The love is gone

[JTGuy]

I am really thinking about parting with my dialed in and modded JT. The Ranger Raptor has me in a spell. I don't do boulders or Rubicon type trails. I don't tow. Looks like the Raptor has everything the Gladiator needs. Muchmore HP, much smoother ride, quieter. If there is an issue with the Raptor I have not heard of it. Please give me reason not to go there.

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[Bandit’s Lair]

My advice, drive your Gladiator down to dealership row and test drive one. Then drive over to another lot and test a Colorado Bison. And then test drive anything else that piques your interest. Then drive your Gladiator home. That will give you a good gauge of which one brings you joy. Not “it’s a good drive” joy but actual “I’m proud to drive this truck” type of joy.

At my current stage in life that’s how I chose the Gladiator. I no longer need a van to haul multiple kids around or a high mpg sedan to save me gas money. It’s my time to drive a vehicle that I’m truly happy driving and just enjoy it. Take it or leave it that’s my .02 and you’re welcome to it.

 

[Lunentucker]

I drove the Raptor and the Tacoma, as well as the Canyon.
Tacoma felt cheap and a harsh ride.
The Raptor felt small and honestly not all that powerful.
I settled on the Canyon. Denali trim because it had everything I wanted and needed.
Heated and ventilated seats, leather, all the cameras, etc. Plenty of power.
The truck has been overall pretty good. The Infotainment system is the weak link, and there are some ongoing concerns over the durability of the transmission.
Like all of these new things, they have damned sensors watching other sensors, and usually a "failure" is simply a sensor crapping out.
I'm at two years and 19,000 miles, so it hasn't been used a lot and it won't be.
21.4 MPG lifetime.
Lots of chrome on the Denali. I could've lived with less of that.

I'd say drive them all, and maybe even rent some candidates for a weekend before jumping all in.
I still miss the Mojave some days. Some days I don't.

 

[JTGuy]

My JT has been a solid ride with no CELs or any other issue. I know what I have with the JT. The Raptor seems to be a very complicated vehicle.

 

[Stormtroopin]

The RR back seat is way too small for me to even consider it. With a kid in the future and a dog as my camping buddy I just cannot see myself ever owning one. The power/torque numbers are amazing but I would never subject a friend or relative to sit in the back of one. I also hate Ford products because they are king of recalls and they engineer products so you have to take it to a dealership for service and maintenance…and I hate stealerships because the techs nowadays don’t give a shit about doing the job right just getting it done as fast as possible. You do you thow we all get one life so live it to the fullest!!!

 

[azmojave]

I like the Ranger Raptor a lot, along with all the other trucks, but IFS is a deal breaker for me. I’ve been driving solid front axles since 93 and I won’t switch til I have to.

 

[ecidiego]

I am really thinking about parting with my dialed in and modded JT. The Ranger Raptor has me in a spell. I don't do boulders or Rubicon type trails. I don't tow. Looks like the Raptor has everything the Gladiator needs. Muchmore HP, much smoother ride, quieter. If there is an issue with the Raptor I have not heard of it. Please give me reason not to go there.

How long does it take to get the doors off?

 

[JmattNYC]

I like the new rangers and its prob overall the best midsize truck. However just remember its a Ford product and as recent history shows they are overall highly, highly unreliable brand. Rangers platform so far been ok but i hear that they are not simple to work on. Again its a Ford product so i would be very very weary and leary of anything they produce. For me personally most of the midsize trucks are boring as hell IMHO.. Anyway Good luck..

 

[DiehardTory]

R.R. Had the opportunity on 2 occasions, Work in Sales all day, to get in and out 8 - 12 times ea. Day and with 37's.... You will, if not 6'5", NEED power side steps, the small rock rail sides are not good steps. Seating was ok, and the old guy driving would not "drop the hammer" so have no comment on power. IMO, think long and long on moving into a MORE Telematic, Electronic controlled vehicle. Check out Ford's patents on 5 telematic monitoring systems. The best advise, rent one for a week to really get the feel.

 

[JmattNYC]

R.R. Had the opportunity on 2 occasions, Work in Sales all day, to get in and out 8 - 12 times ea. Day and with 37's.... You will, if not 6'5", NEED power side steps, the small rock rail sides are not good steps. Seating was ok, and the old guy driving would not "drop the hammer" so have no comment on power. IMO, think long and long on moving into a MORE Telematic, Electronic controlled vehicle. Check out Ford's patents on 5 telematic monitoring systems. The best advise, rent one for a week to really get the feel.

