Jeep Gladiator, any good?

[SJP]

True story. So a friend was the engineer who invented the Rubicon and did it in his garage as a skunk works with another coworker. They took it to an executive meeting where the exec’s drive off road and sold the concept to the exec team at jeep. 1 ride with lockers and 4:1 transfer case and they convinced them. Keep in mind up until then it was just posi rear and open front diff. TFL has an interview with the 2

Anyway, that guy can wheel just about anywhere and his personal jeep is a JK Rubicon with a daystar 1.5” puck lift, shocks and 35’s. LOL his other Jeep was the 86 Renegade CJ he bought from me.

I remember you mentioning this story in another thread. I literally was thinking myself if I need 42s and Dana 60 / steering etc on a trail I would not want to wheel at Jeep that costs 150K to build to do it. I am at the point where I need to replace the rubber on all 4 corners. The more I dive down this I think I am going to stick with 35s.

 

[LakeMeadLavey]

I remember you mentioning this story in another thread. I literally was thinking myself if I need 42s and Dana 60 / steering etc on a trail I would not want to wheel at Jeep that costs 150K to build to do it. I am at the point where I need to replace the rubber on all 4 corners. The more I dive down this I think I am going to stick with 35s

I could be wrong but I would think a Rubicon with 2.5 lift and 35s would handle just about anything one would with 37s to 40s unless doing some extreme crawling?Moving up to 37s + tire costs increase by a good amount as well. I do like the look of 37s a bit more but I couldn't justify the costs of regearing etc.

 

[Done-it-again]

Jeep sent out a questionnaire to some gladiator owners. The question was would pay 19k more for a V8. So at 52k for a rubicon, it would be 71k for a V8 rubicon. That’s MSRP.
I ordered mine from Peterson Jeep in Napa ID for substantially less than MSRP.

How is the process from Peterson Jeep? Just reach out to them via email?

 

[Riley1]

How is the process from Peterson Jeep? Just reach out to them via email?

I’ll dm you Kent’s email out there. It’s been almost 5 years, if I remember correctly you join tread lightly and you get 3% over invoice pricing on a Jeep you order. This guy sends jeeps all over the country. My neighbor also bought one from him. Nobody in Vegas could touch his price.

 

[Rivrat]

This is what I would be looking at new

 

[Done-it-again]

This is what I would be looking at new

View attachment 1497438

Cant flat tow Toyota's.....

 

[Cole Trickle]

You should be able to get 20% off if not more on new gladiators. You can get a new 2023 for cheap like 20k off.

The JL got the new dash/screen in 2024 I think the gladiator did the same or perhaps 2025.

Gladiators look perfect on 37's but as a tow rig I'm not sure i would go over 35' unless you are towing with a bigger morohome.

 

[Done-it-again]

You should be able to get 20% off if not more on new gladiators. You can get a new 2023 for cheap like 20k off.

The JL got the new dash/screen in 2024 I think the gladiator did the same or perhaps 2025.

Gladiators look perfect on 37's but as a tow rig I'm not sure i would go over 35' unless you are towing with a bigger morohome.

Peterson Jeep has the best listed deals so far. Ontario Jeep tried to sell me a 100k Jk with aftermarket options saying it’s negotiable. lol.

Do 37’s have that more drag vs 35’s? I would prefer 37 (for looks) but 35 would be fine for my intended purposes.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Peterson Jeep has the best listed deals so far. Ontario Jeep tried to sell me a 100k Jk with aftermarket options saying it’s negotiable. lol.

Do 37’s have that more drag vs 35’s? I would prefer 37 (for looks) but 35 would be fine for my intended purposes.

Rolling resistance has more to do with the width of the tire and tread pattern, than the diameter. They do weigh more though, no getting around that.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

This is what I would be looking at new

View attachment 1497438

Is that a Tesla SUV? Looks like the most generic mini van/suv hybrid I’ve ever seen.

 

[Rivrat]

Is that a Tesla SUV? Looks like the most generic mini van/suv hybrid I’ve ever seen.

Yes that’s exactly what that is

 

[HB2Havasu]

Would this be different from a wrangler 392?

