Gladiator vs Tacoma IMO

[Concentric_Killa]

Good LT kits are expensive. But was able to buy the front used off another member and had all the shocks and bypass rebuild.
The front I had camburg lt kit with fox shocks and double bypass. The rear were DMZ rear sua kit with fox triple bypass.
For the rear it didn't cut into the bed, instead made a custom hoop to hold the bypasses.
Some old photos.

My 2011 tacoma 6-spd manual, is setup very similar to the taco you had (+3.5 Chaos, extended axles, DMZ SUA with 16" Tripple Bypasses through the bed, 4.56 gears). I am considering selling my rig in order to get a JT. I never considered it before, but after researching the JT, it would be fun to jump on the Jeep bandwagon and start a new project.

How is the JT compared to the long travel taco for wheelin? I figure by adding a budget 2" lift and 35's, I would be able to out wheel my long travel taco. As you know, going long travel is about $12K for the front and rear. It would be nice to spend a quarter of that and have more articulation.

I am already used to the wheelbase of my taco, so I feel like the JT will be very similar in that regard.

Sponsored

 

[LostWoods]

My 2011 tacoma 6-spd manual, is setup very similar to the taco you had (+3.5 Chaos, extended axles, DMZ SUA with 16" Tripple Bypasses through the bed, 4.56 gears). I am considering selling my rig in order to get a JT. I never considered it before, but after researching the JT, it would be fun to jump on the Jeep bandwagon and start a new project.

How is the JT compared to the long travel taco for wheelin? I figure by adding a budget 2" lift and 35's, I would be able to out wheel my long travel taco. As you know, going long travel is about $12K for the front and rear. It would be nice to spend a quarter of that and have more articulation.

I am already used to the wheelbase of my taco, so I feel like the JT will be very similar in that regard.

Different tools for different jobs. The Tacoma excels with fast off road and a LT kit will only widen that gap. I don't even think the Mojave is going to compete with the Pro in that regard while it has that SFA. My stock TRDOR was much smoother on fire roads than my Gladiator is but I will say that the stiffer Max Tow suspension doesn't help.

If you want to play in the rocks or more technical trails, the Gladiator will be superior. Even on the stock Sport AT tires I was able to keep up with my Taco trail group other than those with significant work. I suspect when I get my 285/75R17's installed it'll be a wash other than the LT guy.

As you said, the bang for the buck is outstanding and it's what pushed me this direction. You get way more out of a 3" lift on these trucks than you ever would on a Tacoma and you can go for more if you want. Past 3" on that side you have LT or you're cutting a crossmember.

 

[Concentric_Killa]

Different tools for different jobs. The Tacoma excels with fast off road and a LT kit will only widen that gap. I don't even think the Mojave is going to compete with the Pro in that regard while it has that SFA. My stock TRDOR was much smoother on fire roads than my Gladiator is but I will say that the stiffer Max Tow suspension doesn't help.

If you want to play in the rocks or more technical trails, the Gladiator will be superior. Even on the stock Sport AT tires I was able to keep up with my Taco trail group other than those with significant work. I suspect when I get my 285/75R17's installed it'll be a wash other than the LT guy.

As you said, the bang for the buck is outstanding and it's what pushed me this direction. You get way more out of a 3" lift on these trucks than you ever would on a Tacoma and you can go for more if you want. Past 3" on that side you have LT or you're cutting a crossmember.

Good info. I do more slow stuff these days vs 7 years ago when I lived in Socal with tons of open desert. The truck has been good to me and has never left me stranded so it is definitely a hard decision.

I found a youtube video of some guys wheelin a stock rubicon JT on a most difficult trail up in Big Bear Ca (Holcomb Creek, 3N93). This particular trail, I have ridden many times on a dirt bike. I wouldn't consider taking my LT taco on it with only 33's, but these guys did the entire thing with the stock rubi JT. After I saw that video I was more sold on the capability of the JT.

I think wheelin a solid axle rig will take some getting used to (line selection especially over a LT IFS rig). Looking forward to getting a JT if the world ever gets back to normal....

 

[Bjeepz]

Good info. I do more slow stuff these days vs 7 years ago when I lived in Socal with tons of open desert. The truck has been good to me and has never left me stranded so it is definitely a hard decision.

I found a youtube video of some guys wheelin a stock rubicon JT on a most difficult trail up in Big Bear Ca (Holcomb Creek, 3N93). This particular trail, I have ridden many times on a dirt bike. I wouldn't consider taking my LT taco on it with only 33's, but these guys did the entire thing with the stock rubi JT. After I saw that video I was more sold on the capability of the JT.

