Sponsored

Drove the Rubicon Gladiator for the second time and going to get one today!!!

OP
OP
IceAge

IceAge

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garey
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Threads
17
Messages
163
Reaction score
330
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 2018
Haha! So funny! I had a Hummer H3T that I should have kept that truly was a conversation piece and a head turner as GM only built around 2400 of these (if my memory serves me correctly) before GM and Obama got in bed together and decided to nix the Hummer Brand.

Screenshot_20190112-043315_Chrome.jpg


Screenshot_20190112-043004_Chrome.jpg
Cool and very nice that was the JEEP knock off and I’m sure you heard the stories of the Jeep brand suing GM over the copy cat grill. Fast forward 10-15 years and the Gladiator will be the last chapter of a convertible truck.
Sponsored

 

Trauma PA

Well-Known Member
First Name
Robert
Joined
Jul 2, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,315
Reaction score
1,427
Location
Southwest Florida
Vehicle(s)
2021 JT Willys, 2021 Audi Q3
Occupation
Trauma Surgery Physician Assistant
Cool and very nice that was the JEEP knock off and I’m sure you heard the stories of the Jeep brand suing GM over the copy cat grill. Fast forward 10-15 years and the Gladiator will be the last chapter of a convertible truck.
Do you remember that Dodge Dakota convertible pick up from the late '80s? Sure looked cool back then but ugly as sin when I looked at it now.

One of your earlier posts mentioned traveling to Florida. Where do you go in Florida? I'm on the west coast.
 
OP
OP
IceAge

IceAge

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garey
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Threads
17
Messages
163
Reaction score
330
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 2018
Do you remember that Dodge Dakota convertible pick up from the late '80s? Sure looked cool back then but ugly as sin when I looked at it now.

One of your earlier posts mentioned traveling to Florida. Where do you go in Florida? I'm on the west coast.
That’s funny I do remember the Dakota soft top damn good memory. I go to Tampa area West Coast my whole family moved down there in the 90s. I stayed up north to make a living and now everyone is progressing I’m the youngest. So go down as often as I can to see my parents and brother and sisters. Parents are 87 and 86 and healthy thank goodness but times are a changing as well as for us to. I lived in the San Fransisco area in the good old 70s.
 

JeepGuyTexas

Well-Known Member
First Name
Guy
Joined
Apr 30, 2019
Threads
1
Messages
47
Reaction score
55
Location
Austin, TX
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator, Firecracker Red Rubicon
Occupation
Technical Recruiting Manager
That’s funny I do remember the Dakota soft top damn good memory. I go to Tampa area West Coast my whole family moved down there in the 90s. I stayed up north to make a living and now everyone is progressing I’m the youngest. So go down as often as I can to see my parents and brother and sisters. Parents are 87 and 86 and healthy thank goodness but times are a changing as well as for us to. I lived in the San Fransisco area in the good old 70s.
Now SF has apps to help you locate and avoid shit on the sidewalks. No joke :CWL:

Still love going for work, but did what most Californian's do and moved to Texas.
 

Tacoman03

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2019
Threads
34
Messages
329
Reaction score
417
Location
NW ARKANSAS
Vehicle(s)
2020 Bright White JT Gladiator Rubicon; 2018 Range Rover Velar; 2017 Jaguar F Pace
Vehicle Showcase
1
Speaking of Gawkers, Just this morning, I had a Jeep FANatic in a CJ follow completely me into my work parking lot and jump out once i parked to check it out.....he was super nice guy, and SUPER excited about the JT!
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
IceAge

IceAge

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garey
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Threads
17
Messages
163
Reaction score
330
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 2018
Worked out of mine today and what a blast lol. Everywhere you go your being watched and damn this rides so nice and opposite to my Wranglers. I feel like I am driving a really nice truck. And I am amazed she rides every bit as good as my 4Runner which the 4Runner was a very nice and stable ride. The 4Runner just ate up the bumps and had a feel of confidence on rough back roads which my Gladiator is feeling the same. I have driven her 175 miles today and will do some back roads that are dirt this evening and will have a really good comparison later.
D3820D79-B8F9-4A60-840A-81738D1BD3AB.jpeg

B2A3C48B-790A-426F-8ED5-1D843CA7407E.jpeg

2E981C0E-2752-40AD-9A9C-413A6959A5C5.jpeg
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
IceAge

IceAge

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garey
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Threads
17
Messages
163
Reaction score
330
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 2018
BDCC28B0-36DB-40BA-8C1A-C493DCB84AE0.jpeg

My first full day of driving and here is combined highway, city and back roads. I drove some back roads this evening and tried to duplicate my Toyota 4Runner driving. And can’t emphasize I have other vehicles meaning Range Rovers which has the air ride suspensions and are over the top on rough roads. My Toyota 4Runner PRO in my eyes was the most awesome go over the road and eat up the bumps best off road vehicle besides my 2018 Ford Raptor. And no this could not compete against a Raptor on open all out rough terrain. And not my 4Runner Pro either. Point is I drive different vehicles and can give a pretty good and fair to the brand assessment. The Gladiator is definitely right there with the 4Runner Pro and would give the 4RUNNER a win but not by much. The Gladiator definitely beats the New JL Wrangler Rubicon and my Toyota Tacoma 2019 Pro. Great vehicle and you won’t be disappointed knowing your capabilities will exceed the Wrangler and the mid size truck market cause I have the new Ranger as well and she’s nice but not Tough nice.
A166BC2B-F73C-41C0-A937-3B3B37A6F1DF.jpeg