A 5.7 Litre engine would be considered 350 Cubic Inches. The 392 is the 6.4 Litre Hemi. Personally I think the 5.7L would be a better setup for the Gladiator. The 6.4L is a heavier drivetrain, and lets face the 485hp are wasted

 

[beaverretriever]

@beaverretriever

We loved ours, it was a 2022 Mojave model. Same price as a Rubicon, but with more rough fast dirt roads in mind over the Rubicon's slow trail crawling focus. It had beautiful Fox remote reservoir suspension that just floated over washboard and small whoops.

Originally ordered a fully loaded white one with black roof and white color coded fenders. For some reason the combo of the white with LED lights kept delaying it. We ended up getting a loaded Hydro Blue one with Alpine stereo (which was really good for a factory set up) every other option I could get. Ended up really loving the blue.

We were doing lot's of long trips into central Nevada and Utah and the windnoise and mileage really started to wear on us. I even spent a bunch on Hot Heads sound deadening and head liners and it made very little difference.

As for mileage, it would get 15 to 16 in town on 35s and only 12 to 14 on the hwy because it's just a huge brick. I did a tune that adjusted for larger tires and shift points. It seemed to cause more issues, so took out the tuner and it drive much better. It ran great on the 35s without changing the gears. IMHO, 35s are perfect. The Mojave (and maybe the Rubicon)actually has different fenders thay sit about an inch or so higher than the other models for clearance. We didn't even lift ours. No rubbing ever, and I thought it looked super tough without a mile of fender gap.

If its going to be just a truck for some grocery shopping and the occasional offroad trip, its great. We bought a 2024 fully loaded Wildtrack Bronco and it's definitely a better vehicle for every day use. We are seeing 19mpg combined with the stock 35s and I'd say the interior noise is at least 70% better than the Jeep.

Either way, I'd buy another Gladiator if I wanted a fun offroad truck. The Mojave is just bitchen and we never had one issue.

 

[Done-it-again]

We loved ours, it was a 2022 Mojave model. Same price as a Rubicon, but with more rough fast dirt roads in mind over the Rubicon's slow trail crawling focus. It had beautiful Fox remote reservoir suspension that just floated over washboard and small whoops.

Originally ordered a fully loaded white one with black roof and white color coded fenders. For some reason the combo of the white with LED lights kept delaying it. We ended up getting a loaded Hydro Blue one with Alpine stereo (which was really good for a factory set up) every other option I could get. Ended up really loving the blue.

We were doing lot's of long trips into central Nevada and Utah and the windnoise and mileage really started to wear on us. I even spent a bunch on Hot Heads sound deadening and head liners and it made very little difference.

As for mileage, it would get 15 to 16 in town on 35s and only 12 to 14 on the hwy because it's just a huge brick. I did a tune that adjusted for larger tires and shift points. It seemed to cause more issues, so took out the tuner and it drive much better. It ran great on the 35s without changing the gears. IMHO, 35s are perfect. The Mojave (and maybe the Rubicon)actually has different fenders thay sit about an inch or so higher than the other models for clearance. We didn't even lift ours. No rubbing ever, and I thought it looked super tough without a mile of fender gap.

If its going to be just a truck for some grocery shopping and the occasional offroad trip, its great. We bought a 2024 fully loaded Wildtrack Bronco and it's definitely a better vehicle for every day use. We are seeing 19mpg combined with the stock 35s and I'd say the interior noise is at least 70% better than the Jeep.

Either way, I'd buy another Gladiator if I wanted a fun offroad truck. The Mojave is just bitchen and we never had one issue.
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Thanks for your feedback as I'm brain F'ing this to high hell... Cars are expensive these days and don't want to regret a purchase.

The Jeep has big discounts and so it keeps making it's way back around. It will be a toad and my daily replacing the super duty as a daily and the commute is short, 30 miles total. The gladiator is 20k less than GMC canyon AT4 but I'll probably add 20k in aftermarket items easily to the jeep.

 

[beaverretriever]

Thanks for your feedback as I'm brain F'ing this to high hell... Cars are expensive these days and don't want to regret a purchase.

