May Give the Gladiator Another Go

[DickensCPA]

I joined here I want to say around Feb 22 and in March 2022 I bought a brand new leftover 2021 Gladiator. I gave my son my '04 Rubicon TJ and bought the Gladiator. Not sure if I got a lemon or they were working out kinks but it left me stranded 3 times in 3 months and the dealer gave me my money back and I bought a LOW mileage 2017 JKU. I've always kept a truck and a Wrangler until this one and I've loved the Gladiators since they came out.

I bought a Sahara JKU so I'd have a few daily driver luxuries and a blank slate to build like I want. I think I made a mistake. I live in middle TN and me and a buddy wheeled Prentice Cooper last month and my wife and I just got back from Red River Gorge Sunday night. As cool as "blank slate build like I want" sounds, I think it's just too much trouble and money compared to buying a Rubicon off the bat. I don't like the cost but it's more the time and being without the Jeep while it's getting upgraded, etc.

So many "little" things the Rubicon comes with stock that you don't think about. D44 front and rear as opposed to D44 rear and D30 up front. Wider axles so 35s don't rub even after a lift. Mine came with 3:21 gears as opposed to 4:10. 35s are as big as I need so 4:10 is fine for me but regearing isn't cheap and you're limited with a D30 anyway due to its size.

I just got an estimate back from 3 different places yesterday for new locker in the rear (I have an Aussie up front but can't put a lunchbox in the rear with BLD unless it's a manual) and a regear. Driving to Red River Gorge 4 1/2 hours on stock gears and 35s was miserable. The cost surprised me to say the least.

I say all of this to say my extended warranty on my JK is up 9/1/26, it's paid for and I have equity in it even though I bought during COVID and the Rubicon Gladiators that were selling for $70-80k are now $49K out the door. I've come to the conclusion I'm getting a new Gladiator Rubicon.

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[ChrisNLA]

The JT/JL is a significant improvement over the JK.

Hopefully your next one gives you a better experience than your last JT.

 

[DickensCPA]

The JT/JL is a significant improvement over the JK.

Hopefully your next one gives you a better experience than your last JT.

I'm not big on electronics and that's what left me stranded in the JT. There were some things on the JK I liked better than the TJ but also vice versa. After I get the JT and have it a bit I'll probably see some things I like better on it and vice versa as well.

The only thing that really gets me is I poured a lot of myself and parts into the JKU that won't transfer over. As a matter of fact I have a part floating on a FedEx truck as we speak.

I love my front & rear bumpers, my cargo shelf for the back, my roofrack and I spent a fortune on the Teraflex heavy duty tailgate reinforcement. I also just bought brand new tires with about 4000 miles on them now. My wife always says whenever I buy new tires it's the death of that current vehicle. LOL!

 

[WambliSka]

Give yourself the opportunity to drive a few models like the Mojave and be really objective as to what you really need as far as features and creature comforts. The ride on the JTs has come a long way, especially off-road, but many trims ride/drive very differently

 

[rbroncotx]

Same math pushed me out of my JKU. Once you add up the D30 regear and locker quotes, the Rubicon stops looking expensive.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I'm not big on electronics and that's what left me stranded in the JT. There were some things on the JK I liked better than the TJ but also vice versa. After I get the JT and have it a bit I'll probably see some things I like better on it and vice versa as well.

The only thing that really gets me is I poured a lot of myself and parts into the JKU that won't transfer over. As a matter of fact I have a part floating on a FedEx truck as we speak.

I love my front & rear bumpers, my cargo shelf for the back, my roofrack and I spent a fortune on the Teraflex heavy duty tailgate reinforcement. I also just bought brand new tires with about 4000 miles on them now. My wife always says whenever I buy new tires it's the death of that current vehicle. LOL!

I won't like - there is only one thing I miss from my JK - the fact that it didn't have the crappy new VVL rocker arms.

Other than that. I love the JL/JT.

But we're all different. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[DickensCPA]

Give yourself the opportunity to drive a few models like the Mojave and be really objective as to what you really need as far as features and creature comforts. The ride on the JTs has come a long way, especially off-road, but many trims ride/drive very differently

I only had a JT for like 3 mos but I definitely remember the ride quality was way better than the TJ I had and the jk I have now. Even my wife who doesn't like the look of the JT but does the Wranglers admitted off the bat that the ride in the JT was superior.

