Hard Top

[Uparms]

If you have the ST go ahead and add to the parts collections. I love my Premium soft top. May buy a HT. 5 jeeps and never had a theft. One is a CJ5 running bikini top only.

Other thing about getting a hard top is if the Big Corp pulls these JTs out of production it could get hard to get a good price on a used one. Wait for Mopar to offer another discount on parts an see if you can use some of that, up to their limit. Ask the Parts counter guy at dealer if he/she can help with their discount. 2 people at the dealer parts counter get me their 25% discount on big and small parts ( Mopar lift down to locking gas caps). I just ask, I don't know them. Have Fun!

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[f33d]

If you have the ST go ahead and add to the parts collections. I love my Premium soft top. May buy a HT. 5 jeeps and never had a theft. One is a CJ5 running bikini top only.

Other thing about getting a hard top is if the Big Corp pulls these JTs out of production it could get hard to get a good price on a used one. Wait for Mopar to offer another discount on parts an see if you can use some of that, up to their limit. Ask the Parts counter guy at dealer if he/she can help with their discount. 2 people at the dealer parts counter get me their 25% discount on big and small parts ( Mopar lift down to locking gas caps). I just ask, I don't know them. Have Fun!

I think it’s only a matter of time before the gladiator gets canned. I don’t think it’s going to be a big hit as time goes on.

 

[NachoRuby]

I think it’s only a matter of time before the gladiator gets canned. I don’t think it’s going to be a big hit as time goes on.

Sales numbers looked pretty good last year. Shared development costs, as it's basically a Wrangler and a ram mashed together. It prints money for them.

 

[Fishee]

Is the hardtop install fairly simple for one man to attempt in his driveway?

I can take doors and hard top off in 15 min by myself. Just have 4 eye hooks on garage ceiling with a strap hanging from each. Easily lift it off with straps and no winch.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I think it’s only a matter of time before the gladiator gets canned. I don’t think it’s going to be a big hit as time goes on.

Hard to say for sure, but I’d predict that it’s around for quite a while. People that love it are die hard fans. There are even die hard wrangler people who have switched to JTs to get a pickup, while retaining almost everything they already loved about their wranglers. I think they’ll outlast the wagoneer. But I’m guessing like everyone else. So who knows.

 

[f33d]

Hard to say for sure, but I’d predict that it’s around for quite a while. People that love it are die hard fans. There are even die hard wrangler people who have switched to JTs to get a pickup, while retaining almost everything they already loved about their wranglers. I think they’ll outlast the wagoneer. But I’m guessing like everyone else. So who knows.

Prob the same way the Toyota FJ went. It’s a great vehicle and the people who love it love it but I don’t think it has the long term sustainability as wranglers do. Everyone loves wranglers while jts are made for people like us. I’ve always loved trucks and my wranglers so it was a no brainer but as you said, time will tell!

 

[WILDHOBO]

Prob the same way the Toyota FJ went. It’s a great vehicle and the people who love it love it but I don’t think it has the long term sustainability as wranglers do. Everyone loves wranglers while jts are made for people like us. I’ve always loved trucks and my wranglers so it was a no brainer but as you said, time will tell!

You could very well be right. Where I think it stands separate from the FJ is the fact that it’s a pickup. That fact alone will make it sell like crazy. Pickups sell well in America. The good ones and the crappy ones, they all sell. A wrangler is less interesting as a practical vehicle to me with its low towing capacity. But getting double towing and a bed makes the decision entirely different. We’d still have our Cherokee Trailhawk if it weren’t for the JT towing capacity.

edit: Wranglers are fun as hell, but not practical. The JT is a semi-practical wrangler offshoot.

 

[f33d]

You could very well be right. Where I think it stands separate from the FJ is the fact that it’s a pickup. That fact alone will make it sell like crazy. Pickups sell well in America. The good ones and the crappy ones, they all sell. A wrangler is less interesting as a practical vehicle to me with its low towing capacity. But getting double towing and a bed makes the decision entirely different. We’d still have our Cherokee Trailhawk if it weren’t for the JT towing capacity.

edit: Wranglers are fun as hell, but not practical. The JT is a semi-practical wrangler offshoot.

