Decisions, decisions... 2024 Jeep Gladiator or Ranger Raptor

[Hootbro]

It is all going to be trade offs. I think @Bt_okst summed it up best in his post above.

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[jeffers]

Gladiator is the better toy, offroad, and personalization truck.

Ranger is the better everyday vehicle, highway driver, and more useful truck. More versatile to use as a work truck or everyday truck with its different engine selections and more practical bed, etc. Better highway suspension and torque/hp.

Both are great options for different purposes.

The Gladiator has a major flaw for off road, its really, really long.

 

[Bt_okst]

The Gladiator has a major flaw for off road, its really, really long.

Still better suited for off road than a ranger. As a ranger is far better suited for hwy travel. All in the suspensions, steering, and set up.

 

[hand-filer]

Gladiator: singularly focused - thirsty - anemic
Ranger Raptor: jack of all trades - thirsty - not anemic
405 HP/430 ft/lb vs 285 HP/260 ft/lb
The RR would be the easier truck to live with.

 

[AlloyPony]

Appearance is highly subjective. Obviously. I think they're ugly.

What year did you trade yours in? Because every one I've seen at my dealership has depreciated DRAMATICALLY in the last few months. No one wants them.

Bought it in '21, traded late '22, during the "crisis". But even today if we assume they are depreciating "dramatically" that means you should be able to buy one with low miles for under $35k and I'm just not seeing that. What I'm seeing is the values are still amazing on them.

Even a 10 year old Wrangler with 100,000 miles on it is still selling for $25k which is 60% of it's original value. It's just amazing.

Gladiator is the better toy, offroad, and personalization truck.

Ranger is the better everyday vehicle, highway driver, and more useful truck. More versatile to use as a work truck or everyday truck with its different engine selections and more practical bed, etc. Better highway suspension and torque/hp.

Both are great options for different purposes.

Let's look at Jeep engine options: Want a 4-banger? Got it. Old fashioned V6? Got it. Diesel? Got it. 470 HP V8? Got it. What about Ford? Well if you want an EcoBoost, OK....we can do that.

Need payload? Towing capacity? Jeep is the leader or very close to it.

Need electrical outlets for work or camping? Bed utility options like tie downs and accessory mounts? Jeep has it. Jeep's bed is also shaped in a way that's practical, and they designed the tailgate to hold full rated payload, and the load floor was designed so that the average man can reach over the bedside and get to tools.

Gladiator also has the best second row legroom and headroom for adults and gear.

I know I sound like a Gladiator salesman but I'm not. It's just that Gladiator is the most misunderstood truck on the market and I like to spread info.

The Gladiator has a major flaw for off road, its really, really long.

The only place it's longer is the front end, and that's because of the 4-link HD suspension with solid axle. It's a trade off. You add some length to gain a stronger more capable truck.

If you aren't planning to use the truck off road or work it hard then the IFS of the competing trucks may suit a guy better.

 

[Bt_okst]

Bought it in '21, traded late '22, during the "crisis". But even today if we assume they are depreciating "dramatically" that means you should be able to buy one with low miles for under $35k and I'm just not seeing that. What I'm seeing is the values are still amazing on them.

Even a 10 year old Wrangler with 100,000 miles on it is still selling for $25k which is 60% of it's original value. It's just amazing.



Let's look at Jeep engine options: Want a 4-banger? Got it. Old fashioned V6? Got it. Diesel? Got it. 470 HP V8? Got it.

Need payload? Towing capacity? Jeep is the leader or very close to it.

Need electrical outlets for work or camping? Bed utility options like tie downs and accessory mounts? Jeep has it. Jeep's bed is also shaped in a way that's practical, and they designed the tailgate to hold full rated payload.

Gladiator also has the best second row legroom and headroom for adults and gear.

I know I sound like a Gladiator salesman but I'm not. It's just that Gladiator is the most misunderstood truck on the market and I like to spread info.



The only place it's longer is the front end, and that's because of the 4-link HD suspension with solid axle. It's a trade off. You add some length to gain a stronger more capable truck.

If you aren't planning to use the truck off road or work it hard then the IFS of the competing trucks may suit a guy better.

Rides and drives terribly on the hwy.

The resale has nothing to do with whether or not it's a great vehicle. Jeeps have a cult following and the Wrangler and gladiator have always been a strong vehicle in terms of resale value. I think partly due to this following and partly due to all of the customization available to jeeps that other vehicles do not have.

So again both trucks have their advantages, resale being a pro for the gladiator.

 

[Bt_okst]

Bought it in '21, traded late '22, during the "crisis". But even today if we assume they are depreciating "dramatically" that means you should be able to buy one with low miles for under $35k and I'm just not seeing that. What I'm seeing is the values are still amazing on them.

Even a 10 year old Wrangler with 100,000 miles on it is still selling for $25k which is 60% of it's original value. It's just amazing.



Let's look at Jeep engine options: Want a 4-banger? Got it. Old fashioned V6? Got it. Diesel? Got it. 470 HP V8? Got it. What about Ford? Well if you want an EcoBoost, OK....we can do that.

Need payload? Towing capacity? Jeep is the leader or very close to it.

Need electrical outlets for work or camping? Bed utility options like tie downs and accessory mounts? Jeep has it. Jeep's bed is also shaped in a way that's practical, and they designed the tailgate to hold full rated payload, and the load floor was designed so that the average man can reach over the bedside and get to tools.

Gladiator also has the best second row legroom and headroom for adults and gear.

I know I sound like a Gladiator salesman but I'm not. It's just that Gladiator is the most misunderstood truck on the market and I like to spread info.



