So at the end of the day why the Gladiator? Pickup is better

[5chema]

Compare the exterior dimensions of Gladiator vs. Power Wagon and tell me which you'd rather have in the crawl scenario pictured below. For where I need to off-road here in Colorado, I need narrow more than wide.

And with it’s “body-width-inside-of-the-wheels” you will first scratch plastic “fenders” before doors and panels...

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[5JeepsAz]

The Ram 1500 can be equipped with more payload, thousands of pounds more towing, and has considerably more room inside for people and gear, and in the cargo box also.

If it's offroad where you must travel, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon does everything that Ram 1500 can do, plus adds all the features of the Rubicon, AND a factory winch.

Each has more capability than a Gladiator, and either can be bought for the same or less money as the Gladiator.

But, again, it's all about that removable top and doors.

IIRC we pretty much agreed ram 1500 and up are cool trucks, didn't we?

I like truck. I love me some jeep truck. That's about it

 

[steffen707]

The Gladiator is not much smaller than a Ram 1500 at all. Those of you buying the Gladiator because it's "mid-sized" are kidding yourselves.

Compare the exterior dimensions of Gladiator vs. Power Wagon and tell me which you'd rather have in the crawl scenario pictured below. For where I need to off-road here in Colorado, I need narrow more than wide. It's also good to have a truck that actually fits in my garage, which would be a challenge for Gladiator and impossible for a Power Wagon.]

Good luck squeezing your Power Wagon or Ram 1500 through this

And with it’s “body-width-inside-of-the-wheels” you will first scratch plastic “fenders” before doors and panels...

Almost scratched the fenders up top, still a few inches to spare.

You forgot to add the removable top and doors on the power wagon build.

?

 

[WXman]

A Power Wagon is 5 inches wider than a Rubicon. There are a handful of trails in America where 5 inches would be the difference between fitting and not fitting, but for most people that will never ever be an issue.

I'm not saying don't buy a Gladiator. I'm just supporting what the OP meant with this thread which is that for the money there are certainly much better options out there for most people. As I keep saying, the removable top and doors is the money ball and that is the sole reason most people who shop Gladiator will be shopping the Gladiator. If you didn't care about those two things, then it would be wise to spend the money elsewhere.

 

[Ichthus]

A Power Wagon is 5 inches wider than a Rubicon. There are a handful of trails in America where 5 inches would be the difference between fitting and not fitting, but for most people that will never ever be an issue.

I'm not saying don't buy a Gladiator. I'm just supporting what the OP meant with this thread which is that for the money there are certainly much better options out there for most people. As I keep saying, the removable top and doors is the money ball and that is the sole reason most people who shop Gladiator will be shopping the Gladiator. If you didn't care about those two things, then it would be wise to spend the money elsewhere.

Hogwash. All of this assumes a limited number of factors. It’s like saying “for the $ of a Porsche Boxster you could get a Corvette. A wise person would get the Vette.” Or “for the price of that Ducati, you could get a Harley. A wise person would buy the Harley”. OPINIONS do not make wisdom, especially on the internet.

I look outside the window of this Starbucks right now and see 25 vehicles in the parking lot. 2 are different generations of Chevy Equinox...among the other 23 there are no duplicates. Each of us have MANY different variables that go into deciding what type of vehicle we drive, and there is always going to be overlap, price wise between vehicles of different classes and genres. Ultimately, we try to get the best tool we can afford to do the job that we, as indivuals, need to get done.

One might look at me and say, “dude, you need a Tesla for your 60 mile commute. You need an old Cummins powered beater truck for work on the farm. You need an Oddysey for hauling the kids and family road trips. You need a Cessna 210 for those times when it makes more sense to fly. You need a TJ for trails. You need a Ranger for small jobs around the house.” Maybe there is some wisdom in having many tools for specific jobs, but it’s up to each of us to figure out what is the best balance for our own life situations, not to decide which factors, in our opinion, should define wisdom for someone else.

 

[Tire Guy]

You go to the store produce department and you see apples at $1.99/lb and you see oranges at $1.99/lb. Your decision is not how far you can throw one further than the other or that orange goes better with the shoes you are wearing. You buy based on what you like and/or want. Humans are creatures that desire satisfaction, usually instant gratification. We buy what we like, period. Regardless of other peoples perceptions to the contrary. Is my Corvette a smart decision? HELL NO! But it is what I love to drive. I've loved Vettes before I could drive. It gives me great pleasure to see it in the garage or in the window reflection of buildings I pass. It reduces my stress like no other vehicle I've owned. I feel I will get the same satisfaction from a new JT because it is what I like. And the wife likes it too. (added benefit)

I like apples and oranges both, but please don't tell me to buy one over the other because you like one better...

 

[Oilburner]

I would definitely NOT consider a Jeep a 'sound financial investment' BUT...
In 2008 I bought a 2006 Rubicon LJ (Wrangler Unlimited 2Dr) for $18,000. It has 104,000 miles on it now, and I have been offered what I paid for it several times.
Not sure if that will happen with the JT but pretty sure it wouldn't for a conventional pickup.

