Not impressed with Gladiator performance in snow

[Sweetums]

What follows is my opinion - based on driving in mountain winters for 27 years in just about every drive configuration based on a front-engine design.

Tires matter more than anything in snow, 285 is a wide tire and prone to floating and not engaging well. I ran 255 pizza cutters, 265 and 285 on my last vehicle and the 255 was by far the best in snow. That's based on running the same vehicle in the same conditions on the same roads, just with different tire widths.

Tread and compound matter. Most off road tires are kind of shit on snow covered pavement, especially when compared to dedicated snow tires with tons of siping and a cold weather compound.

Trucks are also light in the rear, that's a big box of nothing back there over the rear axle. Throw some sandbags or something back there if the rear is coming around on you. At least my Xterra had double spare tires back there to help with traction (and a trunk full of rescue gear).

Honestly, no 4wd I've ever had (except the FJ-80 with full time 4wd) performed as well in snow as our AWD sedan on winter tires. 4wd helps you go, but it doesn't help you stop and can cause some interesting characteristics when turning. It's the only time I have both understeer and oversteer in the same corner. ?

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[OffAxis2021]

My self ordered 2022 Mojave is my first Jeep. Yes, it has Select-Trac. I have grown up in Michigan and have owned nothing but new 4x4s and a lot of them too. I have never owned a car (coupe/sedan).
Also always had sport ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.
I have been a Class A CDL truck driver for 28 years and 25 of them a car hauler. Like, an 80’ auto carrier. Meaning, I drive a lot of miles and have for a very long time.

Since I was 15, but now 51.
All bought new 4x4s:

1988 GMC S-15 regular cab
1991 GMC Jimmy (K-5), last year of the straight axle.
1992 GMC 1500 Z71 regular cab long bed.
1997 Chevrolet 3500 regular cab long bed (gas).
1999 Chevrolet 1500 Z71 extended cab.
2002 GMC 2500 Crew Cab long bed (gas).
2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71
2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax “Rock Warrior.”
2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.
2022 Jeep Gladiator Mojave.

“Snowmagedden” Xmas 2022 (PLUS)…
I was thoroughly impressed with said Gladiator. I chose the far left/fast lane and broke trail, doing the speed limit on I-75 south from Flint, MI. 2/3 of my commute home from work is winding, hilly country/county roads. Never once beyond that did I not have but 100% confidence driving this Jeep. Again, maintaining the speed limit and avoiding all of the white knucklers struggling.

I chose Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T 255/85R17 (35x10x17) on base Mojave wheels. Matching spare tire/wheel underneath. I will throw in the bed an unmounted Kenda Klever R/T 35x10.5x17 for barely any extra added weight. I am looking forward to the second winter in this vehicle, as it is by far the absolute best winter driving setup I have ever owned and could not love driving it anymore.

 

[Volt0]

My wife would be very envious. I don't dare tell her about this. She's been hoping for a VERY snowy winter since last winter and we just got dribbled on here and there.
She'd love to see several inches of snow 2 or 3 times this winter. A foot of snow would make her very happy.

Not to derail too far, but my wife and I have gone up to 2 hours away, just to play in the snow. Our JTM did really good, and her HA with limited slip did way better than we expected. The JTM had understeer more frequently ( in 4wd ), and the HA would kind of catch you off guard every once in a while with understeer ( 2wd & 4wd )

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You beat me to it. Looks like nothing has it. Anyone know why? Was there some problem with it were not aware of?

What follows is my opinion - based on driving in mountain winters for 27 years in just about every drive configuration based on a front-engine design.

Tires matter more than anything in snow, 285 is a wide tire and prone to floating and not engaging well. I ran 255 pizza cutters, 265 and 285 on my last vehicle and the 255 was by far the best in snow. That's based on running the same vehicle in the same conditions on the same roads, just with different tire widths.

Tread and compound matter. Most off road tires are kind of shit on snow covered pavement, especially when compared to dedicated snow tires with tons of siping and a cold weather compound.