I think wheelin a solid axle rig will take some getting used to (line selection especially over a LT IFS rig). Looking forward to getting a JT if the world ever gets back to normal....

Having owned a 2009 reg cab and a 2018 trd off road access cab taco and.. a 2015jk then a 2017 jku and now a JT i am confident that if you’re looking for something to wheel on more technical slow stuff that the JT should make you pretty happy.. the tacoma is an ok rig, especially your setup, but i prefer everything about my JT. Both my Tacoma’s were lifted, one with OME the other with Eibach. As were the JK and JKU and now I have a JKS setup on the JT.

 

[Concentric_Killa]

Having owned a 2009 reg cab and a 2018 trd off road access cab taco and.. a 2015jk then a 2017 jku and now a JT i am confident that if you’re looking for something to wheel on more technical slow stuff that the JT should make you pretty happy.. the tacoma is an ok rig, especially your setup, but i prefer everything about my JT. Both my Tacoma’s were lifted, one with OME the other with Eibach. As were the JK and JKU and now I have a JKS setup on the JT.

After the past three weeks of research, I can definitely agree. I wheeled my stock tacoma for years before going long travel. Although capable, it was limiting. The main limiting factor stock was the ground clearance especially under the front skid. Now, it still is ground clearance. I am only running 33's. To run 35's even with my long travel up front (+3.5" wider per side), I still have some cutting to do ( Cab mount chop, and firewall). I have gotten by running 33's and long travel for years. Sometimes you have to get creative on line selection however.

I am definitely doing more technical slow stuff these days. Although my rig is very capable at slow stuff (now), it would be nice to start a new project that doesn't cost $$ to go on the most difficult trails/ places that I want to go. Not having a front locker has bit me twice in the past 10 years. Having a winch is useless if you have nothing to connect to.

Now, I just need the world to get back to normal so I can give my taco a new home. If I had more property, I probably wouldn't sell the taco, but why do I need two trail trucks?

 

[Bjeepz]

After the past three weeks of research, I can definitely agree. I wheeled my stock tacoma for years before going long travel. Although capable, it was limiting. The main limiting factor stock was the ground clearance especially under the front skid. Now, it still is ground clearance. I am only running 33's. To run 35's even with my long travel up front (+3.5" wider per side), I still have some cutting to do ( Cab mount chop, and firewall). I have gotten by running 33's and long travel for years. Sometimes you have to get creative on line selection however.

I am definitely doing more technical slow stuff these days. Although my rig is very capable at slow stuff (now), it would be nice to start a new project that doesn't cost $$ to go on the most difficult trails/ places that I want to go. Not having a front locker has bit me twice in the past 10 years. Having a winch is useless if you have nothing to connect to.

Now, I just need the world to get back to normal so I can give my taco a new home. If I had more property, I probably wouldn't sell the taco, but why do I need two trail trucks?

Looks like you were/are running the 255's for the Toyo's? that is what I had on my 2018, tallest tire a Tacoma can handle without cutting at a diameter of 33.5 tall. There will be somebody on Tacomaworld that is the right kind of crazy (not like the masses there... yikes!) that will be all over your rig and surely buy it!

The JK Gear and Gadgets vids show their JT Rubicon with only a 1.5 in levelling kit and Falcon shocks running 37's with no issues. The levelling kit had bump stops included to eliminate any fender/tire contact. Pretty impressive.

 

[Concentric_Killa]

Looks like you were/are running the 255's for the Toyo's? that is what I had on my 2018, tallest tire a Tacoma can handle without cutting at a diameter of 33.5 tall. There will be somebody on Tacomaworld that is the right kind of crazy (not like the masses there... yikes!) that will be all over your rig and surely buy it!

The JK Gear and Gadgets vids show their JT Rubicon with only a 1.5 in levelling kit and Falcon shocks running 37's with no issues. The levelling kit had bump stops included to eliminate any fender/tire contact. Pretty impressive.

Yep, been running the 255/85/16's for years. I found that the Toyo's wear the best for a mud terrain. BFG KM2's are way too soft to be using on the HWY.

I also hate the look of super wide tires/ wheel offsets (Drives me nuts). I see plenty of wranglers around my house that have crazy wheel offsets. Its almost like, people don't understand what wheel offsets are. Mix wide tires/ wrong offset and trail mud and you will have the entire side of the rig covered in mud. Not a bad thing, but not being able to roll down the windows because you have mud all over the glass drives me nuts. I managed to make custom fender liners/ mud flaps for my taco. I was able to divert the mud away from the windows at least.

