What did you do WITH your Gladiator today?

[Caspien]

What I did WITH my Gladiator, not today, but yesterday..


I bid farewell to my Gladiator.

Essentially, the wife has been dealing with some back, neck and shoulder issues, and will be in PT easily for probably another 6-8 months. (Double frozen shoulder)

Since she'd not been able to enjoy the JT, since she wasn't able to climb up into it, all that well, and when she COULD get up into the JT, she said the ride just made her hurt after 30 mins, or so, we weren't going to be able to enjoy it as much as we wanted to. I decided, daily driving it, especially just around town, wasn't as fulfilling... so we started looking to see if we could find another small truck to replace it with.

Well, a local dealership offered about 10k over the loan we still had, and gave us a great deal on a 2025 RAM. It's still high up, but the wife said it's easier to get into, and the ride is tremendously more smooth.

Not gonna lie... kind of depressed about this. This was kind of a dream vehicle for me, but a lower monthly payment, lower insurance, and better (assuming I can keep my foot out of the engine) MPG, means this is the right move.. at least, I hope it is. But the wife, as amazing as she is, just said we were preemptively getting rid of the current JT, in preparation for the 392 variant, in a year or so. (She blames herself.. which sucks, so she's trying to cheer me up, I suppose)


As such, so ends my experience with a JT, for now, and thus begins a new build out adventure.



~ Casp

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[NC_Overland]

My Gladiator will never be accused of being rough riding. Everyone comments on how good it rides and that’s after I stiffened lit up considerably with a rubicon le take off suspension and Bilstein 5100s. I hated the floaty overland ride and handling.

 

[Caspien]

My Gladiator will never be accused of being rough riding. Everyone comments on how good it rides and that’s after I stiffened lit up considerably with a rubicon le take off suspension and Bilstein 5100s. I hated the floaty overland ride and handling.

Oh, we added the Mopar Performance kit (Bilstein version) and the ride was incredibly improved. That said, a solid front axle is still a solid front axle.

... it also didn't help any, that we tended to take the roughest roads, because we could. (That, and they are the least travelled, so less 'people' to deal with


Now... I guess I have to get used to pavement driving again. Blah.... lol

 

[Mud Pie]

Caspien -
You know you did the right thing. There will be other Jeeps later down the road, there always will be.

 

[Stan H]

Oh, we added the Mopar Performance kit (Bilstein version) and the ride was incredibly improved. That said, a solid front axle is still a solid front axle.

... it also didn't help any, that we tended to take the roughest roads, because we could. (That, and they are the least travelled, so less 'people' to deal with


Now... I guess I have to get used to pavement driving again. Blah.... lol

Its tough when health etc.. dictates our wants . The Need always outweighs the Wants. But as you mentioned it makes it no less sad . But it will come back around.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Made it back from the desert. Didn’t really do anything difficult but did have some crackles and pops. No snaps though so can’t complain. Patagonia MTs handled everything well and as long as I went slow the Mopar lift did its job. All in all a good wildcat escape for a night.

 

[Mud Pie]

Now you're making my tent look like I'm a wussy...

It's a 3 room Coleman with a swing door...no rrrriiiiiiippppp of a zipper each time I go in and out; open like a door at home. You do have the option of zipping it shut at night. I can stand without ducking. It really is the Taj Mahal of tents... The 3rd "room" is really a screened in porch, perfect for lounging when the skeeters are hungry or cooking if it's raining cats and dogs.

I haven't loaded it in my Jeep yet, but in the past I carried it in a 2009 smart passion cabriolet, so I know it'll fit....

But, oh, the other camping things I can carry now.....the mind boggles....

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Now you're making my tent look like I'm a wussy...

It's a 3 room Coleman with a swing door...no rrrriiiiiiippppp of a zipper each time I go in and out; open like a door at home. You do have the option of zipping it shut at night. I can stand without ducking. It really is the Taj Mahal of tents... The 3rd "room" is really a screened in porch, perfect for lounging when the skeeters are hungry or cooking if it's raining cats and dogs.

I haven't loaded it in my Jeep yet, but in the past I carried it in a 2009 smart passion cabriolet, so I know it'll fit....

But, oh, the other camping things I can carry now.....the mind boggles....

My requirements for now were it has to fit the cot and I have to able to sit up on the cot without my head touching. Thats the Coleman dark room so it lets you sleep in in the morning easier as well. It ain’t overly fancy but it gets the job done. Wally World had it on sale.

 

[Stoon_Slar]

Hauled some rough lumber to make some scaffolding to work on the Airstream I'll be towing one day.
'22 Willys eco-diesel.

 

[WestwallNF104A]

What I did WITH my Gladiator, not today, but yesterday..


I bid farewell to my Gladiator.

Essentially, the wife has been dealing with some back, neck and shoulder issues, and will be in PT easily for probably another 6-8 months. (Double frozen shoulder)

Since she'd not been able to enjoy the JT, since she wasn't able to climb up into it, all that well, and when she COULD get up into the JT, she said the ride just made her hurt after 30 mins, or so, we weren't going to be able to enjoy it as much as we wanted to. I decided, daily driving it, especially just around town, wasn't as fulfilling... so we started looking to see if we could find another small truck to replace it with.

Well, a local dealership offered about 10k over the loan we still had, and gave us a great deal on a 2025 RAM. It's still high up, but the wife said it's easier to get into, and the ride is tremendously more smooth.

Not gonna lie... kind of depressed about this. This was kind of a dream vehicle for me, but a lower monthly payment, lower insurance, and better (assuming I can keep my foot out of the engine) MPG, means this is the right move.. at least, I hope it is. But the wife, as amazing as she is, just said we were preemptively getting rid of the current JT, in preparation for the 392 variant, in a year or so. (She blames herself.. which sucks, so she's trying to cheer me up, I suppose)


As such, so ends my experience with a JT, for now, and thus begins a new build out adventure.



~ Casp

Sad to hear, I hope your wife recovers swiftly!

 

[Lunentucker]

March 30, 2023, from FB memories.
I really need to get back to this community.

These other people ... well ... there's just something not right about them.
It's like the bride and groom invited the same cousins, you know?

 

[Proximo]

March 30, 2023, from FB memories.
I really need to get back to this community.

These other people ... well ... there's just something not right about them.
It's like the bride and groom invited the same cousins, you know?

You've been missed. People still asking about auxiliary battery delete

 

[KevinM60]

Impromptu camping night out. Wifey and kids said it was too hot so going solo.

I'm still trying to figure out what area you're in.

 

[Red Hot Sloth]

I'm still trying to figure out what area you're in.

Looks like he’s driving towards Inspiration Wash after he rounds the bend ahead, not too far past Henderson…

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I'm still trying to figure out what area you're in.

That’s the S-22 heading into Anza Borrego from Christmas Circle.

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