Evolution.... where did you start? Or is the Gladiator your first Jeep?

[Jeeper44mag]

I started with my first Jeep back in ~'84 with a '75 CJ5. Since then I've owned (in chronological order) a '76 CJ7, '99 TJ, a couple of Libertys '04 & '05, 2010 JKU, '05 LJ, '78 CJ7, 2018 JKU, and now my (new to me this year) 2020 JTR. Still have the 2018 JKU, but it's pretty much a pavement princess. I'm intending to build the JTR enough for light to moderate trails. No really difficult stuff... did enough of that back when I had the LJ.

Would I go back to any of them? No. I do admit that for sheer off-roading capability, my impression is that the LJ (IMO the perfect wheelbase) was the king of what I've gotten to try out, but today's creature comforts and (in general) better reliability would be too hard to give up. Tentatively, I think I've found *my* perfect Jeep platform with the JT.

I'm absolutely enamored with my JTR so far, and although if I had found a similarly appointed JTRD I would have probably gone that route, I can't say I regret getting the 3.6L. Who knows... maybe I'll run across the right deal on a diesel during the next few years. In the meantime, I'm loving this one, and I'm hoping to pick up another small/midsize (15'-17') camper of some sort and do a lot of sightseeing & mild or moderate trail riding & off-roading and/or some hunting across the country over the next few years with my wife when I have time off from work, then a lot more in another ~5-6 yrs after retirement (if we don't tank the value of the $$, and screw over my retirement plans before then).

So what's your story? Is your Gladiator your first jeep, or your 15th? And is it your final platform (although perhaps, stock like mine, and still far from being "finished" or totally built out) for the foreseeable future, or just a stepping stone?

Luis

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[Jeeper44mag]

My babies...

 

[5adventurers]

84 CJ7, 97 TJ, 19 JL, 23 Gladiator

Each one was special...and if someone asked me to pick one...I couldn't. Pros and cons to all. Coolest is the CJ, the TJ really had a solid power train and was still small, the JL was a 4 door so family functional...and my Gladiator, well...it's a jeep but it's a truck, PERFECT...

The CJ is the one I would have as a fun vehicle no doubt...just flat out cool....but day to day would be you to death by today's standards...but for recreation...it would be worth it.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

92 Sahara YJ, 2006 Sport TJ, 2016 JKU Hard Rock, and now the jtrd.
Miss the JK some days.
Next will be an LJ

 

[RHRT]

85 CJ7, 93 GC Laredo ZJ, 2004 GC Laredo WJ, 2012 Liberty KJ, and currently a 2022 Gladiator Willys JT.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

First Jeep for me was 87 Comanche SporTruck short box charcoal gray metallic clearcoat loaded to the hilt, 4x4, 5 speed. Dang, I loved that truck and miss it to this day.

I think my little brother's constantly horse trading various Jeeps got me thinking in the line of Jeeps. it's been various Grand Cherokees - every platform through WK2, and some we've had multiples of, A 90 something Cherokee and then onto JT (this is my second) and my wife traded her 2021 WK2 for a 2023 JLU because she wanted PURPLE so badly.

 

[DanW]

Start...Bought a new 1993 YJ, in 1992.....$11,700. Drove it for 11 years and 130,000 miles. LOVED this Jeep. Mods were a winch, bumpers, sway bar disconnects, 30" tires, and Lava liner sprayed in the tub. I should have never sold it. This pic was new before any mods, stock wheels. It had a bulletproof 2.5 4 cylinder with an Aisin 5 speed manual. It also had a limited slip in the rear. I had air conditioning installed at a dealership when I lived in Houston. It was hotter than Satan's taint down there!

Then, a 2008 JKUR, bought in 2007. I paid $35k, which was sticker, when they were going for $2k to $4k over. It had the 3.8 with a six speed NSG-370. Mods ultimately were GMRS radio, Cb, 2.5" AEV Dualsport lift, manual sway bar disco, 35" tires, bumpers, winch, and aux lighting. Oh, it also has a Magnaflo exhaust and Rancho diff and oil pan skids. I still have this Jeep, but it is for sale. No rust, runs like new, and has been from Maine to Moab and everywhere in between. I hate to see it go. It has 193,000 miles on it and has many, many more left. First pic is on 33's. 2nd is on 35's mounted in Septemer.

Next up, 2018 JLUR...Ordered one day after orders opened. It was an early production JL, 3.6 with an Aisin manual transmission. It has a Mopar lift, winch, 35's and was re-geared with Dana 4.56 axle ratio. It has an ARB rear diff cover and Rancho front diff skid, Baja Designs LP6 and Rigid Side Shooter aux lighting. It has CB, GMRS, and Tuffy security storage inside. It's been to Moab twice, Maine, Colorado, Appalachian Byway, KAT, and countless other places. It just turned 88,000 miles and has had only a couple minor issues. It's been just an amazing Jeep. I'm keeping her for a long, long time. Lifetime Mopar bumper to bumper warranty, too. (Maxcare). Also has a Magnaflo exhaust that sounds GREAT.

