Newbie gal who wants to learn!! Help me choose my gladiator?

[Aussiemozziemum]

I have BIG dreams of learning all the in’s and outs / wanna take a mechanics course - but wanna buy quickly before there is nothing left to buy! (Chip shortage). So as a total newbie I really want to know what I should be asking for, what I need in my truck.

Here’s what I want to do w my jeep:
Camping - no crazy Boulder driving but def off road. Want to be able to take a small to medium trailer or a camper that sits on the back of the truck.


what are the basics I should be asking for? (I really am
Green so pretty pls talk to me
Like I have no idea - bc I dont

do I need aux switches set up?
love the idea of power in the back of the truck bed for camping purposes

do I need the better tow package?

what kind of tires?

is auto okay for towing?

Overland or California ?

already lovin the vibes of the jeep community - always wanted to be a part of it!

thanks a million in advance!

photos = what I want to be able to do.

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[jay21mojave]

You have good taste and ideas.. Based on your post, a Gladiator Sport with max trailer tow would be required and yes on the aux switch option. The Max tow gets upgrades for towing and gearing as well as a tire upgrade.
I would start at this website and experiment with Build & Price..when you have built what you desire then Search Dealer Inventory for your Gladiator.. it will show who has what and also the equipment and window sticker.. https://www.jeep.com/bmo.gladiator.2021.html#/models/2021/gladiator
Good Shopping.

 

[NachoRuby]

It really matters how much your hypothetical trailer is going to weigh. But automatic is not only fine for towing on this platform, but if you're towing anything that weighs more than about 2 tons, it's your only choice. The manual tows 4k lbs in most configurations, 4500 in Rubicon and Mojave. Assuming all automatic, except where indicated, Max Tow tows 7650 lbs, Rubicon tows 7000 lbs, 6000 lbs in overland and Mojave , 4500 lbs in sport without max tow, 4500 Rubicon or Mojave Manual, 4000 all other manuals. I have a manual Rubicon, but I'm not doing heavy towing.

Get the aux switches and the bed outlet if you can. I wish I did. But even without the bed outlet, there's an outlet in the back behind the console.

 

[Papa Jawa]

I have BIG dreams of learning all the in’s and outs / wanna take a mechanics course - but wanna buy quickly before there is nothing left to buy! (Chip shortage). So as a total newbie I really want to know what I should be asking for, what I need in my truck.

Here’s what I want to do w my jeep:
Camping - no crazy Boulder driving but def off road. Want to be able to take a small to medium trailer or a camper that sits on the back of the truck.


what are the basics I should be asking for? (I really am
Green so pretty pls talk to me
Like I have no idea - bc I dont

do I need aux switches set up?
love the idea of power in the back of the truck bed for camping purposes

do I need the better tow package?

what kind of tires?

is auto okay for towing?

Overland or California ?

already lovin the vibes of the jeep community - always wanted to be a part of it!

thanks a million in advance!

photos = what I want to be able to do.

Go with the California, max tow and if you think you may want it load it up!

Get the Limited Slip Rear Diff! Cali is a good deal!

 

[ColoFreeJeeper]

I have BIG dreams of learning all the in’s and outs / wanna take a mechanics course - but wanna buy quickly before there is nothing left to buy! (Chip shortage). So as a total newbie I really want to know what I should be asking for, what I need in my truck.

Here’s what I want to do w my jeep:
Camping - no crazy Boulder driving but def off road. Want to be able to take a small to medium trailer or a camper that sits on the back of the truck.

The Max Tow package is a good deal if you were towing a bigger camper but any Gladiator with the factory towing package will pull too. Check out page 58 at this link:

https://mydigimag.rrd.com/publicati...&bt_field_name[]=source&bt_field_value[]=null

what are the basics I should be asking for? (I really am
Green so pretty pls talk to me
Like I have no idea - bc I dont

Jeep offers different levels of trim so you can buy right off the showroom with the capabilities you expect to use. Rubicon and Mojave editions are the ultimate for off-road driving but you'll pay more. The Overland model is upscale luxury. The Freedom and 80th Anniversary editions are appearance packages but can be ordered with upgrades. The Sport models are entry-level but can also be ordered with upgrades. I chose a Willys for name nostalgia, black accents, and mud terrain tires and limited slip rear differential.

do I need aux switches set up?
love the idea of power in the back of the truck bed for camping purposes

Yes, get the aux switches. I'm on my 7th Jeep and I wish they had offered these years ago. Most people add electrical accessories and the aux switches takes the guesswork out of the wiring.

do I need the better tow package?