As much as America loves to sell the big ass pickup. I’ve owned a 19 Ford F-150 lariat. 2019 Dodge Ram 1509 Laramie, 20 Chevy trail boss. They are all great vehicles but I just never needed everything they did. Too big for my personal needs as a home owner and not a construction owner etc. Though the issue may be the price , when you start buying a gladiator into the 55k-60k range then you start hitting things like 2500 power wagon and that’s a hell of a lot of truck but it’s not a wrangler.

 

[NachoRuby]

As much as America loves to sell the big ass pickup. I’ve owned a 19 Ford F-150 lariat. 2019 Dodge Ram 1509 Laramie, 20 Chevy trail boss. They are all great vehicles but I just never needed everything they did. Too big for my personal needs as a home owner and not a construction owner etc. Though the issue may be the price , when you start buying a gladiator into the 55k-60k range then you start hitting things like 2500 power wagon and that’s a hell of a lot of truck but it’s not a wrangler.

They don't have to be 55-60k. Base price is 34, or 40 for what most "normal" people would consider, a sport S with automatic. Or 45 for max tow. Besides, Wranglers are expensive for what most use them for too. They sell well. Perhaps regional, but I see more gladiators than I do rangers.

 

[f33d]

They don't have to be 55-60k. Base price is 34, or 40 for what most "normal" people would consider, a sport S with automatic. Or 45 for max tow. Besides, Wranglers are expensive for what most use them for too. They sell well. Perhaps regional, but I see more gladiators than I do rangers.

Must be my area in NY. You’ll mostly see rubicons around here as they are status symbols to people. Maybe a few Willy’s rarely ever see sports.

 

[WILDHOBO]

As much as America loves to sell the big ass pickup. I’ve owned a 19 Ford F-150 lariat. 2019 Dodge Ram 1509 Laramie, 20 Chevy trail boss. They are all great vehicles but I just never needed everything they did. Too big for my personal needs as a home owner and not a construction owner etc. Though the issue may be the price , when you start buying a gladiator into the 55k-60k range then you start hitting things like 2500 power wagon and that’s a hell of a lot of truck but it’s not a wrangler.

Very good point. You’re buying a wrangler, which would range in approximate price from low 40’s to 50’s and 60’s for higher end, and you’re adding a mid sized truck. So your point is well taken. The average mid sized truck home owner customer isn’t likely a wrangler customer. It’s perfect for people like me, who would love a wrangler, but not be able to use it for everything. With the JT, I get everything. Off road maniac, and easy to put large items in the bed. So people like me are buying 1.5 vehicles for the price of 1.25. Someone that just wants a pickup wouldn’t choose this platform. So basically, you’re probably exactly right.

 

[NachoRuby]

Must be my area in NY. You’ll mostly see rubicons around here as they are status symbols to people. Maybe a few Willy’s rarely ever see sports.

I have a Rubicon. It was 49. Definitely not a status symbol. But around here, mostly sports, Willys

 

[f33d]

I have a Rubicon. It was 49. Definitely not a status symbol. But around here, mostly sports, Willys

Not referring it is for wrangler lovers and others who understand their vehicle. For reference to my point , my nieces father came into some money and for her 16 birthday goes “we’re going to get you a rubicon because It will tell people you have money”. She then goes “ I’ll have to get big tires and a lift because it won’t look right without it and most of my friends have that”.

I’ve been a wrangler owner for awhile and the majority of people I know with wranglers only buy rubicons because their “cool”

 

[NachoRuby]

I’ve been a wrangler owner for awhile and the majority of people I know with wranglers only buy rubicons because their “cool”

I didn't even know they were cool, because my last Wrangler was a 97, haha. I found that reputation out from this forum.

 

[Kevin_D]

My hard top is louder on the hwy than the soft top loaners I’ve driven if you go the speed limit on the interstate. ... I find it humorous that a soft top owner said they can make Bluetooth calls. My Bluetooth is useless on the hwy and I have to break the hands free laws to talk on my phone.

I have both and the hardtop is quieter, if you add the hotheads it beats it hands down. The finishing touch is sound deadener on the floor with an armor lite floor. I can actually talk handsfree now.

Back on topic…
I’ve been able to use hands-free with my hardtop since day one. The Hotheads headliner made it even quieter.
While I haven’t driven a soft-top Wrangler or JT, my other convertibles are definitely much more noisy (except the wife’s CLK.)

Kevin

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