Happier Then or Happier Now?

[redriderjf87]

I've got a small list of upgrades to do, but overall extremely happy with mine. It's crude, simple, reliable, hauls whatever I need, and doesn't get stuck.

As long as it doesn't need to go back to the dealer, then it's doing a good job in my book.

Sponsored

 

[4-Play]

The only regret is not keeping the 2door JK I traded for it. I think I would be happier with 2 Jeeps.

 

[HooliganActual]

So I've been a bit of a Jeep fanboy ever since I bounced around the Appalachian backcountry in my uncle's CJ5. The first vehicle I ever bought full priced (@Lunentucker @ShadowsPapa my first was a $100 '78 Chevette, LOL) was my beloved '81 CJ7 which I rue getting rid of to this day. I've never not owned a Jeep since then; today, I own 3.

Not only am I a Jeep owner, but I'm a realist (IAW I am an optimist with prior experience) and I don't subscribe to the "it's a Jeep thing" mentality but I do recognize that every manufacturing process, service provider, etc. has its issues and I'm sad that a bad dealership service or initial warranty issue sours people on the vehicle, or any vehicle for that matter. I consider myself lucky that I haven't had any of those issues with my 2020 JTR that now has 30K miles on it and probably $20K in mods.

I loved it before I bought it because I knew what it could become:

I loved it the day I bought it because I knew what I would do with it:

And I still love it today because I have made it what I wanted:

Those that aren't happy with their Gladiator should move on to something else that makes them happy. I mean no disrespect; life is just too short to not be happy with your choices and what you are doing and who you are doing it with.

Before I retired, I worked with a service provider that didn't send out Customer Satisfaction surveys to their clients rather the owner would actually sit down in person and do "Customer Delight" surveys. He didn't want his customers to be simply satisfied...

I'm delighted with my Gladiator!

 

[JTDay]

Almost exactly a year with mine and 18k miles. It's been flawless. It's the only vehicle I've owned that I can't stop looking at and mines just a green sport s with takeoffs. It's got a lot of features compared to other midsize trucks and it's the only one that has the wandering on the highway feature, an exclusive accoutrement of the JT. Lol. Really love mine.

I'll say, however, I do miss having a boosted vehicle on the street. The feeling of digging into the throttle just enough to ensure the narrowest boost threshold and then flooring it once you're in the 3k rpm sweet spot and ripping to 90 in a matter of seconds is a hard feeling to compare to. If I had the funds, I'd have my JT and maybe a fully bolted WRX to play with/daily.

 

[ecidiego]

Having grown up in a family that could only afford $100 cars, and seeing latex caulking used to seal rear windows and windshields, and constant issues

 

[Echo 6]

1st Jeep but I've wanted one for decades. 1st truck as well. I got it on a 3yr/12K per year lease: I'm a year-and-a-half in with nearly 30K miles (whoops!). I'm waiting for the day the lease runs out and I buy it outright.

I've gone back-and-forth from MN to SC twice, towed trailers, hauled brush, pavers, and furniture, blasted through snowstorms and mudholes. Wife loves it, daughter loves it, dog loves it. I still look back at it when I park and smile.

As far as I'm concerned, Jeep is never getting this thing back from me!

 

[AJ-MJ]

I am very happy with my JTR that I took delivery on July 2, 2019. I am one of the lucky ones that have not had any issues.... I have done my fair share of mods and still look for more things to add to my list of "to dos". I have owned numerous Jeeps in my life time. CJs, a MJ (Comanche), XJ, and 4 Grand Cherokees. In fact, I will be picking up my 2023 GC Summit in a couple weeks. I enjoyed my MJ and wanted the Gladiator from the first time I saw the first concept truck. In fact the shorter wheel base, extended cab would be my preference. I use my Gladiator mostly as a hunting truck and the f/r lockers are my favorite feature. The best thing about the Jeep brand is they have different models at different price points, so their is something for everyone. Additionally, there is a ton of aftermarket parts to personalize your Jeep. Lastly, I still own a 1954 CJ3B... a bit of a rust bucket but I have so many wonderful memories that it is difficult to part with.

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

I'm happy. Happier now. First accessory was a Go Fast Camper and I was reluctant, I wasn't sure how much usage it would get. I have used the heck out of it. Thousands of miles and weeks at a time, get out there baby. I've planned trips and also have just gone rouge with a very loose agenda. I've saved some cash camping BLM land and the Gladiator allows me to dig in a little deeper and leave the sheeple tourist crowds behind. It's always loaded and ready, one stop at the grocery store and I'm gone. Only bitch is the camper, it leaks, the Jeep has been great! It's been a lot of fun, more than I imagined.

 

[controller]

I was shopping for a truck to replace my daily driver. I was looking at mid-sized trucks as I don't tow, and we only really wanted one for hauling gardening and light home improvement projects.

With the pricing, I figured my plan to buy a new motorcycle was not going to be in the cards, so I started looking for fun factor. That's when I started leaning towards a Jeep. Being able to take off the top and the doors was appealing and probably the closest I was going to get to two wheels and survive a Chicago winter.

I enjoyed the test drive and pulled the trigger on an Overland. The thing continues to put smiles on my face and my family doesn't want to ride in anything else (even though we have a perfectly comfortable, albeit boring, minivan).

So I guess the answer is Happy then and Happy now.

