Bandit’s Lair
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Jason
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2025
- Threads
- 33
- Messages
- 2,893
- Reaction score
- 4,757
- Location
- Southern California
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Gladiator Sport S
- Occupation
- Retired
I thought they were ridiculous when they first came out. Same thinking of just slap a bed on a 4DOOR. Whats next? Truck bed on a Cherokee to compete with the Maverick?I'll be honest.. at first I hated the 4 door Wrangler, it seemed....wrong. But it grew on me.
When I first saw the Gladiator on the road, my wife says, "Oooo !! Me likes !!". I turned to her and said, "I'll pretend you didn't say that to a man that owns a proper REAL Jeep." (1953 Willys CJ-3A, 6-volt, in the garage). "That thing is an abomination to Jeeps. Jeep used to make proper pick-ups; not just slap a bed on the back of a Wrangler. That looks SO stupid.".
The more and more I saw them, the more I liked them. Gladiators are REAL popular in this part of Texas.
As I was getting ready to retire, I started thinking about my "retirement vehicle". Gladiators kept popping to the front of the list. Started reading reviews about them; the dreaded steering pump issue causing the vehicle to catch fire whether the vehicle is running or not, the wandering steering wheel, etc.. All the uh-oh's. It didn't really sway me.
But I bought one anyways. Love it.
Not one single issue.
Then I saw a lifted one and realized the potential for a good looking truck. In stock form I’m still not a fan, but they do have potential to be a good looking, highly capable, off road truck. Having just put it through a bit more than just fire road type trails, it’ll get the job done. Just needs “tweaks” to fit my demands.
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