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

[Dryfly24]

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.

So, what's the question?

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)

That removable top and door feature never even entered into the equation for me either. No other pickup truck on the market can touch these things off road but they are just as good on pavement. That’s why I bought it.

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[Blue Ridge]

I went to the beach a couple weeks back and my buddy brought his new Ram Limited 3500 mega cab 4x4. It was like being in a limo compared to the Jeep. I absolutely get the appeal. But I was able to park where he couldn't more than once, and it would never fit in my garage. And like someone said earlier, it's just not an apples to apples comparison. Not to mention he paid almost $30K more than my Gladiator.
Only photo I got of it was when we were airing up tires:

I personally wouldn't swap mine for his even considering the price difference, but he wouldn't swap his for mine plus $30,000 in cash so different strokes, as they say.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Im stuck in the middle of a desert

Naw, you have a JEEP. You aren't stuck anywhere. Lost, maybe, but never stuck anywhere.

It's why I love 'em - if I get lazy, I don't HAVE to clear the snow (I either stay home or jump into one of our JEEPS if I must go somewhere)
Too danged hot - humidity 100% in the mid-90s, roll the windows up, put the panels in, turn the AC on.
Too cold - hit the heated seat and steering wheel button.
Too wet? (oh, don't I wish we had some water) that's no problem, stock it's 30", lifted with bigger tires, it's more than that.
Sadly, I can drive or walk through our creeks and streams and not spin up any mud or even get my feet wet. That's ok, it will drive through dust and over sand bars, too.

For me it's a Swiss Army knife - it will do almost anything. Even a Swiss Army knife isn't what you want when you are rebuilding your motorcycle engine on the side of the road, but still..........

We attended a church charity event a few months ago. HOT and sunny. There was only one row of trees for any shade. My wife said - park it in the shade. I looked - no wonder not too many people parked there, maybe some couldn't get up the hill TO the trees. The Jeep - no sweat.
My wife's sister loves her Ram truck, but when we meet her at events, I can park where she can't, and I can turn around in the space her truck occupies. Well, not quite, but you get the point.
For me, maneuverability can be king. Coming back from a show, I can unload my car, back the trailer out of the driveway, to the neighbor's drive, down the hill and around the corner, sit my trailer in front of my shop, unhook, turn the JT around, hook up to the front hitch, and park my trailer and be done in LESS time than it used to take me to unload the car and pull my trailer around back. Almost as nice as having a ball mount on the front of my skidloader bucket years ago - you LOOK at where you are putting that trailer. It turns so sharp compared to my other 4x4 trucks, I can miss the posts for my lean-to and miss my neighbors stuff with ease while parking my long trailer on the narrow spot I have for it between my shop and his property. Couldn't do that with my Chevy - I had to unhook and use my lawn tractor. What a pain. |
Dang, this truck is handy as heck.

 

[Gvsukids]

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)

Sounds like you need a soft top.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sounds like you need a soft top.

If it wasn't so expensive - it has been considered........ swap to the soft top for the spring, hard top back on in the winter. Easy with my garage top lift setup. I could leave the hard top hanging all summer.

 

[Jefe1018]

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.

I know I can read through 5 pages and find out… but what are you doing here then? ???

If you don’t off-road at all and the full size truck things is your thing, just get the new rebel. It is more practical in every way except for off roading.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If you don’t off-road at all and the full size truck things is your thing, just get the new rebel. It is more practical in every way except for off roaring.

I dunno, with that hemi, it's likely practical for roaring, too. LOL.
I just HAD to!

 

[Terry]

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.

I know how you feel..... I stood staring into the freezer this evening for over three hours wanting Rocky Road... but the Chocolate Fudge kept whispering to me. Then there was making a selection of the bowl.... Deep sided for less chance of a spill, but... the flatter bowl will hold one extra scoop. Now on to the toppings, Chocolate is a must, but then.... Hot fudge or syrup. Whipped cream and a cherry, or leave the cherry off. Oops, It's almost time for breakfast... Frozen waffles or toast....

Let's be honest. We have lost our ability to make a decision and then stick with it so I'm going to help you out here... A Ram is a DODGE...and a Gladiator is a JEEP......

 

[OffAxis2021]

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.

Are you “Sporty” or are you “Luxury?”

Personally… I do not miss a bought new 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. I sometimes miss a bought new 2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax “Rock Warrior” and that one was somewhat decked out (suspension, bumpers, winch, etc., etc.).

