New Jeep Gladiator Buyer

[Bucsman89]

Looking to get a Jeep Gladiator, and also starting a family this year. Looking for any recommendations on the gladiator model, tire size, suspension etc. recommended for the smoothest ride for a family. I was looking at the Altitude with the 17 inch All Terrain tires.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Mike

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[ZoMojave]

Check out the Overland model. A step up in terms of luxury and family friendly smooth ride. Also geared for better fuel economy.

 

[Labswine]

Except for the Rubicon and MaxTow which have 4.1 gears, ALL other models have the 3.73 gearing. I'd agree with getting the Overland (personal bias? ) as it has a very nice ride...I think it's nicer than my wife's '19 GC Ltd...and will still do all you want it to do.

Plus, now you can order a more aggressive tire set from the factory. Mine has the Bridgestone Dueler H/Ts which are very quiet and smooth riding but, not really suitable for anything mildly serious off road.

I would also recommend getting limited slip rear differential (LSD) and the tow package (I have both and the LSD helps in inclement weather). One never knows when one might need to tow a utility trailer, a U-Haul, or once the little tyke gets older, maybe a camper for family fun. It's a useful option to have whether you use it or not.

 

[JET_83]

For your needs Overland sounds like the best route for you to go

 

[jac04]

My vote is for the Mojave. I got it as my family-friendly Jeep. It looks great "as-is" and rides like a dream both on road and off.

 

[Rahkmalla]

absolute smoothest ride? Overland. Very smooth? Mojave.

Though I can say I'm driving a WIllys now, and while the ride isn't the smoothest, all I can say is it feels right. I thought my wife was gonna hate this truck because of the ride, but she thinks it's cool. It's not uncomfortable. It's not sharp bumpy, more wallowing bumpy.

 

[HampshireEcoD]

Might depend if you are planning on spending money on upgrades once you have it, or want everything from the factory.

80th anniversary has a couple of the exterior appointments you are mentioning, but also a few interior creature comforts; heated seats, stereo, other than leather.

Overland (which we bought) has leather, stereo and creature comforts for the fam. Diesel was what we were looking for, and turned down a fully loaded Rubicon, so we can have the diesel. I would get a bedliner and bed cover from Mopar/Dealer (needed with a fam). I also planned on a small lift and wheels/tire upgrade - I personally chose to stick with a + offset, though most aftermarket wheel manufacturers make more 0 to -44mm offset, for those looking for much bigger tires (37" above). I dont like that much poke outside the fenders, so went with a +15mm, which was hard to find. If you get the Overland, you can always upgrade the suspension to a Rubicon, as many members here remove theirs and will sell it to you for ~$400 - gives you about another .5-1" lift due to springs and a little softer ride (shocks).

If you want a Family hauler, with creature comforts, but all the suspension and little more aggressive wheels/tires from the factory; Mojave or Rubicon.

In the end, comes down to your budget lol

 

[JET_83]

My vote is for the Mojave. I got it as my family-friendly Jeep. It looks great "as-is" and rides like a dream both on road and off.

Mojave won’t ride as nice as the overland if he wants something more streetable.

 

[Bucsman89]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations. Yes mostly will use it for casual driving, nothing crazy.

Does the technology package and convenience package come standard in the Altitude? I was reading somewhere that power locks and window weren't standard, is that correct?

Also I noticed when building the Overland, that the remote start isn't standard, is this correct?

Does the All-Terrain tire upgrade make a difference in the smoothness?

 

[Gvsukids]

Also I noticed when building the Overland, that the remote start isn't standard, is this correct?

Easily added with the cold weather package.

 

[ShrimpHappens]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations. Yes mostly will use it for casual driving, nothing crazy.

Does the technology package and convenience package come standard in the Altitude? I was reading somewhere that power locks and window weren't standard, is that correct?

Also I noticed when building the Overland, that the remote start isn't standard, is this correct?

Does the All-Terrain tire upgrade make a difference in the smoothness?

Yes indeed power locks and windows aren't standard for the Gladiator on the whole, but manual locks and windows are only on the base Sport model (and the Willys Sport). All other trims, including Altitude, will have power locks and windows.

Factory all-terrain tires probably wouldn't hurt the ride too much versus the highway tires. The all-terrain that comes on the Altitude (and my Sport S) isn't super aggressive and is still a C-rated/Standard Load tire. In other words, tires can hurt the ride when the tread is very aggressive and the load range goes up (most 35's+ are load range E), and the factory all-terrains are neither.

 

[jac04]

Mojave won’t ride as nice as the overland if he wants something more streetable.

I don't know about that since I've never driven an Overland. What I do know is that I test drove a Rubicon and my Mojave rides way better. The Mojave soaks up everything it encounters with ease, especially on our horrible roads here in New England. Even washed out fire roads at 45mph feel like smooth pavement.

If you aren't planning upgrades and you want the look of the taller suspension & bigger tires, combined with a plush ride, then the Mojave gives you all that.

 

[ecidiego]

Except for the Rubicon and MaxTow which have 4.1 gears, ALL other models have the 3.73 gearing.

Mojave has 4.10s.

 

[JET_83]

I don't know about that since I've never driven an Overland. What I do know is that I test drove a Rubicon and my Mojave rides way better. The Mojave soaks up everything it encounters with ease, especially on our horrible roads here in New England. Even washed out fire roads at 45mph feel like smooth pavement.

If you aren't planning upgrades and you want the look of the taller suspension & bigger tires, combined with a plush ride, then the Mojave gives you all that.

My Mojave rides like trash, I know the overland rides the best because it has a softer suspension and doesn’t have the oversized tires, so if daily driver is what he’s after, overland is the best route.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Looking to get a Jeep Gladiator, and also starting a family this year. Looking for any recommendations on the gladiator model, tire size, suspension etc. recommended for the smoothest ride for a family. I was looking at the Altitude with the 17 inch All Terrain tires.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Mike

Got mine a month before first kid was born. Wife was NOT going to be getting in/out of a Civic.

I got a Sport S Max Tow. 35" tires fit on stock wheels without rubbing and looked nice all "stuffed" in there. Eventually got Rubicon fender flares. Mud terrains helped me more than all terrains, so much so I had 10k miles and several rides on 32" Falken MTs before going to 35s just to avoid scraping on some of my favorite spots. Really wouldnt have to if everyone else on the trails knew how to wheel and now just upgrade to 37s and spin their wheels for lengths of time instead of taking a better line

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