Watch Before You Buy! Jeep Gladiator Review! 2 Years 60,000 Hard Miles! It's a Manual Rubicon!

#jeepgladiator #overlanding #offroad
For more about the gladiator check out our Install and adventure videos. We love the outdoors as well as Tractors, tools, and trucks.
The "Experts" will tell you to steer clear of the Manual Gladiator and that you need parts and upgrades you probably don't really need. Steering dampeners etc. The 2020 had some issues with the launch edition, but most of those issues were worked out for the 2021, 2022, 2023 and now 2024 Jeep Gladiator. Mine's never been back to a dealership, that's how good they really are!
We headed up to Carolina Beach in North Carolina to celebrate Rubi's 2nd Birthday. We 're nearing 60,000 Miles and she's never been back to the dealership or ANY Repair shop. We do the work ourselves, which really has just been oil changes. We've done lots of miles over the last month and have probably close to 20,000 since we installed the Liftkit and Shocks back in December. This is a walk around of my build after 60K Miles and my thoughts on the Jeep Gladiator on an off-road, purpose built, daily driven Jeep. We're part of that 10% that actually drive off road, and we drive it hard. Not to a point of purposefully breaking things, but we do push the limits on occasion.
The Build:
For my personal setup, I chose to go with the ‪@ClaytonOffRoad‬ 3.5" Overland Plus Kit. They have a great reputation. James was super helpful when deciding between the HD Springs or the Normal Springs. I'm extremely happy going with the HD springs and know that I'll be able to fully load the Gladiator out in the future with the load carrying capacity to grow! I also went with the ‪@GoRanchoSuspension‬ RS9000XL Shocks.
I've driven the Jeep now for about 5,000 miles, and the Rancho Clayton Combo is really spot on. I'm cruising around city and gravel roads on as little as setting 3 front and rear currently, although you can jump back up to level 4 or 5. The Great thing about the Rancho Shocks is you have 9 different levels to play around with to find the best ride for you at a budget price! I'd love to install a full set of the Rancho RockGear in the future.
*** As of production of this video, I'm not partnered, affiliated, or sponsored by any of these companies or brands mentioned. These are all items bought and paid for by me. I'm also a card carrying Part 107 Certified Drone Pilot.
Like most of you, I don't have a lift, and did this in my driveway with the help of my ‪@harborfreight‬ Badland Offroad Jack, and the full line of ‪@MilwaukeeTool‬ M12 Fuel Tools including the M12 Ratchet, M12 Fuel Ratchet, M12 Fuel Stubby Impact, M12 Fuel Hackzall (sawzall), M12 Fuel right angle impact, some Craftsman wrenches, ‪@GEARWRENCHTools‬ Flexible gear wrenches, dead blow hammer, and several other Metric and SAE tools from Husky, Dewalt, Icon, and others.
My tools and off road jack travel with me on my trips as added insurance.
My 2021 Jeep Gladiator is outfitted with the following so check out my other installation and modification videos.
ARB Stubby Bumper • Jeep Gladiator Rubicon...
Badland 12,000lb APEX Winch
CVT Mt. Washington Tent • Best Hardshell Roof To...
Auxbeam switch controller • Jeep Gladiator 8 Gang ...
67 Designs Rail • 67 Designs Jeep Gladia...
Rancho RS9000XL Shocks
Clayton Offroad Overland Plus lift kit w/HD rear springs
Tactik Wheels from Quadratec
37" Toyo Open Country MTs • Jeep Gladiator 37 inch...
AEV Snorkel
9" LED Offroad Lights
Nilight LEDs
Limbrisers • Limb Riser Install on ...
Thule Rack
Yakima Rack
Surco Safari • Tennessee Adventure: ...
Tools Reviews: (I have done a lot of Tool Reviews for all your DIY projects!)
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Combo Kit • Milwaukee M12 FUEL Com...
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Right Angle Impact • Milwaukee M12 Fuel 256...
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Ratchet and Husky Impact Sockets • Milwaukee M12 Fuel 255...
Dewalt 226 Piece Tough System Tool Set • Home Depot Dewalt Tool...

