Gladiator or Wrangler

[IDjeep]

Alright I want to get opinions here as I am struggling between waiting for the gladiator vs getting the JLU wrangler. Besides the unknown price differences and the obvious differences, Why should I get a gladiator instead of a Wrangler? I currently own a 2017 2 door jk and a Toyota Highlander. Family of 4 and 1 dog. We will be consolidating to a single car house hold. We enjoy outside activities including skiing, biking, SUP (inflatable) and more or less 4x4ing to get to places to explore or a starting point for other adventures. Minimal commuter driving (less than 40 miles a week total). So why should I wait for the gladiator? (I will be asking the opposite question on the wrangler forum). Thanks for your help in this decision process.

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[Jeep_VB]

Alright I want to get opinions here as I am struggling between waiting for the gladiator vs getting the JLU wrangler. Besides the unknown price differences and the obvious differences, Why should I get a gladiator instead of a Wrangler? I currently own a 2017 2 door jk and a Toyota Highlander. Family of 4 and 1 dog. We will be consolidating to a single car house hold. We enjoy outside activities including skiing, biking, SUP (inflatable) and more or less 4x4ing to get to places to explore or a starting point for other adventures. Minimal commuter driving (less than 40 miles a week total). So why should I wait for the gladiator? (I will be asking the opposite question on the wrangler forum). Thanks for your help in this decision process.

It's a hard answer in my opinion only because none of us have in our possession a Gladiator.

So for me, I have owned multiple Jeeps and love them one of if not my favorite vehicle. But I need a truck I have a family own a house etc... I bought a ram 1500 and love the function but miss driving a Wrangler. So for me a truck that has all of the benefits of a Wrangler is a no brainer. We all know how Jeeps keep their resale value I expect the Gladiator to do the same. I'm not a construction worker so I don't need to have a full size truck but the Ram 1500 Sport was the best riving truck in my opinion. So for me if you have a family and a house etc... and it's b/t the JLU and a Gladiator with minor off roading the Gladiator is a no brainer to me it can do everything the JLU can unless you are into heavy off roading. Now if you are heavy into offloading/ rock crawling then the JLU may be a better option. I live at the beach and go to the mountains for vacations/ camping so no rock crawling for me.

Hope this helps, honestly either way you're not making a bad decision!

 

[Karnivoolfan]

I'll never own a JLU Wrangler. I'll take the Gladiator but I would take a 2 door Wrangler over both. However my needs for right now require a Gladiator. I need the pickup bed but man I want a 2 door Wrangler.

 

[lrtexasman]

Is the towing/payload capability, bed cargo room, frame/chassis, and fold up rear seat on the JT worth anywhere from 3k to 7k more to you than a JL? I'm guessing on roll-out the JT will be that much more. I do think the price disparity will likely fall as JT inventory grows. I've seen deals on the wranglerforum for more than 6k off MSRP and I think we will be lucky to get 3K off MSRP for upward of six months. I'd guess the JL probably has another $3,500 in dealer discounts available on the same trim and then you will have to add in a JT premium, which no one has shared the amount. So basically you have to decide if the aforementioned differences are worth the extra $$$. It's a no brainer for me as the JL does not have the towing ability or cargo space I need to do what I want, plus the frame issues on the JL were very disappointing. Before I bought a JL, I'd have to have the dealer put it on a lift for me to inspect before I'd be comfortable buying.

 

[IDjeep]

Is the towing/payload capability, bed cargo room, frame/chassis, and fold up rear seat on the JT worth anywhere from 3k to 7k more to you than a JL? I'm guessing on roll-out the JT will be that much more. I do think the price disparity will likely fall as JT inventory grows. I've seen deals on the wranglerforum for more than 6k off MSRP and I think we will be lucky to get 3K off MSRP for upward of six months. I'd guess the JL probably has another $3,500 in dealer discounts available on the same trim and then you will have to add in a JT premium, which no one has shared the amount. So basically you have to decide if the aforementioned differences are worth the extra $$$. It's a no brainer for me as the JL does not have the towing ability or cargo space I need to do what I want, plus the frame issues on the JL were very disappointing. Before I bought a JL, I'd have to have the dealer put it on a lift for me to inspect before I'd be comfortable buying.

Is the towing/payload capability, bed cargo room, frame/chassis, and fold up rear seat on the JT worth anywhere from 3k to 7k more to you than a JL? I'm guessing on roll-out the JT will be that much more. I do think the price disparity will likely fall as JT inventory grows. I've seen deals on the wranglerforum for more than 6k off MSRP and I think we will be lucky to get 3K off MSRP for upward of six months. I'd guess the JL probably has another $3,500 in dealer discounts available on the same trim and then you will have to add in a JT premium, which no one has shared the amount. So basically you have to decide if the aforementioned differences are worth the extra $$$. It's a no brainer for me as the JL does not have the towing ability or cargo space I need to do what I want, plus the frame issues on the JL were very disappointing. Before I bought a JL, I'd have to have the dealer put it on a lift for me to inspect before I'd be comfortable buying.

