IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW, PURCHASE DECISION

[Proximo]

Hi jeepers from Maple Valley, WA. First time post'r.

I the basic.black, no options. If I can do it again...Max tow and aux.

Tis all.

Welcome! Enjoy

Sponsored

 

[hjdca]

I have the Gladiator Rubicon Manual. I just got finished adding the Mopar 3 piece steel bumper, attached skid plate, and mopar bull/light bar. The steel bumper skid plate uses 5 bolts to attach to the steel bumper, making it bullet proof. I believe the jeep can now stand on the front end. I really like them, and I wished my Gladiator came with it. Note: I bought off the lot.

 

[vegasdavetv]

rubicon and you won't regret it, get less and you may regret it. I went rubi on my gladiator

 

[Tim]

Are you kidding? I've gotten messages from others who are afraid to post in the forums here because "it's always all about Rubicon" and they are afraid to discuss Overland. I feel it's all about Rubicon, nothing else matters and for those with Rubicon, nothing else is a REAL Jeep - especially the less capable towing and payload-wise Overland. Seriously, I've received messages asking me things in private because they are intimidated by the it's not a real Jeep if it's not Rubicon crowd.
The thing about the Sport S and max tow is that if you DO build it up - you LOSE that payload and towing capability to some extent (note I said "to some extent")
I went Overland because when I bought - you could not get certain things in the sport - like body color roof, the large screen system and certain other things.
I figured that seriously, 6,000 pounds towing is no slouch and you do it in COMFORT! Even if I never wanted to max out the towing - 6,000 pounds will be 1400 pounds more than my loaded car hauler. How many here honestly tow over 5,000 on a regular basis - so does the 7650 become practical, or bragging rights? Will some folks ever even come close to towing over 6,000 pounds (some will - I've seen pics of your boats! Yikes! Yeah, you need it!)
Sorry but I did actually laugh when I read - >>I feel like the Rubicon is looked down upon by the "real' Jeepers.<<
Really? I feel exactly that way about Overland and from messages I have received in private, I am NOT alone!

Haha. I guess I should have kept biting my tongue. @jurfie was right on. We all have awesome trucks no matter the trim level. It doesn’t matter why we chose the specific trim, options, or mods that we chose as long as they make us happy. I also don’t discriminate. I wave to all Jeeps.

I’d love to read more Overland posts and maybe even be able to contribute something helpful or relevant. I don’t think anyone should be weary to post on an open forum.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There are things I wish mine had - but other than missing the proximity lock option (dunno how since we talked about it but it never got checked) and a couple of other things, the choice of the level was based on what FCA allowed at the time we bought. Wait and hope something gets added later? Maybe you could, and maybe it would never get added. Or - maybe an item you want would get removed..... or changed in some way.

 

[xpcdoojk]

Don't need heavy towing, don't need the heavy off-road Rubicon specifics - no mention of an Overland? The in-between?
If you don't want a basic, don't need the payload or towing, but don't need a Rubicon because you don't do off-road - I found the balance in between. Good mileage, could drive it coast to coast no problem, GREAT comfort.
LOL - sooooo funny.
No wonder no dealers around here stock 'em. There's really no reason for them.

Initially, I was planning on an Overland, but after driving both it and the Rubicon, they really didn’t feel like the Overland was more luxurious. They basically drove the same. The road noise was a bit better in the Overland, but not substantially. I liked the Overland wheels better. That said the Overland looked more like a truck and a bit less like a jeep. I didn’t like the running boards on the Overland, and would probably have put some sort of nerf bar on there which on the Rubicon I am going to have to do. I think the Overland is a sweet spot as far as drive-ability, but a low spot on desire. There is no doubt I would have been just as well off with the Overland as the Rubicon I just ordered, but I just didn’t have the lust to own it. My wife wishes that I didn’t have that lust.

I plan on retiring is 4-5 and buying a Trailmanor trailer and I think either would be capable of hauling it around to the National Parks.

JC

 

[Reasons]

Love all opinions on here. @jurfie nailed it, to each their own, no need to get defensive, there will always be people in life that know more than you (or think they do). Personally, my old ass doesn't have the recall memory power to state facts to back up any of my BS. Love what you guys do, @WXman is probably my favorite. I do have a question for the Rubicon defenders. Why, when stating the reduced payload/towing of the Max on 35's, did you not include the reduced payload/towing of the Rubi on 35's 37's with heavy bumper/winch. I mean, if you are comparing and weighing options, both should be in the research study. Just saying

the last 2 pages of debates between 'this' trim or 'that' started when certain folks who read my post (post #53) did not have the reading comprehension to decipher my post was about MY EXPERIENCE and MY THOUGHT PROCESS on WHY I CHOSE the Rubicon over the Sport S with Max Tow. Apparently, some people get 'triggered' when your views do not coincide with theirs.

