Want to join. old guy, old Jeeps hate buying new ones

[farmjeep]

Greetings. First post here, but an old Jeep guy. My son and I run www.farmjeep.com and hence my user name. After years of towing our 1949 CJ3a with a Newgren hydraulic lift (and 400 lb Newgren plow) with a Ford F150, I want a Gladiator. I'm looking for a fully loaded Rubicon both for the towing capacity and because I'm old and want all the technology that makes driving easier. I last purchased a new vehicle in 2015. It was a fully loaded Cherokee and I still love it. I won't go without adaptive cruise and full time 4WD. If I want adventure, I have a 79 CJ7 for that "true" Jeep experience.

I know I'm at the limits of towing with my steel 18' trailer and the 3a and the farm equipment. But I only tow a half dozen times a year and not that far away. What I don't know is how to deal with dealerships. Trying to read the messages here. I'm running up against the "chip shortage" and trying to decide if I should just back away. Had one deal going an was within $836, less if they took off the $125 wheel locks. The dealer held firm saying the "chip shortage" won't let him slice and dice.

Just introducing myself and looking forward to be a member one of these days,.

Barry

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[ShadowsPapa]

Greetings. First post here, but an old Jeep guy. My son and I run www.farmjeep.com and hence my user name. After years of towing our 1949 CJ3a with a Newgren hydraulic lift (and 400 lb Newgren plow) with a Ford F150, I want a Gladiator. I'm looking for a fully loaded Rubicon both for the towing capacity and because I'm old and want all the technology that makes driving easier. I last purchased a new vehicle in 2015. It was a fully loaded Cherokee and I still love it. I won't go without adaptive cruise and full time 4WD. If I want adventure, I have a 79 CJ7 for that "true" Jeep experience.

I know I'm at the limits of towing with my steel 18' trailer and the 3a and the farm equipment. But I only tow a half dozen times a year and not that far away. What I don't know is how to deal with dealerships. Trying to read the messages here. I'm running up against the "chip shortage" and trying to decide if I should just back away. Had one deal going an was within $836, less if they took off the $125 wheel locks. The dealer held firm saying the "chip shortage" won't let him slice and dice.

Just introducing myself and looking forward to be a member one of these days,.

Barry

Do you NEED the Rubicon - will you be doing some of the toughest trails there are, or would a less costly other level do? Do you need the factory lockers of the Rubicon and the sway bar disconnects??
You could save a bunch of money and have the same creature comforts and electronics at a less costly level.
I bet my Overland will keep up with a lot of what's out there, basically anything I want it to do, but it costs thousands less.

I have everything except the 4.10 gear ratio, wider axles, lockers and sway bar disconnects.
Do I NEED any of those things? Not really - and I could always re-gear it later if I want and still be less costly than the Rubicon.
So - what's the reason for the Rubicon since the creature comforts come in other levels?

 

[Shackleton]

Max Tow gets you the 4.10 but is thousands less too. Ordering one from one of the handful of dealerships on this forum could net you 8% below invoice

 

[Kevin_D]

I have everything except the 4.10 gear ratio, wider axles, lockers and sway bar disconnects.

And the Roc-Trac 4:1 transfer case.

Kevin

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

I'm old school as well. In fact my 2017 Ford F250 has a manual Tranfer Case lever and manual locking hubs.

That being said, this new generation of new vehicles and 4x4s have lots of computer controlled benefits. Or downfalls.
Jeeps solid axle configuration is old school, and proven.
Seriously, you are joined and these online forums / communities will help you.

Keep it as old school as possible, but enjoy the simple modern attributes as you like.

And, respectfully, the dealership... $800 difference in buy, or don't buy... Is kinda silly with the price of these Gladiators.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Max Tow gets you the 4.10 but is thousands less too. Ordering one from one of the handful of dealerships on this forum could net you 8% below invoice

Amen. Got a great deal on my wife's new WK2 from Spencer. He made it totally PAINLESS. Almost all work was done over email/internet. We were there only minutes and drove away with a new Jeep.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

And the Roc-Trac 4:1 transfer case.

Kevin

Why do I care about that? I can't ever see a time I'd need it, especially with an automatic.
But you touched upon the why I'm asking - why does he need a Rubicon? Why was that the only thing considered? Has he made a list of things required and gone from there?
Of the trucks I've owned - I've never needed a transfer case with that low a ratio.

 

[Kevin_D]

Why do I care about that? I can't ever see a time I'd need it, especially with an automatic.
But you touched upon the why I'm asking - why does he need a Rubicon?

I agree with you: I’m just pointing out that’s another difference with the Rubicon.

Kevin

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I agree with you: I’m just pointing out that’s another difference with the Rubicon.

Kevin

True that - but my guess, and it's ONLY a guess, is that it wasn't part of his equation, likely didn't note that difference. Could be wrong of course or maybe I'm wrong about that.

 

[u-joint]

Ah, come on. If the man wants a Rubicon, let him want a Rubicon. Having gone the road of "it's cheaper, and you can build it better" with my JK I was all about the "one and done" of buying a Rubicon on my JT.

Will I often use the lockers? Not likely.
Could I get by with a 2.73:1 T-case? Most certainly.
Will I enjoy all those things when I do use them on the occasion? Of course!

Just adding some diversity to this conversation.

 

[farmjeep]

Thanks for all the replies. The only reason for the Rubicon is the extra towing capacity. I'm not sure I would gain loss that much going to another model, but that is why I'm here. I don't have an accurate weight on the 3a and trailer, but I'm guessing close to 5K. I should do some research.

 

[Kevin_D]

Take a peek...

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ifferent-gladiators-tow-capacity.44587/unread

Kevin

 

[rmneal]

First, I want to thank you for all the info you have on your Farm Jeep page. Currently in the process of making my '47 a little more "farm capable", and your site has been invaluable to me! I went through (more or less) the same thing you are going through. I started out planning on getting a Sport S with Max Tow, since it was rated at 7500 towing capacity and, fully loaded with everything I wanted, was well within my price range. After seeing a Mojave, I sorta fell in love. However it only has a 6000lb capacity. I re-crunched my numbers and figured my 10ft dual axle trailer is ~1000 pounds and my 2a is about 2500, and passengers and gear will realistically never be more than another 500 -750bls, I figured I'd be plenty good. The Rubicon was not on my radar, but I believe it is rated for 7000. Depending on passengers and gear you should be well within limits. As for dealers, this site has at least 3 that should be able to hook you up for up to 8% below invoice with no hassle. Tennessee was the closest to me, so I flew up to Gupton this past Friday morning and drove it back to Dallas Friday night. I worried about the whole "Chip Shortage" thing while I waited on my build, but I had no problems....got everything I ordered, well within the time frame the dealer estimated.

 

[Jason Oliver]

The chip shortage is not BS. Dealers can't get enough inventory to sell, therefore are holding on tighter to prices. Simple supply vs demand.

Pay the extra if you want a vehicle now. If you can wait indefinitely for a possible $800 savings, then do that.

 

[farmjeep]

A big piece of the equation for me is if the safety margin of the Rubicon tow rating is worth the thousands of dollars difference. I will only tow the 3a a half dozen times a year to shows around the midwest, mostly within a couple of hours. I don't want to skimp on safety - that is why I want all the technology. But realistically, I'm getting to the age where I might not be making as many trips.

To be honest, I just think having a Gladiator towing the farm Jeep would be just the perfect way to travel to shows. In my head I know it isn't the best choice for a tow vehicle.
Barry

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