Not impressed with Gladiator performance in snow

[SargeDiesel]

Not the Gladiator. It’s actually extremely well balanced and is actually on par with a BMW 3 series sedan. You can find the numbers posted on this forum somewhere, but the Gas F/R weight distribution is just 53/47 and 54/46 for the Diesel. A BMW sedan is around 55/45 (F/R) for comparison. It’s most likely the best balanced truck on the market.

Balanced is one thing and axle weight is another... Gladiators are much lighter over the rear axle vs the front. It also matters where the balance point is... probably somewhere near the the front seats... which still gives you an extremely light rear-end... which is why on oversized tires like 37's you would run atleast 5 psi or so less in the rear tire vs the front.... just my logic...anyway.

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[Gvsukids]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/gladiator-in-snow-disappointment.40056/

Fresh snow is fun with the at3, but they aren't so good on packed snow. I also have a heavy front end and it'll hop sometimes.

 

[Forum Crawler]

A properly driven Rubicon Gladiator with Falken Wildpeak AT3W tires at about 30PSI is AMAZING in the snow and ice.

If you want better winter weather traction, you need a set of dedicated WINTER tires.

.02

 

[DaveL]

Interesting responses. I'm very familiar with the 4x4 system in the Jeep, the Rover, and many other rigs out there (I said I was an experienced off-road enthusiast). The road was snow-covered with probably 3-4 inches of snow with maybe one set of tire tracks. No, I was not in 4-low. I can't think of any reason to use gear reduction on-road. As for people commenting about Select-Trac or whatever Jeep calls their automated 4x4 system vs the basic part-time system I have, its nonsense that Select-Trac would outperform Command-Trac on snow covered roads. After all, consider what the automatic system does...it supplies power to the front axle automatically when slip occurs using a clutch and sensors, up to 50-50 split front to rear. The Command-Trac part-time supplies 50-50 front to rear any time 4H or 4L is selected. The beauty of the Select-Trac is that it can be used seamlessly in changing conditions, and be left engaged on dry roads. Obviously Command-Trac is part time and needs to be disengaged on dry road. The old Range Rover has true permanent 4x4, using a geared center differential to send power to the front and rear 50-50 at all times; however that center diff is open and relies on a viscous coupling to control front-to-rear slip. It can apportion up to a 50-50 split as well, and it does so mechanically without the use of clutches or sensors. The thing is, I was on snow covered roads. I don't believe for a second "Select-Trac" would have performed any better, and frankly in these conditions I would have manually selected 4H "locked" anyway.

As for weight distribution, I did think the Gladiator probably had fairly good ratios. I've had (and still have) a heavy-duty pickup and in 2WD even with studded snows they are helpless. 4x4 is needed in snow basically all the time. But your typical half-ton crew cab short bed has pretty good weight distribution as well and they go much better in 2WD than the HD's.

I'm thinking its either my 10-ply Wildpeaks, possibly in combination with the wide footprint which might make the Jeep float on top of the snow vs dig into it.

Sorry to hear your problem.
Old Ford 1/2 ton. Friend told me to put a big bag of peat moss in. Then put water in with a hose. End of winter I cut the bag and used the peat moss.

Or....:Put a couple of big bags of kitty litter in. Use the kitty litter if you need help. Pug some on top of the tire; some in front some behind. It soaks up the water film. wonderful on ice. And carry a shovel.
Old ski instructor. I used to carry kitty litter in lunch bags in the trunk in case.

 

[whysoserious]

Sounds like an extreme highway slope. Can you get 37's under that RR?

 

[whysoserious]

Zero complaints in snow. I just had the Patagonias removed. Personally those tires don’t like ice but deep snow was not an issue. I’m going to try out the Yoko MT 003 this year.

That's a nice looking rig.

 

[whysoserious]

Zero complaints in snow. I just had the Patagonias removed. Personally those tires don’t like ice but deep snow was not an issue. I’m going to try out the Yoko MT 003 this year.

Ahh, Metal Cloak...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just went back again to see if maybe I was missing something, nope. Under multiple build options and models for gladiator and wrangler, no selection-trac option available. Interesting...

I wonder if a person could swap out their rock track for a select-trac..... I'm sure there would be some reprogramming but I would imagine thats about it.

Be careful because the name of the transfer case in the Rubicon is the same whether it has the 4H auto option or not. So make sure if you see RockTrac that it's the "full time" transfer case. They never changed the name of it in Rubicon.
The Rubicon build sheet will show RockTrac -
but if it's not the automatic 4H it won't say full time after the RockTrac word

We all realize that the difference between 4HI and 4HI Auto is that the T-Case has a motor to disengage and engage the front driveshaft upon detected slip in Auto compared to always supplying torque to the front driveshaft, right? That's the 1 and only difference. It's still a basic T-Case and always is 50/50 (all 4 wheel drive settings, besides 4HI Auto when computer commanded to engage front driveshaft) or 0/100 (2H power distribution, or 4HI Auto when not computer commanded to engage front driveshaft)

Uh, Jeep expert - no, that's not the case and we don't all know that because it's wrong.
I've got JSCAN captures to prove it's a clutch system that operates with various degrees of application meaning it can be from slight power to the front all the way to fully engaged giving it a split of torque.
In fact, it's applied when you sit at a stop light, then releases as you gain road speed. And it's also applied based on throttle application. It's absolutely not a motor and it's not in or out.
It's in 4H mode when you don't even realize it.

