? for Gladiator Owners

[Scott_P]

Not sure if this should be here or under Jeep Brand Talk......but maybe a few of you can help educate me -

@AdamH
@spankrs

come to mind.

The time is coming to update one of our vehicles. Either my wife's JKU or my truck. Both are paid for, but unfortunately probably on the same schedule for replacement and I don't want 2 payments. We have some interest in a Gladiator and I was curious if there is any chance that one could be used as a work/utility style vehicle...this is coming from a guy who currently has a 2006 Ram 2500 for a work truck. Probably overkill for our line of work, but 1/2 ton trucks now days are basically cars in my opinion. We are always loaded with tools and we are regularly off on the shoulder of roads, on gravel roads and two-tracks. Due to this, I wanted something with a straight front axle and heavy duty enough to last and the Ram 2500 truck has been good. Occasionally we tow a car-hauler trailer with my Jeep or tractor on it.

So Gladiator owners - what say you? Is a JT with a max tow package or other package (Rubi, etc.) fairly stout or just hoopla and stickers? Feasible to put a topper on the back and run around loaded with some equipment or am I asking too much of a mid-size and should stick w/3/4 ton?
.

 

[spankrjs]

I have a stock 2022 Gladiator Rubicon with the max tow package. I like the truck, but not sure I would want to count on it as a HD work truck day in and day out, especially if you are coming from a full size 3/4 ton truck.

I am a project manager for a general contractor, so I do use mine to do "real truck" type stuff from time to time. Haul some tools, plywood and sheetrock every once in awhile, scaffolding, etc, it does fine. I flat towed a stock CJ7 90 miles on the highway, did fine. But, at the end of the day, it is a midsize truck. It is probably OK to do "real truck" type stuff from time to time, but not everyday.

For light duty use, probably be fine. If you are hauling around a few guys and a thousand pounds of stuff in the bed more often then not, probably not my first choice.

Don't get me wrong, I really like my Gladiator, but it is basically a "beefed up" Wrangler. Just my opinion, I could be wrong, but I just don't feel like it would be a good choice for what you are describing.

I keep a "spare" 2013 Toyota Tundra in my yard (4.6 V8, five speed automatic transmission, tow package, 250,000 miles). When I need to do "real man" type construction stuff, I jump in it and don't worry about it. For instance, I hooked up to an old double axle 16' trailer the other day, loaded it down with 16' pine tongue and groove boards, I am going to say probably 10-12k pounds total, no trailer brakes. Truck pulled it fine, stopped it fine, no problems. The Gladiator probably could have done that, even though it was well past the 7,000 pound max tow weight, but probably not a good idea. I did miss the back up camera on the Gladiator, since I was by myself hooking up the trailer with the Tundra!!!

Anyway, just my opinion, but I think you need a full size truck, not a mid size truck. I am a Jeep guy, but I will be the first to admit that our company has had great service out of our 2013 Tundra's, not sure if the new ones are any good?? @Jeepaddict uses a F150 day in and day out in his line of work, uses the truck like a truck, has had great service out of his V8 Fords.

 

[Chamba]

Kind of off topic (per the Gladiator), sorry in advance.

I love the Gladiator, LOVE that it still comes manual and solid front axle, and I love that it's boxy. But it seems like it's not a work truck as much as it is a toy hauler.

I have the chevy silverado 3 litre duramax and absolutely love it. I like the motor so much that I bought my wife the tahoe diesel.

I despise that it's an auto with no option to fix that shortcoming and I agree that it's more luxurious than an 80s Cadillac. But, for fuel economy (30 mpg before I lifted it, 26mpg now and 14mpg towing our 8300lb RV; my wife's tahoe is consistently 30 on the highway, 32 to Miami and back recently) it can't be beat. It's not as heavy duty as your 2500 but it's very, very capable.

I've got 52000 miles on my silverado and 11000 on the tahoe. I'd buy either again.

 

[Scott_P]

Thanks for all the input.

I'm guessing we carry 400-500# of equipment, tools, and supplies in the bed of the truck daily. When we started this business almost 20 yrs ago we worked out of an XJ, because it's what we had...It worked, but was tight and we now carry additional equipment.
Switched to the Ram 2500 in 2010. I guess you could say we're frugal running a truck that long in a business, but I keep it maintained and once you have things set-up the way you like, why change it! Unfortunately, Michigan winters are starting to take their toll. Still looks presentable, but is getting ready to hatch as we say around here.

 

[Ron84cj]

Spanks brought up Tundras. So I just had to bring this up. I worked for Toyota, Dodge, and Chevy. The Fords we wouldn't even glance at, they went straight to the auction. After working on them all, I can very confidently say nothing comes even remotely close to the Tundra or Tacoma for reliability and longevity. Plus the Gladiator has that pos 3.6 Pentastar . Not sure if the diesels are any good. I'm not familiar with those. Good luck!

