My wife wants a Gladiator

[Mlarv5]

I know I could go to the Jeep forums, and ask this question, but I trust the brain trust here more.

As the title states, my wife wants to get a Gladiator. The one two Jeeps I have ever owned was a 1986 CJ7 (AMC Junk) I sold in a year because the 4 cylinder engine was junk at that time. The other was a 2014 JKU my wife wanted. I had a lot of CEL's, the shocks started leaking at 28K miles. I took it to another dealers service center, and the dealer I was using never updated any PLC's (computers). By then it had already left a bad taste.

I had a 2025 Ram Big Horn with electrical issues and this is normal because they all do it (bad but normal).

Is the Jeep any better or should I just walk her away from them?

If this post isn't allowed I understand.

Thanks

 

[jws123]

Lease a gladiator that way if you hate it no big deal?. Every brand has its issues the reality is no modern vehicle 2015+ is reliable and trouble free all brands. Go test drive one and see what you think some people love em some hate them.

 

[MADDOG]

I had a 2021 Gladiator and it worked well for me...until the engine valvetrain started rattling (not ticking, RATTLING) at 27K miles. I walked away from it at that point and got back into a Ram.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Our 2020 Grand Cherokee has been nearly flawless for 73K miles. I am taking delivery of a 2026 Gladiator Mojave this week.

 

[mikeru]

Our 2020 Grand Cherokee has been nearly flawless for 73K miles. I am taking delivery of a 2026 Gladiator Mojave this week.

I love our 2024 Grand Cherokee. It has the 5.7 Hemi and is like a luxury SUV being that it’s the top of the line Summit Reserve. But there’s no comparison between that and a Gladiator, other than the fact that they’re both Jeep brand vehicles. After test driving a Gladiator a couple years ago I swore I’d never buy one. I hated the ride and it feels cramped inside.

I know I could go to the Jeep forums, and ask this question, but I trust the brain trust here more.

As the title states, my wife wants to get a Gladiator. The one two Jeeps I have ever owned was a 1986 CJ7 (AMC Junk) I sold in a year because the 4 cylinder engine was junk at that time. The other was a 2014 JKU my wife wanted. I had a lot of CEL's, the shocks started leaking at 28K miles. I took it to another dealers service center, and the dealer I was using never updated any PLC's (computers). By then it had already left a bad taste.

I had a 2025 Ram Big Horn with electrical issues and this is normal because they all do it (bad but normal).

Is the Jeep any better or should I just walk her away from them?

If this post isn't allowed I understand.

Thanks

Has your wife driven a Gladiator? It didn’t take long for me to make up my mind about not wanting one. I’m not really a Wrangler fan either. But then again it’s not like I’m hitting the Rubicon every other weekend either LOL. I would imagine the Gladiator is no more or less reliable than any other mid size truck. But I haven’t researched their reliability.

 

[Docwagon1776]

ESS has issues on occasion, but it's an easy kit to remove the secondary battery and make it reliable.

3.6L has the same occasional cam eating issue as in the Ram, but it's fairly rare.

I test drove a bunch and they are faster than walking, usually. I suspect due to weight, they feel much more sluggish in the midrange than the equivalent Wrangler.

 

[Tray Burge]

Sounds like you have bad luck with any vehicle you have?
Get an older Jeep is my vote, my 97 TJ has been bullet proof!
New Jeeps are okay, but they just don't have that old school cool vibe like the older ones do, but for God's sake, whatever you do, don't do the stupid duck thing.
Oh btw, one of my buddies and SIL have the Gladiator and they love 'em.

 

[tjfdesmo]

I love our 2024 Grand Cherokee. It has the 5.7 Hemi and is like a luxury SUV being that it’s the top of the line Summit Reserve. But there’s no comparison between that and a Gladiator, other than the fact that they’re both Jeep brand vehicles. After test driving a Gladiator a couple years ago I swore I’d never buy one. I hated the ride and it feels cramped inside.

This is not replacing the GC, it's for me to buzz around in. I have driven one ton pickups forever and have Jeep experience so the ride is not an issue, plus the Fox IBP shocks on the Mojave will be less harsh. It's a Jeep thing, as they say.

