Drove Gladiator at EJS today!

[Nick1941]

I was originally bummed that gator wasn't closer to a military green like "tank green" but now seeing it in different lighting, I have fallen in love with the actual color. It reminds me of DigiCamo so I guess you can still chalk it up as a modern day military color. Ill be wrapping my Rubi dash and maybe fenders in this! 3M

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[Carlton]

How was the steering?

 

[billyjk7]

steering felt good

 

[Moabite]

@billyjk7

I realize you probably didn’t get to open it up or drive very long but can you comment at all on the power/torque of the 3.6 in the JT. Concerned about how much more weight the JT has over a JL.

I test drove both the Overland and the Rubicon on successive days. I punched the gas momentarily on the Rubicon on the longer leg of the very short 25 mph test course. Felt very peppy. My FCA companion wasn't super pleased with me. I also tried to get him to deviate one block to go through some sizeable dips that you have to actually slow down for. He said his boss was very particular about the route and sticking to it. There's only so much you can tell about a vehicle on a 1.25-mile pre-determined test run on city streets.

 

[homerun]

I test drove both the Overland and the Rubicon on successive days. I punched the gas momentarily on the Rubicon on the longer leg of the very short 25 mph test course. Felt very peppy. My FCA companion wasn't super pleased with me. I also tried to get him to deviate one block to go through some sizeable dips that you have to actually slow down for. He said his boss was very particular about the route and sticking to it. There's only so much you can tell about a vehicle on a 1.25-mile pre-determined test run on city streets.

I understand how insufficient of a test that was, however your report sounds like a positive one. Better than the alternative at least. Can’t wait to get reports from longer drives or drive myself.

As for your unhappy FCA friend, he and his boss must understand that tapping the gas a bit is gonna happen. I’m not saying they need to encourage it but I don’t image you did anything dangerous.

 

[wooderson]

As much as I want this to be true I just can’t believe we would not know about a full time 4wd option by now.

I want to believe !!!

 

[SKT]

Was the red one with the star decal lifted? How many inches? What size tires?

According to the below caption, it is a 2” lift on 37’s:

 

[TennesseePA]

I want to believe !!!

I misread you guys. I was certain that pictures of Rubicons on the road with 4HI Auto would spark a furious debate. I too hope that when my LE shows up it will have that transfer case in it.

 

[steffen707]

3 of them had the trailer brake.....none of the ones with the trailer brake controller had vin tags. this is the vin on the one i drove.

oooh, bed extender!

 

[steffen707]

I know we were supposed to be focused on the trailer brake controller but did anyone else notice the settings on the transfer case? I included a couple zoom in shots. Both Gladiators are Rubicons so this is an interesting twist. I had a long transfer case discussion right after the launch that the literature made it seem like 4wd Auto would be available on Rubicon but it was shot down by, well everyone.

4hAuto? !!!!!!! sweet

 

[TennesseePA]

The bed extender and the faint dream of 4H Auto make my mouth water. What I see happening is I’ll get my LE and then they will come out with ventilated seats, 4H Auto and the diesel requiring me to buy another one. That combination could carry me to my grave. I tend to keep things I like for quite a while. I’m sitting here about to walk into my clinic in a 1993 Grand Cherokee. And my “good car” is an 08 ES350 we bought for our daughter when she starts to drive...which will be June of this year. What is it about a daughter that a man will give his 15 year old Princess a Lexus with 50k miles on it while he drives a noisy, stinky and slow 4.0 Cherokee with 140k on the clock?

 

[TennesseePA]

The Cherokee does have clout though. 6 inch lift with 33x10.50 KM2s and she is one of only 400 ZJs built in 93 and 94 with the factory 5 speed. And to my surprise she still gets 17 MPG set up like this. My JK only got 15 after I put the 35s on it.

 

[OneTraveler]

I know we were supposed to be focused on the trailer brake controller but did anyone else notice the settings on the transfer case? I included a couple zoom in shots. Both Gladiators are Rubicons so this is an interesting twist. I had a long transfer case discussion right after the launch that the literature made it seem like 4wd Auto would be available on Rubicon but it was shot down by, well everyone.

This. I would really like to know a firm answer to this. The sales rep I spoke with mentioned that it would be an option for the Overland Version but not Rubicon. Of course, I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere and he openly admitted that his info came from MoparInsider....

Unpopular opinion perhaps, but I like the "set it and forget it" option for when my wife hops in the vehicle and needs to run errands/pick up some cargo etc. I have been a little ruined by it myself.

 

[TennesseePA]

Not unpopular with me as long as it is as tough as the regular TC.

 

[steffen707]

I was originally bummed that gator wasn't closer to a military green like "tank green" but now seeing it in different lighting, I have fallen in love with the actual color. It reminds me of DigiCamo so I guess you can still chalk it up as a modern day military color. Ill be wrapping my Rubi dash and maybe fenders in this! 3M

You mean wrapping the dash in digital camo?

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