Sponsored

How hard have you pushed your stock Gladiator?

DCPHOENIX

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Mar 8, 2022
Threads
48
Messages
279
Reaction score
483
Location
Arkansas
Vehicle(s)
2022 Gladiator
Occupation
Dad
We plan on taking the Gladiator all over the western US in the next 12 months.

Big Bend, several Utah national parks, lots of Arizona parks and forests, California deserts, Nevada deserts. You get the idea.

The wife is of the opinion that we just dropped a load of money on buying it, so no more spending. Which I get. 35s will be bought come time to replace the stock wildpeaks.

Curious to see how many of you have run a stock suspension/wheel set up on big trips and how it’s held up.
Sponsored

 
OP
OP
DCPHOENIX

DCPHOENIX

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Mar 8, 2022
Threads
48
Messages
279
Reaction score
483
Location
Arkansas
Vehicle(s)
2022 Gladiator
Occupation
Dad
You won't get better drivability than stock, but the lower ground clearance might let you down.
That’s my concern. We’re not going to be rock crawling, mainly dirt roads with rougher sections and I suppose occasional steep ups and downs. The extra 1” or so lift that tires would get me would be nice
 

just_another_guy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2021
Threads
7
Messages
327
Reaction score
463
Location
Indiana
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator
That’s my concern. We’re not going to be rock crawling, mainly dirt roads with rougher sections and I suppose occasional steep ups and downs. The extra 1” or so lift that tires would get me would be nice
I've only ran into issues on seriously rocky trails where the lca mounts & rear diff drags if you pick the wrong line. Other than that, it's been very impressive pulling a m416 trailer off road.
 

futzin'

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kevin
Joined
Jun 8, 2019
Threads
47
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
1,703
Location
Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
'20 JTR, '15 Durango Citadel, '06 Suburban 2500 8L
Been wheeling my stock JTR some lately. It flexes a great deal, but the long wheelbase is a bear in certain situations (other times it helps). I have LCA skids, and a hitch skid (a must, IMO). I've come to differentiate between 'Overlanding' and 'Wheeling'. :)

I've slid in some mud (KY) making it difficult to hold a line, but traction has never been an issue (stock mud terrains). I have yet to air down, except for a trip to the beach.

I'm anxious to add a Mopar lift and 35s . . . I hate scraping! If you're taking 'Overland' type trails you should be fine, I would think.
 

Sponsored

Tiny

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2020
Threads
12
Messages
201
Reaction score
520
Location
Indiana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator SportS, manual, soft top, black
Why not an inexpensive (bust still quality) spacer lift? If you've got some tools (or a buddy) easy enough to do in an afternoon and gets you some extra height. If you're just doing lighter trails that'd be some good piece of mind. Obviously won't help the diffs, etc. Could get some nice diff covers too for relatively heap insurance.
 

NachoRuby

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chad
Joined
Apr 28, 2021
Threads
28
Messages
2,985
Reaction score
4,395
Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s)
'21 JTR , '18 JLU, 73 VW Bug, 97 VW Jetta, all MTs
The bottom of mine scrapes a good bit. And I've scraped up the skid plates (no problem) and banged up the LCA brackets (problem) and the diff covers. Based on this, at minimum, I'd add LCA skids and diff skids.
 

futzin'

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kevin
Joined
Jun 8, 2019
Threads
47
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
1,703
Location
Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
'20 JTR, '15 Durango Citadel, '06 Suburban 2500 8L
The bottom of mine scrapes a good bit. And I've banged up the skid plates (no problem) and the LCAs (problem) and the diff skid plate. Based on this, at minimum, I'd add LCA skids and diff skids.
Can you share what you've done for diff skids? I need to address this. Seems like a general choice between a skid or a stronger cover?
 

NachoRuby

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chad
Joined
Apr 28, 2021
Threads
28
Messages
2,985
Reaction score
4,395
Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s)
'21 JTR , '18 JLU, 73 VW Bug, 97 VW Jetta, all MTs
Can you share what you've done for diff skids? I need to address this. Seems like a general choice between a skid or a stronger cover?
I actually haven't gotten one yet. I just found the need after my most recent outing. I'm doing diff skid plates, rather than a cover, personally. They are next on my list.
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
DCPHOENIX

DCPHOENIX

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Mar 8, 2022
Threads
48
Messages
279
Reaction score
483
Location
Arkansas
Vehicle(s)
2022 Gladiator
Occupation
Dad
Man, I never even thought about armoring the underside! Totally makes sense though.

Here in southern AZ dirt roads are rocky. Mud isn’t something you deal with haha. Got some front mudflaps on the way to keep the rock from destroying the doors and rear fender flares
 

futzin'

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kevin
Joined
Jun 8, 2019
Threads
47
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
1,703
Location
Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
'20 JTR, '15 Durango Citadel, '06 Suburban 2500 8L
I actually haven't gotten one yet. I just found the need after my most recent outing. I'm doing diff skid plates, rather than a cover, personally. They are next on my list.
My preference as well. I've misplaced my notes on which one I was leaning toward. Started reading about covers and got the 'paralysis through analysis' thing . . .
 

NachoRuby

Well-Known Member
First Name
Chad
Joined
Apr 28, 2021
Threads
28
Messages
2,985
Reaction score
4,395
Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s)
'21 JTR , '18 JLU, 73 VW Bug, 97 VW Jetta, all MTs
My preference as well. I've misplaced my notes on which one I was leaning toward. Started reading about covers and got the 'paralysis through analysis' thing . . .
Same thing happens to me haha. I spent months analyzing tires.
 

futzin'

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kevin
Joined
Jun 8, 2019
Threads
47
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
1,703
Location
Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
'20 JTR, '15 Durango Citadel, '06 Suburban 2500 8L
Same thing happens to me haha. I spent months analyzing tires.
Well, I want a 35 mud terrain in a 11.5; there seems to be one choice, so I have no excuse there!
I appreciate your input on that, btw . . .

Apologies to the OP! Carry on . . . :)
 

futzin'

Well-Known Member
First Name
Kevin
Joined
Jun 8, 2019
Threads
47
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
1,703
Location
Kentucky
Vehicle(s)
'20 JTR, '15 Durango Citadel, '06 Suburban 2500 8L
Man, I never even thought about armoring the underside! Totally makes sense though.

Here in southern AZ dirt roads are rocky. Mud isn’t something you deal with haha. Got some front mudflaps on the way to keep the rock from destroying the doors and rear fender flares
Which mudflaps did you order? I have the Weathertech's (front and rear) and really like them.
Sponsored

 
 



Top