[@HemiBurns]

I love my 2020 6 speed manual JTR. 37's...no lift. Light off roading. 50,000 miles and still going strong!!

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Good stuff thanks for watching and thanks for the comment! I feel lots of folks gave the manual a bad reputation early on. I mean if the clutch explodes, that’s kind of bad…but I haven’t had any issues…

[@barrywinslow9798]

Thanks for a great review. Glad you got the manual too. Real Jeep equipment . Hope to have my retirement Gladiator this fall. Apricate the video. Blessings

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Congratulations on Retirement! The Manual was great and I do miss it! I traded it in on an Eco Diesel and I have had some issues. I think the Gas in Manual or Auto is a more reliable platform due to all the emissions equipment. However some diesel owners have had zero issues. Only time will tell, but the torque on the diesel is really nice.

[@barrywinslow9798]

@@StartBuildingYourDreams Thank you Sir...yeah, we'll see how this retirement stuff goes...LOL. Really appreciate the honest review. Love the 6spd....and what little I'll be towing won't pull her down too bad so gas will work. Keep enjoying the Gladiator. Be safe, be well, and God bless.

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

@@barrywinslow9798 I will say the Rubicon is my favorite (Highly recommend the Base with larger touch screen) . If you plan to lift it the extra price of the Mojave probably isn’t worth it unless you really need the added frame structure. The 2024 Willy’s is a “Rubicon Light”. Same axles as the rubicon minus the front locker and the 4:1 Transfer case. The 2025 may offer the Hurricane (TBD) (The Gladiator really could use more power/torque) that and maybe a Full-Float rear Dana 44 like the 392 (TBD) You’ll likely only get the 3.6l with the manual if it’s still offered. Just some extra things to consider when shopping for your Gladiator. Hope this helps and thanks for the Comments!

[@barrywinslow9798]

@@StartBuildingYourDreams Yes it does help. I think the Willys with that new 6 outta do all I need. Again, thanks and God bless.

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

@@barrywinslow9798 You’re very welcome!

[@gregmoessner3104]

Just put my money down on one of the last remaining eco-diesel, gladiators Rubicon model! Looking forward to it

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Congratulations! Welcome to the Diesel Cub!

[@jeremywillson3497]

Congrats! I have the wrangler farout edition and I absolutely love it!

[@grubandgravel]

Great looking setup. Its a good balance of what you need to spend money on for quality, and what is good enough to get on the cheap.

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Thanks for watching, very true statement!

[@UnkyJofus]

Nice build! I just picked up a new JTM for a steal. Coming from a Ram, it's an adjustment. I've had Jeeps before but never Wrangler based. Xjs, Zj, and J10s.

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Awesome! The clutch takes a little getting used to, but it likes the full range of RPMs. I was planning on going to a centerforce clutch, but ended up trading for a diesel…I had Zero Issues so ignore the haters!!!

[@starman10548]

LOVE MY ICECO

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Loving mine too! Thanks for watching and the comment!

[@lucianoliboni503]

Did you re-gear after putting 37 or do you feel the need? How about the power delivery and the manual, is it true that the 3.6 manual is frquently stalling? Thanks

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Thanks for the question. I felt fine running 4:10s the clutch is different like any manual you can stall it and low range. You can just put it in first gear or second and crawl. Let the Jeep do the work. 6th gear was hardly used even on stock tires. I love my manual I did trade it in on a diesel with the 8 speed automatic, but I never had any problems and loved the Jeep!

[@lucianoliboni503]

@@StartBuildingYourDreams thanks a lot! Do you think that the power/torque gap between new diesel and the old 3.6 V6 is considerable? I'd love the manual version but honestly a bit worried by the lack of torque of the 3.6 V6 compared to the diesel, on a truck of this size

[@fredbanuel4001]

About how much that bumper weight ?

[@StartBuildingYourDreams]

Thanks for watching. It’s about 95lbs without the winch.