Trying to change my ride to a Gladiator, but................

[Dryfly24]

The only reason to get a Jeep is because you want a Jeep. There is a rugged aesthetic appeal to the Gladiator which is why you think you want one.
The Ram far excels in every driving experience aspect (over most cars too) than the Jeep.

Had I not wanted a Jeep for Jeep's sake and off-roading, I would be in a Bighorn Ram and loving every mile of it.

Don't let some of these guys who get spooked and scurry off when asked to explain their comments, *cough*dryfly*cough* try to act tough and bust on you, LOL.

LMFAO! ???

Jeebus dude, talk about fragile! He’s referring to a comment I made earlier on another thread where I stated that when I chose to buy my gladiator it was the Rubicon hands down. He didn’t like that because he seems to have this ida that unless you hail the Mojave as God above all others you need to explain yourself in detail so he can pick it apart and explain to you how you would have been better off with HIS choice as opposed to yours.

Go back and read the thread. It’s so obvious what I’m saying is true you won’t have to read into it much but it’s all there. I chose to avoid all that and now he’s mad at me because he didn’t get his chance to argue with me that my choice for me was wrong.

FUCK IT. Go ahead there fellow pescatarian. Explain to me how the Mojave is a better rock crawler/DD than the Rubi. I’m sick in bed this morning anyway so I have nothing better to do. . . ?

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[NachoRuby]

For me, fun is a good sounding exhaust, some G-forces, etc. My wife and I have taken her JL out on trails, fire roads, national parks, etc, and even though her JL did great, we always come back saying what a nightmare my Gladiator would have been if we had taken it.

The gladiator handles trails just fine. If we're going wheeling, it's our gladiator that we take, not the Wrangler that we have too. Our Wrangler has left pavement precisely once. The gladiator is not a nightmare at all on trails.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

The gladiator handles trails just fine. If we're going wheeling, it's our gladiator that we take, not the Wrangler that we have too. Our Wrangler has left pavement precisely once. The gladiator is not a nightmare at all on trails.

Same! My JT outperforms everything, including my own expectations lol

 

[Dryfly24]

Well, I think I'm on the opposite side of the same part of the fence as you, so maybe this will help.

I originally got my Mojave because I thought it would be fun to take the top off, doors off, and be able to customize the snot out of everything. I didn't go for a Wrangler because my wife had a Rav4 at the time (and she has a JL now), so my thought was: "I never actually NEED a truck bed for my life, but having two SUVs is kinda stupid. Maybe having the utility of a truck bed could be nice once in a while?"

And while that's true - it has come in handy a couple times - the other 99% of the time, it just feels like I compromised way too much on my decision.

[Before some overly sensitive Nancy comes at me for insulting their Gladiator - calm down. I'm talking about ME and MY situation here.]

• Is it good at Jeep stuff? Yea, but my wife's JL is better at it. The long wheelbase and bed make it more of a burden than anything else though. It would make a great overlanding/camping vehicle, but we don't do any of that, so it's mostly wasted.
• Is it good for truck stuff? Sort of, yea, but a full size truck would do it better. The bed is pretty small, and even in the rarest of occasions when I do use it, whatever I'm hauling ends up sticking out of the bed or barely fitting in the first place. It's a good space for a large quantity of smaller items, but it's not great for moving bigger things.
• Is it fun to drive? No, not really. The 3.6L is probably the most boring engine I've ever driven. Sure, it's kinda funny to not have to slow down for railroad tracks at all, but is that worth $60,000? Not even close.

To top it off, the aftermarket accessories are seriously lacking compared to JLs and JLUs. Gladiators are a small segment, and unfortunately, money talks to manufacturers. Don't like the factory soft top? Tough - it's that or virtually nothing else.

If you like your truck, make damn sure that whatever you find appealing about the Gladiator is something you will actually do. In 16 months with mine, I have never taken the doors or top off. I had a Sunrider installed, but having the Florida sun incinerating me was awful, so my freedom panels are back on.

For me and my situation right now, my Mojave is an oversized A-to-B commuter with bad gas mileage that is really no fun to drive. If I could talk to myself from a year and a half ago, I would advise him to seriously ask if he plans on doing any of the things that sound so fun with the Jeep before buying it.

Dude, no matter how many times you reiterate that you’re only talking about what YOU need for YOURSELF, some “overly sensitive Nacy” will be along. Don’t ask me how I know. . . ?

 

[Dryfly24]

The gladiator handles trails just fine. If we're going wheeling, it's our gladiator that we take, not the Wrangler that we have too. Our Wrangler has left pavement precisely once. The gladiator is not a nightmare at all on trails.

^ This

 

[MaysvilleStig]

Stay with the full-size bro.

