Background: I started really diving into off-road travel in 2010 when I purchased a FJ Cruiser. After a couple years I joined up with the guys at Expeditioneers and got a lot of wheeling under my belt. This was way back pre-American Adventurist Days. I built the FJ up and loved it. Eventually it got pretty high miles and I traded it in for a 2016 Tundra I had never owned a Full Size Truck before but always wanted one. The Tundra was great but the 12 mpg and massive size made it impractical for me. I long lusted for a more trail size vehicle with a option for factor lockers. I’ve had my eye on Jeeps for a while especially with the release of the JL. Then along cake the Gladiator and I instantly fell in love. After some calculations I figured I would save roughly $200 a month on gas alone. I would also be able to fit much easier down smaller trails but still have plenty of room. Room is especially important given my 6’6 250lb stature.
Purpose: Have the ultimate mobile base camp. My wife and I love to hike, kayak and do pretty much anything outside. We want something that can get us almost anywhere and provide the ultimate mobile base camp for our backcountry adventures. All while not breaking the bank or terrible fuel economy.
Pre Purchase: I test drove many of the newer midsize trucks and the Gladiator seemed like the best for us. I’m a long time Toyota guy and have always heard about Jeep reliability. However for everything the Gladiator offered I thought it’d be worth the risk. Ended up finding one at a local dealer that had almost all the features I would have ordered. The dealer was able to match the TreadLightly pricing and sold it to us 1% under invoice.
Here she is:
Purpose: Have the ultimate mobile base camp. My wife and I love to hike, kayak and do pretty much anything outside. We want something that can get us almost anywhere and provide the ultimate mobile base camp for our backcountry adventures. All while not breaking the bank or terrible fuel economy.
Pre Purchase: I test drove many of the newer midsize trucks and the Gladiator seemed like the best for us. I’m a long time Toyota guy and have always heard about Jeep reliability. However for everything the Gladiator offered I thought it’d be worth the risk. Ended up finding one at a local dealer that had almost all the features I would have ordered. The dealer was able to match the TreadLightly pricing and sold it to us 1% under invoice.
Here she is: