Unique Post // I've decided my Gladiator Rubicon is not the vehicle for me : /

[ACLdestroyer]

Not the thread I pictured myself posting when I picked up the car from the dealer in August 2020, but here I am.

I bought the wrong rig, thats it. My sting gray Rubi is an excellent vehicle. Decent driving on city streets, easy to commute in, handled road trips well. Reliable, fun, simple etc.

The catch, I travel up and down mountain passes 30 times a year. Shifting this thing in and out of 4H when the roads go from snow covered to clear and wet is silly. The truck handles poorly at highway speeds in 4H. The heater is atrocious to deal with. Fuel mileage is unbelievably bad for a V6, though I don't drive enough to really care about mpg.

Will be looking at selling this thing and grabbing a RAM 2500. Maybe test drive a TRX just for S&Gs.

Have only respect for this forum and Jeep folks altogether. Wish I could find a way to appreciate the Gladiator as much as it deserves.

I definitely wont miss waving at people 20-30 on my trip to the grocery store here in Issaquah. Too many jeep owners here. Yeesh!

Sponsored

 

[Jaxmax]

Well enjoy the new ride whatever you settle on, things might change a bit on Gladiators as they get older, I have the Selectrac AWD transfer case and it is great in the snow on highway,maybe a small V-8 in a year or so and who knows. Take care.....Jack

 

[Mac]

How is a 2500 going to improve any of the issues you mentioned?

 

[TheSolarWizard]

Lol none of those things will be improved upon in a 2500.

 

[Bantam]

Jeeps aren’t for everyone and I usually don’t recommend them to anyone, but always add the stipulation “... most fun to drive and capable vehicle I’ve owned.”

It sounds like what you’re looking for is an AWD SUV, but good luck with the 2500.

 

[ACLdestroyer]

How is a 2500 going to improve any of the issues you mentioned?

4WD Auto on the RAM works fantastic on snow, ice, rain covered roads etc. The heater is a proper heater, not a enigma wrapped in a mystery like the Gladiatior. 20mpg is much better than what I get in the Jeep and the power put our by the RAM annihilates the Jeep.

All that, plus nobody waves at you in a random ass RAM pickup. ha

 

[ACLdestroyer]

Jeeps aren’t for everyone and I usually don’t recommend them to anyone, but always add the stipulation “... most fun to drive and capable vehicle I’ve owned.”

It sounds like what you’re looking for is an AWD SUV, but good luck with the 2500.

I need the bed to maintain the property but the RAM I had before the Gladiator was as good as any SUV or AWD wagon in the snow.

Agree with you completely on the Jeep. Fun and capable, hands down. Wish I loved it.

 

[5JeepsAz]

 

[Mac]

4WD Auto on the RAM works fantastic on snow, ice, rain covered roads etc. The heater is a proper heater, not a enigma wrapped in a mystery like the Gladiatior. 20mpg is much better than what I get in the Jeep and the power put our by the RAM annihilates the Jeep.

All that, plus nobody waves at you in a random ass RAM pickup. ha

I did not know 4wd auto was an option on the 2500, I doubt the HVAC is any better probably the same system. What 2500 gets 20mpg?

 

[ZTMAN]

Not the thread I pictured myself posting when I picked up the car from the dealer in August 2020, but here I am.

I bought the wrong rig, thats it. My sting gray Rubi is an excellent vehicle. Decent driving on city streets, easy to commute in, handled road trips well. Reliable, fun, simple etc.

The catch, I travel up and down mountain passes 30 times a year. Shifting this thing in and out of 4H when the roads go from snow covered to clear and wet is silly. The truck handles poorly at highway speeds in 4H. The heater is atrocious to deal with. Fuel mileage is unbelievably bad for a V6, though I don't drive enough to really care about mpg.

Will be looking at selling this thing and grabbing a RAM 2500. Maybe test drive a TRX just for S&Gs.

Have only respect for this forum and Jeep folks altogether. Wish I could find a way to appreciate the Gladiator as much as it deserves.

I definitely wont miss waving at people 20-30 on my trip to the grocery store here in Issaquah. Too many jeep owners here. Yeesh!

Good for you. JTs are not practical daily drivers for a lot of people, including me. I still have one in the garage because I like Jeeps, but I would not want to drive one every day.

The full time 4wd that is now available solves one of your problems but not all. If you are spending $50k for a vehicle, might as well get something you are happy driving

 

[Armyman247]

Your post kinda lost all credibility when you said ram 2500 or TRX hahaha both gonna have worse gas mileage. Now if you said better towing or something along those lines I’d get it..
4wd? It’s a “manually” shifting transfer case you should have know that going into that. But given that I’ve had to maybe shift once or twice in 4h to drive on the highway in the snow. Every other time no issues tires make a big difference maybe you have bad tires? Maybe it’s “operator error” def don’t get a trx if you “can’t handle” a jeep
crappy heater?????? Seriously???? I decided (due to a warranty issue) to keep my soft top on all winter (northeast) I thought I would freeze boy was I ever wrong more than enough heat most times I had to keep the heat down cause it worked so well.
But hey not everyone enjoys a Jeep I get it but that’s all you had to say.

 

[Jeep-A-Kneez]

I did not know 4wd auto was an option on the 2500, I doubt the HVAC is any better probably the same system. What 2500 gets 20mpg?

You'll have to get the diesel, have a 20 year old 3500, 5.9 Cummings, 3.55 rear axle & average 23 mpg. The Sport S with the diesel averaging about 25 mpg. Good luck with the new truck.

 

[Zilla]

Sometimes it probably best to just "go" instead of announcing it. LOL I do like my JT, but there's not a thing wrong with the Ram.

 

[Gvsukids]

Good for you. JTs are not practical daily drivers for a lot of people, including me. I still have one in the garage because I like Jeeps, but I would not want to drive one every day.

The full time 4wd that is now available solves one of your problems but not all. If you are spending $50k for a vehicle, might as well get something you are happy driving

I drive mine everyday and love it.

 

[JT LIFE]

I drive mine everyday and love it.

Me too!I went from a f350 to the gladiator diesel and can't stop smiling every time I see it!

Sponsored