Call me Crazy.... Gladiator Rubicon

[DeDax]

After 2 years with the Ram, and a few trips to the dealership trying to figure out if I wanted to go ahead and lift the ram, mopar, orp, wheels/tires a white Gladiator Rubicon caught my eye. It's fully loaded, Saddle leather, 8.4 uconnect, Led's, alpine, etc. Man is that thing nice. A smidge smaller on the inside but so much more capable. Am I crazy to consider trading my Laramie? Anyone have any specific insight on the Gladiators?

 

[Rsorrell2]

To me it would depend on how much and how hard you do off Roading.

i think you give up some road ride comfort with the Jeep vs RAM but definitely add more off road with the Jeep.

 

[Neurobit]

After 2 years with the Ram, and a few trips to the dealership trying to figure out if I wanted to go ahead and lift the ram, mopar, orp, wheels/tires a white Gladiator Rubicon caught my eye. It's fully loaded, Saddle leather, 8.4 uconnect, Led's, alpine, etc. Man is that thing nice. A smidge smaller on the inside but so much more capable. Am I crazy to consider trading my Laramie? Anyone have any specific insight on the Gladiators?

Mmmyeah. Seems crazy to me.

 

[RockYacht2020]

Totally, if you're looking for a compact truck with off-road capability. Gladiator Rubicon is competing with a Tacoma TRD Pro, not your RAM. You'll know you're riding in a Jeep, that's for sure. All of your RAM comforts will be missed on the road, but if you want to rock crawl and not worry in water crossings it's a cool truck.

 

[upwindstorm]

More capable of fitting in a parking spot probably. when i looked at the gladiators when buying my ram there payload and towing capacities are terrible.

 

[Le_Slacker]

I went in to try a gladiator... I came out with a 1500.... and a Wrangler.....

 

[Boston]

Hey if you have no kids, no towing needs, money to burn, no time to wait for the Ram equivalent, then get it.

 

[JJRamTX]

I decided to get a Polaris Razor XP 4 1000 with 20" of travel and all of the off road goodies to scratch my off-road itch. Jeeps are way to noisy and uncomfortable to be a daily driver and tow vehicle in place of the Ram. Plus a small Jeep is almost the same size.

 

[Scram1500]

I read an article that they do not have proper off road diff ratios, can't remember the numbers but both options were pretty tall

 

[mikeru82]

Not gonna give anyone advice on what truck to buy. It's something you need to decide for yourself. I will say that I test drove a Gladiator when I was shopping for my truck. It wasn't a Rubicon though. They didn't have any of those on the lot at the time. It felt too small inside for my taste. I like the idea of them, but since I rarely go off-road I'm sticking with my Laramie. I might change my mind if I lived in the sticks though.

 

[J-Cooz]

After 2 years with the Ram, and a few trips to the dealership trying to figure out if I wanted to go ahead and lift the ram, mopar, orp, wheels/tires a white Gladiator Rubicon caught my eye. It's fully loaded, Saddle leather, 8.4 uconnect, Led's, alpine, etc. Man is that thing nice. A smidge smaller on the inside but so much more capable. Am I crazy to consider trading my Laramie? Anyone have any specific insight on the Gladiators?

They are significantly smaller on the inside, fuel economy will be worse than your ram, and the Pentastar is an ok engine but it's showing its age.

 

[Le_Slacker]

Not gonna give anyone advice on what truck to buy. It's something you need to decide for yourself. I will say that I test drove a Gladiator when I was shopping for my truck. It wasn't a Rubicon though. They didn't have any of those on the lot at the time. It felt too small inside for my taste. I like the idea of them, but since I rarely go off-road I'm sticking with my Laramie. I might change my mind if I lived in the sticks though.

The inside size is a big part of what kept me away. I felt cramped going in and sitting in it

Loved the looks of them and I was in it more for that than the off-road capabilities.

Didn’t even drive it off the lot to test. Tried a Warlock, and then the 1500 I settled on.
That was a weekday. On the weekend I took the wife to see it (was already signed for), and there was a newly arrived 4-door wrangler. So we also looked at that and picked it up ...

Even now driving or getting in the wrangler, I feel tight.

Funny thing.... her son is 6’4” and 350 lbs..... he’s too tall for the backseat in the ram but just fits between the bars in the wrangler

 

[DeDax]

So the Ram has been great. But I have been looking to upgrade for functional off road capabilities as my Laramie Sport is non ORP. Basically was looking to add the mopar lift, ORP springs, wheels/tires, etc. Roughly $5k total, but while there I saw the JT Rubicon and was like is that the smarter option. I don't really tow anything significant, a landscape trailer a few times a year maybe, same goes for payload, family trips, luggage, sports equipment for son, HD & Lowes trips but nothing serious. The biggest thing for me is the downsize in space. I have 2 children, 8 & 3 so the space in the Ram is awesome. The off road capabilities, aftermarket support, etc for the JTR is unparalleled and the ability to take the top/doors off from time to time with the wife & kids seems very alluring.

 

[smashweights]

Swap for a Rebel and call it even to each their own but I think the Gladiators look awful. YMMV

 

[Biga]

I really like the Gladiator Rubicon's but I can't even get in one being 6'8" they are significantly smaller room wise. Depends what you want the truck to do as they are very differant. The Jeep is obviously the best offroader but doen't hold a candle to the Ram when it comes it comes to be a comfortable long distance road trip vehicle.

 

[DeDax]

@ 6'8, I doubt there are many vehicles that fit comfortably. I thought I was tall @ 6'1, lol. I sat in the Gladiator, the seats are comfortable, but the leg area and center console are def. tighter. I drive the vehicle myself to/from work during the week, and typically we use the wife's comfy SUV for trips. My truck gets used for beach trips, camping/fishing trips and just utility around the house.

 

[DeDax]

Perhaps a rebel would be an idea, little more off road prowess but still get to keep the comfort/size.

 

[Thr33BlindMice]

are you a crawler?

 

[User_3336]

you are CRAZY!

After 2 years with the Ram, and a few trips to the dealership trying to figure out if I wanted to go ahead and lift the ram, mopar, orp, wheels/tires a white Gladiator Rubicon caught my eye. It's fully loaded, Saddle leather, 8.4 uconnect, Led's, alpine, etc. Man is that thing nice. A smidge smaller on the inside but so much more capable. Am I crazy to consider trading my Laramie? Anyone have any specific insight on the Gladiators?

 

[Grape_Ape]

I personally think they're not the best looking vehicles until they've had some after market parts on them. I also wouldn't be able to fit my entire family in it nearly as comfortable as the ram. That being said - if you're into it and want to do it then go for it.