Jeep Gladiator (Personal Post)

[foxwalkin]

I apologize if this is not the appropriate place to post this, but seems the most appropriate place.

I currently have a 2022 Jeep Gladiator but it's missing a lot of things that I wanted, one of the most profound being the tow package. I did not expect the "It's out of stock forever" thing to apply to literally ALL Mopar parts. I was originally however going to trade it in for Diesel which was the main motivation, but then I discovered I can get more range by adding a LMR aux tank than I can from the Diesel tank that can't get an aux tank coz of the DEF.

I basically am one person who has a dog and owns a Jeep to go overlanding and camping.

I know most of you guys will say the Wrangler is better.. but can you guys give me reasons why the Wrangler is a better choice? (or if you decide the Gladiator is a better choice).

Reason I am undecided is because the Wrangler has better maneuverability, is better off road, and I am only one person so while I have no experience I think that perhaps the Wrangler might have enough storage for me and I can sleep in the Wrangler without too many upgrades so I can go overlanding out of the box, and I have a ground tent. With the Gladiator I have to get like a camper or RTT or something.

I'm also worried that Jeep is going to ruin the Wrangler in the 2024 refresh. I am getting this from the new 20th anniversary editions that are coming out with that horrible grille that resembles the Wronco thing they put images out of earlier this year that has that grille.

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[KevinC11]

Your observations are subjective. You own a Gladiator, you should know what the capability offroad is. Compare that to a JLU. A little longer wheelbase, more overhang (departure angle), and that's about it. Will that effect overlanding?

You say you have a ground tent. Why can't you use that with the Gladiator? You stumped me on that one.

Gladiator
Tow more
Haul more
Better road manners

Can you/should you give that up for a JLU? How much will that cost you in the finance department?

KevinC

 

[foxwalkin]

You say you have a ground tent. Why can't you use that with the Gladiator? You stumped me on that one.

Well I can. But my point was I can use it in a Wrangler and have better off-road capability and also maneuverability. I don't see the better road manners of the Gladiator, I've noticed it has a tendency to understeer which I think is a combination of the longer wheel base and the tires. I've driven a Wrangler and it is way more agile.

I don't really notice a problem with the steering like everyone says how it's all over the road. It's a bit looser but not the massive issue they make it out to be.

Can you/should you give that up for a JLU? How much will that cost you in the finance department?

This is the other thing is I can pretty much keep what I already have, although it will probably be next to impossible to get the tow package parts and LED package parts installed. I originally put an order in for the Mopar LED headlights in September by a shop that said they had it in stock, the delivery date kept getting pushed back by one month every month.. I checked at the beginning of this month and the Mopar LED headlights still say and have said all of 2023 that they ship in "12+ weeks" on Extreme Terrain.

 

[JT1]

Well I can. But my point was I can use it in a Wrangler and have better off-road capability and also maneuverability. I don't see the better road manners of the Gladiator, I've noticed it has a tendency to understeer which I think is a combination of the longer wheel base and the tires. I've driven a Wrangler and it is way more agile.

I don't really notice a problem with the steering like everyone says how it's all over the road. It's a bit looser but not the massive issue they make it out to be.



This is the other thing is I can pretty much keep what I already have, although it will probably be next to impossible to get the tow package parts and LED package parts installed. I originally put an order in for the Mopar LED headlights in September by a shop that said they had it in stock, the delivery date kept getting pushed back by one month every month.. I checked at the beginning of this month and the Mopar LED headlights still say and have said all of 2023 that they ship in "12+ weeks" on Extreme Terrain.

What tow package are you referring to? Your Rubi should have the 4/7pin hookup like nearly every JT.. buy a hitch and be done.

If you have access to your buildsheet, which alternator do you have?

 

[foxwalkin]

What tow package are you referring to? Your Rubi should have the 4/7pin hookup like nearly every JT.. buy a hitch and be done.

If you have access to your buildsheet, which alternator do you have?

The JT trailer tow package comes with the tow wiring harness (which is not included standard. The plugs are on the bumper but the harness doesn't come with it), the class IV hitch, a larger radiator fan, and the larger alternator.

Mine didn't have the trail rail package with the outlet in the bed so it has the standard alternator. They even skimped on the inverter completely as it was one of those where they deleted the outlet from the back center console.

But anyway the tow wire harness, class IV hitch, larger fan were all out of stock until Jesus comes back for the second coming.

 

[JT1]

The JT trailer tow package comes with the tow wiring harness (which is not included standard. The plugs are on the bumper but the harness doesn't come with it), the class IV hitch, a larger radiator fan, and the larger alternator.

Mine didn't have the trail rail package with the outlet in the bed so it has the standard alternator. They even skimped on the inverter completely as it was one of those where they deleted the outlet from the back center console.

But anyway the tow wire harness, class IV hitch, larger fan were all out of stock until Jesus comes back for the second coming.

weird, mine doesn't have trailer tow, but the 4/7 pin and wiring are all in the bumper. Mine has a 240amp alternator too..

How heavy is the trailer?

 

[foxwalkin]

weird, mine doesn't have trailer tow, but the 4/7 pin and wiring are all in the bumper. Mine has a 240amp alternator too..

How heavy is the trailer?

So from my understanding all the wiring and stuff is on the bumper but the actual harness that connects it to the vehicles electrical system is not present.. On yours maybe it was.. I've seen a bunch of other things that they have some weird things.. Mine's a 2022 Gladiator and it comes with a granite crystal gray dash instead of the red. Dealer of course had no idea. He said maybe the new ones won't have the red dash, fast forward to 2023 and they all have the red dash. *shrugs*

If I get a trailer the trailer I would get is the Patriot Campers which I think the X3 weights around 2300 pounds bone dry.. probably kitted out like 2500-2600 pounds. So it's something that the 4 door Wrangler can definitely tow.

