Bronco Truck vs Gladiator

[Jt-wrx]

yup, it is amazing behind the pentastar as well, if you have to go with an automatic that's a really tough combo to beat period

the problem is, so many enthusiasts or gearheads that love simple...love manual transmissions regardless how good the auto's have become, so there's that

you can't just tell everyone that this is what they must choose because it's better, there's a difference between needs and wants, there's also plenty of arguments for manuals over automatics as well, including gearing down without touching brakes in extremely slippery situations, letting off the gas on icy highway to quickly catch a rear end slide and keep it straight and on the road, and there are several other advantages to manuals that can be found if you have a look...the auto wins for fuel economy and towing ratings now but they still have their differences and the manual still has some great advantages beyond fuel economy and towing ratings

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[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

...the auto wins for fuel economy and towing ratings now but they still have their differences and the manual still has some great advantages beyond fuel economy and towing ratings

True for towing, not for fuel economy.

 

[stickshifter]

It's not a 7-speed. It's a 6-speed that has an offroad-only gear. That offroad gear does the same thing Jeep does through the transfer case. So, the Ford has nothing the Jeep doesn't have.

In fact, there isn't a single thing on the Bronco that is original or new or that Jeep hasn't been doing for decades. But, it does ADD some things that are undesirable like the IFS that will be hard and expensive to lift, and those problematic over-engineered EcoBust engines. So honestly, while I did grow up a die-hard Ford guy, I don't understand the buzz surrounding this Bronco at all, other than the fact that it's new.

Not trying to pick a fight - but:

1. You can get a Bronco on 35s from the factory, with beefed-up axles and appropriate gearing. To me - that's a pretty big deal. Here in the mountains, Jeep's 3.6 doesn't push big tires very well on factory gears, so if you bump up in tire size you really need to re-gear (NOTE: I've never owned the 3.6 paired with the ZF 8-speed, but my guess is that I'd still want to re-gear, but I'm open to persuasion on that).

2. The Bronco has the rear dig that helps you take a sharp turn in loose traction (I don't feel like this feature is a big deal - but its something Jeep doesn't offer).

3. In the Bronco you can get a 2.7 turbo-charged engine from the factory - no aftermarket needed for excellent power. This is a big deal to me. I think the 2.7 eco-boost is an excellent engine. The 2.3 is not nearly as good, and its the only one with the manual transmission - so that's a bummer. But Jeep won't be selling a diesel (or the V8) with a manual - so both brands only offer a stick with the base engine.

4. The Bronco has lockers front & rear (so its not losing any ground to Jeep there).

Obviously the huge difference is in the front suspension. There are pros and cons with both IFS and solid axles - just depends which one you personally want to own.

A huge plus for Jeep (in my opinion) is the manual transfer case. I know that there are still electronic actuators involved, but I just don't like dials for shifting into 4-wheel drive.

Another plus for Jeep: if you want an auto, I think Jeep's 8-speed is superior to Ford's 10-speed.

I am not a Ford fanboy. I've never owned a Ford. In 4x4 rigs, I've owned Jeeps and Toyotas. I'm just saying - it looks like Ford has a winner with the Bronco.

 

[stickshifter]

Really? I absolutely hated it

I agree with you regarding the Ford 10-speed. While I don't like autos in general, I much prefer the ZF 8-speed to the Ford 10-speed. Quicker crisper shifts, and it almost never gives you the dead pedal the way the 10-speed will.

 

[Jt-wrx]

The big question is the bronco truck even a real thing? If not then the wrangler guys can weigh this out and we can compare to the ranger lol...not much of a compare, no manual in a ranger. A turbo is the only thing of envy I have on the ranger.

 

[Alans17]

If I were choosing between a Wrangler and a Bronco, I’d probably go with the Bronco. But the Gladiator has features that neither the Wrangler nor the Bronco have.

First, this is a family vehicle for me, and it’s the only top-off, off-road vehicle on the market that can fit not only my whole family, but also all our stuff.

Second, this is probably an unintended consequence, but the top is way easier for one person to take off by themselves. For a vehicle class where this is a defining feature, this seems like a bigger deal that people don’t talk about.

And then lastly, obviously, the hauling and towing power.

If they make a Bronco truck, it’s going to be fugly. I don’t see how that would be competition.

Maybe many years from now when we retire our other vehicle, then maybe we’ll replace it with a Bronco.

 

[mazeppa]

You can get a Gladiator now, maybe the Bronco truck might be available later.

 

[Deleted member 30519]

Bronco looks too feminine

 

[PresidentGod]

yup, it is amazing behind the pentastar as well, if you have to go with an automatic that's a really tough combo to beat period

the problem is, so many enthusiasts or gearheads that love simple...love manual transmissions regardless how good the auto's have become, so there's that

you can't just tell everyone that this is what they must choose because it's better, there's a difference between needs and wants, there's also plenty of arguments for manuals over automatics as well, including gearing down without touching brakes in extremely slippery situations, letting off the gas on icy highway to quickly catch a rear end slide and keep it straight and on the road, and there are several other advantages to manuals that can be found if you have a look...the auto wins for fuel economy and towing ratings now but they still have their differences and the manual still has some great advantages beyond fuel economy and towing ratings

Thank you for this, I totally agree. Telling people that they have to buy something because it’s better than what they want doesn’t make a lot of sense.