The Jeep has big discounts and so it keeps making it's way back around. It will be a toad and my daily replacing the super duty as a daily and the commute is short, 30 miles total. The gladiator is 20k less than GMC canyon AT4 but I'll probably add 20k in aftermarket items easily to the jeep.

It won't ever be as plush as the GMC but more capable for offroad and they just look cool.

If you do it, get the Mojave unless you think slow rough trails is your focus. Most people should buy the Mojave if they are into off-roading as it's better for what most people do; fast dirt roads. We NEVER got in a situation we would have ever needed the front locker and such the Rubicon has. Heck, we did some gnarly stuff and rarely had to put it in 4x4. Plus, we did miles and miles of washboard rough dirt roads (about 200 miles of dirt road in one day) and the remote reservoirs really kept the shocks cool and working where the Rubicon's would have been so loose and done within 20min of fast rough road. I rode in two different friend's Rubicons with stock suspension and the shock oil capacity just couldn't keep up when running 45 to 70 on open dirt roads. The trucks got so sloppy after only a short amount of time. Not for me!

 

[Rivrat]

A 5.7 Litre engine would be considered 350 Cubic Inches. The 392 is the 6.4 Litre Hemi. Personally I think the 5.7L would be a better setup for the Gladiator. The 6.4L is a heavier drivetrain, and lets face the 485hp are wasted

345 if you want to get technical on the 5.7

 

[island time]

Id get a ranger raptor. Especially for a daily driver.
Prob close to the same price

 

[Done-it-again]

Id get a ranger raptor. Especially for a daily driver.
Prob close to the same price

Between which ones, At4 and Raptor?

 

[CLdrinker]

For what it’s worth my JK Rubicon with a 2” lift and 35’s would do more than I had the balls for.

 

[beaverretriever]

Id get a ranger raptor. Especially for a daily driver.
Prob close to the same price

The new Ranger Raptor is bad ass. My buddy just bought one. Put the Ford Performance tune and makes 455hp, around 500ftlbs of torque and under warranty! It's a complete rocketship.

 

[whiteworks]

For what it’s worth, I flat tow a rubicon on 37’s behind our little class c. Not setting any records going up grades, but it gets there. The motorhome will stop better with the jeep attached than without, tow brakes are a must. This jeep has a lift and full armor, the weak link in the setup is the fancy rock $lider steps I had put on so my wife can get in the fucker. They are beefy, but the reality is they are not bullet proof rock sliders Id pivot the jeep on when wheeling. If your playing on the rocks you’re gonna break shit, if your flat towing and playing on the rocks, you’re a dumbshit LOL

 

[DRYHEAT]

Is that a Tesla SUV? Looks like the most generic mini van/suv hybrid I’ve ever seen.

Yes that’s exactly what that is

That’s the new Toyota Land Cruiser, hybrid not a Tesla.

 

[mbrown2]

It won't ever be as plush as the GMC but more capable for offroad and they just look cool.

I don't know about that....had both Rubicon Gladiator and the AT4X canyon... AT4x goes anywhere the Glad did and has front and rear selectable lockers, baja mode, 33's, bypass shocks, winch, led light bars, 2 inch lift and beadlocks all from factory in the 1st edition seriesory and 100% better at being a daily driver too... I paid 59K for the AT4x and paid 60K for the Gladiator before I did any upgrades to bealocks, lift, winch, aux lighting, ect....that added another 10-15K

They are both fun vehicles...one is much easier to drive daily..

 

[Rivrat]

That’s the new Toyota Land Cruiser, hybrid not a Tesla.

Lol, if guy was going to be that dumb I was just gonna go along with it. It ain’t worth wasting my breath trying to explain why this is a good rig. Just keep letting everyone fuck with there 5.3 Chevys

 

[Done-it-again]

I don't know about that....had both Rubicon Gladiator and the AT4X canyon... AT4x goes anywhere the Glad did and has front and rear selectable lockers, baja mode, 33's, bypass shocks, winch, led light bars, 2 inch lift and beadlocks all from factory in the 1st edition seriesory and 100% better at being a daily driver too... I paid 59K for the AT4x and paid 60K for the Gladiator before I did any upgrades to bealocks, lift, winch, aux lighting, ect....that added another 10-15K

They are both fun vehicles...one is much easier to drive daily..
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What’s crazy is that you can get the gladiator rubicon for about 44 right now.

