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2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon

This 2020 Jeep Gladiator Owner Is So Disappointed, He’s Getting Rid of It

The Jeep Gladiator was one of the most anticipated new car unveils of 2019. So much so that Tyler Hoover, an automotive YouTuber, placed an order for one of the early Launch Edition Gladiators. After one year of ownership, Hoover’s newest video states that he’s so disappointed with it that he’s decided to get rid …

The Jeep Gladiator was one of the most anticipated new car unveils of 2019. So much so that Tyler Hoover, an automotive YouTuber, placed an order for one of the early Launch Edition Gladiators. After one year of ownership, Hoover’s newest video states that he’s so disappointed with it that he’s decided to get rid of it. According to Hoover, the Gladiator began disappointing before it even arrived.

The Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition arrived after the normal models

Hoover purchased a Jeep Gladiator Launch Edition, one of the first 4,190 available trucks. In the process, Hoover traded in his 2017 GMC Sierra Denali. However, that’s when the first disappointments began.

According to Hoover, the Launch Editions should’ve been the first trucks to arrive. Unfortunately, normal models made it onto dealer lots sooner. The main purpose of purchasing a Launch Edition was to get it soon enough to produce one of the first videos on YouTube with a Gladiator. Keep in mind the Launch Edition is a fully-loaded truck with an MSRP of $62,310.

The Gladiator covered just 3,000 miles since new

2021 Jeep Gladiator mudding on steep trail
2021 Jeep Gladiator | Jeep

Like any Jeep Gladiator owner, Hoover decided to take his off-roading pickup truck on some trails. That’s where Hoover noticed that the Gladiator had some significant flaws. According to Hoover, the Gladiator is quite long, making it difficult to manage small tight trails. This means that the Gladiator is only able to handle specific trails that can handle its footprint. As a result, Hoover opted to use a shorter Wrangler while off-roading, leaving his brand-new truck at home.

The next disappointment Hoover mentions is the weak towing capacity. The 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali he traded in has a maximum towing rating of up to 9,400 pounds. In contrast, the Jeep Gladiator has a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. Hoover experienced this drawback when trying to trailer a Mercedes SL 65 AMG. The enormous Mercedes meant that the Gladiator quickly reached its towing limits, something the GMC could’ve done effortlessly. To solve this, Hoover opted to purchase another vehicle to handle towing, yet again leaving his truck at home.

One of the Jeep Gladiator’s largest draws is that it is one of the only convertible pickup trucks available. Hoover’s Gladiator includes a hard-top removable roof. According to Hoover, the top is incredibly difficult to remove as one person. The roof removal process is so complicated that Hoover says it’s best to leave it on. However, when he did manage to take it off, the wind buffeting was so unbearable that he quickly returned home. Oddly enough, Hoover believes the wind isn’t as much of an issue in the Wrangler after driving both.

These disappointments’ compounding meant that Hoover covered just 3,000 miles since purchasing his $62,310 Jeep Gladiator.

$62,310 gets you a full-size luxury truck

The Jeep Gladiator is a pickup truck version of the Wrangler.
Jeep Gladiator | Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The final nail in the coffin for the Jeep Gladiator, according to Hoover, is its price. According to Jeep, the Gladiator Launch Edition has an MSRP of $62,310. You can easily purchase a luxurious full-size truck with more powerful engine options, greater capabilities, and interior features for this price. According to Hoover, stepping into other similarly priced trucks showed just how compromised the Gladiator is. Hoover even noted that the Gladiator’s seats lacked crucial thigh support, making them quite uncomfortable.

According to Hoover, he is so disappointed with the Gladiator that he’s getting rid of it after just over a year of ownership and 3,000 miles on the odometer.

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