"BrokenMostWeeks" (brokenmostweeks)
10/01/2020 at 10:24 • Filed to: None
1
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"BrokenMostWeeks" (brokenmostweeks)
10/01/2020 at 10:24 • Filed to: None | 1
| 27 |
Channeling my inner bro.
Asking for a fr... nope, myself. I’m asking for myself.
I know a base Ranger is cheaper. I know Gladiators are overpriced and, in manual form, don’t tow much. I know Jeeps aren’t reliable like a Land Cruiser with 426k on the clock (trust me- I own three jeeps. I’m well aware of their reliability, or lack thereof).
But dangit, I’ve wanted a pickup truck that’s a Jeep since I was a little kid, and now they’re here, and with current incentives, are actually an option on my radar. There are certainly sacrifices with getting the manual, namely that it kills the tow rating and some people say it just stinks. But my dad has my old diesel Ram I can use for towing my fleet of brokenness, and I can’t think of anything more fun or ‘me’ than throwing my mountain bike, dual sport, or kayaks in the back of a manual Jeep pickup that’s actually nice to drive.
I drove a JT in the exact spec I wanted (Sport S but automatic- manuals are, according to my contact, special order only anymore) and was pleasantly surprised. I was worried that since I’ve wanted one for the last 25yr it wouldn’t live up to the hype. But after driving the alphabet soup of nearly every Jeep chassis code this side of the CJ, the JT had what I considered to be the best road manners and comfort, while still feeling like the personality of a Wrangler. But it has space to put large, muddy things in the back! For my daily needs, it’s a pretty great mix of all the things.
It would also mean thinning the fleet of my WJ (writeup coming, as some have requested) and Miata RF, both of which I’d be sad to see go, so still not completely sold on the whole switcharoo. But also, Jeep truck that I’ve dreamt of for a quarter century...
All this rambling to say... anyone actually own and live with one of these things? Driven a manual version of them?
Just Jeepin'
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 10:32 |
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Doesn’t it use the same manual as the JL? You should be able to find one of those to test drive, maybe even just look on a Jeep forum for someone local who owns one.
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BrokenMostWeeks
> Just Jeepin'
10/01/2020 at 10:37 |
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I believe you’re correct- it does use the JL transmission from what I can tell, which, because it wasn’t modified in the least for ‘truck stuff’ is why the tow rating gets crushed
Driven the JK manual and loved it, and coming from a lot of AX-15 experience, I’m pretty sure even the worst manual is still a must-have for me just for the experience haha
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Just Jeepin'
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 10:43 |
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https://oppositelock.kinja.com/well-i-got-a-gladiator-1844041016
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/gladiator-has-been-delivered-1838267171
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/its-a-jeep-thing-1844230974
mjswee
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 10:52 |
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I bought one a month and a half ago as my daily . Mine is a Sport S automatic with the regular tow package, not the max tow. I find it drives a lot better than the Tacoma I test drove and I was drawn to the ability to remove the top and doors and have a pickup. When I was searching, I did see some manuals in stock at dealers, but usually on very base trims.
I’ve only driven 1500 miles or so and haven’t had any issues. I don’t like the start/stop system and turn it off every time I get in, though you can code it out with the right equipment.
412GTI
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 10:54 |
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Hola! I don’t own a Gladiator but do Marketing for a CDJR Dealer Group and have spent loads of time in them. Auto, Manuals, Sport, Rubicon ..you name it. Just like the sister JL, the clutch is VERY light. Just know that going into it. Not a whole lot of feel but very easy to drive. ]
They are also geared long. The JL/JT is more of a 4 speed manual with 5 & 6 only being necessary over 55-60. That being said, it’s still a manual and fun to tool around it. Personally, I would probably get an auto but totally get the manual appeal. I love the JT besides that. More comfortable than the JL and the ability to lose the top is so fun!
Let me know if I can help answer any questions!
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BrokenMostWeeks
> Just Jeepin'
10/01/2020 at 11:00 |
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Perfect, thanks!
Guess I should use search better... ¯\_()_/¯
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BrokenMostWeeks
> mjswee
10/01/2020 at 11:12 |
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Perfect!
I’d order a Sport S with the tow pack as well, just speccing a manual instead.
Like you, I thought this was way better than the Tacoma- my work trucks are Tacomas and 2020 F-150s (don’t get me started on that 5.0/10spd), and the JT seems to have more character and comfort than than the Taco for sure.
What kind of MPG have you been averaging? I’m used to bad mpg, but still curious
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mjswee
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 11:25 |
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I’m getting around 18-20mpg . Its actually not bad on the highway, getting into the 20s. But I’m coming from a Lexus GX460 which was 18mpg but premium gas and then a couple of FZJ80 Land Cruisers before that, where I was lucky if I saw double digit MPGs.
I was torn on what trim to get. I didn’t want to spend the money on a Mojave or Rubicon for capabilities I didn’t need. And I liked the color matched top, leather, and bigger nav you find on most Overland specs, but still getting pricey. So I ended up with a Sport S with the Altitude package which included the bigger nav, upgraded wheels with AT tires and then added aftermarket leather through the dealer. And since I got black, the top color was the same and I came out cheaper than an Overland.
