2026 Gladiator Whitecap Announced

[Afternoon Spray]

Come on. A 4k-5k towing limit on a V8 powered Gladiator? The folks at Toyota, Nissan, Chev/GMC, Ford and whoever else I am forgetting will be laughing all the way to the motor vehicle agencies to register their sales when people look at the specs, share their heads, and ask themselves "what's wrong with the Gladiator?" If a person is buying one of the others and mentions to the salesperson that they are also looking at the Gladiator, the first thing they will hear is the "weak" or "light duty" Gladiator due to it's abysmal tow rating. A Subaru Outback/Forester (cars!) tows 3.5k. Their mid-sized SUV Accent tows 5k.

Not going to happen.

I always laugh that my wife's ascent tows more than my Manual Rubicon. But getting the manual transmission was worth the knock to my tow rating.

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[RubiNewbCB]

Just leaving this Lil nugget right here to stir the pot just a wee bit more!!!

 

[Mr Miami]

I always laugh that my wife's ascent tows more than my Manual Rubicon. But getting the manual transmission was worth the knock to my tow rating.

Maybe they are repeating history by having "weak" manuals but that may not be the case. I guess it is now a "fact" that modern automatics are better capable of handling loads than manuals.

In my mind, I keep thinking about the "light duty" Peugeot transmissions in the 1980's in the CJ's and Cherokees that were, quite frankly, a PoS.

But I guess manual trans. have come a long way but I still am still very pleased with the 5 speed in my TJ. But then I don't tow with it.

 

[Afternoon Spray]

Maybe they are repeating history by having "weak" manuals but that may not be the case. I guess it is now a "fact" that modern automatics are better capable of handling loads than manuals.

In my mind, I keep thinking about the "light duty" Peugeot transmissions in the 1980's in the CJ's and Cherokees that were, quite frankly, a PoS.

But I guess manual trans. have come a long way but I still am still very pleased with the 5 speed in my TJ. But then I don't tow with it.

If I ever had the need to tow more than the 4500 rating, i would just make sure I wouldn't need to back up a hill and accept that I'm wearing down the clutch a bit faster. In theory, the rest of the truck should be more than capable.

And I wouldn't be sad about needing to put a centerforce or ACT clutch in my truck. I'll probably get the itch to do that before the end of the stock clutch's lifespan anyway.

 

[MPMB]

People fail to understand this lol. Forum full of current owners, who bought happily with a V6, ranting about how they NEED a V8 to change their minds lol.



This never, ever, one time, happened anywhere.

Just like your TSB.

And just like your TSB, I know you won't let any facts penetrate your mental bubble, because they're not FACTS by people dropping TRUTH to DESTROY the WOKE.

If Jeep wanted me to trade mine in or buy a new one, it'd have to have a higher HP option. V8 would be nice for the sound.

It does everything I need it to do, so it's fine. Do we want "fine"? lol.

RE: When we're getting the V8 in the JT -

You're right that there's no confirmation about a V8 coming to the JT. The optimistic folks will say the V8 is coming. I'm hoping it's coming. When? I don't know.

The Jeep media presentation from August '25 that all the videos and press reports point to isn't a confirmation of anything. The CEO said the "Hemi has a place still at Jeep." That's in the Wrangler for now. The implication from the media presentation was that the JT would have the Hemi. But at no time did the CEO say the JT was going to have the V8 by 2026. Or 2027. Or 2028.

Maybe Jeep's number-crunchers should find out which makes the most money for them - supporting aftermarket companies like AMW or investing millions/billions(?) into a model that may only sell 10,000 units a year?

 

[BourbonRunner]

This never, ever, one time, happened anywhere.

You act like you have some sort of inside track but we all know you're really just a Cheeto dust covered, Monster Energy addled 14 year old shitposting from his mom's basement hell bent to dash everyone's pipe dreams!!!

Therefore you leave me no recourse but to call SHENANIGANS! SHENANIGANS! SHENANIGANS!

 

[slodsm]

I think jeep hired the guy who did the fast Johnny bikes for Harley.
Stickers and a name, “exclusive”……

 

[Jrgunn5150]

You act like you have some sort of inside track but we all know you're really just a Cheeto dust covered, Monster Energy addled 14 year old shitposting from his mom's basement hell bent to dash everyone's pipe dreams!!!

You wound me sir, I'm drinking Baja Blast.

 

[Oilburner]

... at no time did the CEO say the JT was going to have the V8 by 2026. Or 2027. Or 2028.

Agreed, and I have noticed that not a single person 'interviewing' anyone from Jeep has asked that question. It's as if they have been forbidden to ask it.

 

[BourbonRunner]

You wound me sir, I'm drinking Baja Blast.

This aggression will not stand, man!

(To be fair, the original draft had Mountain Dew but I figured that would be a dead giveaway to my very uncool Gen X existence)

 

[Jeeper44mag]

Depends on your skill at painting. I suck at it so I farm that out. A different color top can look really good, wife’s white Jeep has a GCM top and grill and looks great.
Gregj

Pics?

 

[Gregj]

Pics?

Gregj

 

[Jeeper44mag]

Gregj

TY. That looks GREAT!!!!

 

[Jeeper44mag]

Gregj

Wife's JKU Sport (currently Black top & fenders) is Chief Blue.... after seeing yours, I'm thinking it would look spectacular with the roof, grill, and maybe the fenders, in white.

 

[Gregj]

Wife's JKU Sport (currently Black top & fenders) is Chief Blue.... after seeing yours, I'm thinking it would look spectacular with the roof, grill, and maybe the fenders, in white.

Chief blue and white looks awesome! I wish chief blue would come back.

Gregj

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