What's the Appeal??

[Oilburner]

One of my closest friends is thinking exactly the same thing, he drives a big Cummins Ram, he does have a good-sized camper he tows about twice a year. He just can’t get past the cost = “You just get so much more truck w/ a 3/4 ton!”
The best way I can describe it to him is that it’s not a light-duty truck, it’s a heavy-duty Jeep w/ a bed. If you need to haul Heavy stuff, get the right tool for the job. If you haul lighter loads & appreciate the JT’s capability, then they are worth the coin.

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[Trippin01]

Great thread by the way. To me, I already had a light weight off road trailer, I scoff at the people with huge 5th wheels, toy haulers and Diesel pusher motor homes. I go remote camping/backpacking, usually where no one else is. I needed a 4x4 with some truck capabilities, I needed range (MPG's). What I didn't realize is there is a HUGE JEEP family that came with my Gladiator, this was completely unexpected, and so far, very well received. And now my daughter (11) is totally into this whole Jeep society, and very excited to try a Jeep-fest, which we went to a small one yesterday. Yes, it gets the looks, but that can get old. Its a fun wholesome hobby vehicle, from the working on it, to cruising into the woods to get away from it all. My Gladiator is my versatile recreation vehicle. Its my Rag Top, my door-less 4X4, my hunt'n rig, its my dust-free, air conditioned Razor & my tele-transport to that peaceful place of solitude. Sure, there are other vehicles that could probably fill these shoes (if ya like doors & sunroofs........but thats weak) But most of all, it's the Jeep family, you can't explain it until you have one..
Did I mention that even with a lift and bigger tires I don't need a roof rack due to the bed, so I can park it in the garage just fine?

 

[Skip The Road]

It is the only vehicle that had the features I needed in it and the size. I personally think it looks like the offspring of a semi and a lot lizard. But beauty is subjective.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

The appeal is it’s a Jeep with a superior ride, endless aftermarket support, better Offroad than any other truck except high speed stuff where you’re spending $70k on a raptor. Resale value as well. If it had the 2.7 eco boost like my F-150 had, they’d break every midsize truck sales record

 

[Chaimstein]

I retired last year. I commuted to work for 35 years, so I always owned smallish vehicles. Honda Civics, mostly. The last truck I owned was a 1984 Ranger which was a small truck.

My Scion FR-S sports car was coming off lease in July of this year. It was a great commuter car. I considered a built Jeep XJ because I'd been bitten by the off-road bug. But, an XJ is an SUV and my wife has one, so a pickup would be more useful.

Back in about March, I started shopping for trucks figuring that the best 4×4 trim of either the Taco or the Ranger would be it. I spent a lot of time understanding 4x4s in terms of transfer case, lockers, gearing, lifts, etc. I wanted something great off-road and the Toyota or the Ford would be at least ok and with the versatility of a pickup. Either would work.

Then, when looking up mid-sized pickups, I saw the Gladiator, found out what it could do, and I had to have one. I wanted the best off-road pickup and I got it. In three days of wheeling last week, I did things I didn't think it could do. I scared myself many times but most scares were from inexperience not because the Jeep couldn't do it. But, twice I thought I was stuck and would have to winch out, but I filipped every switch and option on my Gladiator and it pulled me out with ease. No other new pickup could do what it did and will do as soon as I can go out again.

 

[ATLalien]

Nice pic, where is that?

THIS is the appeal, with the practicality of a truck thrown in:

 

[Renegade]

Nice pic, where is that?

An undisclosed point on Signal Mountain, overlooking the Tennessee River.

 

[Onebigyoshi]

For me I had 3 check box that wanted. 1) I want a wrangler 2) I want a pickup and 3) I want a manual.

I thought about getting a JL, but doesn't check # 2
I thought about getting a rebel ram because of the V8, but doesn't check # 1 and 3
I thought about getting the upcoming Bronco and forgo number 1, but still doesn't check #2.

The Gladiator was the only vehicle that checks all 3. I only had my Gladiator for 5 days but I already know I've made the best decision for myself.

 

[Hootbro]

The JT Gladiator is like the Wrangler JL and past Wrangler/CJ's, it is in it's own class and to compare it to anything else or box it into something is a disservice. Not to be rude, but if people do not get what it does or does not do for them, then they really are not in the market for it.

 

[KDR83]

For me it's simply the ability to take the roof and doors off, if it was not for that, I probably would have a wrangler or if I really needed a truck, which I don't, a Raptor

 

[ATLalien]

An undisclosed point on Signal Mountain, overlooking the Tennessee River.

