How hard have you pushed your stock Gladiator?

[Artsifrtsi]

Also, get a winch... especially if you aren't going out with another rig. You may have barely made it through that last obstacle, and decide to turn around, only to find it more difficult through the reverse direction...

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[Average-Joe]

OP; I see you are headed to Big Bend. I took my JT there when it still had paper plates. I did an honor badge trail; Black Gap. Fun trail but not hard I also did Old Ore road. Both tails can be done bone stock. Epic scenery. I did scrape my receiver due to the long wheelbase and departure angle but that ain’t a big deal

 

[Largemarge_JT]

Based on you mentioning wildpeaks I’m assuming you have the rubicon trim. I personally do not think you will have any issues on dirt roads with rougher sections. Before I was bit by the mod bug I took my stock gladiator rubicon (other than aftermarket wheels) on quite a few trails in Utah and had no issues as long as I was smart with the lines I chose. Take your time and you’ll have fun!

 

[Breaktrack]

We plan on taking the Gladiator all over the western US in the next 12 months.

Big Bend, several Utah national parks, lots of Arizona parks and forests, California deserts, Nevada deserts. You get the idea.

The wife is of the opinion that we just dropped a load of money on buying it, so no more spending. Which I get. 35s will be bought come time to replace the stock wildpeaks.

Curious to see how many of you have run a stock suspension/wheel set up on big trips and how it’s held up.

Got my Rubicon Gladiator in June of 2019, ordered the first day orders could be taken, and took off the very next day on a five month road trip from Texas to Missouri, to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Canada, Alaska, back through Canada to Washington state, back to Montana to Utah, Nevada, New Mexico back to Texas. The trip included all kinds of roads and trails, even drove the haul road in Alaska up to Deadhorse / Prudhoe Bay, Moab for a week and a half, desert trails in the Las Vegas area, the Northern Cascades in Washington State, and every where in between. The only add to it was a bug deflector when I was in Fairbanks as the bugs through Canada were horrific.

Not my first Jeep, I've had JK's, TJ's and cherokees, this is my eighth Jeep vehicle, it took everything I could give it and could have done more. I put 25,000 plus on it in just that trip, I've now got 65,000 on it and it's still going strong. You shouldn't have any problems from how you describe your usage.

Mac

 

[Terry]

what and how are you attaching those things to the ceiling?

JT Molle Panel spans from rear to front. Cabling professionally installed. Had the tops off and it is fine.

 

[endurojeep]

You will be absolutely fine with a stock rubicon on most trails like everybody mentioned.

How hard have I pushed mine. Black hills 5+ trails but I have 38's fender chop and 3.5" lift. I rubbed just about everything but still have only the stock skids and did not hit engine trans or transfer case. after the first day the spotters said just pick a line you'll go through it. They were pretty impressed on the capabilities of the gladiator

 

[smlobx]

OP I didn’t see what version of the Gladiator you have so….

I have a stock Rubicon and have driven all over Tx, CO, UT on various roads and trails. I do not rock crawl but overland to fairly remote areas. In Big Bend I did virtually all the “roads” there and several in Big Bend Ranch State Park which were rougher but without problems

In Colorado I’ve done the alpine loop with snow melt on it, along with several trails in and around Ouray, Silverton.

Then we took the Rim Rocker Trail from Montrose CO to Moab UT. The western section of that trail is pretty rough..

Then in UT we did the White Rim Trail as well as several others….once again all stock.

I do have a fair amount of experience driving off-road but I don’t know if you do. Take it slow when things get dicey and don’t be afraid to turn back if your gut tells you to.
here’s what my truck looked like after the Rim Rocker..

 

[Chaimstein]

I've taken my stock Rubicon everywhere. I've wheeled at Johnson Valley, Moab including Fin N Things, Idaho, Washington, Sand Hollow and I have snow wheeled in a foot of snow many times. I put a winch on the first day I got it and I have never used it in anger. Everytime I thought I was stuck, I added some lockers and I drove out.

I have made the hitch receiver scream on rocks and scraped the skids but no damage. I will replace my 33" with 35" soon, but I probably still won't get a lift. You'll be fine for what you want to do.

Have fun and gain experience.

 

[JAPE]

I was disappointed to learn the top end is regulated to 97mph

 

[Gvsukids]

I was disappointed to learn the top end is regulated to 97mph

Not on all models.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/97-mph-top-speed-tested.17420/

 

[Kschend]

My preference as well. I've misplaced my notes on which one I was leaning toward. Started reading about covers and got the 'paralysis through analysis' thing . . .

I am doing this on front bumper. ?

 

[NachoRuby]

I was disappointed to learn the top end is regulated to 97mph

You probably don't want to go much faster than that if yours came with the MTs

Not on all models.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/97-mph-top-speed-tested.17420/

It's because Mojaves and Rubicons can be optioned wih mud tires, which have a low speed rating. Same issue on the 702 HP TRX. Manufacturers don't want their vehicles able to outrun the tires underneath them.

 

[OldWillysForum]

I drove my stock Willys Ecodiesel, with less than a 1000 miles on it, down the Flint Trail in Utah last fall. Touched bottom once, on the passenger rear spring hanger. Stopped, picked a different line, and cleared. Motored through some pretty gnarly spots, no sweat. I have vintage jeeps for more extreme stuff, but thought this was a pretty good test to see what the stock Gladiator can do without much effort at all. Mostly I use it to trailer my Willys to trails, I don't need it to be lifted or lockered so stock it will be for me.

 

[JAPE]

You probably don't want to go much faster than that if yours came with the MTs

It's because Mojaves and Rubicons can be optioned wih mud tires, which have a low speed rating. Same issue on the 702 HP TRX. Manufacturers don't want their vehicles able to outrun the tires underneath them.

My JTR has MT's and rides really well at "highway speed" on the interstate (not the river bed). However, its not fun to be passed by a GMC pickup.

 

[WILDHOBO]

My JTR has MT's and rides really well at "highway speed" on the interstate (not the river bed). However, its not fun to be passed by a GMC pickup.

You’d pass the gmc on the trail.

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