Love my Gladiator, but…. Thoughts on a couple of items

[Sandman 4x4]

I’m very happy with my new 2024 Sport S. I found with the convenience and safety packages, plus the UConnect system with the 12” touch screen. For only two months and 4,000 trouble free miles. The only issue has been lost Internet connectivity, that I was talked through to reboot the system, but holding both volume and search knobs down for 15 seconds till the screen reacts. That worked fine. No rear window leaks, even during weekly+ car washes. The only issue I have are the terrible halogen headlights and fog lights! Every other light is LED! But the headlights, at least till I replace them before the days get too short. I’m about to schedule my first oil change before 5,000 miles that’s now telling me 40% oil life left. But I refuse to go over 5,000 miles, even with full synthetic oil. I’m am about to order either a K&N CAI, or just air filter, I’d like to hear about that.

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[FreshStart]

I absolutely love everything about it....except the stock speakers. This is a cheap and easy upgrade, so I'm not complaining at all. But, there is a very noticeable difference between the stock speakers in my wife's Durango and my JT. It reminds me of a battery-powered boom box I had when I was 10.

 

[Dp7]

The only issue I have are the terrible halogen headlights and fog lights! Every other light is LED!

I swapped the halogen bulbs with LED on day one. It's a stick joke to sell a $40k+ vehicle with non-projector halogens in 2024.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

I have a 2021 Rubi; pulled my 6x12 enclosed trailer many times from St. Louis to Pensacola when I moved 3 years ago. I did the entire move with this trailer. And I loaded it to the roof; I'd say I was a fair bit over the rated load...just the weight of the trailer a third of the total weight limit.

And I've towed my 5x8 trailer with single pallets of grass many times. And my 20' boat. Never used anything but 87, never had pinging. About 55-60mph seemed to be a sweet spot for the highway miles, depending on wind and hills. Gas mileage was around 13mpg generally.

I don't have max tow, just a stock JTR.

Same here. I towed a 6x12 U-Haul enclosed trailer from Houston to Massachusetts all on 87 octane. No issues.

I cruised at 65 for most of the trip, sometimes 70. I also couldn’t hear shit over the sound of my cut exhaust, so grain of salt regarding OP’s spark knock concern lol.

‘21 Max Tow on 35s at the time.

 

[Freems]

35” tires on a Sport S without re-gearing the will put a strain on the engine and towing with this setup will just add to the strain.

I tow with my Sport on 35’s with stock gearing…what strain on the engine? That’s what my 8 speed automatic transmission is for. Ok, let’s go after some “old school” basics…when your running down the road, load or no load, you want the rpm’s of the engine to be as low as possible, by letting the transmission do its job, on demand need for more torque to go up the grade?, again let the transmission perform to transfer that torque load from the engine to the transmission. Don’t jump so fast to re-gear and let the JT work within its specifications to deliver.

 

[FloridaAussie]

Same here. I towed a 6x12 U-Haul enclosed trailer from Houston to Massachusetts all on 87 octane. No issues.

I cruised at 65 for most of the trip, sometimes 70. I also couldn’t hear shit over the sound of my cut exhaust, so grain of salt regarding OP’s spark knock concern lol.

‘21 Max Tow on 35s at the time.

Wow did you make that trip more than once?

I usually make about 7 trips with my enclosed trailer. Did a move in '18 with a Uhaul 6x12; that was expensive 3 days for $300 rental, or something like that. That prompted me to buy my own and I can get so much more gear in there. The wind resistance of the added height though, slowed me down. And probably the additional weight inside it.

I forgot to mention that I usually put it in manual and control the gear changes; on hills I found it hunting too much if left in auto.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

Wow did you make that trip more than once?

I usually make about 7 trips with my enclosed trailer. Did a move in '18 with a Uhaul 6x12; that was expensive 3 days for $300 rental, or something like that. That prompted me to buy my own and I can get so much more gear in there. The wind resistance of the added height though, slowed me down. And probably the additional weight inside it.

I forgot to mention that I usually put it in manual and control the gear changes; on hills I found it hunting too much if left in auto.

That was the only time I did that trip. That $300 number sounds about like the pricing I had too so definitely a good investment on your part.

I actually rarely used the manual shifter towards the second half of that trip. It got annoying to deal with when I got to the mountains in West Virginia. It was a nice day too so I just wanted to put my arm out the window, set the cruise to 65mph, and enjoy the drive.

The Pentastar screamed up those mountains at 65mph but that’s just how she gets down. That drive through WV was one of my favorite experiences in the JT. It was such a beautiful day and the roads were EMPTY.

 

[FloridaAussie]

That was the only time I did that trip. That $300 number sounds about like the pricing I had too so definitely a good investment on your part.

I actually rarely used the manual shifter towards the second half of that trip. It got annoying to deal with when I got to the mountains in West Virginia. It was a nice day too so I just wanted to put my arm out the window, set the cruise to 65mph, and enjoy the drive.

The Pentastar screamed up those mountains at 65mph but that’s just how she gets down. That drive through WV was one of my favorite experiences in the JT. It was such a beautiful day and the roads were EMPTY.

That's a heck of a trip. It's a pretty drive through WV; sometimes I go up there for work and take my Subaru.

