So a new Jeep truck has been anticipated for a long time now and it was finally released at the LA Auto Show this week. What was thought would be called a Jeep Scrambler has made its debut as the new Jeep Gladiator, the ultimate off-road pickup truck that is sure to be a game changers in the world of midsize trucks with many class exclusive features.
Here are 10 features that set the new Jeep Gladiator apart:
- Legendary Jeep Off Road Capability in Pickup Truck Form
- Removable Roof for an Open Air Experience
- All 4 Doors are Removable Just Like on a Wrangler Unlimited
- The Windshield Folds Down
- Has Solid Front & Rear Dana 44 Axles
- Has Great Approach Angle and Good Departure & Breakover Angles
- Available with an Automatic or a Manual Transmission
- Tows up to 7,650 Pounds
- Hauls up to 1,600 Pounds in the Bed
- Has a 3 Position Tailgate
Let’s take a closer look at why each of these items sets the Jeep Gladiator apart from the rest of the competition.
Legendary Jeep Off Road Capability in Pickup Truck Form
The Jeep Gladiator contains the same off road DNA as it’s sibling, the Jeep Wrangler, yet it sits on a different stretched and beefed up frame allowing for the addition of a 5 foot pickup bed. This will make the Gladiator very off road capable as a Jeep while also providing a ton of practical utility by also being a pickup truck. The Jeep Gladiator is likely the most capable, well rounded midsize truck out there.
The Gladiator is unmistakably a Jeep with its 7 slot grill but is also clearly a truck. Not only is it stylish and cool, it also has so much functionality that will be appreciated on the most grueling off road trail as well as on miles upon miles of open highway. Most importantly, it can work very hard as a pickup truck should hauling loads in its bed or towing a good sized trailer. So much of what the Gladiator has to offer deserves being discussed separately as will be shared through the rest of this post.
Removable Roof for an Open Air Experience
All Jeep Gladiators have a removable roof, making them the only topless, open air pickup truck from any of the major manufactures. It doesn’t stop there, there are several removable roof top options. Roof options range from a removable soft top, to a removable black hardtop, to a removable body colored hard top. Hard tops are 3 piece and feature a sliding rear window into the pickup bed.
Being able to remove the top of the Gladiator allows you to experience nature and the environment more closely and personally. It also adds the timeless sensation of experiencing the wind blowing through your hair while out on your adventures.
All 4 Doors are Removable Just Like on a Wrangler Unlimited
How many other pickup trucks, midsize or full-size, are designed by the engineers and sent from the factory with the intention to be able to remove the doors? As far as I know, the Jeep Gladiator is the only pickup I’m aware of where it is expected that the doors be taken off and left off during use of the truck. That is just super cool and it adds to the open air experience when you take the doors with the roof.
When you do remove the doors, the Gladiator has a neat little compartment behind the back seat where you can store all of the lose bolts in an orderly fashion so they don’t get lost when bouncing down the trail. The other benefit to this is you won’t forget what corner of the garage you set the door bolts down in.
The Windshield Folds Down
As if removing the roof and all four doors of your pickup truck was not enough, the front windshield of the Jeep Gladiator can also be folded down to add one final element to the open air driving experience. Not only does this allow more wind to blow across your face but it also moves the windshield out of the way for traversing off road terrain with lots of branches where a limb could crack or take out the glass.
Additionally, when the roof and doors are removed, some claim that folding down the windshield reduces the amount of dust that will get trapped in the cabin area of the Jeep as it keeps from having a swirling wind turbulence behind the upright glass. Instead, the wind just blows through, helping to keep the dust out.
Has Solid Front & Rear Dana 44 Axles
Although most midsize truck have solid rear axles, the Jeep Gladiator also has a solid front axle. Both axles are strong beefy Dana 44 axles and they both travel on coil spring suspension front and rear. Having solid axles like this provides better articulation when traversing uneven off road terrain. This increased articulation helps the tires stay in better contact with the ground so that they can maintain traction and keep you moving towards your destination or along your off road journey.
With its coil springs on all four corners at each wheel, the Jeep Gladiator is capable of soaking up the bumps on or off road quite smoothly. Most pickup trucks have leaf springs on the rear axle which are stiffer and ride rougher than coil springs.
To provide even more articulation and traction, the Gladiator Rubicon trim has a disconnecting front sway bar and full locking front and rear differentials. With the front sway bar disconnected, the front axle can rise or drop further on either side so the tires can stay in contact with the ground over even larger uneven terrain than the already good amount Jeep can articulate without this feature. Add to this the full locking front and rear differentials of the Rubicon model, which sends full rotating power to all four wheels, and it will take a lot to stop the Gladiator going where it wants to go.
With straight axles, the Gladiator could be lifted easily to install larger tires which would further improve its go nearly anywhere capabilities.
Has Great Approach Angle and Good Departure & Breakover Angles
The Jeep Gladiator has the front wheels placed very near the front of the truck so there is not much nose overhang. This gives it a very good approach angle compared to other midsize trucks on the market such as the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, & Nissan Frontier. The Gladiator has pretty good breakover and departure angles for a four door pickup truck although its not as good as its approach angle. This is due to the length of the wheelbase needed to be a truck and the added rear overhang to accommodate the pickup truck bed in the back.
With the relative ease that a Gladiator could be lifted, larger tires could easily be added which will further improve the approach, breakover, and departure angles it is capable of.
Available with an Automatic or a Manual Transmission
The Gladiator is available with an automatic or a manual transmission which is awesome. With an optional 6 speed manual transmission, the Gladiator is unlike many other trucks on the market, most of which are not available with a manual transmission, particularly in their upper trim levels or off road models. A manual transmission gives you one more area of control in your off road maneuvers, especially to gear down and hold you back when descending a hill.
If you prefer an automatic, like many who do a fair amount of commuting in stop and go traffic, the Gladiator has a nice 8 speed automatic.
Tows up to 7,650 Pounds
If you want to tow a good sized trailer, a properly equipped Jeep Gladiator can tow up to 7,650 pounds. This is over 1,000 pounds more than the tow rating of my previous older half ton full size pickup truck and is in the upper ranks of today’s midsize trucks. This would allow you to tow most boats, many smaller RV’s, or a trailer of ATV’s, UTV’s, motorcycles, or motorcycles among many other things.
Hauls up to 1,600 Pounds in the Bed
When it comes to the business end of the Jeep Gladatior, it is capable of hauling up to 1,600 pounds of payload in the bed. That means it can easily handle hauling a couple of dirt bikes or an ATV in the back. It has enough payload to carry quite a bit in the bed while also towing a good sized trailer.
Has a 3 Position Tailgate
The tailgate of the Gladiator can be used in three different positions; open, closed, and halfway open/closed. It has some bracket clamp type things that hold the tailgate cables back from letting the tailgate drop all the way open. When halfway open, the tailgate is about the same height as the top of the inner fender wells in the truck bed, allowing for a 4×8 sheet of plywood to be hauled level sitting on those surfaces. The bed length to the end of the tailgate when it is open is about 6.5 feet, up from 5 feet with the tailgate closed.
The Jeep Gladiator is so well rounded that it may not just be the best equipped midsize truck, it might be the most diversely capable pickup truck to ever come to market.