New Jeep Pick Up to be unveiled...The Gladiator
- Thread starter smlobx
- Start date
rkj__
Adventurer
Are we going to see Gladiators chasing Raptors, TRD Pros, and ZR2s through the desert now? Sweet.
rkj__
Adventurer
Hilarious it comes with street oriented tires and running boards. Perfect for overlanding to Starbucks!
I think that is an example of Jeep responding to how many buyers use their "luxury trim" Jeeps.
It's actually a trend I've seen on full size pickups too. Take the GM Silverado and Sierra for example. The Z71 "off road" package used to come with a Bridgestone Dueller A/T, just like the JK Sahara did. In 2018, most Z71 trucks were getting Goodyear Wrangler SR-A, a highway tire, just like the JL now gets a highway tire on the Sahara.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
Honestly, I think the manufacturers can't get this right. If they put on Wanrgler variant or BFG KO2 they are going to get complaints about wet pavement traction or noise or poor balancing while others question why not something truly aggressive like a KM3. If they put on a street tire then at least no one is happy and it's a safe tire for rain and snow for someone who doesn't know better.
Not to mention it has to be a tire from a supplier who can reliably deliver them in the numbers they need and it's probably a package deal to supply tires across maybe several models. In that case Goodyear or BFG or Bridgestone may not want to tie up high end tires to an OEM when they can sell them at greater profit into the aftermarket, so they aren't offered to the factory.
My $0.02 is this is just another reason why buying the lowest spec vehicle you can and building it your way is better. If you start with a base and add Air Lockers, tires, suspension and bumpers you want you'll probably spend less than a TRD Pro or Rubicon anyway.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Apples and oranges. The LC79 has nowhere near the Offroad capability of a Wrangler. I imagine the Gladiator will perform similarly to the Wrangler. I’ve seen LC79s struggle on dirt roads, lacking enough articulation to keep traction and they don’t have enoug power to get out of their own way. Compared to our ‘07 JKU, severely under geared from the factory, the LC had less grunt grunt when you needed it. The LC should be compared to 3/4 American trucks, that is what they are. Just because they look like a Jeep a and are similarly sized to a Jeep does not mean not mean the two are comparable.
As much as we Americans want that which is denied to us (Defenders and 70 series Land Cruisers) the LC79 would face stiff competition from Ford/Chevy/Dodge. They all do the same things, and the American trucks do our it with more comfort, a bigger bed, and a massive established fan base.
Clutch
<---Pass
Did you see that even the base model is getting Dana 44's? Think they said you can fit 35's with no lift too.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
I know I'm late to the party but my $0.02:
1. WRT the tow ratings - color me skeptical. I can't help but think they pumped up those numbers to try and make the vehicle look more capable than it actually is. Maybe tow 7000# across town. Through the Rockies? I sure as hell wouldn't. My '07 4runner struggled badly pulling a mere 2000# of travel trailer through the Rockies and it was "Rated" at 5000# towing capacity. Hell, even driving across flat North Dakota in heavy rain the 4runner struggled against the wind and got an abysmal 9mpg while doing it.
2. WRT the 5' bed, I don't know about other neighborhoods but here in my suburban CO neighborhood you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a dozen compact pickups with 5' beds and half ton pickups with 5.5' beds. Like it or not the market has spoken and it seems to have said 5' - 5.5' beds are fine. I'm not sure I understand how a half ton with a 6' bed is a "real truck" but one with a 5.5' bed isn't? What magic did that 6" of bed add? In any case, I don't think the Gladiator is intended to be used as "just another pickup" anyway, it's more a separate category of vehicle altogether, the "recreational sport truck."
I think the same could be said for most compact trucks with short beds - they aren't really "pickup trucks" so much as they are body-on-frame SUVs with an open "trunk." With the off-road-capable BOF SUV all but gone from the US market (Toyota and Jeep seem to be the last ones standing in the mid-sized segment and GM and Ford seem to have turned the Expedition and Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon into glorified mini vans) the short-bed crew cab pickup seems to have filled that market segment.
1. WRT the tow ratings - color me skeptical. I can't help but think they pumped up those numbers to try and make the vehicle look more capable than it actually is. Maybe tow 7000# across town. Through the Rockies? I sure as hell wouldn't. My '07 4runner struggled badly pulling a mere 2000# of travel trailer through the Rockies and it was "Rated" at 5000# towing capacity. Hell, even driving across flat North Dakota in heavy rain the 4runner struggled against the wind and got an abysmal 9mpg while doing it.
2. WRT the 5' bed, I don't know about other neighborhoods but here in my suburban CO neighborhood you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a dozen compact pickups with 5' beds and half ton pickups with 5.5' beds. Like it or not the market has spoken and it seems to have said 5' - 5.5' beds are fine. I'm not sure I understand how a half ton with a 6' bed is a "real truck" but one with a 5.5' bed isn't? What magic did that 6" of bed add? In any case, I don't think the Gladiator is intended to be used as "just another pickup" anyway, it's more a separate category of vehicle altogether, the "recreational sport truck."
I think the same could be said for most compact trucks with short beds - they aren't really "pickup trucks" so much as they are body-on-frame SUVs with an open "trunk." With the off-road-capable BOF SUV all but gone from the US market (Toyota and Jeep seem to be the last ones standing in the mid-sized segment and GM and Ford seem to have turned the Expedition and Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon into glorified mini vans) the short-bed crew cab pickup seems to have filled that market segment.
Clutch
<---Pass
I have heard of the grey wire mod, but never really looked into it. Rarely use my locker anyhow...well that was in AZ. Do find I am using it more here in Idaho though.
Did you see on the front of the Gladiator bed there are dirt bike tracks. thought that was kinda a cool touch. Trying to find a picture of it, but can't right now.
Pretty much all I need a bed for is right here. And even then I rather use a trailer...
The article about the debut on the home page I think has the photo you are looking for.