 

[Jimko71]

Only owned mine for almost 6 months. So far I really like it. Only issue as of yet I am working through is my leaking rear window. New window is in and will be replaced on 2/6. Dealership says the glass company they use is awesome and has done the Gladiator replacements so I am hoping I don't have some of the issues others have had with the replacement. Other then that and the occasional but rare gas burping at the pump it has been very fun to drive.

 

[Raven65]

Needed a midsize pickup... got the Jeep I've always wanted to boot! What's not to love?!? I got a great deal on my Sport S as it had been a "manager's personal demo" and had just under 4k miles on it when I bought it - so any initial quality issues it may have had had been worked out before I bought it. Other than the miles on the odometer, I honestly couldn't tell it from any other brand new JT on the lot - "new car smell" and all... ZERO signs of use. It was (and still is) flawless. I come most recently from a string of muscle/sports cars (sold a C6 Corvette Grand Sport to buy my '22 Gladiator Sport S) so after the massive culture shock from that transition, I'm LOVING it! I have owned a few small/midsize trucks in the past and this one is SO much nicer and FAR more capable than any of those. I don't get the people who call the JT crude, noisy, rough riding, etc. I guess they came from full-size luxury SUV's/pickups. My last truck was a BASE model '09 Tacoma (regular cab 2WD 5-speed manual) and my JT rides WAY smoother & quieter than that truck ever did. Yes the solid front axle means the steering is vague and doesn't hold a straight line as well as a truck with IFS and rack & pinion steering but that's absolutely to be expected... and I got used to it very quickly. Sure, it's more susceptible to being blown off-line by crosswinds too, but that's also to be expected of any vehicle with the aerodynamics of a barn. LOL! Again, nobody should be surprised by this. Thankfully, that's not an issue here in SC. I'm really enjoying being a part of the Jeep club with the waving, ducking, etc. Looking forward to tackling some trails with my wife & our dog soon. Maybe do some camping using the tent/gear I've camped from my motorcycle with. I will say I'm pretty amazed at the quality issues that people just brush off as being a "Jeep thing" considering what these things cost, but what's the alternative? A Bronco? From what I've read, they have plenty of quality issues of their own - and so far there isn't a Bronco pickup, so the JT is in a category all by itself. So far, I've had no issues at all... here's to hoping I don't, but if I do, I'll fix it and keep on enjoying it. If I had it to do again, I might pony up for a Rubicon, but if I'm honest with myself (as I was when deciding to buy this one) I know I don't NEED the extra off-road capability - as I only plan to do mild off-roading. I will upfit my Sport S with Rubi take-offs and aftermarket parts as needed for far less money than I would have spent on a new Rubicon and be just fine.

 

[FRAWLZLINE]

This is my second Gladiator. I put wheels and tires on a previous base Sport(automatic transmission and sting gray as the only options), drove it for almost a year. In that time I kept thinking what ifs on different options. So I made a list and ordered one with everything I needed/wanted.

1.5 inch leveling kit
Black Rhino Armory 17" wheels
Falken Wildpeak ATW3 35s
GoRhino RB20 steps
Spray in liner
Soft rolling tono
Aux switches
Tinted windows
and most importantly...Max Tow package

Thee will allow me to have a fantastic foundation. But I am not in a hurry to do the other things that might make it a more capable overlanding vehicle(final goal of my build/future build). This truck does everything my current lifestyle throws at it and then some. And, can grow with me.

I do not drive a lot of miles, I am just under a year and have only 3,700 miles on it. Most importantly though, I still look back at t and smile EVERYtime I get out of it and walk away.

Love this relationship.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I was shopping for a truck to replace my daily driver. I was looking at mid-sized trucks as I don't tow, and we only really wanted one for hauling gardening and light home improvement projects.

With the pricing, I figured my plan to buy a new motorcycle was not going to be in the cards, so I started looking for fun factor. That's when I started leaning towards a Jeep. Being able to take off the top and the doors was appealing and probably the closest I was going to get to two wheels and survive a Chicago winter.

I enjoyed the test drive and pulled the trigger on an Overland. The thing continues to put smiles on my face and my family doesn't want to ride in anything else (even though we have a perfectly comfortable, albeit boring, minivan).

So I guess the answer is Happy then and Happy now.

I realized I didn't truly "need" a full-sized truck as the Silverado I had only went about 7,000 miles a year, sat most of the time, and was a bear in crowded parking lots. I figured I could downsize while satisfying my hopes to eventually have a Wrangler or similar vehicle.
I figured heck, it's another truck, it will sit a lot, maybe 8,000 miles a year and that's it.
I traded my 2020 in last July with 27,000 miles on it. This 2022 I picked up in July has over 8200 miles on it 6 months later.
I'm so happy with it I turned the Gladiator into my daily driver and my cars sit most of the time with battery tenders on them.
My wife's 2021 Grand Cherokee, bought October 2020, just turned 10,000 miles.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Second Jeep (had a 97 TJ) and has been a wonder ever since. Coming up on a year of ownership and the only thing had to do is oil changes. Drives smooth like a dream and comfortable. Look forward to many years with Maximus

 

[Gvsukids]

I liked it the first 14 months. Then the rear window started leaking. I want to drive it into a wall. On my 2nd attempt to seal it, will test again tomorrow. I have a 3rd and final method if that doesn't work.

Bummer. The glass company my dealership went through replaced it with no more problems.

Then not having select-trac during bad snow and ice was also a reminder of my config not being ideal and up to date

Tires are big factor in winter.

Sponsored