Anyone Driving a Sport S w/Max Tow Package

[Supazuk]

I love mine, I was also looking at nothing other then a Max tow, I use it as a truck ( i have a car trailer and camper), DD, light wheeler and 2 family road trips.
It was a left over 2023 with 22 miles on it, I have owned it for 10 months and as of this morning it has 27k miles on it. (we are also a 2 kid hockey family)

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[stevesjeep]

Is anyone driving a Sport S Gladiator with the Max Tow Package? How does it ride? I have found a 2024 in the area where I work, it has a big discount right now and I’m interested in it. I tried to test drive it but the battery was dead (along with multiple other Jeeps on the lot) and they did not have a battery to put in it. I’ll be going back this week to try again. I drove a Mohave about a month ago and it rode too rough for me. Also, I would prefer to not have factory lockers so the Max Tow package sounds perfect for me. I was looking thru a link I found on another post and it listed all the specs for the different models of Gladiators (engine,gearing,tires,shocks,etc) and the Sport S is listed as having the gas charged mono tube shock, I did not see anything else listed or changed for the Max Tow package. I‘m curious if anyone has any extra info they could give me.

I have a 1500 Ram with 5.7, auto & 3.90 setup to pull our 18’ livestock trailer but I think the Gladiator would be a nice addition to the farm to pull our smaller trailers, something fun to play around with and drive to Jeep events. It would also be my daily driver and I drive approx. 600 miles a week to work and back home so the ride is important.

i have a 2023 sport with Max tow. dealer installed rough county 2" lift, BFG 33s all terrains and i love it. rides like a truck but the quietest soft top ever.

 

[TARHEELKIDD]

I purchased my Sport S Max Tow Gladiator used. I was very impressed with the ride quality and acceleration with the 4.10 gears and 37's. I traded in a Silverado on 36's with the 5.3L engine and I have been happy with the Gladiator. Occasionally, I do miss the extra bed space.

 

[JoeJeep74]

I purchased my Sport S Max Tow Gladiator used. I was very impressed with the ride quality and acceleration with the 4.10 gears and 37's. I traded in a Silverado on 36's with the 5.3L engine and I have been happy with the Gladiator. Occasionally, I do miss the extra bed space.

I have a 21 Max Tow , after owning a JK, LJ and multiple CJ’s I thought it rode nice out of the box. I wanted the nicest ride possible though so I added stock size Michelin Defenders and the ride is even better. The 4.10 gearing makes it quick, the Trac Loc helps traction immensely and my Select Trac is very convenient. I will own this Sport S forever.

 

[TARHEELKIDD]

I have a 21 Max Tow , after owning a JK, LJ and multiple CJ’s I thought it rode nice out of the box. I wanted the nicest ride possible though so I added stock size Michelin Defenders and the ride is even better. The 4.10 gearing makes it quick, the Trac Loc helps traction immensely and my Select Trac is very convenient. I will own this Sport S forever.

Same here. I love this truck!

 

[avere3]

I haven't driven a Sport S, but I test drove a Nighthawk with the Max Tow package. I thought the 20" wheels would ruin the ride, but it was surprisingly smooth. I had commented in a Facebook discussion about the Gladiator's ride that I was going to look at a Nighthawk and a Willys the next day. Someone said the Willys had a rougher (but still comfortable) ride despite the 17" wheels because of the mud tires. I didn't notice much difference, other than a slight increase in road noise in the Willys. I figured it would be cheaper to change the tires on the Willys if I didn't like them than it would be to buy new wheels AND tires for the Nighthawk. Also, the Willys had a locker, and I prefer the anvil grey with black roof on my Willys over the all red Nighthawk. If they offered a Willys with the Max Tow package, that might have been perfect for me.

 

[KWin]

max tow is the best package if you are actually doing truck stuff. I love mine have a 2021 that I bought new and it has 68k miles on it now with litteral thousands of them being towing my travel trailer.

 

[sunrise089]

Sport S Max Tow is a great option.

Have you driven any other Gladiators though? Of course minds can differ, but Mojave has an excellent suspension setup IMHO. I'm a bit worried with the 1500 as your baseline you might be disappointed in the ride quality of a more off-road focused vehicle.

EDIT: OP please do not feel obligated to buy a bunch of additional tow gear. I swear people on this forum think if you rent a single axle u-haul you best get airbags and start welding the frame. You have a half-ton and your big trailer (fellow livestock trailer owner here so shoutout) is 18'. A Max Tow is the best towing model. It will be completely fine for your lighter case uses since you're already planning to use the larger truck for the heavy uses. Between you and me it would probably be fine for the heavy uses too lol.

