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

[Empty Pockets]

Yep. Loved that M715 truck. For those not familiar with it, it was the original Jeep convertible pickup ?

here is a stock internet photo. Also one of the M151A1 that I referenced. The “Mutt” as the 151 series was referred to, seemed in every way to be the “anti-Jeep” with its unibody construction and 4 wheel independent suspension. But it was incredibly capable in mud, sand, & steep hills. And it rode and drove like a compact car. Neat

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[Silverator]

My '22 JTR is my first "real" jeep. A decade ago someone gave us a Grand Cherokee 2WD SUV, but I don't really think that counts.

The JTR is my first real "4 wheeled" off road experience. I've been riding motorcycles off road since my early teen years, but this 4 wheeled thing is quite a different animal. I'm loving it though - especially since I'm a bit older now. I still ride my Husky's and KTM's, but the JTR is a different kind of fun... And a WAY different kind of cost.

Speaking of "older now" - I'm reminded of a ride I had in Moab about 20 years ago. I think it was on Poison Spider or Golden Spike somewhere. Me and my 2 wheeled riding buddies were on a slick, sandy, multiple stair steps steep waterfall section with no run up, and several had fallen down and were picking up their bikes. A guy who looked like Santa with a long white beard just putted up beside and passed us in an old clapped out CJ and yelled over at us laughingly - he said "motorcycles were for young guys, and that someday we'd grow up and get us some jeeps" - laughing all the way as he passed us while we struggled. LOL.

I guess that turned out to be kinda prophetic. Here I am with a JTR - and loving it!!! Can't wait to get it up to Moab soon.

 

[Gvsukids]

Wanted a truck to better tow our boat and love the options of a Jeep truck. So first Jeep for us.

 

[Gizmo]

1965 Gladiator step side IN 1974 , In 75 a 46 CJ-2A ,in 1981 a 80 CJ-5, 2004 a 97 TJ , 2005 a 97 XJ, 2006 a 99TJ ( still have ) , 2005 a TJ Rubicon still in family , 20013 a 2012 Sahara 2dr 2022 22JT, I don't think I left any out but could of

 

[Slojo]

Started in 1987 with an 84 CJ7, then 86 CJ7, No Jeep starting in 2001, then in 2007 bought an 08 JKU (Still own), added a 2020 JT in 22. Wifey has a 2011 GC.

 

[mtoddsolomon]

96 Xj Country
97 ZJ limited with the V8
97 TJ Sahara
00 Wj Limited V8
2011 WK2 Laredo
2022 JT Rubicon

 

[m-l_johnny]

1st Jeep is the pictured ‘76 Cj7 I bought as a project from a friend in 2004. I’ll spare you the lengthy background story as to why I got it, but it ended up being a 2 yr complete rebuild. Was my daily driver for a few years. Wheeled it regularly at Rausch Creek in PA until I got tired of fixing stuff I broke. Bought the ‘17 JKU with the Ursa Minor used in March 2020, the day before the world shut down. Been enjoying the excursions it’s taken us on, but we want a little more room, so traded in the high mileage Tacoma for the JT and should have our Snap Outfitters Treehouse topper camper in a few weeks. . Then the JK will be up for sale. Wife says we have too many vehicles. lol

 

[Warped]

My love affair with Jeeps started as a little kid. A neighbor's son got a yellow CJ and kept it until all the rust was primered red and he finally got a new white CJ. When I was 8, my mother and I got into a huge fight over who knows what. A few days later, she gave me a Hot Wheels Jeep as an apology.

I totalled my sports car in 1985 and dealer wouldn't let me drive a CJ-7 due to my neckbrace. I left and regretted not getting that for many years. In '92, going through a life crisis, I purchased a Nissan Hardbody and wheeled it with a lot of Jeeps. But, after getting remarried, she wanted no part of Jeep Wranglers. Though I did get a diesel Liberty mistake.

When wife #2 passed from ovarian cancer, I traded her Mustang GT in on a 2020 Rubicon. AEV, Warn bumpers, 35s and I was in heaven. Until I screwed up and traded it in on a '22 Grand CHerokee Overland. For my pentance, I ordered a '23 Rubicon JL and had full upfit by AEV before purchase.

As pentence for my egregious sin of selling my great Jeep the first time, I took advantage of the late 2023 deep discounts and gave my sister my '22 Overland GC and purchased both the Grand Cherokee Summit and a Gladiator Mojave. With my wife's '21 Cherokee, we now have four Jeep brand vehicles and 2 motorcycles.

 

[70deuce]

First one was a 1975 CJ5 with the 304 V8. Dry spell then all hell broke out over the last 30 years. Current Jeeps. 1996 V8 Grand Cherokee, bought new still have. Great condition. 2001 TJ, current wife’s car and she won’t get rid of it. 2015 Hard Rock, totaled in rear end collision, perfect excuse for the current 2020 Glad. Restoring a 1983 CJ7. “Other” Jeeps In the stable. 1942 Willys MB (first old guy shown, that‘s A 1950 Dodge M37 under resto in the background), 1943 Ford GPW, 1970 Kaiser/Jeep M35A2 (lead deuce in the picture)

 

[HooliganActual]

My journey into Jeeps was a bit of an accident. Growing up in Appalachia, my uncle had an early 70's CJ5, I believe it was, and my dad had a 71 then a 72 Bronco (that beautiful old squarebody!). We were always out in the mountains in those rigs and it made me appreciate both of them.

