Bronco pickup? Gladiator shows what will happen...

[Mattwings]

I've been thinking about the Gladiator more and more these days, especially after seeing three different Gladiator RUBICON's at Yellowstone National Park last summer (all optioned to the max, beautiful clean paint, really cute matching luggage in each, no hint of their owners wanting to drive their $65K toys off the blacktop) and what that class of vehicle really brings to the JEEP brand.

• Is it a truck? If it is, it's a really poor choice as a truck
• Is it a off road beast? It has the kit, but again, it's form factor makes it a really poor choice
• Does it still drive like a JEEP (and all the negative that implies on-road)? Yea!
• Is the Gladiator simply another Ridgeline with a very select audience and unable to turn a profit even with $20K of options tarting it up? Probably

TTAC followed up my vehicular wanderings with this article today and it's pointed yet mostly unopinionated (until you get to the comments).

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/11/2020-jeep-gladiator-sport-s-review-poised-for-urban-life/

Does Bronco "need" to follow suit with an even smaller-market vehicle that isn't great off road, isn't great as a truck, and looks as cumbersome as the Gladiator? I would argue there is no business reason to do so. Covid has cost every manufacturer billions, dumping resources into these low-yield makes doesn't make sense. Ranger is a perfectly capable midsize truck, Maverick is rumored to be close to production for small truck, and Bronco looks to be more than capable of giving the fight to Jeep off-road (not in outright capability, but in that entry/mid-market basis) and with the pencil pushers.

It's the removable top that makes it attractive. The Ranger is a pretty solid midsize truck and with the Bronco on the same chassis, the Ranger will pick up some off road spin off's that make it even better. But if you want the top down experience, the Gladiator is it right now. The funny part, even with the higher tow rating, most of the reviews say it's a dog for towing. I am sure the Eco Diesel will help, but that engine actually lowers the tow rating and GVWR. To many compromises IMO. It will be interesting to see what Ram does with the Gladiator platform as a mid-size truck.

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[rjkmoto]

I've been thinking about the Gladiator more and more these days, especially after seeing three different Gladiator RUBICON's at Yellowstone National Park last summer (all optioned to the max, beautiful clean paint, really cute matching luggage in each, no hint of their owners wanting to drive their $65K toys off the blacktop) and what that class of vehicle really brings to the JEEP brand.

• Is it a truck? If it is, it's a really poor choice as a truck
• Is it a off road beast? It has the kit, but again, it's form factor makes it a really poor choice
• Does it still drive like a JEEP (and all the negative that implies on-road)? Yea!
• Is the Gladiator simply another Ridgeline with a very select audience and unable to turn a profit even with $20K of options tarting it up? Probably

I’ve owned seven trucks in my life and the Gladiator is easily the best (and my favorite) one.

Furthermore, a Ridgeline is literally just a reconfigured MINIVAN, it’s based off the Odyssey platform. The Gladiator is not even in the same league.

I understand your point is not so much to sh*t on the Gladiator (and it has its flaws, for sure) but to use it as a basis to argue against a Bronco truck but it helps to start from a place of facts and not hastily made assumptions.

Again, the people who don’t own/drive/fly/operate the thing always have the biggest opinions of the thing. ?‍

Jk

 

[xXChartmanXx]

I understand the hate when I see stock Gladiators that look like this:

They are horrible looking. But very few people will find these same vehicle hideous:

The problem with the Gladiators is you have to spend 20-30k to beat the ugly out. After that they are amazing.

 

[Rick Astley]

I’ve owned seven trucks in my life and the Gladiator is easily the best (and my favorite) one.

Furthermore, a Ridgeline is literally just a reconfigured MINIVAN, it’s based off the Odyssey platform. The Gladiator is not even in the same league.

I understand your point is not so much to sh*t on the Gladiator (and it has its flaws, for sure) but to use it as a basis to argue against a Bronco truck but it helps to start from a place of facts and not hastily made assumptions.

Again, the people who don’t own/drive/fly/operate the thing always have the biggest opinions of the thing. ?‍

Jk

The Ridgeline is just as much of a truck as the Gladiator. They both make sacrifices to achieve their own "truck" capabilities. One could reasonably argue the Ridgeline does truck better than Gladiator as it hasn't bothered with the off road kit.

Gladiator has willingly made sacrifices to it's off-road capabilities to achieve it's limited "truck" capabilities. You have given the Gladiator your title of "best truck" that you have owned. Yet not shared any experience as to what the other trucks are or what Gladiator does as a truck which has made it superior.

As, apparently, i'm misinformed due to not having a loan on a Gladiator, please let me know if the following are true or untrue:

• Gladiator's truck capabilities surpass those of dedicated trucks such as Ranger, Colorado, F-150
  
  
• You're arguing the Gladiator is a superior off road vehicle than it's stable mates in Wrangler?

 

[rjkmoto]

Known my Gladiat

The Ridgeline is just as much of a truck as the Gladiator. They both make sacrifices to achieve their own "truck" capabilities. One could reasonably argue the Ridgeline does truck better than Gladiator as it hasn't bothered with the off road kit.

Gladiator has willingly made sacrifices to it's off-road capabilities to achieve it's limited "truck" capabilities. You have given the Gladiator your title of "best truck" that you have owned. Yet not shared any experience as to what the other trucks are or what Gladiator does as a truck which has made it superior.

