I am buying a 2025 Gladiator

[ncl]

I may purchase a 2025 Gladiator Sport. I am on the fence. I am curious if anyone has any recommendations on what I should consider if I do purchase. The test drive was great and it appeared to be loaded (for the sport). Thanks for any tips.

I have a base sport. No options other than Max Tow pkg. Not even power windows or locks. I put a 1inch level and Rubi tires on it. Like everyone else says they are a Swiss army knife. Can do just about anything for normal truck use. If you plan to tow a high profile camper I would say stick with a 1/2ton. Otherwise great trucks and I have owned the gambit other than a dually.

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[ross neill]

I brought a soft top I wish I got a hard top there no way to secure a soft top you can just take the back window out and enter Jeep it’s 3000 to buy a hard top

 

[Duncan Jones]

Get the Max Tow package

 

[professorkx]

My wife does not like the look and says it is a car designed by committee so I may be a bad husband by my contrarian attitude.

My wife of 45 years is the exact opposite. We were on our winter trip in the south this year, and noticed all the great prices on new Jeeps. I researched and found Gladiators going for 30%+ off sticker. Since I am retiring in a few weeks, my JK has 150,000 miles and the JK doesn’t really like my dirt bike on the back in a rack, she almost insisted I buy a new Gladiator. I checked dealer pricing from Texas to Arizona, found the Rubicon with as many options as I wanted (and in white) and had it shipped to our house in Washington, as it didn’t have a bumper with D-ring mounts that we use to tow our Jeep behind the motorhome.

Of course, she also wanders into my gun room periodically, looks around and advises that I don’t have enough ammo in a particular caliber…so I happily order more….yes, she’s a keeper.

As for your questions on your Gladiator:

• I would suggest you buy a Rubicon or a Mojave (I am partial to the Rubicon as I want the front locker, I immediately swap suspension and tires, etc.).
• Get as many options as you can afford, like the tow package, media package, trailer brake controller, etc.
• Get an automatic as these are so much better than the old JK automatic. As much as I love the granny gear SM420 in my 47, the automatic is just easier to wheel.
• Get the hard top and don’t get painted fenders or hard top, as that‘s a waste of money IMHO.
• Get leather, as it wears better than the cloth interior and won’t show the red dirt if you go to Moab…which you will eventually do since…well, you will have a jeep. If you find a jeep at a dealer that doesn’t have leather, the dealer can install the factory leather for about $1600.
• Pass on the electric seat. I’ve had them in a lot of rigs, and my Corvette has electric seats. Once you set the seat for comfort you never touch it again, and IMHO, you can find the right adjustment with the manual seat. Set it and forget it.
• Don’t get automatic 4-hi. Money is better spent on other options.
• Of course, my go to suggestion, pay cash and don’t trade a rig, sell it yourself.

As for taking off the doors and top, I have cool half doors for my JK and rarely use them. On the trail, too much dust inside the Jeep…on the street, a pain when it rains. On my modified 47 CJ2a, I even had a soft top built by a boat upholstery shop after I converted it to a truck to keep the heat off my head during the summer…just too hot.

 

[warrenthedodge]

wow, great feedback and much appreciated. cute dogs..

 

[Janster]

I want a truck. I want/need 4wd for trips to Tahoe. I live in Marin county and everyone drives Rivians or the new Broncos. I really like the top off/door off feature and that if I am motivated I can trick it out. My wife does not like the look and says it is a car designed by committee so I may be a bad husband by my contrarian attitude.

Depending on where you live, you could probably get a really good deal on 2024's right now. The 2025's aren't much/any different than the 24's.
Get one as LOADED as you can afford. As mentioned,...it's better to have the options up front, then adding them later.

What does your wife drive? <maybe I don't wanna know>
***I'm the wife and my JT is MINE!!!

 

[warrenthedodge]

Ha, my wife has an Audi Q3 but wants a volvo and I also have a 2006 911 Cabriolet

 

[handyman98]

I just got a 2024 Rubicon and loving it so far. This is not my first jeep, but it had been a while. I was not looking for the Rubicon trim, but with the huge discount on a 2024 I couldn't pass it up! I bought it for just a little more than the 2025 Nighthawk trim that I was originally looking at. This will be used for some daily driving, camping, and hauling stuff.

 

[rr11]

I have a 2020 Sport S. 140K changed battery at 55K, bypassed the aux battery, no major problems. My wife loves it, her daily driver is a 05 TJ that we bought new. I have thought of trading mine but is a Gator and I can't get the color any more.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

As for your questions on your Gladiator:

• Don’t get automatic 4-hi. Money is better spent on other options

I agree with everything you said, except the 4 Auto part. In the snow country it is perfection. Like AWD. If there is snow on the road, set it and forget it. We LOVE it. It was a $600 option on our 2021 Mojave. Well worth it. And it includes CV joints instead of U joints at the hubs.

As for the ammo comment, Kuddos. I have a fine (gun slinger) wife. She is a Deputy Sheriff.

My wife will call when in town to tell me if there is a deal on 22, 45, 357 Sig, 40SW, 9mm, 10mm, .556 or 308. Asks me if she should get some. My answer is usually Yes depending on the 'deal'.

 

[Tom C]

You can still find a new 2023 diesel, and you probably can get a really good deal. https://www.bobjohnsoncdjr.com/new-...ator-Willys-1C6JJTAM7PL594042?vehicleType=new

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

You can still find a new 2023 diesel, and you probably can get a really good deal. https://www.bobjohnsoncdjr.com/new-...ator-Willys-1C6JJTAM7PL594042?vehicleType=new

How is your diesel working out for you?

 

[Tom C]

How is your diesel working out for you?

it’s my wife’s JTD, she loves it. I like driving it when she lets me. She lets me wash it for her. It’s Averaging 27 mpg. We take it on driving trips everywhere.

 

[professorkx]

I agree with everything you said, except the 4 Auto part. In the snow country it is perfection. Like AWD. If there is snow on the road, set it and forget it. We LOVE it. It was a $600 option on our 2021 Mojave. Well worth it. And it includes CV joints instead of U joints at the hubs.

As for the ammo comment, Kuddos. I have a fine (gun slinger) wife. She is a Deputy Sheriff.

My wife will call when in town to tell me if there is a deal on 22, 45, 357 Sig, 40SW, 9mm, 10mm, .556 or 308. Asks me if she should get some. My answer is usually Yes depending on the 'deal'.

Noted on the AWD version, so looks like might be a good option for some folks.

We live pretty remote in the mountains, so we get a fair amount of snow before we leave for the winter after Christmas with the grandkids. When we get a bad storm, only the jeeps in our family can get up to our house, which is why my wife drives a 23 Rubicon 2 door and has had a wrangler since 2009. I’ve had Jeeps since the early 1980s, so it’s in my blood. I think we are just used to pulling the T-case in and out of 4WD so never considered the AWD T-case.

Interesting note that my Gladiator Rubicon has CV axles and the FAD elimination plate, but I don’t have the AWD transfer case. I thought these items were only with the AWD transfer case or 392. A lot of mixed info out there…

 

[BillyP]

I want a truck. I want/need 4wd for trips to Tahoe. I live in Marin county and everyone drives Rivians or the new Broncos. I really like the top off/door off feature and that if I am motivated I can trick it out. My wife does not like the look and says it is a car designed by committee so I may be a bad husband by my contrarian attitude.

Welcome to the club, you rebel!

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