THINKING About Trading For A Gladiator

[Zandcwhite]

I’ve had both JLU and JT. Indeed the JT really excels on certain rock crawling trails in Moab, but you definitely have to compensate with a bigger lift and tires. I ran 37s and nearly a 4” lift and felt unstoppable off-road. I imagine tight forest trials would be a different story. In Moab I had zero issues with the JT.

Having said all that, the gladiator lacked in towing for me. If I lived in Florida or a flat state it may have been fine, or if I got the diesel, but the 3.6 is underpowered for towing at elevation. I live in Utah and I had a 5000lb trailer and the jeep struggled. The 4000lb trailer it pulled “okay” but it was nothing to write home about. I believe the 3.6 has under 270 lb ft if torque. Comparing to other mid size trucks with turbos its gutless.

BUT… I love the gladiator and it’s unmatched for off-roading trucks and is amazing for camping and overlanding. My JLU I often run into space issues. The truck bed is small but very usable on the JT.

I agree if you were buying it just to do truck stuff there are better options. I wouldn't even waste my time with a mid size truck if that was the only use. If you want a rig you can wheel on 7+ rated trails and tight trails where full sized trucks just don't fit AND you'll still need to do truck stuff it's not only the option it's more capable than people think. Even towing at elevation I find it's decent, but you have to drive the pentastar for what it is. Peak torque above 4k and peak horsepower above 6k. Wind it out and it will pull decently. Of course it's no diesel or v8 or compound turbo setup so you'll need all the power it can make which requires rpm.

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[Wabujitsu]

What’s the rationale for not using a flat-bed trailer to do ”truck stuff” with a JLU??

 

[Zandcwhite]

What’s the rationale for not using a flat-bed trailer to do ”truck stuff” with a JLU??

3500lbs including the trailer doesn't get very truck-ish.

 

[Wabujitsu]

3500lbs including the trailer doesn't get very truck-ish.

How so, Zach? Per my previous post, my trailer weighs 895 lbs empty, and has a payload capacity of 2,165 lbs. - equivalent to the payload of a one-half-ton truck, and the net weight comes in well under 3500 lbs. Frankly, it will carry more weight safely, per the axle specs.

 

[Jaym]

What’s the rationale for not using a flat-bed trailer to do ”truck stuff” with a JLU??

I think it’s a fine idea and I plan to do the same. But it does add an element of minor inconvenience. Need to stop somewhere and grab a ladder or a bag of mulch? Or furniture? Or whatever …gotta go home and get the trailer out. It personally does not bother me.. but I can see the truck is more convenient

 

[Zandcwhite]

How so, Zach? Per my previous post, my trailer weighs 895 lbs empty, and has a payload capacity of 2,165 lbs. - equivalent to the payload of a one-ton truck, and the net weight comes in well under 3500 lbs. Frankly, it will carry more weight safely, per the axle specs.

That is on par with a truck bed, but pathetic compared to an actual truck towing a trailer. You get all the disadvantages of moving from bed loaded to trailer loaded (length, maneuverability, parking, storage, additional tires/axles/ etc to maintain, without the gain of being able to haul 2+ times the weight. Personally I hate having to store a trailer so the couple times a year I actually need one (because the JT has a bed and hauls most things well enough) I just rent one and haul up to 8k pounds. For most home owner projects the little trailer and low towing capacity would be fine and it's certainly an option, but it's not a replacement for an actual truck in my opinion.

 

[Wabujitsu]

That is on par with a truck bed, but pathetic compared to an actual truck towing a trailer. You get all the disadvantages of moving from bed loaded to trailer loaded (length, maneuverability, parking, storage, additional tires/axles/ etc to maintain, without the gain of being able to haul 2+ times the weight. Personally I hate having to store a trailer so the couple times a year I actually need one (because the JT has a bed and hauls most things well enough) I just rent one and haul up to 8k pounds. For most home owner projects the little trailer and low towing capacity would be fine and it's certainly an option, but it's not a replacement for an actual truck in my opinion.

Zach, all great points I agree with, except my post was predicated upon the OP’s first post - “for home use stuff.”

I tend to forget that most folks aren’t as lucky as us. We have acres to store our trailer on, and plenty of room to maneuver. I also have used it to haul my z-turn mower to friends’ houses, to cut their lawns/pastures when they were not capable of doing it themselves - and to take it into the shop for routine maintenance.

