In Praise of Gladiator Comfort

Raven65 · Jan 8, 2024

How about a positive post for a change? LOL I've read a lot of negative posts on here and elsewhere complaining about the comfort of the Gladiator - specifically the seats, lack of a dead pedal, rough ride, and and wind noise. My last truck was an '09 Tacoma, so that's my main basis of comparison (I owned a couple of sports cars between them). My wife & I (and our dog) just took a 700+ mile road trip in my Gladiator over the holidays and I have ZERO complaints. The trip was very enjoyable! Even though my Sport S seats are cloth and lack a lumbar adjustment, I found them to be very comfortable with just the right amount of support and the right seat bottom angle (I'm 6'0 with a 34" inseam). No need for Seat Jackers for me. I also did not miss having a dead pedal at all... since there is plenty of room to move your feet/legs around (BOTH feel/legs if you use the cruise control - which I did). The ride - especially with the Rubicon take-off 33" Wildpeak AT's that I'm running - was nice and smooth. It swallows up expansion joints & pavement imperfections with very little noise/harshness/drama. Wind noise was fairly high at higher speeds - but mainly because I have a Sunrider for Hardtop on mine - which is generally comparable in noise level to the hardtop - until you get above 75 MPH or so (which I was over a lot of the time). If I'd put the freedom panels back on, that would have been a non-issue as well - but even so was no big deal. I'm sure the Gladiator doesn't compare to a high-end trim level full-size pickup, but but those luxo-barges can't do what a Gladiator can do off-road either - and it is hands-down better than my old Taco in every way. This is my first Jeep and I honestly expected more of a trade-off between off-road capability and comfort, but I have been pleasantly surprised. Very happy with it.

Jeeper44mag · Jan 8, 2024

I may install some .75" seat jackers eventually (I'm 6'2"), but I heartily agree that it's NOT an uncomfortable ride. Admittedly, my Premium Mustang GT Convertible had slightly better leather seats, but that's nit-picking IMO.

Luis

Glad Jeeper · Jan 8, 2024

I agree with you. We took a 1300 mile road trip to north Idaho and North Montana. We were very comfortable. I did install a dead pedal the week before this trip and I really like it. Once the seats are adjusted correctly I love the comfort. We have gone on many long pavement trips but mostly just to get to our over landing destinations. Lots of miles off road is even very comfortable.

BeavisNRoses · Jan 8, 2024

I gotta agree. Coming from a lifted '15 wrangler, the Gladiator is much less exhausting to drive. I look forward to taking longer trips now. And as my wife says, there are a lot less clinks and clangs in the truck.

Artsifrtsi · Jan 8, 2024

My only complaint about driving the JT, is the seat sits too high…

NVjeff · Jan 8, 2024

It rides smoother and quieter than my '01 Dodge Ram w. the diesel.
It's more spacious than the '07 Ranger I used to drive, and will get better mileage.

I haven't driven my JKR since I got the JT though I think the longer wheel base will ride a little better.

Silverator · Jan 8, 2024

Love the cockpit and seating in my JTR. Even with a broken heel, isolation boot, torn up ankle and planters fasciitis, I'm still comfortable and LOVING it. Can't wait to get out and be seriously wheeling again.

GeneralMaximus · Jan 8, 2024

Artsifrtsi said:
My only complaint about driving the JT, is the seat sits too high…

The seat height is just perfect for me. But I dont have an elongated Michael Phelps torso, so..

Jefe1018 · Jan 8, 2024

It’s comparable to my last rig, I’ll say quite a bit better than the 2011 Xterra that lugged me around before. If we are driving long haul though and have 0 need to go off road (the more mundane trips), my wife’s QX60 is the choice without even thinking twice.

I guess what I’m saying is, if you’re comparing to a luxury suv or full size pick up people may find the JT lack luster. If you’re coming from an older Jeep or off road built rig, the JT is miles ahead.

aldo98229 · Jan 8, 2024

I have to agree. My JT is more comfortable than my prior JLU, any of my JKs, or my 2019 Tacoma.

My 2019 Tacoma stands out in particularly as an uncomfortable vehicle: the seats were flat, too close to the floor; too close to the pedals and too far from the steering wheel.

Stuntman Mike · Jan 8, 2024

Wife, dog and myself love the ride in the Gladiator.
1500 miles roadtrip through France last summer was fantastic.

OK, Gladiator is the replacement for a Lada 4x4 ...