 

[Mlarv5]

Sounds like you have bad luck with any vehicle you have?
Get an older Jeep is my vote, my 97 TJ has been bullet proof!
New Jeeps are okay, but they just don't have that old school cool vibe like the older ones do, but for God's sake, whatever you do, don't do the stupid duck thing.
Oh btw, one of my buddies and SIL have the Gladiator and they love 'em.
View attachment 583937

Not really bad luck on any vehicle, just Jeep. The 86 I was talked into the little 4 cylinder, so my mistake. The JKU I feel if the dealer I bought from had a good service department, it might have been different. The 25 Ram was all lack of customer service.

 

[Mlarv5]

I plan on letting her go on a test ride in one this week. I have a feeling she is used to the ride of her 23 F150 Lariat.

She said no to a Navigator because of all the electronics, same with the Expedition.

She doesn't like the looks of the big Wagoner. So I might get lucky, and she will keep the 150 for a few more years.

We trade out vehicles every 3 to 4 years, with about 35K or so on them.

The lease idea would work for us now we are both retired. In 22 and 23 the dealers around here where not leasing.

 

[Docwagon1776]

This is not replacing the GC, it's for me to buzz around in. I have driven one ton pickups forever and have Jeep experience so the ride is not an issue, plus the Fox IBP shocks on the Mojave will be less harsh. It's a Jeep thing, as they say.

The Mojave does ride really nice. Some years have an aluminum steering box that is prone to wander, but I think that's fixed by going back to iron in either 2023 or 2024, can't recall.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

When I was having new running boards installed on my Powerwagon last month the dealer gave me his personal Gladiator Rubicon to run some errands.
Other than being slightly longer than our JLU Wrangler, it was pretty much the same to drive.
And we love our Wrangler.
I'm using it as my daily driver till it gets warm enough to ride my bike to work at night.
But as mentioned above, if in doubt just lease one.

 

[airrecon]

Lease a gladiator that way if you hate it no big deal?. Every brand has its issues the reality is no modern vehicle 2015+ is reliable and trouble free all brands. Go test drive one and see what you think some people love em some hate them.

Every time I start to think of another brand when I consider trading in my '19 Longhorn, I read of issues with other makes. Just today, about GM having lawsuits over their 10-speed tranny, which Ford also uses. This is on top of GM's major issues with its top-of-the-line vehicle engines. Ford seems to continue to set recall records. Toyota is also having problems. I have had many Mopar vehicles over the years and never had a major problem, so I guess I will stick with them

 

[Steve70]

I live by the rule: "Happy wife = happy life", however, in this case there are other considerations. Unless your wife is a licensed mechanic or auto enthusiast (of any variety), there are lots of other choices to make that could be better (or at least look as appealing). Obviously, I love my RAMs, so I am biased. However, I recently needed to provide my wife with a replacement small SUV. I looked around and showed her the Jeep Compass (she likes Jeeps). She liked it, so I went for a test drive. No matter that the reviews were awful and reliability reports horrendous, she wanted a Jeep. I absolutely hated it upon driving it and the reviews were dead on. So not to disappoint, I checked for other options and I found her a F*** Bronco sport Badlands. I am NOT a F*** fan, but to be completely honest, the thing is bullet proof and with the 250HP 4 banger, it is awesome. She agreed and we've loved it ever since.

Coles Notes: Do your research and offer a better alternative. Jeeps are attractive to women (don't know why) but they are junk. My 0.02. Please do your research to avoid problems later. i like Jeeps, too, but I also do most of my own mechanical work and can live with issues when they come up. Just want something safe and reliable for her.

 

[Mlarv5]

Well we went for a test drive in a Gladiator. it was a Willys 41 package. She likes her heated steering wheel and seats. She drove it on her normal drive she takes to work. When we got back the salesman asked what do you think. She just said nope.

So I guess we keep the 23 F150 for awhile longer, until she finds something else to look at.

Thanks

 

[GaParker]

I know I could go to the Jeep forums, and ask this question, but I trust the brain trust here more.

As the title states, my wife wants to get a Gladiator. The one two Jeeps I have ever owned was a 1986 CJ7 (AMC Junk) I sold in a year because the 4 cylinder engine was junk at that time. The other was a 2014 JKU my wife wanted. I had a lot of CEL's, the shocks started leaking at 28K miles. I took it to another dealers service center, and the dealer I was using never updated any PLC's (computers). By then it had already left a bad taste.

I had a 2025 Ram Big Horn with electrical issues and this is normal because they all do it (bad but normal).