Oh yeah Ford is one of the disgusting leaders in the anti-privacy BS and pushing subscriptions on people. Disgusting so they will forever get the big F U from me. Disgusting Corporation . And to big brother THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL COMMENT!

 

[JeffinNV]

Which has the better new and used parts supply and after market support?

 

[ChrisNLA]

For the OP - go drive one and find out. Might be the ticket for ya.

I drove the Raptor and the Tacoma, as well as the Canyon.
Tacoma felt cheap and a harsh ride.
The Raptor felt small and honestly not all that powerful.
I settled on the Canyon. Denali trim because it had everything I wanted and needed.
Heated and ventilated seats, leather, all the cameras, etc. Plenty of power.
The truck has been overall pretty good. The Infotainment system is the weak link, and there are some ongoing concerns over the durability of the transmission.
Like all of these new things, they have damned sensors watching other sensors, and usually a "failure" is simply a sensor crapping out.
I'm at two years and 19,000 miles, so it hasn't been used a lot and it won't be.
21.4 MPG lifetime.
Lots of chrome on the Denali. I could've lived with less of that.

I'd say drive them all, and maybe even rent some candidates for a weekend before jumping all in.
I still miss the Mojave some days. Some days I don't.

I love the Denali's - the shiny bits and all.

It's a bit more than I want to spend though, so when I've been looking I have been eyeballing a fully trimmed out AT4 (not the 'X' model, though).

I have refrained from actually driving one though. I might like it too much for my needs.

Edit: AT4 with a modest 2" lift looks about right for me.

 

[BourbonRunner]

As the owner of a 2023 Bronco Sport (her ride) I can tell you with zero equivocation that I will never own another new Ford vehicle again. I won't be unloading my stock but their new cars are plastic-y garbage. I've had enough stupid issues the dealers can't figure out and recalls in the first 60K miles to make that call.

The Tacoma (and 4Runner) were on my short list until I drove them: There's a harsh vibration from the powertrain in the steering wheel and overall my 2004 Taco TRD had a much better ride than the current. I also don't understand how/why Toyota still manages to make the most uncomfortable seats in the world... and backseat room is laughable.

The GM Twins are outstanding trucks, the AT4 and AT4x were also on my short list too. I test drove them back to back and was impressed but on ATs were just as loud as the Gladiator. I love the look of the Canyon but I couldn't get past the silly white trim in the interior. On a truck meant to spend its life in the dirt, white pleather trim is a hard stop.

If leases made sense for my driving habits I'd consider leasing a Raptor then flipping it back to them in 2 years but I drive way too much.

 

[ChrisNLA]

As the owner of a 2023 Bronco Sport (her ride) I can tell you with zero equivocation that I will never own another new Ford vehicle again. I won't be unloading my stock but their new cars are plastic-y garbage. I've had enough stupid issues the dealers can't figure out and recalls in the first 60K miles to make that call.

The Tacoma (and 4Runner) were on my short list until I drove them: There's a harsh vibration from the powertrain in the steering wheel and overall my 2004 Taco TRD had a much better ride than the current. I also don't understand how/why Toyota still manages to make the most uncomfortable seats in the world... and backseat room is laughable.

The GM Twins are outstanding trucks, the AT4 and AT4x were also on my short list too. I test drove them back to back and was impressed but on ATs were just as loud as the Gladiator. I love the look of the Canyon but I couldn't get past the silly white trim in the interior. On a truck meant to spend its life in the dirt, white pleather trim is a hard stop.

If leases made sense for my driving habits I'd consider leasing a Raptor then flipping it back to them in 2 years but I drive way too much.

That white on the interior is one of the main reasons I had to write off any interest in the AT4X. The AT4 (non X) doesn't have it that I've seen.

But I agree. That's terrible.

A guy here at work has a new Colorado ZR2 and he said the same thing when I said I like the AT4 alot. He was like man why did they put WHITE in a TRUCK.

 

[BourbonRunner]

That white on the interior is one of the main reasons I had to write off any interest in the AT4X. The AT4 (non X) doesn't have it that I've seen.

But I agree. That's terrible.

A guy here at work has a new Colorado ZR2 and he said the same thing when I said I like the AT4 alot. He was like man why did they put WHITE in a TRUCK.

It was on both the trucks I test drove back to back last year (or was it the previous?) but from what I gather GM has eliminated that interior from that AT4 but kept it on the AT4x. Shame because the GMC interiors are otherwise rather nice.

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