Gladiator vs Gladiator

[XJADDICTION]

If I was going to replace the axles with 60's and run 40"+ tires. I would start with a Sport. But I have no plans to replace the axles.

You never know, I wasn’t going to lift mine. I have almost 90,000 miles on the JT… I’m thinkin’ AMA pretty soon.

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[DocMike]

I would have bought the Rubi Diesel...not available in 20. Also my weekly drive cycle would not support a diesel as a DD. You get the better knuckles and really no need to regear for 37s. Reid was less than the factory Mojave. I actually cancelled an order for the Mojave knuckles.

Most on here mod their Rubi. So it's not a stock Rubi. I have seen a buddy drag his stock JTRD over some gnarly stuff. I have seen his lockers work on a section where my lift and tires kept traction.

Arb lockers are next.... maybe a few more little things. Belly pan and a few more skids. getting rid of the carpet and going to a low back seat. Cutting down my fenders.

Then it's on to the next project. Tow vehicle to match the 1964 20' Shasta. Thinking 1959-60 Kingswood with a novel engine swap.
I'll get quiet as just wheel my JT....probably a good thing for the forum. Setting things up for back country camping with the JT and luxury with the Shasta. It's got a shower, shitter, stove, fridge, etc...
Outside of the regear I did all the other work on mine so I saved a huge amount on labor, but I like to do my own work. It keeps me busy. This was my first Jeep.

Many on here bought the Rubicon and then lifted it and put on 37s or more. Regear....4.88 or 5:13.
You dumped the height advantage over the Sport for more height. MOOT
You dumped the 4.10 gearing over the 3.73 for more gears MOOT
You get lockers... after market may be better? Preference...It's like arguing about who started punk.
You get an electric disco...some times I wish....but again JKS is not too bad. I'll do mine by hand. Keeps me grounded.
You get bigger fender flares.
You get slightly wider axles.
Bigger screen.
You get to buy the @Metalcloak front diff cover.. Still salty they don't have one for me...
The vents are non functional...unless you mod them...so who cares...
Red dash that some have painted over...
Rubicon Stickers. I like my custom ones.
Leather...meh... I hardly run a roof and doors.

Driver skill matters. Sure you can over build anything to do whatever you want.
I have a buddy that ran Eagle Rock and most other trails in Colorado with a XJ on 31s.
He's been wheeling for over 30 years and knows how to pick a line. When I go to do Holy Cross and The Rubicon....he will be my spotter.
A throw down with rigs is really about driver skill.
I'd prefer to wheel, see cool shit and have a beer or bourbon after.

If I was going to replace the axles with 60's and run 40"+ tires. I would start with a Sport. But I have no plans to replace the axles.

 

[DocMike]

I guess your milkshake brings all the boys to the yard......

I resemble that remark ?

 

[AmishMike]

I guess your milkshake brings all the boys to the yard......

?
I didn’t watch it, just saw. Cartman….and I have a Rubicon

 

[DocMike]

Might want to edit a post.....

?
I didn’t watch it, just saw. Cartman….and I have a Rubicon

 

[AmishMike]

I bought the Rubicon because I don't have time to mod.
Wanted the lockers for farm rescues
Lower transfer case and 4.10's same.
Bigger brakes for towing a small trailer.
Had tow package, but no brake controller...........

I hate the stickers.
Non-functioning anything, like the hood, what's the point?
Why is steel bumper an option not standard?
Hate the red dash
Power windows, great! I have reconstructed shoulders and can't reach across to crank.
Heated seats, great for back pain
Heated steering wheel, great for my arthritis
A/T because I have torn tendons in my foot/ankle/knee
Shit, this thing even has a/c

Since purchase (new for $48K)
I found that I like to off-road
added 35's -needed a little diff clearance
added LCA skids after they took a beating once
love the lockers
make good use of factory skids and rocker rails

That being said, this is an 80% truck. It will do almost anything but at 80% as good as something else.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

Damn gents thought I walked into a bar this morning reading these posts .
To me its a jeep, that takes me places where others wont or cant go. I don't care what you have as long its a jeep .Yes some modify this way or another way. We all don't have an extra banker in our other pocket . I have owned jeeps since 1979 I think over 10 .
Not impressed with all the issues with the gladiators but its what I wanted for my last vehicle before I retire and start picking up cans out of the ditches.
Its great that there is a brother hood among jeep owners just like motorcycle owners.
Great info and entertainment on this forum. Doc mike I don't like shelve roads .Here is the girl I couldn't wait to get back to pick up when I came out to CO.I am sure there will be a next time. Brothers if your ever around NORTHWEST INDIANA drop me a dime we will have a drink or smoke.

 

[AverageOverlander]

Most on here mod their Rubi…

I’m picking up what you’re laying down, I processed the decision the exact same way you did. Regardless of the trim I got I was planning on a small lift, different tires, as well as adding a winch.

The lift would have disco sway bars, so although electric is handy, that feature was negated for me.

Pay extra for Fox shocks and replace them….

I liked the idea of lockers but I also liked the idea of a limited slip diff that’s “always ready” for Canadian winter roads. I’ve had full lockers in the past on sxs’s, I am not overly keen on taking by $60k truck into the area’s that require them, although I get many do.

