Eco diesel or max tow

[Dyzard]

Well now I'm at a decision point. We discussed maybe we wait on the camper. And I just go JL instead of JT hmmmmm but this leads to into another thread I think hahaha. But man that nacho color out on the build site looks so good

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[Dyzard]

Added to this we wait on the camper get a diesel jt or jl then I get an actual towing truck in a few years to tow a camper hmm

 

[Gvsukids]

Well now I'm at a decision point. We discussed maybe we wait on the camper. And I just go JL instead of JT hmmmmm but this leads to into another thread I think hahaha. But man that nacho color out on the build site looks so good

Here's that nacho Gladiator.

 

[Dyzard]

Here's that nacho Gladiator.

Hmm it looks more yellow in that picture XD

 

[PackMule]

Well now I'm at a decision point. We discussed maybe we wait on the camper. And I just go JL instead of JT hmmmmm but this leads to into another thread I think hahaha. But man that nacho color out on the build site looks so good

I'm in your dilemma, and same use case, just a bit further down the road, so I'll provide what I'm doing. I've had a Dozer JK that does everything I need... except... can't pull a small trailer that my wife will camp in (read, has a bathroom) to a mountain campsite to base camp, then do light wheeling. A ride along with a friend with a gas JT towing in mountains had me hold off on the gasser, as it was constantly searching for gears.

I pulled the trigger as soon as the JT Diesel came out, ordering a Rubicon, as I do use lockers and sway bar disconnect on my JK. When I ordered, there was no public info out from Jeep on actual payload of the diesel models. As noted previously, it varies by build, 1300lb for the Sport poster, 1000+ for the Overland... I was very disappointed when I looked at my door sticker and saw 940lb payload. This WILL be my limiting factor.

So, I'm doing my mods incrementally. I've put 35's on and done some moderate wheeling to determine that gets me pretty much the clearance I need for my use cases. I've got a 3500lb (dry) camper ordered, which will be way below the tow rating. I'm considering adding a shell/canopy, but holding off on any further off-road mods that add weight, as I'm already hitting my payload limitation. Probably going to need to do some suspension changes, as the Rubicon springs are just too soft (I bottomed out to the front bumpstops on potholed forest service roads, with no load). So I've appreciated some of the other suggestions on this thread. (Timbrens, WDH, etc.)

In short, like you I was hoping for a do-all camping truck / light wheeler, but I'm going to either have to dial back one or the other... either not take the kayak with me camping, or not add a winch for security when wheeling.

In retrospect (looking at where you are at in decisioning) I could have gotten the Sport S Diesel and lightly optioned it, then added only what armor I need. But I was concerned the Sport S axles would not be up to what I need, as I've bent JK D44 axle housings before, although the new generation of D44s are more stout.

 

[PackMule]

BTW... Re: the Nacho color... I have a 2012 Dozer JK,... basically the same color... my wife thinks its awesome. Black accents on it really make it pop. And its real easy to find in a parking lot... as opposed to my new Sting-Gray JT which is also cool looking but is parking-lot camouflage.

 

[Sazabi19]

I'm in your dilemma, and same use case, just a bit further down the road, so I'll provide what I'm doing. I've had a Dozer JK that does everything I need... except... can't pull a small trailer that my wife will camp in (read, has a bathroom) to a mountain campsite to base camp, then do light wheeling. A ride along with a friend with a gas JT towing in mountains had me hold off on the gasser, as it was constantly searching for gears.

I pulled the trigger as soon as the JT Diesel came out, ordering a Rubicon, as I do use lockers and sway bar disconnect on my JK. When I ordered, there was no public info out from Jeep on actual payload of the diesel models. As noted previously, it varies by build, 1300lb for the Sport poster, 1000+ for the Overland... I was very disappointed when I looked at my door sticker and saw 940lb payload. This WILL be my limiting factor.

So, I'm doing my mods incrementally. I've put 35's on and done some moderate wheeling to determine that gets me pretty much the clearance I need for my use cases. I've got a 3500lb (dry) camper ordered, which will be way below the tow rating. I'm considering adding a shell/canopy, but holding off on any further off-road mods that add weight, as I'm already hitting my payload limitation. Probably going to need to do some suspension changes, as the Rubicon springs are just too soft (I bottomed out to the front bumpstops on potholed forest service roads, with no load). So I've appreciated some of the other suggestions on this thread. (Timbrens, WDH, etc.)

In short, like you I was hoping for a do-all camping truck / light wheeler, but I'm going to either have to dial back one or the other... either not take the kayak with me camping, or not add a winch for security when wheeling.

In retrospect (looking at where you are at in decisioning) I could have gotten the Sport S Diesel and lightly optioned it, then added only what armor I need. But I was concerned the Sport S axles would not be up to what I need, as I've bent JK D44 axle housings before, although the new generation of D44s are more stout.

I thought the diesels all had the same D44s, unlike the V6 where only max tow and Rubi have the upgraded.

Also, did your friend ever try to put it in manual and keep to a gear for a bit? That should have fixed that problem while on hills.

