Is the Gladiator at risk for cancellation?

[salvino]

I know that and understand that. However, it's not inherent with the solid axle. If yours wanders, then it's not the norm as the majority do not. Even a local service advisor said "they should not do that" when I took mine in for the steering gear fix - and it was a fix (after the second one)
My 2020 did not wander, my 2022 does not wander, our JLU does not wander.
Grand Cherokees did not have a wander issue - it's not inherent to solid axle.

My 2020 Launch Edition wandered. I got it before there was a TSB. I put a Synergy sector shaft brace on it and it stopped wandering. But it turned out the Synergy parts needed regular inspection and tightening. I just got the TSB done, no more wandering. If they wander, there is something wrong that needs to be addressed. Are they as good on road as an IFS suspension? No, but is an IFS as good off-road and a solid axle? No

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[ShadowsPapa]

The steering issue, as you call it, appears to hit only some. Check around here and you'll also see most say there's no issue.
I suppose it can depend on what other vehicles people come from, hoping a tall sitting brick on big tires and recirculating ball sector based steering will handle like a lower profile vehicle with rack and pinion steering.
I've just not seen it- in my test drives or anything I've owned.

There isn't a steering issue until or unless a lot more say there is. So far, it's not a huge thing here. Lots of posts, but it's also a place where people come to list their complaints.

Go ahead and set up a poll - worded so as to not lead people into a specific response, of course, as a poll can lead people into a predetermined conclusion.

 

[rockman]

What wandering problem? There is no inherent solid axle wandering problem. Go back to the ZJ and WJ - solid axle, drove and rode like cars.
It's not inherent to the solid axle design because there's no geometrical reason for it.
It's only when people play with parts where this should be happening.
For the Gladiator - it was initially an issue with the steering gear.
But with the proper settings, there's not a reason in the world for a solid axle vehicle to wander vs. IFS.

Also disagree that the engine is a dog - maybe to those used to a V8 or a diesel - but it's really solid and strong compared to a lot of similar sized engines. It tows fine, plenty of power for most.
This is going to be what you are used to or expect. Very subjective topic. Jeeps aren't race vehicles.

I agree with the solid axle part. There is more room for it to wander versus IFS, but it isn't a problem most of the time.
The 3.6 L is an awful engine in my opinion. I had to lemon law my 2018 JKUR with a 3.6 L with a oil pump issue (CEL started at mile 1!). Lot of stories of it being unreliable. The engine was terribly inefficient (16-18 mpg watching the throttle) for the awful power it had. The 3.6 L is slightly better behind the new automatic transmission of the JL/JT.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I agree with the solid axle part. There is more room for it to wander versus IFS, but it isn't a problem most of the time.
The 3.6 L is an awful engine in my opinion. I had to lemon law my 2018 JKUR with a 3.6 L with a oil pump issue (CEL started at mile 1!). Lot of stories of it being unreliable. The engine was terribly inefficient (16-18 mpg watching the throttle) for the awful power it had. The 3.6 L is slightly better behind the new automatic transmission of the JL/JT.

The 3.6 PUG is also different than the JK and prior 3.6
More power, big changes to oil pump and other areas.
Stuff can happen, though, to any engine - ask Ford.......
16-18 mpg in a Jeep is actually pretty good, especially for the pre-upgrade 3.6.
I'd have been happy with that!

 

[Hootbro]

Some fail to understand the Gladiator is tied to the Wrangler for it's development cycle with the Wrangler not due for a new model until 2028. Gladiator was never meant or intended to be a sales juggernaut or keep up with the rest of mid size market. None of the Gladiator's warts or shortcomings will be solved until the same ones in the Wrangler are also solved if ever.

 

[BigRed2020]

Jeep will be fine, but 16mpg, naturally-aspirated engine vehicles are not long for this world. The hybrid or EV versions will need to be as capable as current models, and if that happens, they'll continue to sell to those who can afford them, which is fewer by the day.

