Debating on a new Gladiator and have some questions

[Jefe1018]

Your 2 cents is frankly wild to me as we seem to disagree on almost every major point. I love my mojave, but it was a function of what was needed, not what I wanted. If i didn't have a family, i'd have a softtop willys sport manual with tow and aux for an MSRP of 41,400. My passive entry would be never locking the doors because i'd never have anything valuable inside and I wouldn't want my softtop slashed

Does your significant other know you fantasize about a day where you can live without them, the kids and the dogs?

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[TangoMac]

MOJAVE, comes with lift, you will love look and ride! Take a test drive!

 

[John in the Woods]

What part of NY are you in, and how primitive do you want to camp?

 

[KidBobot]

Get the Mojave.
I test drove the Rubi and Mojave, and TURO'd an Overland. The Mojave is the best suited premium Gladiator for me... and I'd argue most NY residents.

I live in NY too. I too plan on doing some light-camping/car-camping, nothing really to tow (though I did get the tow package). Maybe also some shorecast fishing over by JOnes and Robert Moses Beaches (you can apply for a 4x4 pass).

Realistically, my JTM will be driven on NYC street 85% of the time. A lot of our local roads and even part of our highways (like the BQE) are very much like desert/gravel terrain, with potholes, rough patches, gravelly sections... terrain a Mojave is purpose-built for.
I also have two young kids, and 2 small dogs, so similar situation as you.

The moderate lift vs. the Rubi gives is a bit more of a better looking stance.
Plus personally, I just think the Mojave looks so much cooler than the others - even the Rubi. (Probably why ppl go out of their way to swap to Mojave hoods.)

So yeah - get the Mojave... in Gobi.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

if you were considering a tacoma also i would think any gladiator will meet your off road needs. also if you want to keep it stock i think the mojave is the way to go. and i own a rubicon

I could agree with this- just wish the Mojave came with a diesel. ??

 

[@californiajeeping]

Never owned a Jeep. Live in Ny. Have one car because never needed a second.

Now wife and I have a kid and we are running into scenarios of needing a second vehicle. I want something to take Off-road and camping. Tacoma steering felt cheap IMO, I test drove a rubicon gladiator and a LR defender. Defender was comfortable but I like the versatility of the Jeep for getting mulch and stuff.

A rubicon seems like it’s got all I would need. Would it even make sense to look at overland and add the shocks/suspension/lift? Would I save money doing that?

also, there’s a ton of gladiators near me for sale, two dealers I know locally have a combined 31. And with 2023 coming out, how much can we shoot for On discount? One rubi I’m looking at is $58. $55 seem plausible?

I would get a sport with the diesel. Add a small lift and some 35-37" tires.

The diesel gets drastically better fuel economy especially when lifter and bigger tires are on it. Plus the power feels like double in real world driving. Ive had both and I wouldnt own a gladiator with the gas engine now that ive had a diesel.

 

[Jefe1018]

Recognizing that you have to make sacrifices for family members is not the same as fantasizing that they're gone. It's called being practical and realistic.

LOL it was a joke!

 

[Robtco99]

Living in NY you will definitely want Select Trac. I ordered it on my Gladiator and love it in the winter.

As far as trims it's pretty much a pissing contest, and depends on how much you want to spend

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Rubicon if you are actually going to rock crawl and do legitimate off roading, which most don’t. I’d guess 90%+ people that own a Rubicon don’t actually need the capability.

Mojave if you are happy with the suspension stock or very near to it. The Mojave has the best ride quality, but if you go more than a 2” spacer lift your are throwing away the suspension which is sort of the entire point.

Sport S or Willys if you really want to build one out but don’t have ambitions of rock crawling. As others have mentioned play with the configuration tool because some options aren’t available, and you can option a Willys pretty close to a Rubicon or Mojave in terms of price.

Overland if you like the maximum luxury wanna be G-wagon look. I think all of the luxury options are available on the Rubicon and Mojave which both have mechanical upgrades as well.

I had both a Taco and 4Runner as long term rentals and wasn’t impressed in any way. I would have a Colorado ZR2 over either one, but it has small back seats and a cheap interior. Beware the Defender, they are typical unreliable Land Rover. A friend bought one new and traded it in after 6 months on a Mercedes because it was always in the shop.