Country living makes both trailers and trucks quite useful. But again, the OP’s stated use case is for occasional “home use stuff.”

 

[Wabujitsu]

I think it’s a fine idea and I plan to do the same. But it does add an element of minor inconvenience. Need to stop somewhere and grab a ladder or a bag of mulch? Or furniture? Or whatever …gotta go home and get the trailer out. It personally does not bother me.. but I can see the truck is more convenient

James, I totally get it, albeit I just drop my back seats to load up multiple bales of hay and horse feed. For 8’ 2x4s I fully recline the passenger seat and load them up on that, angled into the back. The tailgate and window have room to spare.

I can, and have, carried 8 full-size bales (two-tie) of hay in my Jeep, along with horse and other critter feed.

Please keep in mind my post was based upon the OP’s first post and stated use case: for occasional “home use stuff.”

 

[ODDs]

TRAILERS ARE AWESOME!

I don't get America's obsession with trucks. For most home use tasks, a simple trailer is not only cheaper, but way more functional than a pickup.

Why lift things 3-4 feet into the air, when you can lift it only 12"? Or better yet, roll it up the ramp. Pavers, lumber, garbage, lawnmower, exercise equipment, whatever; why go through the extra effort just to feel like a man?

And even a small trailer gives you more area that those dinky beds in these the lid-less sedans (quad-cab trucks).

Most household tasks can be handled by a JLU. For us, we also have a decent sized camper. We pull it with a full-sized SUV. Not manly, no, but our family of five and two large dogs can also haul the portable house with us. Or at other times we more around 7 people. Or its just me when I haul a couple pallets of pavers on our 5x10 utility trailer. To me it seems like a vastly more flexible vehicle for actually living life.

I fully admit that my statements are for typical domestic household life, not for commercial or construction use. But then again, even for them, it seems like the work gets done by those hauling trailers or using a van.

I often ponder how many square miles of empty pickup bed space are in motion on America's roads at any given moment, just in the name of fashion (or non-fashion, which is basically fashion in of itself). But hey, it looks the part, so that's what matters.

 

[Wabujitsu]

TRAILERS ARE AWESOME!

I don't get America's obsession with trucks. For most home use tasks, a simple trailer is not only cheaper, but way more functional than a pickup.

Why lift things 3-4 feet into the air, when you can lift it only 12"? Or better yet, roll it up the ramp. Pavers, lumber, garbage, lawnmower, exercise equipment, whatever; why go through the extra effort just to feel like a man?

And even a small trailer gives you more area that those dinky beds in these the lid-less sedans (quad-cab trucks).

Most household tasks can be handled by a JLU. For us, we also have a decent sized camper. We pull it with a full-sized SUV. Not manly, no, but our family of five and two large dogs can also haul the portable house with us. Or at other times we more around 7 people. Or its just me when I haul a couple pallets of pavers on our 5x10 utility trailer. To me it seems like a vastly more flexible vehicle for actually living life.

I fully admit that my statements are for typical domestic household life, not for commercial or construction use. But then again, even for them, it seems like the work gets done by those hauling trailers or using a van.

I often ponder how many square miles of empty pickup bed space are in motion on America's roads at any given moment, just in the name of fashion (or non-fashion, which is basically fashion in of itself). But hey, it looks the part, so that's what matters.

Spot-on, but there are very good reasons to own a pickup…

 

[Sportacus]

I was in this boat briefly. Considered consolidating my wrangler and truck into a gladiator, but i have a 26’ travel trailer to pull and i think a Gladiator max tow would barely qualify. As well as just being too long for the offroading i like to do. Ive been high centered a few times as it is with my JLU.

And my wife (and every woman ive ever heard mention it) loves the wrangler and thinks the gladiator is ugly lol. although we do have a family friend who bought a galdiator willys but she is crazy/weird lol.

the wrangler does not seat 5 comfortably. Theyre a little squished back there; and one of them is a skinny 8 year old girl.

my 06 sierra crew cab seats everyone very comfortably and tows the trailer with ease.

eventually, ill need to go pick up a scoop of mulch. I dont think a gladiator can handle a scoop of anything, even air lol. The bed is ridiculously shallow.

i agree having a pick up is great for homeownership but you can score an old chevy or ford full size for home depot runs for pretty cheap. And keep the jeep for doing wrangler stuff.

i do have a 4x6 utility trailer and if i didnt have a big trailer than the trailer would likely handle my homeowner needs.

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