Other than that I don't really plan to tow anything in the foreseeable future.

Update: One possibility is that maybe the tow wiring harness did come with all Gladiators but because of the parts shortage they deleted it like they deleted the rear-seat 110v outlet and inverter. But there's no mention on the window sticker of tow wiring harness being deleted.

 

[JT1]

So from my understanding all the wiring and stuff is on the bumper but the actual harness that connects it to the vehicles electrical system is not present.. On yours maybe it was.. I've seen a bunch of other things that they have some weird things.. Mine's a 2022 Gladiator and it comes with a granite crystal gray dash instead of the red. Dealer of course had no idea. He said maybe the new ones won't have the red dash, fast forward to 2023 and they all have the red dash. *shrugs*

If I get a trailer the trailer I would get is the Patriot Campers which I think the X3 weights around 2300 pounds bone dry.. probably kitted out like 2500-2600 pounds. So it's something that the 4 door Wrangler can definitely tow.

Other than that I don't really plan to tow anything in the foreseeable future.

Update: One possibility is that maybe the tow wiring harness did come with all Gladiators but because of the parts shortage they deleted it like they deleted the rear-seat 110v outlet and inverter. But there's no mention on the window sticker of tow wiring harness being deleted.

That's a great point. Mine definitely has the harness, and power to the 4 and 7pin connectors.

Does your Gladiator have tan leather by chance?

I'd go visit a UHaul trailer store or a CURT hitch dealer, buy the actual hitch and see if they have a wiring solution.. with weight like that, I wouldn't worry at all.

 

[foxwalkin]

That's a great point. Mine definitely has the harness, and power to the 4 and 7pin connectors.

Does your Gladiator have tan leather by chance?

I'd go visit a UHaul trailer store or a CURT hitch dealer, buy the actual hitch and see if they have a wiring solution.. with weight like that, I wouldn't worry at all.

No tan leather.

Tow more
Haul more

Can you/should you give that up for a JLU? How much will that cost you in the finance department?

As you can see in my last message the only thing I ever plan on towing is well below the JLU's towing ability. As far as how much it would cost me, I was offered $47,000 trade in for my Gladiator.. The JLU is priced at ~$68k MSRP, and this place doesn't do markups.

The JT the way I want it is $64k. I owe $60k on the Gladiator.

 

[JT1]

No tan leather.



As you can see in my last message the only thing I ever plan on towing is well below the JLU's towing ability. As far as how much it would cost me, I was offered $47,000 trade in for my Gladiator.. The JLU is priced at ~$68k MSRP, and this place doesn't do markups.

The JT the way I want it is $64k. I owe $60k on the Gladiator.

There is no way I'd take a $13000 bath on a trade like that just to go to a JLUR, especially for an overlanding scenario, but your money your choice there. Confirm the wrangler you are looking at has enough payload for your loadout and go from there. Personally, the LWB of the gladiator and the headroom in tow capacity would keep me where I was, even with some of the gladiators shortcomings.

 

[foxwalkin]

There is no way I'd take a $13000 bath on a trade like that just to go to a JLUR, especially for an overlanding scenario, but your money your choice there. Confirm the wrangler you are looking at has enough payload for your loadout and go from there. Personally, the LWB of the gladiator and the headroom in tow capacity would keep me where I was, even with some of the gladiators shortcomings.

The more I think about it the more I think I'll just stick with the JT.. The only problem is I know I'm never going to be able to get the Mopar parts that I want. The 2023 I built is $64k, quite a bit less than the JLU, and I can probably find the Xtreme Recon wheels somewhere.. I found a set of Wrangler 392 wheels and tires for $2500 (for all 5) on FB marketplace.. but they were the bronze. Really like the gunmetal colored ones.

I just wish Jeep would cut the BS with the forever out of stock crap. No one else seems to have trouble getting stock in.

 

[JT1]

The more I think about it the more I think I'll just stick with the JT.. The only problem is I know I'm never going to be able to get the Mopar parts that I want. The 2023 I built is $64k, quite a bit less than the JLU, and I can probably find the Xtreme Recon wheels somewhere.. I found a set of Wrangler 392 wheels and tires for $2500 (for all 5) on FB marketplace.. but they were the bronze. Really like the gunmetal colored ones.

I just wish Jeep would cut the BS with the forever out of stock crap. No one else seems to have trouble getting stock in.

There are XR wheels on here for sale sometimes. Be prepared to pay for them though. Last set I saw was wheels and tires for $3500.. but, at $450 for each tire new, that's not unreasonable.

I wouldn't buy anything from a local dealer unless my life depended on it, and even then, they still would charge me 3X what I can buy it for with the vendors that post and support us on these forums.

 

[foxwalkin]

There are XR wheels on here for sale sometimes. Be prepared to pay for them though. Last set I saw was wheels and tires for $3500.. but, at $450 for each tire new, that's not unreasonable.

I wouldn't buy anything from a local dealer unless my life depended on it, and even then, they still would charge me 3X what I can buy it for with the vendors that post and support us on these forums.

My cousin works at parts dept at a Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram dealer in Florida that can hook me up on stuff, but usually I will order stuff online if I can. I avoid the dealer like the plague. I'm even considering not going to the dealer for an oil change even with the Jeep Wave thing because of how ridiculous they are, they probably will want to keep the vehicle all day or something.

 

[Garry]

Watch this guy, lots of mods but he puts it to a test overlanding
https://www.youtube.com/@OzarkOverlandAdventures

 

[foxwalkin]

Watch this guy, lots of mods but he puts it to a test overlanding
https://www.youtube.com/@OzarkOverlandAdventures

I'm watching that dude right now :D like seriously:

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