Discovered in late 2021, I guess about a year ago now… I absolutely love my ordered by me in March and picked up in May Mojave. It is my FIRST Jeep and I have only ever had one 4-wheel vehicle at a time to drive. I did NOT even test drive one. Only sat in a Mojave in a dealer showroom briefly. I did however, drive a friend’s Tuscadero Pink 392 (pre my order). Quite a beast (motor wise), but the only Wrangler I ever really liked was an LJ Rubicon and had not driven a Jeep since mid 80s.

I will also note, I grew up driving nothing but new General Motors 4x4 trucks (7). Being that I am now just a small lift and narrow 35s type, the fact that the Jeep is SO EASILY modifiable (tastefully/minimally) did not hurt either. Some great (and abundant) sandy trails just north a couple hours (and cabin) and dunes a few hours away.

Just try it. If you do end up not liking it, bail on it and go back. What is the worst that can happen?!? You are not stuck in a vehicle you do not like, if you chose not to be.

P.S. Back in 2017, I got back into owning [a] street-bike(s). I loved the Ducati Monster since 1996. Got one new (no test ride), but also bought a Supersport S (also new - couple/few months later). Decided after a couple of summers, that the Monster was the one for me. Got rid of both of those for a 2019 Anniversary Edition Monster 1200. #188/500. IJS.

??? ?? ???

 

[joeym7]

Well, I didn't read 69 posts, but OP based on your 1st post, IMO, Gladiator isn't for you - so move on, life goes on, no harm no foul.

 

[Gvsukids]

Well, I didn't read 69 posts, but OP based on your 1st post, IMO, Gladiator isn't for you - so move on, life goes on, no harm no foul.

I think @John Lenheiser has. He hasn't said anything since the first post. Although he has previously posted about how hard it is to let go of the Ran.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/i-think-i’m-moving-on-possibly.62509/post-1029356

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/any-full-size-converts.23925/post-1022215

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/mojave-from-f150.62100/post-1022909

 

[Sprinkler-Fitter]

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.

Why announce it here? Buy one or don’t buy one, I’m guessing you are an adult, make a decision.

 

[Hootbro]

I think the OP had "Decidophobia". Short of somebody with a Gladiator giving him a verbal hand job to get over the decision hump and feel good about it, better to stay with what you know.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thinking back, the first look at one was pure emotional. I wanted one and wanted it badly. That hit me about 0.00539 seconds after seeing that beautiful firecracker red one on the showroom floor.
Then after looking it over and getting over that rush - almost like a hangover, I started thinking of reality - my budget, my shop full of cars, my garage full, bank account - empty........ logic finally kicked in. I glanced at a pic I have on my computer of Spock - what would Spock do.
So- I love it, it's appealing to me, it looks fun, it's a lot smaller than my Chevy so it helps with the space crunch a little bit - but will it DO what I need a truck for?
Will it tow? Will it haul? What about mpg? Is it at least as good as the Chevy?
Once I got that answered - yeah, it will, then I moved on to money.
My wife saw my quandary and suggested that I hadn't done much with my 70 Javelin lately - it sat a lot but was just waaay too nice to use as a daily driver. It was pristine, 30,000 miles, insurance was cheap because it was assumed the miles would be kept low, etc. The more I drove it, the less it would be worth in the end and repairs would be out of this world. (IF you could possibly find one, a grill is about $2,000 now, quarter panels and fenders just do not exist)
So - she said "think of the reasons you have to not sell it" and balance that with getting the Jeep.
(it was an easy sale- everyone knew the car and knew me and how I cared for them and the work I'd done. It was bought sight-unseen by a kid from Texas at full price)
Then she said - "you just settled your father's estate - why not use some of that".
OK, financial end taken care of. JUST made it money-wise - JUST.
(but if I win the lottery, I'm contacting the young fellow in TX and tell him if he'll sell me the car back, I'll double his money)

I was looking at max tow, but my wife stepped in - back in 2019, the sport s max tow was very limited in options and there were no choices in certain body panel colors, etc. so she talked me into an Overland. When I told her I already had all the towing sorted out and the Overland would be pushing it with my current car hauler, she told me to go buy a lighter trailer.
I might just keep her around.

 

[Charles 236]

I have never owned a Jeep product until now, but I am not new to trucks and 4x4s. So for me the factors that counted was how much truck do I need versus how much I am willing to spend. Admittedly, a full size Ram would have made more sense dollar wise, but I liked the size of the Gladiator and decided to give Jeep a try. Very happy with my choice, I would do it again.

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