Not impressed with Gladiator performance in snow

[Chief_jeep]

I have the more aggressive of the stock Falcon tires and I've seen most Jeeps have to pull over and install chains. The only time I got through without chains was driving an H1 Hummer with stock Goodyear Wrangler MTs which are not snow tires and the CHP officer walked around the truck a few times and said "get outta here". The roads in this area get iced over and I had to be really careful with the H1 as it would slide to a stop and sometimes into the intersection on black ice. Chains would have been much better.

If you have the falken MT you will definitely want chains. The AT3W would be fine without

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[IanNubbit]

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 -

You know, this is why I come here lol. Would be cool if the manufacture would actually disclose this to the people working on the vehicle. There is no clutch part numbers listed, it’s an identical picture and listing on all cases, just different gears basically. Literally just took a 4WD in person class, we went over the differences of the two, no where in that class was there a discussion of a clutch/varying system. Makes me wonder how little other Techs know that dont care about the vehicle lol

 

[legacy_etu]

I haven't seen any mention of how the Gladiator performs with snow chains. I have a '21 Mojave and will be spending some time in the So Cal mountains this winter around 7,000ft and they can get a lot of snow up there. During much of the winter our CHP requires snow tires or chains just to get into the area sometimes at 4,000ft altitude.

My main concern is a long steep dirt driveway I've got and am curious how deep of snow a Mojave can traverse in 4H low, rear locked with chains on the rear vs all four. Most people in this town run chains all the time during snow/ice months so I'll have them on the rear anyway but I might invest in some for the front if it will get me up the driveway through a few feet of snow without having to pay a snow plow guy a couple of times during the season.

Here you go. Not hardly stock but.........

 

[Redleg37]

I had my first snow experience with my gladiator this past weekend. We've had an unusually warm fall, normally we have snow starting in October.

I wasn't impressed with the stock tires; I didn't have any real issues but I could feel it starting to slip at times. I may swap the wheels from my wrangler which has KO2s. I've used KO2s on all my vehicles for the last 5 or 6 winters and I really like them in the snow we have here.

 

[troverman]

Nail meet hammer. It seems to me you've not driven pickups in the snow before. The Rover benefits from a narrower tire and more weight over the drive wheels. The all wheel drive system your Rover has (If I remember correctly, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong) nearly the same operation as a Volvos, where 80% of the drive power goes to the front and 20% to the rear. It shifts power front to back as needed.
Jeeps are pretty much all power to all wheels that then gets split up by the differentials and somewhat controlled by the traction control applying brakes to slipping wheels.

The gladiator, just like all other traditionally powered pick-ups needs weight in the back to be any good in the snow.

Also, tires are 80% of your traction.

To your first point, I've driven pickups for quite a a few years now, since I decided to start my own landscaping and plowing side business. I don't have all of these trucks anymore, but here's a list:
2005 F-350 dually, 2012 F-250, 2015 F-350, 2016 F-350, 2016 F-250, 2017 F-350 dually, 2017 F-250, 2018 Ford Raptor, 2018 RAM 3500 dually, 2019 RAM 3500, 2021 RAM 1500, and the Gladiator. Suffice it to say I have plenty of experience driving pickups.

Regarding the Range Rover, it has "permanent" 4x4 with a high and low range transfer case and no 2WD mode. The V8 engine is mounted longitudinally just like the Gladiator and power goes through a mechanical open center differential and then goes through a separate viscous coupling unit. The center differential apportions power 50-50 at all times unless traction is lost, at which point the viscous coupling will gradually control slippage until 50-50 torque split is reached once again. The viscous coupling will hold the 50-50 split until traction is equalized and then it releases. This is a 100% mechanical system unlike the Select-Trac system in the Jeep, and of course can be used on dry pavement as there is no 2WD mode. Low range is 3.27:1 reduction, which is also deeper reduction than the standard Jeep transfer cases. The VCU can eventually wear out, but they are not really known to fail in the RR's until 200k miles or more. My generation of Range Rover is the last one with solid front and rear axles, and also uses a really good traction control system that will not ever cut engine throttle like the Jeeps do. Once it detects overheating from extended use, it just shuts ETC down.

Jeep's 4x4 systems are nothing special, with the exception of the Rubicon models offering a factory front and rear locker. The Select-Trac system is less robust but more convenient. Would I prefer it over the standard system in my Overland? Yeah, I think so for the convenience, unless I planned on doing extensive off-road use, in which the weaker clutch based system would be less desirable.

 

[Jkenosh]

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.

I think the wider tires on the jeep make it worse in the snow. I’ve always had the best luck with taller skinny tires in the snow

 

[IdahoRubicon]

Went from factory Falken AT3W to the Kenda 35"x10.5" studded, and now it is a beast in the snow and ice.
If I didn't specifically want studs, I would have went with the Baja Boss AT, those are fantastic in the snow, much better than the Falkens.