The only place it's longer is the front end, and that's because of the 4-link HD suspension with solid axle. It's a trade off. You add some length to gain a stronger more capable truck.

If you aren't planning to use the truck off road or work it hard then the IFS of the competing trucks may suit a guy better.

Gladiator only offers the 14+ yr old outdated 6 cylinder. There is no other option in them. This engine only produces 285hp and 260 ft/lb of torque. It's a way outdated Powerplant.

Rubicon and Mojave only tow 4500 lb. Ranger Raptor can tow 5510.

Also, properly equipped rangers (optional tow pkg) can also tow 7500 lbs.

You quoted engine choice, Gladiator has none only outdated inline 6 cyl). Ranger has 2.3l 4cyl, 2.7l 6 cylinder, and 3.0l 6 cylinder.

So, much of your defense for Gladiator was actually wrong and are instead advantages of the Ranger.

 

[Hootbro]

Rubicon and Mojave only tow 4500 lb. Ranger Raptor can tow 5510.

4500 lbs is for the manual Gladiator. My Automatic Rubicon Gladiator can tow 7000 lbs. Last I checked, the Ranger Raptor does not have a manual option in the USA models.

Coming from the Gladiator forums, they have the same types of threads like this with other people niggling about the differences between whatever other mid size truck on the market. Basically boils down to intended end use as each does things the other cannot or not as well and never is truly a apples to apples comparison.

I have said before elsewhere that the Gladiator has more in common with the Honda Ridgeline in that they occupy either outer end of the mid size truck buying demographic in a niche space and apples to apples comparisons is hard if not impossible most times. The middle 60% of mid-size truck shoppers are not looking at Gladiator or Ridgeline to begin with.

 

[MulchBags2]

You might get lucky with the J Braces.. I did.

I ordered them online from Ford Parts, which took about a month because they were backordered, and then scheduled a service appointment. Service writer said that it showed up as warranty work, verified that I was planning to put something on top and needed them, and wrote it up under warranty so I didn't pay a dime there. Just the parts cost. There's a thread on here about someone doing it themselves and it not being a fun time, so I went in expecting to pay for it and was pleasantly surprised it got warrantied with zero effort on my part.

I will say you might want to drop it off if you can, it took one of their higher level techs a half a day of labor, but it was also the first one they had done.

wait they install J brace for free? Are they visible?

 

[RANGER/HOBB]

I am currently considering replacing my 2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave with either another 2024 version or a RR. Prior to this vehicle I have always been a Ford person and have never had issues with my Mustangs and an Escape. The Jeep has been a solid performer but the RR looks like an awesome vehicle. I know these forums are a place to have issues resolved but the magnitude of issues with new deliveries, delivered vehicle problems, and post delivery problems is really worrisome for a new vehicle with a relatively small population of delivered vehicles. Are things really this bad on this vehicle? Has Ford really become this oblivious to customer feedback and totally focused on production and the bottom line?
,

This may have already been said and I might have missed it, my apologies if I have.

However, forums like this one are focal points for such complaints, problems and issues. They’re also represent a very small minority of actually ownership. Please keep this in mind.

This being said; every manufacturer has their issues, problem and quirks.

My wife and I have owned every thing from Porsches to Hyundais. We’ve had to deal with all sorts of issues from rattles etc, even in the most expensive cars. To be certain, expensive manufactures and dealerships employ individuals who do nothing but; find rattles, squeak, and other annoying noises and fix them.

The only car we’ve never had any kind of issue, including rattles, squeaks etc, was the Lexus RCF Sport. Their maintenance technicians and service at least for the RCF and LCF is impeccable.

Even Porsche and Mercedes AMG, believe it’s the fault of the owner. They will reluctantly fix such issues but have a tendency to blame the owner. Audi was second best to Lexus in technical service.

However, they all have their issues and you’ll experience it thru such forums who focus on them specifically?

So, don’t let this small representation of ownership and their problems, dissuade you from seriously considering the Ranger Raptor.

 

[hand-filer]

One more thing the Ranger has over the Gladiator is the Gladiator is the ugliest pickup on the market.

 

[AlloyPony]

One more thing the Ranger has over the Gladiator is the Gladiator is the ugliest pickup on the market.

I'm sorry but if you think any Ford Ranger ever made looks better than this, perhaps a Prius or Ridgeline would have been a better option for you.

 

[NASSTY]

I'm sorry but if you think any Ford Ranger ever made looks better than this, perhaps a Prius or Ridgeline would have been a better option for you.

It would look a lot better if you cut the bed off.
My last 3 trucks have been Raptors. I know what a good looking truck looks like.

 

[jeffers]

Honestly if I had to do it over again I'd buy the new Tacoma. I still prefer the new Ranger but all the aftermarket support is for the Tacoma, we can't buy much of anything for the Ranger where from day 1 you could buy lift kits, rock rails, wenches, bumpers, bed racks, etc. I can't buy any of the stuff I need, the frustrating part is that all these parts exist for the Ranger just not for the US market. Just look how active the Tacoma forum is compared to the Ranger forum.

 

[Catalyst]

Honestly if I had to do it over again I'd buy the new Tacoma. I still prefer the new Ranger but all the aftermarket support is for the Tacoma, we can't buy much of anything for the Ranger where from day 1 you could buy lift kits, rock rails, wenches, bumpers, bed racks, etc. I can't buy any of the stuff I need, the frustrating part is that all these parts exist for the Ranger just not for the US market. Just look how active the Tacoma forum is compared to the Ranger forum.

I'm hoping after SEMA we see an uptick in aftermarket options for the 6G Rangers. Of course Tacomas will have massive aftermarket support, it's been the top selling mid-size pickup truck in NA for how long?

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