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

[almonster]

I just picked up my Rubi Gladiator 3 weeks ago and I love it and disappointed at the same time. My JK is 10 yrs old and even today I feel that it drives "better" than the Gladiator. The Gladiator still feels a little squirrelly even with the longer wheelbase (3" lift on Micky ATZ 33s). IMHO, they should never have gone with electronic steering. I am headed to my first off-road with the Gladiator this weekend and I hope it does as well as the JK. Jeep should have used an aluminum body except for the bed. Installing the Decked system on Thurs. Well, I will say the biggest + so far is the premium audio. In my JK - it sounds like a helicopter inside. The Gladiator - you can hear the music up to about 75 and then you really have to turn it up.

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[PhantomChameleon]

A few people pushing back on the heater issue. Does the temp control in your trucks actually work properly?!?
Is my shit just broken?

Mine works perfectly...I'm in Colorado so we have temperatures all over the place, sometimes we see sub freezing all the way into the upper 60s all in one day! I usually keep it on "auto" mode and bounce between 70 and 72 for the temp setting. Once in a while after a cold snowy hike I will turn it all the way up to "high" and blast the heat. Never had an issue!

 

[ForestTech]

I own both a RAM 2500 Mega Turbo Diesel and a (the wives) 2020 Gladiator 6cyl w/ 3" lift on 37's. I love driving her baby to the beach and back, but, can't imagine a road trip in that thing. The 2500 drives like a cadilac at 90 mph while getting 16mpg at that speed.

They get 16 mpg at any speed, but that's it! ?

 

[Overland-2021]

I've had a diesel overland edition with all the options since November.
After about 2500 miles I still think it is in the top 5 most fun drivers I've had. My 85 Supra was the best!!
I bought this because we needed a small (narrow) truck to tow a light camper and so my wife would be ok driving it. I'm used to big rigs and love the GMC 2500 but I can't get her to drive it.
I avg 27mpg (empty) and love the pull of the diesel - holds its own up to about 80 but sits a bit high on stock tires to go that fast safely. I mainly read people have power issues with the gas JT - esp with bigger tires.
Never had an issue with heat and tested the air - if I had issues I'd be at the dealer.

My only disappointment is I think they kept it too much like a Jeep Wrangler.
As a cross over rig its pretty good in both worlds but not a hit out the park.
It is just too big to go everywhere the Wrangler goes. And its just barely a truck.
IMO it would have really rocked being just a bit bigger with a 2 seat option, higher cargo and towing capacities... ya know, a truck.

As many have said - "to each his/her own"
And it really needs to fit your mission.
I do LOVE it, and at the same time not sure if I'll keep it either.

 

[Bulldog10]

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!

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[SnazGlad]

Many Hemi Ram 1500 4x4 Limiteds and Rubicon Wranglers over the years. I waited for the 2021 JT specifically for the full time 4x4 option for $695.

Similar to the original poster, i'm up and down a mountain from the desert floor to 6100 feet altitude too often to count.

Also driving state to state in a variety of conditions based on time of year. And, in doing so, I can be in snow, mud, water run off, dry roads etc all within each trip.

And, having to remember to put it in and out of 4hi and sometimes forgetting to do so now and again happens and is irritating.. It's the one thing I didn't like about my Wranglers over the years. Last one was a 16 JKUR Hard Rock.

A loaded up Ram really does have one great, comfy interior. In this last vehicle transition I went from a 20 Ram Limited to a 2021 Gladiator Mojave.

I'm much happier in the JTM.

Yes, my Ram did have an issue that made it a lemon under lemon law. You couldn't put fuel in it without being stuck to the pump for a half hour or more each time. 6 different factory fuel neck designs, factory engineers in the mix, many other parts replaced etc and no resolve. Two or three good fill ups after each "fix" and then back to being stuck to the pump again while wondering if this was finally the time it wouldn't release even after 30 minutes of twist, turn, push, pull, nice words, bad words etc.

