Considering selling my 2 door JK for a Gladiator. Do I have realistic expectations?

[FloridaMan655321]

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[Koolcarguy]

So the short of it is that my 2 door is great on the trail and pretty ok on the highway. Unless their is a cross wind then I am absolutely thrown around the highway. I am also planning on starting a family very soon, within the next 1-2 years, the wife also only has a two door vehicle. Not ideal lol

I was hoping the gladiator would be a good choice to get a “family” vehicle that can still do the trails I want to do such as the Rubicon, slick rock, deer valley etc. i would most likely put it on a 3.5 inch lift with 37s/38s. Built on a Rubicon model. I also am considering either a go fast camper or OVRLND pop up camper. I’m also curious how the Gladiator handles high cross winds? Is it manageable or does it get tossed around as well? I’m sure anything would be an improvement over my 2 door on the highway however I just want to ensure I can drive this thing 6 hours and be reasonably comfortable. I’m not asking for a luxury vehicle, I don’t want that.

is it reasonable to expect the gladiator with a lowish profile pop up camper will handle long road trips(even in heavy desert crosswinds) and get me through tough trails?

the other option is keep the 2 door and get a gladiator as well, but of course that’s more financially draining.
I’m sure the 4 door wrangler is also a good option, but honestly I think I’d be happier in a truck.

I’m sorry for the incoherent rant.

I have a Jk 2 dr and a 4 dr love them both I also own 2 Gladiator's both diesel I tow my camper no problem on 37's way more stable then the Jk buy the Gladiator......you ask about crosswinds? I live in Southern Wyoming...the wind did stop here once.....everyone fell over wind is our middle name lol good luck on your decision

 

[BennieD]

Get the Rubicon Gladiator, put skids underneath an a winch and have fun. You may turtle occasionally but can winch right off. They ride great and will be much better than the 2 door! Love mine and pull a 6200 lb camper behind and have a ARE cover on back

 

[Mad Mac]

When people asked me about motorcycle riding
I told them to only buy a motorcycle if you have to.
In other words, you must have a burning desire to ride,
an itch that has to be scratched.
The fact that you seem uncertain
suggests a lack of the passion that may be needed.

Choosing a Gladiator is hardly that extreme
but when I bought mine
I had more dollars than sense.
And I could hang onto my old Toyota Tacoma ranch truck
until I was satisfied that the JT would work out for me.
Plus I also have a naked 1998 Sahara TJ in the garage for fun.

Having never crawled anything
higher than the curb at a Starbucks,
if you can swing it, this is one idea
that someone told me.
Use the Gladiator to tow my TJ to trails.

If you really do not need a truck
get an SUV or minivan as previously suggested
and take the money you would have used
to upgrade the JT and use it to keep up the JK.

Your two door JK has a 97 inch wheelbase.
The JT has a 137 inch wheelbase.
The long wheelbase is comforting
on a steep uphill I've been told,
but no amount of modifications
will overcome the difference in
the break over and departure angle
on a challenging climb or descent.
Furthermore, the turning radius
of a two door JK is a scant 34 feet
compared to a Gladiator at 44 feet.
Consider what that means on a tight trail.
But you would understand that better than I would.
You've been spoiled with a very capable rig.

It's only money.
You can always sell it if it does not work out.
Prices are lower now but
consider a two-year old gently used JT
or other vehicle coming off a lease.
That's how I found mine.

It may only be the gleam in your eye right now,
but best wishes for your prospective family.

 

[Pat Witt]

I have owned 3 different styles of wranglers all set up for the trails and road and now I'm in a JT still set up for trails and road the truck is not going to run the super hard trails but the versatility is more, that being said I'm not dragging kids around and my 4 door JK had tons more room but I wanted the truck so I bought if that is what you want get it it's not going to lose it's value if you decide later on something else

 

[pcrawfordpt]

I personally think the Gladiator the best of all worlds. It can do truck things, it wheels damn near any trail, and can tow a camper etc. I have the JTR with 3.5 lift and 37’s. Re-geared to 5:13. It drives like a dream. It tows great (mpg isn’t great
At 10-12, but that’s expected when towing). I’ve driven it and towed with it thousands of miles during heavy winds and it doesn’t get tossed around, even with the camper (20’ RP180). I’ve wheeled the trails you’re describing and harder. It will drag its ass, but I go everywhere my friends go with their 2/4 doors. For my needs it’s perfect.

 

[Flyboy2109]

If I were you, I would keep the JK for wheeling and get something different as a family vehicle.

