Sparkman733
Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey there fellow Gladiator owners and fans! This post is a bit long, but I love to share my story and love to here the stories of others!
I am extremely happy and finally have obtained "Frank" a 2023 Rubicon Gladiator. He is pictured next to "Fran", my 2011 Jeep JKU.
If you care to read, here is the story...
I always wanted a Jeep and when my Mother passed in August of 2011, I had a "come to mortality" moment and realized our lives on on loan from God!
Fran came to me 10 days after her passing and on what would have been my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I was living in Connecticut at the time and there was no shortage of places to bring "Fran" to. Places she knew and places she didn't.
A retirement and job change Brought me to Texas. A daughter in Idaho and a son still on the East Coast...the next thing you know, "Fran" had been to 40 states. In January of 2023, "Fran" has touched her tires into all lower 48 states.
From Pikes Peak, to Moab, Rubicon, Monument Valley, Crater Lake and beyond she remains with me.
Enter "Frank"!
Frank is a 2023 Rubicon Gladiator which was obtained on Friday 3/22/24. A little more history..."Frank" is my late father. He passed just before Christmas of 2022. I have to say that after all the trips taken with "Fran" I realized "Frans" frame was not compatible with what I wanted to do.
Having traveled all 48 lower states and impromptu sleeping in "Fran" because of the unforeseeable, I wanted a vehicle capable of carrying a bigger payload. I am not a big rock crawler, but have, not a big tent person, but have...."Frank" made sense.
My parents tried to treat my sister and I as equals. I felt an obligation if I had "Fran" and my Dad rode in and traveled in "Fran", that I had to get another Jeep and he would be "Frank"! The Gladiator fit my bill. But my Dad was "old School"! I learned to drive on a 5 speed Toyota Celica Supra and had stick shifts all my life. All Wranglers and Gladiators come standard with a stick...Try to find one!
"Fran" is a 6 speed and it's bullet proof! I have the old motor which is a dog but I have other ways of getting into trouble besides speed.
After my Frank passed and the dust settled, I started my search for a stick shift Gladiator. Well, FCA failed as did the clutch plates! I got to know my local Jeep dealers by name, calling once a weed to ask if there was a fix. By the way, I feel sorry for those folks who took delivery and had to park them until a fix was found.
So many things have happened since January/February 2023. The UAW strike halted production, the recall was not fulfilled and I waited . Jeep offered 15%off MSRP for the Gladiators and I was tempted for an automatic...I didn't take the bait.
Finally, the manual gladiator hit the streets. I found less than a dozen available across the US. Since I am in the travel industry, the only obstacle was how far was I willing to drive "Frank" home.
Now, I will gladly answer how "Fran" was built and how I want to build "Frank", but I wanted a Rubicon, but stripped down. I was able to find "Frank" in Killeen Texas. I live in the Atlanta Metro Area.
"Frank" has everything I wanted without a custom order so he was a "no brainer". Trailer Tow Package and Auxiliary switches. I'll be glad to answer why I didn't opt for "Mall Crawler" options. Also, I'm tire of quotes so I am suspending the use of the shift key for quotes.
My Fiancé and I flew into Austin and picked up Frank. I had all the paperwork and loan information and had bee in contact with the dealership. What a horrible experience. I hadn't purchased a vehicle since Fran and that was in 2011. I am in Atlanta and was buying in Texas. I counted on the stealership to make this seamless. I provided everything they needed...well that's another story. If you want to purchase a vehicle out of state I will be glad to pass on to you what I know.
Friday 3/22. I got Frank. Sooooooooo, much different from Fran. Gearbox is much more refined, shorter throw and the power!!! I'm thrilled. Fran will continue to be my Rock. Frank...
If you'd like, I'll tell you my build plan for Frank. I'll just say that since Fran has been to all lower 48 and I didn't have a plan...Frank is being purpose built for Denali in Alaska and all the US National Parks. I have a build in mind and will update my plans.