However, again, I'm a long time Mopar and Ram guy. So, I do really like the Ram trucks and the interior comforts.

However, I'm actually kind of glad the last Ram was my first ever (and hopefully last) lemon. It gave me the chance to switch to and try out the new Mojave. That too was a hard choice in that I always would get the Rubicon Wranglers in the past. But, happy I made it. It take bumps, pot holes, snow, mud, wet roads etc really nice. I just set the heater temp at what I want and all good. The AC in the JTM works much better than the Ram. I do miss the vented seats the Ram had.
Steering is tight in the JT.

Regarding fuel mileage, I keep a written fuel log and divide the miles I went by the number of gallons a fill up for those miles takes. Sometimes I may fill up at half a tank, sometimes on near empty.

My 20 Ram averaged about 14. Again, I'm up and down a mountain, on freeways, city streets etc. I only care about what my miles are per fill up and not specially for only freeway driving, city driving and so on. Anyway, the Ram was always about 14. The JT is always about 16.

Since the used vehicle market is strong currently, hopefully the original poster can get a nice price or trade in on the new Ram.

 

[ACLdestroyer]

So, you don't want people to wave at you, or to feel like you belong to a group? Ok. Enjoy the RAM.

I live in a mountain town en route a recreational area. On my 12 minute drive to the grocery store each day, I see on average 12-20 JLs. Waving that many times on the way there and back is a bit annoying sometimes, yeah.

To be fair, I do prefer anonymity.

 

[Snzzbry_Ovrlnd]

I live in a mountain town en route a recreational area. On my 12 minute drive to the grocery store each day, I see on average 12-20 JLs. Waving that many times on the way there and back is a bit annoying sometimes, yeah.

To be fair, I do prefer anonymity.

I grew up in a small town in South Georgia. Back in the 70s and 80s when I was growing up, everyone waved to everyone. I feel no sympathy for you having to wave to a dozen or so others.

 

[Bulldog10]

I grew up in a small town in South Georgia. Back in the 70s and 80s when I was growing up, everyone waved to everyone. I feel no sympathy for you having to wave to a dozen or so others.

Growin up in Maine in the 50's and 60's We Waved to everybody-Even those in Chevys!

 

[Zilla]

Maybe you can get a little bit of how celebrities and movie stars feel.

 

[WaterDR]

2020 Overland. Snow traction in 4H has been way better than my expectations. Heater works great. Steering TSB was done. Drives great.

 

[869 KPH]

I live in a mountain town en route a recreational area. On my 12 minute drive to the grocery store each day, I see on average 12-20 JLs. Waving that many times on the way there and back is a bit annoying sometimes, yeah.

Sounds like you live in Orlando but hate Mickey, lol.

 

[Renoraines]

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

went from a 3500 Denali to a Mojave and am still in the honeymoon phase. If I come out of it it will be due to the storage/room, or fuel range I’m guessing.

while I’m enamored with the truck, my kids smiling faces when they get in it is more than enough to outweigh any downsides I’ve found so far.

OP, good luck. But I really don’t see the benefits your listing. You’re not gonna get that mileage, maybe w a delete. The diesel definitely steered better, not rode. But I hope you enjoy whatever you get.

 

[Snowcavemike]

Before you purchased your gasser, did you know the diesel was coming out?

I've got the diesel Rubi and put 5300 miles on it. I put the sound deadening material under the headliner, it heats up faster than any vehicle I've owned. The new diesel is very powerful and quiet. This combo is everything I wanted and more. Just on the highway, I was averaging over 30mpg. Amazing vehicle. Going into 4x4 should get easier in time. Mine has no issues.

 

[Bulldog10]

I've got the diesel Rubi and put 5300 miles on it. I put the sound deadening material under the headliner, it heats up faster than any vehicle I've owned. The new diesel is very powerful and quiet. This combo is everything I wanted and more. Just on the highway, I was averaging over 30mpg. Amazing vehicle. Going into 4x4 should get easier in time. Mine has no issues.

Happy Camper!!

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