Anyone else tempted by the new Jeep Gladiator?

[John Ulrich]

They'll sell a bunch of them.  I've visited AEV in Novi, MI...... who made these in the past and sold for $150,000 decked out with a Hemi etc.  3 ex-Jeep executives work there now so they were like AMG is to Mercedes, or Callaway to Corvette etc.

https://www.aev-conversions.com/

[bad Chad]

I'm in central IL now, and they are not as many jeeps, but of the ones I do see, some that get a bit of work on them.

It was still a Homo erotic name in 1963!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yzY-HUvavU

[Kev m]

It was still a Homo erotic name in 1963!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yzY-HUvavU

Yeah, but they didn't admit it. 

[Bulldog9]

I've gone back and forth between buying new or buying used. My wife likes the Euro brands, so for her we normally go with a CPO. It's crazy that you can buy 3 year old or four year old BMW or Mercedes off lease for 50% of the original MSRP. Because I keep my vehicles 10 years or more, I tend to buy new, buying leftovers and waiting for the 0% interest or super low interest rates.

I bought my Tundra TRD Pro last year new because I planned to keep it 20 years. My Jeep Commander has 250k miles on it and it's our backup car. That said if I really like the gladiator I would trade in the tundra for it and hope that it was as reliable and durable as my other Jeeps. I've been really fortunate with them, starting with a 1984 Jeep Cherokee 2 door with the 4-cylinder and 5-speed. made a mistake and traded it in on a Grand Cherokee the first generation... Which was a total piece of crap. 2 years later I traded that for the second generation Grand Cherokee and drove that for 12 years and 200k miles.

as several others have commented, I really like the extended cab with longer bed. If Wrangler sales are any indication, I think this pickup truck version will sell very well.

[JohninVT]

No.  They made it a 4 door only and it's going to be 40k with a few options. 

[Bulldog9]

FIle this under 'things that never entered my mind........  Seriously? 

It was still a Homo erotic name in 1963!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yzY-HUvavU

[bad Chad]

Exactly bro, it’s subliminal...

[canuck750]

My wife and I have had a 2012 Wrangler Sahara two door Jeep since 2013, bought it one year old, decent vehicle if not a little rough around the edges, has a hard top and a soft top, pretty noisy hard top, fun to run around in and a good winter hack. For a truck I prefer our go to the dump 2010 For Ranger extended cab 4 x 4. I am on my second Ranger, great vehicle, nothing ever breaks on it but its hard on gas with the V6 in it.

The 4 door Jeep / truck is a compromise vehicle, if its a truck one needs then go buy a truck, many more choices out there and I hear the new Ford Ranger will be a pretty nice vehicle.

[AJ Huff]

Pretty sweet. I'd like a two door or extended cab version instead. I'll probably consider a used one pretty seriously in 4-5 years.

-AJ

[rss29]

The important question.... can I fit my Stelvio in the 5-foot bed with the gate down?

Should fit, but will probably hang off the edge a bit. I don't have a Stelvio but I have hauled bikes plenty of times in my Canyon that also has a 5 foot bed. That Jeep bed side and tailgate looks a bit shorter than mine though. The Stelvio looks pretty porky- I would be a bit worried about tacoing my tailgate if using a ramp. With the short bed taking the tailgate off to load isn't an option.

[Demar]

Should fit, but will probably hang off the edge a bit. I don't have a Stelvio but I have hauled bikes plenty of times in my Canyon that also has a 5 foot bed. That Jeep bed side and tailgate looks a bit shorter than mine though. The Stelvio looks pretty porky- I would be a bit worried about tacoing my tailgate if using a ramp. With the short bed taking the tailgate off to load isn't an option.

Thanks for the reply. The Stelvio is porky... 600lbs. A cool aftermarket accessory might be a  replacement tailgate that is a little longer (12") than the Jeep/Truck tailgate. It wouldn't have to hinge or close, just drop/clamp on. It could be designed to handle a heavy bike (or two) and not taco and it could have a support arm on the bottom that plugs into the trailer receiver tube for support and locking.

[twowheeladdict]

Should fit, but will probably hang off the edge a bit. I don't have a Stelvio but I have hauled bikes plenty of times in my Canyon that also has a 5 foot bed. That Jeep bed side and tailgate looks a bit shorter than mine though. The Stelvio looks pretty porky- I would be a bit worried about tacoing my tailgate if using a ramp. With the short bed taking the tailgate off to load isn't an option.

Need to check the weight limit on the tailgate if the wheel is directly on it.  The negative about the jeep is the bed height.  Going to need long ramps and a running start to get a bike in the bed. 

[oldbike54]

 ^^^Yep , if you need to haul motorbikes a lower truck is a much better proposition , the Jackal will fit in my old Nissan (just barely) , but with a little bit of hill to work with I can get it in and back out solo . This Jeep is gonna need a long ramp , or a 3 foot high dock .