The Million-Mile 2007 Toyota Tundra Pickup: The Teardown

The high-mileage Tundra was torn down to check its health—here's what Toyota found.

www.motortrend.com

 

[Scott_P]

I've had pretty good luck with the 3.6, but there are definitely a few things that I don't like:

1. Oil cooler/filter housing assembly leaks
2. Poor access to spark plugs
3. Not much for low end torque, but that seems par for the course with most modern engines.

 

[ag4ever]

I have an 07 Tundra with the 5.7 and an 08 Land Cruiser with the 5.7. Both have about 200,000 miles on them. I have no intention of selling either, they are just way too reliable to replace. IMHO

Tundra has towed around 10,000 lbs with no worries, hauled over 5,000 lbs of soil in the bed (I was worried, but truck was not), and forded water up to the hood line (Shockingly no water leaked into the cab but I did change fluids within a week of that event, Harvey). I trust Toyotas 100%.

 

[AdamH]

simple answer from me - for occasional towing (I tow Jeeps and cars on an all aluminum Featherlite trailer) and needing a bed for runs to Lowe’s the gladiator does everything I need it to do in a very cool Jeep way With no complaints. 37s, 5.13 gears, Rubicon package rated at 7k lbs towing.

to use one like you currently use your Ram - no way

 

[Scott_P]

Thanks for the input....sorta knew this was the answer all along, but a guy can always hope. Drove a Mohave package one on Friday. Pretty fun truck. It was an automatic, but was impressed, nice shifts and well tuned to the power curve of the engine (at least when empty).

 

[Chamba]

Honestly, I would have bought the Gladiator when they came out. I love it. And at that time, I'd never owned an automatic vehicle and was not keen to. So the Silverado was my second choice, and only that high because that engine is stunning. And I've only become more and more fond of the engine over the years due to power, economy, sound and torque.

When our local Jeep dealer got a Gladiator, my son and I rushed down to drive it and order one. I was devastated when I discovered I barely fit in it. At 6'6", my head hit the roll bar no matter what I did with the seat. Those little Italian designers obviously didn't have me in mind when they made it.

I would have dealt with all of its shortcomings in exchange for the sexy looks..... but I couldn't deal with hitting my head on every bump.

If you can fit, I would do the Gladiator 6 speed manual and enjoy driving it every second you're behind the wheel. I miss driving when I'm in my Silverado; it's like driving a golf cart. And for towing automatics are infuriating. They do not allow you to plan for hills because they are constantly shifting.

 

[Ron84cj]

Something else to think about here that a lot of people may not think about. Regardless of what truck you're looking at, the actual amount that truck can tow will vary. If you have 4 adults and 700 lbs worth of gear in the bed, you need to subtract that from the amount you can tow. So in this case your towing capacity may go from 7,000 down to 5,500. Maybe even less. It's crazy how quickly weight adds up. Just going from stock tires up to 37s or whatever, that extra tire weight needs to be accounted for.

 

[FLCJ8]

Honestly, I would have bought the Gladiator when they came out. I love it. And at that time, I'd never owned an automatic vehicle and was not keen to. So the Silverado was my second choice, and only that high because that engine is stunning. And I've only become more and more fond of the engine over the years due to power, economy, sound and torque.

When our local Jeep dealer got a Gladiator, my son and I rushed down to drive it and order one. I was devastated when I discovered I barely fit in it. At 6'6", my head hit the roll bar no matter what I did with the seat. Those little Italian designers obviously didn't have me in mind when they made it.

I would have dealt with all of its shortcomings in exchange for the sexy looks..... but I couldn't deal with hitting my head on every bump.

If you can fit, I would do the Gladiator 6 speed manual and enjoy driving it every second you're behind the wheel. I miss driving when I'm in my Silverado; it's like driving a golf cart. And for towing automatics are infuriating. They do not allow you to plan for hills because they are constantly shifting.

SEAT SLAMMERS (2018-2024 JEEP WRANGLER JL, JLU, & GLADIATOR)

Tired of not fitting in your new Jeep and hitting your head on the sound bar? Seat Slammers are the cure. The Seat Slammers will slam the rear of your driver or passenger seat by .5 inch to 2 inches. These will drop the rear only, the front of the seat will remain the same or be lifted by up to...

desertdoesit.com

 

[Bad Karma]

SEAT SLAMMERS (2018-2024 JEEP WRANGLER JL, JLU, & GLADIATOR)

Tired of not fitting in your new Jeep and hitting your head on the sound bar? Seat Slammers are the cure. The Seat Slammers will slam the rear of your driver or passenger seat by .5 inch to 2 inches. These will drop the rear only, the front of the seat will remain the same or be lifted by up to...

desertdoesit.com

I did my own version of these when I bought my JLR. At 6'2" on a tall day, i couldn't get low enough. Stupid design on Jeep's part for sure.