FreedomWV · Jan 9, 2024

Coming from my Ram 2500 to the Gladiator was a bit of change to get used to the smaller interior. I did the seat jackers which fit perfectly for me, also did the dead pedal but honestly I rarely use the dead pedal. I have no complaints about comfort now but did not enjoy it without the seat jackers.

Raven65 · Jan 9, 2024

Jefe1018 said:
It’s comparable to my last rig, I’ll say quite a bit better than the 2011 Xterra that lugged me around before. If we are driving long haul though and have 0 need to go off road (the more mundane trips), my wife’s QX60 is the choice without even thinking twice.

I guess what I’m saying is, if you’re comparing to a luxury suv or full size pick up people may find the JT lack luster. If you’re coming from an older Jeep or off road built rig, the JT is miles ahead.

Oh, no doubt… and that’s exactly my point. Not only is it a mid-size pickup, it’s a JEEP with solid axles on both ends, thin removable doors and top, and the aerodynamics of a barn. OF COURSE it’s not a luxo-barge… it isn’t supposed to be… but, I think it’s very comfortable despite all that and easily comparable to the competition in its market segment (or at least those CLOSE to its segment since it really stands alone).

Redfour5 · Jan 9, 2024

Raven65 said:
How about a positive post for a change? LOL I've read a lot of negative posts on here and elsewhere complaining about the comfort of the Gladiator - specifically the seats, lack of a dead pedal, rough ride, and and wind noise. My last truck was an '09 Tacoma, so that's my main basis of comparison (I owned a couple of sports cars between them). My wife & I (and our dog) just took a 700+ mile road trip in my Gladiator over the holidays and I have ZERO complaints. The trip was very enjoyable! Even though my Sport S seats are cloth and lack a lumbar adjustment, I found them to be very comfortable with just the right amount of support and the right seat bottom angle (I'm 6'0 with a 34" inseam). No need for Seat Jackers for me. I also did not miss having a dead pedal at all... since there is plenty of room to move your feet/legs around (BOTH feel/legs if you use the cruise control - which I did). The ride - especially with the Rubicon take-off 33" Wildpeak AT's that I'm running - was nice and smooth. It swallows up expansion joints & pavement imperfections with very little noise/harshness/drama. Wind noise was fairly high at higher speeds - but mainly because I have a Sunrider for Hardtop on mine - which is generally comparable in noise level to the hardtop - until you get above 75 MPH or so (which I was over a lot of the time). If I'd put the freedom panels back on, that would have been a non-issue as well - but even so was no big deal. I'm sure the Gladiator doesn't compare to a high-end trim level full-size pickup, but but those luxo-barges can't do what a Gladiator can do off-road either - and it is hands-down better than my old Taco in every way. This is my first Jeep and I honestly expected more of a trade-off between off-road capability and comfort, but I have been pleasantly surprised. Very happy with it.

I've read all the critiques of the Gladiator and part of me was like, OK, how bad is this going to be. I had to drive 500 miles home from the place that had 30% MSRP with dealer and Jeep incentives. First, I found the lack of the power seats a little bit of a pain, but once I got it set up I found it was substantially more comfortable than the Jeep Renegade 2018 I've been driving for four and a half years. It handled great and they obviously have improved things since the 2020 iteration. I found my driver position is perfect so my elbows rest perfectly and comfortably for long driving holding onto the bottom of the wheel or elbow on the edge of the window. It was never just right on either the Gladiator or the Ram 2500 I tow the trailer with. Yes, there is a reason rack and pinion and independent suspensions are the go to for "comfy" cars, but I didn't buy a Jeep for that and frankly the 2500 takes care of that.. But they have obviously maxed out the capabilities of a solid axle and riciprocating steering. I don't have any of that micro adjusting some reference in the early ones. I did have death wobble on the way home but they fixed that at my local dealer simply by checking the specs (torque) on everything, with a few off they said and adjusting the damper. So, I couldn't re-create it later in the day so I'm good.

In Praise of Gladiator Comfort

Raven65

Well-Known Member

Jeeper44mag

Well-Known Member

Glad Jeeper

Well-Known Member

BeavisNRoses

Member

Artsifrtsi

Well-Known Member

NVjeff

Well-Known Member

Silverator

Well-Known Member

GeneralMaximus

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Jefe1018

Well-Known Member

aldo98229

Well-Known Member

Stuntman Mike

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FreedomWV

Well-Known Member

Raven65

Well-Known Member

Redfour5

Well-Known Member

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