 

[DRYHEAT]

What’s crazy is that you can get the gladiator rubicon for about 44 right now.

Where is that, sounds like a bargain in today’s world. I just don’t know if I could fit in a gladiator.

 

[Rivrat]

Where is that, sounds like a bargain in today’s world. I just don’t know if I could fit in a gladiator.

 

[mbrown2]

View attachment 1499780

Nice jeep...think the sticker on my 2021 was like 64K (ordered from factory)...got it for 60K dealing with a fleet guy out of CA. It had color matched fenders, roof, steel bumpers, basically every option you could check it had.. Good to see they are dealing on cars again!

 

[81Sprint]

I REALLY miss my 392. Kick myself in the ass for letting it go, with the gladiator prices right now I would pick one up in a second if the wife would drive it. But she wants another Wrangler, and I've been looking. 100K for the 392 is and was just to much dinero on top of everything you add to it. So we will probably stick with the 3.6 Rubicon

 

[Cole Trickle]

Gladiator will be the best deal by far you can get them for 10 - 20k off depending on year. (23's are cheap but have the old dash)

Best all around truck will be the Ranger Raptor...They rip and kill everything in the mid size market but there spendy at 60k but you get 400hp and nice suspension.

The best looking trucks are the new GMC/Chevy but they are way to pricey for what you get and i don't love the turbo 4cyl as the only engine option and they are not worth the 60k compared to the ranger.

One of my best friends had the previous gen ZR2 Bison. He really liked the truck and used it hard. Factory shocks blew out pretty fast and he upgraded to Kings. Also added 35's with the AEV trim kit and a Mallet blower on top of the 3.6. Ended up selling it for a JL Rubicon. He talks good about the ZR2 but says he would have kept it on 33's and not added the blower if he was doing it again.

If its a daily and the Ranger Raptor can be flat towed I would take a look.

 

[Done-it-again]

Where is that, sounds like a bargain in today’s world. I just don’t know if I could fit in a gladiator.

Huntington Beach jeep has a few 25’s for 43 and some change.

 

[Done-it-again]

Gladiator will be the best deal by far you can get them for 10 - 20k off depending on year. (23's are cheap but have the old dash)

Best all around truck will be the Ranger Raptor...They rip and kill everything in the mid size market but there spendy at 60k but you get 400hp and nice suspension.

The best looking trucks are the new GMC/Chevy but they are way to pricey for what you get and i don't love the turbo 4cyl as the only engine option and they are not worth the 60k compared to the ranger.

One of my best friends had the previous gen ZR2 Bison. He really liked the truck and used it hard. Factory shocks blew out pretty fast and he upgraded to Kings. Also added 35's with the AEV trim kit and a Mallet blower on top of the 3.6. Ended up selling it for a JL Rubicon. He talks good about the ZR2 but says he would have kept it on 33's and not added the blower if he was doing it again.

If its a daily and the Ranger Raptor can be flat towed I would take a look.

I’m going to see if the whole fam can fit comfortably in one. Also looking at the canyon/colorado’s.

 

[Boatymcboatface]

Lol, if guy was going to be that dumb I was just gonna go along with it. It ain’t worth wasting my breath trying to explain why this is a good rig. Just keep letting everyone fuck with there 5.3 Chevys

Not dumb just have Better taste in vehicles than you.

 

[HB2Havasu]

345 if you want to get technical on the 5.7

Haha 347.835 is the exact conversion of Liters to Cubic Inches Sir. Never challenge an engineer, lmao.

 

[Rivrat]

Haha 347.835 is the exact conversion of Liters to Cubic Inches Sir. Never challenge an engineer, lmao.

Wow you can use a calculator, where do I send you your pat on the back?

 

[Rivrat]

Not dumb just have Better taste in vehicles than you.

Post a screen shot of your bank statement before you get a tone with me

 

[Boatymcboatface]

Post a screen shot of your bank statement before you get a tone with me

What does that have to do with any of this? I know a LOT of dumb rich people.

Just a reminder you’re the one that recommended a Toyota/lexus in a thread asking about a jeep. Should I add you to the list?