 

[DiscoSlug]

I'd test drive the max tow and a higher trim rubicon or mojave back to back with the max tow. I have 65k on mine. I'm glad the shocks are still in great condition but over time it has started behaving more and more like a pickup truck. The spring rates are designed to handle the loads it is rated for where the others are made more for road manners/comfort.

 

[4x4 Mule]

I test drove the Sport S with Max Tow package today for about an hour and I really liked the way it rode and drove. The new dash layout/radio is awesome and wind noise was minimal. The 3.6, auto and 4.10 setup was peppy and will be good for pulling the smaller trailers as well as my daily driver. I do wish you could get a power drivers seat tho. Now the really hard part … so this truck stickers at $57K with $15K off, but it has about $6K in options I don’t want and there are other options I want that are missing. Plus, I don’t love the color but I don’t hate it either … so I’m leaning towards passing on this truck and ordering a 2025 with the options and color I want. Thanks all for the good info.

 

[mtudb24]

I test drove the Sport S with Max Tow package today for about an hour and I really liked the way it rode and drove. The new dash layout/radio is awesome and wind noise was minimal. The 3.6, auto and 4.10 setup was peppy and will be good for pulling the smaller trailers as well as my daily driver. I do wish you could get a power drivers seat tho. Now the really hard part … so this truck stickers at $57K with $15K off, but it has about $6K in options I don’t want and there are other options I want that are missing. Plus, I don’t love the color but I don’t hate it either … so I’m leaning towards passing on this truck and ordering a 2025 with the options and color I want. Thanks all for the good info.

Fair enough and a good analogy. Out of curiosity, what are the $6K of options you don't like and which options doesn't it have that you want? I know when I ordered mine I wanted nothing to do with any tech package like auto cruise and blindside alert etc. So I was forced to order as most of the vehicles in stock had those options. I will admit I messed up as I could have ordered the aux switches as a stand alone package back in 2020 and didn't do it. I wish I had.

 

[Supazuk]

I test drove the Sport S with Max Tow package today for about an hour and I really liked the way it rode and drove. The new dash layout/radio is awesome and wind noise was minimal. The 3.6, auto and 4.10 setup was peppy and will be good for pulling the smaller trailers as well as my daily driver. I do wish you could get a power drivers seat tho. Now the really hard part … so this truck stickers at $57K with $15K off, but it has about $6K in options I don’t want and there are other options I want that are missing. Plus, I don’t love the color but I don’t hate it either … so I’m leaning towards passing on this truck and ordering a 2025 with the options and color I want. Thanks all for the good info.

what options is it missing? many of those options can be added relatively easy
If you don't like the color there is always the option of a wrap

None of that would ad up to $15K

 

[ncl]

Ordered mine in 2023 we live an hour from the Jeep plant. Took under 4 weeks to come in. But I ordered a base sport with only option being max tow. So no power anything and soft top. I ended up leasing mine at the time. I may very well buy this truck when the lease is up. I just have a feeling I will regret trading into a different gladiator. Been thinking of finding a used diesel model. I love the seating ergonomics and reminds me of a small version of my old 77 ford f150 being so basic. I say order the one you want and smile everyday.

 

[Blade1668]

My 2020 Sport S Max-Tow has been good, I got great mpg's with stock AT tires 20-27 miles to gallon not seriously loaded up now with heavy 33x10.5r17 tires and all the crap in and on mine a substantial hit on mileage. When still on stock tires I hauled around 1000lbs of bagged concrete the truck didn't seem to handle different. Now it's around 97k in miles. 3rd set of tires, full skid plates aftermarket F bumper and winch and 2in lift. Only a few frustrating things. But to be expected I guess. From what I've read many of us with Max-Tow package get good mpg's and fairly good ride. The Rubicon seats are more comfortable I can say to me. But wasn't worth the 15-20k bump in costs. The Mojave wasn't out yet when I was buying, and carrying/ towing would be a hit for me. I've definitely towed different trailers over 30000 miles with mine if not over 50k.
I'm a multi Jeep owner my last two trucks are Jeep Comanche's with a Ford one before them. 3 XJ's and 05LJ.

 

[Gvsukids]

I got great mpg's with stock AT tires 20-27 miles to gallon

Can't say I ever saw those numbers on the highway.

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