Max Tow Package will get you deeper differential gearing and wider, stronger axles, and 7,650 lbs of towing capacity with the automatic transmission. The standard tow package will not but still has a 6,000 lbs capacity with the automatic.

what kind of tires?

Depends on your intended use. All-terrain tires are good for mixed-use road and trail but compromise on the off-road ability. Mud-terrain tires are better for off-road but make a lot of road noise and are more expensive.

is auto okay for towing?

It's almost necessary if you want higher towing capacity. I'm a purist when it comes to Jeeps and I've driven a manual trans everyday for the last 30 years but I opted for the automatic on my Gladiator for towing and my left knee is getting old.

Overland or California ?

Do you want luxury trim? Leather seats? Tech upgrades? That would be what these editions are for.

already lovin the vibes of the jeep community - always wanted to be a part of it!

thanks a million in advance!

Welcome to the community. Jeepers are a different breed and we like to help our own.

 

[Aussiemozziemum]

You have good taste and ideas.. Based on your post, a Gladiator Sport with max trailer tow would be required and yes on the aux switch option. The Max tow gets upgrades for towing and gearing as well as a tire upgrade.
I would start at this website and experiment with Build & Price..when you have built what you desire then Search Dealer Inventory for your Gladiator.. it will show who has what and also the equipment and window sticker.. https://www.jeep.com/bmo.gladiator.2021.html#/models/2021/gladiator
Good Shopping.

Thanks ?

 

[Aussiemozziemum]

This is so helpful guys!

 

[kevman65]

Max Tow, Aux switches, Automatic, LED light package. All the must haves for towing and light 4 wheeling.

Tires depend on where you plan to go and what you plan to do. AT (All Terrain) will serve all your on-road needs and are decent off-road but not good in mud. I would recommend 33" tires, which will fit on the Sport S (Max Tow) with no lift and maybe just trimming a couple of bumper pieces.

 

[Darkamek]

Purchase a Sport S with max tow package. Everything else you desire can be added after the fact. Like adding a larger than factory inverter to the bed.

 

[sunrise089]

A max tow is by no means required for light duty towing, BUT it's such an amazing value that if you don't want a manual or the absolute cheapest Gladiator possible (and if you want the cheapest Gladiator than you want a manual anyways) then I think it's almost a no brainer. So I concur with most of the advice above: get an automatic Sport S Max Tow unless you don't need many creature comforts at all (in which case get an auto Sport Max Tow (no 'S') or if you need extra creature comforts (get an Overland with the regular tow package).

 

[Aussiemozziemum]

A max tow is by no means required for light duty towing, BUT it's such an amazing value that if you don't want a manual or the absolute cheapest Gladiator possible (and if you want the cheapest Gladiator than you want a manual anyways) then I think it's almost a no brainer. So I concur with most of the advice above: get an automatic Sport S Max Tow unless you don't need many creature comforts at all (in which case get an auto Sport Max Tow (no 'S') or if you need extra creature comforts (get an Overland with the regular tow package).

Is the regular tow package w the Overland the same as the max tow with the sport? Can I get the max tow package later on? Can’t find any trucks with the max tow package ?

 

[jay21mojave]

Is the regular tow package w the Overland the same as the max tow with the sport? Can I get the max tow package later on? Can’t find any trucks with the max tow package ?

I checked on the Gladiator Willys SPORT. and this is what trailer tow includes for that vehicle on Jeep.com:
Includes:

• 240-Amp Alternator
  Class IV Receiver Hitch
  A frame-mounted Class IV hitch lets you connect a trailer for serious towing.
  Heavy-Duty Engine Cooling
  Trailer-Hitch Zoom
  The 4X Trailer Hitch Zoom[1], available on the ParkView® Rear Back Up Camera[2], aids in lining up a trailer to the vehicle's trailer hitch more precisely. When so equipped, it allows the driver to toggle between the normal camera view and the 4x zoom mode centered on the trailer hitch. Not available on vehicles equipped with both the manual transmission and the 8.4-inch Uconnect® touchscreen, without the forward-facing TrailCam[3].
  
  1. Trailer hitch zoom is not available on all vehicle configurations.
  GIVEN YOU WANT TO TOW.. I WOULD BUY IT..
  
  

 

[kevman65]

Is the regular tow package w the Overland the same as the max tow with the sport?
NO


Can I get the max tow package later on?
NO


Can’t find any trucks with the max tow package ?
ORDER

Usually you can get a better price by ordering exactly what you want.

 

[KX L]

So what did you get? Where are the pictures?

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