Trading the Gladiator in for Gen-5 4Runner

[Bonanza]

Tell us you don't wheel it without telling us you don't wheel it. The gladiator isn't the best mid-size street truck out there for sure, but the others aren't even close off road.

For someone who doesn't even have sliders on your Jeep, that's a bold thing to say.

But as you said here, :

"I figured hers takes care of the rocks and hard-core trails so why not get the high speed model (I have had hers up to 90mph in the dirt and it's out of its element)? We take several desert trips a year. Of course larger tires are inevitable, and probably a winch too. Otherwise the stock 2.5s and hydraulic bump stops are just too good to mess with. That's why I went with the aev kit. Should retain what's great about the truck and allow for future 37s and a bit more ground clearance. Even if I tried to build it to keep up with the JLUR, it would just get too extreme with its long wheel base and poor departure angle. I'd bet you'd need 42s and 5" of lift to match the JLUR on 3.5" and 39s. At that point you're looking at Dana 60s and a supercharger just to lug it all around. Hats off to the guys running 7+ rated rock trails in JTs, that's not the purpose of this rig for me. Low enough to be stable at speed but tall enough to not drag ALL the time."

I do appreciate you taking your hat off for me. Some trails are a bit scary and it's not for everyone. Getting some scratches on the skids is for the big boys.

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[Hootbro]

Toyota builds a better customer and not necessarily a better vehicle.

 

[Zachanadandy]

For someone who doesn't even have sliders on your Jeep, that's a bold thing to say.

But as you said here, :

"I figured hers takes care of the rocks and hard-core trails so why not get the high speed model (I have had hers up to 90mph in the dirt and it's out of its element)? We take several desert trips a year. Of course larger tires are inevitable, and probably a winch too. Otherwise the stock 2.5s and hydraulic bump stops are just too good to mess with. That's why I went with the aev kit. Should retain what's great about the truck and allow for future 37s and a bit more ground clearance. Even if I tried to build it to keep up with the JLUR, it would just get too extreme with its long wheel base and poor departure angle. I'd bet you'd need 42s and 5" of lift to match the JLUR on 3.5" and 39s. At that point you're looking at Dana 60s and a supercharger just to lug it all around. Hats off to the guys running 7+ rated rock trails in JTs, that's not the purpose of this rig for me. Low enough to be stable at speed but tall enough to not drag ALL the time."

I do appreciate you taking your hat off for me. Some trails are a bit scary and it's not for everyone. Getting some scratches on the skids is for the big boys.

And good luck doing that in any other vehicle. That's the point, nothing else is nearly as capable or easily modified to be more capable/fit big tires. Why would I build both Jeeps for rocks though? We have a JLUR for the rock trails, or did you not catch that in the post you quoted? Of course the mojave came with the same rock rails as the rubicon so yes, they are there. And we did run charouleau gap which is a 7 rated trail in the JT. Feel free to step away from the brand, you'll either switch to easier trails or you'll be back period.

 

[ttn333]

Toyota builds a better customer and not necessarily a better vehicle.

LOL. Have you not heard about "it's a jeep thing"? No one builds a better customer than Jeep. Jeep owners will continue to b*tch at Jeep and defend it all in the same breath.

 

[JTGuy]

How about a GX550. Perhaps a little more quality.

 

[Zachanadandy]

LOL. Have you not heard about "it's a jeep thing"? No one builds a better customer than Jeep. Jeep owners will continue to b*tch at Jeep and defend it all in the same breath.

I don't think being unreliable is a Jeep thing at all. We've had a dozen, all of which have gone well over 100k miles. Half of those have driven the rubicon trail. We wheel solo a lot and there's no other brand I'd trust to take us to the remote locations our Jeeps do. In my opinion the "Jeep thing" is all the compromises that make it the greatest off road vehicle you can drive on the street. The narrow body that fits through obstacles makes for a less spacious interior. The vertical windshield, thin removable doors, and removable top contribute to more road noise than your standard car or truck. The solid front axle doesn't handle like a car, nor should it. Those are the "Jeep things" that we will tell you to just accept as part of it or go buy a boring Toyota that will be plenty boring and reliable at the mall. The idea that Jeeps are unreliable is insane to me, I'd be facing a lot of marathon distance walks out of the forests and deserts around this country if that was the case. "But my visor broke when I yanked on it", "there's bubbling in my paint at the hinges ", "my dealer didn't roll out the red carpet for me"? None of those are actual reliability issues and it's still the only brand I'm taking through remote...hard trails.

 

[Hootbro]

LOL. Have you not heard about "it's a jeep thing"? No one builds a better customer than Jeep. Jeep owners will continue to b*tch at Jeep and defend it all in the same breath.

It's a old saying. Toyota has way better dealership customer service that smooths out the perception of quality or lack there of.