Are you guys seriously only getting 12-16mpgs?? And are we talking modded or stock?
I have a 2020 (all stock with 58K) and even with idling during this winter and a short 7 mile commute to work each way I’m getting 18.4 mpg
During the summer I average 21-22 and on a family trip I’ve seen as high as 24.3…
I had a 2018 F150 with the 2.7 ecoboost (level kit and one size up on tires) that I averaged 18mpg on my same commute.
I absolutely love my Jeep and I think the mpg are great not to mention these engines are perfect!!

 

[salvino]

I agree with the solid axle part. There is more room for it to wander versus IFS, but it isn't a problem most of the time.
The 3.6 L is an awful engine in my opinion. I had to lemon law my 2018 JKUR with a 3.6 L with a oil pump issue (CEL started at mile 1!). Lot of stories of it being unreliable. The engine was terribly inefficient (16-18 mpg watching the throttle) for the awful power it had. The 3.6 L is slightly better behind the new automatic transmission of the JL/JT.

There are a lot of 3.6s out there, millions in fact. There are going to be bad ones for sure. I have owned four of them since 2010, still have two. I do agree they are better with the ZF8. I have put hundreds of thousands of miles on them. So far, all four engines combined I have had one issue, a bad spark plug.

Some people think they are under powered, I get that as I have driven a friends 392. But for me, I love my reliable 3.6s. More than enough power off-road and adequate on road. I get in the 20s mpg on the highway in my GC Trailhawk and about 17 average in my JTR with 37s and 4:88 gears. To each his own I guess.

 

[salvino]

Are you guys seriously only getting 12-16mpgs?? And are we talking modded or stock?
I have a 2020 (all stock with 58K) and even with idling during this winter and a short 7 mile commute to work each way I’m getting 18.4 mpg
During the summer I average 21-22 and on a family trip I’ve seen as high as 24.3…
I had a 2018 F150 with the 2.7 ecoboost (level kit and one size up on tires) that I averaged 18mpg on my same commute.
I absolutely love my Jeep and I think the mpg are great not to mention these engines are perfect!!

Even my overweight JTR on 37s and 4:88s gets 17+ average on long trips. And that includes going over many mountain ranges. Around town I get 15mpg, but I am several hundred pounds over GVW with a very beefed up suspension to carry the extra weight.

 

[BigRed2020]

Even my overweight JTR on 37s and 4:88s gets 17+ average on long trips. And that includes going over many mountain ranges. Around town I get 15mpg, but I am several hundred pounds over GVW with a very beefed up suspension to carry the extra weight.

See to me that makes sense… but I would imagine most people aren’t built as much as you are… there was a guy on YouTube pretty much a stock Gladiator and he was only getting around 16 and he lives in Texas… (I live in NH)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

See to me that makes sense… but I would imagine most people aren’t built as much as you are… there was a guy on YouTube pretty much a stock Gladiator and he was only getting around 16 and he lives in Texas… (I live in NH)

Stock? Of course, the driver is likely the greater problem, not so much the Jeep.
My stock Overland could easily clear 23 even around here with our hills.
Of course my tires, mods and weight have sunk that down, but I still do over 18 in the winter, higher in the summer. 20 isn't hard to do. If I lived where it was flat, say much of Florida, i'd be doing better.
When someone complains about poor mpg and talks those numbers on a stock JT - I pretty much safely assume -driver and speed.

 

[BigRed2020]

Stock? Of course, the driver is likely the greater problem, not so much the Jeep.
My stock Overland could easily clear 23 even around here with our hills.
Of course my tires, mods and weight have sunk that down, but I still do over 18 in the winter, higher in the summer. 20 isn't hard to do. If I lived where it was flat, say much of Florida, i'd be doing better.
When someone complains about poor mpg and talks those numbers on a stock JT - I pretty much safely assume -driver and speed.