 

[Gren71]

I love that the majority of owners on here wheel. Its a huge part of jeep life for a lot of folks. Which is definitely awesome, but not for all of us.

i used to off-road often with my
Jku. Not any more..cant afford to break this truck and honestly it just lost its appeal.

i do however use the truck as a truck every day. I haul work gear, pull a boat, pull a utility trailer, pull my travel trailer, drive with my pups in the bed, haul deer back from the woods, drive on the beach, ect.

i think there are so many fellas on here who get really hung up on the only selling point of a JT being the off road aspect. Its an incredibly capable TRUCK in all senses of the word.

for the OP its really just going to come down to how he uses his truck. Does he off road? Tow? Haul? Mostly highway? All farm road and rural or more urban? The midaize truck market is a bridge between the SUV world and the truck world so it’s about finding where the owner fits in. And picking the vehicle that best fits that need.

 

[Average-Joe]

I traded in my 2019 DT Ram Lone Star 4x4 and do not regret a thing. The Ram was amazing at towing but my Gladiator makes me smile more. I am not saying the Ram was hard to park but it so much easier to whip in to a parking spot with the JT.

 

[Dryfly24]

The gladiator is the best off road pickup you can get and a really fun summer vehicle if you like taking the top/doors off. If neither of those appeal to you, I would probably be looking at other trucks.

In truth, I’ve never taken the doors or roof off once and it’s the most fun truck I’ve ever had. I’ll probably never take them off in the future either. I could care less about the feature TBH.

 

[CrazyCooter]

If you have to write a post like this.....The JT is not the truck for you. It reads like you want more luxury in a pickup and no amount of money or whining is going to get you there with a JT.

Other than the Ram being built by the same company, has a open top box type bed, 4 tires, etc.... It's a completely different vehicle that cannot be compared.

If you want a luxurious trail rig with serious potential and a bed that you can daily drive in decent comfort.....The JT is THE only tool for the job. There are better tools for other desires and needs.

 

[Dryfly24]

If you have to write a post like this.....The JT is not the truck for you. It reads like you want more luxury in a pickup and no amount of money or whining is going to get you there with a JT.

Other than the Ram being built by the same company, has a open top box type bed, 4 tires, etc.... It's a completely different vehicle that cannot be compared.

If you want a luxurious trail rig with serious potential and a bed that you can daily drive in decent comfort.....The JT is THE only tool for the job. There are better tools for other desires and needs.

I love your description of “luxurious trail rig”. Fits perfectly. ??

 

[MaysvilleStig]

I love that the majority of owners on here wheel. Its a huge part of jeep life for a lot of folks. Which is definitely awesome, but not for all of us.

i used to off-road often with my
Jku. Not any more..cant afford to break this truck and honestly it just lost its appeal.

i do however use the truck as a truck every day. I haul work gear, pull a boat, pull a utility trailer, pull my travel trailer, drive with my pups in the bed, haul deer back from the woods, drive on the beach, ect.

i think there are so many fellas on here who get really hung up on the only selling point of a JT being the off road aspect. Its an incredibly capable TRUCK in all senses of the word.

for the OP its really just going to come down to how he uses his truck. Does he off road? Tow? Haul? Mostly highway? All farm road and rural or more urban? The midaize truck market is a bridge between the SUV world and the truck world so it’s about finding where the owner fits in. And picking the vehicle that best fits that need.

This dude is spot on. The "it's a jeep" stuff has already worn off for me. I rarely take the top off and the doors have never been off. I'm even considering going back to 33's because the extra lift from the 35's wasn't super beneficial. I had fun doing all but the truly difficult trails here and the thing is immensely capable in stock form with just 35s and some experience. I can actually get all three vehicles in my garage now which is awesome with winter approaching, couldn't get the AT4 in there without having to climb out the sunroof. I miss my full size sometimes, but the Gladiator hasn't complained once during towing, hauling, camping, or off roading. It's done it all, and pretty damn well at that. BUT.... for the Op, the grass isn't any greener over here. If your needs fit full-size life better, stay there and don't look back.

 

[cafecito]

The gladiator handles trails just fine. If we're going wheeling, it's our gladiator that we take, not the Wrangler that we have too. Our Wrangler has left pavement precisely once. The gladiator is not a nightmare at all on trails.

Well feel free to bring yours down to Ocala National Forest and tell me how it goes. My wife's 2-door barely makes it through some of the turns there.

 

[Dryfly24]

Well feel free to bring yours down to Ocala National Forest and tell me how it goes. My wife's 2-door barely makes it through some of the turns there.

I could see where that would be an issue in the thick eastern woods. But here in the west with our wide open spaces, that extra length can actually come in handy on occasion when you need a little stability in the more precarious places.

Edited to add that, having said that. Here’s a shot of where I was wheeling just a few days ago. Gila National Forest. Just for perspective. It may not be as maneuverable in thick woods as a TJ but it’s not impossible either.

 

[DocMike]

I treat my JT like adult legos... and I hate having the doors and top on. Flipping from overland to to wheeling is part of the fun.

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