May Give the Gladiator Another Go

[matthewmcw]

Pretty sure my 2026 sport s gladiator has dana 44s front and rear? So far i like it alot!

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[WambliSka]

And that is a HIGHLY subjective opinion from someone who is justifying their purchase rather than doing actual research on issues.

There you go, making more statements with zero knowledge to back them up. I don’t need to justify my purchases to any empty voice on the internet. Your statement about the post ‘24 JTs on the other hand is absolutely baseless. Of course YOU don’t need to qualify your opinion, except when you try to pass it on as factual.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Great question!
Post 43 explains the two biggest issues for me.
Would have saved about $5K or so buying a good used version.
$5K that would have gone into enhancements rather than fixes, which may or may not ever materialize.
Making a good vehicle better is fun. Fixing a mfgs failures isn't. Hence my preference for the '22-'23.

I thought most people liked the new screen. I don't have any experience with it.

The packages and options availability is annoying.

I think the biggest advantage with your newer model is your warranty. All '22 models and many '23 models will be out of the 3/36 warranty.

 

[sheath]

I thought most people liked the new screen. I don't have any experience with it.

The packages and options availability is annoying.

I think the biggest advantage with your newer model is your warranty. All '22 models and many '23 models will be out of the 3/36 warranty.

It's funny. I started PM'ing folks who posted that they liked the screen. Hoping that they weren't having issues with it. Low and behold everyone who responded said, yeah it has issues, but they just don't really care.
Was disappointed because I was hoping it was just my truck.

Jeep now has a 10 year 100,000 mile extended warranty available for a pretty reasonable price. With the cost of components alone that is a pretty alluring option for those who keep a vehicle for a while, or put a lot of miles on.
They also added rear seat side air bags and increased the structural side protection according to the Car and Driver review I read. For folks carrying family and friends that makes an already very safe vehicle even more safe.

There are a lot of good reasons to buy new.

 

[sheath]

There you go, making more statements with zero knowledge to back them up. I don’t need to justify my purchases to any empty voice on the internet. Your statement about the post ‘24 JTs on the other hand is absolutely baseless. Of course YOU don’t need to qualify your opinion, except when you try to pass it on as factual.

More drivel.

 

[Silverator]

When I bought my JT, I consulted a "friend of a friend" (Rick Pewe). He said "it's simple" - that if I wanted to go fast in the dez, buy the Mojave. If I wanted to crawl over nasty $#!@ to get where I wanted to get to, buy a Rubicon. I ended up with the Rubicon. Super happy with my choice over the Mojave. Eventually lifted and put on 35's. Perfect for me.

 

[WambliSka]

When I bought my JT, I consulted a "friend of a friend" (Rick Pewe). He said "it's simple" - that if I wanted to go fast in the dez, buy the Mojave. If I wanted to crawl over nasty $#!@ to get where I wanted to get to, buy a Rubicon. I ended up with the Rubicon. Super happy with my choice over the Mojave. Eventually lifted and put on 35's. Perfect for me.

Exactly, do your research, and then buy for purpose, not badges...

 

[DickensCPA]

I was considering the Rubicon and Mojave, I don't have to have a front locker, especially here in TN - then I noticed more and more Willys are coming with the rear locker so I tried them as well. I could be happy with either of the three but for once in my life I'd like to get a color of a vehicle I like off the bat.

I found a Willys in Mojito and plan to make them an offer today.

 

[kkirsch06]

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.

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.

Rubicons will rub with 35/11.5’s on stock rims. I just put on Wildpeak AT4w’s which are true 35’s and they rub on the front body mounts and take the dust off the inside of the stock bumper at full crank when the suspension compresses. I’v moved up my lift date from next year to sooner because of this.

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