 

[RedTRex]

I would definitely NOT consider a Jeep a 'sound financial investment' BUT...
In 2008 I bought a 2006 Rubicon LJ (Wrangler Unlimited 2Dr) for $18,000. It has 104,000 miles on it now, and I have been offered what I paid for it several times.
Not sure if that will happen with the JT but pretty sure it wouldn't for a conventional pickup.

Aint that the truth honey.....

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

I would definitely NOT consider a Jeep a 'sound financial investment' BUT...
In 2008 I bought a 2006 Rubicon LJ (Wrangler Unlimited 2Dr) for $18,000. It has 104,000 miles on it now, and I have been offered what I paid for it several times.
Not sure if that will happen with the JT but pretty sure it wouldn't for a conventional pickup.

Resale for sure should be a factor that is in the Gladiator's corner over most other trucks. My 2013 JKU is worth between 25-27K with 81,000 miles on it and I only paid $37K out the door for it. Its basically a cost of owners ship of $1,667 a year.

The only thing that might not work out is the fact there are other midsize trucks out there and a lot of them. So it will be interesting to see if the removable top on the resale market will keep the value up.

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

A Power Wagon is 5 inches wider than a Rubicon. There are a handful of trails in America where 5 inches would be the difference between fitting and not fitting, but for most people that will never ever be an issue.

I'm not saying don't buy a Gladiator. I'm just supporting what the OP meant with this thread which is that for the money there are certainly much better options out there for most people. As I keep saying, the removable top and doors is the money ball and that is the sole reason most people who shop Gladiator will be shopping the Gladiator. If you didn't care about those two things, then it would be wise to spend the money elsewhere.

I agree with you. If your buying a truck simply to do truck stuff (towing, hauling) there are options out there that are better bang for the buck. Even if your off roading depending on the terrain (most people will never rock crawl or even visit Moab, and even less are willing to wreck a $40-50K truck even if they do) a lot of other trucks offer similar capability: ZR2, Raptor, Power Wagon with only the Raptor being more expensive.

You go to the store produce department and you see apples at $1.99/lb and you see oranges at $1.99/lb. Your decision is not how far you can throw one further than the other or that orange goes better with the shoes you are wearing. You buy based on what you like and/or want. Humans are creatures that desire satisfaction, usually instant gratification. We buy what we like, period. Regardless of other peoples perceptions to the contrary. Is my Corvette a smart decision? HELL NO! But it is what I love to drive. I've loved Vettes before I could drive. It gives me great pleasure to see it in the garage or in the window reflection of buildings I pass. It reduces my stress like no other vehicle I've owned. I feel I will get the same satisfaction from a new JT because it is what I like. And the wife likes it too. (added benefit)

I like apples and oranges both, but please don't tell me to buy one over the other because you like one better...

But is it really apples and oranges? I dont think so. Its more like Gala apples vs Fuji apples vs Granny Smith. They are all trucks, they all have 4 doors, they all have 4 wheel drive, they all have lockers front and rear, they all have payload capacity, they all have towing capacity. Its just variations that make them different: size, removable top, V8, turbo 6, diesel, interior space, electronics, etc and depending on your individual needs and budget one or the other might make better sense for you.

 

[Blown7]

In the end I think the Glad will have a limited market after the initial sales die down.

As for residual value then leasing should be the way to go..If people think the glad will retain all or most of it's value then everyone should lease and be wayyyyyy ahead.

Anyone check or is money factor and residuals out yet on the Glad?

 

[Lou3.6]

And with it’s “body-width-inside-of-the-wheels” you will first scratch plastic “fenders” before doors and panels...

I like your thinking . . . and is why I get SO anxious whenever I take my $42K G.C. off into the "woods" and the Forestry Service "roads" and BLM Land Trails. Many I take are narrowed by encroaching bush limbs which have added some "painful" pin striping to my "baby" ! I'll get them "hidden" best I can for the least cost possible before trade-in time, ha.
Taking a FULL Sized truck where I go just won't work - would require a small chain saw &/or larger trimming shears with constantly getting in & out of the vehicle !

 

[Tortooga Custom Works]

For the same price of that burger you can just eat some more lettuce.
Don't get me wrong, I like lettuce.... but right now, I want a burger.

Thanks.

 

[Reasons]

As a Gladiator fan I'm playing devil's advocate here.

 

[MPETE]

I've had 2 XJ's and an LJ Rubicon. I LOOOOOOOVE Jeeps. But being a home owner there are waaaay too many situations where I NEED a truck. I am fortunate in the fact that even after selling my LJ to get a truck, I was still able to enjoy the Jeep life periodically, by driving the wife's TJ. But it is still HER jeep and we bicker now and then about who gets to drive it.
Having a truck that is actually truly capable of doing truck things (unlike my LJ when it had a half cab) while still also able to enjoy the Jeep life too is going to be a dream come true that has been a long time coming.
Now I just need to be a little patient and wait until I can actually afford that dream.

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