Yes, it’s here. And yes, it’s all Jeep. Make no mistake—this is truly the most capable midsize truck produced in America. Those may be bold words, but as far as 4x4s go, only the Gladiator offers front and rear locking diffs and 4:1 transfer case gearing options, as well as the option to become a full convertible by removing the doors and windshield. With a top tow rating of 7,650 pounds for non-Rubicon models (and 7,000 pounds for a Rubi), the corresponding 1,600-pound payload is the sweet spot of the market. Naysayers may chant nasty epithets about who needs such a truck, considering that the Tacoma, Ranger, and Colorado dominate the segment. There is nothing smaller than a Ram 1500 in the FCA stable, until now. And it’s true: If you need to tow more than 7,650 pounds on a daily basis, you should be getting into a Ram and towing to your heart’s delight. However, you won’t be wheeling as well as the Gladiator or be on the same trails with your full-size behemoth, ripping off front valances and dragging rockers and bumpers through the rocks and slop.
This story is from the January 2020 edition of JP Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2020 edition of JP Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ocean City Jeep Week
Good vibes, high tides, and Jeep rides on the beach
M.O.R.E. Jeep Dead Pedal
A dead pedal doesn’t move, but it does function, and it can help your off-road driving
Soft Top Step-Up
An upgraded soft top brought this Jeep Wrangler back to life
Limitless Four Door Wrangler
This LS-powered, rockcrawling JK started its second life as a salvage
Rock-N-Wrangler
Sergio Martinez' Jeep YJ is not a show ’n’ shine winner, but it takes the trophy every time it hits the trail.
Trail Tour 2016
A week-long, low-buck trail challenge
DIY Sidewalk Jeep
During a recent visit to the world’s largest collection of Jeep vehicles, which is housed at the Omix-ADA corporate headquarters, we shot a photo of something we found tucked away in a corner.
Trail Grand
This 1993 Jeep ZJ Grand Cherokee is an excellent example of a well-built homegrown off-road rig
Farmer’s Jeep
It’s not a tractor, but Vince Orgon does love his 1975 CJ-5
Tangerine Dream
When Josh Randell was young, he and a friend spent countless hours playing with a Tamiya “Wild Willys” RC car. Josh had great fun with this toy Willys but was left with a deep desire to own a life-size flatfender.