 

[ZoMojave]

Mojave. No question. A loaded Sport S gas with automatic (58K) gets you within striking distance of a well-equipped Mojave automatic (62K)

In order of my favorite things, I love about the Mojave:
1. The ride quality
2. The ride height (1" higher)
3. The stock 33" tire size
4. The seats
5. The steering wheel
6. The hood
7. The overall value down the road

Of course, each owner will think that the model they have is best and I am no exception. Just throwing in my 2 cents!

Compare the models on the Jeep.com website and build the ones you are interested in and discover how quick the starting prices of these trucks climb when adding options.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Mojave if you are happy with the suspension stock…. Sport S or Willys if you really want to build one out but don’t have ambitions of rock crawling.

Very well stated. I would go with a Mojave but the lowered payload and very low towing coupled to reviews on towing with it are a bit… alarming.

what I want to figure out is how to build a Sportjave, at least from a suspension standpoint, that can tow 6500+

 

[rharr]

if you don't know what lockers are, 4:1 or 4.10 gears then you probably don't need them.

Being it's NY, I would spend as little $$ as possible on the car because it will rot out in 10 years from the salt. (Grew up there).

get a sport s and figure out what you really need by using it.

 

[Rahkmalla]

Does your significant other know you fantasize about a day where you can live without them, the kids and the dogs?

LOL, not a fantasy, just a statement of fact, things get more expensive when you have other people's needs and opinions in the mix. For me alone I'm willing to make concessions like rollie windows to never have to disconnect another door harness again (i already push in my doorstops and leave my hinge retention pins off). My wife if less willing to make such concessions. And for future planning, having multiple kids with manual locks is just something I have no interest in.

 

[Gladiator addict]

Get the Mojave.
I test drove the Rubi and Mojave, and TURO'd an Overland. The Mojave is the best suited premium Gladiator for me... and I'd argue most NY residents.

I live in NY too. I too plan on doing some light-camping/car-camping, nothing really to tow (though I did get the tow package). Maybe also some shorecast fishing over by JOnes and Robert Moses Beaches (you can apply for a 4x4 pass).

Realistically, my JTM will be driven on NYC street 85% of the time. A lot of our local roads and even part of our highways (like the BQE) are very much like desert/gravel terrain, with potholes, rough patches, gravelly sections... terrain a Mojave is purpose-built for.
I also have two young kids, and 2 small dogs, so similar situation as you.

The moderate lift vs. the Rubi gives is a bit more of a better looking stance.
Plus personally, I just think the Mojave looks so much cooler than the others - even the Rubi. (Probably why ppl go out of their way to swap to Mojave hoods.)

So yeah - get the Mojave... in Gobi.

Definitely, the Mojave is the best-suited premium gladiator for us, (me and you both, and everyone else with a similar mind). The 2022 Jeep Gladiator isn't the most efficient truck, and it may not offer the best value in terms of features per dollar. It compensates for this with off-road prowess and tonnes of personality, and these qualities have brought it throngs of enthusiasts. The model for this year only gets a few small updates, such as better infotainment for lower grades. Read the full experts review here

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Very well stated. I would go with a Mojave but the lowered payload and very low towing coupled to reviews on towing with it are a bit… alarming.

what I want to figure out is how to build a Sportjave, at least from a suspension standpoint, that can tow 6500+

Honestly I’m not sure that you do, I think it would be sketchy as hell. Could you do it, sure! Would you want to, that I’m not so sure about.

I’ve always maintained that if you want to do serious towing a Gladiator isn’t the right truck for you. Eventually when you’re maxing out your GVWR and towing a load that’s longer and heavier than your truck, it gets pretty damn uncomfortable. I used to have a F150 Ecoboost that was factory rated to tow 12,000 lbs, and then I had a tune and full bolt ons to boot. I towed a boat and trailer that was probably 35’ long and weighed in the ballpark of 8,000 lbs. Even after I added electric over hydraulic brakes it was never comfortable, I could always feel the length and weight of that trailer behind the comparatively smaller and lighter truck. After one summer I upgraded to an F250 diesel that was a dramatic improvement despite being a less powerful truck.

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