For moderate off-roading and camping, the Overland has every thing I need and more and is a also a nice vehicle.

In a few years when I feel a bit bored with the truck… I will likely put ARB lockers as I’d have an on board compressor anyway, and bigger gearing and tires than the Rubi has… essentially superseding everything you pay extra for in the Rubi anyway.

I actually went in fully committed to buying a Rubi, but it just didn’t quite set itself far enough apart for me. Especially when you take into account the footprint and that it’s still a truck. If it was higher than it is, stock 35’s with gearing that you could run 37’s on, I would have caved

 

[WILDHOBO]

Why do people continue to claim the rubicon hood vents aren’t functional? I’ll need to take a picture of the steam that rises out after a car wash. They’re absolutely functional as passive vents to allow heat out.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Less than the $20K I saved by not buying a Rubicon.
I’ve had a rubicon, this time I decided I wanted better aftermarket parts.
There is a thread along with this one about the locker issues. I had that happen 3 times with my previous Ruby.

$20k? How?

Another guy in this thread can build a Rubi for $3k.

Where are we getting these ridiculous numbers?

 

[XJADDICTION]

$20k? How?

Another guy in this thread can build a Rubi for $3k.

Where are we getting these ridiculous numbers?

I bought mine October 2020. Rubicon price was $65K my Sprr S with Max Tow Package was $42K so $23k difference.

I drove it stock for about 40,000 miles. Stock other than home made rack set up.
I bought:
-JCR rack for $650
-Rubicon Wrangler takes off wheels for $50
- JB RTT for $4K
- RE lift for $1200
- replaced RE with Clayton Full 3.5” Overland kit with Falcon shocks for $6K
- Oracle Stock Look LED headlights $450
- Oracle Tail Lights $350
- 37” BFG AT KO’s for $1500
- bumper for $350
- winch $550

mall in currently at $14,500 with RTT
Without RTT at $10,500, that should be the real comparison number. Take the rack off and I’m under $10K

add
- electronic air actuated swayLoc $2200
- ARB lockers ($2200) and compressor ($600) with 5:13’s installed about ($1000) plus instal ($2,000)

under $8000 and only thing missing is 4:1 and the 8 speed auto handles that but;

Atlas t-case
Spend about $6K installed when they have it available.

- so cost me $24,000 for these upgrades without RTT
- Rubicon in October 2020 cheapest I could find was $65K so Spirt S Max Tow is $23,000 less than a stock Rubicon.

BUT
Buy the rubicon and you still need a
- lift $6K
- Tires $1500
- bumper if not the metal one
- winch
Both set you back $1000 about probably more.
- gears $1000
- install $1500

so, you spend $11,000 more to have a vehicle that has inferior lockers, inferior T-Case and inferior sway bar DC. Compared to my JT when finished that is.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I bought mine October 2020. Rubicon price was $65K my Sprr S with Max Tow Package was $42K so $23k difference.

I drove it stock for about 40,000 miles. Stock other than home made rack set up.
I bought:
-JCR rack for $650
-Rubicon Wrangler takes off wheels for $50
- JB RTT for $4K
- RE lift for $1200
- replaced RE with Clayton Full 3.5” Overland kit with Falcon shocks for $6K
- Oracle Stock Look LED headlights $450
- Oracle Tail Lights $350
- 37” BFG AT KO’s for $1500
- bumper for $350
- winch $550

mall in currently at $14,500 with RTT
Without RTT at $10,500, that should be the real comparison number. Take the rack off and I’m under $10K

add
- electronic air actuated swayLoc $2200
- ARB lockers ($2200) and compressor ($600) with 5:13’s installed about ($1000) plus instal ($2,000)

under $8000 and only thing missing is 4:1 and the 8 speed auto handles that but;

Atlas t-case
Spend about $6K installed when they have it available.

- so cost me $24,000 for these upgrades without RTT
- Rubicon in October 2020 cheapest I could find was $65K so Spirt S Max Tow is $23,000 less than a stock Rubicon.

BUT
Buy the rubicon and you still need a
- lift $6K
- Tires $1500
- bumper if not the metal one
- winch
Both set you back $1000 about probably more.

so, you spend $8,500 more to have a vehicle that has inferior lockers, inferior T-Case and inferior sway bar DC. Compared to my JT when finished that is.

Makes sense, I wasn't considering you were looking at marked up prices. $65k for a gas Rubi is crazy.

It's about an $8k difference today.

 

[Dryfly24]

Nope, They should combine the best of the Rubicon and the Mojave and name it Jackhammer or Sledgehammer in homage to the KOH race, than both would die due to lack of interest

 

[Dryfly24]

If they put front lockers on the Mojave the Rubicon would die from a lack of interest. I said what I said. ?

Why are all you Mojave guys so insecure about your rides? At the mere mention of a Rubicon you all turn into one of those guys who eye f*cks every other man that so much as walks by his girl at a party. ???

 

[Matts4313]

Makes sense, I wasn't considering you were looking at marked up prices. $65k for a gas Rubi is crazy.

It's about an $8k difference today.

Agree with this guy. The difference between my Max Tow and a similar spec'd Rubi was like ~$1-2k when I ordered from Gupton. The difference is I will never rock climb, but I will pull some jet skis behind me.

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