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

[NachoRuby]

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'm sure it's no better here, because it's also forested. There are definitely a lot of 3 point turns in the Gladiator that a Wrangler could make easily in one. And the rear scrapes a lot. But the gladiator also just feels more stable than the Wrangler to me. Our Wrangler feels comparatively squirrelly, so each has its benefits. I'm definitely not going to knock a Wrangler, as we've had two before. Our Wrangler is a 4 door though. Our first one was a two door because it was a TJ, so that's all that existed haha. I'm not saying the Wrangler isn't easier to turn and maneuver. Of course it is. Just that 'nightmare' is a bit extreme.

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[Snake Eyes]

Trying to go from a 2019 RAM Lone Star edition 4X4 5.7 Hemi, to a Gladiator, but just can't pull the trigger. The RAM is so nice over the Gladiator in every way and I'm not an off roader, so I just can't see why I want one, but I do. I think for myself I now leaning toward a new RAM Rebel over the Gladiator. I'm now thinking it's the better choice for me.

OK…and….?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

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.

And to support that, I'm sure you've seen the videos I've posted of a JT doing the hard rocky desert/mountain trails of the Middle East along with the rest of them. The white JT looks to be hardly modified. It's doing fine.

 

[cafecito]

I'm sure it's no better here, because it's also forested. There are definitely a lot of 3 point turns in the Gladiator that a Wrangler could make easily in one. And the rear scrapes a lot. But the gladiator also just feels more stable than the Wrangler to me. Our Wrangler feels comparatively squirrelly, so each has its benefits. I'm definitely not going to knock a Wrangler, as we've had two before. Our Wrangler is a 4 door though. Our first one was a two door because it was a TJ, so that's all that existed haha. I'm not saying the Wrangler isn't easier to turn and maneuver. Of course it is. Just that 'nightmare' is a bit extreme.

Fair enough - I do occasionally speak in hyperbole.

 

[Gvsukids]

I will re-iterate just to make sure we're on the same page: I was only talking about me and what I've used it for. I have no doubts about the capability of the Gladiator. It's just, for ME, it's not been ideal.



Again, I'm just talking about what *I've* used it for. I've never had to tow or haul thousands of pounds of anything with it, so that doesn't really pertain to what I was saying.

For example, I recently picked up some 4x8 plywood sheets (Hurricane Ian), and even though Jeep advertised that the tailgate cables are supposed to make the tailgate serve as a level surface for you to set sheets of plywood over the wheel wells, they didn't fit! I don't know if it was the bedliner, or the plywood being slightly larger than 4", or something else. But they had to sit angled in the back while also sticking up and out the back. Obviously there were no issues moving once I got them in there, but I expected a lot less resistance to plywood sheets seeing as it was a big marketing talking point Jeep brought up a lot.



I guess we're just coming from different places regarding the 3.6L. I have driven sedans, lightweight SUVs, and a Civic SI (turbo-charged 4 cyl) most of my life. For me, this is my first 6 cylinder, my first truck, and my first FCA product. I heard loads and loads about how reliable the engine is and all that, and that's great if you plan to keep the vehicle for 100k miles or more and use it as a tool.

But, I work from home full time now. When I drive, it's to the grocery store, dinner, or something brief. For that, I'd much rather have something smaller and quicker. Driving even a small truck around in the city is a slog, and I won't even get started on parking.

I want to prioritize fun over practicality for my vehicles because I'm not going A-to-B five days a week like I used to. That's part of what I wanted a Gladiator for in the first place: it sounded like it could be a fun weekend getaway vehicle, it just hasn't happened. But again, that's a *ME* and my use case conflict - nothing wrong with the truck.



I'll just agree to disagree about the fun part. 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. We also don't have kids, so the back seat and bed are just wasted.

So, for the umpteenth time, for ME, it's never going to see offroad because my wife's JL just does it better. I don't tow or haul anything. I don't go overlanding or camping. I don't commute, and I don't get naked and go to the beach. Right now, my Mojave is a glorified grocery getter, and for that alone, it's way too big, too slow, and pretty boring.

Did you test drive one before purchasing?

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

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. . . ?

You almost make me ashamed that I love to fish, wheel solo, AND...
Daily Drive/ off-road my DIESEL RUBICON GLADIATOR.

I asked an honest question because I thought there might be something to learn which I hadn't thought of, especially from someone who enjoys the same pursuits.
I think you're projecting your own defensiveness onto me.
I expected more from a Rubicon owner who likes to fish and go off-road solo.

I am disappoint. ?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

For example, I recently picked up some 4x8 plywood sheets (Hurricane Ian), and even though Jeep advertised that the tailgate cables are supposed to make the tailgate serve as a level surface for you to set sheets of plywood over the wheel wells, they didn't fit! I don't know if it was the bedliner, or the plywood being slightly larger than 4", or something else. But they had to sit angled in the back while also sticking up and out the back. Obviously there were no issues moving once I got them in there, but I expected a lot less resistance to plywood sheets seeing as it was a big marketing talking point Jeep brought up a lot.

Plywood, or any 4x8 sheet goods, fit with ease. There's photos out there of my Overland with hundreds of dollars worth of plywood in the back (as you know, hundreds of dollars worth doesn't mean all that many sheets).
There's even PLAY - so I strap them in. They can wiggle back and forth. Maybe you got more than 4x8 sheets.
I hauled stuff like that multiple times - plywood to finish the floor in the loft of my garage, 3/4" oak plywood for a built-in shelf project for my wife, among other times.
So I gotta ask - what bedliner? a plastic drop-in? I know the spray-in MOPAR bedliner is thick as heck - found out when putting in my rails and the tonneau cover latches I installed (did both on both trucks). That stuff is so thick I had to countersink through it to get rivnuts to work. The bed liner is thicker than the flange of a rivnut and they sit recessed deep into the bedliner. So maybe you got something even thicker?

