KevinC
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Kevin
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2021
- Threads
- 15
- Messages
- 472
- Reaction score
- 844
- Location
- Central Florida
- Vehicle(s)
- 2023 JT Mojave Sarge
- Occupation
- Gunsmith
- Thread starter
- #1
After a lot of planning I finally decided it was time for a tent camping trip. The end of October seemed to still have mild weather in North Ga., so I packed up the Gladiator and went up for a week. 500 miles one way pretty much I75 North. This post will be about the Jeep and my gear. I will start with the Jeep first for those that don't care about reading about camping gear.
1. 2020 Gladiator Rubicon. 3.6, auto, leather, Customer package 24R. Kenda Klever R/T 35x10.50x17 on stock rims.
With the JT loaded with about 250lbs of gear in the bed, I averaged 18mpg on the road trip, there and back. I kept the speed around 72-74mph on the interstate and varied using the cruise control or not. The transmission would down shift to 7th on every incline/hill encountered on I75 with the exception of two hills it went into 6th. The shift points were smooth and I wouldn't even had noticed if I wasn't looking at the dash. Flat roads it stayed in 8th.
2. Vehicle Information Center/ Offroad pages/Offroad+. I used to always say I'm old school and don't like all this technology they are putting in Jeeps, but some of this tech was vital on this trip. It was nice to monitor temperatures and volts as you are driving. The most important thing was the TPMS. Leaving Florida and 90 degrees, by the time I hit Dawsonville Ga it was in the 50s. My tires went from 32psi down to 24 the next morning. Without the TPMS I would not had known and would have drove home that way. I kept them at 24psi while I was camping as I didn't drive much on pavement, but aired them back up before the trip home.
3. Seats. The leather seats are comfortable for long distance trips. I have read numerous posts complaining about them, I like them. I have taken many a trip in a 2015 Toyota Tacoma and the JT is far better. I had no pain that I normally would on long trips. The most notable would be stopping to get gas and exiting the truck, no stiffness or pain. The heated seat/steering wheel were a lifesaver. On mornings that was cold or after finishing up a hike/getting rained on, to be able to hop in the JT, start it up and turn on the heated seat/steering wheel, it really warmed up my core and hands. It was almost as nice as a hot shower.
3. Offroad. 1st gear and 4lo is where the Rubicon outclasses every competitor on the market. The 4to1 transfer case gives you a low range torque that can't be matched. When you need low speed and throttle control, this is the ticket. That is also it's downfall. 4lo and 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear and you feel it's turning to many RPMs, it just feels like the engine is being overworked. It is a trade-off. 4hi takes away your lockers (unless you have programmer) but works a lot better on the trail when you need to go more than 2mph. With 4.10 gears, 4hi and 1st gear still gives you a low enough ratio to navigate some tough trails. Activating the Offroad+ button gives you even more options that without researching you may not even realize you have.
4. Kenda Klever R/T 35x10.50x17 Load Range D. I got these for less than $200 a tire. I wanted to keep my stock rims and didn't want my tires sticking out past the fender flares. Not many options right now; hopefully tire companies will realize there is a need for this size. But who cares, these tires have exceeded my expectations. On the road they are quiet and ride smooth as any A/T tire I've owned. They balanced well. In the rain (Florida) they performed better than or just as good as any other tire I've owned. Off the road they really shine. Georgia red clay will turn your tire into a cheetah slick. The Kenda's tend to clean out pretty easy with the wider voids. They grab rocks well in climbing and aired down to 18psi, float well in soft sugar sand. I haven't gotten any chunks taken out, they seem to wear good (12k miles) and they have kept my JT sides free of rocks chips. Overall very pleased with them.
5. Load out. I've never camped with a truck. I have always driven a 2dr. Jeep. This was new territory for me and didn't realize how much space I had. I tried to load everything in the bed and keep the back seat open in case I ever do a trip with passengers. I was able to accomplish this, all the while trying to not take stuff I knew was not needed. I was able to take some firewood and a medium propane grill and full size tank. If you take those two items out of my load, I would have had plenty of extra room. But, if you have the room, why not use it.
1. 2020 Gladiator Rubicon. 3.6, auto, leather, Customer package 24R. Kenda Klever R/T 35x10.50x17 on stock rims.
With the JT loaded with about 250lbs of gear in the bed, I averaged 18mpg on the road trip, there and back. I kept the speed around 72-74mph on the interstate and varied using the cruise control or not. The transmission would down shift to 7th on every incline/hill encountered on I75 with the exception of two hills it went into 6th. The shift points were smooth and I wouldn't even had noticed if I wasn't looking at the dash. Flat roads it stayed in 8th.
2. Vehicle Information Center/ Offroad pages/Offroad+. I used to always say I'm old school and don't like all this technology they are putting in Jeeps, but some of this tech was vital on this trip. It was nice to monitor temperatures and volts as you are driving. The most important thing was the TPMS. Leaving Florida and 90 degrees, by the time I hit Dawsonville Ga it was in the 50s. My tires went from 32psi down to 24 the next morning. Without the TPMS I would not had known and would have drove home that way. I kept them at 24psi while I was camping as I didn't drive much on pavement, but aired them back up before the trip home.
3. Seats. The leather seats are comfortable for long distance trips. I have read numerous posts complaining about them, I like them. I have taken many a trip in a 2015 Toyota Tacoma and the JT is far better. I had no pain that I normally would on long trips. The most notable would be stopping to get gas and exiting the truck, no stiffness or pain. The heated seat/steering wheel were a lifesaver. On mornings that was cold or after finishing up a hike/getting rained on, to be able to hop in the JT, start it up and turn on the heated seat/steering wheel, it really warmed up my core and hands. It was almost as nice as a hot shower.
3. Offroad. 1st gear and 4lo is where the Rubicon outclasses every competitor on the market. The 4to1 transfer case gives you a low range torque that can't be matched. When you need low speed and throttle control, this is the ticket. That is also it's downfall. 4lo and 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear and you feel it's turning to many RPMs, it just feels like the engine is being overworked. It is a trade-off. 4hi takes away your lockers (unless you have programmer) but works a lot better on the trail when you need to go more than 2mph. With 4.10 gears, 4hi and 1st gear still gives you a low enough ratio to navigate some tough trails. Activating the Offroad+ button gives you even more options that without researching you may not even realize you have.
4. Kenda Klever R/T 35x10.50x17 Load Range D. I got these for less than $200 a tire. I wanted to keep my stock rims and didn't want my tires sticking out past the fender flares. Not many options right now; hopefully tire companies will realize there is a need for this size. But who cares, these tires have exceeded my expectations. On the road they are quiet and ride smooth as any A/T tire I've owned. They balanced well. In the rain (Florida) they performed better than or just as good as any other tire I've owned. Off the road they really shine. Georgia red clay will turn your tire into a cheetah slick. The Kenda's tend to clean out pretty easy with the wider voids. They grab rocks well in climbing and aired down to 18psi, float well in soft sugar sand. I haven't gotten any chunks taken out, they seem to wear good (12k miles) and they have kept my JT sides free of rocks chips. Overall very pleased with them.
5. Load out. I've never camped with a truck. I have always driven a 2dr. Jeep. This was new territory for me and didn't realize how much space I had. I tried to load everything in the bed and keep the back seat open in case I ever do a trip with passengers. I was able to accomplish this, all the while trying to not take stuff I knew was not needed. I was able to take some firewood and a medium propane grill and full size tank. If you take those two items out of my load, I would have had plenty of extra room. But, if you have the room, why not use it.
Sponsored