To answer your last question. I am afraid my post was not as clear as I presumed it would be in that - MY DECISION to choose the Rubicon over the Sport S was never about towing or payload numbers, but value based on what it would take for two similarly optioned Gladiators to make me happy to drive it. This is where the 'triggering' begins.

I made numerous points on why and how I JUSTIFIED paying extra for the Rubicon based on value. I stated the price difference between the 2 trims before mods. I made an argument that I would have to spend even more $$$ on the cheaper trim to make its appearance more presentable to me, and afterwards, showed how minimal the price difference truly was after mods. The very next paragraph I make it clear that I am happy with the appearance of the Rubicon. Hood is nicer, taller, doesn't come with skinny and hideous wheels and because of this, I didn't need to spend extra on replacing wheels/tires like I would have on the Sport S. I also tried to make the point that the so called 33% difference in payload numbers is not as valid as some would claim based on the behaviors of most who owned the Sport S model; most will just mod them anyways and take away most advantages of the Sport S (payload/tow #s) with the Rubicon based on their mods. (Note, I said "most" and not "all" advantages) And if it wasn't already clear, I would have fallen into that category of modders if I too were to purchase the Sport S. Again value.

My last point was actually the most 'triggering' because I provided facts on sales numbers based on where I live that did not coincide with opinions of some.

At the end of the day, I am not here to argue or to enable/instigate arguments or unhealthy and biased debates. I was merely sharing MY EXPERIENCE with all of you with the intent to help.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

............. That said the Overland looked more like a truck and a bit less like a jeep. I didn’t like the running boards on the Overland, and would probably have put some sort of nerf bar on there which on the Rubicon I am going to have to do. ...................
I plan on retiring is 4-5 and buying a Trailmanor trailer and I think either would be capable of hauling it around to the National Parks.

JC

Retired 2.7 years ago.......
Anyway, I am just curious about a comment you made about one looking more like a truck and less like a Jeep since the front ends are the same, the profile the same, doors and roof interchange, grills the same, etc.
Just to toss this in there - people see mine as a Jeep - oh, it's a truck, ok.
So I'm curious about that comment.
As far as the "running boards", that was something the sales person used as sort of a selling point as my wife might be able to use those to get in more easily - sort of a "oh, these will likely help her" thing - yeah, that sounded ok, but now I think those may come off in favor of something that she can actually use as those sit so high they are almost worthless as a "step" to get in and out. I guess that's one of those things I see as "maybe should have done differently" as it was a sort of point brought up as a positive, but it's not really for her. DEFINITELY better than the Sport with nothing there - they do help some, but just "kind of".
Anyway, just curious.
Oh, I do like the Overland wheels a lot - in fact looking at all of the JTs on the lot I decided I actually like my wheels better than a lot of those on the lot on any of the Jeep models I looked at, JT or otherwise.

 

[jurfie]

I was merely sharing MY EXPERIENCE with all of you with the intent to help.

#HOWDAREYOU

BTW...for all the Overland owners who may or may not be shy about your choice to go with a so-called "inferior" model: @RebelOffRoad says hello with their Overland builds that could absolutely destroy a stock Rubicon on the trail.

 

[steffen707]

We should have gone with the Rubicon, but the Firecracker Red got us hooked and it was a spontaneous purchase..

do you mean SPORTANEOUS?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

do you mean SPORTANEOUS?

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[steffen707]

Well, WXman is close - there's those who want a truck, AND a Jeep and a decent vehicle to get around in in the winter, run to the home center and get stuff without needing a big truck, but don't want a couple of 5 gallon cans of gas sitting inside (as in Grand Cherokee) when you go to get gas for your lawn tractor and other equipment.

That was totally me. Tired of putting gas cans in our van, or trunk of my car. tired of hooking up my trailer. go to home center weekly. Didn't NEED a big truck, and also didn't WANT to park it.

Never owned a Jeep, Truck or convertible before. Got all 3 in 1.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

#HOWDAREYOU

BTW...for all the Overland owners who may or may not be shy about your choice to go with a so-called "inferior" model: @RebelOffRoad says hello with their Overland builds that could absolutely destroy a stock Rubicon on the trail.

Always look forward to your posts. Must be that Canadian thing. I mean, the country that gave us Red Green...........

 

[steffen707]

maple syrup,

this is an awesome episode on netflix you gotta watch. Dirty money, the maple syrup heist.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7909196/

 

[steffen707]

it was ICY on that steep hill and she got lucky and kept it between the posts and signs and went over the enbankment and landed in deep snow at the bottom.

Sponsored