AEE1D3A2-A101-4FA4-9FCA-3C6D9633BFD6.jpeg

74107A03-0F8F-466F-93D9-74EB2D61401F.jpeg

And my Ford Raptor which I just traded
And yes the Ford Raptor is the baddest ass truck I have ever owned.
95256893-9A6F-44FC-A1AC-D8B700853A9F.jpeg
 

Trauma PA

Well-Known Member
First Name
Robert
Joined
Jul 2, 2018
Threads
31
Messages
1,315
Reaction score
1,427
Location
Southwest Florida
Vehicle(s)
2021 JT Willys, 2021 Audi Q3
Occupation
Trauma Surgery Physician Assistant
I like your stable of vehicles. How do you find time to drive them all? You are missing a Chevy ZR2 Bison.
Glad you are liking the Gladiator. Your reviews are reassuring that I won't miss my 4Runner.
 
OP
OP
IceAge

IceAge

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garey
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Threads
17
Messages
163
Reaction score
330
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 2018
Just put in my bed cover Jeep product, hood deflector and mud flaps all Jeep accessories. The front mud flaps do not fit GLADIATORS so make sure if you buy them only rear. And the front hood deflector I modified the install the clips are a joke I drilled her out.
91B268A3-398A-4172-BB20-7281C9E08BCE.jpeg
84C568B9-873B-49F4-AE1C-7DE2B18C943F.jpeg
7448D7D9-8A26-4E73-9BF1-2EDF5DC94998.jpeg
DD24057D-A6B0-4F69-B887-2E8239A83DD5.jpeg
EF266E88-4BF2-4E40-A99B-85B98E9FC177.jpeg
48871926-3CB9-4950-BFFF-E0B89DCBFC46.jpeg
E17BEA72-224A-44B2-94B7-F6BB523BE97D.jpeg

80BFCF8E-123A-4479-8902-81CD39605F18.jpeg

B9AFA97C-3BA2-4827-A950-1ECD6764C14E.jpeg

C857A3C8-22DD-4BA2-A3CA-BF9C6364AAF0.jpeg
 

Sponsored

Jake

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jake
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Threads
68
Messages
1,869
Reaction score
1,518
Location
Charleston,SC
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Sport
A96C0349-8173-42BD-AD0B-74EC1BBC94AB.jpeg
Hey IceAge what is this handle looking thing under the cover? I circled it in yellow. And is this a roll up cover or is it the soft trifold cover? Truck looks nice now.
 

Tacoman03

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2019
Threads
34
Messages
329
Reaction score
417
Location
NW ARKANSAS
Vehicle(s)
2020 Bright White JT Gladiator Rubicon; 2018 Range Rover Velar; 2017 Jaguar F Pace
Vehicle Showcase
1
Just put in my bed cover Jeep product, hood deflector and mud flaps all Jeep accessories. The front mud flaps do not fit GLADIATORS so make sure if you buy them only rear. And the front hood deflector I modified the install the clips are a joke I drilled her out.
91B268A3-398A-4172-BB20-7281C9E08BCE.jpeg
84C568B9-873B-49F4-AE1C-7DE2B18C943F.jpeg
7448D7D9-8A26-4E73-9BF1-2EDF5DC94998.jpeg
DD24057D-A6B0-4F69-B887-2E8239A83DD5.jpeg
EF266E88-4BF2-4E40-A99B-85B98E9FC177.jpeg
48871926-3CB9-4950-BFFF-E0B89DCBFC46.jpeg
E17BEA72-224A-44B2-94B7-F6BB523BE97D.jpeg

80BFCF8E-123A-4479-8902-81CD39605F18.jpeg

B9AFA97C-3BA2-4827-A950-1ECD6764C14E.jpeg

C857A3C8-22DD-4BA2-A3CA-BF9C6364AAF0.jpeg
Were the mudflaps a "plug and play"? Meaning, just align them and tap in included pegs?
 
OP
OP
IceAge

IceAge

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garey
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Threads
17
Messages
163
Reaction score
330
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 2018
A96C0349-8173-42BD-AD0B-74EC1BBC94AB.jpeg
Hey IceAge what is this handle looking thing under the cover? I circled it in yellow. And is this a roll up cover or is it the soft trifold cover? Truck looks nice now.
Tri fold soft cover and the handles are super cool they are tension clip in. And super easy install and no need to remove your bed rail system.
 

Jake

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jake
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Threads
68
Messages
1,869
Reaction score
1,518
Location
Charleston,SC
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Sport
You should do a video of your cover and post it. Have not seen many pictures of the soft trifold cover. Have seen zero pictures of the hard trifold tonneau cover.
 
OP
OP
IceAge

IceAge

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garey
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Threads
17
Messages
163
Reaction score
330
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon JL 2018
Were the mudflaps a "plug and play"? Meaning, just align them and tap in included pegs?
They are supposed to be simple by removing your plastic plugs. Mine wouldn’t line up so I got creative like the hood deflector. And you need a special plastic tool expander which I got creative and made my rivet tool into one. So I used the bottom plug then drilled her out for the top and used my own screws.
15D2564B-B633-4761-8858-7D6BF5C5F48D.jpeg
Sponsored

 
 



Top