 

[johnchabin]

For what it’s worth:

https://www.motortrend.com/features/most-reliable-dependable-car-brands/

1. Lexus
2. Toyota
.
.
.
11. Jeep (industry average)

Frankly, I’m happy to hit average reliability for the entire brand… there are definitely some duds in the lineup. Also, there are some surprises (to me) on the list… who knew GM was doing so well?

And Mini??? They certainly don’t have a reputation for reliability.

All said, the Gladiator is my favorite vehicle I’ve ever owned, and there have been many.

 

[Greg_L]

This has gotten pretty stupid.

When you look at brand loyalty and hardcore fanbases, they're always gonna bitch about the brand they use and love. Seems hypocritical...seems contradictory...but it is the way it is because a dedicated userbase gets really into the weeds and small details of whatever they're doing.

In my world as a musician, I bitch about features and details of my gear that the average Joe bedroom player would never notice. I don't like the balance of a certain drum stick. I don't like the way a certain brand's strings feel under my fingers on my guitar. Stuff like that a hobbyist would never notice. Only deeply dedicated users notice these details.

Same with the Jeep cult. Most Jeep owners are probably perfectly fine hopping in their ride and going about their day and are quite happy to have the capability of a Jeep even though they never use it.

 

[Stuntman Mike]

Have you considered a cybertruck? Their prices may be coming way down and now they come equipped with the latest Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines and a factory MG42.

Thanks for the hint. As a "conchie" I was not aware of our refinded weapon technology so many years ago.

 

[ttn333]

I don't think being unreliable is a Jeep thing at all. We've had a dozen, all of which have gone well over 100k miles. Half of those have driven the rubicon trail. We wheel solo a lot and there's no other brand I'd trust to take us to the remote locations our Jeeps do. In my opinion the "Jeep thing" is all the compromises that make it the greatest off road vehicle you can drive on the street. The narrow body that fits through obstacles makes for a less spacious interior. The vertical windshield, thin removable doors, and removable top contribute to more road noise than your standard car or truck. The solid front axle doesn't handle like a car, nor should it. Those are the "Jeep things" that we will tell you to just accept as part of it or go buy a boring Toyota that will be plenty boring and reliable at the mall. The idea that Jeeps are unreliable is insane to me, I'd be facing a lot of marathon distance walks out of the forests and deserts around this country if that was the case. "But my visor broke when I yanked on it", "there's bubbling in my paint at the hinges ", "my dealer didn't roll out the red carpet for me"? None of those are actual reliability issues and it's still the only brand I'm taking through remote...hard trails.

Well, it sure seems like there's a lot of qc problems. We've have had lots of toyotas, some lexus, and a couple of mercedes. The only other ride that has had this many problems was a Jaguar. It's is unbelievable to me that Jeep still has a leaky rear glass window after all these years; worse, they don't have a solid fix for it. Insane.

 

[Stan H]

$0.2
I bought a new 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro (first 4Runner) and just did not like it one tiny bit. Mind you, I am just not an SUV type I have concluded with that one. I like a truck bed, even if a small one. It was boring AF and uncomfortable too. I could not stand to drive 200 miles (non-stop) and I am merely 5’8” 180lbs. I did a 500 mile non-stop in the Jeep and wanted to just keep going. DDI seat jackers and a dead pedal were a must though. I hated that I could not even have 1” wheel spacers (aesthetic) along with stock tires/wheels, 2” lift (f/r) and it not rub the mudflaps. Immediately upon said 2” lift, the needle bearing issue thing(?) happened. The rear of the vehicle being a disastrous mess all the time and the whole rear wiper thing, how dumb. As far as the power rear window, talk about a filthy dirty interior, that was not the easiest to clean. Call me lazy, but I am not a contortionist. Lol. A prior new 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax “Rock Warrior” was not nearly as bad in that aspect. I do not do a lot of A/C. Needless to say, I do not miss it at all. Not even the slightest.

Before the 2012 switch to Toyota, I grew up driving nothing but Cof GM coF

My self-ordered 2022 Mojave is my first Jeep and I absolutely love it. Zero complaints. Just turned 35K trouble free miles. Knock on wood. Nothing but look-back and smiles. While I sometimes miss that BEAST of a Tundra, I have decided that this Gladiator is my favorite of all that I have owned. Nothing but 4x4s. Not one single coup/sedan car. I have taken a lot of pictures, but deleted every single 4R photo I had in my phone. Hell, I still have many Tundra photos though. Hah!

Share the “Glamour Shots,” of course. Too busy driving for any action photos.

Just goofing with the last photo… maybe.

How I look at guys who think Mojaves are the best , lol cheers

 

[Zachanadandy]

How I look at guys who think Mojaves are the best , lol cheers

Don't worry we can't see you way back there in the rear view mirror...

 

[Stan H]

Don't worry we can't see you way back there in the rear view mirror...

Well since you like fantasy which I see your familiar

 

[Stormtroopin]

Can we turn this into another Mojave vs rubicon thread, I get a lot of laughs out of those!!!

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