Also, I love the orange color so nice job on that. I wish the names weren't so... bleh lol. Omaha orange like they had on the Renegade would be nice.

 

[PackMule]

I thought the diesels all had the same D44s, unlike the V6 where only max tow and Rubi have the upgraded.

Also, did your friend ever try to put it in manual and keep to a gear for a bit? That should have fixed that problem while on hills.

Also, I love the orange color so nice job on that. I wish the names weren't so... bleh lol. Omaha orange like they had on the Renegade would be nice.

...come to think of it, yes I think you are right, they do all have the HD D44, and although it wasn't really advertised, I think they all have the Mojave knuckles. But I went Rubicon for the sway bar disconnect, and front lockers, which now given 300+ payload difference, might have been better off getting the Sport S.

 

[danielspivey]

I'm in your dilemma, and same use case, just a bit further down the road, so I'll provide what I'm doing. I've had a Dozer JK that does everything I need... except... can't pull a small trailer that my wife will camp in (read, has a bathroom) to a mountain campsite to base camp, then do light wheeling. A ride along with a friend with a gas JT towing in mountains had me hold off on the gasser, as it was constantly searching for gears.

I pulled the trigger as soon as the JT Diesel came out, ordering a Rubicon, as I do use lockers and sway bar disconnect on my JK. When I ordered, there was no public info out from Jeep on actual payload of the diesel models. As noted previously, it varies by build, 1300lb for the Sport poster, 1000+ for the Overland... I was very disappointed when I looked at my door sticker and saw 940lb payload. This WILL be my limiting factor.

So, I'm doing my mods incrementally. I've put 35's on and done some moderate wheeling to determine that gets me pretty much the clearance I need for my use cases. I've got a 3500lb (dry) camper ordered, which will be way below the tow rating. I'm considering adding a shell/canopy, but holding off on any further off-road mods that add weight, as I'm already hitting my payload limitation. Probably going to need to do some suspension changes, as the Rubicon springs are just too soft (I bottomed out to the front bumpstops on potholed forest service roads, with no load). So I've appreciated some of the other suggestions on this thread. (Timbrens, WDH, etc.)

In short, like you I was hoping for a do-all camping truck / light wheeler, but I'm going to either have to dial back one or the other... either not take the kayak with me camping, or not add a winch for security when wheeling.

In retrospect (looking at where you are at in decisioning) I could have gotten the Sport S Diesel and lightly optioned it, then added only what armor I need. But I was concerned the Sport S axles would not be up to what I need, as I've bent JK D44 axle housings before, although the new generation of D44s are more stout.

ouch, 600 less payload that max tow? You’d be at that limit with a 5000 lb trailer, WDH and two passengers and like NOTHING else...

 

[Sazabi19]

...come to think of it, yes I think you are right, they do all have the HD D44, and although it wasn't really advertised, I think they all have the Mojave knuckles. But I went Rubicon for the sway bar disconnect, and front lockers, which now given 300+ payload difference, might have been better off getting the Sport S.

I don't know if it's possible but, would it help to swap out to Max Tow springs? I thought that's what gives us a higher rating was the progressive stiffer springs.

 

[zamboniman]

I'm still not clear on if HD axels = HD wide track axles though. Not sure they are all the same track width.

I thought all gladiators technically had "HD" axels. Only Max Tow, Mojave, and Rubicon got the widetrack version. Diesel gets a little more vague but not sure it would be any different.

 

[Gvsukids]

Aren't transmissions meant to shift? Isn't there a transmission cooler to help maintain the transmission fluid temperature? Aren't today's gas engines made to run in the higher rpms? They just don't make them like they used to.

 

[danielspivey]

I don't know if it's possible but, would it help to swap out to Max Tow springs? I thought that's what gives us a higher rating was the progressive stiffer springs.

In theory yes it would help. But it still doesn’t change the payload numbers printed on the door jam

 

[PackMule]

I'm still not clear on if HD axels = HD wide track axles though. Not sure they are all the same track width.

I thought all gladiators technically had "HD" axels. Only Max Tow, Mojave, and Rubicon got the widetrack version. Diesel gets a little more vague but not sure it would be any different.

Yes, I believe all Gladiators have next gen D44s, the Max Tow, & gas Rubicon got widetrack, Mojave got widetrack with cast iron knuckles. Not advertised, but discovered by early diesel orders was that diesels were all getting the cast iron knuckles as well.

 

[PackMule]

I don't know if it's possible but, would it help to swap out to Max Tow springs? I thought that's what gives us a higher rating was the progressive stiffer springs.

As noted above, in theory, maybe, but doesn't change the door sticker.
Additionally, the diesel springs are supposedly already 10% stiffer than the equivalent gas JT springs, due to the heavier engine. So the diesel Rubicon springs are 10% stiffer than gas Rubicon.

But don't know how diesel Rubicon spring rate compares to Max Tow spring rate. Also, I think the Rubicon springs are longer, e.g. slight lift, vs Sport, and that might be true vs Max Tow as well.

I'd probably be better going with a Mopar diesel specific 2" lift, or AEV when they come out with theirs.

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