 

[2021JTMojave]

I have no problem driving in snow but I live in middle Ga haha

 

[stickshifter]

To your first point, I've driven pickups for quite a a few years now, since I decided to start my own landscaping and plowing side business. I don't have all of these trucks anymore, but here's a list:
2005 F-350 dually, 2012 F-250, 2015 F-350, 2016 F-350, 2016 F-250, 2017 F-350 dually, 2017 F-250, 2018 Ford Raptor, 2018 RAM 3500 dually, 2019 RAM 3500, 2021 RAM 1500, and the Gladiator. Suffice it to say I have plenty of experience driving pickups.

Regarding the Range Rover, it has "permanent" 4x4 with a high and low range transfer case and no 2WD mode. The V8 engine is mounted longitudinally just like the Gladiator and power goes through a mechanical open center differential and then goes through a separate viscous coupling unit. The center differential apportions power 50-50 at all times unless traction is lost, at which point the viscous coupling will gradually control slippage until 50-50 torque split is reached once again. The viscous coupling will hold the 50-50 split until traction is equalized and then it releases. This is a 100% mechanical system unlike the Select-Trac system in the Jeep, and of course can be used on dry pavement as there is no 2WD mode. Low range is 3.27:1 reduction, which is also deeper reduction than the standard Jeep transfer cases. The VCU can eventually wear out, but they are not really known to fail in the RR's until 200k miles or more. My generation of Range Rover is the last one with solid front and rear axles, and also uses a really good traction control system that will not ever cut engine throttle like the Jeeps do. Once it detects overheating from extended use, it just shuts ETC down.

Jeep's 4x4 systems are nothing special, with the exception of the Rubicon models offering a factory front and rear locker. The Select-Trac system is less robust but more convenient. Would I prefer it over the standard system in my Overland? Yeah, I think so for the convenience, unless I planned on doing extensive off-road use, in which the weaker clutch based system would be less desirable.

You know a ton about all this, so this suggestion will already have pinged on your radar, but if you drive in snow and/or ice a lot, get a set of Nokian Hakkapelitta LT3 tires, and you should be glued to the road! It’s not really more money, since you don’t put miles on your summer tires in the winter. Just a thought from up here in snow country

 

[Sailscall]

Nov/Dec snow is tough because it’s so slippery. Lots of moisture. Add that to warm ground and you have all the makings for a slip and slide. Wider tires also create more surface area so your weight distributon is spread out.

Yesterday was 49 in Buffalo and I cut the grass for the last time. Today it snowed 5 inches in the last 3 hours. The police scanner lit up because of all the accidents..

 

[Alpine Warthog]

To your first point, I've driven pickups for quite a a few years now, since I decided to start my own landscaping and plowing side business. I don't have all of these trucks anymore, but here's a list:
2005 F-350 dually, 2012 F-250, 2015 F-350, 2016 F-350, 2016 F-250, 2017 F-350 dually, 2017 F-250, 2018 Ford Raptor, 2018 RAM 3500 dually, 2019 RAM 3500, 2021 RAM 1500, and the Gladiator. Suffice it to say I have plenty of experience driving pickups.


Jeep's 4x4 systems are nothing special, with the exception of the Rubicon models offering a factory front and rear locker. The Select-Trac system is less robust but more convenient. Would I prefer it over the standard system in my Overland? Yeah, I think so for the convenience, unless I planned on doing extensive off-road use, in which the weaker clutch based system would be less desirable.

SOOOOO.... what you're saying is.....You're super great truck driver extraordinaire and you're admitting that you knew before driving it in the snow, it has the typical open differential, transfer case powered 4wd system and you know everything about it.

but THEN you complain that it acts in a completely predictable manner.

You're a food critic acting like you expect an Olive Garden to produce Michelin level service

Put some weight in the ass and get on with your life.

 

[Gladiator Brad 704]

Mine does great in the snow and ice. I added about 300 lbs. of play sand from lowes to throw under the tires just in case but never needed it. Also lowered the tire pressure to 20 lbs.

Just have to drive smart and keep up your momentum on inclines.

 

[SRO]

Man, here I was thinking mine did great in the snow. What do I know though. M6 with stock 33MTs. Good luck, stay safe

 

[Gmac03]

Those are great trucks! I just wish they weren't so large...

I wish Jeep made a truck ???

 

[Gvsukids]

I haven't seen any mention of how the Gladiator performs with snow chains. I have a '21 Mojave and will be spending some time in the So Cal mountains this winter around 7,000ft and they can get a lot of snow up there. During much of the winter our CHP requires snow tires or chains just to get into the area sometimes at 4,000ft altitude.



My main concern is a long steep dirt driveway I've got and am curious how deep of snow a Mojave can traverse in 4H low, rear locked with chains on the rear vs all four. Most people in this town run chains all the time during snow/ice months so I'll have them on the rear anyway but I might invest in some for the front if it will get me up the driveway through a few feet of snow without having to pay a snow plow guy a couple of times during the season.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/what-tire-chains-are-people-running.39084/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/tire-chains.63433/

https://www.google.com/search?q=gla...z4BhoQrQIoA3oECFkQBA&biw=289&bih=547&dpr=3.74

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