Thinking about trading in my Tacoma for a Rubi…

[duvinclunk]

I was a Tacoma owner for many years. Had a built second generation and a built third generation. I had a 100 series Land Cruiser in-between that was also built. I would have considered myself a Toyota guy as well. I appreciated the reliability but it also left we wanting more in the off-road and capability department.

Took the plunge to the Gladiator and sold the Tacoma. I'll say this...I'll never go back to a Tacoma as long as there is a Gladiator. It has exceeded my expectations. It's still a Jeep and is louder and not as comfortable with both solid axles but I'll take the Gladiator everyday over the Tacoma. Nicer interior with better tech. No drama for bigger tires. No cab mount chops. Took it to run trails in Moab not long ago and walked everything that would have been a bit of an effort for the Tacoma. I won't go back.

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[jbmdux]

I'm a lifelong Toyota guy and reliability pretty much trumps everything with me. I almost bought a Gladiator when they first started rolling out but the reliability question and the initial delivery issues made me stay in my comfort zone and I bought my ‘19 Tacoma Off Road instead.

Fast forward to now, these things have been around a couple years and I’ve been hearing some good reports. There have been some issues but nothing terrible that I know of. I’m now considering trading in. I’m especially encouraged by the outrageous prices used Tacos are selling for.

Can you guys give me an honest assessment of your trucks as far as off road capability and reliability concerns go? I’m looking for an off road ready truck right out of the gate. I think with a lift and some 35’s the Rubi will do everything I need it to. My Taco is also very capable with its OME lift and 33’s but I can’t help think I’d be even happier with the Rubicon.

Here’s my Taco in current configuration. I’ve done a bunch of stuff to it to get it where I want it but it seems like there’s always something else I need to do to it to get it there. I don’t think I’d have that problem with the Gladiator Rubicon other than the aforementioned lift and 35’s.

Reasons to get the gladiator: its better looking, it is bigger inside, the bed is bigger, you will get better gas mileage (mine is way better than my 2015 off road), the tops come off, it rides firmer, the alpine audio is way better than anything toyota offers.
I am not sure about bothering to get the rubicon over the S. How often did you need to disconnect the sway bar in your Taco? I know there are more differences, but...

 

[jbmdux]

Reasons to get the gladiator: its better looking, it is bigger inside, the bed is bigger, you will get better gas mileage (mine is way better than my 2015 off road), the tops come off, it rides firmer, the alpine audio is way better than anything toyota offers.
I am not sure about bothering to get the rubicon over the S. How often did you need to disconnect the sway bar in your Taco? I know there are more differences, but...

I have Sierra Elevation too. If you really want to improve your gas mileage get one of these with the 5.3 v8

 

[DankjeeP]

That's why I said stock. I don't have a Tazer and cannot engage lockers outside of 4L

A common misconception. It can be engaged in 4H.

 

[jbmdux]

It might be worth looking at the dealer in Gastonia, NC. I purchased my Mojave from them a couple months back and I was very happy with the deal. It was about 8% under MSRP and I was trading in a 9 month old 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road with 15000 miles. They gave me more on trade-in than I paid for the truck.


This is my fifth Jeep, and I prefer them to everything else. I just had to scratch that itch with the Tacoma and I just never loved it. The Tacoma is a great truck, but the seating position isn't right for my build. I also got really jealous of the Jeep crowd when I started looking at lifts and tires. I'm planning to throw 35s on the Mojave and call it a day...

Toyota does have reliability, but they aren't perfect. I'm still not sold that frame rot won't be an issue on the 3rd gens.

Yes, I know what you mean, I liked my Tacoma but never loved it.

 

[Benny1158]

I'm a lifelong Toyota guy and reliability pretty much trumps everything with me. I almost bought a Gladiator when they first started rolling out but the reliability question and the initial delivery issues made me stay in my comfort zone and I bought my ‘19 Tacoma Off Road instead.

Fast forward to now, these things have been around a couple years and I’ve been hearing some good reports. There have been some issues but nothing terrible that I know of. I’m now considering trading in. I’m especially encouraged by the outrageous prices used Tacos are selling for.