Trucks are also light in the rear, that's a big box of nothing back there over the rear axle. Throw some sandbags or something back there if the rear is coming around on you. At least my Xterra had double spare tires back there to help with traction (and a trunk full of rescue gear).

Honestly, no 4wd I've ever had (except the FJ-80 with full time 4wd) performed as well in snow as our AWD sedan on winter tires. 4wd helps you go, but it doesn't help you stop and can cause some interesting characteristics when turning. It's the only time I have both understeer and oversteer in the same corner. ?

The best snow vehicle I have ever had was Eagle.
The one and only time I got my 84 Eagle wagon stopped in snow was because I was horsing around with it in the several acres north of my barn - the snow had drifted pretty high (this was northern Iowa back when it actually used to snow big)
I was having a blast zipping through the snow and slowed a bit going up over a tall drift - big boo-boo. I had this "oh, crap" feeling as I felt the tires settle in through the crust on that drift and the car settled on the floor pan.
I scooped snow out from under the car and drove out.

Back then the local AMC/Jeep dealership in the area was a pretty large one and always had a couple of snow plows on the Jeeps. Went up there one December and noted the Jeeps were all parked by the building with no snow plows. Out on the lot were a couple of Eagles with snow plows on them. I asked and their response was the Eagle was superiorly balanced and a much better plow vehicle, and more sure-footed.

After driving full highway speed through snow as deep as the front bumper (and the Eagle sits inches higher than other cars - in fact, they sit higher than many SUV today) on a highway that had not only not been plowed, but not yet driven on, I would agree with them.
I can tell when I load cars on the trailer where the weight is - and I have to position an Eagle differently on the trailer than any of my other cars.

 

[OffAxis2021]

The best snow vehicle I have ever had was Eagle.

As a young teenager riding ATVs in the Michigan woods, we ran into an older gentleman on my same 4-wheeler. Long story short, he also drove an AMC Eagle. I am not 100% sure if it was the wagon or sedan style. That Eagle was cool AF. We’re still friends to this day. Lol.

 

[chorky]

I have it on my 22 and had it on my 20.
It was an option for the 20 - might have been for the 22 as well, can't recall

EDIT -
Checked the build sheet for my 2022 - it is under options

So yes, it was an option for 20, 21 and 22 model years.
I can't speak to 23 or 24 model years.



There is no problem with it that I'm aware of. It's standard in the 4xe Wrangler.
Look around the forums - so far no one I've seen has said "my SelecTrac failed" as far as Jeep. There's no talk of transfer cases on the 4xe forums and I've not seen it in the Wrangler forums but then I tend to not be there much - totally different crowd.
Likely it's a supplier issue - they can't buy them?
Seems to me there's a lot of stuff missing on the Jeep com build and price site. Slim pickens.

I think it's a combination of things - and the strike situation didnt help. Stopped at the shop to get the fuel line skid they forgot to put back on and talked with parts about the mopar performance rock rails. He said the 'system' said to 'check back in 89 days'. As if they're WAY backordered. But thats not correct. Apparently the whole strike thing (I didnt follow it) really screwed up inventory systems bad!

 

[chorky]

My self ordered 2022 Mojave is my first Jeep. Yes, it has Select-Trac. I have grown up in Michigan and have owned nothing but new 4x4s and a lot of them too. I have never owned a car (coupe/sedan).
Also always had sport ATVs, snowmobiles, etc.
I have been a Class A CDL truck driver for 28 years and 25 of them a car hauler. Like, a 80’ auto carrier. Meaning, I drive a lot of miles and have for a very long time.

Since I was 15, but now 51.
All bought new 4x4s:

1988 GMC S-15 regular cab
1991 GMC Jimmy (K-5), last year of the straight axle.
1992 GMC 1500 Z71 regular cab long bed.
1997 Chevrolet 3500 regular cab long bed (gas).
1999 Chevrolet 1500 Z71 extended cab.
2002 GMC 2500 Crew Cab long bed (gas).
2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71
2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax “Rock Warrior.”
2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.
2022 Jeep Gladiator Mojave.

