PyrPatriot
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2019
- Threads
- 193
- Messages
- 2,669
- Reaction score
- 1,859
- Location
- Kentucky, USA
- Vehicle(s)
- JT Sport S Max Tow; Honda Element
You may be right on the curb weight including a full tank of gas. I'll concede that.Maybe you're joking, but gas doesn't count against your payload. Curb Weight assumes that all fluids are full (including fuel). Also 3 250 lbs passengers wouldn't be very comfortable in a gladiator. Don't know how much a winch weighs, but payload is 1216 lbs on my Rubicon with metal bumpers/spray in liner/hardtop. I'm sure yours is more, but it's not that bad.
We are pretty comfy. More so than in the 4Runners.
I have seen Rubicons with doorjam plates showing payload in the 900lb range. Someone here posted their Rubicon had a 940lb payload on their doorjam. That is why I went with 1100. Some folks reported a bit over 1200lbs, others below 1000lbs. Still not near the 1500-1700lbs on Sport models. My Sport S Max Tow is 1544 (I just round up to 1550 for simplicity) and I saw someone post theirs at a little under 1700 (like 169-something) here a couple years ago on their non-Max Tow.
Or work out less? Do you even lift bro?I get the notion of not wanting to spend an extras $7k plus, but assuming one was interested in the bigger touch screen, decent sound system, proximity door locks, etc. (as I am) the difference is far less and much less of a value.
Also on payload, @250lbs a piece, you and your friends need to lay off the chimichangas...
Joking aside, if you have added 35" tires, sliders/side steps, metal bumper and winch, tonneau, and whatever else - your real payload 'limit' is already much less than what you started with.
Agreed, that is how I am at 6000lbs on the scales with just me and my family and gear and a full tank of gas. I posted a thread about what I have and what weighs what. Roughly: 110lb rock sliders, 90lb rubber bed mat (yes it will be replaced eventually), 125lb steel bumper and skid, 125lbs winch and plate, 100lbs of gear (tools, jack, air compressor, fluids, etc). So probably a little over 550lbs before occupants. Great, still have just under 1000lbs on my vehicle for people, tents/rack/etc. My 35" tires weigh 38lbs more than stock tires, that is an extra 190lbs across 5 tires, so 6000 becomes roughly 5800, so 450lbs of GVWR left. Matches up pretty close to my estimates on payload remaining after everyone and everything is accounted for. I could move 200lbs of gear into a trailer and have 650lbs of payload left, just perfect for a 6000lbs trailer, 80% of tow rating (which is fine according to some folks, we don't have large mountains here in KY and most highways I go on are 55mpg, I would probably not go above 5000lbs on a loaded trailer personally)
The Sport S has a posted curb weight of 4672lbs, the Rubicon is 5072lbs. Both have a 6250lb GVWR, but with only a 400lb curb weight difference they have about a 40% difference in payload and 10-27% difference in towing.
So for people who need that extra weight capability for their lifestyle, yes. It's just a silly thing that if we had gotten a Rubicon (no Mojave when we bought) we'd likely not even have any capacity left for groceries and stay within the GVWR. Yes, I could free up about 250lbs by removing gear, bed mat, etc. Luckily I do not have to, because I have MAX TOW (barbaric roar in the background)
Now, to the topic originally focused on in OP: value. A few grand DOES seem diminished at this point, but really the Max Tow does still hold a value difference of $5k-7.5k. A Sport S Max Tow with the features I'd want (color, cold weather, aux group, trail rails, Alpine audio, SelecTrack full time AWD, rails, hard top, decal) is $51,835. A Rubicon with similar options (color, decal, hard top, tow package, auxillary group, cold weather, color matched fender flares, Rocktrack full time AWD) is $57,960, a $6,125 difference. Oh and color-matched fender flares on a Rubicon are extra but come included with Sport S? And there's no option for the step-assist rock rails on a Rubicon but are for Sport and Mojave? Anyway, $6k is not worth the transfer case and lockers feature. No decal feature for Mojave? Anyway Mojave comes to $58,610, a $6775 difference.
I also posted why I think the real-world applications of the JT's towing may be higher.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-is-underrating-the-max-tow-capability.25103/
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-than-sticker-outside-of-the-mountains.28052/
And discussions on changes to GVWR or towing with axle upgrades
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...rease-from-axle-and-suspension-upgrade.28924/
I do thoroughly enjoy such discussions. No animosity or criticism is intended, hard to tell sometimes with typed text.
Sponsored
Last edited: