Why I Bought A 2023 Gladiator Rubicon

Why I Bought A 2023 Gladiator Rubicon
Great off road accessories:
Traction boards: amzn.to/3ObpBnY
Snatch strap: amzn.to/3rHQ0C7
Recovery Strap: amzn.to/43BlzuC
Saw: amzn.to/3Q4riWN
Soft shackles: amzn.to/3XZL5bT
Viaair compressor: amzn.to/3uS2Mgc
Tacoma Bed Panels: amzn.to/3rCFWKK
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Patreon Member Bonuses: www.patreon.com/tradbowpodcas...
Patreon page is our space to provide exclusive member benefits.
Those benefits include the following and more!
Map My Hunt Videos that detail full break downs of my set ups and what animals do and did in that location.
Game processing, butchering, boning, packing meat videos.
Arrow lethality detailed videos.
Blood trailing videos, tips and tricks.
Harvest videos caught on camera showing the whole hunt from shot to recovery to packing out.
Members exclusive podcasts.
Member exclusive videos.
BOWHUNTING WHITETAILS ONLINE VIDEO COURSE:
Want the most comprehensive bowhunting Whitetails info ever created?
Check out the Bowhunting Whitetails Online Course: tbwpodcast.com/hunting-courses/
SAVE THOUSANDS COURSE:
Getting ready to buy a new truck, car, boat, rv, atv, tractor, trailer or other toy?
Let me show you how to save thousands of dollars if not 10 thousand dollars on that purchase! Check out my Save thousands Course! I promise it will be the smartest purchase you ever make!
tbwpodcast.com/save-thousands-...
MONETIZE YOUR PASSIONS AND HOBBIES COURSE:
This course was created to teach you how to turn your hobbies into a successful business or help you start a new business.
This course will hold your hand thru the entire process of building your business including, naming, llc, insurance, website design, marketing, social media marketing, networking, taxes, accounting, management, etc.
tbwpodcast.com/monetize-your-p...
TRADITIONAL BOWHUNTING AND WILDERNESS PODCAST EPISODES:
tbwpodcast.com

[@phillipjohnson5053]

Still the best all around hunting vehicle you can buy! Capable, fun, my favorite vehicle I’ve ever owned (almost 30 now).

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Agree 100%

[@dantimber]

As a fellow hunter I agree. My 2023 Mojave is amazing. I considered the Rubicon (for the front locker) but the Mojave is so smooth. I see no reason to modify anything and taking a chance screwing up the ride and suspension. Great video.

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@dantimber agree. I love the hood on the Mojave too. I needed the rubi for the swamps here and all the mud. But I love the looks and suspension on the Mojave

[@DUNEATV]

I agree with everything you said…one thing to harp on even more is the engine/transmission combo combined with the Rubicon gearing. It’s simply fantastic!

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Agree 100%. 4 high, 4 high with off road plus engaged is like a 4 medium, and then 4 low is a tractor. This thing is amazing

[@DUNEATV]

@@SamkoWorkShop yes definitely really good crawling capability, but I was more referring to just every day driving on the roads. The engine and transmission combined with the 410 gearing in my opinion performs very well for City driving and even high-speed mountainous terrain. It’s a much better vehicle than people give it credit for…

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@@DUNEATV spot on. Agree 100%. Love the way it is on the road and the engine Trans combo is much smoother and nicer than my taco was

[@PunkN_JTM]

​@@DUNEATV On Highway 421 the black snake, I walked down a wrx in my JT Rubicon in the curves. Of course it can take off and leave a jt in the straights.. They are bad news in curves.. 🤘😎

[@gmenelson]

I love my Gladiator. So fun to drive, and incredible capable.

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Agree 100%

[@bruceklassen8261]

I’ve also had both Tacomas and now my Gladiator, love my Jeep, and agree with what you are saying

[@SamkoWorkShop]

The tscomas are fantastic. Always loved them and always will. But the gladiator tops it for me

[@kylemcpherson7183]

Bought mine a little under a month. Amazing. You showed me the storage space😂😂

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Such a great truck and the storage is insane!! Congratulations on yours.

[@Dicki793]

It’s got the best gas mileage out of all the midsize trucks it’s definitely a beast off road jeeps handle very well .im sold

[@SamkoWorkShop]

You are gonna love it. I sure do

[@WreckedBrewery]

I love my '24 wrangler rubicon. It's so capable and fun to drive. Great video!

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Love the 24 wrangler. So jealous of that updated screen and interior

[@user-rl6nb6yg3d]

Great video!

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Coyote5555]

I love me some gladiator videos! Thanks Jason

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Got a bunch line up. Glad you ate enjoying them

[@Coyote5555]

@@SamkoWorkShopfor sure Jason, you'r gladiator content really is perhaps my favorite on YT. You really dooo have very informative content. Keep up the good work

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@@Coyote5555 thank you. Greatly appreciated

[@dmwil1]

You are so right about the Pentastar and the tick. I hear so many internet experts bashing it about this, but funny, in all the Jeep clubs in which I'm a member, I have not run into one person who actually experienced a failure or repair of that. Even in the older JK's. There have been somewhere between 12 million and 13 million Pentastars made. If even a tiny percentage have a problem, every mechanic in the country will see it and start badmouthing this engine. I have two of them, one with 90k and one with 38k. They have been perfect and have performed identically well. The one with 90k feels/sounds/performs no differently than the one with 38k. I'm looking forward to seeing both reach 300,000 miles.

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Agree 100%. I looked it up when I was doing research on the gladiators. I think it was .09% of the pentastars that had a problem. And your right that motor is one the highest number of produced motors ever made and in like 8 vehicles. In one of my videos I showed the number but it's something like 1000 pentistar motors made for every tacoma 3.5. I was proving a point to the nay saying toyota fan boys. Of every truck engine combo available brand new right now I trust the pentistar the most. Nit because I own one. But because of the facts. Pair that with the robustness and build quality of the jeep and you have a very durable long lasting vehicle. In my opinion no other truck made new today can compare to it quality and reliability wise. People will argue with me on that to protect and step up what they like. But the fact don't lie and the facts don't have emotional attachments. And the facts show that statistically the wrangler and gladiator is one of the best built and best motor and Trans combos made.

[@chadcoats5282]

Bought mine 3 days ago. Great truck!

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Congrats! You are gonna love it.

[@richardlinn5512]

The Bronco has seemed to miss the mark, interested in what improvements they make !

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Have a full video coming out on the bronco real soon. its scheduled somewhere in the lineup already to publish soon.

[@armychap048]

Trying to decide between one of these and a 4runner TRD ORP. Currently have a 97 wrangler TJ which we love but we would have to sell it to purchase either the gladiator or 4runner...We love the TJ...but there is just something about that 4runner that keeps calling my name!

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Tough choice. Gladiator is amazing. The 4 runner is also amazing and the last ever built 500k vehicle that will ever be made. I own both 23 glad and 22 4 runner. Plan to keep that 4 runner for 10 or 15 years.

[@Sasquatchflow]

4Runner still made in Japan! Very good quality!

[@PAC_84]

had a question for you Samko, what tires are you running? i have a tacoma trd off road just like the one you had and still have the stock wranglers a/t tires. looking for an upgrade soon. since you do alot of driving , which a/t tires do you prefer? thanks

[@SamkoWorkShop]

These are toyo open country at3. 14k miles on them and they are good but wearing faster than I like. In my opinion falken wildpeak at3 is the best all terrain tire ever made. I've had them on 8 trucks and on my wife's 4runner right now. Then now have the at4 out witch I'm interested in too. But I will not buy the toyos again and I do not like nitto tires or bfgoodrich. Had both and both wore down fast. Falkens are my favorite.

[@PunkN_JTM]

Front and rear lockers usually gets people in deeper trouble, break out the winch!! I agree with you, I'm similar in how I like to do my jeeping and I try to avoid all the crazy stuff, I'm not trying to get out and use a shovel and tie a winch off.. I traded my 2020 Rubicon for a 2023 Mojave Edition and I am not disappointed at all it suits me better than crawler.. Have faith in your select speed 4lo it can go.. I went up to the top of Whitetop Mountain in a blizzard 5k elev, using select speed, and it owned it! so I took it off and then I got stuck about 5 ft later 🤣🤣🤣 and then let the Jeep do it and it went on LOL so the Jeep can actually drive better than you LOL if you give it a chance, it's ridiculously cool..

[@SamkoWorkShop]

I agree with you these are super capable machines. I know will never get rid of my front lockers I use those front lockers all the time in the mud it's not so much about crawling for me it's dealing with the mud and having that capability with that front Locker vitally important to me used it twice today actually on a hunting trip but these Jeeps are such amazing vehicles I don't think there's anything out there that could ever compare to what these are capable of off-road it leaves me smiling all the time I love this.

[@barrywinslow9798]

Good vid Sir. I'm with you....I don't treat my Jeep like a bulldozer or submarine either....she'll pull anything I want to, and mine is manual. Just my 2 cents. Enjoy it

[@SamkoWorkShop]

So jealous of the manual.

[@barrywinslow9798]

That's ok....the auto is fine. I have always enjoyed shifting gears in my past vehicles. Enjoy that bad boy. @@SamkoWorkShop

[@KevinEdge81]

You do a fantastic job representing your Gladiator and selling people like me, on how good it is! Like you, I recently had a Tacoma (2023 TRD OR) and even though it was a great truck, It wasn’t a comfortable seating position! I’ve yet to drive a gladiator, but I assume it’s the same as a wrangler & the seating position in the front is amazing! My girlfriend has two door Wrangler and it’s absolutely comfortable for long trips! Also, you definitely show how much the rear seat space the gladiator has!…. Compared to all over midsize trucks! Question. How does the space compare to a Ram Quad Cab (leg room)? Thanks so much

[@DUNEATV]

I had a 2022 TRD OR and it was a “good” truck but the transmission shifting, seating position and mediocre off road capability lead me back to a Jeep!

[@brsnow225]

I've had 4 adults between 5'5 and 5'11, me being the tallest as driver and there's plenty of room, didn't have to pull seats forward to make room. And I think I've got the driver's seat back close to as far as it'll go and there's still let room being. '22 gladiator

[@SamkoWorkShop]

It's not as much rear seat room as a quad cab. Had a 2019 ram 2500 quad and it was like an apartment back there. But the gladiator rear seat space beats everything in the mid size world. It's amazing. And don't even get me started on the storage....unbelievable storage under the seat and behind it. Even has a light for behind the seat storage!

[@dantimber]

The Gladiator rides smother and less choppy because of the longer wheelbase. I really like the off-rode turning ability of a Wrangler but I need a truck bed. The Gladiator is a great compromise between off-road capability and truck bed practicality. This is my 5th 4wd and the best! Passengers are shocked with how quiet and smooth it is on asphalt. I have a 2023 Mojave. I'm a hunter and although it gives up some capability to the Rubicon not having a front locker it makes for a great daily driver.

[@KevinEdge81]

@@dantimber I bet that I’d be pleasantly surprised with how great the gladiator rides/drives! I had been in older Wranglers years ago and they seemed more like a go-cart than an actual vehicle! But the new ones are impressive. My GF’s 2021 Willys two door, with the Mopar 2” lift, rides super nice! It has “all day riding comfort” with the upright seating position. Yes, it has road noice from 35” MT tires, but not nearly what I imagined. The gladiator Mojave’s are an impressive looking rig! The height, the wider stance and just about everything else! What is the payload and towing capacity of yours?

[@ericjames7680]

I had an idea for a video that no one here seems to have. This would be an explanation of your JEEP as it pertains to ''HOW EVERYTHING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN WORKS''. For us new comers when we watch all these reviews everyone points out the seats stitching, the fancy steering wheel and orange highlights but how do you use this truck off road? Such as, when do you lock the rear, is it a 3X4 and not a 4X4 unless you have a front locker, what is the transfer case and what does it do, what does locking the rear do and the other button that puts it in a special OFF ROAD MODE do?

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Great topics! Check out my jeep Playlist. I have all of those covered in great detail

[@ericjames7680]

@@SamkoWorkShop Thank You! Will do. I am on your Jeep page and going through the topics now.

[@Sasquatchflow]

Is there still an issue with the door hinges being steel and the contact with the aluminum door panels and the reaction between the two??

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Supposedly it's been addressed. And if it doesn't happen jeep will fix it.

[@acecalzadilla6878]

i paid 51k for a new 21 Rubicon JT basic with cloth seats and 7 inch screen and hardtop lane change warning thats it. but back then paid sticker price the good thing was I traded a 2016 wrangler jku that I paid new 35k traded it in for almost 30k. walked out after taxes and fees 24k new Gladiator. It was sticker price but they were paying alot for used cars so I think I did good. But yea 11k off sticker is crazy

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Sounds like you made out really good between the 2. And you have an amazing truck!

[@acecalzadilla6878]

@SamkoWorkShop yea I think so interest rate was 1.9% now it's crazy unless you have cash. I have rockslide engineering power steps on it now, rims and 35s. Just did a simple 1.5 teraflex lift on the front. Last thing I did was a nice LOD front bumper and warn winch. Haven't done much else have 5 more payments then I'm done. This is my 7th jeep. Love my Gladiator you got a great deal.

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@@acecalzadilla6878 outstanding. Great simple and functional mods and almost paid off. Life is good.

[@jaymoar3561]

What tires are you running on the Jeep?

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Toyo open country at3. They are wearing faster than I like. 14k miles on them and down 3/32s. Of the 16.5/32s I had and most of those miles are in the sand and mud. I've owned falken wildpeaks on 9 vehicles and still have them in my 4 runner. 4 runner is my wife's pavement queen and the falkens on it have only seen pavement for 30k miles and she has more tread on those than I have on my 14k mile toyos that spend most time in soft stuff. So for me these toyos will be replaced with falkens as soon as they wear to half way.

[@jaymoar3561]

@@SamkoWorkShop Yeah I heard you can’t beat the Falken Wildpeaks, heard they came out with the new AT4W, should try those out.

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@@jaymoar3561 the at4 will be what I replace these with

[@appleztooranges]

You miss the Toyota Tacoma?

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Honestly no. Not even a little. It was a great truck and I loved it while I had it. But the gladiator wins for me personally.

[@joewolfe642]

I had a '21 Willys - was phenomenonal - i had a 2" Lift rubicon fenders etc. Only reason i traded it in is because I needed to tow heavy and bought a ram 2500, after i was done with that ram i ended up with a f150 (new platinum and junk) and then a 4runner trd pro but always seem'd to miss having a bed and noticed that Jeep was doing 15% off on Gladiators - i didn't even have hte 4runner for a day after that - I traded my 1 month old 4runner for a '23 Rubicon Gladiator and have 5k miles on it now and its been phenomenal - the Tacoma i test drove didn't even compare imo - the paint on Tacoma's isn't as nice ... the frames are this riveted back half mess... the 2GR-FKS has had its share of issues as well the 6 speed auto didn't know when to shift or hold a gear it seemed ... I hated the interior and seating position in the Tacoma... the Gladiator has WAY better visibility .... i can go on and on and on.

[@Holden-McGroin]

How badly are you getting hosed trading in that many vehicles in such a short amount of time?!

[@SamkoWorkShop]

You sound just like me. I go thru vehicles like crazy. The gladiator might very well be the first vehicle in a long time that I keep more than a year and a half. I even put a 5yr 100k Mopar warranty on it in case I keep it for 100k miles. Love it!

[@joewolfe642]

@@SamkoWorkShop I would post pictures on here if we could - but my wife wanted a wrangler for the longest time so we had a order in for a new JLU for her - after she drove my gladiator she was convinced it drives better - and we got her a rubicon (but ofcourse hers has to be a little nicer than my rubicon lol). So we now have 2 gladiators in the driveway (she still has her prius for daily driving).

[@SamkoWorkShop]

I know this was directed at original commenter joe. And he will probably chime in. I buy, drive for 18 months and 50k miles and then get a new truck. Have done this for last 9 vehicles. To date I have not spent one penny on a vehicle. Let me explain. I buy low and negotiate and chase great deals. By buying low when I sell it 18 months later I can usually break even, sometimes make money. The only truck I lost money on in last 8 vehicles was my 22 tacoma. I also traded it in but still lost 5k on that. But still in the green as I made money on my ram 2500, my last wrangler, my little jeep renegade and my jeep cherokee trailhawk and my 2018 f150. So that counter acts the 5k loss. So in 8 vehicles I'm still right now in the green area with 1900 bucks. If I sell my gladiator and don't loos more than 1900 the gladiator will be free to own as well. Although I expect in 18 months or 2 years gladiator value will be very strong again like it was. The sales on the 23 gladiators are due to over stock and a refreshed 24 coming out.

