Ok,
Let’s talk truck.
I’m really interested in the Gradiator, the JL/JK are so similar looking that It’s hard to justify buying for me.
The truck however, easy to make an excuse to upgrade!
So I keep seeing ‘best in class comments from the US’. I was trying to decide whether to start saving for an auto 8 speed or a manual 6 speed and decided I would check the actual ratios.
Found this PDF:
https://chastang.sirv.com/CDJR/clp/g...ator-Specs.pdf
Now what I wasn’t expecting to see was how many different ratings there were! Now I have a fully modified JK, but I was planning on trying a Rubi for the truck. The manual has the payload reduced from 725kg to 544kg! The auto has this reduced further to 526kg! Hardly best in class in Australia where utes get around one tonne capacity.
Now the thing that surprised me most, the towing capacity for the auto Rubi is 3.2 tonnes, the manual has this reduced to a measly 2.0 tonnes. With some other manual versions only rated to 1.8 tonnes!
The manual overland has a pitiful 517kg payload and 1.8 tonne tow rating.
Jeep are going to need to make a lot of changes to have this thing rated as anywhere near best in class capacity in Aus. In fact, it almost makes me feel like the Gladiator is just a toy compared to real work utes.
1.8 tonne tow rating is clearly limited by the manual gearbox/clutch. There is no excuse for this right? there are vehicles with 3.5 tonne towing that are manual.
Also, the most frustrating thing is that you have to either compromise on payload, or towing capacity city. There is no model that offers the maximum capacity for both.