Where was this?Here's the day after I bought, full articulation on the 37s.
Really good review, thanks, we are offering parts for the Gladiator and this is good information. We do offer an option for the auto start stop.Its my second Jeep, I still have my first....a 2012 JKUR (bought new in 2011). I bought a JTR. Got it 3 July.
I didn't have a lot of JL experience before, save a rental vehicle I had....of which I loved. So after many weeks I have put this thing thru its paces. To date I have rock crawled in Texas, taken it on a 2600 mile road trip (to CO) and done several passes around Ouray/Telluride. The road trip included my family.
Pros - Many opinion based:
Rides great. Coming from a JKUR (lifted/37s/gears/sport cage etc...) the ride quality is night and day. Even offroad this thing is way more stable, partly because of the improved suspension and partly due to the longer wheelbase.
Looks great. I realize at times the Gladiator doesn't picture well, and base models picture even worse...but it isn't always the case and they look way better in person. Not sure why the bed sometimes pictures so long, making the phantom wheel-well behind the backdoor look odd, but in person its quite different. Pull the top and doors and the truck is a work of art, IMO.
Best Jeep ever (including the JL). Throw a set of 37s on it stock and it dang near flexes as well as my JKUR with all the gear it has. I'm not naive enough to compare the truck to a Wrangler....so I'll leave it at this...it out wheels every truck on the market, mid or full size, and that is all it needs to do. And the fact that it can tow, be stripped down and still do that is quite impressive.
The interior is solid. I wouldn't say it milestones ahead of the JK but it is better, red dash panel notwithstanding.
20mpg+ on my recent road trip. 'Nuff said...
The bed is the right shape and size for a mid truck. I'm only 5-10 and my F150 bed I can't even reach into the bed really. I really like that the Jeep has a very "usable" bed. And the gate opening feature is a really nice touch.
Acceleration...that 8sp trans is like if you had a JKU and added a supercharger to it and somehow managed better MPG out of the deal. Total winner. And of the two 3.6s I have the Gladiator version runs way smoother, even at idle.
Aluminum body/doors. Man...compared to the JK these things are feathers. Amazing change here in weight. So much so I just use eye-bolts on the wall to hang them. (altho it did make using a magnetic mounted antenna, for a CB, quite difficult, lol).
Control arm length...heck the rears are basically a long arm and the fronts (JL too) are an inch longer than the previous gens....very helpful.
Cons:
Wind noise....its no better than the JK and thats sad to me. They've had a decade to improve it some, but as we can all see the hard top and freedom panels are basically identical to the JKU, so wind noise is the same.
Turning is a bit weak. Its basically the same as the JL but with more wheelbase, I wish I had more turning radius when I was on black bear pass.
Interior electronics annoy me, mainly around the shifter. Can't put it in drive, can't put it in park...all depends on if the brake is on, door is closed etc...I guess it'll take some getting used to, but with 3 DDs I don't know if I will, lol. Also, Chrysler radios have always been glitchy, this is no exception.
Auto shutoff, annoying. I know I can program it out (and I will) but it isn't for me.
Inner fender liners...flimsy. Highway speeds in the heat and they get hot, weak and then start pulling into the tires and rubbing. I had to ziptie them back until Jeep properly upgrades them. My dealer wouldn't let me warranty them with JL liners.
No trailer brake controller. Really? You brag about this car hauler level of towing and don't offer a brake controller as tho thats really an option not to use? Yeah, not cool.
Cost of options. To keep my JTR under 50K was hard...I'm glad they offer so many options but man the JT can get really expensive. Not sure if this is a really a "con" or not or just me being a tightwad, lol.
All in all I am very pleased with the truck, even more than I thought I would be. There's not other truck I'd prefer to have for the lifestyle I live.
Also my JKUR
specifically North peak
I've seen a raptor do it. i'm sure the JT wouldnt have a problem
You can order aftermarket JT/JL fender liners that are a little more robust, but like the OP said, FCA wont warranty them as they aren't original parts on the Glady. Im pretty sure there are a few companies that have already started to produce some really nice stuff (Aluminum) for the fender liners.
I'm running completely stock on my Rubicon and haven't gotten above 17 average. Maybe if I fueled up just off the interstate, jumped right back on, and let my girlfriend drive it would do 19-20. But with me driving, no way. I don't understand how people get those numbers. My foot is clearly too heavy.
id be leasing so im jist worried they will charge me at lease end for the crappy ones that it came with messing up