Spanfeller is a twat
> Just Jeepin'
10/01/2020 at 11:49 |
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Huh, oppo got filled with new faces and I didn't even notice 0.o
Forrest
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 12:04 |
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It seems like the possibilities for what the Gladiator manual could be like are...
- wow, what a smooth and well-engineered manual
... Or ...
- this quaint truck-like manual is like a time capsule.
Personally, I would be happy with either.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Spanfeller is a twat
10/01/2020 at 12:28 |
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I missed all of those too
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 12:32 |
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Please dont. We dont need more eyesores on the road...
Ranger will be better in every way.
My real opinion is find a manual Powerstroke instead
MM54
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 13:01 |
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A coworker of mine has a manual one, if you have any specific questions I can forward it through to him. He seems to like it.
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Spanfeller is a twat
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/01/2020 at 13:56 |
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It’s been 3 years since I joined. am I an Olde now?
nermal
> BrokenMostWeeks
10/01/2020 at 16:26 |
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I have a 2 door JL, can speak to everything from the doors forward since it’s the same .
The engine is fine, but a bit high strung. Gotta rev it to get powahhh.
The gearing is... weird, and too tall . Don’t think of it as a 6 speed, think of it as a 4 speed with two extra highway gears. Use 4th for 55, 5th for 65 and 6th for 75+. It’s not unusual to downshift to 4th to pull a hill on a highway, empty. 3rd if you need to actually accelerate. That’s with a 2 door, which weights 700lbs less than the JT. There is a slight gearing difference, with the JT getting 3.73 gears instead of 3.45 in the JL. Consider spending the ~$2k to get that bumped to 4.56 , or even higher if you plan on bigger tires.
Shifting is fine once you get used to it. Clutch and shifter are very light with no feedback, but after a bit of driving it’s easy to be smooth.
Steering is crappy, no way around that . The JT will handle better because it’s longer and has the rear suspension from the 1500 pickup. A side effect is that the turning radius is really tight, so it should be easy to park.
Interior is loud with the soft top at anything over 45.
Riding around with the roof and doors off on a nice day is awesome and totally worth all of the other crap.
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Spanfeller is a twat
10/02/2020 at 08:44 |
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Middle aged? Time for a crisis?
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Spanfeller is a twat
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/02/2020 at 09:44 |
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I don't shitpost like I used to...
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BrokenMostWeeks
> 412GTI
10/02/2020 at 10:02 |
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Excellent input. Thanks!
I’d heard the gearing was long, but didn’t realize THAT long. With an ND1 Miata and the M3 with a shorter diff, those two have you shifting constantly, so I’m not opposed to the longer gears in the daily, nor the lighter clutch haha
The automatic I drove was actually very good (for an auto) and had me second guessing for a minute, but $2000 is kind of a lot to add on, and I figured if I was going to do it, it would just have to be a manual either way.
Thanks for your input, that’s super helpful. If I think of anything else, I may reach back out to you
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Spanfeller is a twat
10/02/2020 at 10:05 |
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Pretty soon you'll start finding other shitposts tiresome...
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BrokenMostWeeks
> mjswee
10/02/2020 at 10:06 |
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Those numbers are... quite good actually. Especially when you consider the horrific aero on the JT
Sounds like you optioned yours very smartly. I dig your spec!
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BrokenMostWeeks
> Forrest
10/02/2020 at 10:10 |
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Same.
With the only manual options being this or a Taco, the pickings are slim. I doubt its a super smooth trans, but its got to be slightly less trucky than the manual V10 Ram 2500 I learned to tow trailers with, even though that truck is still a blast because of the transmission.
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Spanfeller is a twat
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/02/2020 at 10:10 |
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Where did my youth go
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BrokenMostWeeks
> nermal
10/02/2020 at 10:16 |
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Wow... this is some fantastic info. Thank you!
Also, good for you for getting a 2dr. I love seeing someone driving around in a brand-new 2dr for the #purity
I do think the engine is a strange matchup with the chassis. The Pentastar has never been a torquey motor, but then they decide to throw it in the applications where you need all the torques... Coming from my 5spd XJ with the 3.08s (I believe?) on 31s and living in the mountains, I’m well-versed to shifting to 3rd to get up a hill haha. You’re definitely right in suggesting re-gearing the JT, something I’ll keep in mind.
The steering did have pretty much zero feel, but coming from a bunch of other Chrysler products, I’m used to that
-_-
I, like you, did find it rode surprisingly well, thanks to that Ram rear suspension and the super long wheelbase.
Something about driving a manual with the doors off and a moto or two in back just sounds the best...
Thanks for your insight! Really, really helpful
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BrokenMostWeeks
> MM54
10/02/2020 at 10:18 |
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Thanks!
I think the specifics got answered here, but I appreciate the offer. Glad he’s digging it though
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Spanfeller is a twat
10/02/2020 at 12:08 |
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Spanfeller is a twat
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/02/2020 at 12:09 |
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I was kidding. But thanks!
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Spanfeller is a twat
10/02/2020 at 13:00 |
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Me too lol