Used Gladiators

[Barnaby’sdad]

What I really want is a combination Jeep and pickup truck. I love my JK and it trailers enough for me but when I need to go get lumber or run to the dump it just doesn't work. I think a Gladiator would be fully in my wheelhouse.

It would be perfect for someone in your boat. Knows what they’re getting into (previous Jeep experience) and wants a truck. I routinely tow 2,000-3,000 lbs with mine. Half of why my fuel economy was so bad early on is that I rarely moved it without a loaded utility trailer.

Being able to remove the roof panels makes home improvement store and dump runs just a bit more enjoyable (I really don’t mind dump runs, lol).

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[Chunky White]

I bought a used 2020 recently because the price was right and i have no regrets. I wish the previous owner would have taken better care of the hardtop and reinstalled the plastic panels that are removed to remove the doors and top but all is well and I treat it like a jeep and not like a luxury truck. I am tired of owning vehicles that I worried about getting scratches and dog hairs in and keep it fairly clean but its nice not worrying as much. My only worry is how I am going to come up with the money to buy all the upgrades I want for it

 

[Blade1668]

The "It's a Jeep thing" is real and why there is a large number on used market. Quite a few have touched on that. Where I did work had 4-5 to jump on the Jeep "bandwagon" then jump off within 6 to 18 months, I told most of them that they wouldn't like it and would be getting rid of it. One I told when you decide to sell it call me I would buy it. (06 TJ Unlimited) low mileage not a scratch, ding or stain .... it lasted less than 6 months and no damn call. I would have bought it just to put in storage. Damn him. The stealership fleeced him into a wrecked truck that had been crappy repairs done.

 

[Bjeepz]

Some of us went back and upgraded trim levels after we bought our original rigs. I started Willys and then went to the Mojave. Was thinking about Rubi but fell in love with the ride of the Mojave.

Overland -> Mojave!

 

[loganjeeps]

I bought a new 2022 in early 2023 and it was apparent to me in my searches there were plenty of 2022 gladiators sitting on lots in 2023 but few wranglers. Everyones points are valid but I think is simply comes down to.....

It's a wrangler truck. If you don't know the difference in the two and what combining them means you probably shouldn't get one.

I love my JTR and no regrets buying it. But I've owned almost every other Jeep model ever made and still have a Chevy 3500.

 

[ExiWolfman]

I got me a used 21 Rubicon main reason was that I'm not willing to pay 80k for a new one when I can have one for 50k used with low mileage ( Canadian dollars ) kicker is it's worth more in trade than I paid for it still so either way win win situation.

 

[slowstang305]

A lot of "new" Jeepers got into the market not knowing what a Jeep rides like. Part of the "me too" club. I love my JT.

 

[Vanishing Point]

It's a niche vehicle and therefore has a lot of compromises. If it were an athlete it would be labeled a "tweener". Sort of good at a playing multiple positions but not really ideal for any one spot. If a person isn't buying it for a specific reason I can see them being disillusioned. If you get the off roading bug after getting one and going 4 wheeling then a JK might seem more desirable for more hard core wheeling. If you realize you actually wanted a truck to tow things or carry a camper to go overlanding then you might want a bigger truck. Likewise if you fancied yourself an adventurer but found that getting stuck and getting unstuck is only something you'd ever do once you might as well get something that rides better on the road. And leave the Walter Mitty dreams behind along with that solid axle suspension.

For my purposes it's perfect. But I knew exactly why I needed it and therefore don't need to trade it for something else. Not everyone knows why they are getting one.

 

[coalcracker]

I got me a used 21 Rubicon main reason was that I'm not willing to pay 80k for a new one when I can have one for 50k used with low mileage ( Canadian dollars ) kicker is it's worth more in trade than I paid for it still so either way win win situation.

Same. I ”built” a brand new one with everything I wanted and talked to a couple of dealerships about ordering. The MSRP was $67K, but even with under invoice pricing (affiliate code, etc), the price was still high. I found a low mileage used 2021 Rubicon instead, with every single thing I wanted except for the aux switches. The lack of the factory aux switches is fine, I can install something later. So, it’s used, but I saved some money. And was able to get it right away. While I haven’t looked up the value of it, it may now be worth more than I paid.

I’m not sure exactly why there’s a glut of them but on the used lots but it could be for a number of reasons as others have already stated. I think the Gladiator fits a great niche but it’s also not the right vehicle for everybody.

 

[Dim]

It’s pretty universal. People with money (or who like debt) buy the highest trim with all the options and think they are buying a luxury vehicle due to the price.

after driving it for 2-3000 miles they realize they did not buy a luxury vehicle, hate the noise, hate the ride, and dump it on the used market.

here in Europe, dealers try to sell Wrangler as an .... SUV ... trying to seduce blondie milf that it could be an amazing option to replace their X5 or Range Sport
i let you imagine after how many miles those wrangler are back on the used market loooool

 

[Summitsearcher]

Just have a good eye for what was done to it. Sometimes you can overlook something.

 

[Raven65]

Some of us went back and upgraded trim levels after we bought our original rigs.

I'm SURE that's true in a lot of cases. I probably should have just bit the bullet and ponied up for a Rubicon or Mojave to start with, but I had not bought a brand new vehicle in several years so the sticker shock was real... so I settled for a Sport S. I have considered trading it in for a higher trim, but I know I'd get soaked if I did that this soon, so instead I have been slowly making it what I want with aftermarket and Rubicon take-off parts bought cheap on FB Marketplace. These things are like Legos... all the parts from the various trims are interchangeable, so it's easy to make them exactly what you want.

 

[CJ99x]

I'm SURE that's true in a lot of cases. I probably should have just bit the bullet and ponied up for a Rubicon or Mojave to start with, but I had not bought a brand new vehicle in several years so the sticker shock was real... so I settled for a Sport S. I have considered trading it in for a higher trim, but I know I'd get soaked if I did that this soon, so instead I have been slowly making it what I want with aftermarket and Rubicon take-off parts bought cheap on FB Marketplace. These things are like Legos... all the parts from the various trims are interchangeable, so it's easy to make them exactly what you want.

I lucked out actually, dealer had mine for 3 months and wanted to move it.

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