“Snowmagedden” Xmas 2022 (PLUS)…
I was thoroughly impressed with said Gladiator. I chose the far left/fast lane and broke trail, doing the speed limit on I-75 south from Flint, MI. 2/3 of my commute home from work is winding, hilly country/county roads. Never once beyond that did I not have but 100% confidence driving this Jeep. Again, maintaining the speed limit and avoiding all of the white knucklers struggling.

I chose Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T 255/85R17 (35x10x17) on base Mojave wheels. Matching spare tire/wheel underneath. I will throw in the bed an unmounted Kenda Klever R/T 35x10.5x17 for barely any extra added weight. I am looking forward to the second winter in this vehicle, as it is by far the absolute best winter driving setup I have ever owned and could not love driving it anymore.

Man I want those tires bad! They look so good with the JT.

 

[Sweetums]

As a young teenager riding ATVs in the Michigan woods, we ran into an older gentleman on my same 4-wheeler. Long story short, he also drove an AMC Eagle. I am not 100% sure if it was the wagon or sedan style. That Eagle was cool AF. We’re still friends to this day. Lol.

I always liked wagons, and the Volvo 245 shares the throne with the Eagle for coolest wagons in my book.

I would have asked Jessica out, just because her dad drove this.

 

[OffAxis2021]

I will also add, that my son drives a 2002 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner regular cab. For winter, we swap his summer Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs (265/75R16) for Hercules Avalanche X-Treme (winter specific) tires. They are 235/85R16. He has an option of driving a 2021 AWD Chevrolet Blazer RS (sporty), but will choose his 2-wheel drive with LSD every time. An LSD in a 2wd… there is nothing keeping it from sliding sideways… but his skinny tires.

 

[OffAxis2021]

Man I want those tires bad! They look so good with the JT.

Pictured above with 1.5” wheel spacers, but I took them off shortly after installing. The tire’s sidebiters are so “aggressive,” they didn’t sit as tucked as I was afraid they would. Quite flush actually. Besides, keeping all the salt fly contained is far more ideal than aesthetics.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Pictured above with 1.5” wheel spacers, but I took them off shortly after installing. The tire’s sidebiters are so “aggressive,” they didn’t sit as tucked as I was afraid they would. Quite flush actually. Besides, keeping all the salt fly contained is far more ideal than aesthetics.

Salt?

 

[AmosMoses]

My jt does ok in the snow but my kendas are not great on wet roads. I almost got sideways the other day going through a roundabout. Iam considering baja boss tires next year as my kendas wear out. I've heard they are better on wet and snowy roads.

 

[OffAxis2021]

My jt does ok in the snow but my kendas are not great on wet roads. I almost got sideways the other day going through a roundabout. Iam considering baja boss tires next year as my kendas wear out. I've heard they are better on wet and snowy roads.

I would not choose my 35x10.5x17 Kenda Klever R/Ts over my Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/Ts. The only reason I have them is, because the 255/85R17 Mickeys were on backorder at the time and I am impatient AF! Lol. I had these tires/wheels shortly before taking delivery and they went on the very next day.
Yeah… a little bit of traffic light reaction extra gas and slippage on the white crosswalk lines is not cool in my book.I’d like to sell my Kendas and get another set of Mickeys (same size) to run year round.

Guaranteed a better tire on wet and/or snow covered roads. Far better.

 

[ZoMojave]

It did not help also that the Selec-Trac was on parts constraint for most of the COVID era supply chain issues and could not be had a lot of time and compound the issue of trying to either order or find one.

It's not on the build and price for 2023 (2024 B&P not on the website yet). If I were in the market again for a JT, this would be a concern as I live in snowy Wisconsin.

I just put it in 4H Auto and left it there all winter. Killer in the snow.

 

[CreepyJeepy]

I’m telling you guys…

My 2250lb 2wd Miata with 3” of ground clearance is better than my JTRD on snowy / icy roads.

its all in the tires. Everything else only kinda matters.

You will not understand this until you have had an actual winter tire.

OP, find a set of takeoff wheels and put snow tires on them, it will be the best investment you make for winter safety.

winter tires make an astonishing difference.

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