Awesome, I'm in north GA and have been close to that spot before, thought it looked a little familiar!

Thanks to all for all the responses here.

My route to the gladiator was likely a bit different than most. Up to now I've always kept a muscle car/sports car AND some kind of cheaper truck, usually a 4x4. The best Truck I had was a 96 Bronco. Got rear ended in that about a year ago and picked up a well used (100K plus miles) F150 that was nothing but trouble. In less than a year I put about $1000 into that truck just to keep it going. Then it began to mysteriously start itself in the driveway (didn't even know it had remote start!).

Meanwhile my trusty newer car; a '17 Charger 392 with only 20K miles needed new brakes all around. Because they were Brembo brakes, with two piece, slotted rotors that apparently are not to be resurfaced, the dealership quoted me over $2K!

Faced with two vehicles have expensive issues at the same time, I started to think about consolidating down to 1 vehicle. I didn't owe much on the Charger and the Truck was paid for. My biggest issue was knowing the one vehicle would need to be a Truck and I wasn't sure if I was ready to NOT have the fun factor of 485 hp on demand! But lifestyle wise, I had been spending a lot more time camping, fishing, hiking, off-roading, and hauling dogs and kids than going to track days for quite some time. Then I noticed the Gladiator. I would be giving up the horsepower (still miss it now and then), but I would be gaining off-road performance and the fun factor would still be preserved by the ability to go open air. I'd never owned a jeep, but we rented a JLU sport on vacation in upstate NY. Bought the Gladiator a week after we got back.

I haven't looked back since, however, I reserve the right to pick up a used muscle car some time down the road!

 

[1STJ100]

Sold my '17 Colorado for my JT. Who would't want a convertible truck??

 

[pughboy2]

I’ve wanted a Jeep my whole life. I couldn’t ever justify a third vehicle but I've always had a truck for the weekends and to haul stuff. Now I got both and I’ve never liked a vehicle as much as I do my Gladiator

 

[bruno747]

Truthfully after seeing the price, and final options I really don't get the appeal either. I understand his position completely.

Buy a power wagon or a Gladiator? I'd go power wagon every time with current options. Save for a few trails that simply wouldn't physically fit the power wagon I haven't been down any a power wagon wouldn't do more capably and comfortably than the gladiator.

If the door removal and top removal is your thing. Go for it. For me, I'll use my two door to get back to the gnarly areas and a regular truck for anything else.

Now if Jeep pulls their head out of the clouds and makes an extended cab with a 6' bed and the diesel, I could probably be sways. Until then I'm looking forward to the 2020-2022 Dakota and hoping they do it right.

 

[Bobzdar]

So I was approached by a coworker today who initially asked the standard question, "how do you like your Gladiator?" Being quite used to this by now, my canned response is, "I like it, so far, so good". He then mentioned that he owns a RAM diesel and was at the dealer for service when they tried to sell him on a Gladiator. He laughed at them because he needs to tow big loads, like a 5th wheel and other, giant, manly objects well in excess of even the 'Max Tow' rating of 7600pds. He was amazed at how expensive the gladiators are (they had what must've been a loaded Rubicon for $60K). Then as politely as he could muster, "If you don't mind my asking, what is the appeal of the Gladiator? Is it just the look?"

I thought this was actually a fair question, particularly coming from a "big towing" pick up guy. Even though most reviews on the gladiator try to compare it to other, midsize pick-ups, it's really possible to get a full size truck fairly well optioned, for what an Overland or Rubicon would cost. I could somewhat understand my co-workers confusion; Looking purely from a pick-up perspective, the Gladiator doesn't really have a good value proposition.

Of course, as we all know; it starts to make a lot more sense when the "Jeep Factor" is considered. For Gladiator buyers; standard pick ups are very useful and capable at many things, but they're maybe just a bit too "boring". In my view, we're mostly paying a premium for one thing; the small pick up bed is attached to a Wrangler! No other pick up has removable doors & roof, access to the Jeep Community, and Solid Axle articulation (excepting some older trucks).

I know I'm preaching to the choir in the last paragraph, but has anyone else had similar questions from "John Q Public"? If so, how have you responded?

The Gladiator can go places the Ram can't. That's basically the appeal, at least for me. It's not even that a Ram would just get stuck, it won't even fit in a lot of places I can take the Gladiator. The ram is fine for dirt roads and snow. It's not going to cut it off-road.

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