[@joewolfe642]

@@Holden-McGroin I got almost what I paid for the 4Runner lost on the ram 2500 big time and the F150 about 5k. Could have did a buy back if I got another ford.

[@vertstang123]

Is this s a repost? I feel like I've seen this before.

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Nope. But I've been know to repeat what I say alot😂

[@brsnow225]

But you didn't get the diesel...... That's the only thing you missed on, '22 diesel Rubicon same color even over here. It's a tank, with a pop top, and gets mid-high 20s on milage and still pull a stump out of the ground. Actually rides a little better when I'm hauling water over sticker weight, but still can drive it with one toe. It'll also drive through or crawl over most things you point it at, add a winch and you can drag it over things, then drive down the other side

[@SamkoWorkShop]

😂 love the detailed examples. It surebis an amazing rig. I love it.

[@brsnow225]

Find a winch bumper and head over to harbor freight for the apex 12k winch with synthetic line, it won't disappoint

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@brsnow225 that's the winch I would get. But it would most likely then make me want new springs for the sag from the extra 150 pounds and then I'd want new shocks to help smooth out the weight, and if I'm doing that I might as well lift it 2 inches and put on 37s, witch will require different wheels, and then I will need upgraded steer8ng knuckles, and more steering upgrades.......etc. it's the start of a rabbit hole I don't want to go down knowing me.

[@poobank]

I was close to getting a gladiator but went with ranger

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Always liked the ranger. And the new one has some great updates

[@poobank]

The main reason I went with the ranger is due to the price. It was an FX4 package that was 36000 out the door taxes included. I don't think it's as capable as the Jeep, but it does get a little better gas mileage. But I hate the FX4 suspension. It's 2 bouncy. It tows great though

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@@poobank The ranger is a great truck and that price is outstanding! The fx4 suspension is great off road and little soft on road. everything is a compromise. But I have owned 7 fx4 package f150s and 2 non fx4 sports with the locker added. Id take the fx4 all day for the real skid plates, shocks, etc. love the fx4 package.

[@roylong4830]

😀 Promo SM

[@terryboswell8133]

Jeep..... need I say more?

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Love jeep. Have owned 7 of them. Always been great to me

[@17736tja]

All of the “amazing reviews” from Jeep owners are usually under 50k miles. And damn sure under 100k. Just an interesting thing I’ve noticed when I always talk with Jeep owners. Oh it’s great!!! Yeah, only an issue or to. How many miles? 35k….. -_-

[@SamkoWorkShop]

I have zero intentions of keeping a vehicle today past 100k and you can bet with 100% certainty if I owned a turbo motor I would either have a warranty the whole time i owned it or sell it at 50k miles. in 2024 and beyond there is not a mid size truck or suv other than a 4 runner I would trust past 100k personally. And of all the 2024 midsize trucks the only one 2 I would even consider trying to drive to 200k is the gladiator 3.6 and the nissan frontier. make no mistake. the reliability of jeep today is at the top of the list. if you want to see it for yourself lots of great research out there. not the doom and gloom crap on youtube, but the real research. You will be shocked how jeep compares in reliability today. We now live in a world where all new vehicles are junk and disposable. Thank god jeep is still reliable, built like a tank, and made to last.

[@teddonley9594]

145k on my 13 wrangler with zero issues

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@teddonley9594 and good for another 150k miles! My 2010 wrangler had 170k on it when I bout it in 2017 drove it to 230k before selling it. Was flawless

[@NeverFollowTheCrowd]

you will lose money On this truck more than likely. I would guess maybe 10k

[@SamkoWorkShop]

Well you can just keep right on guessing. I have owned many new jeeps and many new vehicles 29 to be exact and I don't lose money on them I have not lost a penny in my last nine vehicles that I have bought so I'm pretty confident that I'll do real good when I sell this especially for what I paid for it I have absolutely zero fears but like I said you can guess whatever you want to 10K 5K 2K whatever you want

[@NeverFollowTheCrowd]

@@SamkoWorkShop the discounts they are dishing out is the 1 year depreciation value for not selling.

[@SamkoWorkShop]

@NeverFollowTheCrowd like I said. I have zero fears and bet I don't loose a penny on it when I sell it. But hey, you do you, I'll do me and life is good.

[@NeverFollowTheCrowd]

@@SamkoWorkShop life is good