Anyway, sorry that you bought the wrong vehicle.
I have my 2 cars for casual driving fun. My truck is necessary, although I find it's fun and easy so it's turned into my daily driver. My cars sit much of the time now.
If I want big Gs, or noise, there's the 73. If I want to park where no one else can, there's the 82. It's short, 4 wheel drive and I can park it where so-called SUVs can't always go. Turns on a dime so zipping into that 1 parking spot is a cinch.
But the JT is a do-all for me now. I found I don't always need the sound, the Gs don't matter as much, nothing to prove to myself or others. If I feel like a teen again, I'll go get silly with the 73 and make some noise. It's amazing how many people see that old-school car, pull up to the right of me at a light where their lane ends in half a block and they punch it and try to zip around me. Good luck with that. With 1100 CFM of dual carbs feeding fuel to it, good luck with that. It may be decades old, but unless you drive a new 'stang or 'vette, you aren't going to make it.
But I don't have much of that need any more.
I need the utility, practicality of a small truck.

That being said, I guess it's time to put the tinted windows in my car, put the dash back together (apart for door hinge replacement) and get the thing back on the road and make some NOISE!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

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

No, you aren't.
You are trying to talk yourself out of it.

If it's really that much struggle, then the JT, in any incarnation, isn't right for you.

BTW - some wise person once said - reincarnation is when you die and come back as a flower while reincarceration is when you die and come back as another person.

 

[Darkamek]

I sold both of my Gladiators and purchased a 21’ Ram 1500 Big Horn. I needed a truck that could tow and fit the kids and dogs. But I just put an order in for another Gladiator for me to drive to work and for fun if that tells you anything. But I will be keeping the Ram 1500.

 

[berb]

There is only 1 question to ask yourself that will make the decision for you.

Do you want to take your roof and doors off and feel the wind in your hair?

If YES buy a gladiator. If NO keep or buy another Ram

 

[PlayfulBird]

Nancy who?

There is only 1 question to ask yourself that will make the decision for you.

Do you want to take your roof and doors off and feel the wind in your hair?

If YES buy a gladiator. If NO keep or buy another Ram

Interesting. It is a big nope to wanting either for us, and yet the Gladiator is our favorite vehicle by far

 

[MajorUrsus]

Not to sound mean but, why come to a Gladiator forum to announce this? Nobody cares. ?‍

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Nancy who?

Interesting. It is a big nope to wanting either for us, and yet the Gladiator is our favorite vehicle by far

In Iowa, that was hardly our priority. With temperatures and humidities sometimes matching each other in the summer, the strong wind most of the time (rare is the calm day) and the rains that come with zero warning on a sunny day, it's extremely rare to want to have the roof and doors off. The winds while on the highway suck the air right out of your lungs, you have to strap or tape everything in place. You can be an hour away, with no rain in the forecast and find you are sooo thankful you left the roof panels in the back as you race to outrun a record severe storm that left us without power for nearly a week, torrential rains and hurricane force winds (we only reached 70-80 mph winds here)
More than once I've taken off for a car show with one of my cars and what the........ all heck breaks loose. You get home and the evening news says wow, we didn't see that one coming".
Week after week in the 90s with wind and humidity and UV warnings mean the roof rarely comes off. The doors are heavy, where to stow them, and messing with the connections when you are 65 with back issues means it's hardly a priority.

We drove it to FL last month. While we were there it was so hot and rainy, even my son who lives there said naw, it's windows up, AC on time. So much for having it down there.
Funny thing - I saw a couple of Wranglers and one JT with top and doors off the whole time we were down there out of the hundreds of Jeeps in the areas we visited.
Back home all summer, I can count on my fingers the times I've seen a JT with roof and doors off, and similar for Wranglers.
It's a thing to show 'em off here as it's photo op time, but in reality, it's not that big a deal among the real owners, apparently.

It's nice that you CAN do that, but it wasn't even in the top 5 reasons to buy it. Just a nice bit added to the list.
The winds the last couple of days have been steady 20mph with gusts 40-45, hardly fun (well, the high of 50 doesn't help)

 

[ZoMojave]

Trying to go from a 2019 RAM Lone Star edition 4X4 5.7 Hemi, to a Gladiator, but just can't pull the trigger. The RAM is so nice over the Gladiator in every way and I'm not an off roader, so I just can't see why I want one, but I do. I think for myself I now leaning toward a new RAM Rebel over the Gladiator. I'm now thinking it's the better choice for me.

The only way to know which way to go.

https://c.tenor.com/sl3UIRK455QAAAAC/8ball-bart-simpson.gif

 

[Dryfly24]

You almost make me ashamed that I love to fish, wheel solo, AND...
Daily Drive/ off-road my DIESEL RUBICON GLADIATOR.

I asked an honest question because I thought there might be something to learn which I hadn't thought of, especially from someone who enjoys the same pursuits.
I think you're projecting your own defensiveness onto me.
I expected more from a Rubicon owner who likes to fish and go off-road solo.

I am disappoint. ?

Dude, you attack then play victim. Stop with the subtle bullshit and just enjoy the site. Contribute more fish pics and I’ll bet you’ll be more satisfied with the end result.

There are those of us here -myself more than anyone - that appreciate it.

Im stuck in the middle of a desert and you’re surrounded by water. Post some fish pics and tell us where you went. Tell us how your truck made it possible to get where you’re going, or just post some funny shit. It doesn’t really matter. But subtle digs at people just get the same tossed back at you.

Don’t act surprised when you get what you give.

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