Fast forward to early 1983, my first duty station and my first car. I was all set to buy a clean old bronco from a used car lot and had test driven it several times and made sure it was mechanically sound (I was a mechanic in the service so I did my due diligence) but on the morning I went in to pick it up they could not get it to run. Sitting right next to it was my beloved 81 CJ7 and a deal was made. My buddies and I wheeled that thing everywhere and I had it for many years...right up until my first child was born in 91 and we needed 4 doors which my 91 Cherokee provided for the next long while. Heck that Cherokee lasted me 3 divorces (LOL).

Fast forward again to AZ in 2016, I finally bought my first JKUR and did all the things to it I never had the money to do as a young man. My current wife, who was an Iowa farm girl and no stranger to dirt roads, enjoyed driving it and wanted to learn to wheel it. Pretty soon she was driving it on the serious trails all the time and we were actually "fighting" over the driving duties on trail. One day she looked at me and said "I want one of my own!!".

Her wish was my command, so we added a 2018 JKUR to the family. Other than a leveling lift, 33's and a winch/winch bumper, hers remained pretty stock and she wheels it with me and my buddies (the only wife that goes out with the group too).

As we started doing more overlanding, we just found the JKUR's didn't really work for what we wanted to do, so we bought a 2020 JTR which is where we are right now.

After 40 years, I can't imagine NOT owning one of these beauties!!

Cheers

 

[DanW]

Embarrassed to say Jeep Gladiator Mojave 2023 is my first. Prior to this I drove a…Honda Accord. I was driving home a few months ago stuck in highway traffic and I saw the back of a Gladiator and kind of fell in love with the looks. Researched them for a while and when the local dealer was giving like 10-15K discounts recently I decided to buy. Didn’t really get the model or color I had planned, but there was limited selection. After completing the purchase I just remember sitting in the driver seat trying to figure everything out and the salesman came up to my side and was gesturing to me to lower the window - I didn’t even realize the window buttons were centralized lol. Anyway I’m about 1800 miles in, have kept it totally stock because my parking garage has a really low height limit. I drive over to the Olympic Mountains on the weekend for work, and I’ve taken the Jeep on some easy off road trails about 6 times now. Super fun. I also have fun just driving it around on pavement. Already had a whited out Uconnect box pop up and go away in 2-3 days, so I’m bracing myself for reliability issues, but oh well it seems well worth it. Thanks for letting me share.

Nice Jeep! Don't worry...The Uconnect farts every now and then. My 2018 JL has seen a million of those kinds of things, but they are just hiccups and it'll likely be no issue. Odds are you'll have a great experience with that machine!

If I had wound up with a Mojave, I'd probably keep it stock. Those things have a great setup and drive/steer really well. I think the combination of shocks, steering feel, spring rates, ride height, etc. is a unique thing and just perfect for what that truck was meant to do. Of course, it does other things well, too, but I really like it. I had one as a loaner a couple years ago, for a week, and I really loved it.

 

[GWolgamott]

- I learned to drive a stick on a Willys M38 my uncle had pieced together. He lived next door and have fond memories taking that thing down two-tracks to go wild berry picking.
- We've own 3 jeep branded hatch backs that were super reliable none of them ever had anything major beyond routine items go bad(1-Compass, 2-Renegades). Were used as daily drivers and used the first Renegade we had to go places it didn't belong. Started the bug to thinking about getting a real Jeep.
- Gladiator is my first real Jeep, the truck concept was enough to make it justifiable as a sort of practical vehicle.
- Near future plans, as the Glady is so much fun, are to find a late model Wrangler to use specifically as play vehicle.

 

[MattK]

My first Jeep was a 2013 Wrangler Rubicon. Before that it was Toyotas and a 1990 2wd Ford Ranger. Whatever got me to Baja. I'm not a brand snob really but I get bored and try other vehicles.

I got the 2 door and managed to pack enough crap in it for 2 weeks of self-sufficient travel down in Baja but it really wasn't safe. Luckily the AEV suspension handled it like a champ with just a little squat in the rear. One roll or traffic accident and it would have been a meat grinder inside the cab. Eventually got a Gladiator to rectify the storage situation.

Loaded out in Baja on the way to camp:

 

[fireproof69]

Does the Grand Cherokee count in this?

Bought my wife a ‘21 Grand Cherokee three years ago.

Bought myself a ‘23 Gladiator Sport S this week!

I didn’t consider us “Jeepers” until now!

 

[bwmarksbmcs]

1984 CJ8 Scrambler, bought brand new in Akron Oh in Sept '84 with 6 miles on it - Sold in Texas 1995
2000 TJ Wrangler Sport bought in Rehoboth DE, still have it
2023 JT Sport S bought new in Oct 23, I'll keep it until it rusts out to just dirt and beach sand; actually, it will probably outlast me

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