Is the Jeep any better or should I just walk her away from them?

If this post isn't allowed I understand.

Thanks

I got a new one as a loaner last month. Didn't like it. The space for the driver is very small, like a compact car. The brake pedal and gas pedal are the same height, and the floor area where the pedals are is very small. I ended up with my one foot on the brake and the gas at the same time. Since I had read about this previously, as the engine revved higher while I pushed the brake harder, I wondered which would win (I needed it to stop). By that time, taking my foot off to reposition it would have been a disaster. Fortunately, the thing stopped. It's not a truck. I don't know what it is.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Well we went for a test drive in a Gladiator. it was a Willys 41 package. She likes her heated steering wheel and seats. She drove it on her normal drive she takes to work. When we got back the salesman asked what do you think. She just said nope.

So I guess we keep the 23 F150 for awhile longer, until she finds something else to look at.

Thanks

Willys 41 looks cool, but the mud terrains it comes with are going to hamper on road comfort. Look at a Mojave if you want a better ride quality, and you can get heated seats and steering wheel. Sahara is the most "lux" one.

We're kicking around Bronco vs Wrangler right now ourselves.

 

[Mlarv5]

Willys 41 looks cool, but the mud terrains it comes with are going to hamper on road comfort. Look at a Mojave if you want a better ride quality, and you can get heated seats and steering wheel. Sahara is the most "lux" one.

We're kicking around Bronco vs Wrangler right now ourselves.

She decided she didn't like it so, that is all it takes with her.

As for a Bronco or a Wrangler. Hands down the Bronco. I had a 4 door soft top Outer Banks took it out to Wind Rocks here in TN, and it did great. I traded it for a 2 door Bad Land Sasquatch package, took it to Wind Rocks a few times. I went on trails that folks said a stock vehicle won't make it. I made it with out damage.

The Bronco has more room, rides a lot nicer, has more power with the 2.7 TT.

I traded the Bronco for the Ram because I needed another truck.

And the most important thing No Ducks or stupid wave while going to the mall.

 

[suicideking]

She decided she didn't like it so, that is all it takes with her.

As for a Bronco or a Wrangler. Hands down the Bronco. I had a 4 door soft top Outer Banks took it out to Wind Rocks here in TN, and it did great. I traded it for a 2 door Bad Land Sasquatch package, took it to Wind Rocks a few times. I went on trails that folks said a stock vehicle won't make it. I made it with out damage.

The Bronco has more room, rides a lot nicer, has more power with the 2.7 TT.

I traded the Bronco for the Ram because I needed another truck.

And the most important thing No Ducks or stupid wave while going to the mall.

I'm debating Wrangler vs. Bronco myself. Thinking of trading in my Ram in a few months when the warranty expires. My original choice just over 2 years ago was Ram 1500 vs. Gladiator. I went with the Ram figuring I might get a trailer and be able to tow my trail Jeep (06 LJ). Then I moved to a house where I won't be able to store a trailer. Plus with only 16K miles on the Ram, it's been in for warranty issues 6 times, so not really trusting it for long term.

Bronco would likely handle better on the street vs. a Wrangler (or Gladiator) because of the IFS. So that will be a consideration. I still haven't gone for a test drive in either, but used to have a 2012 JKU. Prefer the looks of the Wrangler vs. Bronco.

 

[Docwagon1776]

She decided she didn't like it so, that is all it takes with her.

As for a Bronco or a Wrangler. Hands down the Bronco. I had a 4 door soft top Outer Banks took it out to Wind Rocks here in TN, and it did great. I traded it for a 2 door Bad Land Sasquatch package, took it to Wind Rocks a few times. I went on trails that folks said a stock vehicle won't make it. I made it with out damage.

The Bronco has more room, rides a lot nicer, has more power with the 2.7 TT.

I traded the Bronco for the Ram because I needed another truck.

And the most important thing No Ducks or stupid wave while going to the mall.

We drove a Badlands today, I guess the most direct competitor to the Rubicon. It felt a bit roomier but I wasn't blown away by the differences between it and the new Rubicons. It's her call, but I'd go with the Jeep just because I think it'll be easier and cheaper to fix long term. We tend to keep things 10+ years but not put a lot of miles on them. I put about 1200 miles on my Camaro last year and my Power Wagon has only seen 2800 miles in the last 6 months.