Input and thoughts always welcome.
I am extremely happy and finally have obtained "Frank" a 2023 Rubicon Gladiator. He is pictured next to "Fran", my 2011 Jeep JKU.
If you care to read, here is the story...
I always wanted a Jeep and when my Mother passed in August of 2011, I had a "come to mortality" moment and realized our lives on on loan from God!
Fran came to me 10 days after her passing and on what would have been my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. I was living in Connecticut at the time and there was no shortage of places to bring "Fran" to. Places she knew and places she didn't.
A retirement and job change Brought me to Texas. A daughter in Idaho and a son still on the East Coast...the next thing you know, "Fran" had been to 40 states. In January of 2023, "Fran" has touched her tires into all lower 48 states.
From Pikes Peak, to Moab, Rubicon, Monument Valley, Crater Lake and beyond she remains with me.
Enter "Frank"!
Frank is a 2023 Rubicon Gladiator which was obtained on Friday 3/22/24. A little more history..."Frank" is my late father. He passed just before Christmas of 2022. I have to say that after all the trips taken with "Fran" I realized "Frans" frame was not compatible with what I wanted to do.
Having traveled all 48 lower states and impromptu sleeping in "Fran" because of the unforeseeable, I wanted a vehicle capable of carrying a bigger payload. I am not a big rock crawler, but have, not a big tent person, but have...."Frank" made sense.
My parents tried to treat my sister and I as equals. I felt an obligation if I had "Fran" and my Dad rode in and traveled in "Fran", that I had to get another Jeep and he would be "Frank"! The Gladiator fit my bill. But my Dad was "old School"! I learned to drive on a 5 speed Toyota Celica Supra and had stick shifts all my life. All Wranglers and Gladiators come standard with a stick...Try to find one!
"Fran" is a 6 speed and it's bullet proof! I have the old motor which is a dog but I have other ways of getting into trouble besides speed.
After my Frank passed and the dust settled, I started my search for a stick shift Gladiator. Well, FCA failed as did the clutch plates! I got to know my local Jeep dealers by name, calling once a weed to ask if there was a fix. By the way, I feel sorry for those folks who took delivery and had to park them until a fix was found.
So many things have happened since January/February 2023. The UAW strike halted production, the recall was not fulfilled and I waited . Jeep offered 15%off MSRP for the Gladiators and I was tempted for an automatic...I didn't take the bait.
Finally, the manual gladiator hit the streets. I found less than a dozen available across the US. Since I am in the travel industry, the only obstacle was how far was I willing to drive "Frank" home.
Now, I will gladly answer how "Fran" was built and how I want to build "Frank", but I wanted a Rubicon, but stripped down. I was able to find "Frank" in Killeen Texas. I live in the Atlanta Metro Area.
"Frank" has everything I wanted without a custom order so he was a "no brainer". Trailer Tow Package and Auxiliary switches. I'll be glad to answer why I didn't opt for "Mall Crawler" options. Also, I'm tire of quotes so I am suspending the use of the shift key for quotes.
My Fiancé and I flew into Austin and picked up Frank. I had all the paperwork and loan information and had bee in contact with the dealership. What a horrible experience. I hadn't purchased a vehicle since Fran and that was in 2011. I am in Atlanta and was buying in Texas. I counted on the stealership to make this seamless. I provided everything they needed...well that's another story. If you want to purchase a vehicle out of state I will be glad to pass on to you what I know.
Friday 3/22. I got Frank. Sooooooooo, much different from Fran. Gearbox is much more refined, shorter throw and the power!!! I'm thrilled. Fran will continue to be my Rock. Frank...
If you'd like, I'll tell you my build plan for Frank. I'll just say that since Fran has been to all lower 48 and I didn't have a plan...Frank is being purpose built for Denali in Alaska and all the US National Parks. I have a build in mind and will update my plans.
Input and thoughts always welcome.
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