The JT excels in being utilitarian, do it all well enough, better than most other midsizes, top tier off-road truck you can buy with money at the moment out of the box. I wheel mine, use it for truck stuff, but don't have kids. Two 40lb border collies and a wife and we don't have any space left for stuff, let alone a kid with a booster, diaper bags, strollers, etc.

Kids need stuff, stuff takes space and in the cab of the truck there isn't much of that. When we start popping out the youngins a full size crew cab pickup is coming down the pipe too. At that point, the JT sadly won't be around and I'll probably be looking for a half decent XJ to build around for my adventures.

Can you make it work? Hell, even a bird in a cage will sing a song.

I agree completely with the cab cube size, lack of it. Three people inside and we cannot get the groceries inside when it rains-the JT has all the cab size of a 2002 GMC Sonoma 4-door. The child plus kid stuff takes up two seats...and what if you have a second child? Sure, we could hop in and out and grab stuff from under a bed cover, but I don't think that would be ideal. Having owned that Sonoma 'til recently I would say the JT cab is barely 'mid-sized" even though the truck over all definitely is. I would not want to use this for family transportation/family car when I had two kids...I find it restrictive with three adults on a day trip to the beach and take my Tahoe instead. (SUV, emphasize 'utility'!).

There are some real nice 15 year old Lexus SUV's around for 5 grand. Getcha one of those for the family and keep your current Jeep. And I have heard that our Gladiators are not as happy on the technical trails as well: too wide, too long, approach angles are not as good. Take that a you may, I haven't tried, either.

 

[GeneralMaximus]

Resistance is futile. I see a minivan in your future.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I agree completely with the cab cube size, lack of it. Three people inside and we cannot get the groceries inside when it rains-the JT has all the cab size of a 2002 GMC Sonoma 4-door. The child plus kid stuff takes up two seats...and what if you have a second child? Sure, we could hop in and out and grab stuff from under a bed cover, but I don't think that would be ideal. Having owned that Sonoma 'til recently I would say the JT cab is barely 'mid-sized" even though the truck over all definitely is. I would not want to use this for family transportation/family car when I had two kids...I find it restrictive with three adults on a day trip to the beach and take my Tahoe instead. (SUV, emphasize 'utility'!).

There are some real nice 15 year old Lexus SUV's around for 5 grand. Getcha one of those for the family and keep your current Jeep. And I have heard that our Gladiators are not as happy on the technical trails as well: too wide, too long, approach angles are not as good. Take that a you may, I haven't tried, either.

We have two kids and it does just great. And the myth that they don’t do well on trails is just that, a myth. A bed topper and it’s instantly got more storage than a JL. I for one am not off roading with IFS. I want actual articulation and room for tires. I can do 10 rated trails with the bed loaded down with family stuff, camping gear, and tools. No problem. On anything 7 rated or below, I’d leave the kids in the back seat.

 

[Jefe1018]

There are some real nice 15 year old Lexus SUV's around for 5 grand. Getcha one of those for the family and keep your current Jeep. And I have heard that our Gladiators are not as happy on the technical trails as well: too wide, too long, approach angles are not as good. Take that a you may, I haven't tried, either.

Width wise, no wider than a JL. Wheel base is a give and take type thing sometimes it helps others it hurts, but JTR is still the most capable Offroad truck out there for technical wheeling. With a 2 inch lift and 37’s I clear just about everything. I’ve scraped belly skids a few times and the hitch pretty frequently but I have never felt the JT couldn’t handle anything I’ve taken my other rigs through.

 

[Flyboy2109]

Width wise, no wider than a JL. Wheel base is a give and take type thing sometimes it helps others it hurts, but JTR is still the most capable Offroad truck out there for technical wheeling. With a 2 inch lift and 37’s I clear just about everything. I’ve scraped belly skids a few times and the hitch pretty frequently but I have never felt the JT couldn’t handle anything I’ve taken my other rigs through.

Neat, and glad it works and makes me smarter. I bought mine just to get out of my tropical back yard when it rains and maintain my macadamia nut orchard. I wanted a stick-both on transfer case and tranny. And the bedrails are too darn high on a Colorado! Do I like my JT? I enjoy it a lot.

...Oh, man, there is a starfish on your face!

 

[chorky]

A minivan would be convenient for the day to day, but I also want to be able to take my family out camping. The 2 door just can’t do that unfortunately. It’s perfect for 2 people and that’s it. I don’t think I want to put any money into the 2 door trying to add extra storage like a roof rack and such, because at the end of the day it just won’t ever be a long distance road trip vehicle, not the Jeeps fault but my needs are just changing.