Nail it and it applies more pressure to the clutch pack -

 

[WILDHOBO]

Interesting responses. I'm very familiar with the 4x4 system in the Jeep, the Rover, and many other rigs out there (I said I was an experienced off-road enthusiast). The road was snow-covered with probably 3-4 inches of snow with maybe one set of tire tracks. No, I was not in 4-low. I can't think of any reason to use gear reduction on-road. As for people commenting about Select-Trac or whatever Jeep calls their automated 4x4 system vs the basic part-time system I have, its nonsense that Select-Trac would outperform Command-Trac on snow covered roads. After all, consider what the automatic system does...it supplies power to the front axle automatically when slip occurs using a clutch and sensors, up to 50-50 split front to rear. The Command-Trac part-time supplies 50-50 front to rear any time 4H or 4L is selected. The beauty of the Select-Trac is that it can be used seamlessly in changing conditions, and be left engaged on dry roads. Obviously Command-Trac is part time and needs to be disengaged on dry road. The old Range Rover has true permanent 4x4, using a geared center differential to send power to the front and rear 50-50 at all times; however that center diff is open and relies on a viscous coupling to control front-to-rear slip. It can apportion up to a 50-50 split as well, and it does so mechanically without the use of clutches or sensors. The thing is, I was on snow covered roads. I don't believe for a second "Select-Trac" would have performed any better, and frankly in these conditions I would have manually selected 4H "locked" anyway.

As for weight distribution, I did think the Gladiator probably had fairly good ratios. I've had (and still have) a heavy-duty pickup and in 2WD even with studded snows they are helpless. 4x4 is needed in snow basically all the time. But your typical half-ton crew cab short bed has pretty good weight distribution as well and they go much better in 2WD than the HD's.

I'm thinking its either my 10-ply Wildpeaks, possibly in combination with the wide footprint which might make the Jeep float on top of the snow vs dig into it.

For what it’s worth, I had wildpeak atw3’s when my rubicon was stock. I was very impressed with them in snow. I agree that theoretically 4hi-auto shouldn’t be better than standard 4hi in snow, but for some reason, it really is. That comes from 47k miles on mine and I live at 8600’ in the Colorado mountains. I’m now running mt Baja boss at 3 peak rated tires. I feel the same way with these

 

[beefeeter]

Gladiators have 50:50 weight distribution. It performs nicely in the slippery stuff just drive it.

 

[Jeep_willysJT]

Lived in Wisconsin all my life. Haven't had any issues in the snow after a couple years with the Gladiator. I do not have 4H auto and have 33 KO2s. I've driven in quite a few blizzards with the Gladiator with no problems to speak of. I had a 21 RAV4 that was fantastic in the snow. I can't see having issues in snow with an all time AWD system after driving so many of my years in snow with only front wheel drive. Sorry to hear the OP is having issues. Worst car in snow was a 94 Firebird...I don't recommend it

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Gladiators have 50:50 weight distribution. It performs nicely in the slippery stuff just drive it.

Not even possible. You are saying the empty bed and frame and rear axle weigh as much as an engine and transmission and front axle with FAD, knuckles, and jointed axle shafts?

 

[beefeeter]

Not even possible. You are saying the empty bed and frame and rear axle weigh as much as an engine and transmission and front axle with FAD, knuckles, and jointed axle shafts?

ya its possible look it up. its better than a bmw.

 

[chorky]

Be careful because the name of the transfer case in the Rubicon is the same whether it has the 4H auto option or not. So make sure if you see RockTrac that it's the "full time" transfer case. They never changed the name of it in Rubicon.
The Rubicon build sheet will show RockTrac -
but if it's not the automatic 4H it won't say full time after the RockTrac word



Uh, Jeep expert - no, that's not the case and we don't all know that because it's wrong.
I've got JSCAN captures to prove it's a clutch system that operates with various degrees of application meaning it can be from slight power to the front all the way to fully engaged giving it a split of torque.
In fact, it's applied when you sit at a stop light, then releases as you gain road speed. And it's also applied based on throttle application. It's absolutely not a motor and it's not in or out.
It's in 4H mode when you don't even realize it.

Nail it and it applies more pressure to the clutch pack -

yeah but what about the computer aspect? Is it just the pcm that would be different or would there be more differences like a different wiring harness.

to add on to your other part of the quote, i looked into the full time transfer when placing my initial order (of course I ended up with the rubi for those who remember the story) but the clutches are super strong. I was concerned that the clutches would slip too much and wear out over time however they, when locked in, are pressed together by something like 50,000 psi. Or maybe it was 20, anyway it was a high enough force that one would not have to worry at all.


sure wish I had that transfer….

 

[Rusty PW]

The only thing I could find on weight distribution. 53%/47% front to rear.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/weight-distribution-percentage-not-the-hitch.53870/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/curb-weight-and-balance-on-scales.43723/

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