Why i got the gladiator and not wrangler

[Labswine]

I thought I responded to this thread when it first came out (eons ago ) but I guess I didn't.

I'd always had Grand Cherokees (still have one, a 2019 Ltd.) but also really liked the Wranglers but just thought they were pretty impractical for the occasional need to haul things.

Then the Gladiator came out. I jumped at the chance to have one so, I ordered my Overland in 5/19 and got her 7/19. I've used it to haul things like when I got hardwood flooring, ~2,500 sq.ft of 3/4" Oak to redo the floors in my house, hauled some sections of 6' stockade fencing too.

Then COVID hit, and then kinda-sorta went but I still wanted to travel, yet have a 'safe' place to lay mine and my Wife's head down at night so, I bought a travel trailer that was within the weight limits for towing. Does a great job with my trailer. Yeah, it reminds me sometimes it's only a V-6 but when it does, I remind it who's boss by dropping a gear or two on an upgrade until I get back to cruising speed.

My rig is 27' long and around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need.

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[Redfour5]

That very first post pic with metal crate and wood says it all.

 

[kevindsingleton]

That's the setup there

My wife traded her Wrangler in for a black Gladiator. Much nicer than my 2020!

 

[ScottBeach]

I wanted a jeep. I needed a pickup. Jeep finally built one. I bought in 2020. I got a sport because I thought I needed more pickup than Jeep. So I thought a locker wasn't important. Cheep jeeps in 2024 solved that with a mojave to replace the sport. If I were to go back to a wrangler it would have to be a 2 door. As the only reason I could see for a jl over a jt is break over and a jlu wouldn't be much better than the jt. Since I live in Florida break over isn't a huge issue. Of course I have high centered the Jt but it's on mud/clay not rock. So I can winch or dig out.

 

[yoda13]

Same. My 2-door JL is my commuter.

I wish I could afford a JL to commute in. Very nice

 

[KevinC]

I wish I could afford a JL to commute in. Very nice

Don't go cheap on a daily driver like I did. Mine will make you long for the comfort and handling of your JT as soon as you pull out the driveway. It's hard to believe I bought two TJ's brand new before. 97 and 2001. But I love it. I also love getting into my JT after a hard day of keeping my TJ between the lines.

 

[Ramboy]

If you “axe” me, I prefer my 8’ bed Ram 2500, but that’s only because I can also haul pieces of 8’ plywood with no overhang and at least a cord of Woody Woodpecker’s rejects all at once with no chiseling required. But, I’m sure your MPG is better than mine as mine pushes the load with a 488 ci 10 banger! But, I love my JLU also.

 

[Ramboy]

Hay what about mine

Held together with bailing wire?🫢

 

[Ghost Stingray]

Held together with bailing wire?🫢

Even worse, twine

 

[Ramboy]

Even worse, twine

Oops! On the farm I used to load/unload/stack alfalfa bales which were held together with baling wire, but there was some “twining” going on too. Ah yes, that brings back memories…I can almost smell the “dairy air”!

 

[Ramboy]

I thought I responded to this thread when it first came out (eons ago ) but I guess I didn't.

I'd always had Grand Cherokees (still have one, a 2019 Ltd.) but also really liked the Wranglers but just thought they were pretty impractical for the occasional need to haul things.

Then the Gladiator came out. I jumped at the chance to have one so, I ordered my Overland in 5/19 and got her 7/19. I've used it to haul things like when I got hardwood flooring, ~2,500 sq.ft of 3/4" Oak to redo the floors in my house, hauled some sections of 6' stockade fencing too.

Then COVID hit, and then kinda-sorta went but I still wanted to travel, yet have a 'safe' place to lay mine and my Wife's head down at night so, I bought a travel trailer that was within the weight limits for towing. Does a great job with my trailer. Yeah, it reminds me sometimes it's only a V-6 but when it does, I remind it who's boss by dropping a gear or two on an upgrade until I get back to cruising speed.

My rig is 27' long and around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need.

Sweet setup labby. I had a 2023 Gladiator Rubi for a short time but couldn’t justify keeping two pickups, so it was back to the JLU and keep my Ram 2500. However, if (when) the Gladiator comes out with the 5.7 I will have to seriously consider getting onboard again; I think the 5.7 in the gladiator would hit the sweet spot in a lot of ways. I had a 392 Rubi for about 6 months also but I couldn’t justify keeping that one either. The 392 seems a bit over the top in my opinion.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Because the wife took my Wrangler JLURD.

 

[NC_Overland]

I bought mine because used to tow and haul with mine a lot. I’d have bought a JLU if I was buying one today. It still comes in handy for Home Depot runs, but it’s pretty compromised for hauling lumber. I’d be better served with a utility trailer. I may end up buying a camper shell with a roof rack to help with 12’ lumber and hauling boats.

 

[Redfour5]

Well, that wood be a good reason!

Nice... Very specifically, I wanted the off road capability AND the bed. We live in Montana and do NOT have a "free" pick up of our trash. We have "transfer stations" where YOU take your own trash to throw away...

I frankly prefer it over a city trash pick up. I can get rid of ANYTHING there ANYTIME I want, not one day a year. AND people leave things there like when my mower died and I was taking the trash in the the still working pile was a decent lawn mower. Although small and making me work harder, it worked fine... I used it for a couple months until I could get a new one I could ride and took the old one back to the transfer station with a note saying it was a good mower for a smaller lawn free worked great. And no need to buy your kid a bike, they come in all sizes almost like new in some cases at the transfer station. Or the two new "runners/rugs" still wrapped up for the garage concrete floors or the new plush rugs of dubious design that the dogs love to lay on. And on and on...

So, I got my off road capability. looks neat including duck donations, AND a great tool for taking stuff to the transfer station and occasionally even bringing something back. Can't beat it with a stick...

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