Finally....The new gal in the garage and the first mod was a FAD skid plate. It will get a lift in January or February, either Mopar or AEV Dualsport. I can't wait to get going with it! It is a 2021 and is the first Jeep I bought used (35,000 miles) and the first for me with an automatic. It is a 3.6. I'm absolutely loving it, so far! Plans include the lift, 35's, diff skids, a spray-in liner, and Sunrider for Hard Top. I will probably go with a cradle mounted winch that goes in the receiver hitch when needed. I may also do a rack and roof top tent. Not sure about that.

Sad pic here.....JL escorting the JK into the sunset on its last off-road trip with our family...in Moab on 7-mile Rim trail. What a great Jeep she's been. I hope for it to take it's next owner on more amazing adventures!

I forgot to mention a 2021 JLUR 3.6 E-torque/auto for my ex-wife, a year before our divorce. No mods. She didn't deserve them...cheating *&$$! No pics. Trying to forget.

 

[Idlethunder]

First Jeep for me was dad's 1978 CJ7 that he taught me to drive back in 1980. I never owned it but loved everything about that Jeep. This 22 Gladiator is the first Jeep that has ever been mine and after 22 months it is still a work in progress but getting very close to my idea of perfect. The only thing lacking is a front bumper and winch. After several months of research I think I've finally found the right bumper. If all goes well it will be here next week and I'll have time to install it and the winch over my Christmas vacation

 

[WestwallNF104A]

My first Jeep was, and I still have it, a 1945 Ford GPW. I bought it as a wreck, and did a resto mod to it. Now, many years on, I am redoing it.

Not quite ground up, but close.

My Gladi is my 2nd Jeep.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

First Jeep was a 2005 TJ 4.0, bought new.

Second one the JTOD and third again a 2005 TJ 4.0

 

[Jeepaholic]

I’ve been in a Jeep since 1996. The first was a 1988 XJ Chief two door. Wheeled it all over the east coast…4” lift, BFG muds, bumpers, sliders, rack, etc.

Then I went to a 1993 YJ. Just changed the wheels and tires. 4cyl was horrible so I ordered a new 1998 TJ Sport 4.0.

After that it’s a 20 year whirl wind of a few TJ’s, a couple XJ’s, ZJ 5.9 and an Orvis, a couple WK’s, a KK for a few months, and then the Gladiator came out and I had to have it. Ordered my Sting gray Rubicon in 2019 and still love it. Small lift, new wheels and 37”s. A few other things were changed to make it my own. A have a few things still to do, but plan to keep it forever.

I stumbled across a (basically) free 1998 XJ a couple years ago. Did a full resto-mod build with a color change. It’s for my 16 year old son, so it’s mild, but cool.

Most recently I came across a nice little 01 TJ at my neighbors house that I needed to have. I really loved all my TJ’s and missed having a “small” Jeep and the 4.0 with a manual. I’ll do a minor refresh on it, but like a mainly “OEM +” look on most of my Jeeps, so it won’t be much different than where it is now. Here’s a few highlights .. not all of them, but a couple favorites and what’s in the garage now.

 

[KTMZach]

My Dad got new CJ7 for $10k back in 86 or 87, and sold it a couple years later when my oldest sister was born. Growing up I was always jealous of the few pictures he had of it. In 2019 a coworker was was going to trade in his 2009 Grand Cherokee, so I bought it from him for trade in value. I have 3 kids and needed something with a backseat, so it fit the bill. I am a GM guy that hates Ford and Chrysler(I worked for a tier 1 supplier to GM), so I complained about that hunk of crap(it was really a decent vehicle, especially with 220,000miles, just needed a wheel bearing and blend doors, so I pulled the dash apart for that). After I sold the GC I knew I would never buy another Chrysler product, nor would I ever buy a new vehicle off the lot until I was much, much older.

So 4 months later we drove a new 2023 Gladiator off the lot with 7 miles on the odometer. I love this truck! Haven't done any mods worth mentioning, but currently saving up for an xtrusion overland rack and softopper.

 

[Great Offender]

First Jeep was a 1989 Matte Green YJ that I bought immediately after leaving the Marines Loved that jeep but as I got older and started a family I traded it against a 199X Grand Cherokee Limited. The GC was in a rollover accident that broke my wife's neck (she was driving), while pregnant, which led to an irrational outright ban of all things "Jeep" for a long time. After that I started riding motorcycles and my wife began to realize Jeeps are safer lol. I was now allowed to sell my Indian and buy a 21 JT.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Between the wife and I we are at 17 Jeeps over the years I think. My 1st was a shitbox '86 cherokee with the 2.8L v6 (probably one of the reasons I laugh when people complain about the pentastars power). '79 wagoner, '67 wagoner, '96 zj, '89 and '91 xj's, '01 wj, '04 TJ, '19 and now '22 JLURs, and my '23 JT are all the ones that got at least lifted and wheeled. Then there were several Jeeps bought for parts etc.

 

[Jobofly]

My wife is the person who got me in to Jeeps. She always wanted a wrangler and once our kids were out of car seats I bought her a wrangler for her birthday. I never understood the appeal until I started driving her JL. I was instantly hooked. I went from a F150 to a Gladiator Max Tow. It was short lived as we upgraded our travel trailer and i needed a bigger truck to tow it. I went back to an F150 for a year. Once we sold that camper i immediately traded in my F150 for a gladiator mojave and haven't looked back.

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