I've owned several houses in Houston, and moved several times to St Louis and back over the last 10 years. Life happens fast. The last 3 interstate moves I did on my own, I think I have a weird sickness where I correlate towing a moving trailer with a road trip adventure, starting with 3D virtual tetris during the loading, airline pilot weight and balance calculations, and of course overcoming the weight of objects loaded and injury prevention. I suppose I like weird challenges.

MA is pretty; was just up in Boston in August to see Metallica. Took the kids to their first concert.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

That's a heck of a trip. It's a pretty drive through WV; sometimes I go up there for work and take my Subaru.

I've owned several houses in Houston, and moved several times to St Louis and back over the last 10 years. Life happens fast. The last 3 interstate moves I did on my own, I think I have a weird sickness where I correlate towing a moving trailer with a road trip adventure, starting with 3D virtual tetris during the loading, airline pilot weight and balance calculations, and of course overcoming the weight of objects loaded and injury prevention. I suppose I like weird challenges.

MA is pretty; was just up in Boston in August to see Metallica. Took the kids to their first concert.

WV certainly has a whole lot to explore for such a small state. I think that can be attributed to it being so untouched by people.

Speaking of weird challenges, when I was attending West Virginia U in Morgantown, I made it a goal to drive every single road that connected to town. I drove for a minimum of 4 hours out of town and back from each road. I’d end up in PA or Maryland half the time lol. My roommates would be like “where the hell have you been all afternoon? We started pregaming for tonight an hour ago”…ah man, those were fun times.

Such a beautiful state and great people.

Massachusetts has been great too. It’s certainly much more beautiful than I had imagined. Central and Western Mass remind me of WV sometimes…not as Wild & Wonderful though.

New Hampshire and Vermont are damn near breath taking. I only say “damn near” because I’ve been to Banff, Canada, and I think I want to be air lifted there right before I die lol. Never seen anything like that place.

 

[BearFootSam]

I’ll try to keep this short… Currently own a 2022 Sport S, non Max Tow.

I bought my first Gladiator, a 2020 Sport S with Max Tow not very long after they were introduced. Put almost 50k miles on it in 1.5 years and other than a leaking rear window no issues at all. We moved in August 2020 and I traded the Gladiator for something more economical, had a long work commute.
August 2021 found a nice used 2020 LE and bought it as an occasional driver. Loved it, no issues at all. When Covid prices went crazy someone offered me more than I had it and I sold it. Still wish I would have kept it.
September 2022 I bought a new Sport S, non Max Tow. Originally I added 2” Mopar Lift 35” tires and a few other items. It was a vehicle that I could enjoy on the weekend, but still drive whenever I wanted. It has became my daily and is now back in stock form. Vehicle has about 22k miles.

The questions I have…

1 - Noticed the other day the rear window is leaking. Is this something other owners are still experiencing? I understood with the 2020 being a newly introduced vehicle, but we are long past that. Dealer will get it replaced under warrant, but will not cover the cost of replacing the aftermarket tint.

2 - We recently moved and I’ve towed several 6x12 enclosed Uhaul trailers and even without Max Tow, the Gladiator was performed flawlessly. That brings me to this weekend. Rented a 6x12 Uhaul open trailer to put my lawn equipment on to bring it to our new home. When we left Friday evening the Gladiator seemed to have a hard time pulling the empty trailer. Coming back yesterday, I started noticing spark knock when I pulled a hill. I stopped a fill up with mid-grade gas and the spark knock went away. Seemed to tow better. Do other members use regular or higher grade gas when towing?

I really enjoy my Gladiator and have no intention or selling/trading. Just curious if other members are experiencing similar things with their Gladiators.

Just to be sure, you don't think the trailer brake was dragging, do you? We use a uhaul trailer a handful of times per year and generally it's a good experience, but I've twice gotten them with mechanical issues.

 

[Gvsukids]

I’m am about to order either a K&N CAI, or just air filter, I’d like to hear about that.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/cold-air-intake-what-are-the-pros-and-cons.59409/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/k-n-cold-air-intake.55867/

 

[Mofo67]

Just to be sure, you don't think the trailer brake was dragging, do you? We use a uhaul trailer a handful of times per year and generally it's a good experience, but I've twice gotten them with mechanical issues.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I did stop a couple of times to check the tires and brakes, no issues were found.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

1 - Noticed the other day the rear window is leaking. Is this something other owners are still experiencing? I understood with the 2020 being a newly introduced vehicle, but we are long past that. Dealer will get it replaced under warrant, but will not cover the cost of replacing the aftermarket tint.

They all leak. There's horror stories about getting it replaced. They have to break the rear window and you'll end up with broken glass all over the place. I'd suggest getting some silicon foam from Amazon and wedge it in the top of the rear window. Might not keep it from leaking completely, but should be enough where mold or whatever doesn't start.

 

[Gvsukids]

They have to break the rear window and you'll end up with broken glass all over the place. I'd suggest getting some silicon

Mine was replaced by Safelite without any broken glass or new leaking issues.

 

[Gatorac]

This is the tubing I used for my back window. I took it to the dealer the first time it was leaking. They had someone squirt something in the crack. It ran down and left a long trail under the window. Then, of course, it started leaking on the other side a few months later. I decided to take it into my own hands. The tubing hack is working just fine.

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