Gladiator vs. Colorado ZR2 Bison

[brsnow2585]

My brother just ordered a ZR2 Bison and it enters production this week. It sounds like a badass truck right out of the box, with nothing needed to hit the trail. I had to put tons of elbow grease and thought into my JT to get it to similar stats, meaning adding an AEV 2.5 lift and 35¨ tires.

He ordered it in blue, which looks very similar to my Hydro Blue JT. I can´t wait to hit some trails with him and see how it does compared to the Gladiator. I think it will be a great truck. Can´t wait to drive it!

Some observations and thoughts about the ZR2 Bison vs the Gladiator.

• Love that the Bison comes with the lift and 35´s straight from the factory. The factory manumatic shocks on it are supposed to be just incredible in all kinds of driving, on and off road.
• Love the instrument displays. Very versatile and HUGE.
• Something like 10 cameras, including two underneath that wash themselves! I tried a Garmin Overlander camera setup under my JLUR and it was amazing. I thought it was well tucked and protected until just the right rock crushed the shit out of it. Experiment over.
• The spare tire mount is a complete joke on the Bison. No tonneau, takes up cargo room, and ruin s rear visibility. Love that the JT can hold up to a 37 in the spare slot underneath.
• Gas mileage is horrible. I can easily get 21mpg on the highway. The Bison is rated at 16. It has more power, sure, but I have no complaints about the power in my 3.6. I will take the gas mileage and track record of the 3.6 any day.
• Bison comes with a rear diff skid (AEV). NICE.
• I would never trade the solid front axle with sway bar disco for the IFS of the Bison, nice as it is on-road.
• Rear lower shock mounts have been re-designed. The previous gen ZR2 had those things hanging down and waiting to hook every obstacle. These are tucked up nicely and fix a major issue, in my opinion.

We will probably hit Turkey Bay in Western KY or the Daniel Boone National Forest pretty quickly after he gets it to break it in.

Overall, from what I read and have seen on Youtube, Chevy did a helluva job on this truck, with AEV´s help, of course, to take it to a new level.

I will post some pics and hopefully video, eventually, when he gets it and when we get it on a trail. My brother´s analysis will be interesting. He had a 2020 JT Rubi with a Mopar lift and 35´s and ran it to Moab and all over the place, off-road. He adored that truck and kicked himself ever since for selling it. It never gave him a lick of trouble, and he ran it HARD.

When you end up kicking around SW KY, if you'd like some company, I'm in Southern Illinois, might be a little sore for your brother though, 2022 JT Rubicon diesel, with Mopar lift, still on factory 33's though.

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[OffRoadUSA.com]

They have a lot of electronic issues, radio bugs etc. it’s the same 2.7 that they put in the Silverado and we haven’t seen to many failures yet. They did have some paint issues earlier on, I work for a gm dealer and don’t own a gm product. The Zr2 looks like a nice rig though but I wouldn’t trust it.

Had a 2021 Silverado with the 2.4 up until last year. Great truck, never a single issue!

 

[GladiatorPilot23]

Yeah the math doesn't match there

Did you mount the K02 to a 10" width wheel? Full sidewall PSI and measured unloaded flat from straight edge to straight edge.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

In order for the K02 to reach the size the, you have to mount on a 10" width. Which they show on BFG sizes as the size used.

12.50 wide tires are usually slightly taller on narrower wheels vs. 10" wide.

Here's an example with pics:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...now-can-i-go-to-an-8-wheel.48146/#post-829872

 

[GladiatorPilot23]

12.50 wide tires are usually slightly taller on narrower wheels vs. 10" wide.

Here's an example with pics:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...now-can-i-go-to-an-8-wheel.48146/#post-829872

The link shows that the 8" wide wheel made the tire shorter. Look at the pictures and what people said.


" The tire on the right looks shorter. Is that real? I thought the diameter couldn’t change with different rim sizes due to the steel belts? "

" I think the 10 in wide wheels pull the tread face flatter so it look might loose a little height, "

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

The link shows that the 8" wide wheel made the tire shorter. Look at the pictures and what people said.


" The tire on the right looks shorter. Is that real? I thought the diameter couldn’t change with different rim sizes due to the steel belts? "

" I think the 10 in wide wheels pull the tread face flatter so it look might loose a little height, "

That's not how I read it, but I guess it's not very clear.

" I think the 10 in wide wheels pull the tread face flatter so it look might loose a little height, "

My best attempt at translation: 10 in wide wheels look might loose a little height.

Here is another example where they're saying 10" wide was 1/4"-3/8" shorter than 8" wide:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/35x12-50r17-on-stock-rims.24029/#post-571479

 

['51WillysCJ3a]

12.5" should use an 10" wheel, 11.5 should use an 8" wheel

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

12.5" should use an 10" wheel, 11.5 should use an 8" wheel

There are acceptable ranges of width to use.

BFG says 8"-11" for a 35x12.50x17 KM3 mud terrain.

Many prefer narrower wheels for better wheel protection, tires more tucked under the flares, and possibly better bead retention. 10" is not nearly as popular as 8"-9" when it comes to Jeeps running 12.50 wide tires.

 

[GladiatorPilot23]

That's not how I read it, but I guess it's not very clear.

" I think the 10 in wide wheels pull the tread face flatter so it look might loose a little height, "

My best attempt at translation: 10 in wide wheels look might loose a little height.

Here is another example where they're saying 10" wide was 1/4"-3/8" shorter than 8" wide:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/35x12-50r17-on-stock-rims.24029/#post-571479

I see now! So that throws what I read before about width out the window. So you get slightly taller tire with narrow wheels but a more rounded tread in the center. Then where does BFG get the 36.5" measurement? They state on there site they used a 10" wheel for the dimensions. I guess its BS?

 

['51WillysCJ3a]

There are acceptable ranges of width to use.

BFG says 8"-11" for a 35x12.50x17 KM3 mud terrain.

Many prefer narrower wheels for better wheel protection, tires more tucked under the flares, and possibly better bead retention. 10" is not nearly as popular as 8"-9" when it comes to Jeeps running 12.50 wide tires.

narrower wheels on a 12.5 tire will have less tread on the ground, then you always have to air down

says 8.5-11, measured at 10

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

narrower wheels on a 12.5 tire will have less tread on the ground, then you always have to air down

says 8.5-11, measured at 10

Is that somewhere from the BFG website?

BFG website says 8-11 here:

https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/auto/tires/mud-terrain-t-a-km3?tyreSize=17

 

[GladiatorPilot23]

Is that somewhere from the BFG website?

BFG website says 8-11 here:

https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/auto/tires/mud-terrain-t-a-km3?tyreSize=17

Its on the top left below MSPN - Section Width On Measuring Rim Width.

 

[Minty JL]

Did you mount the K02 to a 10" width wheel? Full sidewall PSI and measured unloaded flat from straight edge to straight edge.

The tire width to height equation does add up regardless of the calculator.

Spreading a tires width would actually reduce the tire height.......it's robbing Peter to pay Paul

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Its on the top left below MSPN - Section Width On Measuring Rim Width.

I was talking about ‘51Willys saying “says 8.5-11” and the pic he posted confirms that. What I’m seeing on the BFG website is 8-11. Not that 1/2” matters much, it’s just a slight discrepancy from what I’m seeing.

 

[DanW]

When you end up kicking around SW KY, if you'd like some company, I'm in Southern Illinois, might be a little sore for your brother though, 2022 JT Rubicon diesel, with Mopar lift, still on factory 33's though.

That would be great!!

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