As, apparently, i'm misinformed due to not having a loan on a Gladiator, please let me know if the following are true or untrue:

• Gladiator's truck capabilities surpass those of dedicated trucks such as Ranger, Colorado, F-150
  
  
• You're arguing the Gladiator is a superior off road vehicle than it's stable mates in Wrangler?

I have had an ‘89 Ford Ranger Longbed MT, a 1994 Chevy 1500 extend cab, a 2005 GMC Sierra Extend Cab, a 2004 Ram quad (extend) cab, a 2014 Ram 1500 Crew Cab and now the Gladiator. As well as access to various trucks my father and brother have owned driven over the years.

I’m not going to get entangled in a bullsh*t argument when you are quoting me as saying things I haven’t said (off-road capabilities) and you are trying to goad me into comparing the Gladiator to vehicles outside it’s class (F150).
At the end of they day I own one, you don’t, and have very limited experience with one so ........ ?‍

JK

 

[Rick Astley]

Known my Gladiat



I have had an ‘89 Ford Ranger Longbed MT, a 1994 Chevy 1500 extend cab, a 2005 GMC Sierra Extend Cab, a 2004 Ram quad (extend) cab, a 2014 Ram 1500 Crew Cab and now the Gladiator. As well as access to various trucks my father and brother have owned driven over the years.

I’m not going to get entangled in a bullsh*t argument when you are quoting me as saying things I haven’t said (off-road capabilities) and you are trying to goad me into comparing the Gladiator to vehicles outside it’s class (F150).
At the end of they day I own one, you don’t, and have very limited experience with one so ........ ?‍

JK

You can't opine on why it's the best truck you've owned?


Not exactly the strongest basis, but you do you. I don't own a prius either, if that helps you sleep better tonight.

 

[vintage]

The Jeep Gladiator is one of the ugliest vehicles, if not the ugliest, on the road today. I already find Wranglers to be ugly, and the Gladiator cranks it to the extreme. the only time I find the Gladiator to okay is when the bed is covered with racks and you can’t tell it’s a bed and even then it’s still hideous. If the Bronco gets the same truck treatment (make the 4 door longer and slap a bed on back) it will likely be the second ugliest vehicle on the road. It’s a jack of all trades, master of none. I would rather get a Ranger or F150 or Bronco with a trailer than a Gladiator or Bronco truck.

I assume we will never see you at a Jeep dealership. LOL

 

[jaspercasidino]

I assume we will never see you at a Jeep dealership. LOL

I’ve gone with a few friends that feel like throwing some money on an ugly vehicle. Not for me. First 2 vehicles I ever owned though were a 1994 Jeep Cherokee Country and a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. I enjoyed them both until they broke down and weren’t worth the cost to repair. The ‘98 was an automatic and wouldn’t seem to go into first gear so it was super sluggish. Oh and it would just randomly shutoff when I was driving down the street. Put into multiple shops and couldn’t get it fixed. Got my first Ford after that.

 

[vintage]

Known my Gladiat



I have had an ‘89 Ford Ranger Longbed MT, a 1994 Chevy 1500 extend cab, a 2005 GMC Sierra Extend Cab, a 2004 Ram quad (extend) cab, a 2014 Ram 1500 Crew Cab and now the Gladiator. As well as access to various trucks my father and brother have owned driven over the years.

I’m not going to get entangled in a bullsh*t argument when you are quoting me as saying things I haven’t said (off-road capabilities) and you are trying to goad me into comparing the Gladiator to vehicles outside it’s class (F150).
At the end of they day I own one, you don’t, and have very limited experience with one so ........ ?‍

JK

I'm with you, one can't give a solid review on a vehicle unless they own it or at the very least test drove one. I don't own one, but have test driven one. I was very impressed with performance, handling, power and comfort. If I was buying a mid size pickup today, hands down it would be a Gladiator. Just my humble opinion.

 

[vintage]

I understand the hate when I see stock Gladiators that look like this:

They are horrible looking. But very few people will find these same vehicle hideous:

The problem with the Gladiators is you have to spend 20-30k to beat the ugly out. After that they are amazing.

In my humble opinion Rims and tires always make the difference.

 

[vintage]

Nothing against the Ranger, but it would be hard to beat the cool factor of a Bronco pickup. Count me in for a First Edition, but please No Navy Pier interior ?

 

[mrcx]

To me that is just an argument on 2 door vs 4 door...
This is basically the same concept The gladiator already is, you just basically removed the 4 door option...
If this is whatcha dig - cool..

It's more than just that. With the 2 door the proportions are now correct. I've owned many Jeeps and was really looking forward to the Gladiator. Then I saw it... Body too long, bed too short, I wanted to like it, and I just can't. It's hideous
If they said that 2 door was going to be made, I'd have been all over it.

 

[Garemlin]

I would be all for a Bronco base pick-up. Ford sees the Gladiator and knows what mistakes not to make. They make this I'm all in.

 

[vintage]

I would be all for a Bronco base pick-up. Ford sees the Gladiator and knows what mistakes not to make. They make this I'm all in.

With the huge success of the New Bronco, I would think it's a no Brainerd for Ford to do a Bronco pickup. Maybe even a Warthog Pickup. ?

 

[Incognito]

Jeep messed up when they abandoned the Forward Control FC concept.

This on 35"s, should have been awesome, capable and practical.

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