Gladiator vs F150 RV towing

[Jobofly]

Overall I don't think it can, the higher rated vehicle wins. The point I was trying to make about my Gladiator vs my F150 is that when towing identical travel trailers well under the weight limits for the JT, the Gladiator was more stable and got noticeable better fuel mileage.

This! I feel a lot more stable in my Mojave than I did in my f150. yes, the F150 had more power but in my opinion that is the only area it wins for towing.

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[TheRealStreetcommander]

To add more context, I have not towed heavy with the Gladiator yet. It may indeed get squirrelly as weight moves up. Also, I’m completely stock. A modified Gladiator with a lift and big heavy tires may make towing downright dangerous. If I had to tow heavy often, I’d have a real truck rather than the Gladiator.

 

[MrClortho]

A modified Gladiator with a lift and big heavy tires may make towing downright dangerous.

...not my experience. My Clayton 3.5" lift has heavier springs much, much more heavy duty control arms and Fox shocks. At least for me, my Glad pulls more stable and sure footed now on the lift and 37's than it did stock.

 

[TheRealStreetcommander]

You must have a really good setup or the JT must take a lift better than the older vehicles. Every lift I’ve ever done and every lifted vehicle I’ve ever driven has always been objectively worse at towing by a large order of magnitude. Not withstanding a vehicle with wasted OEM suspension.

Admittedly, my first hand experience has always been with older model Jeeps and vehicles though.

 

[Paulie44]

My first experience towing with the Gladiator was that first trip down to Texas. I babied it meaning no quick acceleration, no cruise control, and I tried not to go over 65 but did so a few times. I filled up here at the plant then again across the street after dropping the trailer off. I don’t remember the number down to the decimal but it was just a hair over 13.0 mpg calculated by hand and the dash showed 13.1. I had done that same trip a few months earlier in the 2017 Ford and the computer showed 10 mpg. A few weeks earlier that same trip in the Ford showed 9.5. Don’t take that a s a knock against Fords, I have been a Ford guy my whole life and until trading for the Jeep I had one for the last 30 years. The 17 model F150 had plenty of power and I loved the truck but I never got anywhere near the advertised mileage of the window sticker. The Ford averaged out around 16.5 to 17 mpg each tank, and that is exactly what I’m getting out of the Gladiator. The second trailer I took to Texas with the Jeep I drove more like normal, still without using cruise, and my mileage went down to 12. These things are not meant to be a full time tow vehicle but they do a good job at it as long as you stay short, lite, and use common sense.

The only bad experience I’ve had towing with the JT was pulling a 27’ travel trailer. The hitch and overall weight of the trailer was at the very upper end of what the gladiator is capable of but I really think it was the length and the wind that created the pucker factor for me. I delivered it about 30 miles north of here and the wind was blowing hard out of the west. I couldn’t drive over 45 mph or it would fishtail badly. I was very happy to find out that the brake controller worked perfectly.

If someone is looking for a vehicle to tow their RV 100+ miles several times a year, depending on the size of the trailer, I would suggest at least a full size or better yet a ¾ or 1 ton truck. But, when used occasionally to pull a small travel trailer or boat, the Gladiator works great for me.

How would you feel by pulling a one car trailer with a 3500 lb car on it maybe 300 mikes each way with a gladiator like yours

 

[Idlethunder]

How would you feel by pulling a one car trailer with a 3500 lb car on it maybe 300 mikes each way with a gladiator like yours

As with anything, be wary of advice you receive online!

In my opinion and depending on the trailer used, the overall weight would not be a problem with my Rubicon but I would worry a little about the hitch weight and I’ll explain that further down. If I had a 3,500 pound car to move, I would use a double axle flatbed trailer. You can also rent a little tow dolly from Uhaul but I’ve never used one so I won’t comment on them. My flatbed weighs about 1,800 so with the car that’s 5,300. That would need a tongue weight of 750 to 800 pounds and technically that should tow well. The reason that worries me is because I have only towed one trailer with my Gladiator with a hitch weight much over 600 pounds. It was the 27’ travel trailer I mentioned above. On that one I was getting hit with a stout cross wind and I am guessing the wind and the length of the trailer was the problem. But it was also the heaviest trailer by far that I’ve pulled and if I remember correctly the hitch weight was 820 pounds. A stabilizer hitch is a huge help and I highly recommend one if towing, but they can only do so much. At some point I will try another longer trailer but the ones that have pulled great for me have been 26’ or less with a dry weight of 4,000 pounds or less and a hitch weight of 600 pounds or less.

I have seen several pictures of people towing cars behind their Gladiator and they would be much more help than I can. On paper I think you would be fine but until you are driving there is no way to be sure.

 

[Chunky White]

My JTR was all over the road last friday carrying 24 bags of mulch and I cannot imagine towing a travel trailer of any size with it. A Supercrew F150 can tow 13000+ pounds with twice the torque and probably 100 more HP with the 3.5 Ecoboost.

 

[Osteodoc08]

I’ve towed my 5800# boat and trailer set up with 4 vehicles
1. 2016 F-150 SuperCrew King Ranch with 5.0L
2. 2018 Expedition Max with HD Tow and 3.5L EB
3. 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave with HD Tow and 3.6L Pentastar
4. 2013 F-250 SuperCrew King Ranch 6.7L

Stability goes: 4, 1, 2, 3
Power wise: 4, 2, 1, 3
Fun factor: 3 with no comparison

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