It is kind of a toss up between the Mojave and Rubicon. We have a lot of washboard gravel to get to the trails and the Mojave would shine, but I think I'd miss that front locker - so I'm in the air there.

 

[DickensCPA]

Same math pushed me out of my JKU. Once you add up the D30 regear and locker quotes, the Rubicon stops looking expensive.

EXACTLY! All my Jeeps since my '04 when they came out with the Rubicon have been Rubicons and I thought on this one it would be cool to build it like I want, but there's just too many incidental things that go with each upgrade that a Rubicon, Mojave or even a Willys now have stock.

 

[Gvsukids]

It is kind of a toss up between the Mojave and Rubicon. We have a lot of washboard gravel to get to the trails and the Mojave would shine, but I think I'd miss that front locker - so I'm in the air there.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ver-wish-you-had-a-front-locker.102028/page-1

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/2024-mojavicon-to-be.80111/

 

[Metalhead]

Traded my 12 JK for the JT. Wanted to move up to 35 inch tires but the cost of regearing was what made me decide to trade it. Even though the Jk was ready suspension wise and other mods to fit 35's, I really wanted to ditch the d30 front axle and finding a used d44 front axle in my neck of the woods was hard and expensive. Though I spent a ton of money on modding the JT, its the perfect vehicle for me. I will still need to regear but can survive for a while with the 4:10 gears.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Wait!!! You should hold off for the V8!!!! Oh…….. Nevermind.

 

[JmattNYC]

I joined here I want to say around Feb 22 and in March 2022 I bought a brand new leftover 2021 Gladiator. I gave my son my '04 Rubicon TJ and bought the Gladiator. Not sure if I got a lemon or they were working out kinks but it left me stranded 3 times in 3 months and the dealer gave me my money back and I bought a LOW mileage 2017 JKU. I've always kept a truck and a Wrangler until this one and I've loved the Gladiators since they came out.

I bought a Sahara JKU so I'd have a few daily driver luxuries and a blank slate to build like I want. I think I made a mistake. I live in middle TN and me and a buddy wheeled Prentice Cooper last month and my wife and I just got back from Red River Gorge Sunday night. As cool as "blank slate build like I want" sounds, I think it's just too much trouble and money compared to buying a Rubicon off the bat. I don't like the cost but it's more the time and being without the Jeep while it's getting upgraded, etc.

So many "little" things the Rubicon comes with stock that you don't think about. D44 front and rear as opposed to D44 rear and D30 up front. Wider axles so 35s don't rub even after a lift. Mine came with 3:21 gears as opposed to 4:10. 35s are as big as I need so 4:10 is fine for me but regearing isn't cheap and you're limited with a D30 anyway due to its size.

I just got an estimate back from 3 different places yesterday for new locker in the rear (I have an Aussie up front but can't put a lunchbox in the rear with BLD unless it's a manual) and a regear. Driving to Red River Gorge 4 1/2 hours on stock gears and 35s was miserable. The cost surprised me to say the least.

I say all of this to say my extended warranty on my JK is up 9/1/26, it's paid for and I have equity in it even though I bought during COVID and the Rubicon Gladiators that were selling for $70-80k are now $49K out the door. I've come to the conclusion I'm getting a new Gladiator Rubicon.

Do it!!

 

[WambliSka]

Same math pushed me out of my JKU. Once you add up the D30 regear and locker quotes, the Rubicon stops looking expensive.

Yep me too. I set up a spreadsheet (life is just one big spreadsheet) and added all the costs (and the time!!!) that would take to get my Overland “desert running” capable and voila traded it in for a new Mojave X. The ride on that one just won hands down and saved myself a lot of money and garage down time.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I kinda like the garage downtime. I prefer to put my own spin on stuff though. It’s a pretty good feeling watching the Jeep transform into what you guide it to be.

 

[WambliSka]

I kinda like the garage downtime. I prefer to put my own spin on stuff though. It’s a pretty good feeling watching the Jeep transform into what you guide it to be.

To me it’s time and priorities. Do I want to be wrenching or waiting for someone to do it for me or do I want to be 10,000 ft up a mountain grilling my steak over an open fire while sipping some bourbon smoking a cigar…. Guess which one wins for me.

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