Anyone move from a fullsize pickup to a Gladiator and regret it?

[ShadowsPapa]

Face it........ roads like this are just not as much fun or as easy in a full-sized crew cab truck.

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[RobbertCole]

I had a few F150s before I got the Gladiator and I dont regret it at all. The cab of the F150 feels too big. Im not small by anymeans at 6'3" 215lbs, the area between the door arm rest and the center console rest is too big. I want my elbows on both. Everything about the full size trucks are too big. Unnecessary

 

[rcwhat]

Face it........ roads like this are just not as much fun or as easy in a full-sized crew cab truck.

Pikes peak?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Pikes peak?

Yup - my wife has some shots on her phone that may show the hairpins and switch-backs better. I mean you almost saw yourself coming and going. the JT handled it all like a dream, even when someone coming from the other way was sort of hugging the line a bit or there was a bicycle on the road when another vehicle was approaching, the JT turned sharp and true.

 

[rcwhat]

Yup - my wife has some shots on her phone that may show the hairpins and switch-backs better. I mean you almost saw yourself coming and going. the JT handled it all like a dream, even when someone coming from the other way was sort of hugging the line a bit or there was a bicycle on the road when another vehicle was approaching, the JT turned sharp and true.

I’ve been up to the summit a few times. I recognized the parking lot for the shuttle busses. It was waaaay cooler a few years ago when you could actually drive all the way to the summit.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’ve been up to the summit a few times. I recognized the parking lot for the shuttle busses. It was waaaay cooler a few years ago when you could actually drive all the way to the summit.

Yeah, last 3 miles closed for repairs/construction. I was up there to the top in 1980 with my first wife (and I was younger and could handle the thin air and climbing better)
Speaking of cool - it was indeed cool - 30 degrees cooler than in town below

 

[snide]

It always goes back to need. Full size trucks are great in many ways, until they aren't.

There are times when I can use a full size truck with an 8 foot bed. But I love my Gladiator because the roof comes off.

Did I mention the roof comes off?

 

[Mach1dmb]

Interesting thread, I came here with the same question. I'm debating on selling my fully loaded 2015 F150 for a base sport Galdiator with a manual transmission and non-power windows. Hoping to get an even trade. I just test drove one for the first time today, I was impressed with the handling and power, and it was a lot of fun to drive. The only things I didn't like was the push-to-start button, the center console is kind of in the way for shifting, there is no foot rest when your not on the clutch, and although the back seats fold up there is no storage room with the built in cubbies. Other than that the bed is not MUCH smaller, and the payload is close. I don't tow anything anyway. The inside cabin is so much smaller, but at 6'1" I don't feel cramped at all.

Basically I'd be giving up all the bells and whistles like an autostart, heated seats, power outlet, heated mirrors, and power everything. These things I don't REALLY care for anyway...I was just as happy in my beater Honda with rollup windows and no A/C.

 

[morejeepsthanicancount]

I came to a gladiator from my lifted crewmax tundra. After having a ton of Jeep’s and Toyota’s, I waited since 2016 for the gladiator to be released. The turning radius and having my wife feel comfortable parking it, on top of being able to wheel tighter trails, was perfect. No regrets at all.

 

[Bantam]

Not one bit do I miss that truck. It was a loaded up FX4 (heated/cooled seats, GPS, leather, rear locker) rode nice on the highway and pulled my pop-up like it wasn’t there at all, lots of power via twin turbo, and a big gas tank for less stops, and loads of interior space especially with the rear seat folded up and a flat floor. It was a nice truck.

But I absolutely hated parking it, didn’t care to drive it, seemed to eat tires, horrendous turning radius, front power window actuators killed themselves within 2 weeks of each other, even with decent tires had to use 4x4 or rear locker on the slightest incline on wet grass, the bed side was really tall so you couldn’t just reach into the side of the bed which meant once you opened the tailgate, you’re 2’ from the back of the bed and anything you need to reach is now 2’ further from you so be glad it had that handy bed step built into the heavy tailgate.

Suffice it to say the full size truck was a requirement while renovating the house. Trying to put the prior JKU to work typically involved borrowing a trailer and turning drywall runs into a 2-trip process.

The Gladiator is 100% exactly what I was looking and hoping for in a replacement.

 

[93civej1]

I love the gladiator, but we have been going camping lately as a family of 5 and other little small trips and 5 of us and gear is a bit cramped. Wife has suggested we need something bigger. Im starting to sort of look at full size trucks again after 3 years.

 

[High Alextude]

I love the gladiator, but we have been going camping lately as a family of 5 and other little small trips and 5 of us and gear is a bit cramped. Wife has suggested we need something bigger. Im starting to sort of look at full size trucks again after 3 years.

I feel like once you hit that number 5, it's time to look at a full size SUV like the Pilot. Even a full size truck will be cramped for three people in the back - grew up in big family myself. Kids need more space than adults sometimes lol. Having an easily reachable and accessible trunk is better for kids too.

 

[56cbr600rr]

Love my ram classic quad cab.

Thinking of trading up.

Curious what people who've done something similar have to say?

Nope. Really don't miss my 2018 F-150 at all. Too big to drive daily. Other issues as well.

 

[93civej1]

I feel like once you hit that number 5, it's time to look at a full size SUV like the Pilot. Even a full size truck will be cramped for three people in the back - grew up in big family myself. Kids need more space than adults sometimes lol. Having an easily reachable and accessible trunk is better for kids too.

We have a Chevy Traverse for the SUV type thing. Not a full size SUV, but like having a truck bed when the need arises, such as hauling camping equipment etc.

 

[ShrimpHappens]

I love the gladiator, but we have been going camping lately as a family of 5 and other little small trips and 5 of us and gear is a bit cramped. Wife has suggested we need something bigger. Im starting to sort of look at full size trucks again after 3 years.

Boooooooo

Sell kids, keep Jeep

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