less roomy inside and an inferior tow rig, but the payload was the same. The gladiator is way more capable off road and much more maneuverable. I don't have the same 10,500lb tow capacity but I never needed it anyway. Both got similar crap mileage. If I regularly towed 8k+ pounds I'd go to a full size with a diesel. In reality the JT is nearly the same specs as most early 2k's 1500s and better than the ones from the 80s and 90s by a large margin.

I see where you are coming from, a lot of good points.

I love my JT for maneuvering my trailer around the small area I have to turn it around in, sharing my neighbor's drive to get back there, for the same reason you state - man, I can turn that thing tight and more easily turn my long car hauler around, I can see out more easily, it's just a whole lot easier to park and get my trailer around.
i might have hit almost 13 mpg towing with my Chevy, but I can do over 13 with my JT.
I have no regrets.

 

[nanook12]

I bought the diesel and took all the crap off the engine that shouldn’t have been on it in the first place. Jeeps need low-end torque engines not screaming soccer mom - mini van engines…

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I don't know where the minivan thing comes from since it was first used in these as well -

2011–2014 Dodge Avenger
2011–2023 Dodge Challenger
2011–2023 Dodge Charger
2011-present Jeep Grand Cherokee

So much hate for one of the world's most respected engines.

 

[nanook12]

I don't know where the minivan thing comes from since it was first used in these as well -

2011–2014 Dodge Avenger
2011–2023 Dodge Challenger
2011–2023 Dodge Charger
2011-present Jeep Grand Cherokee

So much hate for one of the world's most respected engines.

Ha what a joke! Look at the power band on it…RPMs are too high for off roading use. As far as top end power goes, it’s a gutless V-6, with no torque…

 

[BCC]

I come from a long line of f150’s. I used to tow an Airstream 28’ trailer and all the associated toys.

We don’t have that trailer anymore. These days I’m more likely to tow an enclosed aluminum tandem axle trailer with two or three dual sport motorcyes in it.

At most, there are two of us in the Mojave X, when towing.. My wife weighs considerably less than my 185 lbs (thankfully!). But there might be 80 pounds of dogs in the cab, too.

The Gladiator pulls the trailer just fine and I’m well within weight tolerances, including hitch weight. I’ve been on I 95 at night doing 85.

I just no longer need the size of an f150. Even though I’ve had 5 of them And they were great vehicles. I prefer the size of the Gladiator for the usage I now have.

i did consider a Taco, Ranger, Colorado, but preferred the uniqueness of the Gladiator. And frankly, to my warped perspective, the Mojave X we bought rides as nicely on tarmac as any of the others.

Does the gas mileage suck? Yes. Is the power down compared to the last couple of f150’s I had? Yes. Neither of those points are priorities for me. Hence, my choice.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Ha what a joke! Look at the power band on it…RPMs are too high for off roading use. As far as top end power goes, it’s a gutless V-6, with no torque…

You should tell all the solid axle toyotas with tiny 4cyl engines that make less than 100hp and still need 6k rpms to do it this wisdom? I've personally seen 50x as many of those on the Rubicon or fordyce than ecodiesels? If only we had like 8 speeds and a crawl ratio of 77-1 from the factory to get the thing into it's peak power by 2mph...oh wait we do. And the conversation is pointless for all the other types of wheeling that aren't rock crawling. Never once out in the desert have I needed more torque at 2k rpms? Snow wheeling? Deep mud? Hull climbs? Look at rock bouncers. Big v8s many with boost... and still bouncing off the rev limiter. And almost 0 diesels? Ultra 4 cars? Still no diesels. Even purpose built rock buggies? Some of the small ones run something like a 4BT... and no ecodiesels? So in the world of high dollar, no expense spared, full custom builds nobody where they'll do anything they can for the slightest advantage nobody has figured out these things you claim as facts? Clearly the entire offroading community needs to hear this ASAP!

 

[Gvsukids]

I don't know where the minivan thing comes from since it was first used in these as well -

2011–2014 Dodge Avenger
2011–2023 Dodge Challenger
2011–2023 Dodge Charger
2011-present Jeep Grand Cherokee

So much hate for one of the world's most respected engines.

Aren't there also older versions of the 3.6 in those vehicles? Are they having the same engine issues displayed on this forum?

 

[Gvsukids]

I bought the diesel and took all the crap off the engine that shouldn’t have been on it in the first place. Jeeps need low-end torque engines not screaming soccer mom - mini van engines…

Last Jeep you'll own?

 

[Zachanadandy]

Aren't there also older versions of the 3.6 in those vehicles? Are they having the same engine issues displayed on this forum?

I'd assume the Challengers, chargers, and grand cherokee got the new version around 2018-2019 as it wouldn't make sense to still build the old version? I didn't see much about cam failures from the early version though.

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