I want a Gladiator but I’m concerned it’s not safe enough for a family vehicle

[rayvonp]

IT‘S NOT A CAR!!!!!

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[rharr]

I couldn't disagree more.

A Jeep is as capable a vehicle as any on the market and the only one with a factory installed full roll cage. As they sit, a Jeep Gladiator is leaps and bounds safer than almost ANY vehicle from say 5 to 10 years ago....as are most new vehicles on the market.

Any modern car with a solid roof and pillar system is going to work just as good if not better then this wonderful factory installed roll cage.

The only reason jeep has the roll cage (which isn't really much of a roll cage when you look at purpose built cages) is because the thing doesn't have a solid roof and pillar system.

I don't have much faith in my fiberglass top providing much protection in the event of a crash/roll. At least with a vehicle with a solid roof you have sheet metal and integrated structural components tied into that roof system that will better distribute the impact.

Jeeps/SUVs/Trucks also all have a higher center of gravity for the increased ground clearance, big balloon tires with flexy side walls, these things all make a Jeep type vehicle much less stable in the event of a evasive or uncontrolled turn. Manufacturers have had to design all sorts of electronic wizardry to even get them as close to stable a low tech honda accord from the 90's.

Jeeps are fun to drive but if you are worried about the safety of your family during daily driving use, there are better options out there and would look at a larger 4 door car/ mini van / or wagon platform based on a car chassis. None of this Car/Suv mutant crap.

Just saw a car on it's side yesterday, took a roll was all dented up but the passage compartment was whole and not crushed in. Not sure I trust my JT to perform the same way.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Meh, I've seen A pillars crushed down, even on a trail blazer, it was crushed down to within 6" of the dash. It was hit IN DOWNTOWN Des Moines and flipped. Go to any salvage yard and you see crushed roofs.

A quote from a test article (talking about roll-over) -

“The dummy’s position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver’s survival space was maintained well,” the IIHS noted, adding that the “dummy’s movement was well controlled” and the “driver’s space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy’s legs and feet was low.”

The test Jeep’s slab-sided nature prevented it from prematurely moving on to the roof strength test (which the Wrangler Unlimited aced, by the way).

So - roof strength test- the Wrangler aced. Hmmmm tells me the top end is pretty strong. And isn't the Gladiator roof based on the Wrangler?

 

[ScottBeach]

This is what I'm hoping happens to me. But its a worry.

My natural instinct is to think "gee I wonder how fast I can make this go" whether its a car or a bike.

I've got to do an extended Gladiator test drive to see some more. Though I'm encouraged.

I rode on a friend's Harley recently. It was the first bike I've ever been able to ride slow on and not go nuts. Its happiest just cruising.

I cant explain how driving the jeep has slowed me down. I dont yell at idiots (as much) i dont tail gate. I dont weave in traffic. I just let people blow past me if they want to. Nothing is going to ruin my mood. Happier just a bit slower getting there

 

[dcmdon]

I cant explain how driving the jeep has slowed me down. I dont yell at idiots (as much) i dont tail gate. I dont weave in traffic. I just let people blow past me if they want to. Nothing is going to ruin my mood. Happier just a bit slower getting there

This would be a wonderful thing.

I just live in an area with the worst, most distracted drivers.

Whether its the beta geek in the Prius waving everyone ahead of them who is afraid of his own shadow or the college kid who is fixated o his phone when the light turns green, I swear the only way I get anywhere is by driving around people.

(Greater Boston)

 

[nachorubicongladiator]

Well, plans changed again. Repainting in Billet Silver would be too expensive and I felt I’d be too OCD about a wrap to be happy with it. So instead of building, I was extremely lucky to find one of the last Billet Silver Gladiator Mojaves in my exact build that I picked up today! It was a 6 hour long visit to the dealership where I was able to get a thorough test drive and inspect it. I drove it home in the dark so I’ll post pictures of it tomorrow when I can actually see the beauty. My username will be even funnier now. At least it’s still a gladiator.

 

[CPTRU1114]

This is long, sorry! Feel free to skip to the TLDR.

I’ve been in the market to replace my very boring 2011 Honda CR-V for 2 1/2 years now. I’m getting older and want to treat myself to a vehicle that makes me smile every time I see it. The Wrangler and Gladiator are the only vehicles that do so. Every time I pass one on the road I get excited to an extent that’s pretty ridiculous.

I’d have bought a Jeep when I first started looking 2 1/2 years ago but there’s one thing that held me back. For most of my life when anyone would ask me what I looked for in a car I said I want something that’s safe, has a good sound system, and a lot of cargo space. As you can probably guess the middling safety ratings for the Jeep is what’s held me back.

Not a big deal for me. I’m a safe driver and have never been in an accident. And a questionable safety rating compared to the alternatives wouldn’t be a big deal if I was just talking about my life. But now I have a young kid and I don’t know how to square this in my head. I’d feel personally responsible if my kid was injured or worse in an accident that was made worse because there’s no side curtain airbags in the rear or because there’s a substantial chance of rollover, even in a front offset crash.