Thank you!! I don’t have towing needs now. But the option to tow a trailer is something I am considering. Also the extra room for those home improvements trips is a plus as well. I have never owed a truck (always just borrowed my fathers) but feel like the bed is an added bonus. I am not worried about cost. I will do the cost/benefit analysis once the actual price is known. I also feel like the ease to carry bikes and skis is much better with the JT. The only benefit of the wrangler to the Gladiator at this point (besides likely price, turning radius, and rock crawling) is the ease and space of having the dogs in the back instead of the truck bed

 

[DMoney]

I am having ba hard time with this as well. There was a 2018 JLU sport mojito at my dealer and I almost bought it. I want a gladiator but my current rig a 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport will die soon and I will need a new suv or truck. The JLU is tempting. I am on this forum everytime I think about it so I stay on my goal of getting a gladiator. Gladiator or JL I am excited to be getting a jeep. It will be my first one all I have ever had is mediocre offroading suvs such as 1991 isuzu rodeo or my Montero which have been fine for my life style but it would be cool to get something different.
I do need a truck however because I have been borrowing my dad's ram to tow my trailer and it would be nice to have my own truck. If I get the JL I wouldn't get another vehicle for another 20 years because I run my cars into the ground so it would be a while before I have a chance to get a pickup again. (It wouldn't be replaced until it costs more to fix than it is worth after it is fixed. And I'm a diesel tech so i work on my own cars so it is cheap when I fix something.)

 

[Takoyaki Freeride]

Alright I want to get opinions here as I am struggling between waiting for the gladiator vs getting the JLU wrangler. Besides the unknown price differences and the obvious differences, Why should I get a gladiator instead of a Wrangler? I currently own a 2017 2 door jk and a Toyota Highlander. Family of 4 and 1 dog. We will be consolidating to a single car house hold. We enjoy outside activities including skiing, biking, SUP (inflatable) and more or less 4x4ing to get to places to explore or a starting point for other adventures. Minimal commuter driving (less than 40 miles a week total). So why should I wait for the gladiator? (I will be asking the opposite question on the wrangler forum). Thanks for your help in this decision process.

Towing. The only reason I don't buy a JLU is that it can't tow what I need it to. Otherwise, with a 2" hitch for a bike rack and utility trailers it would be fine for our family.

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

Reason to buy the Gladiator is load capacity. A bed is way more useful then the rear of a Wrangler. Trust me this is coming from a 2013 JKU owner that has been wanting more capacity for a while.

Its nice to be able to throw snowboards covered in snow in the bed and not worry about the interior. Its nice to know the added load capacity will better support a Roof Top Tent and be more stable with the tent mounted on the vehicle. Nice to know when I need to pick up some mulch for the houses garden beds I don't have to pay $100 for delivery. And so on.

 

[JEEPN X 4]

IMO you should choose the Gladiator in nearly every instance where hard core 4x4 or price isn't a factor. It's just massively more useful due to the truck bed.

If hard core 4x4 is more important to you and you need the breakover and departure clearance for big rocks, deep washouts, big ledges, and tight/narrow trails, then stay with Wrangler.

Personally I tried to solve this problem by buying a m416-style trailer to complement my JKU. It does utility as a truck bed for me and I use it to carry my kayaks, SUPs, canoe, bikes, and camping gear so I don't have to use a roof rack for the Wrangler (which I had on my TJ and it has a lot of cons).

The trailer has been great for that, but as I get older I get less and less interested in dealing with the trailer. Just having a truck with a bed rack will always be easier than dealing with a trailer for my outdoor activities. I plan on eventually replacing both the JK and the trailer with just a Gladiator.

Be realistic about your expected use of the Jeep for 4x4. There are an insane number of 4x4 trails which will take you amazing places and don't require the breakover or departure clearance of the Wrangler. If you do get interested in that down the road, you're way better off buying a used and/or already built used JK (not JL) and towing it with the Gladiator.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Right now I own a fairly well modified JLU Sport S. However I'm thinking long and hard on getting a Gladiator. The primary reasons are towing and cargo capacity. I want to be able to tow a small camper. I also want to be able to do more extensive overland off-roading. Of course I also want a Wrangler. So this kinda fits the bill.

Fortunately I'll have another year or so to decide if I really want to do it. I'm going to wait for the diesel.

 

[Centexan]

Be realistic about your expected use of the Jeep for 4x4. There are an insane number of 4x4 trails which will take you amazing places and don't require the breakover or departure clearance of the Wrangler. [/QUOTE]

This. With the Gladiator I will be able to do some 4 wheeling, and still tow a livestock trailer with my daughters show lambs, tow a small travel trailer, and have a truck with a bed for home depot runs and such.

 

[IDjeep]

IMO you should choose the Gladiator in nearly every instance where hard core 4x4 or price isn't a factor. It's just massively more useful due to the truck bed.

If hard core 4x4 is more important to you and you need the breakover and departure clearance for big rocks, deep washouts, big ledges, and tight/narrow trails, then stay with Wrangler.

Personally I tried to solve this problem by buying a m416-style trailer to complement my JKU. It does utility as a truck bed for me and I use it to carry my kayaks, SUPs, canoe, bikes, and camping gear so I don't have to use a roof rack for the Wrangler (which I had on my TJ and it has a lot of cons).

The trailer has been great for that, but as I get older I get less and less interested in dealing with the trailer. Just having a truck with a bed rack will always be easier than dealing with a trailer for my outdoor activities. I plan on eventually replacing both the JK and the trailer with just a Gladiator.

Be realistic about your expected use of the Jeep for 4x4. There are an insane number of 4x4 trails which will take you amazing places and don't require the breakover or departure clearance of the Wrangler. If you do get interested in that down the road, you're way better off buying a used and/or already built used JK (not JL) and towing it with the Gladiator.

I think this makes great sense. I have been leaning towards the gladiator but the wait is killing! I think everyone is right, my wife has panic attacks with any serious rock crawling so don’t expect anything too crazy. The usefulness of the bed plus towing I think seals the deal. There are so many times I wish I had a truck. Now just patiently wait and see about pricing and timing!

 

[DMoney]

Oh no I almost bought a 4runner today. God help me.

 

[IWantAJeepGladiator]

Oh no I almost bought a 4runner today. God help me.

Noooooooo

 

[Wilk]

Oh no I almost bought a 4runner today. God help me.

It was just a moment of weakness. You can get past it. We're all here for you. :cwl:

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