You say you want a steak for dinner? Well turkey is better for you, it’s higher in protein and lower in fat. It’s more sustainable. Eat your turkey and stop asking for beef.

Our tactical vehicles in the army exclusively use automatic transmissions. I’m sure the argument is that they’re better and certainly they’re easier to drive. Variable rate gears make automatics better for low speed rock crawling and the like.

What happens to an automatic transmission if the case gets punctured or cracked when say, an IED or a rock breaks it and the fluid leaks out? When the fluid is gone the vehicle is worthless. Self recovery is impossible

What happens if the fluid is lost form a manual transmission in the same circumstances? Well it isn’t good for the vehicle and once you get home the transmission may need to be replaced. But you WILL GET HOME even without fluid.

In these circumstances is a manual or automatic transmission better? Not only did I order my JT with a manual transmission, but I bought steel wheels for it as well. Aluminum is lighter, more attractive, easier to balance, etc. Steel, however, can be hammered back into place after a blow that will shatter or crack an aluminum wheel.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that words like “best” are entirely subjective, and what is best for one person shouldn’t be forced onto others as they may have different needs. The auto in my G Wagen was great - it was also the reason I sold it. I enjoy selecting gears myself and the bulkhead/firewall is completely different between manual and auto so conversion is practically impossible. Elimination of a choice between transmission type ultimately led me to sell the truck and order a Gladiator.

I’m not here to tell anyone they’re wrong, but I will say adamantly that one size does not fit all.

 

[wannajeep]

ZF 8 speed is the best trans out there in mass production

Yes.

 

[Orange01z28]

Not trying to pick a fight - but:

1. You can get a Bronco on 35s from the factory, with beefed-up axles and appropriate gearing. To me - that's a pretty big deal. Here in the mountains, Jeep's 3.6 doesn't push big tires very well on factory gears, so if you bump up in tire size you really need to re-gear (NOTE: I've never owned the 3.6 paired with the ZF 8-speed, but my guess is that I'd still want to re-gear, but I'm open to persuasion on that).

2. The Bronco has the rear dig that helps you take a sharp turn in loose traction (I don't feel like this feature is a big deal - but its something Jeep doesn't offer).

3. In the Bronco you can get a 2.7 turbo-charged engine from the factory - no aftermarket needed for excellent power. This is a big deal to me. I think the 2.7 eco-boost is an excellent engine. The 2.3 is not nearly as good, and its the only one with the manual transmission - so that's a bummer. But Jeep won't be selling a diesel (or the V8, in my opinion) with a manual - so both brands only offer a stick with the base engine.

4. The Bronco has lockers front & rear (so its not losing any ground to Jeep there).

Obviously the huge difference is in the front suspension. There are pros and cons with both IFS and solid axles - just depends which one you personally want to own.

A huge plus for Jeep (in my opinion) is the manual transfer case. I know that there are still electronic actuators involved, but I just don't like dials for shifting into 4-wheel drive.

Another plus for Jeep: if you want an auto, I think Jeep's 8-speed is superior to Ford's 10-speed.

I am not a Ford fanboy. I've never owned a Ford. In 4x4 rigs, I've owned Jeeps and Toyotas. I'm just saying - it looks like Ford has a winner with the Bronco.

I know the 2.7 is a good engine, but we have the 2.3 in my wife’s Exploder and I’m constantly impressed with it. Especially when I’m getting 27mpg going 85 down the freeway

 

[Terry]

Time will tell

 

[stickshifter]

I know the 2.7 is a good engine, but we have the 2.3 in my wife’s Exploder and I’m constantly impressed with it. Especially when I’m getting 27mpg going 85 down the freeway

No doubt many owners of the 2.3 EcoBoost are having a good experience. Glad to hear you are one of them! I was talking about problem-rate, and statistically, the rate of problems is much higher with the 2.3 then the 2.7. The 2.3 has had problems with the cylinder head gaskets failing, the smell of coolant in the exhaust, loss of heat in the cabin, and overheating engines. A lot of these problems were caused by the wrong cylinder head gasket being used, and it seems that has been fixed. There was also a problem in the 2.3 EcoBoost engines with carbon buildup on the back of the inlet valves in the walls of the inlet. This could end up restricting airflow and preventing the valve from completely closing the way it's supposed to. Ford recognized some of these issues, for example:
https://www.allfordmustangs.com/threads/ford-confirms-problem-with-2-3-liter-ecoboost.1090277/
It is also worth recognizing that there are four, maybe five different variants of the 2.3, each with different power outputs, and I don't know enough about the line-up to know which were more or less prone to problems.
P.S. I hope you meant "Explorer" and not "Exploder"

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

P.S. I hope you meant "Explorer" and not "Exploder"

I thought it was tongue in cheek.

 

[Jt-wrx]

Focus is pronounced fucass, exploder is correct

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