That would also be my fist guess… I just see it quite a bit here on various topics people not getting good mileage. I know when I lift mine this summer it’ll go down but my daily commute is so short I don’t care… plus we have my wife’s ‘21 GC for long hauls…

 

[BlackRuby23]

See to me that makes sense… but I would imagine most people aren’t built as much as you are… there was a guy on YouTube pretty much a stock Gladiator and he was only getting around 16 and he lives in Texas… (I live in NH)

I think driving habits come heavily into play. He may be one of those leadfoot types who hammers the throttle everywhere he goes, and does mostly in town driving.

That being said, what has always surprised me is how v6 engines, regardless of the manufacturer, seem to be quite thirsty and offer barely any mpg improvements over the v8s of today, if any, despite lower displacement.

I bought a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 brand new, and it was an underpowered dog and thirsty as heck for such a small truck. This engine is a vast improvement over that. I think I barely got 17.5 in that thing. I ended up sending it packing after 2 years.

 

[west_bymidwest]

Poor MPGs, lack of power, and steering wandering are probably due to the fact that a lot of us on here have non factory suspension, heavy steel bumpers and armor, larger than factory tire sizes, and “overland” equipment weighing down the rear of the truck.

So, if you have steering wandering, it could be because you have a tent/camper in or on the bed that turns your truck into a sail while also putting it overweight. All of which will also drop your MPGs and make the engine feel like a dog.

Most people that buy these trucks won’t do any of the above, and as such won’t have the problems some of us do. Therefore, the problems some of us have aren’t representative of the Gladiator as a whole, and aren’t the reason why it’ll get canceled.

The Gladiator is what the masses wanted from Jeep. A dual cab (which the mass market favors, not the small amount of us enthusiasts) truck that is also a Jeep. The mainstream Jeep buyer didn’t expect FCA to price them into unobtainium for as long as they did. That’s why the sales suck.

If you bought a Gladiator thinking it was going to be something else, that’s on you. If you wanted to put a camper on a truck, you should’ve bought a F-250. If you wanted a better solid axle off-road vehicle, you should’ve bought a Wrangler (I fall into this category). If you wanted better power or MPGs, you should’ve bought literally anything else.

 

[WestwallNF104A]

See to me that makes sense… but I would imagine most people aren’t built as much as you are… there was a guy on YouTube pretty much a stock Gladiator and he was only getting around 16 and he lives in Texas… (I live in NH)

Right now my JTR is averaging 16mpg. Most of my driving is in town though.

When I get it on the highway I get around 18, but I have a bit of a lead foot.

It's also not completely broken in yet. I have a long drive coming up in a few months though, about 6,000 miles total, and that will tell me a lot more.

 

[TheDerb]

Yup. It's fun for what it is but it tries to do too much. It not big enough for big truck stuff, too long for a lot of wheeling stuff, and it's a shit daily compared to anything else. I think that's the great weakness because aside from time in the dirt or the looks, there's zero reason to buy one over a Tacoma... especially now that the Taco has much more power.

So back to Toyota in a 4Runner for a better daily and a YJ to get the buggy treatment for when I want to be stupid. The 5x8 I have fills in the lack of bed and I don't really tow more than that anyway.

I find this to be a contradictory take-
The 4Runner is built on 14 year old underpinnings, and it gets worse milage than the Gladiator. It has less breakover, approach, and departure angles. It's well known to have terrible steering, and maybe they fixed it in the '24s, but it's generally considered a bad choice for a DD when Toyota has so many other great offerings.

So, if you're complaints are it isn't big enough to do truck stuff, too long for wheeling, and being a bad daily, it seems like the 4runner is the worst possible choice you could have gone with- you just traded all of your problems with it... for the exact same problems. The folks over at Car and Driver compared the two and came up with the same thoughts.

https://www.caranddriver.com/review...2/2020-jeep-gladiator-vs-2019-toyota-4runner/

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