As for modding the JT, I would like to investigate / do the following:

- Front coil-over conversion. Many companies make bolt on brackets (Evo engineering, Acutune suspension). I would still run the dual rate coil springs in the rear. Since this is a 'truck', having the dual rate coil springs in the rear makes sense. The conversion is expensive (Shocks alone are about $2K, but they are completely serviceable/ tuneable. I don't mind spending $$ if its better in the long run 'buy once, cry once'.

- Add some Front Hydro Bumpstops where the front coil used to rest. Hydro bumps are amazing. I would also add some hydro bumps to the rear.

- Figure out when upper/ lower control arms need to be changed. How much can you lift it before needing the caster adjustment. I am sure stock arms are not very beefy. Also, having like a 'johnny joint' rod end would be nice from a serviceability standpoint. I think if its past 2", you need the adjustable arms.

- **First mod** Buy an Artec full belly skid. They are local to Salt Lake, so I wouldn't have to pay for shipping.
- ** First Mod** Buy some actual rock sliders. The Evo engineering ones look pretty nice/ functional. My dad has some EVO products on his JK on 37's.

- Design a high clearance rear bumper that has the trailer hitch behind the license plate. You can easily gain a couple degrees of departure angle if the stock trailer hitch wasn't attached. (I am a mech engineer by trade, so this wouldn't be too hard to do).
My rear bumper on the taco is like this, it has a bolt in cross member for the trailer hitch. You would basically have the license plate mounted on a piano hinge.

 

[Arcticelf]

Yep, been running the 255/85/16's for years. I found that the Toyo's wear the best for a mud terrain. BFG KM2's are way too soft to be using on the HWY.

I also hate the look of super wide tires/ wheel offsets (Drives me nuts). I see plenty of wranglers around my house that have crazy wheel offsets. Its almost like, people don't understand what wheel offsets are. Mix wide tires/ wrong offset and trail mud and you will have the entire side of the rig covered in mud. Not a bad thing, but not being able to roll down the windows because you have mud all over the glass drives me nuts. I managed to make custom fender liners/ mud flaps for my taco. I was able to divert the mud away from the windows at least.

As for modding the JT, I would like to investigate / do the following:

- Front coil-over conversion. Many companies make bolt on brackets (Evo engineering, Acutune suspension). I would still run the dual rate coil springs in the rear. Since this is a 'truck', having the dual rate coil springs in the rear makes sense. The conversion is expensive (Shocks alone are about $2K, but they are completely serviceable/ tuneable. I don't mind spending $$ if its better in the long run 'buy once, cry once'.

- Add some Front Hydro Bumpstops where the front coil used to rest. Hydro bumps are amazing. I would also add some hydro bumps to the rear.

- Figure out when upper/ lower control arms need to be changed. How much can you lift it before needing the caster adjustment. I am sure stock arms are not very beefy. Also, having like a 'johnny joint' rod end would be nice from a serviceability standpoint. I think if its past 2", you need the adjustable arms.

- **First mod** Buy an Artec full belly skid. They are local to Salt Lake, so I wouldn't have to pay for shipping.
- ** First Mod** Buy some actual rock sliders. The Evo engineering ones look pretty nice/ functional. My dad has some EVO products on his JK on 37's.

- Design a high clearance rear bumper that has the trailer hitch behind the license plate. You can easily gain a couple degrees of departure angle if the stock trailer hitch wasn't attached. (I am a mech engineer by trade, so this wouldn't be too hard to do).
My rear bumper on the taco is like this, it has a bolt in cross member for the trailer hitch. You would basically have the license plate mounted on a piano hinge.

As another Taco guy coming into the jeep world: it's a different truck, and you'll end up with a different build and wheeling approach than a LT Taco. Of course I'm keeping the Taco for serious wheeling.

I'm either putting Hydros on mine or the new Plastics Buy Durobumps, supposedly the prototypes will be out for the JT in a few weeks.

I'm also looking at doing a proper triangulated 4 link in the back and ditching the pan-hard. I want travel more than lift, and King 2"x10" shocks will fit the back just fine, and the front with a welded eyelet (for -1" length). Coilovers in the front is tempting, but I think a real shock up there will be enough for what I want.

WRT the rear bumper: there is a full width cross member that the OEM hitch bolts too, so moving that hitch up to get better departure angle is going to be a real bitch.

 

[Concentric_Killa]

As another Taco guy coming into the jeep world: it's a different truck, and you'll end up with a different build and wheeling approach than a LT Taco. Of course I'm keeping the Taco for serious wheeling.

I'm either putting Hydros on mine or the new Plastics Buy Durobumps, supposedly the prototypes will be out for the JT in a few weeks.

I'm also looking at doing a proper triangulated 4 link in the back and ditching the pan-hard. I want travel more than lift, and King 2"x10" shocks will fit the back just fine, and the front with a welded eyelet (for -1" length). Coilovers in the front is tempting, but I think a real shock up there will be enough for what I want.