So I spent over 2 years looking for some other kind of car, suv, or truck that I could drum up a similar amount of passion for. I checked out the Land Rover Defender, Ford Bronco, and RAM Rebel. I also went in a different direction and looked at some cool new EVs and other crossover to midsize SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, Honda Element (lol), and others. At the end of the day, though, I don’t want a ‘nice’ car. I want a ‘fun’ car. And I don’t think there’s anything else that strikes a chord in me like a Jeep does.

Note that my wife has a newer Honda CR-V as well (lol) that we’d be keeping so it would always be available as a safe family car alternative except for when I need to take my kid someone, like daycare.

How does everyone look at this? How do you weigh your pros and cons? Am I overthinking or exaggerating the Wrangler and Gladiator’s safety issues?

And are there any recommended builds that prioritize on-road? Such as steel or plastic bumper: which is safer in a high-speed accident? Any significant difference in on-road between a Sport, Overland, and Rubicon?

And what about improving upon the Jeep’s safety with aftermarket customization. Such as lowering the center of gravity, adding some kind of thick padding around the roll bar and Hard Top where a rear passenger’s head could hit?

Thanks for reading.

TLDR: I’m obsessed with getting a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator but feel guilty using it as a family car due to its poor crash rating. What should I do?

Enough said. Ranked number 1

 

[dcmdon]

Well, plans changed again. Repainting in Billet Silver would be too expensive and I felt I’d be too OCD about a wrap to be happy with it. So instead of building, I was extremely lucky to find one of the last Billet Silver Gladiator Mojaves in my exact build that I picked up today! It was a 6 hour long visit to the dealership where I was able to get a thorough test drive and inspect it. I drove it home in the dark so I’ll post pictures of it tomorrow when I can actually see the beauty. My username will be even funnier now. At least it’s still a gladiator.

So wait. You just bought a red Rubicon and pretty much immediately traded it for a Silver Mojave??

 

[nachorubicongladiator]

So wait. You just bought a red Rubicon and pretty much immediately traded it for a Silver Mojave??

nope. I had a pending order for it and was waiting on the dealer to email me the paperwork so i could sign it digitally to confirm the order. They still havent gotten back to me so i guess they didnt want my business? ?‍

 

[dcmdon]

nope. I had a pending order for it and was waiting on the dealer to email me the paperwork so i could sign it digitally.

Oh. good. Ha. I was cringing at the thought of all that depreciation. Ha.

 

[Hank_]

I think you will love the Mojave. Mine is my daily driver and I enjoy it every single day.

Have fun!!

 

[ScottBeach]

This would be a wonderful thing.

I just live in an area with the worst, most distracted drivers.

Whether its the beta geek in the Prius waving everyone ahead of them who is afraid of his own shadow or the college kid who is fixated o his phone when the light turns green, I swear the only way I get anywhere is by driving around people.

(Greater Boston)

Born in Arlington. I dont miss boston traffic. May i suggest a beach house in Florida?

 

[dcmdon]

Born in Arlington. I dont miss boston traffic. May i suggest a beach house in Florida?

We've got a place in NH. Its wonderful. FL is in our future, most likely as a monthly rental in the winter when we retire. Ha. I like to ski and winter hike too much to spend the entire winter somewhere warm.

 

[Challenger85]

I cant explain how driving the jeep has slowed me down. I dont yell at idiots (as much) i dont tail gate. I dont weave in traffic. I just let people blow past me if they want to. Nothing is going to ruin my mood. Happier just a bit slower getting there

TBH I have/had a 2019 Scat Pack (it’s still my garage waiting to be picked up) but it was fast, stupid fast. Way faster than anyone needs and it’s still slow in comparison to Tesla’s, new Corvettes and any model of anything supercharged in the last 7 or so years. There was not a spot I couldn’t zip through or a road I wouldn’t pass on. Nobody stayed in my way if I wanted to go around, I could go from 75-100 in 1-2 seconds on the highway. Goodbye.

I didn’t tell my wife that but I kept telling myself I needed to mellow out. I drive a work van and I have to remind myself in this to go slow and it’s large, slow nature helps. Driving the Gladiator brought a mellowness to my driving, I didn’t want to go fast, I just wanted to cruise.

 

[nachorubicongladiator]

I think you will love the Mojave. Mine is my daily driver and I enjoy it every single day.

Have fun!!

Thanks and already have! When I’m not working I’ve been just playing around with the thing. I absolutely love it. It drives beautifully on-road. Not sure what all the talk about loud M/T tires and wind noise is about. Jeep barely wanders, and when it does, it’s fun ?‍

It’s amazing to go from a CR-V to this. The feeling of driving an extremely capable vehicle is just something else. And I’m thankful I ended up with Billet Silver, I was too enamored with the color to miss out on it.

I‘ve already driven it with the front half of the hard top off and it’s just pure fun. Can’t wait to take it offroad this weekend. Unfortunately where I live in Maryland is at the least a couple hours drive from any trails (man am I envious of those of you surrounded by trails and beautiful scenery. Utah, Colorado, etc. I’m looking at you) but I’ve already planned a trip to Assateague Island and have my eyes on the western MD/eastern VA trails that pop up on the OnX Offroad app. Next summer should be a weeklong trip to OBX if all goes well.

I have a feeling I’ll only be buying Jeeps till I die.

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