 Dusty

[DaSwami]

Owned an '06 Rubicon for a year in Montana. Thought it would be the hot ticket with it's 6-speed manual, big inline 6 cylinder and rear locker.  Absolutely sucked in the winter slush/snow.  No lateral stability with the short wheelbase meant I was often losing the backend and spinning around in circles out of control when trying to turn on snow covered roads.  On steep slick slopes it would just start turning sideways or just spin it's wheels and slide.  The last straw was trying to cross a fallow field that had melted and refrozen snow.  In 4-low with the locker engaged it just broke through the crust and sunk like a boat anchor, all wheels spinning and wasn't going anywhere....

Sold that to an old couple who towed it behind their camper.  Got a '91 Suburban and winter travel problems solved 

[rss29]

Owned an '06 Rubicon for a year in Montana. Thought it would be the hot ticket with it's 6-speed manual, big inline 6 cylinder and rear locker.  Absolutely sucked in the winter slush/snow.  No lateral stability with the short wheelbase meant I was often losing the backend and spinning around in circles out of control when trying to turn on snow covered roads.  On steep slick slopes it would just start turning sideways or just spin it's wheels and slide.  The last straw was trying to cross a fallow field that had melted and refrozen snow.  In 4-low with the locker engaged it just broke through the crust and sunk like a boat anchor, all wheels spinning and wasn't going anywhere....

Sold that to an old couple who towed it behind their camper.  Got a '91 Suburban and winter travel problems solved 

I found the same thing with the Wrangler in Northern Canada. I thought it would be a great winter vehicle but it was actually terrifying to drive on snow covered roads. With the short wheelbase the ass end would come around on you so quickly it was impossible to correct. This pickup looks to have a really long wheelbase though- should do well in winter. I really like it. I will be looking at one when the are released next year.

[Yukonica]

I found the same thing with the Wrangler in Northern Canada. I thought it would be a great winter vehicle but it was actually terrifying to drive on snow covered roads. With the short wheelbase the ass end would come around on you so quickly it was impossible to correct. This pickup looks to have a really long wheelbase though- should do well in winter. I really like it. I will be looking at one when the are released next year.

Currently I have 280000km on an 08 JK. Before that I drove a 1993 YJ for five years. I haven't had any significant nuttiness from either vehicle in winter. I run good studded tires and leave it in 4 wheel drive unless I can see asphalt.
Duratrac Wrangler are pucks at -25 but studs make all the difference.
The 4 door JK is more stable for sure. I loved the YJ in the bush. Short wheel-base JK with 18" wheels would be sweet off trail.

[Socalrob]

Looks like a decent surveyor truck to me.  Jeeps are just too short of room for equipment.  This looks good, lock the $50k in equipment in the cab, rest of crap in the pickup box.  Looks pretty 4x4 capable too. 

I suspect fuel mileage will suck.  Do newer jeeps get better than the 12 mpg around town they used to?  I really like to see 17 in a work truck.  Diesel is out, way too expensive to buy and maintain.

[Kev m]

My JKU with rear LSD certainly can get frisky in snow if I'm not paying attention, but it is very capable. Sure my wife's Grand Cherokee is easier to drive in lousy weather, but when push comes to shove I'll take my Wrangler.

Looks like a decent surveyor truck to me.  Jeeps are just too short of room for equipment.  This looks good, lock the $50k in equipment in the cab, rest of crap in the pickup box.  Looks pretty 4x4 capable too. 

I suspect fuel mileage will suck.  Do newer jeeps get better than the 12 mpg around town they used to?  I really like to see 17 in a work truck.  Diesel is out, way too expensive to buy and maintain.

Fwiw I never see less than 17, and usually manage 18-19 and can generally break 20 on the highway.

[Ncdan]

My wrangler sport gets around 16-17 MPG local driving and 19-21 on a road trip. Not great but worth the fuel it takes.

[Perazzimx14]

Never got "it's a Jeep thing"

I've ridden in them had fun with my buddies sister in one and will never own one.

[LeRoy]

For those with hard-core interest in the Gladiator, here's a bit more detail as well as interesting information on Gladiator vs. Wrangler comparison and contrasts, the competitive field, and why it took so long to develop a Wrangler-based pickup. I find that this show adds more depth and perspective than the enthusiast magazines because it's straight from the FCA Design and Product guys. The first 27 or so minutes or so are on topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQmZDk6y6jA

[drw916]

I've had several Wranglers, and while I've liked them a lot, I agree they are not a very good snow vehicle due to the wheelbase.  However, if I went slow enough it would get me anywhere.

I now prefer all wheel drive to 4 wheel drive for snow/ice.  I've had my Land Rover Discovery for 15 years and I'll keep it another 15 years if it continues to run.

[rocker59]

For those with hard-core interest in the Gladiator, here's a bit more detail as well as interesting information on Gladiator vs. Wrangler comparison and contrasts, the competitive field, and why it took so long to develop a Wrangler-based pickup. I find that this show adds more depth and perspective than the enthusiast magazines because it's straight from the FCA Design and Product guys. The first 27 or so minutes or so are on topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQmZDk6y6jA

 

[guzzipete]

I'm saving up for one of these:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=prius+pickup&&view=detail&mid=04429C492637ACC212FB04429C492637ACC212FB&rvsmid=50B2B0997480D03284F750B2B0997480D03284F7&FORM=VDQVAP