WRT the rear bumper: there is a full width cross member that the OEM hitch bolts too, so moving that hitch up to get better departure angle is going to be a real bitch.

If I had enough room, I would keep the taco. But do I really need two trucks? I know different builds, but lately I am trying to scale down the amount of 'stuff' around the house. If I kept the taco, I might have to buy a trickle charger because it would probably just sit.

Assuming someone buys my taco, I would also be interested in more travel vs lift. I would probably only do a 2.5" lift with new arms and then run 35's. It is always good to fit the largest tire before lifting, and then if you are lifting, doing so sparingly. I have no interest in any leveling kits. It is either stock, or new springs and links.


For the rear 4-link, what do you plan on doing with the gas tank? I would assume the gas tank is right where your left side upper links would mount. If you mention fuel cell, check your local emissions stations. You might have to use the stock filler neck to pass emissions. I know Long travel guys in Cali have been fighting that issue for years with fully linked trucks.

 

[Arcticelf]

If I had enough room, I would keep the taco. But do I really need two trucks? I know different builds, but lately I am trying to scale down the amount of 'stuff' around the house. If I kept the taco, I might have to buy a trickle charger because it would probably just sit.

Assuming someone buys my taco, I would also be interested in more travel vs lift. I would probably only do a 2.5" lift with new arms and then run 35's. It is always good to fit the largest tire before lifting, and then if you are lifting, doing so sparingly. I have no interest in any leveling kits. It is either stock, or new springs and links.


For the rear 4-link, what do you plan on doing with the gas tank? I would assume the gas tank is right where your left side upper links would mount. If you mention fuel cell, check your local emissions stations. You might have to use the stock filler neck to pass emissions. I know Long travel guys in Cali have been fighting that issue for years with fully linked trucks.

My taco had progressed past DD stage, and I needed something for a daily, and an offroad toy...

Here's the fun part about most jeep lifts: they all use bump stop spacers, so you're gaining lift, maintaining travel numbers, but gaining ride height. Gaining hieght without more travel lets you clear bigger tires, but a stock JT will clear 35s,

The fuel tank is far enough forward, and it's already a 4 link rear,just not triangulated. So all it needs is custom arms and new upper arm mounts on the axle. Probably some other minor shit moved, but the gas tank isn't in the way unless you want to LT it and move the arms forward on the frame. Which I don't really want to do.

 

[Arcticelf]

I'm not sure if we can get away with fuel cells here, I should check on that.

 

[jurfie]

You want rear triangulated? Check out Rock Krawler's Pro-X 3.0 systems:

http://rockkrawler.com/suspension/2...on-jt/jt-3-0-suspension-systems/jt-3-0-pro-x/

There's a long thread on here with details as well:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/rock-krawler-3-x-factor-jt-system.20530/

 

[LostWoods]

I'm not sure if we can get away with fuel cells here, I should check on that.

CA is the only place I've seen that doesn't allow fuel cells outright but others might have grabbed on to their standards since I last looked into it. The tank is just a container which means you just need to make sure you're still piping the evap system correctly so you don't start throwing codes and you should in theory be ok. I know a lot of western states are pushing towards CA standards but I don't think that's reached out here.

Though I'd recommend if you're going the fuel cell direction, do what you can to keep it subtle. Smog inspections will probably be fine but that won't stop an LE from giving you a fix-it ticket. Even though we generally didn't have issues where we were in CA, driving what was basically a 1400 truck through LA was bound to get a lot of unwanted attention.

 

[Arcticelf]

You want rear triangulated? Check out Rock Krawler's Pro-X 3.0 systems:

http://rockkrawler.com/suspension/2...on-jt/jt-3-0-suspension-systems/jt-3-0-pro-x/

There's a long thread on here with details as well:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/rock-krawler-3-x-factor-jt-system.20530/

I saw that, not sure if I'll buy their kit or build one myself.

 

[donaldus]

My thoughts on the Gladiator vs Tacoma when looking at off road features.

Since my retirement, I’ve been driving “dealer trades” for three years, so I get to drive just about every vehicle from tiny cars to F550 chassis. Driven many, many Tacos...not impressed with the power vs horrific mpg I’ve seen on drives of up to 1000 miles. Gladiator may not have much more power, but it feels less lethargic. My trade-in was a 2014 EcoDiesel with amazingly had the same tranny as my day old Gladiator. I’m thinking the difference betwixt the Taco and Jeep might be the transmission. I’ve driven the 6 speed Gladiator, and it felt doggy compared to the 8 speed.

Sponsored