Can you guys give me an honest assessment of your trucks as far as off road capability and reliability concerns go? I’m looking for an off road ready truck right out of the gate. I think with a lift and some 35’s the Rubi will do everything I need it to. My Taco is also very capable with its OME lift and 33’s but I can’t help think I’d be even happier with the Rubicon.

Here’s my Taco in current configuration. I’ve done a bunch of stuff to it to get it where I want it but it seems like there’s always something else I need to do to it to get it there. I don’t think I’d have that problem with the Gladiator Rubicon other than the aforementioned lift and 35’s.

[/
I traded my 2019 taco limted for my first jeep gladiator overland i like my jeep alot more than taco .Im not off road much so i cant tell you much there but i lilke the ride and handling more in the jeep also more power

 

[Gvsukids]

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/our-life-owning-3rd-gen-tacoma-and-a-jt-gladiator.640142/

 

[Toyfrog]

I have had 3 different Tacos over 27 years, even before they were “Tacos”. IMO Toyota has been going the wrong way with there trucks. They have known about issues for years and refuse to do anything to fix them. Ordered my 2021 Mojave and couldn’t be happier. Tacos is sitting on 3” Fox 2.5 front, 2.0 rear with OME Dakar’s. Mojave is stock height and now sitting on 35’s with no issues.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

9500 miles in 4 months on my Sport S. It’s been awesome. No major issues so far. I had a clicking noise from the driver side upper ball joint but it went away after I tightened it up. The only other weird thing was my usb plug wasn’t recognizing my phone. It worked fine the next day though and hasn’t happened since that one occasion (about 3k miles ago).

Other than those to pretty minor issues, the truck has been just awesome. It drives better than expected on and off the road. The thing also climbs rocks/inclines like hell, even stock. I can’t wait to pay this thing off then dump more money into it like an idiot ?

I HIGHLY recommend the Jeep Gladiator.

Edit: Also I don’t really share the same opinion as others regarding the SFA on road. I don’t even notice the difference anymore. I could be wrong though because maybe I just don’t remember the IFS feeling lol. I definitely wouldn’t let it be a deciding factor based on my experience though. I see 75-80 mph very routinely and it does just fine.

 

[arneb04]

No offense but I don’t see how reliability equates to boredom…

It doesn’t. Tacomas are boring. And they last forever. They don’t have to be both. But they are.

 

[aldo98229]

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/our-life-owning-3rd-gen-tacoma-and-a-jt-gladiator.640142/

Tacoma seats comfortable on long trips...?

 

[TheRealGinjaNinja]

Two words...

 

[Dryfly24]

Currently looking hard at three different Rubis in two neighboring states. We’ll see how it plays out…

 

[azn226]

Currently looking hard at three different Rubis in two neighboring states. We’ll see how it plays out…

I had a 2016 tacoma trd offroad with crawl control, inferno orange. that I ended up trading in since it had 98k miles and wanted to take advantage of the use car market value.

I ended up getting a sarge green gladiator mojave. Since its only been a few days of owning it and just window shopping aftermarket parts. I notice there's a huge support for jeep compared to the tacoma. I do alot of highway driving for work is why i picked the mojave. gas mileage slightly less by 2mpg. Steering wanders a bit but that was expected. Interior is definitely night and day difference. thats about all i have for now. hope that helps.

 

[Dryfly24]

I had a 2016 tacoma trd offroad with crawl control, inferno orange. that I ended up trading in since it had 98k miles and wanted to take advantage of the use car market value.

I ended up getting a sarge green gladiator mojave. Since its only been a few days of owning it and just window shopping aftermarket parts. I notice there's a huge support for jeep compared to the tacoma. I do alot of highway driving for work is why i picked the mojave. gas mileage slightly less by 2mpg. Steering wanders a bit but that was expected. Interior is definitely night and day difference. thats about all i have for now. hope that helps.

I test drove two Rubi’s here locally. Both almost identical 2021’s. One wandered and the other didn’t . Go figure…

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