Luckily my wife doesn’t care what vehicle I get, as long as it has 4 doors. She drives a little Volkswagen Beetle currently, also a less than ideal car for kids

Not sure if anyone said it yet but you need to also consider payload. Your situation fits a perfect 'storm' potentially. The Gladiator is 500 pounds heavier than the JL with basically the same GVW. You have 2 kids? What about a dog? How much camping gear do you take? Nearly everyone here who does the 'overlanding' thing, or who has a family of 2-3 kids with camping gear and a dog is most likely over GVW. In fact, I would just about bet a paycheck on that. Not that the truck cannot handle it. Some folks here, especially the Alu-Cab ones, are likely even over the GAWR by several hundred pounds. Unless you keep it bone stock, and take the minimal 90's era camping gear (tent, cooler, etc.) then you're going to be over GVW. Just something to consider now before thinking that you can completely stuff the Gladiator with people and gear and still tow a 5,000 pound trailer. The truck will do it. Several do. Is it smart/responsible/legal? Thats the concern. A lot of folks here have purchased the JT only to realize it's not enough truck for their needs. So take this with serious consideration. Write down what you want, what you realistically will have, and then compare those to the capacities and capabilities of the JT - that will help make a proper informed decision. There is also a level of risk you may need to decide on if you are willing to take or not - which will also help with the decision process.

 

[Pilsner]

Love mine. It can wheel and haul all your gear and some of your buddies' to camp. It also hauls dead animals and weekend project supplies. Fits a small ATV in the bed while towing my SxS. Perfect for what we do. I haul the family and dog all over. I will never own a minivan.

 

[AustyPosty]

Not sure if anyone said it yet but you need to also consider payload. Your situation fits a perfect 'storm' potentially. The Gladiator is 500 pounds heavier than the JL with basically the same GVW. You have 2 kids? What about a dog? How much camping gear do you take? Nearly everyone here who does the 'overlanding' thing, or who has a family of 2-3 kids with camping gear and a dog is most likely over GVW. In fact, I would just about bet a paycheck on that. Not that the truck cannot handle it. Some folks here, especially the Alu-Cab ones, are likely even over the GAWR by several hundred pounds. Unless you keep it bone stock, and take the minimal 90's era camping gear (tent, cooler, etc.) then you're going to be over GVW. Just something to consider now before thinking that you can completely stuff the Gladiator with people and gear and still tow a 5,000 pound trailer. The truck will do it. Several do. Is it smart/responsible/legal? Thats the concern. A lot of folks here have purchased the JT only to realize it's not enough truck for their needs. So take this with serious consideration. Write down what you want, what you realistically will have, and then compare those to the capacities and capabilities of the JT - that will help make a proper informed decision. There is also a level of risk you may need to decide on if you are willing to take or not - which will also help with the decision process.

Typically I pack pretty light, the camper shell I’m looking at starts at 265 pounds. No kids yet but planning on it soon. Not necessarily Planning on towing an off-road trailer, but it would be nice to have the capability to tow. Looks like a Rubicon gladiator has around a 1,300 pound payload? I would definitely add an engine/trans skid plate if it doesn’t come with one, I would add a winch, stick to the stock steel rubicon bumpers, and possibly add beefier rock sliders and of course a lift and tires.

 

[Pilsner]

Not sure if anyone said it yet but you need to also consider payload. Your situation fits a perfect 'storm' potentially. The Gladiator is 500 pounds heavier than the JL with basically the same GVW. You have 2 kids? What about a dog? How much camping gear do you take? Nearly everyone here who does the 'overlanding' thing, or who has a family of 2-3 kids with camping gear and a dog is most likely over GVW. In fact, I would just about bet a paycheck on that. Not that the truck cannot handle it. Some folks here, especially the Alu-Cab ones, are likely even over the GAWR by several hundred pounds. Unless you keep it bone stock, and take the minimal 90's era camping gear (tent, cooler, etc.) then you're going to be over GVW. Just something to consider now before thinking that you can completely stuff the Gladiator with people and gear and still tow a 5,000 pound trailer. The truck will do it. Several do. Is it smart/responsible/legal? Thats the concern. A lot of folks here have purchased the JT only to realize it's not enough truck for their needs. So take this with serious consideration. Write down what you want, what you realistically will have, and then compare those to the capacities and capabilities of the JT - that will help make a proper informed decision. There is also a level of risk you may need to decide on if you are willing to take or not - which will also help with the decision process.

I have never in my life cared about payload weight so long as the suspension can handle it. I have seen it mentioned a lot over the years. This is not my first off road vehicle. Not my second. I have been doing this a long time. That has never been an issue for myself or anyone I have ever known. I'm sure I could find some obscure case, but I really don't see how it is an issue. I have been in wrecks over the years and I have never had a request to weigh my vehicle. How many work trucks on the road right now are loaded above GVW? All of them?

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